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Fantasy injury report: Week 4

The following is a list of injured players for Week 4 (September 30-October 1) and the fantasy implications of all the major injuries:

Arizona Cardinals
Doubtful: WR Anquan Boldin (hip), T Levi Brown (ankle); Probable: DT Alan Branch (hand), C Al Johnson (knee).

Fantasy take: Bryant Johnson will start in place of Boldin, who is listed as doubtful. The possible loss of Brown hurts the Cardinals offensive line.


Atlanta Falcons
Out: DT Jonathan Babineaux (knee), TE Dwayne Blakley (pectoral), DT Roderick Coleman (knee); Probable: S Chris Crocker (knee), CB DeAngelo Hall (elbow), CB Lewis Sanders (head), T Todd Weiner (knee).

Fantasy take:. Hall has been suspended for at least one quarter of this week's game vs. Houston for his actions in last week's loss to Carolina.


Baltimore Ravens
Out: DT Trevor Pryce (wrist), CB Samari Rolle (illness); Questionable: WR Mark Clayton (calf), T Jonathan Ogden (toe), TE Daniel Wilcox (ankle), WR Demetrius Williams (heel); Probable: RB Justin Green (thigh), TE Todd Heap (calf), LB Ray Lewis (ankle), WR Derrick Mason (back), QB Steve McNair (groin), S Ed Reed (wrist), LB Gary Stills (knee)

Fantasy take: The absence of Rolle is good news for Cleveland's receivers. DB Corey Ivy will start in his absence. Clayton and Williams are both questionable, and neither is a reliable fantasy option. McNair should start and is a viable fantasy option in Cleveland.


Buffalo Bills
Out: DE Ryan Denney (foot), LB Keith Ellison (ankle), QB J.P. Losman (knee), LB Paul Posluszny (forearm), G Jason Whittle (hamstring), LB Coy Wire (knee); Probable: WR Sam Aiken (groin), CB Terrence McGee (ribs).

Fantasy take: The Bills are riddled with injuries on defense, which is good news for the Jets' offensive skill position players. Losman is out at least two weeks, so rookie QB Trent Edwards will make his first NFL start.


Carolina Panthers
Out: LB Dan Morgan (ankle); Doubtful: QB Jake Delhomme (right elbow); Probable: G Jeremy Bridges (toe), DE Mike Rucker (toe), T Travelle Wharton (toe).

Fantasy take: It looks like Delhomme will miss this week's contest vs. Tampa Bay. QB David Carr did all the work with the first-team offense, but he's a risk as a fantasy starter.


Chicago Bears
Doubtful: CB Nathan Vasher (groin); Questionable: S Adam Archuleta (hand), LB Lance Briggs (hamstring), G Ruben Brown (ankle), DT Tommie Harris (knee), T Fred Miller (knee), CB Charles Tillman (ankle); Probable:DE Adewale Ogunleye (hip), RB Adrian Peterson (calf), LB Brian Urlacher (back), DT Darwin Walker (knee).

Fantasy take: The Bears defense is riddled with injuries, which is good news for the Lions' offensive skill position players.


Cincinnati Bengals
Out: LB Rashad Jeanty (shin), RB Rudi Johnson (hamstring), S Ethan Kilmer (knee), WR Tab Perry (hamstring); Doubtful: LB Ahmad Brooks (groin), LB Caleb Miller (back); Questionable: G Stacy Andrews (shoulder); Full practice: T Willie Anderson (foot), C Eric Ghiaciuc (thumb), K Shayne Graham (groin), WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh (knee), LB Anthony Schlegel (toe), DE Justin Smith (foot).

Fantasy take: Kenny Watson will start in the absence of Johnson, so he'll be a hot name on the waiver wire. Houshmandzadeh and Graham will be fine to start vs. New England.


Cleveland Browns
Questionable: S Gary Baxter (knees), WR Tim Carter (knee), LB Willie McGinest (back), LB Antwan Peek (foot), DE Orpheus Roye (knee), TE Kellen Winslow (shoulder), P Dave Zastudil (back).

Fantasy take: Winslow has a partial shoulder dislocation or a "mild subluxation." He practiced on Friday and said he will be active vs. Baltimore, but it's important to keep tabs on his status.


Dallas Cowboys
Out: S Courtney Brown (biceps), S Keith Davis (shoulder), WR Terry Glenn (knee), RB Oliver Hoyte (neck); Questionable: LB Greg Ellis (Achilles), CB Terence Newman (foot); Probable: LB Bobby Carpenter (knee).

Fantasy take: WR Patrick Crayton will continue to start in the absence of Glenn, who is out several weeks.


Denver Broncos
Out: S Hamza Abdullah (hip), RB Mike Bell (concussion), G Ben Hamilton (concussion); Questionable: TE Stephen Alexander (calf), S John Lynch (groin), WR Javon Walker (knee); Probable: QB Jay Cutler (ankle), CB Domonique Foxworth (ankle), T Ryan Harris (back), RB Paul Smith (neck).

Fantasy take: Walker has swelling in his surgically-repaired right knee and was limited in Friday's practice. He could be a gametime decision in Week 4. Cutler should be fine to start in Indianapolis, but he's not an attractive fantasy starter.


Detroit Lions
Out: LB Anthony Cannon (quadriceps), RB T.J. Duckett (ankle), LB Alex Lewis (hamstring); Questionable: T Jeff Backus (rib), DE Kalimba Edwards (ankle), WR Calvin Johnson (back), G Damien Woody (rib).

Fantasy take: RB Kevin Jones (foot) practiced fully all week and should see more work in Week 4. Johnson was limited in practice on Friday but is expected to be active vs. Chicago.


Green Bay Packers
Out: DE Mike Montgomery (knee); Questionable: DT Justin Harrell (knee), RB Brandon Jackson (shin); Probable:LB Desmond Bishop (shoulder), T Chad Clifton (knee), WR Donald Driver (toe), QB Brett Favre (right finger), TE Bubba Franks (knee), CB Al Harris (back), DE Cullen Jenkins (ribs), WR Greg Jennings (hamstring), RB Vernand Morency (knee), DT Daniel Muir (ribs), C Scott Wells (hamstring), DT Corey Williams (knee), CB Charles Woodson (foot).

Fantasy take: Driver returned to full practice on Thursday and should start in Minnesota. He's a fabulous option for fantasy owners. Jennings is still not 100 percent, but he is expected to start in Week 4. Morency is expected to return and could see more work if Jackson is limited or out.


Houston Texans
Out: WR Andre Johnson (knee), WR Jacoby Jones (shoulder); Doubtful: WR Jerome Mathis (foot); Questionable:RB Ahman Green (knee); Probable: DE Ndukwe Kalu (hand).

Fantasy take: Johnson and Jones will miss Week 4. Kevin Walter and Andre' Davis are expected to start in their absence. Green could be out of action, so fantasy owners should look to add Ron Dayne off the waiver wire.


Indianapolis Colts
Out: WR Roy Hall (shoulder), LB Clint Session (hamstring); Questionable: DE Jeff Charleston (knee), TE Dallas Clark (quadriceps), CB Marlin Jackson (quadriceps).

Fantasy take: Clark did not practice on Friday, so he could be a gametime decision for Week 4. Ben Utecht would see more work if Clark is out.


Kansas City Chiefs
Out: LB Keyaron Fox (hamstring), WR Eddie Kennison (hamstring), CB Benny Sapp (ankle); Probable: RB Larry Johnson (hamstring).

Fantasy take: Head coach Herman Edwards is not worried about Johnson, who should start in Week 4. Rookie Dwayne Bowe and Samie Parker will continue to start with Kennison out of action.


Miami Dolphins
Questionable: LB Zach Thomas (concussion), S Travares Tillman (knee); Probable: TE David Martin (toe).

Fantasy take: Thomas practiced on a limited basis on Friday, but he remains a question mark for Week 4.


Minnesota Vikings
Questionable: QB Tarvaris Jackson (groin); Probable: RB Tony Richardson (forearm), S Dwight Smith (hamstring), RB Chester Taylor (hip), WR Troy Williamson (hamstring).

Fantasy take: Jackson's status remains uncertain for Week 4. QB Kelly Holcomb will start again if Jackson is out. Taylor is expected to return vs. Green Bay, but he's a risk for fantasy owners.


New England Patriots
Questionable: LB Rosevelt Colvin (ankle), CB Randall Gay (thigh), RB Laurence Maroney (groin), G Steve Neal (shoulder), WR Donte' Stallworth (knee), WR Kelley Washington (hamstring), DT Vince Wilfork (knee), DE Mike Wright (knee), G Billy Yates (shoulder); Probable: QB Tom Brady (right shoulder), RB Kevin Faulk (team decision).

Fantasy take: Maroney was limited in Friday's practice, so keep tabs on his status throughout the weekend. Brady will be fine to face Cincinnati and is a fabulous fantasy starter in Week 4.


New York Giants
Out: WR Steve Smith (shoulder); Questionable: WR Plaxico Burress (ankle), RB Robert Douglas (knee); RB Brandon Jacobs (knee), RB Derrick Ward (ankle); Probable: QB Jared Lorenzen (ankle).

Fantasy take: Burress went to North Carolina to be examined by a specialist and was diagnosed with a serious ankle sprain. Barring setbacks, however, he should be active in Week 4. Ward should be available to face Philadelphia. Jacobs is not expected to come back this week, but he is closer to a return.


New York Jets
Out: LB Cody Spencer (illness); Questionable: WR Jerricho Cotchery (shoulder), CB Andre Dyson (foot), G Brandon Moore (shoulder), QB Chad Pennington (ankle), DT Dewayne Robertson (knee), S Eric Smith (thigh); Probable: RB Darian Barnes (shoulder), CB David Barrett (thigh), LB David Bowens (hand), RB Thomas Jones (calf), TE Joe Kowalewski (shoulder), DT Sione Pouha (foot).

Fantasy take: Cotchery and Pennington were limited in Friday's practice but should be active in Buffalo. Both are nice fantasy options against the Bills' patchwork defense.


Oakland Raiders
Out: LB Isaiah Ekejiuba (foot); QB Josh MCown (foot); Questionable: DE Derrick Burgess (calf), LB Robert Thomas (hamstring); Probable: G Robert Gallery (shoulder), C Jeremy Newberry (hamstring), RB Oren O'Neal (hamstring).

Fantasy take: McCown could miss several weeks, so Daunte Culpepper will start against Miami. He's a viable fantasy option in larger leagues.


Philadelphia Eagles
Out: TE L.J. Smith (groin); Doubtful: CB Lito Sheppard (knee), T Tra Thomas (knee), RB Brian Westbrook (abdomen); Probable: K David Akers (left quadriceps), LB Stewart Bradley (hand), S Sean Considine (knee), QB A.J. Feeley (left hand), DE Jevon Kearse (shoulder), LB Matt McCoy (ankle).

Fantasy take: Westbrook did not practice much this week, but he's expected to start in Week 4. Be sure to keep tabs on his status throughout the weekend. Dawkins is expected to start against New York.


Pittsburgh Steelers
Out: WR Hines Ward (knee); Doubtful: CB Ricardo Colclough (back), TE Matt Spaeth (knee); Probable: T Trai Essex (ankle), C Sean Mahan (knee).

Fantasy take:Nate Washington and Cedrick Wilson will see more work in Ward's absence, but neither is a viable fantasy option in most formats.


San Diego Chargers
Out: WR Eric Parker (toe); LB Matt Wilhelm (calf); Probable: DE Luis Castillo (foot), WR Vincent Jackson (back).

Fantasy take: WR Craig Davis will continue to start in the absence of Parker.


San Francisco 49ers
Out: TE Vernon Davis (knee); Doubtful: CB Tarell Brown (hamstring), WR Jason Hill (hamstring); Limited in practice: CB T Jonas Jennings (calf), S Mark Roman (elbow).

Fantasy take: Davis is out at least two weeks, so TE Billy Bajema and TE Delanie Walker will see more work in his absence. Neither has fantasy value.


Seattle Seahawks
Out: WR D.J. Hackett (ankle); TE Bennie Joppru (ankle); Questionable: LB Will Herring (knee); Probable: RB Shaun Alexander (wrist), RB Maurice Morris (hip).

Fantasy take:Nate Burleson will continue to start in the absence of Hackett. Alexander has an injured wrist but will start at San Francisco.


St. Louis Rams
Out: CB Tye Hill (back), RB Steven Jackson (groin); Doubtful: G Richie Incognito (ankle); Probable: QB Marc Bulger (ribs), DE James Hall (pectoral), LB Tim McGarigle (groin), LB Pisa Tinoisamoa (ankle).

Fantasy take: Jackson is out two to three weeks, so Brian Leonard will start in Dallas. He's a viable flex option in leagues with 12-plus teams. Bulger is less than 100 percent but will start in Week 4.


Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Questionable: WR Ike Hilliard (ankle), DE Greg Spires (ankle), DE Patrick Chukwurah (knee), CB Brian Kelly (groin).

Fantasy take: No significant injuries.

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