NOTE: This column is a living document and will be updated throughout the morning. Major changes to the content will be in red. Check back often for additions as gameday inactives are announced and lineup / depth chart changes are reported. I'll also be retweeting those reports with quick bits of analysis, so make sure you're following @JeneBramel and checking my timeline on Twitter.
Skill position players around the league are slowly getting healthier. Brandon Marshall, A.J. Green, Dez Bryant, Jamaal Charles, Rob Gronkowski, jordan Cameron, Delanie Walker, Ladarius Green and Golden Tate are all probable to play today and can be used in fantasy lineups without high concern for their current injuries.
It's a light week for game time decisions, with Calvin Johnson the primary concern this morning.
calvin johnson | ANKLE | questionABLE
Johnson proved to be a tough read last week. It was clear he wasn't fully healthy and his missed practices were more than veteran rest days. But the Lions did a good job of hiding their plans to make Johnson a decoy until the game began.
Johnson's practice participation was no better this week -- only a limited Friday practice -- but there is more optimism from those who watched Johnson at practice on Friday. According to beat writer Tim Twentyman:
But if body language can tell you anything, then Johnson appears to be feeling a little better than he did this time last week. He even said as much when he spoke to reporters on Wednesday.
Johnson was running routes from both sides of the formation in the open portion of practice on Friday, and despite being listed as limited on the injury report, looked to be running and cutting better than he was last Friday.
Such optimism is no guarantee Johnson will see his usual number of targets and play with his usual effectiveness today, but it's very likely Johnson will play.
Fantasy expectation: I'd drop Johnson a tier this week, as it's impossible to set aside concerns about the ankle until we see a healthy Johnson at practice or on the field on gameday. But, unless you have another top 10-15 option with a high floor and some upside, I think you have to roll with Johnson again this week and hope for the best.
1115 ET: From the two primary Detroit beat writers today:
Johnson doing more in early WR drills than ast week. If you're waiting fantasy word, looks like he'll play. Not 100% but better than last wk
— Dave Birkett (@davebirkett) October 5, 2014
He'll be more than a decoy @drew_besteman: @ttwentyman do you think calvin will be a decoy today or will he play a full game?
— Tim Twentyman (@ttwentyman) October 5, 2014
Neither of these notes changes my outlook above. There's still a good chance Johnson will be limited and may only see 5-8 targets. That's enough to give him WR1 upside, but I'm still willing to consider a high target option with TD capability on a solid offense over him, i.e. Keenan Allen, Kelvin Benjamin, etc.
arian foster | hamstring | probable
Foster participated in back-to-back limited practices on Thursday and Friday and earned a probable designation. Barring a setback in pregame warmups, Foster is going to play.
Last week, Foster looked healthy in the first half, but struggled with fatigue and had little explosivenss in the second half. After playing nearly every series in the first half, Foster managed only passing down duty after the first series of the third quarter. There's a risk we'll see the same game script this week.
Fantasy expectation: Foster is very unlikely to see his usual workload today. Alfred Blue will again be a major part of the base offensive packages and could see close to a 50-50 rush split. Foster is also, as always, at risk of aggravating his injury. The matchup and game script could evolve to give Foster 15+ touches, but his ceiling is limited. Now firmly in the "show me you're healthy before I'll trust you as a fantasy starter" tier, consider Foster a boom-bust RB2 at best.
andre johnson | ankle | questionable
Johnson didn't practice Wednesday, returned to a limited practice on Thursday, then missed Friday's practice. He's listed questionable -- a downgrade from last week's probable status -- but is expected to play. There's been very little specifics reported in the media on Johnson's injury, so it's difficult to know how severe Johnson's injury may be or if he's had a significant setback this week.
Fantasy expectation: Were it not for a juicy matchup against a beat up Dallas back seven, I'd have strongly recommended fading Johnson today. If he's active, he can be considered for your WR3 spot, but start him only if you're comfortable with the potential that he'll see less than five targets.
eric decker | hamstring | questionable
Decker was available to the media on Friday after missing two consecutive practices to get treatment on a hamstring strain he's aggravated multiple times over the past three weeks. Decker bluntly told reporters he's considered a game time decision and planned to continue treatment right up to pregame warmups today.
I was surprised Decker was effective as he was last week. Given the midweek drop in practice participation and the public acknowledgement of his questionable status for this week, I'll again be surprised if Decker plays and plays well.
Fantasy expectation: I'd again avoid Decker this week, even if he's active. His hamstring clearly is less than 100%.
vernon davis | back | questionable
Davis told reporters Saturday he had only a small chance of playing. He's not practiced this week, however, and his back was not yet 100% by Friday. If five days wasn't enough to settle his back spasms down, it's unlikely another 24-36 hours will be enough.
Fantasy expectation: Expect Davis to be inactive this week.
ben tate | knee | probable
The probable designation means it's very likely Tate returns to the active roster today. But Tate didn't sound optimistic about his health on Friday and was nervous his knee might swell up on Saturday after a more strenuous Friday workout. There's been no indication yet this weekend Tate's status is worse than it was as he left the locker room on Friday. However, there's enough concern here to wonder whether Tate is ready to see more than 12-15 touches.
Fantasy expectation: I believe Tate will be active, but temper your expectations considerably. The Browns have said Tate will be back in his lead back role, but it's likely he'll be eased back into a higher workload. Consider him a flex play today.
jordan reed | hamstring | questionable
niles paul | concussion | questionable
I've written many times this year to expect players with multi-week recoveries from a muscle strain to need two weeks of practice before they can return to game action. This is Reed's first week back to practice and he rested on Friday. There's been no indication Reed suffered a setback, but the missed Friday practice is a good indication Reed will follow the usual script. Expect to see him increase his practice next week in preparation to play in Week 6.
Paul fully practiced on Thursday and Friday and was likely sent to the independent neurologist for full clearance after Friday's practice. Though listed questionable, Paul looks likely to play today.
Fantasy expectation: It will a surprise if Reed is active today. He's a marginal fantasy play if he makes the active roster. It will be a surprise if Paul is inactive today. He's a low level TE1.
austin seferian-jenkins | ankle | questionable
Seferian-Jenkins played every snap last week but his practice participation was light this week. He's likely on the probable side of questionable, but carries more risk than he otherwise might against a very strong matchup.
Fantasy expectation: Seferian-Jenkins is not a lock to be on the active roster. The Bucs have an early afternoon game, so we'll know Seferian-Jenkins' status in time to make a lineup decision. If active, consider him a boom-bust, low TE1 due to the matchup.
Best of luck in your fantasy games this weekend. I'll be back on Monday morning to review all the Week 4 injuries in the Injury Rounds column. Follow me on Twitter @JeneBramel for breaking news and analysis during the games today.
