The Dynasty Doctor: Week 14 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.

Todd Gurley, RB STL

Gurley reportedly banged his knee and missed the fourth quarter. He sure gave the Detroit Lions a bang, rushing 16 times for 140 yards and two touchdowns. He added one reception for seven yards. The injury was downplayed after the game, but he did miss the fourth quarter from it. Head coach Jeff Fisher pronounced Gurley “fine” on Monday and he will start this week. Disaster appears to have been averted. The Rams get Tampa Bay in week 15 on Thursday Night Football.

Greg Olsen, TE CAR

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Olsen injured a knee and was unable to return. Olsen’s left leg got caught underneath him and twisted a bit as he went down. He was able to walk off the field without assistance. It is encouraging that signs point to no ACL injury, and that likely means examination of his knee did not show looseness or instability suspicious for an ACL injury. After the game, Carolina Panthers head coach Ron Rivera said Olsen would be “fine”. Olsen had three receptions for 52 yards on four targets for the day. The Panthers throttled the Atlanta Falcons 38-0, and this seems more precautionary in nature. Monitor is practice participation but it sounds like he should play against the New York Giants in week 15.

Andy Dalton, QB CIN

Dalton will miss the rest of the fantasy season with a fractured right thumb. The injury was just bad luck, as Dalton hit his right hand on the knee of Pittsburgh Steelers’ defensive end Stephon Tuitt. This is likely at least a three-four week injury, and fantasy owners will be without his services just as championship games are being determined. AJ McCarron did have 22 completions with 280 yards and two touchdowns, along with three rushes for eight yards. McCarron is worth a look in 2QB leagues and for owners who don’t have a reliable back-up QB. I don’t expect this injury to adversely impact Dalton’s dynasty value.

Thomas Rawls, RB SEA

It’s been a tough year for Seattle running backs. Rawls suffered a broken ankle and will be out for the year. Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll doesn’t think he will need surgery. Acute ankle fractures are multi-week injuries, and return to sport can take three months or longer. Good news is that outcomes for ankle fractures are quite positive and I don’t expect this to adversely impact his dynasty value. It will be interesting to see if Marshawn Lynch can return for week 16, but starting him would be risky. Lynch has a cap hit of $11.5 million 2016, and $5 million dead cap space if the Seahawks cut him. Given his importance to the team, and Seahawks having a tough time with injuries at running back this year, I wouldn’t be surprised if he is still in Seattle next year. According to overthecap.com, Seattle has a cap number of $122 million for 2016, and potential free agents next year are not too troublesome. The NFL salary cap may rise above $150 million next year, so Seattle should have space to keep Lynch around.

Tyler Eifert, TE CIN

Eifert can’t seem to stay healthy; this time suffering a concussion. Eifert will be enrolled in the NFL concussion protocol and will need to have resolution of concussion-related symptoms and be cleared by medical providers before returning to play. It seems like NFL players with head injuries are being held out longer this year, and that would be especially tough given the next two weeks will determine championships. Plus, Eifert lost his quarterback today to injury. Monitor Eifert’s ability to clear the concussion protocol, and have a replacement ready just in case he misses time.

Jonathan Stewart, RB CAR

Stewart sustained a foot injury and was removed from the game. After the game, Panthers head coach Ron Rivera felt Stewart would be “fine”. Stewart rushed ten times for 75 yards and a touchdown. He pitched in one catch for 14 yards. Stewart is presently the RB14 in PPR leagues. Carolina has incredibly tasty match-ups remaining (New York Giants in week 15 and Atlanta Falcons in week 16), so hopefully Stewart will return soon. The Panthers are undefeated and fantasy owners might need to be more concerned about Rivera resting his stars, especially after having close-calls with Olsen and Stewart this week.

T.J. Yeldon, RB JAC

Yeldon injured a knee and was unable to return to play. Yeldon has had a tough time staying healthy this season, but has all the appearances of a franchise running back. Yeldon had 11 rushes for 62 yards and a one yard reception. Denard Robinson replaced Yeldon and had 14 rushes for 75 yards and one touchdown, with one catch for 12 yards. Monitor whether Yeldon can return to practice and we’ll see if he can play week 15. No updates as of Monday though. I’m a buyer in dynasty formats.

Vincent Jackson, WR TB

Jackson re-injured his knee and was removed from the game. He sustained a sprained MCL. Post-game comments didn’t sound promising, and it sounds like he could be out awhile. It seems likely that Jackson may miss the remainder of the fantasy season. Mike Evans may get a few more looks and could benefit from Jackson’s absence.

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