News: Panthers RB DeAngelo Williams, who had 12 carries for 88 yards and a touchdown Sunday against Denver, could have done more against the Broncos. The Carolina Growl reported Monday that Williams left the game in the third quarter with an apparent injury and didn't return until the fourth quarter. Williams said he was "a little fuzzy" in the head, but didn't quite know when the injury occurred. He said he was fine after the game and will play next week. "I have no idea what happened," Williams said. "They said I was dinged up, or something of that nature, but I was ready to go. The doctors are going to be cautious. But I did go back in there at the end."
Analysis: Williams has now scored 12 touchdowns in the past seven games and ran his season total to 14. He has emerged as a No. 1 Fantasy RB in all leagues and should still be started in Week 16 against the Giants even with New York's tough run defense. Remember, the Giants have been beaten on the ground for touchdowns by Brian Westbrook and Tashard Choice the past two weeks, and Williams is having a better season than both of those players.
News: Bengals QB Carson Palmer is doing well in his comeback from an elbow injury and could throw in practice this week. Coach Marvin Lewis said Palmer is throwing hard in his personal workouts and having no problems with the elbow. Palmer has a partially torn ligament and tendon in the right elbow, which was injured in the third game of the season. He rested the elbow for the last two months, but resumed throwing two weeks ago. Lewis said he might be allowed to do some limited throwing in practice this week, though he's not going to play in any of the Bengals' last two games. Palmer is hoping to avoid reconstructive elbow surgery.
Analysis: You can go ahead and cut Palmer from your Fantasy team if you haven't already -- the guy admitted to having a partially torn ligament in his right elbow and the team has no intention of bringing him back. Eventually, you have to figure that Palmer will spend the offseason rehabbing with or without surgery. We'll keep track of his progress throughout the offseason and let you know what to do with him when 2009 rolls around.
News: The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported Monday that Rams RB Steven Jackson, who had 127 total yards and a touchdown Sunday against Seattle, only had seven carries and one catch in the second half because of an apparent blow to the head in the fourth quarter. He did not play on the Rams' final possession. "I kind of got dinged up there," Jackson said. "I really don't know what play specifically. But I took a shot and really wasn't feeling all the way there. So we decided to rotate me in and out to see if I would come to. And when I finally did, the clock was really running out on us."
Analysis: Jackson should be fine for Week 16 against the 49ers, but keep an eye on his status. Remember, Jackson missed several weeks with a thigh injury and has proven he does not like to play through pain. When healthy, he's a solid Fantasy RB, but he is getting the label of being injury prone for obvious reasons.
News: Eagles WR Kevin Curtis, who left last week and missed much of practice this week because of a concussion, is active and will play Week 15 against the Browns.
Analysis: Curtis missed the first six games of the season following hernia surgery, and he has yet to post a 100-yard game since his return. He serves as no more than a No. 3 Fantasy WR in Week 15 against the Browns.
News: Eagles RB Brian Westbrook, still limited in practice this week by ankle and knee injuries, is active and will play Week 15 against the Browns. He has played each of the last two weeks with the injury, going for four touchdowns in one game and 203 total yards in the other.
Analysis: Given the way Westbrook has performed over the last two weeks, you should obviously have him active in Fantasy despite the injury concerns. He has a chance to run all over a poor Browns run defense.
News: Eagles TE L.J. Smith, limited in practice this week with a knee injury, is active and will play Week 15 against the Browns.
Analysis: Smith has played a limited role on the Eagles offense this season, never topping 44 yards receiving in any one game. Use him as no more than a No. 2 Fantasy TE.
News: Eagles RB Correll Buckhalter, who missed the last two games with a sprained ligament in his knee, is active for Week 15 against the Browns even though the injury limited him in practice this week.
Analysis: Buckhalter figures to play a backup role to Brian Westbrook and doesn't deserve a starting spot in any Fantasy leagues. He's worth owning, though, in case something happens to Westbrook.
News: The Browns listed TE Kellen Winslow among their inactives for Week 15 at Philadelphia with a severely sprained left ankle. He has now missed two straight games with the injury and might miss the rest of the season.
Analysis: Steve Heiden will once again start for Winslow. Winslow has had a mostly disappointing, injury-plagued season as the Browns offense as a whole has struggled. If he can return Week 16 against the Bengals, he would deserve to start in Fantasy given the lack of suitable alternatives at the position. Don't count on such a return, though.
News: Chargers wide receiver Malcom Floyd was hospitalized overnight in Kansas City after sustaining a collapsed lung in Sunday's victory against the Chiefs. Floyd was flying to San Diego on Monday, coach Norv Turner said. "They wanted to do some tests on him," Turner said. "Things look good and it'll be day to day in terms of where he is at the end of the week and if he'd be available for the game."
Analysis: Floyd caught a 4-yard touchdown pass from Philip Rivers with 1:13 left in the game and finished with five catches for 67 yards. He's not productive enough to warrant Fantasy use, but he's a cog in the Chargers offense and helps Rivers accumulate stats. We'll keep you posted on Floyd's progress throughout the week.
News: Tennessee defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth and defensive end Kyle Vanden Bosch will miss the final two games of the regular season with separate injuries. Titans coach Jeff Fisher said he expects both linemen to return for the playoffs. Haynesworth sprained his left medial collateral ligament with 92 seconds left in Sunday's 13-12 loss to the Houston Texans. Fisher said Monday an MRI exam showed damage that takes up to two weeks to heal. Vanden Bosch did not play against Houston. Fisher said Vanden Bosch, who had 12 1/2 sacks last season, injured his groin on Dec. 7 against Cleveland. The Titans sent him to a specialist who recommended what Fisher termed "minor" surgery to repair a groin muscle. Vanden Bosch had missed three other games with groin problems.
Analysis: This is a huge blow to the Titans DST, who pretty much live or die on the play of Haynesworth. They'll host the Steelers in Week 16 and could have problems stopping their offense, particularly their run game. If you've been riding the Titans DST all season long, you should consider other excellent options but not be afraid to roll with them again in Week 16 if you can't find a better DST. Jacob Ford and Dave Ball will be among those replacing Big Al and KVB.
News: Vikings defensive tackle Pat Williams will miss anywhere from two to six weeks with a fractured shoulder, a big blow to a Vikings defense that is second in the NFL against the run. Williams was hurt Sunday in a 35-14 rout of Arizona. Backup Fred Evans will get most of the snaps in Williams' place. Williams, playing amid a federal injunction related to an NFL suspension for violating the league's steroid policy, is the emotional leader and chief run stopper on the line. The Vikings face the two best rushing teams in the league in Atlanta and the New York Giants in the final two games of the season as they push for the playoffs. Coach Brad Childress says he is holding out hope that Williams will be ready if the Vikings qualify for the playoffs.
Analysis: This hurts the value of the Vikings DST, especially as they prepare for Michael Turner in Week 16 and the Giants in Week 17. Consider them still a good enough DST for now, but you might want to check the waiver wire for potential replacements before finalizing your lineup.
News: Following their Week 15 loss at Atlanta, Buccaneers defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin announced he will join his son's staff for the Tennessee Volunteers next season. Kiffin told his players after the game and his assistants last week. The Bucs are losing Kiffin after this year, but they've lost safety Jermaine Phillips for the season with a broken right forearm, and linebacker Derrick Brooks is questionable for their game vs. the Chargers in Week 16 with an unspecified rib injury.
Analysis: The Bucs DST has taken a tailspin in the last two weeks, struggling to stop the run at Carolina and then at Atlanta. LaDainian Tomlinson and the Chargers are coming in Week 16, and they'll be sure to test the Bucs, particularly if DTs Jovan Haye and Chris Hovan aren't playing (Hovan missed all of Week 16, Haye missed most of the game). Consider other options before settling on the Buccaneers DST in Week 16 -- there's a chance they could really have a hard time with the Bolts.
News: Bills rookie wide receiver James Hardy will miss the rest of the season after tearing a ligament in his left knee early in the first quarter against the Jets on Sunday. Hardy, the Bills' second-round pick out of Indiana, was hurt blocking down the right sideline on a 35-yard run by Marshawn Lynch. He had nine catches for 87 yards and two touchdowns this season.
Analysis: Hardy grossly underperformed this year and is considered a sleeper prospect for 2009 drafts because of his huge size and vertical ability. If you're carrying him on your seasonal roster, you can drop him, but if you've got him in a keeper league, you might as well hang on to him since he's got a lot of upside and could realize some of it in '09.
News: Rams WR Derek Stanley will require reconstructive knee surgery for an injury sustained on a lost fumble in Sunday's loss to the Seahawks. Stanley, who also has been used in the return game, will be the Rams' 11th player to go on injured reserve. Coach Jim Haslett said Monday that Stanley had a torn ligament and cartilage in his left knee and would undergo surgery in two to three weeks after swelling goes down. He was injured on an end-around that was stopped for no gain.
Analysis: Stanley didn't produce enough offensive stats to warrant Fantasy use, and an injury like this could hamper his speed in the future. Chances are Fantasy owners won't need to worry about Stanley anytime soon.
News: Jaguars LB Mike Peterson will be back in the starting lineup after starter Daryl Smith injured his groin Sunday against Green Bay and won't play Thursday night against Indianapolis, allowing Peterson to reclaim his spot on defense. "I'm going to continue doing what I've been doing, trying to help this team win," Peterson said Monday. "If that pushes me in the starting lineup, that's the way it'll be. Before, it's been on special teams and coming in the game when needed. Maybe it'll be a little different (now)."
Analysis: Peterson is in the final year of a six-year, $21 million contract, and given his deteriorating relationship with Del Rio, doesn't expect to be in Jacksonville next season. So getting back in the starting lineup - against his former team, Indy, no less - will give him one more chance to audition for another job. Only if you're desperate for a Fantasy LB should you start Peterson in Week 16. Obviously, Daryl Smith shouldn't be used in Fantasy play.
News: Tennessee defensive end Kyle Vanden Bosch will miss the final two games of the regular season after being diagnosed with a groin injury that will require minor surgery, according to head coach Jeff Fisher. Vanden Bosch had missed three other games with groin problems.Fisher said Vanden Bosch, who had 12 1/2 sacks last season, injured his groin on Dec. 7 against Cleveland. The Titans sent him to a specialist who recommended what Fisher termed "minor" surgery to repair a groin muscle. He expects Vanden Bosch back for the playoffs.
Analysis: Vanden Bosch is a safe drop from all seasonal Fantasy leagues at this time since he won't play again until the postseason. When healthy, Vanden Bosch was considered a No. 2 Fantasy DL.
