The Dynasty Doctor: Week Thirteen 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 Tuesday.

Aaron Rodgers, QB, GB

NFL Network reported Rodgers may not return this season. The Packers have predictably gone into a tailspin since he was injured week 9, and have lost four games and tied the struggling Minnesota Vikings. That is a miserable 0-4-1 record since Rodgers got hurt. The Packers season may already be over, as they are four games back from a playoff spot with four games left to play. Rodgers could be shelved to prevent a more severe injury, and that may be prudent, to protect his long-term future. We talked about the possibility of Rodgers not returning this season on the DLF Podcast November 7, 2013. Depending on the location and severity of a clavicle fracture, it can take 6 weeks for sufficient recovery, but sometimes as long as 12 weeks. The initial estimate of 3 weeks seemed generous. Recovery depends on resolution of pain, normal range of motion and strength, and evidence of bone healing on x-rays. I’m just guessing, but Rodgers may not have adequate healing on radiographic imaging, and that might be holding him up. Regardless, Rodgers owners may need to look at other options. Fortunately depth at QB is quite good, and potential replacements might include Colin Kaepernick (gets Atlanta week 16), Andy Dalton (gets Steelers, Colts and Ravens week 14-16), or even Jay Cutler if he is healed up (gets Cowboys, Browns and Eagles weeks 14-16). Even Ryan Fitzpatrick is a solid desperation starter, as he gets the Jaguars week 16. I do not expect this injury to impact Rodgers long-term dynasty value at all, and resting until his clavicle has fully healed may be best.

Demaryius Thomas, WR, DEN

Thomas injured his shoulder in the first quarter, and briefly left the game. He did return in the second quarter, and finished with three receptions for 106 yards. The injury has been described as a bruise, and if so, this should not prevent him from playing next week. Be sure to monitor his ability to practice this week, but it looks like disaster has been avoided.

Josh Gordon, WR, CLE

Gordon took a helmet-to-helmet hit in a game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Gordon’s helmet flew off as he landed on the ground. The helmet may have prevented Gordon’s head from snapping back and a more severe head injury. Gordon passed concussion testing on the sidelines, and he appeared to be unaffected immediately after the play was over. Gordon returned to play after a brief absence. He abused Jaguars defenders to the tune of 10 receptions, 261 yards and 2 touchdowns. Gordon gets a tougher match-up next week, playing the New England Patriots, so we will see if he can duplicate his torrid streak the past two weeks. The head injury appears to be a non-issue.

Jordan Reed, TE, WSH

Reed was surprisingly inactive in the Sunday Night Football game against the New York Giants, leaving owners who started him out in the cold. Reed had headaches, and given his recent concussion, he was held out of the game. There has to be some concern that Reed has persistent symptoms related to his concussion suffered in week 11 against the Philadelphia Eagles. Still, he was close to playing. After the game, Redskins head coach Mike Shanahan deferred to team physicians on clearing Reed to play week 14. Presumably Reed will be re-evaluated for concussion-related symptoms, and advance through sports activities and hopefully will do so without any new neurological symptoms. It really depends on when his symptoms are gone and he can practice/play without new symptoms arising. Pay attention to his ability to practice this week. Logan Paulsen had 3 receptions for 41 yards and a touchdown on 4 targets.

Le’Veon Bell, RB, PIT

Bell took a hard, nasty shot to his head while trying to score a goal-line touchdown Thursday night against the Baltimore Ravens. Unfortunately, the touchdown didn’t stand, as his helmet fell off at the one yard line, and the play was over. Bell took a hard shot to his helmet, and his head snapped back as he hit the ground. Bell was done for the night with a concussion. Bell will enroll in the NFL Concussion Protocol, and will need to show resolution of symptoms, advance sports activities and get clearance from medical providers before he can play again. Hopefully he will recover soon. The Pittsburgh rushing attack is clearly much better with Bell in the line-up, and back-ups Felix Jones and Jonathan Dwyer haven’t done much to warrant a roster spot in fantasy leagues, whether or not Bell is able to play.

Delanie Walker, TE, TEN

In a week filled with concussions, Walker is another name added to the list. Walker was injured in the first quarter, after he was tackled and his helmet hit the turf hard. He did not appear to lose consciousness. Walker will be enrolled in the NFL Concussion Protocol, and will need to have resolution of neurological symptoms, advance through sports-specific activities and be cleared from medical providers before he can play again. Walker has been a sneaky source of production for savvy fantasy owners, posting high-end TE2 numbers, and he has been a top 10 TE the past three games.

It might be time for dynasty owners to pick up Taylor Thompson, as he has had a sharp rise in snaps week 12 against Oakland (40) and week 13 against the Colts (73). He had 3 targets in the week 13 game against the Colts. With Walker potentially missing time, Thompson might get his shot, and dynasty owners may want to grab him now to see if he can produce.

Brandon Weeden, QB, CLE and Christian Ponder, QB, MIN

Weeden and Ponder both suffered concussions, but both are limited to desperation plays for fantasy football owners. Both will be enrolled in the NFL Concussion Protocol and will need to demonstrate resolution of neurological symptoms, advance sports activities and get clearance from medical providers before returning to play. It will be interesting to see how this plays out, as Jason Campbell is recovering from a concussion. Josh Gordon has put up crazy numbers with three quarterbacks this year, so we’ll see if he gets a shot at number four with third-string QB Alex Tanney. Hopefully Campbell will be back this week, but this remains to be determined.

Rashad Jennings, RB, OAK

Jennings sustained a concussion playing against the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday night. He will enroll into the NFL Concussion Protocol, as noted for the previously mentioned players. The Raiders next game is on December 8, 2013 against the New York Jets. Check for updates this week to see if he returns to practice and passes the protocol or not. Darren McFadden had 5 carries for 13 yards, so not exactly an inspiring performance. Nevertheless, if Jennings can’t play, McFadden could get more touches.

DeAngelo Williams, RB, CAR

Williams was inactive for the Carolina Panthers game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with a quadriceps injury. Panthers head coach Ron Rivera expressed concern over the injury. Williams originally injured his quadriceps week 8, and has been dealing with it since that time. It appears he may have aggravated it. Return to play depends on the type and severity of injury. Quadriceps strains can take 4 to 6 weeks to heal completely. Jamaal Charles suffered a quadriceps contusion but did not miss any game time. Williams is expected to return to practice this week, but quadriceps strains are at risk for aggravation if return to play is too soon. It seems odd for this to be only a bruise given the injury occurred in week 8, and if so it should have healed by now. Athletes with muscle strains or contusions usually have to show resolution of pain, normal strength and range of motion before returning to play. Monitor his ability to practice this week and check on updates from the Panthers. Jonathan Stewart didn’t do much, rushing 14 times for 39 yards, and 2 receptions for just 2 yards. Mike Tolbert looked better, getting 9 carries for 48 yards, and added 3 receptions for 41 yards. Cam Newton rushed 5 times for 68 yards and scored a rushing touchdown. It may be best to look elsewhere for running back help, but in PPR leagues, Tolbert may have value as a desperation play.

Lance Dunbar, RB, DAL

Dunbar suffered a knee injury, which is a shame since he was playing quite well against the Oakland Raiders. He finished the game with 12 rushes for 82 yards and 1 reception for 12 yards. Dunbar hyperextended his knee and tore ligaments. Surgery is planned, and his season is over. Joseph Randle and Phillip Tanner are the back-ups, but neither has been impressive this year.

Darrelle Revis, CB, TB

Revis shows up a second time on this injury report. This time, he injured his chest. It is uncertain the nature or severity of the injury, as Buccaneers head coach Greg Schiano was predictably not revealing after the game. This is only relevant given future match-ups, as Revis is not worth starting in most IDP leagues. Weeks 14 to 16, the Buccaneers play Buffalo, San Francisco and St. Louis, so keep that in mind if Revis misses time.

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