This article is part of our IDP Analysis series.
During the preseason, we've covered most of the points to consider when drafting, and in just a matter of days, we'll be kicking off the regular season. In this week's edition, we'll note players who could miss time once Week 1 begins.
The no-brainers
As the league seems to be passing out numerous suspensions each month, the following players either should not be drafted in leagues with very shallow rosters or benched when setting lineups:
- Nigel Bradham, LB, PHI
- Dante Fowler Jr., DE, JAC
Two-game suspension:
- Sam Shields, CB, LAR
Four-game suspensions:
- Jimmy Smith, CB, BAL
- Vontaze Burfict, LB, CIN
- Thomas Davis, LB, CAR
- David Irving, DT, DAL
- Corey Liuget, DT, LAC
One-game suspensions:
Money talks
There are three high-profile IDPs who have yet to report to their teams, and it's unclear if that will change anytime soon.
Aaron Donald, DT, LAR: The good news is that there have been multiple reports over the past couple weeks that seem to indicate that Donald is about to sign a contract extension. Although this could get done soon, after missing the entire offseason, the veteran could possibly miss time to start the year, so in leagues with restrictive roster limits, it might be difficult to roster him.
Khalil Mack, DE, OAK: There's been silence regarding Mack and the Raiders coming to an agreement, and unless something drastic happens soon, this could become a lengthy holdout. That said, there were some whispers that
During the preseason, we've covered most of the points to consider when drafting, and in just a matter of days, we'll be kicking off the regular season. In this week's edition, we'll note players who could miss time once Week 1 begins.
The no-brainers
As the league seems to be passing out numerous suspensions each month, the following players either should not be drafted in leagues with very shallow rosters or benched when setting lineups:
- Nigel Bradham, LB, PHI
- Dante Fowler Jr., DE, JAC
Two-game suspension:
- Sam Shields, CB, LAR
Four-game suspensions:
- Jimmy Smith, CB, BAL
- Vontaze Burfict, LB, CIN
- Thomas Davis, LB, CAR
- David Irving, DT, DAL
- Corey Liuget, DT, LAC
One-game suspensions:
Money talks
There are three high-profile IDPs who have yet to report to their teams, and it's unclear if that will change anytime soon.
Aaron Donald, DT, LAR: The good news is that there have been multiple reports over the past couple weeks that seem to indicate that Donald is about to sign a contract extension. Although this could get done soon, after missing the entire offseason, the veteran could possibly miss time to start the year, so in leagues with restrictive roster limits, it might be difficult to roster him.
Khalil Mack, DE, OAK: There's been silence regarding Mack and the Raiders coming to an agreement, and unless something drastic happens soon, this could become a lengthy holdout. That said, there were some whispers that teams might try to trade for Mack, but the team seems to have all the leverage, and unless they receive a ridiculous offer, it would be surprising if they traded him away.
Earl Thomas, S, SEA: The veteran either wants a new deal or he wants to be dealt to another team. Unfortunately, there's been very little news about this situation the entire preseason, and it seems to be quite unlikely that Thomas will be playing football anytime soon.
Cold storage
Daniel Sorensen, S, KC: After suffering a preseason knee injury, Sorenson isn't expected to be re-evaluated until Week 4, so he's not a player who will be useful to fantasy owners unless they have an IR spot.
Timmy Jernigan, DT, PHI: Earlier in the preseason, it seemed as if Jernigan (lower back) would return from the Non-Football Injury list before the season started. Unfortunately, he's not expected to be ready to start the season, and he might not see the field until October.
Early-season uncertainty
K.J. Wright, LB, SEA: It's looking unlikely that Wright is in the Week 1 lineup after having arthroscopic knee surgery on August 27. Should he miss time, rookie Shaquem Griffin is expected to take over, but there are very few players capable of posting the type of numbers we've come to expect from Wright.
Willie Henry, DT, BAL: The Baltimore run-stuffer underwent surgery for an umbilical hernia within the last week and is expected to be out for several weeks, but his ultimate timetable is uncertain as of now.
Damarious Randall, S, CLE: After battling a knee issue that's hampered him for a while, Randall is getting a second opinion on his knee. Until more conclusive reports surface, it's difficult to expect him to be on the field when the regular season begins.
