Fantasy football drafts are over, the season has begun, and already teams are battling the injury bug. This is a list of notable players who sustained injuries, the impact it will have, and who needs to be picked up.
Jadeveon Clowney, DE/LB Houston Texans
The Texans were one of the dominant defenses in Week 1, thanks largely to the play of J.J. Watt. They blocked two kicks, one of which went for a touchdown, and recorded five tackles for loss. They also racked up 14 quarterback hits, five of which were by Watt. While Watt will be a Defensive Player of the Year candidate with or without Clowney on the field, his absence removes a dimension from this group.
Advice: Hang on to the Houston D/ST. Watt's there, and the Raiders are up next. Don't lose hope, but if you're scared, the Vikings defense looked frisky.
Vontaze Burfict, LB Cincinnati Bengals
It is odd that the two biggest injuries of the week would hit defensive players, but these two defenses are among the units that owners planned on plugging in every week rather than streaming.
The Bengals are best known for being stout against the run, and Burfict is the ringleader in that sense. His concussion could knock him out for next week, and concussions are notoriously difficult to project.
Advice: With the Atlanta Falcons up next in Week 2, it might be a good idea to put this D/ST on the shelf. Look for the Minnesota defense if they haven't been snapped up, or take a shot on the Tampa Bay defense as a pure stream option with a cushy matchup vs. the Rams.
Alshon Jeffery, WR Chicago Bears
Jeffery was supposed to combine with Brandon Marshall and RB Matt Forte as a triumvirate of unstoppable weapons that would lay waste to opposing defenses. Jeffery's hamstring apparently never received the memo, however, and he was forced to leave the Week 1 loss to the Bills with a line of five catches and 71 yards.
Advice: Jeffery has called the injury minor so there's no reason to panic right now. As it stands he saw six targets and reeled in five of them, so he remains an elite option. If you are super frightened, Santonio Holmes stands to benefit most from Jeffery missing time, but there are likely better options from other teams on your waiver wire.
Ben Tate, RB Cleveland Browns
Cleveland signed Ben Tate to a two-year, $6.2 million contract to be a workhorse, but the injury risk associated with the signing has already reared its head. Tate left Sunday's game with an unspecified knee injury, and rookie Terrance West ran for 100 yards on 16 carries in his stead. Third-stringer Isaiah Crowell found paydirt twice as well on five carries.
Advice: Start worrying. Even if Tate won't be out long, this will inspire a committee. West had already been gaining on Tate in the preseason, and now Crowell's in the mix. West is likely owned in most leagues based on his preseason buzz though, and it would be risky to spend much more than $10 or so on a FAAB bid for Crowell. The best bet for Tate owners is to pray he's not badly injured.
Jordan Cameron, TE Cleveland Browns
Cameron aggravated a sprained shoulder he suffered in the preseason making a 47-yard catch early in Cleveland's loss to the Steelers in Week 1, and there's no word yet on how much time, if any Cameron will miss. If he misses extended time, the entire Cleveland offense suffers, none moreso than QB Brian Hoyer.
Advice: There's nobody of note behind Cameron on the depth chart worth owning at this point, so a replacement should be culled from outside Cleveland. Jermaine Gresham of the Bengals could be a nice replacement as a stopgap, as well as Delanie Walker in Tennessee.
Jordan Reed, TE Washington Redskins
Reed strained his hamstring after making his first catch of the afternoon on Sunday, leaving with just four receiving yards. Reed was a popular sleeper pick at TE late in drafts, but hamstring injuries are fickle. An extended absence hurts Robert Griffin III the most, but may also ding DeSean Jackson as he'll see additional attention.
Advice: Don't go cutting Reed, even though you may not have spent a high pick. Pick up Gresham or Walker in the interim.
Tyler Eifert, TE Cincinnati Bengals
Eifert sustained an elbow injury that could be a dislocation. If so, Eifert's going to be out a good long while. While Eifert had been touted here as a sleeper at tight end, it's highly unlikely that he was relied upon by too many people.
Advice: That said, with Eifert out of the way, Jermaine Gresham could emerge as a low-end TE1 with no competition.
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