Fantasy updates on Le'Veon Bell, Matt Forte, Keenan Allen, other Week 8 injuries

Brad Pinkerton

Fantasy updates on Le'Veon Bell, Matt Forte, Keenan Allen, other Week 8 injuries image

Starting with Le'Veon Bell's potentially season-ending knee injury, Sunday was a very painful day for NFL players and fantasy football owners alike. If you didn't lose a player to injury in NFL Week 8, consider yourself very lucky. 

Bell, Matt Forte and Keenan Allen are just some of the key fantasy football players who went down Sunday. Let's sift through the carnage for the latest injury updates to key players, and identify some sleeper fantasy pickups who could replace them. 

MORE: Best fantasy football pickups for Week 9SN Fantasy

Le'Veon Bell out for the season

Steelers RB Le'Veon Bell suffered a gruesome right knee injury Sunday against the Bengals when Vontaze Burfict fell on Bell's leg and bent it awkwardly on a tackle. Bell had to be carted to the locker room and was taken to the hospital for further evaluation. Profootballtalk's Mike Florio reports the Steelers are "optimistic" Bell avoided ACL damage, and that his injury is limited to his MCL.

UPDATE: SteelersDepot.com reported that Bell suffered a torn MCL and will miss the rest of the season. Adam Schefter and Ian Rapoport both cite sources confirming the report. Bell is expected to be placed on injured reserve on Monday.  

If the injury is as bad as it looked, Bell could be done for the season, leaving DeAngelo Williams as Pittsburgh's lead back once again. Williams was fantasy's No. 1 RB through Week 2 with Bell serving a two-game suspension, and he's in for another huge role now. Williams should be the No. 1 fantasy pickup this week. 

MORE Week 9 fantasy football rankings:
Quarterbacks | Running backsWide receivers | Tight ends | Defenses | Kickers

Matt Forte injury update

Bears RB Matt Forte suffered a knee injury in the third quarter Sunday against the Vikings and did not return. Rookie Jeremy Langford took over in the backfield for Chicago and, although he didn't do much, deserves to be added in all fantasy leagues in case Forte misses more time. The only good news is that Forte was able to walk to the locker room under his own power, so the injury doesn't appear to be overly serious. 

UPDATE: FOX Sports' Jay Glazer reports the Bears believe Matt Forte has an MCL injury, but avoided an ACL tear. As with Bell, this isn't necessarily good news if Forte tore the MCL. As of now, Forte is expected to miss at least two games. Stay tuned for updates.

Keenan Allen injury update

Chargers WR Keenan Allen left Sunday's game against the Ravens with what's being called back spasms after a TD grab late in the second quarter and did not return. It was initially diagnosed as a shoulder injury, but it sounds like Allen avoided anything serious, though he could miss some practice time this week. With Stevie Johnson (shoulder) also banged up Sunday, Malcom Floyd stepped up and could be a sneaky fantasy pickup against the Bears in Week 9. 

UPDATE: Keenan Allen is out indefinitely with a kidney injury. There's no timetable, but it sounds like a multi-week injury. Expect more targets for Malcom Floyd and Stevie Johnson (if healthy). 

Steve Smith Sr. out for the season

Ravens coach John Harbaugh confirmed that Steve Smith Sr. is done for the season with a torn right Achilles' tendon. It's possible the injury also ends the 36-year-old's career, as Smith had already been contemplating retirement after the season. Meanwhile, Kamar Aiken is likely to take over as Baltimore's No. 1 in a very thin receiving corps. Crockett Gillmore, who scored Sunday, should also see more targets. 

Ladarius Green injury update

Chargers TE Ladarius Green suffered an ankle injury in the first half against the Ravens and did not return. It was a letdown for many owners who trusted Green even with Antonio Gates (knee) active Sunday. Even if the injury is minor, it could be enough to push Green further behind Gates, who avoided a setback Sunday.  

Other fantasy injury updates

Jets QB Ryan Fitzpatrick tore ligaments in his left thumb in the first quarter against the Raiders and was declared out, but returned after Geno Smith took a huge hit late in the game. If Fitzpatrick misses time, as expected, Smith would be a downgrade for Jets WRs Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker. The good news is that the injury isn't on Fitzpatrick's throwing hand. ... Giants RB Orleans Darkwa left with a back injury and did not return. Even if it's minor, it's a missed opportunity for Darkwa, who was in line for a larger role ahead of Rashad Jennings, Shane Vereen and Andre Williams. Meanwhille, Giants TE Larry Donnell was carted to the locker room with a neck injury. Will Tye is the Giants' next in line at tight end. ... Reggie Bush, who was starting for the 49ers in place of Carlos Hyde (foot), suffered what's thought to be a torn ACL after a first-quarter punt return when he slipped out of bounds on the concrete behind the team bench. Mike Davis came on to replace Bush, but eventually left with a hand injury and did not return. Davis may be ready for Week 9; if not, we could see Kendall Gaskins starting for the Niners if Hyde isn't ready. Yeah, it's bad. 

Brad Pinkerton