The Roundup: Headline News for Week 15

Santa came early this year and brought us a miracle that we needed last week, so my brother’s team is now in the semifinals. What an amazing season it has been for us. Congratulations and best of luck to those of you who have survived the first round of these fantasy playoffs. May your players stay healthy and bring you one step closer to hoisting that championship trophy!  Now onto this week’s headlines…

Wide Receivers

Greg Jennings is expected to miss 2-3 weeks with a knee sprain suffered during last week’s game:  James Jones will likely start in place of the injured Jennings.  According to Christopher Harris of ESPN.com, because Jones can sometimes have maddening hands and he isn’t the open-field runner Jennings is, he’s not a straight-up replacement for Jennings.  Harris views Jordy Nelson as the top dog in the Packers’ offense now and believes Jones will fight with Donald Driver for targets after that.

Deion Branch is listed as questionable for this Sunday’s game against the Broncos with a groin injury:  Branch was limited in practice all week, and according to CBSSports, he has been so inconsistent with his play that there is a lot of risk to starting him even if he is active this week.

Andre Johnson will miss his second straight game this Sunday against the Panthers with a hamstring injury:  Jacoby Jones will get another start this week in place of the injured Johnson.  According to Rotoworld, the Texans are likely to go extremely run-heavy against Carolina’s vulnerable rush defense, leaving Jacoby Jones and Kevin Walter as low-upside fantasy WR3/Flex options.

Denarius Moore is listed as questionable with a foot injury but likely to be active for this Sunday’s game against the Lions:  With Jacoby Ford already ruled out for another game, Moore and Darrius Heyward-Bey will likely be the Raiders’ starting wideouts this week, with Chaz Schilens operating as the No.3.  According to Rotoworld, if any Raiders wide receiver is likely to produce this week, it is Moore.

Running Backs

Adrian Peterson is expected to return to action this Sunday against the Saints after missing the last three games with an ankle injury:  According to CBSSports, Peterson has a favorable matchup this week against a New Orleans defense that is yielding 97.2 rushing yards and 17.3 fantasy points per week to opposing running backs.

The Cowboys placed DeMarco Murray on season-ending injured reserve with a broken right ankle:  Felix Jones, who carried the ball 16 times for 106 yards while filling in for the injured Murray last week, is expected to continue to assume Murray’s role as the workhorse back in the Cowboys’ offense according to Rotoworld.  With Jones as the only healthy tailback on the roster, Dallas also signed Sammy Morris earlier this week as well.

James Starks is listed as questionable for this Sunday’s game against the Chiefs after missing last week’s game with an ankle injury:  Starks’ return would throw a wrench into Ryan Grant‘s start-ability in fantasy leagues, but according to CBSSports, Grant is still the better Packers RB to start in fantasy, as Starks hasn’t finished the last two games he has played because of his ankle issues.

Kevin Smith is listed as questionable but is expected to be active for this Sunday’s game against the Raiders:  If Smith is able to go this week, he would have a favorable matchup against an Oakland defense that is yielding 111.1 rushing yards, 43.8 receiving yards and 21.2 fantasy points per week to opposing running backs according to CBSSports.

Mark Ingram will miss his second straight game this Sunday against the Vikings with a turf toe injury:  According to Rotoworld, Chris Ivory should be in line for 10-15 touches in the open-field power-back role this week.  Rotoworld also notes that Darren Sproles has usually led the Saints’ backfield in total yardage while Pierre Thomas has gotten most of the opportunities inside opposing ten-yard lines when Ingram misses games.

Quarterbacks

Ben Roethlisberger’s status for the Monday night game against the 49ers still remains up in the air due to his ankle injury:  Charlie Batch would start for the Steelers if Roethlisberger can’t play this week.

Matt Moore is listed as questionable with head and neck injuries but is likely to start this Sunday’s game against the Bills:  J.P. Losman, who took the reps with the first team during practice this week, would start for the Dolphins if Moore sits out this week.

Matt Hasselbeck is listed as questionable with a mild calf strain but is expected to start against the Colts:  Jake Locker would start if Hasselbeck suffers a setback and is unable to go this week.  According to Rotoworld, we should expect a run-heavy mindset from the Titans, featuring Chris Johnson against the Colts’ 30th-ranked rush defense on Sunday.

Colt McCoy has been ruled out for this Sunday’s game against the Cardinals with a concussion suffered during last week’s game:  Seneca Wallace will start at quarterback for the Browns this week in place of the injured McCoy.

Kyle Orton will be the Chiefs’ starting quarterback this Sunday against the Packers.

Tight Ends

Scott Chandler will miss his second straight game this Sunday against the Dolphins with an ankle sprain:  For the second straight week, Lee Smith (no, not that Lee Smith) and Mike Caussin will benefit with extra playing time in Chandler’s absence according to CBSSports.

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That does it for us this week.  Happy holidays to everybody and good luck this weekend!