DLF’s Weekly Impact Events

Ryan McDowell

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We’re near the halfway point of the NFL regular season and news continues to roll in, with every blurb making waves on your dynasty team. Sometimes that means a starting player lost for the year, or it could mean a breakout rookie rising up the dynasty ranks. Either way, its imperative you stay on top of the latest news and we’re here to help.

DeVante Parker, WR MIA

Rookie receiver DeVante Parker has played sparingly for the Dolphins this season, but he was on the field late in Miami’s loss to the Patriots, only to be forced to leave with a foot injury. Typically, this might not register as big news, but remember, Parker missed a large part of his senior season at Louisville with a foot injury and was then forced to have another procedure this past off-season. Head coach Dan Campbell has said Parker is fine, but considering he already wasn’t a major part of the offense, this could be a lost rookie season for the first round receiver.

Carlos Hyde, RB SF

Word broke about a week ago that 49ers’ running back Carlos Hyde was dealing with a stress fracture in his foot, and would attempt to play through the injury. While just a layman, this seemed like a situation that was sure to end poorly. Sure enough, he struggled in Week Seven and has already been ruled out for this weekend’s game. A San Francisco beat writer reports he could miss the next several weeks and may not return until Week Eleven. With the 49ers season not going well, I wouldn’t even be surprised if we didn’t see Hyde return to the field this year.

Stevan Ridley, RB NYJ

The Jets activated former Patriots’ running back Stevan Ridley off the PUP list this week, making him immediately eligible to play. After struggling on his way out of New England and dealing with an ACL tear in addition, he has lost the majority of his dynasty value. With starter Chris Ivory battling injury issues, as he often does, Ridley could get the chance to recoup that value sooner than most would expect. If he’s sitting on your waiver wire, he’s definitely worth scooping up, provided you have the roster space.

Joseph Randle, RB DAL

[inlinead]This may have been the worst week of Joseph Randle’s career, and that’s really saying something. First, he suffered an injury in the team’s Week Seven game, providing Darren McFadden a chance to shine in his place. Next, Randle was demoted in favor of McFadden and did not respond well, going AWOL from the team. Finally, it was reported that he was facing a one or two game suspension stemming from a domestic issue last off-season. Randle’s dynasty value and his place on the team are quickly slipping away.

David Cobb, RB TEN

With the Titans’ running game in shambles, being led of late by former undrafted free agent Antonio Andrews, beat writers are projecting a big role for rookie David Cobb when he returns to the field. He is currently on the injured reserve list, but designated to return soon. Andrews is far from a special talent and Bishop Sankey has almost no value left. Cobb could win this job by default. A big game or two and dynasty owners will be faced with the ideal sell high.

Orleans Darkwa, RB NYG

One of the surprises of Week Seven was Giants’ running back Orleans Darkwa, who came out of nowhere to crash New York’s running back rotation. He led the team in carries and scored the Giants’ lone rushing touchdown. There is speculation he has earned a larger role going forward, which could cost Andre Williams playing time. While I was impressed with Darkwa last week, it’s difficult to envision any running back carrying much dynasty value in the Giants’ three (or four) headed backfield.

Darren Waller, WR BAL

The Baltimore Ravens placed rookie wide receiver Darren Waller on the injured reserve list, ending his first season with only a pair of receptions. Waller is a big bodied pass-catcher whom many projected as a tight end, but even with the Ravens’ lack of receiving options he couldn’t break through. Waller has no dynasty value at this time and can be dropped in all but the very deepest leagues.

Arian Foster, RB HOU

The major news of the past week was the Achilles injury suffered by All-Pro running back Arian Foster. He had excelled this season, even after missing the team’s opening three games, but this major injury not only spells the end of his season, but possibly the end of his Texans career. Don’t be surprised if he is let go this coming off-season, considering his potential high salary and the difficulty in coming back from such a severe injury. Whether it’s with the Texans or another team, Foster may never be the same after this injury. In his place, Houston will turn to a combination of Alfred Blue, Chris Polk and Jonathan Grimes. None are special talents, though all should be rostered in most dynasty leagues. Predicting who will be the lead back from week to week will be a challenge, meaning its likely better we avoid this backfield altogether.

Kevin White, WR CHI

Lost in the Foster injury news was the quote from Bears’ rookie receiver Kevin White, stating he was unlikely to play this season. It seems this has been widely assumed by most in the dynasty community, but now we’re getting closer to making it official. Considering he will be a 24 year-old rookie in 2016 with one strong college season and a major leg injury, he’ll be a player I avoid in all league formats. For those that still believe in him, now is the time to buy.

Ryan Mallett, QB FA

The Texans released quarterback Ryan Mallett, signing TJ Yates to replace him. Mallett famously overslept, missing a practice during training camp, as captured by HBO cameras for this season’s Hard Knocks and it was clear there was some conflict between him and other members of the team and coaching staff. Even so, he did earn some playing time this season, but once Brian Hoyer took over for the second time about a month ago, the team was his. With his struggles on the field and obvious poor attitude off, Mallett may have to wait to get another shot at a job in this league.

Phillip Dorsett, WR IND

Colts’ rookie receiver Phillip Dorsett suffered a broken left leg, which will require surgery. Early reports are that he will be able to return to the team this season, but could miss as many as six weeks. Often times, teams find they are desperate for a roster spot and players like this land on the injured reserve list. Time will tell if this will be the case with Dorsett. The former Miami receiver has flashed at times this season, but has not been a consistent weapon for the Colts. Like White, now is the time to buy if you’re a Dorsett fan.

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ryan mcdowell