Fantasy Impact: Dallas Clark & Jermichael Finley Injuries

Jermichael Finley is on the Green Bay Injured Reserve list.  After a week 6 wrist injury, Dallas Clark could be done for the season.  Two of the top 4 Tight Ends (others include Antonio Gates and Vernon Davis) were seriously injured in week 7, leaving many fans concerned for their teams.

Your NFL betting could change dramatically with the loss of these play-makers, as the Packers stand 3-3 with several injuries on defense, while the Colts are now without their top 2 running backs in arguably the toughest division.

What’s the fantasy impact on these teams?  Who can you pick up to replace these stars?  I’m confident that a new fantasy-relevant player will emerge in both Green Bay and in Indianapolis.

Depending on the size and roster spots of your league, there could be several Tight Ends and Wide Receivers available on your waiver wire.  But to make this relevant to all fantasy players, the first 2 players listed below are owned in less than 6% of Yahoo! Sports fantasy leagues, while the last 2 players should be universally owned by midseason.

Donald Lee (TE – 2% owned) was injured in the same game as Finley, but has not appeared on the Green Bay injury list for week 7.  Donald Lee is not a typical backup tight end – restricted to blocking duties and the occasional audible passes.  Lee is a very capable receiver and will be fantasy-relevant now that he has been inserted into the starting lineup.  Last year as the 2^nd Tight End, he hauled in 37 passes, 260 yards, and a touchdown.   The Packers run game has been nonexistent, so Aaron Rodgers will have to continue to carry the team through the passing game.  Lee should become the 3^rd target after Greg Jennings and Donald Driver.

Anthony Gonzalez (WR – 6% owned) missed 2009 with a knee ligament injury and has played less than a game this season.  Right now he appears 4^th on the WR depth chart behind Reggie Wayne, Pierre Garcon, and Austin Collie.  But as Adam Schefter of ESPN reports, Collie has just undergone surgery on his hand and is expected to be sidelined for a few weeks.    This presents the optimal opportunity for Gonzalez to get back into the mix.   Blair White will likely not factor into the WR rotation, as Rotowire.com has just reported a neck injury during week 7 practice.  Stay tuned for more information on that story.  Keep in mind that before his season-ending injury in 2009 Gonzalez was 2^nd among Indianapolis Wide Receivers in receiving yards and finished the year with 4 touchdowns.   Indy has a bye week right now, but Gonzalez should be ready to go in week 8.

Whether it is Shaun Hill or Drew Stanton, Brandon Pettigrew (TE – 32% owned) has been racking up the catches and yards.  Calvin Johnson is the clear number one target for the Lions, which has resulted in teams focusing their safety help down the sidelines.  This has opened up the middle for Both Tony Sheffler and Pettigrew.  Although Pettigrew is 2^nd on the Tight End depth chart, he has outperformed Sheffler and actually leads the entire Lions team in receptions.  Even if you are not in a PPR league, Pettigrew will still provide the yards (336 already this season), and the touchdowns should soon follow.  Matthew Stafford should be returning in Week 8, after the bye week, but there is no reason to believe, the Lions will change their passing attack.  Detroit will mostly be playing from behind (to their credit they have lost a lot of close games), so this 2^nd year TE should continue his strong fantasy season.

When Deion Branch (WR – 69% owned) was traded to the Patriots on October 12th, I strongly recommended that he be picked up in all leagues.  How did he fare against a team that has given up the 3^rd fewest passing yards per game this season?  Branch finished with 9 receptions, 98 yards, including a key touchdown in the 4^th quarter against the Baltimore Ravens.  The Patriots have some nice matchups remaining including the Chargers, Browns, Lions and Bills.  But even against the tougher matchups, Branch should remain an everyday play as he will be targeted by longtime friend Tom Brady.  If for some reason he is still available in your league, reach for the Branch.

Make sure to also check out the WinMyFantasyLeague: Hot Pickups: Week 7.

Written by Justin Hasan exclusively for WinMyFantasyLeague.com

Comment below or e-mail him at JHas@WinMyFantasyLeague.com