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Fantasy injury report: Week 8

The following is a list of injured players for Week 8 and the fantasy implications of all the major injuries:

**Buffalo Bills**
Out: DE Ryan Denney (foot), LB Leon Joe (knee), CB Ashton Youboty (ankle); Doubtful: S Jim Leonhard (calf), TE Ryan Neufeld (quadriceps), WR Sam Aiken (hamstring); Questionable: LB Josh Stamer (calf), DE Chris Kelsay (ankle).

Fantasy take: The Bills have several injuries on defense, which is good news for the Jets' offensive skill position players.


**Carolina Panthers**
Out: LB Dan Morgan (ankle), LB Adam Seward (calf); Probable: QB David Carr (back), RB DeShaun Foster (toe), WR Steve Smith (team decision).

Fantasy take: DeShaun Foster (toe) has been taken off the injury report and will start in Week 8. Carr will be active, but Vinny Testaverde has been named the starter against Indianapolis.


**Chicago Bears**
Doubtful: S Brandon McGowan (elbow); Questionable: CB Nathan Vasher (groin), DT Darwin Walker (knee); Probable: DE Alex Brown (back).

Fantasy take: The Bears defense does have a few injuries, which could be good news for Detroit's offensive skill position players.


**Cincinnati Bengals**
Out: T Willie Anderson (knee), LB Ahmad Brooks (groin), LB Caleb Miller (back); Doubtful: RB Rudi Johnson (hamstring); Questionable: WR Antonio Chatman (hamstring); Probable: S Dexter Jackson (hip), WR Chad Johnson (ankle), LB Corey Mays (hamstring).

Fantasy take: Rudi Johnson missed Friday's practice and reports out of Cincinnati suggest he could miss Week 8, so be sure to keep tabs on his status throughout the weekend. Kenny Watson would start in his absence. Chad Johnson should be fine to face Pittsburgh. The Bengals are riddled with injuries on defense, which is good news for Pittsburgh's offensive skill position players.


**Cleveland Browns**
Questionable: TE Darnell Dinkins (hand), RB Jamal Lewis (foot); Probable: WR Joe Jurevicius (knee), CB Kenny Wright (player decision).

Fantasy take: Lewis was limited in Friday's practice, so his status for Week 8 remains uncertain. He could be a gametime decision. Jason Wright would start and share carries with Jerome Harrison if Lewis were inactive.


**Denver Broncos**
Out: WR Javon Walker (knee); Questionable: RB Travis Henry (ribs), CB Champ Bailey (quadriceps); Probable: S Hamza Abdullah (hip), CB Dre' Bly (shoulder), TE Tony Scheffler (knee).

Fantasy take:Fantasy owners should keep tabs of Henry's status throughout the weekend. He could be a gametime decision. Selvin Young would see more work if Henry is out or limited. Brandon Stokley will start in the absence of Walker. Bailey and Bly are expected to start against Green Bay.


**Detroit Lions**
Doubtful: S Idrees Bashir (ribs), DE Kalimba Edwards (knee); Probable: WR Troy Walters (quadriceps), CB Fernando Bryant (ankle), S Gerald Alexander (quadriceps).

Fantasy take: The Lions have some injuries on defense, but their unit is still a viable sleeper candidate in Week 8.


**Green Bay Packers**
Out: CB Will Blackmon (foot), TE Bubba Franks (knee), DT Justin Harrell (ankle); Doubtful: CB Frank Walker (knee); Questionable: T Junius Coston (ankle), DE Cullen Jenkins (ankle), WR Ruvell Martin (back); Probable: CB Al Harris (back), DE Mike Montgomery (knee), RB Vernand Morency (knee), C Scott Wells (eye), CB Charles Woodson (foot), RB DeShawn Wynn (neck).

Fantasy take: Donald Lee will see more work with Franks out. Wynn practiced late in the week and will start in Week 8, so he's a decent sleeper against a porous Denver run defense. Harris and Woodson should both be active, which is good news for the value of the Green Bay defense.


**Houston Texans**
Out: LB Shawn Barber (neck), G Kasey Studdard (groin); Doubtful: WR Andre Johnson (knee); Probable: K Kris Brown (left foot), RB Ahman Green (knee), LB DeMeco Ryans (ankle), QB Matt Schaub (hip), WR Harry Williams (quadriceps), DT Jeff Zgonina (chest).

Fantasy take: Schaub is listed as probable but could be a gametime decision, so Sage Rosenfels could make his first start of the season. Johnson was limited in Friday's practice and is still not expected to return in Week 8. Green is listed as probable, but the matchup against the Chargers is not attractive. Brown should be fine to kick in San Diego.


**Indianapolis Colts**
Questionable: TE Bryan Fletcher (leg), CB Matt Giordano (hamstring), WR Marvin Harrison (knee), LB Freddy Keiaho (head), T Tony Ugoh (shoulder), LB Victor Worsley (foot).

Fantasy take: Harrison missed Friday's practice, so be sure to keep tabs on his status at gametime. If he is inactive, look for Anthony Gonzalez and Dallas Clark to see more work in the pass attack.


**Jacksonville Jaguars**
Out: QB David Garrard (ankle), K Josh Scobee (right quadriceps); Questionable: DE Reggie Hayward (hamstring), RB Maurice Jones-Drew (knee), DT Tony McDaniel (wrist), DT Marcus Stroud (ankle), CB Brian Williams (hamstring); Probable: LB Daryl Smith (hip), TE George Wrighster (head).

Fantasy take: Garrard is out several weeks, so Quinn Gray will take over as the No. 1 quarterback. Jones-Drew was limited in Friday's practice, but reports indicate he will be active in Week 8. The Jaguars have a number of injuries on defense, which could affect their unit's value in Tampa Bay.


**Miami Dolphins**
Out: DT Vonnie Holliday (ankle), TE David Martin (groin), LB Zach Thomas (neck), S Travares Tillman (knee); Probable: S Courtney Bryan (quadriceps), DT Keith Traylor (illness), LB Abraham Wright (knee).

Fantasy take: Justin Peelle will see more work with Martin out. The Dolphins have some injuries on defense, which is good news for the Giants' offensive skill position players.


**Minnesota Vikings**
Out: S Dwight Smith (hamstring); Doubtful: LB Vinny Ciurciu (ankle); Questionable: QB Tarvaris Jackson (right hand); Probable: G Anthony Herrera (knee), DE Erasmus James (shoulder), TE Visanthe Shiancoe (groin), RB Naufahu Tahi (knee), RB Chester Taylor (groin).

Fantasy take: Jackson was limited in Friday's practice, so it appears that Kelly Holcomb will be under center in Week 8. Adrian Peterson, who is not atop the Minnesota depth chart, would see more work if Taylor is limited against Philadelphia.


**New England Patriots**
Doubtful: RB Sammy Morris (chest); Questionable: LB Eric Alexander (knee), S Mel Mitchell (groin), TE Benjamin Watson (ankle), S Eugene Wilson (ankle); Probable: QB Tom Brady (right shoulder).

Fantasy take: Morris could miss several more weeks, so Kevin Faulk now has fantasy relevance behind Laurence Maroney. Kyle Brady will see more work if Watson is out for a second consecutive week.


**New Orleans Saints**
Out: C Jeff Faine (pectoral); Probable: DT Brian Young (knee).

Fantasy take: No significant injuries.


**New York Giants**
Doubtful: S James Butler (ankle/hamstring), WR Steve Smith (shoulder/hamstring), RB Derrick Ward (ankle); Questionable: WR Plaxico Burress (ankle).

Fantasy take: Burress missed Friday's practice but should still start in Week 8. Ward's status is in doubt, so be sure to check the NFL.com inactives list this weekend. Reuben Droughns would see more work behind Brandon Jacobs if Ward is inactive.


**New York Jets**
Out: LB Jonathan Vilma (knee); Questionable: TE Chris Baker (back), WR Laveranues Coles (calf), DT Dewayne Robertson (knee); Probable: QB Chad Pennington (ankle), WR Justin McCareins (calf), TE Jason Pociask (back), CB Hank Poteat (chest), TE Sean Ryan (knee), S Eric Smith (thigh).

Fantasy take:Fantasy owners in IDP formats need to keep tabs on Vilma, who could be out several weeks. Pennington is listed as probable and will start against Buffalo. Coles is questionable, so be sure to check his status at gametime. Chances are he will start in Week 8.


**Oakland Raiders**
Out: DT Gerard Warren (quadriceps), LB Sam Williams (shoulder); Probable: CB Chris Carr (calf), QB Josh McCown (toe), WR Jerry Porter (shoulder).

Fantasy take: McCown returned to practice this week, but it appears that Daunte Culpepper will start in Week 8.


**Philadelphia Eagles**
Doubtful: S Brian Dawkins (neck); Questionable: S Sean Considine (ankle), T Jon Runyan (glute); Probable: TE Brent Celek (ankle), CB Lito Sheppard (knee), TE L.J. Smith (hernia), LB Takeo Spikes (shoulder), T William Thomas (knee).

Fantasy take: Sheppard and Spikes should both be active in Week 8, and that's good news for the value of the Philadelphia defense. Smith practiced without issues on Friday, but he's still a risk for fantasy owners.


**Pittsburgh Steelers**
Out: S Ryan Clark (abdomen); Doubtful: S Ryan Clark (abdomen), CB Bryant McFadden (ankle); Probable: LB Clint Kriewaldt (shoulder).

Fantasy take: Hines Ward (knee) and Heath Miller (chin) were removed from the injury report and will start in Week 8.


**San Diego Chargers**
Out: C Nick Hardwick (foot); Questionable: WR Craig Davis (ankle), DT Jamal Williams (knee).

Fantasy take: Davis is now third on the depth chart after the acquisition of Chris Chambers, so he has little fantasy value.


**San Francisco 49ers**
Doubtful: WR Darrell Jackson (quadriceps), T Jonas Jennings (ankle), S Keith Lewis (hamstring); Questionable: RB Frank Gore (ankle).

Fantasy take: Gore was limited in Friday's practice, but he is expected to start in Week 8. Still, fantasy owners who have Gore might want to add Michael Robinson as insurance. Jackson missed another practice, so look for Ashley Lelie to start against New Orleans. Smith is expected to return this week, but he's a risk for fantasy owners.


**St. Louis Rams**
Out: WR Dante Hall (ankle), DE Leonard Little (toe), C Brett Romberg (ankle); Probable: WR Drew Bennett (hamstring), S Corey Chavous (pectoral), RB Steven Jackson (groin).

Fantasy take: Jackson returned to full practice and should start in Week 8, barring setbacks. He might not see a full workload, but it's still hard not to start a back of Jackson's caliber Torry Holt (knee) was taken off the injury report and will start against Cleveland.


**Tampa Bay Buccaneers**
Out: RB Michael Pittman (ankle); Doubtful: WR Michael Clayton (ankle), TE Alex Smith (ankle); Questionable: DE Patrick Chukwurah (shoulder), CB Brian Kelly (groin).

Fantasy take: Pittman remains out, so Earnest Graham will start against Jacksonville. Smith is listed as doubtful, so Jerramy Stevens could be in line for more work. Ike Hilliard and Maurice Stovall will see more work if Clayton is inactive.


**Tennessee Titans**
Out: RB Ahmard Hall (forearm), DT Corey Simon (team decision); Questionable: RB Chris Brown (ankle), WR Brandon Jones (knee); Full practice: WR Chris Davis (ankle), QB Vince Young (quadriceps).

Fantasy take: Young returned to full practice and should start in Week 8. LenDale White would see an increase in value if Brown is out for a second consecutive week. Roydell Williams will continue to see more opportunities if Jones is limited or out. Simon announced his retirement from the NFL this week.


**Washington Redskins**
Out: G Randy Thomas (triceps); Questionable: RB Rock Cartwright (quadriceps); Probable: CB Carlos Rogers (knee), CB Fred Smoot (hamstring), T Stephon Heyer (hamstring), C Casey Rabach (groin), LB Marcus Washington (hamstring).

Fantasy take: The Redskins have some injuries on defense and warrant little fantasy consideration against the high-octane New England offense.


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