INSIDE THE MEDICAL TENT Week 8

THE INJURED LIST PODCAST AND FANTASY SPORTS CORPORATION PRESENTS

Week 8

BY: BRIAN SCOTT AND ANDREW LEDUC

WELCOME TO THE MEDICAL TENT

Welcome back for the second year of “Inside The Medical Tent.” Each week I, Andrew Leduc, will be asking Brian Scott, of “The Injured List Podcast,” injury questions that could have a fantasy impact. Brian will be giving his professional analysis of the injury and potential timelines. I will then turn that around into what you should do with that player and who could be a possible replacement. Check back every Wednesday during the season for all the necessary information before hitting your league’s waiver wire.

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Jerome Ford - RB (CLE)

Andrew Leduc - What in the world does a "low grade, high ankle" sprain mean?

Brian Scott - He had to exit this past weekend's game in the 4th quarter with what the team has called a low grade high ankle sprain. This may seem like an oxymoron, but in fact, it’s just a non medical way of saying he has a mild high ankle sprain. So, where normally you might expect him to miss 4 weeks or more, they are now saying he will likely miss 1-2 weeks, with my prediction being at least two. These high ankle sprains, mild or not, are nothing to mess around with and they would be foolish to rush him back quickly without him at least testing it out at practice, so keep an eye out to see his participation as the weeks go by.

Andrew Leduc - TIme to fire up Kareem Hunt, who was already getting most of the goalline work for Cleveland anyways. Ford’s productive week 7 was mostly made up of a 69 yard TD run. When Ford returns I still expect him to be involved, but look for Hunt to take a step forward now with Pierre Strong mixing in here-and-there. Hunt is a low end RB2 or FLEX play, but Pierre Strong won’t be consistent enough for me to trust him anywhere in my lineups.

Dawson Knox - TE (BUF)

Andrew Leduc - Does the wrist surgery spell the end of his season?

Brian Scott - He tried playing through this wrist injury he sustained back in week 5, but alas, it has been determined that he will need wrist surgery. It is likely one of two injuries. Either a scaphoid fracture, which may not have been apparent immediately, or a TFCC injury, which is a cartilage injury to the outside of the wrist. Either one of these can be played through, but if not healing and limiting due to pain, sometimes it is best to not let either of them linger, especially the scaphoid fracture (if that is in fact what it was). I would be surprised if we do NOT see him land on IR to make a roster move happen to fill his void. Either way, I expect him to be out at least 4 weeks, if not 6. I am not so certain that it will end his season, but if Dalton Kincaid can fill in admirably then the Bills might be in no hurry to get him back on the field.

Andrew Leduc - Dalton Kincaid was already taking over as a threat in this offense, and now he should cement himself in that role. When Knox returns I think he will still be involved in what is becoming a successful 2-TE system, but Knox will be hard to start in most formats upon his return. If I own Knox I am dropping him in most formats and hopefully picking up Kincaid instead if available. As of yesterday Kincaid was available in more than 60% of ESPN leagues, but waivers have run now and that most likely changed.

Deshaun Watson - QB (CLE)

Andrew Leduc - Clearing concussion protocol in game, but remaining out with a shoulder injury, what are we looking at here?

Brian Scott - By all accounts it seems as though the concussion and lingering shoulder issue kept him from coming back on the field this past weekend despite being cleared by physicians from the concussion protocol. That is not an easy thing to do in this day and age of CTE and the NFL concussion protocol. There are photos of him on the ground grabbing at his shoulder while the medical team was evaluating him on the field. This could be indicative of the real problem. They are apparently scheduling him for another MRI on the shoulder this week to see if there was any additional damage to his rotator cuff. So stay tuned. The team and HC Stefanski have already said he will start next week, but if I am a betting man, then I would not let it all ride on that statement alone. Look for his participation in practice to be the tell tale sign if he is ready to go.

Andrew Leduc - This is a serious cause for concern, as even if Watson does in fact play, I do not think he will be as effective as he has been, which has been little as it has been. I am not dropping Watson at this point given the value of quarterbacks in most formats, but I am definitely not starting him unless I absolutely have to in 2QB formats. Cooper should take a fall here and Kareem Hunt has even more reason to be a pretty decent play in the coming weeks with this injury in the offense as well.

Jimmy Garoppolo - QB (LV)

Andrew Leduc - Estimated to return from his back injury in Week 8, has he had enough time to recover?

Brian Scott - He had to be taken to the hospital in an ambulance after he injured his back in week 6 because they initially thought he had internal organ damage. Fast forward to today, and we hear rumbling in Raider land that he might actually be ready to go week 8? I am confused. That is quite the quick turnaround for a guy who has found himself with numerous season ending injuries and surgeries the last few years. Let us not forget that his injuries seem to come in bunches each season, so I hate to say it, but we might not have seen the last of them this year. Good luck Jimmy G, I Hope you are as close to 100% as you can be, because as history tells us, there could be more to come before it’s over. There is no great protective equipment one can wear to protect against a back injury as a quarterback. So, it will not take much to put him down again. If I were Brian Hoyer or Aidan O'Connell, I would make sure I stay warm on the sideline.

Andrew Leduc - This is impossible to predict. This offense is a mess. Jacobs has struggled to find room to run behind this awful offensive line and Davante Adams is starting to get mad at his usage and the teams’ production. Something has to change, and I am not sure a hobbled Jimmy G is going to be the resolution to all of their issues. Right now I am looking to trade any shares I have of Adams or Meyers as I do not see a high ceiling rest of season for anyone on this team. Jacobs should stay consistent around 12 points per game, but that is nowhere near his ceiling.

Kyler Murray - QB (ARI)

Andrew Leduc - He could return as early as Week 9, but has he had enough time to fully recover from last season's injury?

Brian Scott - He is already one week into his 21 day practice window during which the Cardinals have to make a decision to elevate him to the active roster or sit him for the season. Remember that he injured himself late last year on December 12, then had surgery January 3rd. So this season has always been in doubt. Timing could have been worse for him, but they are saying he could be ready for week 10 return. He did have a meniscus tear along with his ACL, so that could have slowed down his rehab, but 10 months out from surgery if all is going well he could certainly be cleared and ready to go. The state of the Cardinals season is definitely going to factor into his use once he does return. It might also factor into whether or not he returns at all.

Andrew Leduc - To this point the Cardinals have overachieved expectations. Josh Dobbs has been a nice surprise to get this offense going, but let’s not be fooled but what the reality is. Kyler Murray is still the best option for this offense if the team feels it is worth bringing him back this year. Having Murray stashed, if you have the room, is not a bad idea. It is definitely a high risk move, but if your team is struggling and you need a shot and a prayer, then this could be the move to save you if you can tread water until Week 10.

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THE DISCHARGE

Come back every week for all of the latest injury updates. If you have other questions we didn’t get to in this week’s edition you can follow us on Twitter below and message us directly.

Brian Scott - The Injured List Podcast - (@injuredlistpod) https://twitter.com/injuredlistpod

Andrew Leduc - (@theRealMrMallard) https://twitter.com/realMrMallard

If you are interested in Andrew’s weekly rankings as well, follow the link below to TSS Fantasy.

Andrew Leduc’s (Mr. Mallard) Rankings - https://tssfantasy.com/andrews-rankings