This past Sunday might very well have been one of the most devastating days for injuries in National Football League history – and it has many fantasy owners scrambling for replacements.
Every week players go down at a decent rate but the amount of star power that left the field of play last week was remarkable and happened at an alarming rate. Now that all the dust has settled, we figured we’d get you caught up on these injuries and offer some viable replacements for your squad.
Quarterbacks:
With Michael Vick not fully 100-percent, the Philadelphia Eagles looked to Nick Foles to carry the team against the Dallas Cowboys – but it was an abysmal performance. Midway through, Foles took a hit that sent his head to the turf, ending his day and perhaps the quarterback controversy in Philadelphia. The former third round pick has a concussion and his return now remains up in the air.
Heading west, it was only a matter of time before injury-prone Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler went down again and it happened thanks to a torn groin against the Washington Redskins. Once again Chicago is left without its star quarterback and although he’s expected to miss just four weeks, we wonder if it could be more – because, let’s face it, if our groin exploded, we’d be very careful.
At about the same time, not too far away in Carolina, the St. Louis Rams lost Sam Bradford for the season. Bradford tore his ACL after he was shoved out of bounds during a solid performance. The Rams might have been a cusp team but can now pretty much kiss their playoff aspirations goodbye.
Available replacements: If you lost one of these guys and need to find a suitable replacement on the waiver wire, there are a couple of options that could work. First would be Bears backup Jake McCown. McCown came in for Cutler and threw for 201 yards and a touchdown, proving he can run the offense. Houston Texans rookie Case Keenum could be another viable option with Matt Schaub on the bench. Keenum threw for 271 yards and a touchdown against a Kansas City defense that is among the best in the league.
Running Backs:
Not much has gone right for Tampa Bay this season, except maybe Doug Martin. But on Sunday Martin suffered a labrum tear that will sideline him for the remainder of the season. Martin had rushed for 456 yards and one touchdown this season amidst a circus of an offense, one that is about to get even worse.
Available replacements: While the obvious choice might be to pick up Martin’s backup, Mike James – who ran for 47 yards in his absence – that might not be the best move. Instead, take a look at two New York running backs – Peyton Hillis for the Giants and Chris Ivory for the Jets. Both players had decent performances last week and should only get better.
Wide Receivers/Tight Ends:
For years, Reggie Wayne has been the heart of the Indianapolis Colts’ offense and one of the league’s elite wideouts. Late in the game against Denver, Wayne tore his ACL attempting to catch a third-and-one pass and will now miss the remainder of the season, proving to be a costly blow for Indianapolis. Now we might really see what Andrew Luck is made of – given the lackluster receivers he’ll throw to.
In the scariest moment of the day, Green Bay Packers tight end Jermichael Finley suffered a scary neck injury, at which point he was rushed to a local hospital. While he has movement in all of his limbs, it’s unlikely how much time Finley will miss – but it should be substantial, at least a few weeks.
Available replacements: Wayne’s absence could cause the Colts’ Darius Heyward-Bey to become a hot pickup in many fantasy leagues. If you’re looking for someone with a more proven track record, check out Terrance Williams, Harry Douglas or Marvin Jones – all of whom might still be available.
Defense:
Although defense might not be crucial in most leagues, there are many out there that rely heavily on the other side of the ball for big points.
The Texans lost linebacker Brian Cushing for the year. The Bears lost linebacker Lance Briggs for six weeks. Denver Broncos cornerback Champ Bailey reinjured his foot and continues to be listed at a game-to-game status. They’re all big-time losses for their respective teams.
Available replacements: Most leagues rely on team defenses, so be sure to do your research before making a pickup. There are likely plenty of defenses on the free agent list but Carolina and Indianapolis could be solid pickups and more than likely are just waiting to be plucked.
Ed Miller is a contributor for CraveOnline Sports. You can follow him on Twitter @PhillyEdMiller or “like” CraveOnline Sports onFacebook.
Photo Credit: Getty
