The four teams that will play on Monday night have released their injury reports, and there’s a notable name on there.
Keke Coutee has some fantasy potential. He was mostly hurt as a rookie, but when he was on the field, he was good. He was on the field for at least half of Houston’s plays in only five games last year, but he averaged 7 catches for 76 yards in those games, with 2 TDs. That includes him catching 11 passes for 110 yards and a touchdown in a playoff loss against the Colts.
The Texans also have DeAndre Hopkins and Will Fuller (and just traded for Kenny Stills), but Coutee projects to play in the slot, and there’s some chance he’ll catch 70-plus balls this year.
But Coutee injured an ankle in the preseason and still isn’t 100 percent. He was limited in practice all week and is questionable. Typically, when a player is questionable he plays, but those using him won’t be sure he’s even active until Monday. And there’s a chance that if he does play, he won’t be as healthy or explosive as usual. For those without much depth at wide receiver, it’s reasonable to roll the dice on Coutee, but the preference would be to go with a comparable receiver who’s healthy.
For fantasy purposes, Coutee is the only notable injury from the first game. New Orleans will be without standout defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins (Achilles) and reserve defensive end Mario Edwards.
In the second game, the Broncos are pretty healthy. They won’t have fullback Andy Janovich.
The Raiders won’t have guard Gabe Jackson (knee). With Richie Incognito suspended, they won’t have either of their starting guards. (And it should be that way again next week – Jackson didn’t practice at all.
The Raiders are limping in with a lesser receiving corps. They just released Antonio Brown. That elevates J.J. Nelson into the starting lineup, but Nelson is questionable with an ankle injury. Nelson was limited in practice all week.
MONDAY NIGHT INJURIES
HOUSTON TEXANS at NEW ORLEANS SAINTS
HOUSTON TEXANS
QUESTIONABLE: WR Keke Coutee (ankle), T Tytus Howard (finger), C Greg Mancz (ankle)
DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE
Thursday: DE Carlos Watkins (non-football injury)
LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
Thursday: WR Keke Coutee (ankle), G Zach Fulton (toe), C Greg Mancz (ankle), S Justin Reid (shoulder)
Friday: WR Keke Coutee (ankle), C Greg Mancz (ankle)
Saturday: WR Keke Coutee (ankle), C Greg Mancz (ankle)
FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
Thursday: T Tytus Howard (finger)
Friday: G Zach Fulton (toe), T Tytus Howard (finger), S Justin Reid (shoulder), DE Carlos Watkins (non-football injury)
Saturday: G Zach Fulton (toe), T Tytus Howard (finger), S Justin Reid (shoulder), DE Carlos Watkins (non-football injury)
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS
OUT: DE Mario Edwards (hamstring), DT Sheldon Rankins (achilles)
QUESTIONABLE: LB Craig Robertson (hamstring)
DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE
Thursday: DE Mario Edwards (hamstring)
Friday: DE Mario Edwards (hamstring)
Saturday: DE Mario Edwards (hamstring)
LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
Thursday: LB Alex Anzalone (shoulder), RB Zach Line (knee), DT Sheldon Rankins (achilles), LB Craig Robertson (hamstring)
Friday: DT Sheldon Rankins (achilles), LB Craig Robertson (hamstring)
Saturday: DT Sheldon Rankins (achilles), LB Craig Robertson (hamstring)
FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
Thursday: RB Dwayne Washington (ankle, concussion)
Friday: LB Alex Anzalone (shoulder), RB Zach Line (knee), RB Dwayne Washington (ankle, concussion)
Saturday: LB Alex Anzalone (shoulder), RB Zach Line (knee), RB Dwayne Washington (ankle, concussion)
DENVER BRONCOS at OAKLAND RAIDERS
DENVER BRONCOS
OUT: RB Andy Janovich (pectoral), LB Joseph Jones (tricep)
DOUBTFUL: LB Todd Davis (calf)
QUESTIONABLE: CB Bryce Callahan (foot)
DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE
Thursday: LB Todd Davis (calf), RB Andy Janovich (pectoral), LB Joseph Jones (tricep)
Friday: LB Todd Davis (calf), RB Andy Janovich (pectoral), LB Joseph Jones (tricep)
Saturday: LB Todd Davis (calf), RB Andy Janovich (pectoral), LB Joseph Jones (tricep)
LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
Thursday: CB Bryce Callahan (foot), S Trey Marshall (neck)
Friday: CB Bryce Callahan (foot), S Trey Marshall (neck)
Saturday: CB Bryce Callahan (foot), TE Troy Fumagalli (illness)
FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
Saturday: S Trey Marshall (neck)
OAKLAND RAIDERS
OUT: G Gabe Jackson (knee)
QUESTIONABLE: DT Corey Liuget (knee), LB Nicholas Morrow (ankle), WR J.J. Nelson (ankle)
DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE
Thursday: WR Antonio Brown (not injury related), G Gabe Jackson (knee)
Friday: G Gabe Jackson (knee)
Saturday: G Gabe Jackson (knee)
LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
Thursday: DT Corey Liuget (knee), LB Nicholas Morrow (ankle), WR J.J. Nelson (ankle)
Friday: DT Corey Liuget (knee), LB Nicholas Morrow (ankle), WR J.J. Nelson (ankle)
Saturday: DT Corey Liuget (knee), LB Nicholas Morrow (ankle), WR J.J. Nelson (ankle)