RADIO
Week 8 has been a terrible thus far for many fantasy owners as far as injuries are concerned. Among those injured this week were Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Steve Smith Sr., Pittsburgh Steelers running back LeVeon Bell, Chicago Bears running back Matt Forte, New York Jets quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick, and San Francisco 49ers running back Reggie Bush. Let's take a closer look at the injuries of Smith and Bell and see who will be able to step up in their places.
Steve Smith Sr., is officially out for the season with a torn Achilles. The receiver sustained the injury in the 3rd quarter of Baltimore's 29-26 win over the San Diego Chargers. Smith was producing WR1 numbers this year, which means that he will be leaving a huge void in many owners' lineups. Kamar Aiken, the Ravens' second leading receiver, has just 19 receptions on the season (to compare, Smith had 41 thus far), 271 receiving yards (Smith had 588 yards), and two touchdowns (Smith had three). Being able to step into Smith's shoes is not a simple task by any means, but Aiken should vault to WR2 status as a result of volume alone.
NFL.com's Ian Rappaport reports that LeVeon Bell has a torn MCL, which will end his season. Bell was likely a first round pick in your draft, meaning you were depending on him to produce consistent RB1 numbers; and he was doing just that this season. But now that Bell is gone, look to DeAngelo Williams to pick up the slack. Williams produced very well in the first two games in which Bell was suspended, and produced very well in Bell's absence during the Pittsburgh's 10-16 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday, rushing for 71 yards, and hauling in four receptions for 39 yards. Williams is a RB2, and could be a borderline RB1.
