RADIO
Another week and another slew of big name injuries will cause fantasy owners to make more roster moves. Here is a look at a few of the star players who went down and who is available to fill in.
Ben Roethlisberger - Big Ben went down with a foot injury in the second half and watched from the sidelines as his backup Landry Jones secured a last minute drive that led to a field goal and a 38 to 35 victory for the Steelers over the Raiders. Initially, team doctors feared Roethlisberger had suffered a LisFranc injury, which would have likely sidelined him for the season. However, both Adam Schefter and Chris Mortensen of ESPN have reported that team doctors now think it's a mild sprain that could cost Roethlisberger 1 to 3 weeks. An MRI scheduled for tomorrow will show the severity of the injury.
Replacing Jones for Roethlisberger may not seem like the most attractive replacement, but the Steelers have enough to make him a possibility going forward, especially for owners in deep or two quarterback leagues. Jones hasn't put up stellar numbers in his spot duty this year (24 for 47 with three touchdowns and two interceptions) but a favorable matchup against the Browns followed by a bye week should make Jones a viable option until Big Ben resurfaces. Jones is available in nearly all fantasy leagues.
LeSean McCoy - McCoy left the Bills' 33 to 17 victory over the Dolphins with a shoulder injury and did not return. Prior to the injury, McCoy had been the player that owners were hoping for all year, rushing for 112 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries. After the game, McCoy said, "I'll be fine," in regards to the injury. However, he and the Bills have a short week, as they meet the Jets on Thursday, meaning McCoy won't have the usual time to heal. No need to panic if you have McCoy's backup, Karlos Williams. Or, if you can get him.
Williams returned from a concussion on Sunday and scored two times on nine carries while running for 110 yards. Williams has at times threatened to take over the RB1 spot from McCoy, and will have another chance to solidify his stance on Thursday. The problem, however, will be the Jets defense, that is number one in the league against the run.
Looking outside of Buffalo, the Patriots' Brandon Bolden should see an increase in playing time should Dion Lewis miss anytime with the knee injury he suffered against the Redskins on Sunday. If you are on the field, Tom Brady will find you. Bolden is available in a whopping 99 percent of leagues, while Williams is available in 65 percent.
