Fantasy File

Time to reshuffle with everyone getting hurt

Daunte Culpepper's production has been hampered by a knee injury. Ezra Shaw/Allsport

By James Quintong, CNNSI.com

You can definitely tell it's December, thanks to all of the injuries and other assorted nicks, cuts, strains and pulls affecting plenty of players just this past week. There may not be much snow on the ground yet, but it's already been a long season -- and there are still five weeks left to go.

If you think dealing with injuries in the middle of the season is bad, just think of the problems you'll have in setting lineups now. If coaches stay really secretive about whether players can go Sunday, setting lineups is a crapshoot for most fantasy owners. Not necessarily the best thing you want to do with fantasy playoffs looming.

Let's look at the fallout from this past weekend by position to see what changes you might have to make heading down the stretch.

Quarterbacks

Charlie Batch, Lions: He's done for the year with a shoulder injury. Mike McMahon, who's had brief flashes of brilliance, will start this weekend. It's really hard to recommend him, however.

Chris Chandler, Falcons: The injury of the week for Chandler was a sprained ankle. It doesn't look like he'll be able to go Sunday, meaning Michael Vick will probably get the start. Vick has been very spotty during his limited action and is hard to rely on for any good fantasy numbers.

Daunte Culpepper, Vikings: A balky knee was troubling him even before the Steelers game, and he was eventually pulled in the second half in favor of Todd Bouman, who did well in his place. Culpepper still looks like he might be available this weekend, although his running will likely be cut back. Steve McNair, Titans: He returned to the game against the Browns despite suffering a painful elbow injury just before the half. McNair would like to go, obviously, but given the injury (and having Neil O'Donnell as a capable backup), he could sit out. A potential Culpepper-McNair matchup this week could end up being Bouman-O'Donnell.

Running backs

Kevan Barlow, 49ers: A dislocated shoulder put him on the inactive list last weekend, but he'll practice more this week. Still, there's no real reason he needs to be rushed back into action, especially with Garrison Hearst tearing up the league.

Jerome Bettis, Steelers: He sat out most of the fourth quarter Sunday with a hip injury, and he said he has some groin and abdomen injuries as well. The Bus has always taken a lot of beating in his career but keeps on rolling, so you'd expect him to go against the Jets in a big game Sunday. If not, Pittsburgh does have a couple of good backups in Amos Zereoue and Chris Fuamatu-Ma'afala, both worth picking up just in case.

James Jackson, Browns: No one is really sure if he'll go this week with that bum ankle. No matter, you probably don't want to start him anymore anyway. A little Ben Gay could help out the problems for Cleveland but probably not your fantasy team. Might as well get Scott Frost in there to drop more passes at the goal line.

Maurice Smith, Falcons: A bum ankle slowed him down against the Rams, which showed in his paltry numbers. Rodney Thomas is the backup in Atlanta, for your information, although Smith is obviously the better choice if he's healthy.

Anthony Thomas, Bears: After a great little stretch, his hamstring injury has caused havoc for many fantasy owners because he's been a late scratch the last two games, during short weeks with Thursday games. He's definitely the shining example of why fantasy owners would rather see a torn ACL since you know he's out and that's that. He thinks he'll be ready to go this week, but we'll have to see it to believe it.

Wide receivers

Chris Chambers, Dolphins: One of the league's hottest rookies is also suffering lingering hamstring and rib injuries -- definitely the toll of a long season. The injuries don't seem too serious, but if he and James McKnight (rib) can't go, Dedric Ward would be an intriguing pickup.

Terrell Owens, 49ers: He nearly sat out the Bills game with an ankle injury but he played and scored a touchdown. He's a gamer and you know he'll want to come up big this week with the trip to St. Louis.

Rod Smith, Broncos: The sprained ankles kept him out of the Dolphins game, but with Denver struggling in the playoff chase, you'd think he'd try to find a way back into the lineup as soon as he can. Plus, Denver has no good receivers when Smith is out.

Tight ends

Stephen Alexander, Redskins: He broke his leg last week and is done for the year. Somehow, Zeron Flemister has come up with a couple of big grabs in recent weeks and could be a major sleeper.

Cam Cleeland, Saints: Break out the champagne, it looks like he's healthy again. If so, he's a nice pickup, but if he gets hurt again, Boo Williams has done a decent job for New Orleans.

Jay Riemersma, Bills: He suffered a concussion against the 49ers and it's up in the air whether he'd start on Sunday. Too bad, since he could have a good game against the Panthers. Wow, 1-10 Buffalo against 1-11 Carolina. Yikes.

Wesley Walls, Panthers: Another tight end who could have a good game in that potentially terrible Bills-Panthers matchup, Walls hyperextended his ankle last week. His status is also up in the air.

Kickers

Mike Vanderjagt, Colts: Yes, even the kickers are getting hurt as Vanderjagt injured his back late in the Ravens game. Indianapolis may be trying out kickers this week, but for fantasy owners, it's time to check out whatever is left on the waiver wire since there are some decent ones swirling around most likely, such as a Bill Gramatica or Steve Christie.

Monday's Best

Brett Favre, QB, Packers (24-42, 362 yards, 3 TDs; 2 carries, 5 yards, 1 TD): He likes the prime time spotlight and in the process put up one of the better individual fantasy performances of the season. That last rushing touchdown was just the icing on the cake for such a huge game.

Monday's Worst

Stacey Mack, RB, Jaguars (16 carries, 27 yards; 2 catches, 13 yards): Both teams' running games were shut down, but Ahman Green still did a lot in the passing game and scored a touchdown. Same goes for Mack's teammate Elvis Joseph. Mack did very little and the Jaguars are still waiting for Fred Taylor to return.

Bye week watch

This week the Ravens have the bye, meaning you definitely have to bench the inconsistent Elvis Grbac. The time off allows Baltimore to assess the running game, especially in the wake of Moe Williams' 111-yard game against the Colts. Terry Allen could be back soon but will likely get broken in slowly, much like Tyrone Wheatley in Oakland. The passing game is all over the place as Shannon Sharpe has played like he's supposed to, Qadry Ismail has been a pleasant surprise again and Travis Taylor has yet to live up to expectations.

James Quintong is Fantasy Sports producer at CNNSI.com

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Fantasy File: Injuries a nagging part of fantasy football Back Page: Random observations Sunday's Best: Week 12
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