Week 7 Walking Wounded

Sorry to everyone for missing my usual Friday injury updates for week 6. Let's get back to it with the week 7 injuries. I will not cover injured players on bye in week 7 as they'll be on your bench anyways.

QB:

Tony Romo - Fantasy owners are no doubt freaking with the news that Romo fractured his pinkie finger and will miss 4-5 weeks. Which means 3-4 games. Brad Johnson will take his place, and while he is an interesting (albeit conservative) week 7 option against STL, he's not recommended beyond that. Downgrade all Cowboys, especially T.O. *edit* Tony Romo will not start in week 7.

Carson Palmer - Palmer has already been ruled out for week 7, and again looks like a dicey bet for the rest of the season. He's going to see the New York Mets pitching doctor, so hopefully some definitive news beyond this week will be known soon. Ryan Fitzpatrick has been a disaster in his place, and will continue to be such. *edit* Carson Palmer is again facing the threat of season-ending surgery. I'd still hold onto him until news is official.

Matt Hasselbeck - Hasselbeck is out in week 7, but with a bulging disc in his back as opposed to his knee. It's very possible he'll miss multiple weeks beyond this.

Trent Edwards - Edwards practiced on Monday and will be starting again in week 7 after missing week 5 with a concussion. Losman will head back to the bench. *edit* Edwards is starting in week 7.

Jon Kitna - Kitna's week 7 status is in doubt, and so is his starting job for the rest of the season. If he's your QB2 you need to drop him and find someone better on the waiver wire. *edit* Kitna is out in week 7, and was placed on IR. Drop him immediately if you didn't after I suggested doing it the first 8 times.

Ben Roethlisberger / Aaron Rodgers - 2 fantasy starters who have been dealing with injuries, but have looked fine on gameday. Big Ben has hopefully mostly healed over the bye week, and Rodgers continues to look fine on gameday. *edit* Both are starting in week 7 and have excellent matchups.

RB:

Joseph Addai - Addai suffered a potentially serious hamstring injury, and the Colts haven't been forthcoming with any sort of information about it. Dominic Rhodes will start should Addai miss time, and he needs to be added in every league. *edit* Addai is out 2-4 weeks. The Colts are denying it, but I'm not buying it.

Willie Parker - Parker practiced on Monday and is ready to start in week 7. *edit* Parker re-injured his knee in practice and is out for week 7. Mewelde Moore will start in his place.

Willis McGahee - McGahee also suffered some sort of injury that knocked him from the game in week 6, and little is known about it. Last week was the one week McGahee could have totally redeemed himself, but unlike Lloyd Christmas, he failed to do so. Keep him rostered, but don't let him anywhere near your lineup. *edit* McGahee will start in week 7, and I guess you could do worse for an emergency if you didn't get Rhodes/Moore/Morris.

Selvin Young - Young missed week 6 with a groin injury, and his status for week 7 is uncertain. Given the way Michael Pittman played, Young has probably lost his starting job. It was clear Shanahan didn't trust him as a featured RB this season. *edit* Young is out again in week 7. With Pittman running well and Torain close to returning, you can drop Young if you like someone better out there.

Kevin Smith - Smith left with a shoulder injury in week 6, did not return, and his status for week 7 is uncertain. Rudi would dominate the backfield should Smith miss week 7, but given the disastrous state of the Lions offense, it'd be hard to recommend him, although Houston's defense is allowing 4.5 YPC on the season. *edit* Smith returned to practice on Friday and will resume his timeshare role.

Chris Perry - No injury, he just sucks. After a couple promising outings against tough defenses in weeks 2 and 3, he's been absolute crap. I plan on dropping him from both of my teams if I can land Rhodes. Kenny Watson and Cedric Benson will likely battle to start in week 7 as there's strong rumors of him being benched. *edit* Cedric Benson is the new starter. Drop Perry.

Laurence Maroney - In the lineup, out of the lineup. Who knows what's really wrong with him, and if you see someone like Michael Pittman or Dominic Rhodes on your waiver wire, cut bait with Maroney. He still has untapped talent, but it's starting to become clear that he again won't put it on display this season. *edit* Maroney is doubtful, and Sammy Morris will dominate the carries in his place.

WR:

Marques Colston - Oh so close to playing in week 6, but it would be a shock if he didn't play in week 7. He should be all systems go, and back to being a borderline WR1. *edit* Colston is starting in week 7. Get him in your lineup.

Chris Chambers - Chambers missed week 6 with an ankle injury, and nothing is known about his week 7 status as the Chargers haven't identified what exactly the injury is. That being said, I would guess it's a multi-week injury. *edit* Chambers is out in week 7. Malcolm Floyd will start in his place.

Eddie Royal - Royal missed week 6 with an ankle sprain, but there's some optimism about returning in week 7. We'll know more later this week. *edit* Royal will resume starting in week 7, so start him if you were on the fence.

Brandon Stokley - Stokley was a solid one week fill-in for Royal owners with a couple catches and a TD, but was concussed in the first half and didn't return. His status for week 7 is in question. *edit* Stokley is unlikely to play in week 7. Do not use him.

Deion Branch - Branch missed week 6 with a heel injury, and even though he might return in week 7, he's not worth using with Hasselbeck out unless Frye shows improvement in his next game. *edit* Branch is out in week 7.

TE:

Kellen Winslow - Winslow probably won't play this evening with some gross swollen testicle issue, but odds are he'll be ready for week 7 as he seemed somewhat close to play this week. *edit* Winslow will start in week 7, so you should start him too.

Jeremy Shockey - Shockey seemingly came close to playing in week 6, but he's still uncertain for week 7 as he only put in limited practices last week. I'll update him further later this week. *edit* Shockey will start in week 7, so you should start him too.

Tony Scheffler - Scheffler missed week 6 with a groin injury, and his status for week 7 is in question as of now. *edit* Scheffler looks unlikely to play, and his bye week is next week, so there's no reason for Denver to force him back out there. Don't use him.