Injuries are a common part of fantasy football so it should not come as a shock to anyone when an impact player goes down.  However, it is even worse when a key player’s status is left up in the air until game time.  That is why it is so important to check the injury reports on a daily basis to help guide you on how to manage your rosters and maneuver the waiver wire.  So without further adieu, here is the next edition of the gridiron walking wounded.

Andrew Luck (QB – IND)

It was 50/50 whether Luck would play in the Thursday night game against Houston and sure enough he did not.  Incredibly Matt Hasselbeck has eclipsed Luck’s statistics in the past two games, but barring any setbacks Luck should be back on the field for Week 6.  Luck was a risky play due to the short week so hopefully you proceeded with caution and either have a backup on your roster in weekly leagues or held off putting him in a DFS lineup.

Marshawn Lynch (RB – SEA)

Lynch is in fantasy purgatory right now as he will likely be a game-time decision this week.  Seattle has managed to get by without him the past couple weeks so they may not be in a rush to get him back on the field and risk any further damage to his hamstring.  However, that does not help fantasy owners who have been sorely disappointed with one of their first draft picks.  Fred Jackson is also out with an ankle injury so Thomas Rawls will once again see a lot of playing time if Lynch is unable to go.

Jeremy Hill (RB – CIN)

Hill was limited in practice on Thursday with a knee injury but he is expected to play on Sunday against Seattle.  It has been a relatively disappointing season for Hill despite his three touchdowns last week.  Hill has lost some playing time to Giovani Bernard and will have a very difficult matchup against a great Seattle defense.  Despite that, Hill belongs in your lineup but temper expectations.

Karlos Williams (RB – BUF)

The Bills’ running backs are dropping like flies as LeSean McCoy is currently out with a hamstring injury and now rookie Karlos Williams is expected to miss this week with a concussion.  Williams has emerged as a legitimate fantasy contributor but it does not appear as though he will be cleared for Week 5.  If he is out, Anthony Dixon should get the bulk of the carries but that does not mean he belongs on your fantasy team.  And do not call him “Boobie.”

Latavius Murray (RB – OAK)

Murray sustained a shoulder injury last week against the Bears and then fumbled late in the game after returning.  He was quickly becoming a fantasy favorite but his injury and a tough matchup against Denver make him a risky play this week.  Murray will be on the field so he is certainly an option at RB2 or Flex, but you should not expect much production from him.

Andre Ellington (RB – ARZ)

The good news is that Ellington was a full participant in practice on Thursday and will play on Sunday against Detroit.  The bad news is that he will be backing up Chris Johnson and is not much of a fantasy option.  Ellington had bust written all over him coming into the year and he is nothing more than a deep Flex option heading into Week 5.

Tevin Coleman (RB – ATL)

Coleman has missed the past couple weeks with a rib injury and has been left in the dust by Devonta Freeman.  The Falcons have been an electric offense led by Freeman’s back-to-back games with three touchdowns so Coleman won’t be doing much more than providing Freeman with a breather every so often.  Atlanta is hopeful Coleman will play, but he is not a great fantasy option at this point.

Davante Adams (WR – GB)

When Jordy Nelson went down with a season-ending knee injury in August, fantasy owners jumped all over Adams as the next coming of Antonio Freeman.  Unfortunately that hasn’t worked out so well because Adams has been out since Week 3 with an ankle injury and still has not returned to practice.  He will likely miss this week’s game against the Rams which makes James Jones and Ty Montgomery viable WR3 options if you need to fill a spot due to injuries or bye weeks.

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).