The Dynasty Doctor: Week Nine Injury Report

Scott Peak Posted On November 4, 2014

dynodocinjury

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.

Nick Foles, QB PHI

Foles sustained a shoulder injury and was unable to return to the game. The injury is a crack in his clavicle. Return to play depends on where the fracture is located on the clavicle. Mid-shaft fractures are the most common, and recovery usually takes 6-12 weeks. We have seen exceptions to this rule (Marques Colston), but 6-12 weeks is the common scenario. Foles is expected to be out at least those six weeks and this is the typical amount of time it takes for bone union to occur. Given we are more than halfway through the fantasy season, Foles may not be usable this year. I’m not concerned about this injury adversely impacting his dynasty value, but if Mark Sanchez performs well, that could be an issue for Foles’ dynasty value.

[am4show have=’g1;’ guest_error=’sub_message’ user_error=’sub_message’ ]

Tony Romo, QB DAL

Romo was unable to play this week after sustaining two transverse process fractures on his spinal column. Transverse processes are located on the back of the spine, outside the spinal canal that contains the spinal cord. Transverse processes do not impact stability of the spine, but can be painful. For quarterbacks, twisting motion with throws might aggravate the pain. Still, I doubt this will keep Romo out long, and there is talk he may be back next week. Hopefully so, as Brandon Weeden played terrible football, sharply reducing the expected output for both Dez Bryant and Terrance Williams.

Arian Foster, RB HOU

Foster injured his groin and left the game. Timetable on return to play depends on the injury grade. Grade 1 injuries can resolve in a week, while grade 2 and 3 injuries take longer (2-3 weeks vs 6-8 weeks). Foster’s dynasty value is on the decline and this latest injury isn’t helping. Hopefully Foster can make it back, as his remaining schedule looks good, with games against Cleveland, Tennessee, Jacksonville and Indianapolis. Houston has a bye week 10, so let’s wait and see if one week off will help Foster return faster. Alfred Blue is next up, and if he’s on waivers, grab him.

Lamar Miller, RB MIA

Miller injured his shoulder and it is an AC joint sprain (similar to Jordan Cameron and Jimmy Graham). Miller has a history of shoulder injuries that required surgery in college. Athletes with grade II AC joint sprains typically return-to-play in 2-4 weeks, and more severe sprains can take longer (2 months). Miller is subject to more abuse as a running back to his shoulders, and this is a situation to monitor closely. If it’s a mild injury Miller could play this week but it wouldn’t surprise me if this turns out to be a multi-week injury.

Wes Welker, WR DEN

Welker has another injury (this time to his back) and was unable to return. He started off decent this year, with 16 receptions for 168 yards and a touchdown his first four games. But, his past two games have been less productive (five receptions for 31 yards). Welker’s dynasty value is nearly worthless and owners might be wise to trade him for a late draft pick.

DeMeco Ryans, LB PHI

Ryans sustained another torn Achilles tendon, and is out for the year. Tough injury for Ryans, but he was able to return to play a full season in 2011 after his first torn Achilles tendon in 2010. Still, he will be 31 years old, and a recovery from a torn Achilles tendon is hard to predict. He was having a solid season with 39 tackles through eight games. Mychal Kendricks just got back from injury and had a solid game against Houston (12 tackles, 5 solos, 1 sack). Casey Matthews stepped in for Kendricks and had a decent game against the St. Louis Rams (6 tackles, 5 solos, 1 assist), so he is worth a pick-up if he is available on waivers in IDP leagues. Ryans is a hold in IDP dynasty leagues with deep rosters, but is droppable in leagues with more shallow rosters.

[/am4show]