Injury Recap: Week 7
While no one wants it to happen, each week players are bound to go down with injuries. In each weekly Injury Recap article, we will go over the fantasy relevant players that got injured, how significant each injury is, and which players will benefit/suffer from this injury.
Melvin Gordon (RB, San Diego Chargers)
Injury: Hamstring, Strained Hamstring
A surprise benching for Melvin Gordon likely hurt Gordon fantasy owners who didn’t wake up early to bench him, but the caution the team is taking with Gordon is encouraging. He was sat to prevent a lingering hamstring issue like those that have plagued the seasons of RBs Leonard Fournette and Dalvin Cook. This doesn’t seem like a major concern, and luckily for fantasy owners Gordon will have a bye week to rehab. He should be good to go for Week 9 against the Seahawks.
LeSean McCoy (RB, Buffalo Bills)
Injury: Head, Concussion
LeSean McCoy didn’t do much before leaving the game on Sunday with a concussion. He has been placed in concussion protocol and will likely carry a questionable designation for the Bills Monday Night matchup against the Patriots. Only start McCoy if you have Chris Ivory on your bench who you can play in case McCoy sits out this week.
Sony Michel (RB, New England Patriots)
Injury: Knee, undisclosed
Sony Michel owners will be thankful that Michel’s MRI on his knee injury came back negative, but it is still expected that he misses a few weeks. James White will still be a must start in his absence, but the main benefactor is Kenjon Barner, who will likely serve as the Patriots’ primary rusher. Barner could be a solid start if your team has RBs out due to injuries or byes.
Marshawn Lynch (RB, Oakland Raiders)
Injury: Groin, undisclosed
The Raiders may have been on a bye week, but further examination of Lynch’s groin has led the organization to place him on IR. The earliest he will be able to come back is December 24th, so the workload will likely be split between Doug Martin and Jalen Richard. Doug Martin is set to fill the main rushing role, but over the last year Martin has been one of the least effective RBs in football. On a team that is in full rebuild mode after trading Amari Cooper, the Raiders will likely be trailing in most games this season, which will make Jalen Richard the more viable fantasy option. That being said, neither Richard nor Martin projects to be anything more than a bye week fill in.
Bilal Powell (RB, New York Jets)
Injury: Neck, undisclosed
Bilal Powell left Sunday’s game early with a neck injury, but since then not much has been released about the severity of the injury. This is an injury worth monitoring, for if Powell is forced to miss time, Crowell becomes a decent flex play and Trenton Cannon may be worth a pickup off waivers.
Royce Freeman (RB, Denver Broncos)
Injury: Ankle, High Ankle Sprain
Royce Freeman suffered a high ankle sprain on Thursday, but he is on an extended week and will have plenty of time to get healthy. He should still be considered questionable going into Week 8, and if he doesn’t play, Phillip Lindsay should be considered a must start as a RB2.
Albert Wilson (WR, Miami Dolphins)
Injury: Hip, undisclosed
Albert Wilson was looking like a solid waiver wire pickup so far this season until he suffered a devastating hip injury on Sunday. The best case scenario is that he misses a few weeks, and there is a real possibility that he misses the rest of the season. With the likelihood that Stills misses time with his own injury, Danny Amendola should be picked up in all leagues as the Dolphins de facto #1 option in the passing game.
Keke Coutee (WR, Houston Texans)
Injury: Hamstring, Strained Hamstring
Keke Coutee was ruled out in Week 7 with a hamstring injury, and will likely miss Week 8 as well since the Texans play on Thursday night against the Dolphins. With Coutee out, Will Fuller V will be a solid option against a Miami team that just gave up 30+ points to the Lions.