Read More: Rob Sims (G – DET), Michael Huff (FS – OAK), Samson Satele (C – OAK), Darren McFadden (RB – OAK), Kevin Smith (RB – DET), Louis Delmas (S – DET), Amari Spievey (S – DET), Oakland Raiders, Detroit Lions, Detroit Lions at Oakland Raiders, Dec 18, 2011 1:05 PM PST

The Oakland Raiders and the Detroit Lions have been stumbling to the finish line. Both of them have suffered from the same issue–lack of a strong running game. Both Darren McFadden and Kevin Smith have been the mainstay backs for both teams, but they can’t seem to stay on the field for an extended period of time.

McFadden has been out forever, so it’s no surprise that his foot injury seems to prevent him from returning to action. Smith has similar issues, but it appears that he’s been able to play through it and will continue to try and play through it. Smith was able to move from not participating in practice to at least being able to perform in a limited fashion, so it might give the Lions a much-needed boost in their offensive balance.

More injuries are below.

Detroit Lions

• Not able to practice: CB Aaron Berry (shoulder), S Louis Delmas (knee), CB Justin Durant (hamstring), DT Nick Fairley (foot), DE Lawrence Jackson (thigh), CB Eric Wright (hamstring)
• Limited practice participants: CB Chris Houston (knee), RB Kevin Smith (ankle), S Amari Spievey (knee), DE Willie Young (ankle)
• Full practice participants: G Rob Sims (shoulder)

Oakland Raiders

• Not able to practice: QB Jason Campbell (collarbone), WR Jacoby Ford (foot), DT John Henderson (knee), S Michael Huff (hamstring), CB Chris Johnson (not injury related), RB Taiwan Jones (hamstring), RB Darren McFadden (foot)
• Limited practice participants: DT Tommy Kelly (toe), WR Denarius Moore (foot), DE Jarvis Moss (shoulder), WR Louis Murphy (hip), C Samson Satele (shoulder), WR Chaz Schilens (foot)
• Full practice participants: WR Darrius Heyward-Bey (heel)

For more on McFadden and the Raiders, head on over to Silver and Black Pride.  For more on Smith and the Lions, check out Pride of Detroit.

Note: The opinions expressed here are my takes on each player’s individual matchup. As always, use your best judgment and conduct your own research on who to start or bench each week. You know your individual team and/or league situation better than anyone else.

Carson Palmer, QB

Averaging 14.30 fantasy points per game in the last four weeks, Palmer may not be the best quarterback option to lead your fantasy team in the playoffs unless you play in a league that starts two quarterbacks. He scored just 11.00 fantasy points last week against the Green Bay Packers but looks to rebound this week against the Detroit Lions. Detroit is allowing just 15.29 fantasy points per game to quarterbacks this season so it is hard to expect more than his average this week.

Michael Bush, RB

Averaging 13.10 fantasy points per game in the last four weeks, Bush has developed into a quality fantasy running back worthy of a spot on any playoff roster. He scored 15.70 fantasy points last week in a very tough matchup against the Packers and looks to have a similar matchup this week against the Lions. Detroit is giving up 16.77 fantasy points per game to running backs this season giving me confidence Bush will have another solid game this week. RB Darren McFadden looks to be out again this week.

Darrius Heyward-Bey, WR

Averaging 6.20 fantasy points per game in the last four weeks, Heyward-Bey is the best fantasy receiving option on the Oakland Raiders. Unfortunately, he is not necessarily a very good option for a fantasy team in a playoff situation. The matchup against the Lions is fair, but his performance is expected to be near his average.

Louis Murphy, WR

With Denarius Moore, Jacoby Ford, and Chaz Schilens‘ status all in question for this week, the only other fantasy receiving option would be Murphy. Murphy did score 8.00 fantasy points last week against the Packers but like the rest, I would avoid a start. If Moore and Ford suit up, I would likely avoid them as well this week.

Kevin Boss, TE

Boss scored a season high 10.30 fantasy points last week against the Packers after playing a small role in the Raiders’ offense all season. He is an incredibly risky start this week but he could be one of the better targets for Palmer this week due to the injuries that have ravaged the Raiders’ wide receivers this season. Detroit is tough against tight ends allowing just 6.46 fantasy points per game to them this season. If you can afford the risk, Boss may just be a sleeper pick this week.

Sebastian Janikowski, K

Averaging 9.50 fantasy points per game in the last four weeks, Janikowski has proven to be a reliable fantasy kicker all season. While he scored just 2.00 points last week against the Packers, he is expected to rebound this week against the Lions. Detroit is giving up 9.75 fantasy points per game to kickers this season making it much easier to expect a game closer to his average this week.

Defense

Averaging 6.50 fantasy points per game in the last four weeks, the Raiders’ team defense is average at best. They scored just 6.00 fantasy points last week against the Packers and look to have a similar matchup this week against the Lions. I would explore other options this week if available.

Sources:

All data provided by Yahoo! Sports Fantasy Football

Paul Rados is an avid fantasy football participant and a Featured Contributor for the Yahoo! Contributor Network. Follow him on Twitter @PSRados or leave him a message on Facebook. For a complete look at his freelance work please visit his Blog.

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Read More: denarius moore injury, oakland raiders injury report, Carson Palmer (QB – OAK), Darren McFadden (RB – OAK), Chaz Schilens (WR – OAK), Marcel Reece (RB – OAK), Darrius Heyward-Bey (WR – OAK), Louis Murphy (WR – OAK), Jacoby Ford (WR – OAK), Denarius Moore (WR – OAK), Oakland Raiders

Oakland Raiders wide receiver Denarius Moore returned to practice Wednesday and will look to make his way back onto the field Sunday against the Miami Dolphins. Moore sat out last week’s game against the Chicago Bears with an ankle/foot issue that kept him out of practice all week. If he is a full participant on Wednesday, that is an excellent sign he will be able to go this Sunday.

The Raiders skill position players are fairly decimated with injuries with Darren McFadden and Jacoby Ford already likely outs for Sunday against the Dolphins. Moore has been able to stretch the field and developed a solid rapport with Carson Palmer before the injury. The Raiders are built around a strong rushing attack, but having players that can stretch the field is important to open up the running game.

If Ford is unable to go on Sunday, Darrius Heyward-Bey remains the top option, with Chaz Schilens and Louis Murphy getting worked into the rotation. The Raiders pulled out the win against Chicago with limited weapons, but when Marcel Reece puts up the biggest receiving numbers, concern will rise. If Oakland can get Denarius Moore back on the field, that will be huge against a resurgent Miami Dolphins squad.

For more on the Raiders, check out Silver & Black Pride.

Chargers’ next opponent

Oakland Raiders (4-4)

5:20 p.m., Thursday at Qualcomm Stadium

First off, with all their other troubles, the Raiders shouldn’t feel especially bad about having lost to Tim Tebow. The Chargers came within one completed pass of losing to him, too, and Tebow only had one half to try to beat San Diego.

If they (or at least their fans) didn’t despise each other so much, the Chargers and Raiders could commiserate about all sorts of stuff, and not just because they’re two-thirds of the three-way tie atop the four-team AFC West at .500. The Raiders have had season-long issues with their quarterback – albeit entirely different sort of issues than San Diego – and can’t seem to keep their best running backs healthy.

The injury to Darren McFadden’s foot two Sundays ago was a crippler. Of course, the Raiders aren’t going to let on much between now and Thursday night about whether he’ll be healthy enough to play against the Chargers, but the sense in the Bay Area is that it’s unlikely.

A year ago, the Raiders used McFadden and the NFL’s top running game to sweep their six division games, yet still managed to finish third among the four. Two days ago, Oakland not only let Tebow get away for 117 yards rushing, but allowed Broncos back Willis McGahee to run for 163 yards. Opponents’ running backs are averaging 5.2 yards per carry this season. That alone might expedite the healing process on the groin injury that’s sidelined Ryan Mathews.

More than anything, Chargers mistakes played a huge role in both their 2010 losses to Oakland. As blunder-prone as the Chargers have been again this season, the Raiders have been even worse, including a total of 29 infractions that cost them 250 yards in penalties over the past two games.

Oakland averages 10.5 penalties per game for 91.2 yards per game, putting the Silver and Black on pace to break the single-season records for penalties (158) and yards (1,304), both set by the 1998 Kansas City Chiefs.

Said first-year head coach Hue Jackson: “We’re not a very intelligent team right now.”

Three players to watch

Carson Palmer, QB: Until a few weeks ago, he was biding his time around Del Mar, seeing if he could hold his breath longer than the Cincinnati Bengals. Finally traded to Oakland a few weeks back, Palmer’s already thrown six interceptions in six quarters, but he also had three touchdowns among some fairly nifty passes in the Denver game. Not surprisingly, the most success he’s had has been throwing to Oakland’s backs, including …

Michael Bush, RB: In each of the past two seasons, McFadden missed one of the San Diego games with injuries, and he wasn’t doing the Chargers that big of a favor. Bush is particularly nettlesome to the Chargers as a receiver, having caught 13 passes for 129 yards against them, rushed for 95 yards in one game last season and scored in three of the last four Chargers-Raiders games.

Jacoby Ford, KR/WR: Palmer’s been around enough to know the importance of speed, and in his first Oakland start, he hit the previously under-utilized Ford with five passes for 105 yards and a touchdown. Ford’s also rated second in the NFL with his kickoff return average of 32.2 yards, including a 101-yard score.

Familiar faces

Norv Turner is a former head coach of the Raiders (2004-05) and Oakland’s offensive coordinator, Al Saunders, is a former head coach of the Chargers (1986-88). Raiders wide receiver Chaz Schilens played at San Diego State.

Series history

The Raiders lead 57-44-2. Having lost 13 straight to San Diego, Oakland turned things around in a big way last year, sweeping the Chargers (and the rest of the division). In one of those special-teams disasters of 2010, the Chargers lost 35-27 at Oakland, then the Raiders took advantage of two San Diego turnovers and won 28-13 with McFadden and Bush combining for 192 yards rushing.

Injury report

In addition to McFadden and quarterback Jason Campbell – out for the season — cornerbacks Chris Johnson and Chimdi Chekwa were inactivated Sunday due to injuries.

Did you know?

Until their 23-20 defeat of the Broncos in the first “Monday Night Football’ game of this season, the Raiders had lost 11 straight prime-time games, including a 34-7 rout by the Chargers on Dec. 4, 2008.

Quote:

“”We could be sitting here 5-3, going to San Diego. They’re they’re coming off a loss, sore. Boom, we go down there and we’re 6-3, two-game lead. But you know, like always, we gotta make it hard on ourselves.” — Raiders defensive lineman Tommy Kelly in the San Francisco Chronicle.