Ezekiel Elliott (suspension) and Andrew Luck (shoulder injury) have been two of the biggest fantasy football headaches since draft day. Luck has been out all year and might not return (Is it ok to drop him?); Elliott is technically suspended for six games, but thanks to emergency appeals and injunctions, he's yet to miss any games (Should you trade him? Trade for him?). However, he could be forced to start sitting out as early as Week 9, which would mean he'd miss the first week of the fantasy playoffs -- which means you need to study up on the Cowboys depth chart and know their handcuff(s).
Even if you don't own Luck or Elliott, there's a chance you own a Colts receiver or a Cowboys backup RB and are being affected by these situations, too. Let's try to assess the fallout.
WEEK 7 RANKINGS:
Quarterback | Running back | Wide receiver | Tight end | D/ST | Kicker
Ezekiel Elliott appeal update: When will Zeke start suspension?
UPDATE: Elliott's next hearing is schedule for on Oct. 30, though the NFL is pushing to have it moved up to Oct. 27, which could mean he'll be suspended for Week 8.
Based on what we currently know, Elliott will be fine to play in Week 7 and likely through Week 8, but after that, his appeal for a temporary injunction of his six-game suspension will be heard. There has also been talk of a settlement between Elliott and the NFL that would likely result in a shortened suspension, but it's more likely that Elliott will start serving his suspension in Week 9 or he won't have to serve it at all this year. All or nothing, as they say. Like Tom Brady, it's likely Elliott will be suspended at some point, perhaps at the beginning of next season, but anything is possible in this neverending saga.
As we've been saying for weeks, Alfred Morris and Darren McFadden will likely split RB duties if/when Zeke is out. Morris gets the slight edge because he's actually been playing this year, but Cowboys.com writer Bryan Broaddus has said he thinks McFadden will be the lead back. Obviously, neither will have as much value as Elliott, but both should be owned.
A risky but potentially shrewd move would be trading for Elliott on the chance he doesn't have to serve his suspension this year. Right now, it's looking more and more like he will have to miss games, but if you get him at a reduced price and he doesn't have to sit out, it would be a major difference-maker. We don't necessarily recommend doing that, as owners are better off trading him before the suspension kicks in for something like a WR2, but chances are he'll be difficult to move in non-keeper leagues.
Will Andrew Luck play this season?
UPDATE: Luck is unlikely to return before December after his latest setback.
The Colts had already ruled Luck (shoulder) out for Week 7 after he suffered a setback in practice, and beat writer Zac Keefer said he "wouldn't be surprised" if Luck failed to suit up this year.
Jacoby Brissett has done an admirable job leading the Colts in Luck's absence, but he lacks the upside and consistency Luck brought to the table each week. Just look at T.Y. Hilton's game log: 3-57, 4-49, 7-153 (TD), 3-30, 7-177, 1-19. Donte Moncrief hasn't topped 67 yards in a game and has just one TD, and Jack Doyle has also been up and down.
If you have an IR spot in your league, you can keep Luck around and hope for the best, but if he's actually taking up a roster spot, it's probably safe to drop him. Even if he returns around Week 10, there will be a rust factor that will make him tough to trust at such a crucial point in the fantasy season.
For Hilton, Moncrief, and Doyle, there isn't much you can do. Moncrief is best suited for the waive wire, and Doyle seems like a matchup play who is destined to be on and off the wire all year. Hilton should be started most weeks, but it wouldn't make sense trading for him unless you can get him really cheap. Conversely, you're probably not going to get a fair offer for him if you try trading him away. He still has tremendous upside, as we've seen, but consistency, even in favorable matchups, is a concern.
