Injuries

The midway point of the season approaches; it is now time to batten down the hatches, so to speak. For championship contenders, the playoff push has already begun. No information can be missed during this time, and lucky for fantasy managers The Infirmary is here to assist!

Austin Ekeler was added to the injury report late in the week. That’s never a good sign. However, reports indicate it was due to soreness and he’s likely to play. If he misses, Justin Jackson becomes an obvious play but don’t forget about Joshua Kelley. While rookie Larry Rountree began the season as the No. 3 back, it’s been Kelley the past two weeks. He’s a worthy flier if Ekeler should miss any time. Don’t forget about the potential in that player profile…

Hopefully, Infirmary readers have followed the sage advice of the report and have assembled roster depth that would rival The Avengers (That super hero roster is deeeeep!). It will be needed, as this week seven isn’t that different from post-Thanos-finger-snap in the movies; between the BYES and the injuries, it feels like half of the fantasy football world is missing. It isn’t quite that bad, however. Let’s get into it… Infirmary Assemble!

In a Baltimore offense that is now pass heavy, even if out of necessity, Rashod Bateman may be just what doctor Lamar ordered. Dude has the workout metrics, the college production and is Best Comparable to Stefon Diggs. Remember Odell Beckham’s rookie year? Ready yourself for a bit of Deja Vu.

Taylor Heinicke is running out of pass catchers. Aside from stud Terry McLaurin, the pass-catching talent is lacking. However, DeAndre Carter is a compelling option. After a touchdown catch in Week 4, Carter went on to have a solid game last week, posting four receptions for 62 yards, adding one rush for 11 yards. He’s been around for some time, but does have intriguing aspects to his player profile. Gotta love the cheapies for DFS.

Welcome to Week 5, Mad Caps. In previous years, this was considered the unofficial “quarter mark” of the football season. It is at this point that the fantasy community realizes some things; no one knows as much as they thought they did, and football really hurts (hence, the piling up of bodies in The Infirmary). It’s not likely to get any prettier as the season goes along, but it’s OK! As Aaron Rodgers once said, R-E-L-A-X… The Infirmary has your back!

Dalvin Cook is iffy for the Vikings, but the smart choice is Alexander Mattison in this spot. Even if Cook plays, he’s not likely to get a full workload. Sure, The Infirmary has been low on Mattison, but in his relief appearance against Seattle, Mattison rolled for over 170 all-purpose yards. There’s no reason he can’t do the same against a porous Lions run defense.

The Infirmary is loaded up heading into week 4 and there are some big time names currently tending to their individual ailments. Running backs are beat to hell everywhere, a QB visiting the “Big Apple” will have no one to throw to and the Gronk-a-Saurus will miss a return to his old stomping grounds. Football cares not for an individual’s star power or grand narratives made for television; no, football is cold and heartless. It’s not all bad, though. The Infirmary explains why.

With oft-relied on veteran James White out for the season, the opportunity here lies with J.J. Taylor. While his workout metrics won’t wow you, he did have an 11.15 (78th-percentile among qualified running backs) Agility Score. In addition, his Target Share in college was a stout 11.9-percent, which ranked in the 85th-percentile. The Patriots have been careful to hang on to Taylor; perhaps they’ve been prepared for just such a circumstance. 

There are some key injuries at the running back position. And it looks as though Darrell Henderson is going to miss the game against the Bucs. Unfortunately, the Tampa Bay defense is one of the top units in stopping the run. Michel is a solid DFS option, but in seasonal leagues it might be wise to play the “wait and see” game. In Minnesota, Dalvin Cook is not expected to play, increasing the likelihood of this game becoming an aerial assault for the ages. Just an aside, get K.J. Osborn in those lineups!

If by chance Kenny Golladay were to sit, Darius Slayton becomes very interesting for DFS. For the Cardinals, DeAndre Hopkins seems likely to start but should he not go, bump up the other playmakers in that offense. If both Darnell Mooney and Marquise Goodwin miss Sunday’s game against the Browns, Damiere Byrd is an interesting option, particularly for daily fantasy.

The first week of the 2021 NFL season did not disappoint in many ways. From the opening game to the wild events of the Monday Nighter in Vegas, fans were treated to the usual week one madness and then some. Unfortunately, another aspect carried on like clockwork; injuries. Luckily, The Infirmary is here to keep fantasy managers up to speed. Week 2, bring it on.

Tre’Quan Smith is set up for a big year due to Michael Thomas’ injury situation. Though Marquez Callaway is the clear No. 1 and the beneficiary of Thomas’ absence, Smith was poised to handle the field opposite him. Now, moved to IR with a bad hammy, he’ll have to wait at least three weeks before returning to the field. Meanwhile, the wide receivers behind him are Deonte Harris and Lil’Jordan Humphrey. No one should be excited about these players.

Out of the three new Ravens RBs, Latavius Murray would seem to have the most “gas left in the tank” and fits Gus Edwards’ role perfectly. Expect Murray and Ty’Son Williams to share the workload for at least Week 1, but let’s be real about this, folks. This all likely means that Lamar Jackson will just run it himself more than he ever has, and perhaps, lean more on that passing game like they intended. Either way, it’s hard not to see these running back injuries as a potential bump for the former MVP.

While some (including this particular writer) have never sworn by Sony Michel, one simply can’t ignore the former Patriot’s efficiency last year. He ranked No. 1 among qualified running backs in Yards Per Touch (6.5) and No. 2 in True YPC (5.2); impressive, considering the team faced an average of 7.3 (No. 6) Defenders In Box. In New England, Michel was one of too many cooks in the kitchen; in Los Angeles, however, he forms a nice duo with Henderson on what should be a high-octane offense.

There’s drama in the Bayou, and Michael Thomas is at the forefront. The star wideout’s decision to opt for ankle surgery in June didn’t sit well with the Saints and Coach Sean Payton. Thomas was paced on the PUP list, and won’t be eligible to return until after Week 6; at which point Marquez Callaway may have a firm grip on the No. 1 chair.

The running back position was hit hard this week. Dalvin Cook, Alvin Kamara and Miles Sanders join James Robinson in sitting out. Alexander Mattison will fill in for Cook, but hasn’t always looked good when doing so. However, this week he’ll face the atrocious Lions run defense. Get him in those DFS lineups!

The Rams need a win to stay in the playoff hunt, and will be down their quarterback in addition to Cooper Kupp. With Jared Goff sidelined, John Wolford will start under center instead of the maligned veteran Blake Bortles. The move is intriguing, as is Wolford’s player profile. As a senior for Wake Forest, the QB ran for 683 yards and 10 touchdowns. He posted a 10.96 (95th-percentile among qualified quarterbacks) Agility Score. Someone say Konami Code?