Don’t let a little knee soreness stop you from starting Quincy Enunwa this week

Now that the NFL injury report has eliminated the designation of “probable,” the questionable tag will include players who are anywhere from 50 to 99 percent likely to play. With this new development, you will need to check here every week before locking your lineups to make sure that you don’t get burned by a player whose injury status you miscalculated. I will use a combination of Injury Science and my experience as a Doctor of Physical Therapy to give you a more precise prediction of whether you can trust these players on game day.

My recommendations are primarily based on the injury facts as compared to the production projections. You will have to take it from there, with your decision to put him in the game or sit him on the bench.

Put him in the game

Quincy Enunwa (NYJ)
Enunwa is a late addition to the injury report with reports of knee soreness causing him to miss practice on Friday. Soreness can mean a range of things but the most important factor with soreness is whether it is before an injury or after an injury. Soreness in an area that has not been injured is a good heads up that rest may be needed before an injury occurs.

Soreness that occurs in an area that is recovering or recovered from injury, it usually means that the area is not fully healed and return may be premature. In the case of Enunwa, there were no reports of injury before this, which leads me to believe that this is not something to worry about. Additionally, I look at Enunwa weighing in at 225 lbs, which is heavy for a wide receiver who is getting the first extensive action of his career over the past few weeks. My bet is that this is a joint related soreness from excess activity and all Enunwa needs is rest.

Enunwa is one of the few players that I will be starting in season long and DFS this week. I hope that this knee injury scares DFS players away, to lower his ownership percentage. Unless there is more negative news on Saturday, I would confidently put him in the game.

Alshon Jeffery (CHI)
I feel the same as I felt last week about Jeffery who is listed with a knee injury, although I am sure there are more areas where he is ailing. Despite my issues with Jeffery’s injury profile, his production ceiling will be very high with him being the only healthy Chicago Bears starter left. I would not be surprised if he did not make it through the game, but from an objective standpoint, I have to put him in the game.

Kenny Britt (LA)
Britt remains on the injury report with a “thigh” injury. There are not many details about this injury but usually “thigh” refers to a quadricep injury, and these are usually easier to overcome than most leg injuries.

I recommended to put Britt in the game last week, and he was moderately productive with four catches for 82 yards, and I expect him to be even healthier this week. If Britt is on your radar, you should feel comfortable enough with his injury to put him in the game.

Sit him on the bench

Marvin Jones (DET)
This will be one that I will have to practice what I preach, as I will be sitting Jones on my personal season-long roster this week. It looks like Jones may be having trouble adapting to being a No. 1 wide receiver after years behind A.J. Green. Last week it was a hamstring, and this week it’s his foot.

Similar to the warning I gave with Eric Ebron a couple of weeks ago (Ebron will be out this week), when you start seeing different injuries pop up week after week, this is at least a yellow flag to a bigger problem. Beyond the injury status of Jones, I believe his production ceiling to be low this week versus the Philadelphia Eagles as Jim Schwartz is simply a defensive genius. I know it will be hard for many, including me, but the right move with Jones is to sit him on the bench.

Rob Gronkowski (NE)
I am very tempted to boycott writing about the New England Patriots. Whenever I try to read between the lines with Bill Belichick, I usually end up being wrong. I got burned badly on the prediction that Jimmy Garoppolo would start last week (although medically I still believe he was the better choice considering Brissett is now having surgery). I also believe that most of what was put out during the week was meant to mislead the Buffalo Bills in the same direction, although it wasn’t effective for the game.

I believe that Gronkowski should be healthy enough to perform at a decent level by now with his hamstring injury, but I am taking the position that what I think about any New England Patriot is probably dead wrong. Beyond the mind games of Belichick, I believe the game flow reduces the ceiling for Gronkowski even if he is fairly healthy.

For season long players, I am sure that you will play Gronkowski with the return of Tom Brady, but for DFS he is too expensive considering how many low price tight ends are available. With all of that confusion out-of-the-way, my final decision would be to sit him on the bench.

Cam Newton (CAR)
When it comes to concussions, I like to stay in my lane. Concussions are best assessed by a neurologist, and there really shouldn’t be much wiggle room for subjective feelings. Based on Newton not clearing the protocol and missing the week of practice, I can’t see him suiting up on Monday night.

The only good news is that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are bad enough to make Derek Anderson look like Newton. Unless there are some late-breaking developments, I think we all have to plan to sit him on the bench.

Eddie Royal (CHI)
Royal has missed practiced all week with a calf injury, and I believe it is very unlikely he will play. Agile receivers like Royal are dependent on quick acceleration and cuts, and a calf injury will limit this type of player.

If he were a player like a Kelvin Benjamin, there might be a chance for him to simply post up and catch passes, but with a 185 lb frame, I don’t expect Royal to offer much upside if he somehow suits up. Even if he ends up playing, I believe you must sit him on the bench.

Dez Bryant (DAL)
I made it pretty clear that Bryant should be out for multiple weeks when the news of the hairline fracture was released. Some of these injury report tactics seem to be gamesmanship in my opinion, as the facts don’t line up with the reports released to the public.

I do not expect Bryant to suit up for this game and if I had to guess, I would forecast him to return in week eight vs. the Philadelphia Eagles. The only move here is to sit him on the bench.

Virgil Green (DEN)
Green is dealing with a calf injury and is scheduled to be re-evaluated on Saturday to see if he is cleared to play. For me, this is pushing it too close and tells me that if he is cleared on Saturday that he will probably be eased back in.

As we have seen with Gronkowski, when a tight end is eased back in, it may mean a game of run blocking. With the game flow not in Green’s favor and the injury outlook being shaky at best, I clearly believe you should sit him on the bench.

Stefon Diggs (MIN)
Last week I put Diggs in the game but warned that he was one play away from missing significant time. It looks like the Minnesota Viking agree with me as he is likely to sit this week and get a couple of weeks to allow his groin injury to heal. Diggs was just downgraded to doubtful so the team may make the decision for you, but just in case he tries to play, know that you must sit him on the bench.

Rashad Jennings (NYG)
Jennings continues to battle a thumb injury that in my opinion significantly decreases his value. I feel the same as last week.

Jennings will struggle in the passing game, and with ball security and the practice reports suggest that the coaching staff is as uncomfortable with these deficits as I am. I expect Jennings to play in a limited role as long as he needs to wear a cast on his thumb, and therefore you should sit him on the bench.

Antonio Gates (SD)
Gates was upgraded to questionable this week after being listed as doubtful the past two weeks. Gates is healing very slowly with this hamstring injury, and I believe the writing is on the wall for his retirement ceremony.

Even if Gates plays, he is likely to be limited as Henry is banging on the door to become the next starting tight end for the San Diego Chargers. I am not sure if I will ever choose to play Gates again, but for this week I will be sure to put him on the bench.

Charles Sims (TB)
Sims is struggling with a knee injury suffered in Week 4. The good news is there is no real diagnosis out there, which likely means that the injury is not serious.

The bad news is that he is not practiced all week, which likely indicates swelling and pain that has not yet subsided. Chances are he will get no practice and will not play, but his long-term outlook should be fine unless new information is released. For this week the only option is to sit him on the bench.

Dr. Eric Petty is a Physical Therapist who is taking his talents from the treatment room to help fantasy owners. You can find more of his work at his site, The Injury Report Doctor, and you can follow him @DrPettyIRD.