We scour the news around the NFL to bring you what matters most for you and your dynasty team: the most current news on players, both superstars and the relative unknowns, and analysis to decipher the respective situations. These are many of the major stories and not meant to be an exhaustive look at all of the recent happenings around the league.
During the past week, many thought Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer had a chance to play this week in Denver. The Cardinals could have used the veteran in the lineup. During the week, Palmer saw orthopedic surgeon Dr. Robert Watkins to get more information about the issue in his throwing shoulder. The issue for Palmer is that he has numbness in the outer part of his shoulder which creates weakness, especially when lifting his arm up or away from his torso. The quarterback now is out indefinitely until the shoulder heals, yet could play in the next week or two. Palmer does not require surgery and the injury is not considered career-threatening.
It shocked NO ONE last Monday when the Buffalo Bills benched EJ Manuel for Kyle Orton. In fact, we predicted this outcome in a previous issue of this article right after the Orton signing. The team gave Orton too much money to hold a clipboard all season. In fact, Orton signed a two-year deal valued at $11 million. Without a 2015 first round pick, the coaching staff needs to assess Orton's ability to lead the offense. After the promotion, it was great to see rookie receiver Sammy Watkins begin talking up his new starter. The rookie said Orton "reads it quicker" than Manuel. This is no revelation. Orton's experience will help the offense. In fact, with the poor performance of the division, Buffalo has a chance to win eight games. The win in Detroit will do wonders for the veteran passer. The Bills are now “his” team.
ESPN.com reported last week that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers coaching staff still views running back Doug Martin as clearly ahead of the other backs on the roster. Whether this is an endorsement for Martin or an indictment on the others, we expect Martin's role to increase now that he is healthy. He looked good against the Saints Sunday. Also, keep an eye on Charles Sims who will be available for the last five or six games of the year. The Martin and Sims combination will give Tampa Bay a solid ground game.
It was great to read in the Akron Beacon-Journal that suspended Cleveland Browns receiver Josh Gordon has been at the team facility every day. He should be in game shape by Week 12 when Gordon is able to play again. Dynasty owners only have a few more weeks to acquire the troubled superstar. Once he starts putting up big numbers again, owners will forget about the suspension(s).
There are many in the dynasty community who are fond of Minnesota receiver Cordarrelle Patterson. We are anxiously awaiting Patterson converting promise to production. Vikings coach Mike Zimmer shed some light on why Patterson is not getting the targets many fans and fantasy owners thing he should. Zimmer said that Patterson "needs to get open" to get more targets. While the quarterback situation and the loss of Adrian Peterson have not helped, it does reinforce how raw the athletic freak was coming out of college. We might have trumpeted Patterson's emergence a year early.
One of the more disappointing fantasy receivers this season has been Justin Hunter. The Titans receiver has not been able to get on the field much and is getting few targets. Adam Caplan tweeted late last week that Hunter could start seeing more playing time soon. The lack of fantasy numbers is due more to production and role than snaps. The issue has not been playing time as Hunter has played in more than 75% of Tennessee's offensive snaps. He just is not seeing many targets. Having Jake Locker under center limits any upside Hunter may possess. There is talk of rookie Zach Mettenberger taking over at quarterback. Hunter is a player to acquire soon as he could emerge with the expected quarterback upgrade.
One of the midseason sleeper receivers is Cincinnati Bengals receiver Marvin Jones. Jones is coming off a broken foot and was expected to return to action this week. Then, in last Wednesday's practice, Jones tweaked his ankle. This after missing most of the offseason camps with an ankle injury. In training camp, he returned from the ankle injury and promptly broke his foot. Jones is either unlucky or injury-prone. We will go with unlucky for now.
Many dynasty owners have been questioning why New England Patriots receiver Aaron Dobson was a healthy scratch in Weeks 3 and 4. The Shalise Manza Young tweet that Dobson was benched because he “mouthed off” to offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels was a revelation. It was interesting because the offense desperately missed Dobson's ability to get open deep down the field. The current receivers (Edelman and LaFell) struggle gaining separation deep. When confronted with the report, coach Belichick said Dobson was benched for “football” reasons and denied the earlier report. The Patriots have long been known as a team that wants players to buy into their way of doing things and this is just another example. Those who believe in Dobson now have a great opportunity to buy low on the young, athletic receiver. He played minimally against the Bengals on Sunday evening so there is no buzz surrounding Dobson.
The Jacksonville Jaguars are thin at the receiver position. Cecil Shorts is week-to-week due to a hamstring injury. We do not expect Shorts to play any time soon. Rookie Marqise Lee is also out with a hamstring injury. Lee has been ruled out early the past two weeks and is not likely to play soon. For now, Hurns and Robinson will get an opportunity to shine.
There has been radio silence on suspended Jacksonville receiver Justin Blackmon since his last arrest. However, it was great to read the Associated Press article stating that Blackmon is currently enrolled in a voluntary 90-day treatment facility. The AP received the information from coach Gus Bradley's press conference last Wednesday. Supremely talented on the field, we are hopeful the 24-year old can gain reinstatement in the coming months. As stated above, the Jaguars young receiving corps could really use Blackmon on the field. Blake Bortles would not argue, either.
Last week, Cleveland Browns tight end Jordan Cameron revealed that sprained AC joint in his shoulder is going to be an issue for the rest of the season. This shoulder injury has plagued the talented tight end for some time. Hopefully, the rest over the bye week helped. But, this is a situation to monitor as the season is long and it is unlikely that this is the last time we will hear about Cameron's shoulder.
Tight end is one of the most difficult positions for players to transition from college. So, it was no shock when Detroit rookie Eric Ebron said the mental side of the game has been difficult for him at times this season, according to an article in the Detroit Free Press. In the article, Ebron said, "You just turn into a zombie mentally … But you're there physically. Oh, your body's going to work, but your brain just stops." The talent is there and Ebron will be a fantasy starter by next season.
Tennessee Titans tight end Delanie Walker revealed last week that his shoulder injury could bother him for the rest of the season. This seems eerily similar to Jordan Cameron above. The shoulder injury is something to monitor as dynasty owners look to determine whether Walker can keep up his fantasy-starter status.
Injuries to monitor this week:
Robert Griffin III III: Ankle
Carson Palmer: Neck
Matt Cassel: Foot
Jamaal Charles: Ankle
Knowshon Moreno: Elbow
Montee Ball: Groin
Ryan Mathews: Knee
Andre Ellington: Foot
Doug Martin: Leg/Knee
Rashad Jennings: Knee
Danny Woodhead: Ankle
DeSean Jackson: Shoulder
T.Y. Hilton: Ankle
Alshon Jeffery: Hamstring
Brandon Marshall: Ankle
Cecil Shorts: Hamstring
Marqise Lee: Hamstring
Odell Beckham Jr: Hamstring
Rob Gronkowski: Knee
Jordan Cameron: Shoulder
Tyler Eifert: Elbow
Jordan Reed: Hamstring
Kyle Rudolph: Groin/ Sports Hernia
Marcedes Lewis: Ankle
Niles Paul: Head
Feel free to email me (Tefertiller@Footballguys.com) with feedback. Also, I am on Twitter (www.Twitter.com/JeffTefertiller), LinkedIn, and Google+, so you can ask me questions on one of these as well. Subscribe to the Footballguys Dynasty-centered Thursday Google Hangouts.