Cincinnati Bengals running back Joe Mixon (28) carries the ball during the first half of an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens in Baltimore, Sunday, Dec 31, 2017. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)
Welcome to our weekly injury analysis article! It's an odd week with injuries, with a number of interesting quarterback situations leading things off. Let's have a look.
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Opponent BUF
Proj Points FD - 15.66 DK - 16.72
Sam Darnold appears to be poised to return to action after missing two weeks with a shoulder injury. He's not likely to be in any of my lineups in a tough match-up with the Bills, but his return has to mean good things for Jamison Crowder. We were recommending Crowder as a cash game play on FanDuel and DraftKings when we thought Flacco was going to be under center, and we like the play even more if Darnold returns. Right now Gase says Darnold will be out there barring any setbacks, so let's hope we've seen the last of playing pass-catchers that are reliant on Joe Flacco.
Opponent HOU
Proj Points FD - 19.21 DK - 21.33
Jones was a late addition to the injury report after straining his calf on Thursday, and is officially listed as questionable after missing practice on Friday. If he were to sit, Jamaal Williams would be a fantastic cash game play at a great price in a great match-up with the Texans.
Opponent CLE
Proj Points FD - 0 DK - 0
Mixon has been ruled out for this weekend's game against the Browns, leaving us the chance to play Gio Bernard at sub $5k on FanDuel. He's a must play for me in any format, and should be the highest owned running back on FanDuel barring some strange news surfacing.
Opponent CIN
Proj Points FD - 17.58 DK - 19.22
Hunt has been limited in practice this week, but it appears to be nothing to be concerned about at this point. He is in cash game consideration for us in a nice match-up with the Bengals.
Opponent NE
Proj Points FD - 0 DK - 0
Moster was ruled out for this Sunday's game against the Patriots, and while we were intrigued by Jerick McKinnon earlier this season in a similar situation, we're sort of off it this week. Last week McKinnon out-snapped Jamychal Hasty 32%-21%, leading us to believe that we're looking at more of a time share here. It's far from a cupcake match-up with the Patriots, and I won't be playing any 49ers running backs in any format this week.
Opponent JAX
Proj Points FD - 15.02 DK - 16.63
Jackson was limited in practice on Thursday, and with Austin Ekeler on the IR, the running back situation for the Chargers is looking fairly dire. I believe Jackson will play, but if he happens to sit Joshua Kelley would become a fantastic cash game play in a great match-up with the Jaguars.
Opponent DEN
Proj Points FD - 0 DK - 0
The last word we have on Bell as of this writing is that he "may not" make his Chiefs debut on Sunday. If he doesn't, Clyde Edwards-Helaire is a phenomenal cash game play. Frankly, even if Bell does play, it's hard to envision him having a huge role in the Chiefs' offense with so few reps.
Opponent SEA
Proj Points FD - 16.78 DK - 20.53
Hopkins was limited in practice all week, but give that he practiced on Friday right now we're assuming he'll be out there against the Seahawks on Sunday night. I'm not sure I'm really interested here given the combination of a tough week 6 and injury concerns, but he's out there if you have the money left over after all the potential RB value we have access to.
Opponent CAR
Proj Points FD - 0 DK - 0
Opponent CAR
Proj Points FD - 0 DK - 0
Both Thomas and Sanders were ruled out for week 7's game against the Panthers, leaving a lot of targets dangling for the rest of the pass catchers in New Orleans. Kamara is the obvious beneficiary of all this available target share, though he's not going to be able to soak up everything here. For my money Tre'Quan Smith is the next man up, though I am not sure you need the savings in cash games with the RB value that's floating around. Still, Smith is a talented pass catcher and is certainly on our radar for all formats this week.
Opponent JAX
Proj Points FD - 16.11 DK - 19.82
Keenan Allen left the Saints game in week 5 early with back spasms, and news on him as been intermittent since the Chargers were on a bye last week. He's been limited in practice this week, but practiced in full on Friday, and doesn't carry an injury tag heading into week 7. We are recommending him as a great cash game play given the rapport he appears to have established with Herbert.
Opponent BUF
Proj Points FD - 14.84 DK - 18.32
Crowder was limited in practice on Friday after missing Thursday's practice, and he's currently listed as questionable for the Bills game. There's some chance this makes an already risky feeling play a little too risky for cash games, but if he suits up Crowder is going to be a part of my big tournament rotation no matter what.
Opponent NYJ
Proj Points FD - 0 DK - 0
Brown has been ruled out for the Jets game, and while he hasn't garnered huge targets in Buffalo since the arrival of Stefon Diggs, it's still a material loss for them. His absence should open up more targets for the aforemoentioned Diggs and Cole Beasley, and while neither is a cash game play for me they make for interesting tournament options.
Opponent TEN
Proj Points FD - 8.29 DK - 10.17
Diontae Johnson returns to the field for the Steelers on Sunday, and takes Chase Claypool out of consideration for me. While Claypool has shown explosive raw talent, we've seen that the opportunities from week 5 were an aberration even before Johnson returned. Give Claypool's obvious upside he'll still be highly owned in big tournaments, and at current price points it just doesn't feel like we're getting away with anything by playing him.
Opponent DEN
Proj Points FD - 0 DK - 0
Watkins is out for the Chiefs again, and while many forecasted that Mecole Hardman would be the primary beneficiary, it was actually Demarcus Robinson that saw the increased target share last week. He hauled in 5 of the 6 balls thrown his way, and in that offense even that level of opportunity gives him big tournament upside.
Opponent PIT
Proj Points FD - 9.03 DK - 10.97
Smith will play against the Steelers this weekend. This is good for him, but bad for people who were hoping to get a free square from Anthony Firkser. I won't be playing Jonnu at these advancing prices.
Opponent HOU
Proj Points FD - 9.3 DK - 11.52
Tonyan missed practice with an ankle injury on Wednesday and Thursday, and returned to practice in a limited fashion on Friday. I was already off Tonyan since he is so touchdown dependent, but I'm even more off it now. If he sits I'm honestly not even sure it matters that much to redistribute his 4-6 targets to a current unknown source.
Opponent CIN
Proj Points FD - 0 DK - 0
It's sad to lose one of the few playable tight ends, but Hooper has been ruled out for this weekend. I won't be speculating on Bryant or Njoku is cash to be sure, but if one seemed like the definitive starter I can imagine trying them in a big tournament given how much Baker has relied upon tight ends this season.
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