The Dynasty Doctor: Week 12

Scott Peak Posted On November 29, 2016

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.

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Rob Gronkowski, TE NE

Gronkowski has a back injury and was seen “walking gingerly” after the game, per Rotoworld. Gronkowski has a history of back injuries and surgeries for them. Gronkowski was active, but gave his owners no fantasy points. Back injuries can be tricky and hard to predict. It’s not unusual to have recurrence of them for those who have a history of multi-level disc herniation. The spine has a series of vertebral bodies and discs that stack on top of each other. Once a level or two have been altered by prior injuries/surgery, distribution of weight isn’t even and that can result in disc herniation above and/or below the prior injury. Monitor Gronkowski’s practice participation this week and we’ll see if he can play week 12. It’s hard to knock down his dynasty value given his elite production when healthy.

Derek Carr, QB OAK

Carr reportedly dislocated his fifth digit (pinky) on his throwing hand but was able to return to play. Carr had a solid game (26 completions, 315 yards, two touchdowns and one interception). This probably isn’t a concern and it is worth noting that Carr was able to play through the injury.

Lamar Miller, RB HOU

Miller aggravated an ankle injury and was unable to return to play. Miller had a subpar game against the Chargers (19 carries for 57 yards, three receptions for 18 yards). Aggravations of ankle injuries are a concern. The Texans reportedly think Miller will be okay. Monitor his practice participation this week. Given Brock Osweiler is a disaster (246 yards passing, no touchdowns, three interceptions), it’s hard to trust anyone in the Houston offense. I’m not looking to buy Miller in dynasty.

Allen Hurns, WR JAC

Hurns left the game with a hamstring injury. Depending on the severity, he could miss 1-3 weeks (grade 1), 4-6 weeks (grade 2) or longer (grade 3). We’ll see if he can practice this week. Hurns wasn’t much of a factor but he did save his fantasy day with a touchdown on his only catch. Marqise Lee is having a resurgence (four receptions for 37 yards, 1 touchdown). Allen Robinson had a poor showing (two receptions for 24 yards). It’s hard to trust anyone on the Jacksonville offense.

John Brown, WR ARI

Brown left the game with a hamstring injury. He has had a terrible season, and is the WR69 in PPR formats. Brown has only had three useful games for fantasy this season (weeks three, four and eight). Otherwise, he’s been unreliable. The ADP as of November is WR38 for Brown, ahead of Jamison Crowder, Tyler Lockett, Jeremy Maclin, Larry Fitzgerald and Golden Tate. Brown is overpriced right now in dynasty, and I expect his ADP to fall. I’m not a buyer.

DeVante Parker, WR MIA

Parker sustained a back injury and was unable to return to play. After the game, Parker downplayed the severity of the injury. Parker had a decent game (three receptions for 64 yards and a touchdown). The injury doesn’t sound serious but monitor his ability to practice this week. I’m a buyer of Parker in dynasty.

Christopher Ivory, RB JAC

Oft-injured Ivory left the game with a hamstring injury. He was having a nice game (nine carries, 44 yards, one touchdown and one reception for 11 yards). T.J. Yeldon was a surprise active, but continued his poor play (six carries for 17 yards, one catch for three yards). Ivory has missed three games this year and may miss a few more. Ivory has minimal dynasty value (RB51, ADP 164).

Jordan Reed, TE WAS

Reed injured his shoulder but returned to play and had a huge game (ten receptions, 95 yards and two touchdowns). After the game, Reed reportedly had difficulty using his left arm, and the injury has been called a grade 3 AC joint separation. If Reed has a grade 3 AC joint sprain, conservative treatment may require 4-6 weeks of immobilization and a return to play of 6 to 12 weeks. Even with conservative treatment, this timeline would unfortunately render Reed not useful for fantasy players for the remainder of 2016. Reed has a lengthy history of injuries. If he’s available at a discount from exasperated dynasty owners, I’d be looking to acquire him in dynasty, as he is clearly an elite player when he’s on the field. I wouldn’t overpay for him though.

Odell Beckham Jr, WR NYG

Beckham gave dynasty owners anxiety with a thumb injury but was able to return and had an OBJ-type game (six receptions, 96 yards and two touchdowns). It appears that disaster was averted, but watch his practice participation this week.

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