4th & Long excerpts and injury updates

It's Super Bowl Eve in Fantasyland!  Congrats if you've made it this far.  Now, let's close the deal.

Here are some excerpts from yesterday's 4th & Long in Sporting News' Fantasy Source, along with a few other injury updates.

Though Aaron Rodgers had been looking good in practice this week, the Packers have ruled him out for Sunday. Matt Flynn has a favorable matchup against the Steelers, but we’d all feel better about Jordy Nelson, James Jones and Jarrett Boykin if A-Rod had suited up.

E.J. Manuel (knee) won’t play in Week 16, leaving the quarterback duties to Thad Lewis. With Stevie Johnson also out due to the unexpected death of his mother, Sunday's game plan should be all about C.J. Spiller and Fred Jackson. The Dolphins have stepped up their run defense lately, but they are not impenetrable. The Bills’ backfield duo is agonizingly difficult to predict, but I believe both can be solid flex plays.

Though it’s not official, Adrian Peterson (foot) is expected to return Sunday, along with Toby Gerhart (hamstring), sending Matt Asiata (ankle) back to the sidelines. Hey, he'll have some great stories to share with the grandkids.

Darren McFadden is expected to return to the field on Sunday, but he’ll only be making a cameo appearance in relief of Rashad Jennings. Stay away from Run DMC. Stay far away.

Wes Welker (concussion) has already been ruled out until the playoffs, so Andre Caldwell will get another opportunity to excel in his stead. Don’t count on two TDs again, but don’t be shocked if he racks up plenty of targets and yards, either.

Victor Cruz underwent arthroscopic knee surgery on Thursday and has been placed on IR. As if the Giants’ offense needed more bad news.

Virtually every Cardinal offensive playmaker – Carson Palmer (ankle), Rashard Mendenhall (finger), Andre Ellington (thigh), Larry Fitzgerald (concussion) and Michael Floyd (ankle) – is dealing with an injury of some import. That should make your decision even easier to sit all of them against the vaunted Seattle defense. [Update: Palmer will be a game-time decision, Fitz is questionable and the others are probable.  None are startable, especially if Palmer sits.]

Pats rookie Kenbrell Thompkins has been ruled out.  That gives the other WRs a little boost.

Jordan Cameron will miss Sunday’s matchup due to concussion symptoms. If he’s your guy, it’s time to go TE shopping.  (For what it's worth, I had to pick up Pitta in one league and Delanie Walker in the other.)

Finally, weather could be an issue in several games tomorrow.  Rain, sleet and snow are predicted for the Colts-Chiefs game.  The tundra will be frozen (and snowy) in Green Bay when the Packers play the Steelers.  It's gonna rain on the Dolphins-Bills game, but probably not snow.  A thunderstorm is in the forecast for the Panthers-Saints game, which would favor the running games.  Pats-Ravens, Cards-Seahawks and Cowboys-Redskins could see rain.

Keep an eye on the conditions; but if you have a kicker in any of these games, consider calling an audible.  I'm happy to have Nick Novak playing in sunny San Diego in both leagues.

Not that I recommend him (mostly due to the possible weather issues), but in case you missed it, Shayne Graham is now the Saints' kicker.  The team released Garrett Hartley after one too many costly misses.