FANTASY FOOTBALL NFL PLAYERS

Posted: 11/20/2009 3:04pm et

ESPN reports Pittsburgh Steelers SS Troy Polamalu (knee) has been ruled out for Week 11.

The Huddle Take: Polamalu's injury isn't as bad this time as the one that kept him out for several weeks early in the season. Odds are he'll be able to return for Week 12. The Steeler defense, even without Polamalu, is a good Fantasy play this week against the Chiefs.

Posted: 11/17/2009 1:33pm et

Pittsburgh Steelers SS Troy Polamalu (knee) is questionable at best to play in Week 11. However, head coach Mike Tomlin has not yet ruled Polamalu out for the game. Polamalu strained the posterior cruciate ligament in his left knee in Week 10, the same knee in which he injured the medial collateral ligament in Week 1 and ended up missing four games and parts of two others. Tomlin said the current injury is not as significant as the MCL. 'There was no setback to the MCL injury,' said Tomln, who emphasized that they are two separate injuries.

The Huddle Take: It's good news the Polamalu is even being considered a possibility to start this week, and he's as tough as they come so he may be on the field. But at this point in the week, however, the smart bet would be to consider him out in what should be an extremely winnable game for Pittsburgh - with or without Polamalu - at Kansas City.

Posted: 11/17/2009 12:35pm et

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports Pittsburgh Steelers SS Troy Polamalu (knee) will likely miss the team's Week 11 game and he could be out for as long as three games.

The Huddle Take: The Steeler pass defense will be significantly weakened during Polamalu's absence, however long it lasts.

Posted: 11/16/2009 1:06pm et

CBSSports.com reports Pittsburgh Steelers SS Troy Polamalu (knee) sprained his left knee in Week 10, the same knee he had the MCL sprain that caused him to miss four weeks earlier this season.

The Huddle Take: This would be another crushing blow to the Steeler defense if Polamalu has to miss some more significant time. That unit isn't the same without Polamalu; the pass defense in particular will be very vulnerable without him.

Posted: 10/13/2009 1:18pm et

Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said RB Willie Parker (toe) and SS Troy Polamalu (knee) are planning to fully practice Wednesday, Oct. 14. A determination of their playing time will occur later in the week.

The Huddle Take: Polamalu's return would be fantastic news for the Steeler defense, while Willie Parker's would be lousy news for Fantasy owners of Rashard Mendenhall. If Mendenhall gets the lion's share of carries against the Brown, he could put up phenomenal numbers. We'll likely know pretty soon whether or not Parker will poach some of Mendenhall's looks.

Posted: 10/12/2009 1:50pm et

CBSSports.com reports Pittsburgh Steelers SS Troy Polamalu (knee) could return to action in Week 6. Polamalu's return depends on his lateral movement and his stopping and starting during practice this week. 'We'll know more this week if Troy plays or not,' head coach Mike Tomlin said.

The Huddle Take: If Polamalu does return, the Steelers' Week 6 matchup at home against Cleveland could be more than just your average garden-variety blowout. It could be a slaughter of epic proportions.

Posted: 10/9/2009 3:37pm et

Updating a previous report, Pittsburgh Steelers SS Troy Polamalu (knee) was limited during practice Friday, Oct. 9. He is listed as doubtful for Week 5 and is not expected to play.

The Huddle Take: That makes Daunte Culpepper's job quite a bit easier. The Steelers are still tough against the run, but they can be beaten through the air, as Philip Rivers showed last week.

Posted: 10/8/2009 6:33pm et

Updating a previous report, Pittsburgh Steelers SS Troy Polamalu (knee) could play in the team's Week 5 game, but likely will sit out the game. Some in the organization believe it is best to keep Polamalu off the artificial turf the team will be playing on in Week 5.

The Huddle Take: If Polamalu misses the game, that makes Daunte Culpepper worth Fantasy consideration. The Steeler defense is vulnerable against the pass with Polamalu out, so if you're in a QB bye week bind, the veteran could be worth picking up off the free agent pile.

Posted: 10/6/2009 4:23pm et

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports Pittsburgh Steelers SS Troy Polamalu (knee) will try to participate in practice this week. Head coach Mike Tomlin said Polamalu's availability for Week 5 is uncertain at this point.

The Huddle Take: Until Polamalu returns, there's no reason to avoid the Pittsburgh pass defense from a Fantasy perspective. The run D is a different matter -- steer clear if at all possible.

Posted: 10/2/2009 5:17pm et

Pittsburgh Steelers SS Troy Polamalu (knee) did not participate in practice Friday, Oct. 2. He has been ruled out for Week 4.

The Huddle Take: Each week Polamalu doesn't play simply magnifies more how much the Steeler defense needs him. It's not a horrible unit without him by any means, but it's not transcendent like it was last season; especially against the pass. The run D is still tough, so LaDainian Tomlinson probably won't put up big numbers in his return. However, the pass D has shown itself to be somewhat vulnerable without Polamalu. You shouldn't hesitate running either Philip Rivers or Vincent Jackson even though the game is being played in Pittsburgh.