Jene Bramel
Footballguy
Ron Rivera is suggesting that Jon Beason will play today, but I think he tipped his hand on Thursday when he said that Luke Kuechly wouldn’t play in the middle but would see more nickel snaps WITH not if Beason out. That’s obviously not an official comment that Rivera would be inactive, but they’ve clearly planned to play without him. If Beason can’t go, we could see a mix of Jason Phillips or Jordan Senn on base downs. And don’t expect Kuechly to get all the nickel snaps regardless – there will still be a lot of Thomas Davis (assuming he’s active himself).
Nate Clements is likely out today. He’d been playing safety ahead of Jeromy Miles and Taylor Mays last week. The Bengals signed Chris Crocker this week. Though he may not play every down today, it tells you what they think of Miles and Mays. There’s still no sign of George Iloka outside of special teams – that could also change soon. For now, there’s no fantasy value in this group but it’s still worth watching. Carlos Dunlap looked good in rotation last week. He won’t be a 60 snap player today (barring a 90 snap game), but his playing time should increase.
Russell Allen is still a LB3++ with Daryl Smith out with his groin injury again.
Richard Marshall is listed questionable and was limited in practice, but local reports have him playing today.
Darnell Dockett is unlikely to play with a hamstring injury. That’s a blow to the defensive line, but it shouldn’t hurt the fantasy prospects of the back seven.
Erin Henderson is out again with a concussion. He’s not yet been cleared to practice. That’s potentially a big deal. Lingering symptoms more than a week after a head injury don’t have a clear timetable for return. Consider Henderson week-to-week for now. Jasper Brinkley gets another chance to prove himself in every-down duty, but he’s nothing more than a boom-bust LB4.
Justin Durant has been limited all week with a back injury. If he doesn’t go, DeAndre Levy is a sure every-down player and has a little more upside than usual. Corey Williams will miss a couple of weeks after having knee surgery.
Both Jonathan Casillas and David Hawthorne are out this week. I think it’s 60-40 that Will Herring plays every-down rather than Scott Shanle, though there could be a subpackage rotation. I wouldn’t rush to roster Herring unless you’re in a super deep tackle-heavy league, but it’s worth monitoring in case the Casillas/Hawthorne injuries linger.
Quinton Carter is out for the season after knee surgery. That ensures Rahim Moore will remain the starter all season long. With Joe Mays out, Keith Brooking will play MLB in the base defense. Brooking has marginal fantasy value, but the move puts Wes Woodyard back in line for every-down duty this week.
Demorrio Williams has been limited by a hamstring injury this week. If he’s unable to go, Takeo Spikes gets nickel snaps today. We’ll know whether Williams is inactive early; if you’re in need of a desperation play at LB today, Spikes could be your man.
LeRoy Hill was added to the injury report Thursday with a calf injury and hasn’t practiced since. He’s questionable, but possibly on the more doubtful side. This is also an early game. If Hill sits, we’ll get a very good look at what the Seahawks think of Bobby Wagner. They’ve played much more nickel this year than dime, with Hill an every-down player. If they give Wagner a shot as the nickel MLB and move Wright outside in subpackages, it’s great news for Wagner’s development. If they don’t, it’s not a major knock, but it means it’ll likely be 2013 before we can count on him for consistent production.
Colin McCarthy is out again this week. I continue to believe this is a four week injury and that Week 6 is the likely target date of return. For now, it’s status quo – Akeem Ayers remains a better play than Will Witherspoon, but both have an elite matchup on the road v Houston today. Jordan Babineaux regained his starting position last week. The front seven is better competition for tackles this year, but the matchup makes Babineaux a clear DB2+ today.
The Redskins should have Brandon Meriweather back today. We may see a rotation with DeJon Gomes if they elect to ease Meriweather back in a bit. Neither has any real fantasy value today, but Meriweather may cut into Madieu Williams’ numbers more than Gomes has.
Jamar Chaney will replace Akeem Jordan in the lineup at WLB today, but I don’t foresee any change to the subpackage snaps.
Nate Clements is likely out today. He’d been playing safety ahead of Jeromy Miles and Taylor Mays last week. The Bengals signed Chris Crocker this week. Though he may not play every down today, it tells you what they think of Miles and Mays. There’s still no sign of George Iloka outside of special teams – that could also change soon. For now, there’s no fantasy value in this group but it’s still worth watching. Carlos Dunlap looked good in rotation last week. He won’t be a 60 snap player today (barring a 90 snap game), but his playing time should increase.
Russell Allen is still a LB3++ with Daryl Smith out with his groin injury again.
Richard Marshall is listed questionable and was limited in practice, but local reports have him playing today.
Darnell Dockett is unlikely to play with a hamstring injury. That’s a blow to the defensive line, but it shouldn’t hurt the fantasy prospects of the back seven.
Erin Henderson is out again with a concussion. He’s not yet been cleared to practice. That’s potentially a big deal. Lingering symptoms more than a week after a head injury don’t have a clear timetable for return. Consider Henderson week-to-week for now. Jasper Brinkley gets another chance to prove himself in every-down duty, but he’s nothing more than a boom-bust LB4.
Justin Durant has been limited all week with a back injury. If he doesn’t go, DeAndre Levy is a sure every-down player and has a little more upside than usual. Corey Williams will miss a couple of weeks after having knee surgery.
Both Jonathan Casillas and David Hawthorne are out this week. I think it’s 60-40 that Will Herring plays every-down rather than Scott Shanle, though there could be a subpackage rotation. I wouldn’t rush to roster Herring unless you’re in a super deep tackle-heavy league, but it’s worth monitoring in case the Casillas/Hawthorne injuries linger.
Quinton Carter is out for the season after knee surgery. That ensures Rahim Moore will remain the starter all season long. With Joe Mays out, Keith Brooking will play MLB in the base defense. Brooking has marginal fantasy value, but the move puts Wes Woodyard back in line for every-down duty this week.
Demorrio Williams has been limited by a hamstring injury this week. If he’s unable to go, Takeo Spikes gets nickel snaps today. We’ll know whether Williams is inactive early; if you’re in need of a desperation play at LB today, Spikes could be your man.
LeRoy Hill was added to the injury report Thursday with a calf injury and hasn’t practiced since. He’s questionable, but possibly on the more doubtful side. This is also an early game. If Hill sits, we’ll get a very good look at what the Seahawks think of Bobby Wagner. They’ve played much more nickel this year than dime, with Hill an every-down player. If they give Wagner a shot as the nickel MLB and move Wright outside in subpackages, it’s great news for Wagner’s development. If they don’t, it’s not a major knock, but it means it’ll likely be 2013 before we can count on him for consistent production.
Colin McCarthy is out again this week. I continue to believe this is a four week injury and that Week 6 is the likely target date of return. For now, it’s status quo – Akeem Ayers remains a better play than Will Witherspoon, but both have an elite matchup on the road v Houston today. Jordan Babineaux regained his starting position last week. The front seven is better competition for tackles this year, but the matchup makes Babineaux a clear DB2+ today.
The Redskins should have Brandon Meriweather back today. We may see a rotation with DeJon Gomes if they elect to ease Meriweather back in a bit. Neither has any real fantasy value today, but Meriweather may cut into Madieu Williams’ numbers more than Gomes has.
Jamar Chaney will replace Akeem Jordan in the lineup at WLB today, but I don’t foresee any change to the subpackage snaps.
