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Injury Wrap: Waiting on Doug Martin

Scott Pianowski
Fantasy analyst
It's a game-time call for Doug Martin this week
It's a game-time call for Doug Martin this week

It’s not the messiest of injury weeks, but now that we’re in the middle of November, there will be many situations we need to audit. Get the clipboard out, let’s sort through our status check.

• Doug Martin (hamstring) had a full practice Friday after getting partial work the previous two days. His status will probably come down to game-time Sunday against the Bears.

• Just what we want to do with the Patriots off their bye week, start guessing on players, injuries and usage. But here we are, so let’s give it a go.

Chris Hogan is dealing with a wonky back and could come down to a game-night decision against Seattle. Hogan probably wasn’t worth a fantasy play anyway, given the wide New England usage distribution, but this clinches it. There’s a chance Dion Lewis could make his seasonal debut Sunday night, but I can’t imagine anyone playing him until we get a prove-it game first. Perhaps the Patriots are merely discussing Lewis’s potential because they want to give the opponent more to game plan against. TE Martellus Bennett (ankle) and Julian Edelman (foot) are both listed as questionable, but context clues point to them receiving their normal snaps.

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• The Seahawks are hoping to get Thomas Rawls (fibula) back in Week 11. In the meantime, things are uncertain, with slumping Christine Michael (hamstring) listed as questionable for the Sunday nighter at New England. Maybe we’ll see more of pass-catching C.J. Prosise in New England, or perhaps it will have to be the Russell Wilson show, again.

• The Chiefs get Spencer Ware (post concussion) back for the challenge at Carolina, but Jeremy Maclin (groin) won’t play. The receiver group is uncertain after that, with Tyreek Hill, Chris Conley and Albert Wilson jostling for position.

• Travis Benjamin (knee) hardly played last week, and this week the Chargers will do the prudent thing — rest him completely. Tyrell Williams also has a sore knee, but is expected to go. If you’re in a bind, Dontrelle Inman could be of service. Hunter Henry (knee) should be ready to come back, which cuts into the market share of surging TE Antonio Gates.

• Tevin Coleman (hamstring) is out for another week, which means Devonta Freeman should get plenty of run at Philadelphia.

• Dez Bryant (knee) was able to practice all week, and should be fine at Pittsburgh. Tony Romo probably won’t be in uniform.

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• The bye week didn’t help DeSean Jackson (shoulder) much — he won’t play against Minnesota. If you’re in a roster crunch at the moment, I’d be fine with an outright cut. He’s been off the mark all year. Rob Kelley is slated to be Washington’s starting tailback.

• Todd Gurley (thigh) is questionable, but figures to play after a full practice Friday. Gurley’s bigger problems: his line isn’t good, and he’s been running in mud all season. His longest run this year is a paltry 18 yards, and he’s at 3.1 YPC — that’s Trent Richardson territory. The Jets rushing defense will challenge him.

• Ryan Fitzpatrick (knee) had a limited practice week, and his status could come down to Sunday. Untested Bryce Petty is the fallback. The Rams defense isn’t an easy mark, either — seventh in lowest YPA allowed — though they have a disappointing 15 sacks.

• DeMarco Murray (toe) is free of the injury report and should take a full workload against the Packers. Green Bay grades as the second-stingiest team for fantasy rushing production, but much of that has been a function of the schedule the Packers have played. It sounds like Derrick Henry (calf) might be able to play.

• Carlos Hyde (shoulder) is up in the air again, after a limited practice week. He hasn’t played since the Week 6 loss at Buffalo. DuJuan Harris showed potential last week (142 total yards, touchdown), though he also lost a fumble. Torrey Smith (back) is also questionable; I hope that isn’t relevant to any of your teams.

• The Broncos run defense has been slumping of late, and it will have to play without DL Derek Wolfe (elbow) at New Orleans. And more importantly in the broader picture, CB Aqib Talib (back) is out again.

• Two lesser Pittsburgh receivers, Darrius Heyward-Bey (foot) and Markus Wheaton (shoulder), won’t play in the showdown against Dallas. The onus falls upon slot-man Eli Rogers and deep threat Sammie Coates. Rogers went over 100 yards last week, though it all came in fourth-quarter garbage time. As for DeAngelo Williams (knee), he’s going to miss 2-3 weeks, so forget about handcuffing Le’Veon Bell. Just get someone else in that bench slot.

• The Packers must feel pretty good about Randall Cobb (hamstring), as he’s off the injury report completely. Cobb was a surprise active last week, though he was kept out of the entire first half. He had two catches, one for a touchdown, on 23 second-half snaps. Jared Cook (ankle) remains week-to-week, and won’t play at Tennessee. Richard Rodgers was a factor against the Colts (6-64-0).

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• It’s hard to find value with the Philly receivers — they spread the ball around so much — but at least CB Desmond Truant (shoulder) won’t be lining up against them.

• Allen Hurns (concussion protocol) could come down to a game-time decision against Houston. Hurns, Allen Robinson and Marqise Lee are sitting on similar yardage totals.

• Larry Fitzgerald (ankle) and John Brown (hamstring) will likely play through their ailments. J.J. Nelson is now the team’s No. 2 receiver, opposite Fitzgerald.

• Jarvis Landry is dealing with a sore shoulder, so check on his status before the late-day start at San Diego.

• Victor Cruz (ankle) hasn’t been practicing and looks iffy for the Monday nighter with Cincinnati. Roger Lewis had a 30-yard touchdown last week, and could be ready for a bigger role. He also had at least one drop.

• Perhaps there’s some deep-sleeper value to TE Will Tye of the Giants, coming off a 46-snap game against Philadelphia (4-33-0, seven targets). Larry Donnell was a healthy scratch last week.

• If you’re tempted to try Vance McDonald after last week’s long touchdown, keep in mind the Cardinals haven’t allowed a single tight end to score on them this year. Arizona’s given up just 22 catches for 196 yards against the position.