This is a list of notable players who sustained injuries in Week 3, the impact they will have, and who their in-house replacements are. The injuries will be broken down by position.
Quarterbacks
Matt Cassel, Minnesota Vikings
With Adrian Peterson out of action indefinitely for non-football reasons, losing their starting quarterback would seem like a blow the Vikings wouldn't be able to recover from. The Vikings were playing Matt Cassel under center though-who was making a bid to be benched after a serviceable Week 1.
Cassel was dreadful in Week 2 against the Patriots, throwing four interceptions and just one touchdown. He was 5-for-10 against the Saints on Sunday until leaving the game with an apparent toe injury that required a cart for him to leave the field. Following the game head coach Mike Zimmer said Cassel had "several fractured bones" in his foot.
In house add: Teddy Bridgewater
Running Backs
Danny Woodhead, San Diego Chargers
Woodhead figured to benefit from the absence of injured RB Ryan Mathews, but he sustained a serious-looking ankle/fibula injury and needed to be carted off the field in Sunday's win. The Chargers are reportedly concerned he may have fractured his fibula, which would threaten to end Woodhead's season.
The Woodhead injury opens the door to a full workload for Donald Brown, acquired via free agency this offseason. Unfortunately for fantasy owners, Brown was most likely snatched up when Mathews went down.
In house add: Branden Oliver
Jonathan Stewart, Carolina Panthers
Stewart was having his most productive game of the 2014 season when he sustained a right knee contusion and didn't return to the game. With Deangelo Williams out, the Panthers ran the ball just 10 times and Carolina was brutalized by the Steelers 37-19. It's unclear how severe Stewart's injury is, but so far this season Stewart looks like the back to own in Carolina.
In house add: Mike Tolbert
Wide Receivers
T.Y. Hilton, Indianapolis Colts
Hilton's slow start to 2014 has turned into a crawl as he was forced to leave Indy's Week 3 blowout win over the Jaguars with a high ankle sprain. Through three games Hilton has seen enough targets to generate big games, but has yet to break 100 yards or score a touchdown. High ankle sprains are difficult to set a timetable for, but owners can safely assume Hilton will be unavailable in Week 4 at the least.
In house add: Hakeem Nicks, Donte Moncrief
Rod Streater, Oakland Raiders
Streater was not a widely owned player to begin with, but removing him from the equation solidified James Jones as Oakland's clear No. 1 receiver. Jones has been surprisingly effective despite catching passes from rookie Derek Carr, after spending the first seven seasons of his career in Green Bay with Aaron Rodgers.
In house add: Andre Holmes
Brian Hartline, Miami Dolphins
Hartline finally found the end zone on Sunday, but had to leave the game early with an injured elbow. He has been highly disappointing to owners that drafted him as a low-end WR2 or a WR3. He hasn't been targeted much by Ryan Tannehill, and he hasn't been reeling in a high percentage of his targets. Chances are he'd been dropped already, but if not, it's safe to do so for now.
In house add: Jarvis Landry
Tight Ends
Dennis Pitta, Baltimore Ravens
In what might have been the biggest injury of the day, Ravens TE Dennis Pitta went down after making a short catch without being contacted by a defender, and needed a cart to leave the field. It was later reported that Pitta had dislocated his right hip, the same one that caused him to miss the majority of 2013, and that it could be fractured. The injury is a big blow to fantasy owners that lost a legitimate TE1, and also hurts the other Ravens skill players.
In house add: Owen Daniels
Kyle Rudolph, Minnesota Vikings
Rudolph's 2014 snoozefest continued on Sunday, as he left the Vikings' matchup with the Saints with an injured groin and didn't return. A touchdown saved Rudolph owners in Week 1, but through three games Rudolph hasn't gone for more than 53 yards, and has failed to score for two straight games.
In house add: Rhett Ellison
D/ST
Deangelo Hall (Washington Redskins)
Jason Hatcher (Washington Redskins)
Ryan Shazier (Pittsburgh Steelers)
Ike Taylor (Pittsburgh Steelers)
Antonio Cromartie (Arizona Cardinals)
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