With
each passing fantasy year it seems like there is always
one guy in your league who is decimated by injuries. A lot of times the
same
schlub is victimized year after year usually because of a penchant for
drafting
several “at risk” type players.
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But this
year it’s different. It isn’t just that one dude
that is being victimized. Chances are the whole league has had to pick
up an
Ike Hillard type one week fill in and looked either like a complete
doofus (
The Fat Dude from Teen Wolf) or an
absolute stud with a ginormous brain (Val Kilmer in Real
Genius).
Looking
for someone to blame? Shake your fist at the fantasy
gods and then go tell a bunch of little kids that the tooth fairy isn't
real; that’ll learn ‘em. Actually, don’t do
that. Look at the list below and take solace in the fact it isn’t just
you who
has been victimized.
Out of
my Top 25 Overall Fantasy Rankings from 8/29/07, nine of the players (and
five of the top ten) have either missed a game with an injury or are
slated to
this week due to other circumstances.
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1
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LaDainian
Tomlinson, RB
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Though
it looked like he was playing hurt for the first three weeks, he isn’t.
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2
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Steven Jackson, RB
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“Ouch, I
think I tore my groin!”
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3
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Joseph Addai, RB
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“F***
it. Let that dude from the CFL get some reps.”
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4
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Larry
Johnson, RB
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No
motivation to succeed.
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5
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Shaun
Alexander, RB
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Hasn’t
missed a game yet, but numbers look like he has.
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6
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Brian Westbrook, RB
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Missed
Week Four.
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7
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Willie
Parker, RB
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Has been
a great surprise, sans TDs.
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8
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Reggie
Bush, RB
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Hard to
believe how easily defenses shut him down.
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9
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Rudi Johnson, RB
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Missed
two weeks with pulled hamstring.
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10
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Laurence Maroney, RB
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Single
handedly killed some fantasy teams.
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11
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Ronnie
Brown, RB
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Has set
a blistering pace the last three weeks.
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12
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Peyton
Manning, QB
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He
outsmarts all possible injuries.
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13
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Frank
Gore, RB
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Only a
matter of time before he tears something.
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14
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Willis
McGahee, RB
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Fully
healthy but hasn’t done much at all.
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15
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Marvin Harrison, WR
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Never
misses games but does in the “Year of the Injury”.
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16
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Chad
Johnson, WR
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May not
be ready for Week 7 with ankle injury.
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17
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Steve
Smith, WR
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Value
“hurt” by Delhomme injury.
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18
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Tom
Brady, QB
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Eight
seconds to throw every time; rarely touched.
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19
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Terrell
Owens, WR
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Has
produced and kept his mouth shut.
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20
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Thomas Jones, RB
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Sprained
ankle limits him to only one good game.
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21
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Travis Henry, RB
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Plenty
of time to procreate now.
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22
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Maurice
Jones-Drew, RB
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MJD’s
lack of production has owners reaching for the nearest Miller product.
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23
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Edgerrin
James, RB
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Sure
doesn’t look like a 30 year old back.
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24
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Brandon Jacobs, RB
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Healthy
again after a month off.
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25
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Torry
Holt, WR
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Candidate
for a season ending knee injury at any time.
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