Fantasy Forum: Injury bug bites in Week 11

OK, raise your hand if thought Detroit vs. Cleveland and Kansas City vs. Pittsburgh would be the two most exciting games to watch on Week 11 of the NFL season.

OK, you can put both your hands down now.

The Detroit-Cleveland matchup may have been the most exciting game of the year, with the game going into overtime and then being won by Detroit on the final play by a score of 38-37. The shootout saw Detroit’s Matthew Stafford and Cleveland’s Brady Quinn combine for nine touchdowns and 728 passing yards.

Over in Kansas City, the Chiefs rallied for a 27-24 overtime win on the strength of big games by running back Jamaal Charles, wide receiver Chris Chambers and quarterback Matt Cassell. Wideout Hines Ward, running back Rashard Mendenhall, tight end Heath Miller and QB Ben Roethlisberger also had huge games for the Steelers. Roethlisberger wasn’t there for the end after leaving with a concussion.

Fantasy owners should not read too much into those games as they are more likely flukes than reflections of what those teams can do. Detroit, Cleveland and Kansas City should fall back to their inconsistent ways offensively. Assuming Roethlisberger is not out for any length of time, the Steelers offense should continue to be productive, although not at the level it showed Sunday.

Injury update: Roethlisberger was not the only quarterback who got dinged up Sunday. Arizona QB Kurt Warner also sustained a concussion, St. Louis’ Marc Bulger suffered a fractured leg Sunday and will miss three to six weeks, and Detroit’s Stafford hurt his shoulder.

Both Roethlisberger and Warner may play in Week 12. Stafford is doubtful for Thursday.

Washington running back Ladell Betts tore his ACL and is done for the season. The N.Y. Giants’ Brandon Jacobs injured his knee and is considered day-to-day. Buffalo running back Marshawn Lynch suffered a shoulder injury and is questionable for this weekend.

Players to jettison: Wide receivers Santana Moss of Washington and Austin Collie of Indianapolis have both had their moments this season, but it’s time to cut them loose. Moss is averaging just four receptions for 42 yards per game over his last six outings while Collie has not caught a touchdown in a month and seems to have slipped behind Pierre Garcon on the depth chart.

In addition to running back Betts, fantasy owners should seriously consider dropping Buffalo’s Lynch and the Colts’ Donald Brown if they need the roster space.

Shoulder injury or not, Lynch simply hasn’t gotten it done for the Bills as he’s averaging just 3.1 yards per carry. Brown has disappeared since the first month of the season and Joseph Addai is still the clear-cut No. 1.

On the quarterback front, both Mark Sanchez of the Jets and Joe Flacco of the Ravens got out of the gate fast, but have faltered since the first month. Sanchez is simply playing like the rookie that he is. Flacco is better and may still be worthy of fantasy back-up status but you can probably do better on the waiver wire.

Players to pick-up: Running backs are a valuable commodity at this point and three guys to consider adding are Atlanta’s Jason Snelling, Washington’s Rock Cartwright and New England’s Sammy Morris.

Snelling went off Sunday, carrying 25 times for 76 yards and two touchdowns. He also had three receptions for 13 yards. As long as Michael Turner is sidelined, Snelling should be considered a potential fantasy starter.

Cartwright should take over the starting job in Washington now that Clinton Portis and Ladell Betts are both sidelined. He doesn’t have much value other than he should get a decent amount of carries.

Morris may be returning from a knee injury this week and, since Laurence Maroney has done little for the Patriots, may get a long look.

Wideout Mohamed Massaquoi of Cleveland flashed again on Sunday (5 catches, 115 yards, 1 TD) and may be worthy of a roster spot simply because he’s becoming Brady Quinn’s favorite target. Green Bay tight end Jermichael Finley may also be worth another look after catching seven passes for 54 yards against the 49ers.



Jim Rueda is the Free Press sports editor. To contact him, call 344-6381 or e-mail him at jrueda@mankatofreepress.com.