Week 10 of the NFL season was filled with injuries. Lots of them. It seemed like players were dropping like flies, getting injured in every matchup.
Against Carolina, Falcons running back Michael Turner went down with a high ankle sprain, and his availability for this week has yet to be discussed by Atlanta.
Against the Steelers, Bengals running back Cedric Benson was injured after running seven times for 22 yards. His injury has been described as a sore hip flexor and he is likely to play Sunday against the Raiders.
The Eagles star running back, Brian Westbrook, was knocked out of Sunday’s game against San Diego early, suffering his second concussion of the season on the opening drive of the game.
A vital part of Miami’s “Wildcat” offense also went down with an injury last week. Running back/do-everything back Ronnie Brown hobbled off the field favoring his right ankle. As of now it is being described as a serious right ankle injury that doesn’t pose a threat to the remainder of his season, but likely will keep him out of Thursday night’s game against Carolina.
After completing 11-of-18 passes for 193 yards and two touchdowns in the first half of the game (both to WR Brandon Marshall), resurgent Broncos quarterback Kyle Orton went down with an ankle injury and is listed as questionable for this weeks’ game against the Chargers.
Julius Jones of the Seahawks was originally thought to have a broken rib and bleeding into his left lung. However, Jones’ injury is a bruised lung, but he is still listed as doubtful for this week’s game.
Cleveland’s return specialist, slot wide receiver and “Wildcat” option player Josh Cribbs was injured on a hook-and-ladder try at the end of the Brown’s embarrassing loss to the Ravens on Monday Night Football. Reports have said Cribbs should be fine, but he was carted off the field in case of a possible concussion.
Other notable, but perhaps less serious, injuries include Panthers wideout Steve Smith’s minor rib injury, Colts running back Joseph Addai’s injured fingers and Marion Barber’s lingering thumb issues.
While this long list of injuries will put their team’s in a tight spot this week, fantasy owners could end up benefitting from week 10’s carnage. Keep an eye on all of these player’s back-ups this week, some of them could end up being worthy of a pickup, based on their matchups.
Here are a few other suggestions I have for week 11:
- Quarterbacks
Start:
Brett Favre, Vikings — Detroit in week 10, then Seattle in week 11? Wow. Against the Lions, Favre threw for 344 yards and a touchdown. He connected with Sidney Rice for 201 of those yards. Against the Seahawks expect more of the same from the seasoned vet and the upcoming wideout.
Bench:
Aaron Rodgers, Packers — Is this 49ers defense for real? Two weeks ago against Indianapolis it held Peyton Manning out of the end zone and last week picked off Jay Cutler five times. I don’t know what it is about this defense, but I would go with a better matchup if at all possible.
- Running backs
Start:
Beanie Wells, Cardinals — Wells has received four double-digit carry games out of the team’s last five games. In the past two games he has rushed for over 70 yards and scored a touchdown this past week against the Seahawks. This week Wells faces the Rams, a team Reggie Bush just had his breakout game of the season against.
Bench:
Jamaal Charles, Chiefs — While his 18 carries for 108 yards and a touchdown game looks rather impressive in his first start as the team’s No. 1 running back, don’t expect him to do the same against the Steelers. He might be useful in a couple of games later in the season and should probably just be used as a matchup-style player.
- Wide receivers
Start:
Calvin Johnson, Lions — While his numbers haven’t been too exciting since hurting his knee earlier this season, look for Johnson to make it up to you this week against the Browns. If he can put up 84 yards against a team like the Vikings, imagine what he will do against the Browns. Im guessing 100 plus. And it pains me to say that.
Bench:
Brandon Marshall, Broncos — I know, he had an amazing game last week. But the majority of his 134 yards came in the first half with a little help from Orton. Both of his touchdown passes came in the first half as well, and he didn’t perform well with Chris Simms under center. If Orton can’t go this week, I wouldn’t trust Simms to be able to get Marshall the ball with any degree of regularity.
Jonas Swecker can be contacted at swecker@marshall.edu.
Be the first to comment on this article!