If your fantasy football roster took a hit last week due to injuries, then avoid looking at the long list of hobbled and injured players heading into Week 14. Let’s not kid ourselves. With four games to go on the regular season schedule the playoff bracket is getting clearer every week. And while a couple of teams could still sneak in, the big dogs are rolling into the postseason.
In the AFC the Oakland Raiders are the current No. 1 seed for tiebreaker reasons I don’t really care about. They enter the final month of the season whole, at least on the roster. Minor dings like quarterback Derek Carr’s dislocated finger could have been a problem, but carving up the Buffalo Bills defense in a second-half comeback to the tune of 260 yards and two touchdowns can ease a few troubled minds on that.
#Raiders QB Derek Carr had some great exchanges with reporters when asked about his injured finger. pic.twitter.com/npY2Gpqnbu
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) December 1, 2016
The No. 2 seed in the AFC is where the true hurdles lie. Last week the New England Patriots lost their best offensive weapon, tight end Rob Gronkowski to season-ending back surgery. This week they lost wide receiver Danny Amendola for at least the rest of the season. New England still has plenty of pass-catchers, including an emerging star with rookie Malcolm Mitchell, but that’s two key guys out of the line up. And quarterback Tom Brady is nursing a knee injury of his own. The Patriots face teams fighting for their own playoff positioning in three of the their four final games. Monday night they’ll host the AFC North-leading Baltimore Ravens, then they travel to Denver to take on the Broncos, before finishing up the season at Miami against the Dolphins who are barely outside the wild card race today.
After Danny Amendola left the game, Chris Hogan lined up in the slot nine times. Malcolm Mitchell and Julian Edelman lined up there once
— Mark Daniels (@ByMarkDaniels) December 5, 2016
Speaking of the Broncos, currently the No. 6 seed, quarterback Trevor Siemian is just now out of his walking boot and could start against the Tennessee Titans Sunday. The Pittsburgh Steelers, right outside the playoff bracket, are dealing with injuries to kicker Chris Boswell, safety Shamarko Thomas and defensive tackle Javon Hargrave.
Over on the NFC side, you have a healthy Dallas Cowboys team as your top seed and, just like the AFC, a No. 2 seed struggling to keep its best players on the field. The Seattle Seahawks got horrible news during Sunday night’s win over the Carolina Panthers when it was revealed safety Earl Thomas broke his leg and will miss the rest of the season on injured reserve.
Seahawk Earl Thomas to me just now: "I'm taking it one day at a time. I still feel the same way I felt last night." Future remains uncertain
— Ed Werder (@WerderEdESPN) December 6, 2016
Thomas will get replaced by Steve Terrell who’s played in every game this season, picking up 14 tackles, a pass defense and a fumble recovery.
Current No. 4 seed, the Atlanta Falcons, have to go into the final month and potentially the playoffs with Julio Jones dealing with a turf toe. The team really can’t afford to shut Jones down for even a week since the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are currently tied in the NFC South at 7-5 and currently hold down the No. 6 seed. For their part of the injury deluge, the Bucs placed wide receiver Cecil Shorts on injured reserve.
Falcons' WR Julio Jones now battling turf toe and LT Jake Matthews has a sprained left knee.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 5, 2016
The New York Giants, sitting at No. 5 are not only coming off a loss like the Falcons, but could be without defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul for at least a couple of weeks. Pierre-Paul suffered a groin injury Sunday and is seeing a core-muscle specialist to avoid surgery. That’s right. Surgery. If he does have to go under the knife, that’s six weeks.
Other News
The Indianapolis Colts lost linebacker D’Qwell Jackson not to injury, but for a violation for the NFL’s PED program. He won’t be cleared to play until the playoffs. The Colts are currently tied for the lead in the AFC South with the Houston Texans and the Tennessee Titans.
Former Chicago Bears running back Rashaan Salaam was found dead at his home Monday night in Boulder, Colo. Salaam was the Bears’ No. 1 pick in 1994 after rushing for 2,055 yards and 24 touchdowns in a Heisman Trophy-winning campaign with the University of Colorado. Police have said there are no signs of “foul play.”
Our thoughts and prayers go out to Rashaan Salaam's family, friends, and former teammates. pic.twitter.com/iF5bRIWKJk
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) December 6, 2016
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