The Dynasty Doctor: Week Sixteen Injury Report

Scott Peak

doctorEditor’s Note: Injuries are a huge part of winning and losing each year in fantasy leagues. Staying abreast of the injury situations is key as knowing what to expect from your players health-wise in the short term can help you make educated decisions in managing your team. Lucky for us, we have a Doctor in the house. Dr. Scott Peak is an ABPN board certified neurologist and neuro-oncologist. He is also a dynasty football addict and huge friend of Dynasty League Football. He’s excited to lend his expertise in medicine with hopes he may help the DLF Team and its followers better understand medical conditions and injuries that may impact NFL players and dynasty football owners. If you have a question for The Dynasty Doctor, just click here. Please remember The Dynasty Doctor is geared towards questions regarding medical science, injuries to players and their collective impact in fantasy football. Stay tuned each week as we’ll post his thoughts each and every week.

Tony Romo, QB DAL

Romo aggravated a back injury while playing against the Washington Redskins and is now out for the year. The injury is described as a herniated disc and he will require surgery for it. Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones noted, Romo had pain going down his legs, and this is called radiculopathy, which is pain shooting down the legs as a result of nerve irritation by, for example, a herniated disc. A herniated disc in the lumbar spine can heal with rehabilitation for 2 to 6 weeks (no surgery). A herniated disc that requires surgery may have ruptured to a point where nerves are being compressed, and surgery can be used to relieve pressure more rapidly. Fortunately for Romo, single-level disc surgeries in the lumbar spine can successfully return elite athletes to their sport in 90% of cases. Romo is a low-end QB1 for fantasy purposes, and will be 34 years old in 2014. Romo’s dynasty value takes a hit, but he could become a nice value for contending teams in 2014. Romo should have solid production for two or more years, and could be an inexpensive target for contenders with QB issues in dynasty formats. Romo signed a 6 year, $108 million dollar contract extension with the Cowboys in 2013, so he isn’t going anywhere.

Eddie Lacy, RB GB

Lacy had another strong game, a welcome site for fantasy owners fighting for championships in week 16. Unfortunately, he aggravated his ankle injury and left the game in the third quarter. He had 15 carries for 84 yards and 2 touchdowns. Lacy chipped in two receptions for six yards, a slight boost in PPR formats. Green Bay lost a tough game against the Steelers, but fortunately the Chicago Bears lost, so week 17 will be a battle between both teams for the divisional crown and a spot in the playoffs. Hopefully Lacy can play, but monitor his ability to practice this week. Lacy’s toughness is not in question, as he has played through the ankle injury originally suffered week 14, and he only missed one game in 2011 despite a painful turf toe injury that ultimately required surgery. Lacy didn’t miss a game at Alabama in 2012, no small feat coming off surgery for turf toe and playing in the SEC. James Starks would be up next, and the Packers get a porous Bears run defense week 17, so the match-up is beautiful. The Bears just gave up 289 yards rushing to the Eagles and four rushing touchdowns in one game. If Lacy plays, he should put up big numbers.

Von Miller, LB DEN

Miller ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his right knee and is out for the year. Miller had value in big-play IDP formats, but was still an LB3 based on total points (27 solo tackles, 7 assists, 5 sacks, 1 fumble recovery and 1 pass defensed), so his loss is painful, but not insurmountable. Denver’s defense takes another hit and it looks like Peyton Manning will be in a lot of shoot-outs in the post-season. Recovery is 6 to 9 months. Miller still has a chance to be ready for the 2014 season, but may miss off-season training activities.

Shane Vereen, RB NE

Vereen pulled a groin muscle in a game against the Baltimore Ravens and was unable to return. He managed just two carries for six yards and one reception for four yards, but did manage to get a receiving touchdown before departing. Vereen is talented but injury-prone. Since his rookie season, Vereen has missed 22 of 48 games. His latest injury should not impact his future, but one has to wonder if he will ever stay healthy long enough to be a reliable option for dynasty owners. Depending on the severity of a groin strain, it could take anywhere from 1 week to 6-8 weeks to recover. For fantasy owners playing in week 17, monitor Vereen’s practice participation this week and confirm if New England designates him as active or not.

Calvin Johnson, WR DET

Johnson’s troublesome knee injury resurfaced, as breaking news indicated before the game that Megatron might not be able to play. He was active, but not terribly effective, posting three receptions for 43 yards. Clearly this was a disappointing performance for his fantasy owners. At this point, there must be some concern about why his knee injury remains a persistent issue. Johnson battled a knee contusion in the preseason, and it is curious that not much detail has been revealed about the extent of his “knee injury.” Whether this is damage to cartilage, ligaments or meniscus, it is a growing concern for his dynasty owners. I haven’t heard the word “microfracture” used to describe it, nor chronic instability in the knee, but dynasty owners may want to start thinking about those possibilities. I would not recommend selling Johnson for anything less than elite value, but I would consider trading him for AJ Green or a similar talent combination. Something isn’t quite right with this picture, so dynasty owners of Megatron should watch this one carefully. Those fantasy players competing for a title in week 17 should plan to be without Johnson, as the Lions were eliminated from playoff contention and it seems unlikely that we will see Megatron until 2014.

Clay Matthews, LB GB

Matthews re-injured his surgically-repaired thumb and was unable to return to the game. Initial reports are he could have re-broken it. No word yet on whether he needs surgery again, and this injury could keep him out four weeks or longer. Matthews only had value in big-play IDP leagues, and even that was limited (23 solo tackles, 14 assists, 6.5 sacks and 1 pass defensed in 2013). The injury is a concern but Matthews should be back in 2014.

Emmanuel Sanders, WR PIT

Sanders sustained a knee injury in the first half of the Packers game against the Steelers. An MRI was negative for significant damage, but did show injury to the lateral meniscus. Pain and swelling can be an issue. Sanders had 2 receptions for 7 yards and a touchdown. Heralded rookie Markus Wheaton had no targets on the day, so that was disappointing to his dynasty owners. Still, Sanders is a free agent in 2014 and the Steelers are strapped for cash. Wheaton is a nice buy low target for dynasty owners looking forward to the 2014 season. Sanders might be able to play week 17, but monitor his practice participation and make sure the Steelers list him as active on Sunday before inserting him into line-ups. I don’t think this injury will adversely impact Sanders’ dynasty value.

Andre Brown, RB NYG

Brown sustained a concussion in the Giants game against the Detroit Lions. Brown will be enrolled into the NFL concussion protocol, must have resolution of neurological symptoms, advance through sports-specific activities and be cleared by medical providers before returning to play. Still, it would not be surprising if the Giants kept him out of week 17 to avoid risk of re-injury. The greatest likelihood of sustaining a second concussion is within ten days of the first one, and given the Giants season is over, it makes sense for Brown to rest up for the 2014 season.

Steve Smith, WR CAR

Smith injured his left knee in a game against the New Orleans Saints. The injury did not involve contact. Smith started his route, and immediately grabbed behind his left knee, falling to the ground in pain. Smith felt something “pop” in the knee. An MRI showed a posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) sprain. Depending on the severity of a PCL sprain, recovery might take 2 to 4 weeks or longer. Smith is likely out for week 17, and his availability in the playoffs is in question. Still, it is hard to count out a player like Smith, and he stands a reasonable chance of returning to the playoffs.

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