Week 6 is now officially in the books and we are reaching the halfway point of most fantasy football regular seasons.  Now is a good time to step back and really assess what your roster needs are so that you are well-equipped to deal with the inevitable injuries along with the remaining bye weeks.  Don’t be passive because we see it every week where impact players get hurt and miss some time, and this week was no different.  So without further ado, here is the next edition of the fantasy football walking wounded.

Ben Roethlisberger (QB-PIT)

Big Ben suffered a knee injury during the Steelers loss to Miami this past weekend.  He has undergone a meniscectomy which is a procedure to clean up a torn meniscus.  Landry Jones will get the start this coming week against New England which is not good news for fantasy owners of Antonio Brown.  The Steelers are on a bye during Week 8 so it is possible Roethlisberger could return after that.  Look for a better streaming option on the waiver wire rather than relying on Jones against a Patriots defense that will likely prey on a backup quarterback.

Jordan Reed (TE-WAS)

The Redskins await news on Jordan Reed who will be meeting with doctors to determine whether he will be cleared to return this week.  Reed is an elite tight end but is constantly dealing with injuries, including a history of concussions.  Check back in a couple days for an update on his status and consider him a must-start if he is cleared.

Randall Cobb (WR-GB)

Cobb was limited in practice last week with a neck injury and now he has been listed with a back injury on Monday.  He was able to play on Sunday against Dallas and is also expected to play this Thursday against Chicago.  Cobb has not been overly productive from a fantasy standpoint with just 28 catches and only one touchdown.  His lack of production has been a byproduct of Green Bay’s surprisingly inconsistent offensive play over the past several weeks.  He remains a WR2 especially against the Bears this week.

LeSean McCoy (RB-BUF)

There was some concern for McCoy early in this past week’s game against San Francisco when he was taken out due to a knee injury.  Fortunately for fantasy GMs he returned later in the game and finished with three touchdowns.  He will most likely be limited in practice this week but that should not affect his status for Week 7 against Miami.  He has regained his status as a top RB option after a few solid weeks coinciding with Buffalo’s resurgence.

Dez Bryant (WR-DAL)

The Cowboys held Bryant out of this week’s game against Green Bay but he has vowed that he will play in Week 8.  Dallas is on a bye this coming week so he will have extra time to fully heal from his knee injury.  Even if he comes back at or close to 100%, he has not done much to warrant WR1 status.  Another factor in his value will be whether Tony Romo is inserted back into the lineup if he is healthy enough to play.  Monitor this situation over the next two weeks.

Jordan Matthews (WR-PHI)

Matthews is dealing with tendinitis in his knee but is not expected to miss any game time.  He will likely be limited in practice but as long as he is able to participate by the middle to end of the week then there should not be any concern for his ability to play next Sunday against Minnesota.  The Eagles have come back down to earth and Matthews productivity has declined since a hot start to the season.  He will face a very tough matchup against the undefeated Vikings and their elite defense.

Terrelle Pryor (WR-CLE)

There are not many fantasy options to get excited about on the Cleveland Browns, but Terrelle Pryor has been one of them.  The former quarterback has excelled as a wide receiver including a big game this week with two touchdowns against Tennessee.  However, he suffered a hamstring injury which is a big red flag because he has had a history of hamstring issues.  Monitor his status during the week because there is a good chance he could miss next week’s game against Cincinnati.

Davante Adams (WR-GB)

Adams sustained a concussion during Green Bay’s loss to Dallas this past week and will unlikely be able to play on Thursday.  With such a quick turnaround this week, Adams will probably miss the game against Chicago which means Ty Montgomery and Jeff Janis will see additional playing time.

Eddie Lacy (RB-GB)

Lacy has been banged up with an ankle injury but has been forced to play through it with backup James Starks also out for several weeks.  Lacy has been a fantasy bust but injuries are only part of the problem.  The Packers have a quick turnaround with a game on Thursday against Chicago so Lacy won’t have much time to recover.  He will play but will likely be less than 100% which shouldn’t matter much because he hasn’t provided any real value since 2014.

Phillip Dorsett (WR-IND)

Dorsett has not done much to assert himself since being given an opportunity to be the Colts number two receiver with Donte Moncrief on the shelf.  Dorsett suffered a hamstring injury during the Colts loss to Houston on Sunday night and could possibly be limited next week against Tennessee.  Dorsett has only 13 receptions and one touchdown so his fantasy value is extremely limited at this point.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Michael A. Stein, Esq. is the Chief Justice of Fantasy Judgment, the industry's premier dispute resolution service, and is also the co-host of the Fantasy Alarm podcast. You can contact him at michael.stein@fantasyjudgment.com or on Facebook and Twitter (@FantasyJudgment),