The Dynasty Doctor: Week Eight Injury Report

Scott Peak Posted On October 28, 2014

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Editor’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 Tuesday.

Giovani Bernard, RB CIN

Bernard put a scare into his owners with a hip injury on Sunday. Nobody is talking about it much and that must mean either it’s not a significant injury or the Bengals have a tight lid on it. Hopefully it’s the former. Jeremy Hill could only manage 25 yards on ten carries, but did pitch in four receptions for 28 yards, boosting his value in PPR leagues. Monitor Bernard’s practice participation but fingers crossed he can play week nine.

Jordan Cameron, TE CLE

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Cameron sustained yet another concussion and that is a concern. Cameron sustained concussions in 2012 and 2013. He has a tough time staying healthy and was already recovering from an sprained shoulder this year. Cameron will be enrolled in the concussion protocol, will need to advance through the protocol and gain clearance from physicians before he can return. We’ll see how fast Cameron recovers from this concussion, but his history of head injuries is becoming a red flag in dynasty. I listed Cameron as a sell-high before the season started, and although his value took a hit, owners must decide whether he’s going to resuscitate his value or not. I’m betting he won’t.

Brian Quick, WR STL

Quick injured his left arm and after the game had it in a sling. The injury has been called a dislocated shoulder and rotator cuff tear. Dislocated shoulders conservatively treated (i.e. no surgery) have a much higher risk of recurrence than those treated surgically (56-75% vs 3-11%). It’s a good sign that Quick will have surgery, as that should significantly reduce (but not eliminate) risk of recurrent injury. It may be a good idea to send out trade offers for Quick, as he might be heavily discounted on this news.

Aaron Rodgers, QB GB

Rodgers injured his hamstring in the third quarter but managed to stay in the game. He even ran for a 14-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter, so it seems like his owners can ease concerns about it. Green Bay has a bye week nine, so Rodgers has time to rest. This is something to monitor but there’s no reason to believe Rodgers won’t be under center in week ten.

Cordarrelle Patterson, WR MIN

Patterson left the stadium in a walking boot, but insisted it wasn’t a serious injury. Reports are it was only an ankle bruise. If so, there shouldn’t be much concern about it. Patterson had a decent game with six receptions for 86 yards and one rushing attempt for ten yards. Monitor Patterson’s practice participation as that should tell whether this is truly just a bruise or something more.

Torrey Smith, WR BAL

Smith was checked for a concussion but was allowed to re-enter the game, and that would have to indicate no concussion-like symptoms or signs were noted, otherwise he would have been pulled from the contest. Fantasy players who started Smith are certainly having headaches, as Smith gave them zero points on the day. Such is life owning Smith in fantasy, hot-and-cold production on a weekly basis. Smith is a talented player and he will be a free agent in 2015. I’m rooting for him to sign with a team who will use his talents and hopefully bring more consistent production. I might be crazy, but I think Smith is a buy-low in dynasty. Throw offers out there as his owners might be exasperated and this is a good time to pounce.

Nate Washington, WR TEN

Washington sustained a sprained AC joint and the severity is not yet known. Return-to-play depends on severity (grade I 1-2 weeks, grade II 2-4 weeks and grade III 2 months). Washington doesn’t carry much value in dynasty, but he isn’t the worst emergency plug-in, especially in a year with so many injuries at wide receiver. Washington has had three decent games this year (games 1, 5 and 8 he had 12 receptions for 184 yards). Rookie Zach Mettenberger did throw for 299 yards, two touchdowns and one interception on Sunday. Mettenberger also lost a fumble. He did have -1 yard rushing but we won’t hold that against him. Justin Hunter had an impressive ten targets, but only caught four of them, further showing the frustration in owning the ultra-talented wideout. Mettenberger is worth a look if he’s on waivers, unless it’s J.J. Watt’s dynasty team (no selfies allowed).

Stepfan Taylor, RB ARI

Taylor sustained a calf injury and will be out 2-4 weeks. This news isn’t so much about Taylor, who has only been starter-worthy one game this year, but more about who is behind him on the depth chart. Marion Grice is the back-up and ascends to the RB2 for Arizona. If Grice is on waivers, pick him up and see what happens.

Marcus Lattimore, RB SF

I haven’t been the most optimistic person on Lattimore, but word is that he will begin practicing this week. Running backs with total knee dislocations have a hard road back, as evidenced by Lattimore’s two-year journey. Still, Lattimore may be on waiver wires, and is worth a grab. I picked him up in one league after an owner cut him. Can’t get any cheaper than free. Temper expectations but if he is available for cheap, he could still be a surprise. Just don’t overpay for him.

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