Bruno Boys Fantasy Football

Football is a violent sport, especially when it is played at the NFL level. The viciousness of the game is part of what has made many of us fans. Baseball may have the moniker of America’s Pastime, but football is the greatest sport in the world. Football has all the beauty of a ballet (well my wife says ballets are beautiful anyway) and the violence of a car accident - and you all know you slow down at a car accident to see what kind of damage has been done.

One problem that occurs in such a violent game is injuries. Injuries are not only a problem when they happen to key players on your favorite NFL team, they can be a major problem when they happen to key players on your fantasy football team. It is even a bigger problem when an injury occurs this late in the season as we are making our crucial push for playoff positioning. So, as you start preparing your fantasy lineup for what is likely a big Week 9 fantasy football game, the Bruno Boys are once again hear to take a look at some of the news around the NFL and analyze the possible fantasy football impact. This week we will look at a long list of injuries, as well as the possible retirement of a former Pro-Bowl running back.

Owen Daniels has torn ACL, will miss rest of the season

Houston Texans tight end, Owen Daniels, was well on his way to shattering his career highs in all statistical categories, while becoming one of the elite tight ends in the NFL and in fantasy football. Unfortunately, he suffered a torn ACL during the team’s Week 8 game against the Buffalo Bills. The injury is expected to land him on the injured reserve, ending his season.

Daniels who had become an important part of the Texans’ potent offensive attack had 40 receptions for 519 yards with five touchdowns before the season ending injury. Like we said, he had become an elite tight end and had become a weekly must-start fantasy player, but it now appears safe to drop Daniels from your roster and start searching for a replacement for the rest of this season. He is worth keeping on your roster if you have an injury spot available in keeper and dynasty leagues that have a dedicated tight end position, as he could enter the 2010 season as a top-five fantasy tight end; if he is able to return from this injury before the start of next season.

Brian Westbrook practices Wednesday, cleared to play against Cowboys

After suffering a concussion against the Washington Redskins in Week 7 and missing the Eagles game during Week 8, Philadelphia running back Brian Westbrook was able to practice in full on Wednesday, and according to head coach Andy Reid, he has been cleared to play this Sunday.

This is excellent news for fantasy owners who likely drafted Westbrook as one of their top-two running backs and will need him for the stretch run to the playoffs. The Eagles will take on the NFC East division rival Dallas Cowboys this week. It appears safe to insert Westbrook into your starting lineup this week, as long as he doesn’t suffer any set backs in practice. He is averaging 89.3 yards per game with nine touchdowns in 14 career games against the Cowboys, and he should be used as a No. 2 running back option this week.

Calvin Johnson practices with the first team, will be a game time decision Sunday

Detroit Lions wide receiver, Calvin Johnson, who has missed the team’s last two games dating back to Week 6, practiced with the first team on Wednesday. It is the first time in three weeks he has been involved in a full practice, but according to head coach Jim Schwartz, he will be a game time decision Sunday when the Lions travel to Seattle to take on the Seahawks.

Johnson was also a game time decision last week when Detroit took on the St. Louis Rams, but he did not end up playing; although last week he only practiced on a very limited basis. Fantasy owners should monitor this situation up until game time when the Lions come out with their official inactive list, but the fact that he is practicing in full is a good sign. If he is active for Sunday’s game, he should be used as WR2 against a Seahawks’ defense that is ranked No. 18 against the pass and has given up 10 passing touchdowns this season.

Roddy White appears on injury report with knee injury, questionable for Week 9

For the first time this season Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Roddy White has appeared on the team’s injury report. He has a knee injury and did not practice Wednesday, but coming off a Monday night game the entire team had the day off. It has been reported, though, that if there would have been practice on Wednesday, he would have sat out.

The extent of the injury has not been reported, but he is officially listed as questionable for this week’s match-up against the Washington Redskins. Owners should not be concerned unless he does not return to practice by Thursday or Friday. White has 37 receptions for 543 yards with six touchdowns this season and has scored at least one touchdown in four straight games. The Redskins are allowing just 164.9 passing yards per game and have given up just six passing touchdowns in seven games, but White is one of the hottest receivers in the NFL, and if healthy, he should be used as a low-end WR1.

Kevin Smith injures shoulder against St. Louis, missed practice on Wednesday

Detroit Lions running back Kevin Smith left the team’s Week 8 game against the St. Louis Rams with a left shoulder injury, and he did not practice on Wednesday. He is officially listed as questionable for the Lions game this Sunday against the Seahawks. He had injured the shoulder earlier in the year, but has not missed a game due to the injury.

Continue to monitor this situation throughout the week, if he is able to play consider Smith a No. 2 running back this week against a Seahawks team that is ranked No. 10 against the run, while giving up 101.3 rushing yards per game and six touchdowns. If Smith is unable to play this week, backup Maurice Morris will likely get the start against his former team and should be considered a solid flex option.

Devin Hester misses practice Wednesday with injured ankle

Chicago Bears wide receiver, Devin Hester, missed Wednesdays practice with what is believed to be a slight ankle sprain suffered in the team’s victory last week over the Cleveland Browns. He is listed at questionable for Sunday’s match-up with the Arizona Cardinals, but according to a report out of the Chicago Sun-Times Hester stated after practice Wednesday, “I’m alright. I am going to play.”

With six or more receptions and 80+ yards in each of the last three games, Hester is becoming a valuable fantasy option. He should be used as a low-end WR2 this week in a good match-up against a Cardinals’ team that is giving up 233 receiving yards per game and 11 receiving touchdowns thus far this season. If you plan on using Hester in your lineup this week, you should have a backup plan in place just in case he has a setback.

Anquan Boldin rests injured ankle, misses another practice

Arizona Cardinals wide receiver, Anquan Boldin, has been dealing with a high ankle sprain for several weeks now. He has missed a lot of practice time, including Wednesday this week, but he has not missed any games. He has had just three catches in each of the team’s past two games and has not scored a touchdown since Week 3. Head coach Ken Whisenhunt suggested the possibility of resting Boldin this week, so that he will be better prepared for the rest of the season.

Whisenhunt said Wednesday that Boldin is day-to-day and that they’ll do what is in the best interest of the team. Consider Boldin a low-end No. 2 wide receiver this week when the Cardinals take on the Chicago Bears if he plays, but he is an injury risk, and it seems like there is a good possibility that he will not play. He is coming off a game in which he had just 23 receiving yards, and he has yet to total more than 100 yards in a game this season. As such, you might be better served to find a different option at wide receiver this week.

Donald Driver misses practice with neck injury, expects to play Week 9

Green Bay Packers wide receiver, Donald Driver, sat out of Wednesday’s practice with a sore neck. He injured his neck in the fourth quarter of Green Bay’s loss to the Minnesota Vikings last week. He had six receptions for 63 yards in the game, and it was just the third time this season he was held under 80 receiving yards.

When asked about the injury after Wednesday’s practice, Driver said, “I’m fine. I’m great.” He appeared to be in a good mood, and Packers’ head coach Mike McCarthy did not mention Driver’s injury in the media briefing. All this leads us to believe that he is fine and should be able to play on Sunday against Tampa Bay. Driver has 33 catches for 542 yards with three touchdowns through seven games and has outshone Green Bay’s top wide-out Greg Jennings in most games this season. Make sure you follow up on this injury throughout the week, but it appears safe to insert Driver into your lineup as a WR2 against a Buccaneers’ pass defense that has given up a lot of big plays this season.

Jamal Lewis plans to retire as seasons end

Following Cleveland’s loss to the Chicago Bears on Sunday, Browns’ running back, Jamal Lewis, announced that he plans on retiring at the end of the season. He is a former Pro-Bowler who is in his 10th NFL season and just last week moved into 21st place on the NFL’s career rushing list.

Lewis is not playing this week as Cleveland is on a bye, but this announcement should not affect his status on the field or in fantasy football. The Browns have not played well this season, and Lewis has only managed double digit fantasy points once this season. He will be best used as flex play in most match-ups this season. Jerome Harrison should continue to give Lewis a push for playing time as the Browns will need to evaluate what they have at running back for the future.

Week 9 Rankings:  QB  |  RB  |  WR  |  TE |  K |  DEF   (click to read)

Week 9 Start & Sit:  START ‘EM |  SIT ‘EM     (click to read)

Week 9 Waiver Wire Advice:  PICK THEM UP  |  CUT THEM LOOSE      (click to read)

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