Fantasy Football: Top 5 injuries to keep an eye on for Week 7

Injuries are part of Fantasy Football, unfortunately. Make sure to adjust your lineups accordingly heading into Week 7 action.

Sep 11, 2016; Baltimore, MD, USA; Buffalo Bills running LeSean McCoy (25) carries the ball as Baltimore Ravens safety Eric Weddle (32) tackles at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mitch Stringer-USA TODAY Sports

Considering the nature of the sport, fantasy football owners suffer their own sort of internal non-physical injuries—for the most part. Any freak injury to any of your players can and probably will decimate your entire team.

Related Story: Fantasy Football Start or Sit Week 7: RB Bilal Powell

However, the good news is, not to sound like we’re cheering for someone’s injury to happen, but with one man’s opportunity gone, another’s presents itself.

With Week 6 in the books, fantasy owners everywhere are absolutely dismantled or pleased with their performances from the past week. As always, Week 7 should promise to be another good one as we get ready to put last week behind us and prepare for the upcoming one.

Without further ado, here’s an injury report heading into Week 7 fantasy football with the top five injuries to keep an eye on.

Next: 5. This Cowboy has gone AWOL this season

Nov 22, 2015; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant (88) is tackled by Miami Dolphins cornerback Brent Grimes (21) during the first half at Sun Life Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

5. Wide Receiver Dez Bryant – Dallas Cowboys

The star wideout has already missed three games and was last seen on the field back in Week  3. It’s been a frustrating and worrisome season altogether for the Cowboys, Bryant, and fantasy owners.

Forget the fact that he hasn’t played in three weeks. The production before that was hardly non-existent. Granted he did score a touchdown back in Week 3, but only caught three passes. On the bright side, reports, per KRLD-FM in Dallas/Fort Worth, say that team owner Jerry Jones “expects” Bryant to suit following their BYE this week.

Let’s hope that’s the case.

Next: 4. The tight end out of Notre Dame is fighting to return

Oct 20, 2013; Detroit, MI, USA; Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver A.J. Green (18) congratulates tight end Tyler Eifert (85) after catching a pass for a touchdown during the third quarter against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports

4. Tight End Tyler Eifert – Cincinnati Bengals

It’s been a lost season to say the least for the 26-year old. He has yet to see the field recovering from offseason ankle surgery, and also a back injury he suffered leading up to Week 5.

According to Geoff Hobson, Bengals.com reporter, Eifert is listed as questionable with a chance to play this week. It’s the ultimate tease for the team and fantasy owners as Eifert is almost an immediate must-start fantasy option.

At this point perhaps tuning into Twitter, ESPN, or the NFL Network for the up-to-minute updates on injuries would do us all a favor.

Next: 3. This veteran is a fighter but doubtful for Week 7

Oct 2, 2016; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Steve Smith (89) is defended after a catch by Oakland Raiders safety Reggie Nelson (27) at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mitch Stringer-USA TODAY Sports

3. Wide Receiver Steve Smith Sr. – Baltimore Ravens

The vet is looking doubtful for Sunday’s tilt against the New York Jets. Despite this game being on the road for the Ravens, and interestingly enough at the same venue for the second straight week, Smith owners could’ve benefited from a porous Jets’ secondary.

The 37-year old may not have the same speed he once had as a young lad, but the old man can still go at it. He’s a trusted guy for quarterback Joe Flacco as he’s been targeted 39 times, catching 27 of those passes and averaging 11.5 yards per catch.

He’s caught only one touchdown, but he’s done most of his damage of yards after the catch. He’s currently dealing with an ankle injury that also caused him to miss last week’s against the New York Giants.

The Ravens are on a BYE next week, so the team will probably want to give their veteran an extra week to rest and hope he can suit up against for their divisional bout against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Next: 2. The one-man show will miss Sunday's tilt

Sep 12, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers running back Carlos Hyde (28) runs the ball against the Los Angeles Rams in the fourth quarter at Levi

2. Running Back Carlos Hyde – San Francisco 49ers

Fantasy owners are going to miss having Hyde in their lineups this week. Even after a bad game last week at Buffalo, Hyde has been one of the top running backs in fantasy (knock on wood) this year.

There was no doubt about Hyde being the better tailback in that team, or even of his skillet. The concern was his injury history, and more specifically the concussions he’s had.

He currently ranks sixth amongst the top scoring running backs through six weeks. He’s been ruled out already this week. The team is on a BYE next week, so owners can at least exhale a bit knowing he’ll have an extra week of rest and more importantly that this injury is not a concussion.

Next: 1. Will the real (slim) shady please stand up?

Nov 23, 2015; Foxborough, MA, USA; Buffalo Bills running back LeSean McCoy (25) tries to shed New England Patriots middle linebacker Jerod Mayo (51) during the first half at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports

1. Running Back LeSean McCoy – Buffalo Bills

BREAKING: Shady McCoy is “expected” to play, but be on a snap count, according to Adam Schefter.

This piece of information is both valuable and invaluable in the sense that now owners have no clue on whether to start McCoy or not. Granted if he’s out, owners should be quick to dispatch the star tailback, but with reports that he was ruled out for this game and leaving practice on Wednesday because of hamstring injury, it’s worrisome to do so.

We recommend running to the waiver wire and seeing if Mike Gillislee is available. Last week after McCoy exited the game with an apparent knee injury, Gillislee took over the reigns there and did a fairly good job.

Granted it was an extreme small sample size (six carries for 61 yards and a touchdown), but we saw how quick head coach Rex Ryan was to get his second best option out there. This almost certainly screams that Gillislee is the clear-cut handcuff for McCoy owners, so even if he does play and has another Shady-like game (19 carries for 140 yards and three touchdowns) we still are running to the waiver wire to scoop up Gillislee.

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