The Trainer's Table
Saturday November 5, 2005
Football is a violent game. Didn't want to be the first to tell you that, but I think it should be said. As such, playing the fantasy version of it is different from baseball when it comes to dealing with injuries. For example, if you drafted Albert Pujols in the first round of your baseball draft and in May the Cardinals announced he'd miss one-third of the season with an ankle injury, you'd jump off of a building. And if you didn't do it because of the announcement, you'd do it right after picking up Tino Martinez off the waiver wire to replace him.
However, Julius Jones gets hurt and you pick up Tyson Thompson and Anthony Thomas. Then when neither of them pan out, so you get Marion Barber. No problem. And if Barber gets hurt, you'll pick Thompson back up. You see, injuries are not only a part of fantasy football, they're expected and most weeks the game devolves into who gets up the earliest on Monday to get the best team for the week. So pay attention to the injuries discussed below and then watch the reports Sunday evening to see who got hurt. At least that's what I do.
BYE WEEK
Buffalo: The Bills are relatively healthy right now, but still aren't settled with their QB situation. There is talk of looking to JP Losman again, but if they're talking about the same Losman who started the season for them, then one has to wonder what team the Buffalo brass has been watching (and why they apparently hate WR Eric Moulds).
Dallas: RB Julius Jones is still not practicing, which makes his owners sad and RB Marion Barber owners happy. I'm happy. However, the Cowboys did cut RB Anthony Thomas, so they are either happy with RB Tyson Thompson as a backup, or they expect Jones healthy very soon.
Denver: Even though TE/OL Dwayne Carsell is out for the season, it's good to report his condition has been upgraded after that terrible automobile accident. CB Champ Bailey hopes the bye week will heal his hammy, but it was painful watching TO run by him like he was standing still. The Broncos may have to do what's best for the team and sit Bailey for a game or two.
St. Louis: Talk about a well-timed bye week. It's expected that QB Marc Bulger and WR Torry Holt will be back next week against the Seahawks. However, WR Isaac Bruce may still be out.
SUNDAY'S GAMES
ATLANTA @ MIAMIFalcons: WR Michael Jenkins and FB TJ Duckett are both listed as Questionable. Jenkins likely won't start but Duckett should.Dolphins: WR David Boston is Questionable, but likely won't play. Since he has a grand total of four receptions this year, I hope his playing status isn't an issue for you. CB Sam Madison and OLB Junior Seau are Sunday morning decisions.
CAROLINA @ TAMPA BAYPanthers: RB Stephen Davis is Probable, as in "Probable to Score a TD." His knee is a little shaky, but he'll go. Last week he had 40 yards and 2 TDs. Yeah, that's fair.Buccaneers: RB Michael Pittman is listed as Questionable, but all indications are he will play Sunday. Also, RB Carnell Williams appears to be fully healed and should be more like the Week 1 back than the Week 5 version. With QB Chris Simms unable to beat SF last week, expect a lot of the Ground Chuckie offense against Carolina.
CINCINNATI @ BALTIMOREBengals: RB Rudi Johnson is Probable, as in "Probable Not to Score a TD." He's been the anti-Davis with only 2 scores this year. His handcuff, RB Chris Perry (who is also listed as Probable), has a similar yards per carry (4.4 vs. Johnson's 4.2) and has no scores. This is not the team you want to be mining RBs from. WR Chad Johnson -- who is averaging 15 yards per catch -- is playing through a bad shoulder but is a good start.Ravens: MLB Ray Lewis is likely out this weekend, but his replacement, LB Tommy Polley, played well on Monday Night and is a good IDP fill in. WR Mark Clayton is listed as Questionable, but seeing as he has 12 receptions and less than 100 total yards for the year, it's just not an issue. QB Kyle Boller is still a couple of weeks from returning, but AB Anthony Wright is ensuring Boller has job security when he returns. It's the opposite of that Lou Gehrig/Wally Pipp thing.
Source: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/
Football is a violent game. Didn't want to be the first to tell you that, but I think it should be said. As such, playing the fantasy version of it is different from baseball when it comes to dealing with injuries. For example, if you drafted Albert Pujols in the first round of your baseball draft and in May the Cardinals announced he'd miss one-third of the season with an ankle injury, you'd jump off of a building. And if you didn't do it because of the announcement, you'd do it right after picking up Tino Martinez off the waiver wire to replace him.
However, Julius Jones gets hurt and you pick up Tyson Thompson and Anthony Thomas. Then when neither of them pan out, so you get Marion Barber. No problem. And if Barber gets hurt, you'll pick Thompson back up. You see, injuries are not only a part of fantasy football, they're expected and most weeks the game devolves into who gets up the earliest on Monday to get the best team for the week. So pay attention to the injuries discussed below and then watch the reports Sunday evening to see who got hurt. At least that's what I do.
BYE WEEK
Buffalo: The Bills are relatively healthy right now, but still aren't settled with their QB situation. There is talk of looking to JP Losman again, but if they're talking about the same Losman who started the season for them, then one has to wonder what team the Buffalo brass has been watching (and why they apparently hate WR Eric Moulds).
Dallas: RB Julius Jones is still not practicing, which makes his owners sad and RB Marion Barber owners happy. I'm happy. However, the Cowboys did cut RB Anthony Thomas, so they are either happy with RB Tyson Thompson as a backup, or they expect Jones healthy very soon.
Denver: Even though TE/OL Dwayne Carsell is out for the season, it's good to report his condition has been upgraded after that terrible automobile accident. CB Champ Bailey hopes the bye week will heal his hammy, but it was painful watching TO run by him like he was standing still. The Broncos may have to do what's best for the team and sit Bailey for a game or two.
St. Louis: Talk about a well-timed bye week. It's expected that QB Marc Bulger and WR Torry Holt will be back next week against the Seahawks. However, WR Isaac Bruce may still be out.
SUNDAY'S GAMES
ATLANTA @ MIAMIFalcons: WR Michael Jenkins and FB TJ Duckett are both listed as Questionable. Jenkins likely won't start but Duckett should.Dolphins: WR David Boston is Questionable, but likely won't play. Since he has a grand total of four receptions this year, I hope his playing status isn't an issue for you. CB Sam Madison and OLB Junior Seau are Sunday morning decisions.
CAROLINA @ TAMPA BAYPanthers: RB Stephen Davis is Probable, as in "Probable to Score a TD." His knee is a little shaky, but he'll go. Last week he had 40 yards and 2 TDs. Yeah, that's fair.Buccaneers: RB Michael Pittman is listed as Questionable, but all indications are he will play Sunday. Also, RB Carnell Williams appears to be fully healed and should be more like the Week 1 back than the Week 5 version. With QB Chris Simms unable to beat SF last week, expect a lot of the Ground Chuckie offense against Carolina.
CINCINNATI @ BALTIMOREBengals: RB Rudi Johnson is Probable, as in "Probable Not to Score a TD." He's been the anti-Davis with only 2 scores this year. His handcuff, RB Chris Perry (who is also listed as Probable), has a similar yards per carry (4.4 vs. Johnson's 4.2) and has no scores. This is not the team you want to be mining RBs from. WR Chad Johnson -- who is averaging 15 yards per catch -- is playing through a bad shoulder but is a good start.Ravens: MLB Ray Lewis is likely out this weekend, but his replacement, LB Tommy Polley, played well on Monday Night and is a good IDP fill in. WR Mark Clayton is listed as Questionable, but seeing as he has 12 receptions and less than 100 total yards for the year, it's just not an issue. QB Kyle Boller is still a couple of weeks from returning, but AB Anthony Wright is ensuring Boller has job security when he returns. It's the opposite of that Lou Gehrig/Wally Pipp thing.
Source: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/
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