
With the fantasy playoff season upon us, a barrage of injury-related comings and goings is changing the fantasy landscape. Let’s take a team-by-team look at how these key injuries and recoveries are affecting player value.
Eagles — A lot of fantasy owners are watching the RB situation in Philly with great interest. LeSean McCoy owners who managed to secure rookie sensation Bryce Brown as a handcuff would just as soon see McCoy take the rest of the season off. Brown, who has rushed for 347 yards and four TDs in his last two games, can be a difference-making RB1 for as long as McCoy remains out. But if McCoy is soon cleared to return from a concussion, Brown owners won’t be pleased, dual McCoy-Brown owners won’t be pleased, and even those who own McCoy but not Brown won’t exactly be thrilled by the prospect of a value-killing platoon arrangement. Brown might at least retain RB2 value if McCoy returns, since "Shady" would be destined for kid-gloves treatment. McCoy himself might not even have flex value in that scenario.
Packers — Greg Jennings returned to action last week after missing nearly two months with a groin injury, but Jordy Nelson reaggravated a hamstring injury and figures to miss at least a game or two. Considering that his ailing hammy has twice forced him to leave games early, it would be awfully hard to trust Nelson in your lineup at any point in the weeks to come. Jennings played a limited number of snaps last week but made it through his first game back without issue. We know what Jennings is capable of, and with Nelson out, Jennings is worth consideration as a low-end WR2 or flex play, at minimum. Randall Cobb continues to be a must-start. James Jones’ fantasy outlook would be bleak if Green Bay had a full complement of wide receivers, but with Nelson out, Jones has WR3 or flex value in standard leagues as a low-volume target with TD upside. At running back, James Starks is likely out for the season, and I’ve seen it suggested that Alex Green now is an appealing pickup. Ack! No, he isn’t. Green had the RB job to himself just a few weeks ago and wasn’t a productive fantasy performer then; he won’t be one now. The Packers simply don’t generate enough RB value for you to put Green in your lineup in a do-or-die game. Green Bay running backs rarely score touchdowns, even at the goal line, and they don’t catch many passes. The Packers haven’t squeezed a 100-yard rushing day out of a running back in eons (since Brandon Jackson in Week Five of the 2010 season). Don’t be tempted.