Injuries to Watch: Turkey Day

Be careful folks; don't let that Tryptophan spin you into a snooze on Thanksgiving Day before carefully setting that fantasy lineup. There are a couple of critical injuries to keep an eye on for Thursday, so take note as you prepare your for your last hurrah before the fantasy playoffs. As always, please feel free to chime in with opinions, updates, and rumors in the comments.

The Arizona Cardinals

The Cardinals are sitting pretty from a fantasy perspective. Everybody is good to go.

The Dallas Cowboys

Tony Romo - Tony Romo went back to wearing a splint on his finger during practice on Tuesday, but he will play on Turkey Day. Whether or not he plays with the splint is unknown at this point, but regardless, after last week's gigantic numbers, start him no matter what, because he should pick apart the porous Seattle defense.

Jason Witten - Witten continues to nurse his sore ribs, but he will definitely play on Thursday. The real question is do fantasy owners stick with Witten despite his one catch per game average over the past four games? I would say yes, start Witten on Thursday, because the Seahawks have a below average pass defense and he should return to form. Witten also has a tendency to score touchdowns on Turkey Day (two TDs in three years), so keep him in there.

The Detroit Lions

Kevin Smith - Kevin Smith left the game against Tampa Bay last week with a shoulder injury after posting solid numbers for the third straight week. While Smith has been limited in practice this week, he is expected to play and despite the dominant pass defense, Tennessee is beatable on the ground. Furthermore, Albert Haynesworth is questionable this week after taking a knee to the head from teammate Javon Kearse last week and being forced to leave the game. Thus, Smith looks start-able for a flex spot or No. 3 running back.

The Philadelphia Eagles

Brian Westbrook - Westbrook continues to struggle with swelling in the knee and soreness in the ankle. He looks ready to play, but the looming questions remain: a) will he get a full load of touches after a couple lighter-than-usual weeks and b) will the Cardinals load up against the ground game and short passing game, given McNabb's awful play as of late? While these are valid questions, Brian Westbrook is a star in this league and sooner or later it will come back to haunt you if you decide to second guess him.

Correll Buckhalter - Buckhalter left his Week 12 game with a sprained knee ligament and will miss this week's game for certain and likely a couple of additional weeks. Lorenzo Booker will assume his role as support for Brian Westbrook, so Westbrook owners might want to handcuff with Booker -- if you believe in the whole handcuffing thing.

The Seattle Seahawks

Matt Hasselbeck - Hasselbeck appears to be pretty close to 100 percent and will certainly play this weekend, but since he has turned in two abysmal performances since returning from the back injury, I wouldn't touch him this week.

The Tennessee Titans

Titans D - Temper your expectations for the Titans defense this week as Haynesworth might be out of commission and several players on the defense are banged up. That said, let's not get crazy here; the Titans play the Lions and Daunte Culpepper is starting at quarterback, so they remain an obvious start.