The Dynasty Doctor: Week 11 Injury Report

Scott Peak

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Editor’s Note: Injuries are a huge part of winning and losing each year in fantasy leagues. Staying abreast of 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 a Senior Writer for 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.

Justin Forsett, RB BAL

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Forsett broke his right arm and is done for the season. He could only manage he carries for 26 yards before the injury. Javorius Allen carried 22 times for 67 yards against a tough St. Louis Rams defensive front. Allen looks to be next in line at RB for the Ravens, unless Terrance West somehow resuscitates his NFL career. Pictures of Forsett’s broken arm are consistent with both a radius and ulna fracture. It seems likely that surgery is in his future, and it may take three to six months for both bones to fully heal. We’ve seen athletes return to play with similar injuries, so I’m not worried about it hampering his 2016 status. Forsett is the RB11 in PPR this season, so he’s had a solid year. Still, he will be 31 years old next season, and if the Ravens decide to spend significant resources on a younger running back, he could take a significant hit in his dynasty value. I’m not a buyer, even with a discount from this injury.

Frank Gore, RB IND

Gore reportedly sustained either a “minor” knee injury or a quadriceps contusion (a fancy way of saying a bruise). It’s important to monitor a contusion and make sure bleeding stops in the muscle. Compartment syndrome can arise when muscle swelling occurs to a point when nerves and blood vessels are damaged from the rise in pressure. Fortunately this is not common. Whether it’s a contusion or a knee injury seems to be uncertain. After the game, Gore thought he’d be “fine”. Monitor his practice participation this week and we’ll see if he can play week 12. Ahmad Bradshaw was productive in place of Gore (nine carries for 32 yards, four receptions for 20 yards and two touchdowns).

Marshawn Lynch, RB SEA

Lynch will reportedly visit with Dr. Robert Meyers to evaluate what is suspected to be a sports hernia. If surgery is in play, his season would likely be over. Recovery from sports hernia surgeries is good, but he could miss four to eight weeks. Whether or not he remains in Seattle is up for debate. Thomas Rawls had a huge game, destroying the Forty Niners defense with 30 carries for 209 yards (7.0 YPC), three receptions for 46 yards and two touchdowns. Rawls could be the starter in Seattle next season, and his dynasty value is rising fast. I’m a buyer, but his price tag may be prohibitive. The dynasty value for Lynch is falling fast. I’m still a buyer, but only if he is available at a substantial discount. I’m not convinced this is the last we’ve seen of Beast Mode.

Devonta Freeman, RB ATL, Zach Ertz, TE PHI, Case Keenum, QB STL

Freeman, Ertz and Keenum all sustained concussions and will be enrolled in the NFL concussion protocol. All three will need to have recovery of concussion-related symptoms and be cleared by medical personnel before returning to play. Keenum’s concussion was curious, as he looked dazed after slamming the back of his helmet on the turf. To make matters worse, an offensive lineman grabbed him and pulled him up while Keenum looked a bit wobbly. I was surprised he wasn’t pulled from the game for further evaluation. The Rams organization may be looking at a hefty penalty for this one.

Charcandrick West, RB KAN

West has a hamstring injury and was removed from the game. The Chiefs soundly thrashed the Chargers, and hopefully it was more precautionary. He is being called day-to-day, and that is ambiguous enough to warrant monitoring his practice participation closely this week. Spencer Ware had 11 carries for 96 yards, two rushing touchdowns and one catch for five yards. Before rushing out to grab Ware on waiver wires, consider the Chiefs were playing a Chargers defense that is one of the worst in the NFL and may already be looking to 2016.

Joe Flacco, QB BAL

Flacco suffered an ACL and MCL tear and is done for the year. The Ravens offense is a complete mess right now, having lost their starting quarterback and running back in the same game. Recovery is six-nine months. Flacco has a shot to be ready by week one of the 2016 season, but hopefully he won’t have any setbacks with his surgery or rehabilitation. He has quietly had a solid fantasy season, finishing as the QB11 weeks one to ten. Matt Schaub takes over, but unless you’re desperate for a quarterback in a super-flex league, I wouldn’t bother picking him up.

Michael Floyd, WR ARI

Floyd was inactive with a hamstring injury. We’ll have to monitor this one closely. I’m not a buyer in dynasty. I love his talent, but he can’t seem to reach his potential for a variety of reasons and I’d be willing to sell him for the right price.

Peyton Manning, QB DEN

Manning was unable to play and reportedly still wants to play football in 2016. It seems crazy to think Manning wants to play next year, given his poor play and persistent injuries. Still, if Brian Hoyer and Case Keenum can have jobs in the NFL, I could see Manning playing for an NFL team in 2016. Manning has nearly lost all value in dynasty formats, but may be worth a waiver wire pick-up in deep/super-flex leagues. I don’t have grand expectations, but I’m guessing Manning wouldn’t want his career to end this way. I wouldn’t spend any resources to acquire Manning, but I would consider picking him up as a free agent in dynasty formats, just to see how this turns out. Manning was never a good fit for Gary Kubiak’s offense. Maybe a change of scenery is best for all sides. Brock Osweiler had a solid game with 20 completions for 250 yards and two touchdowns. Osweiler is worth an add in dynasty formats.

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