Z - From The Sidelines...

Locker Room Buzz - Week 4

September 28, 2007
18:19:58

Week 4 is upon us, and in certain leagues fantasy owners are literally dying. New Orleans Saints running back Deuce McAllister (knee) is done for the year. The scramble is on for backup Aaron Stecker, and for those that have the depth on their fantasy rosters, Pierre Thomas. Cincinnati Bengals running back Rudi Johnson (hamstring), who has not missed a game in four years, is out, and owners are fighting for backup Kenny Watson. This is just one of many moves owners are trying to make. KFFL is playing lights-out in all four of the high-stakes leagues we're in, but like others, we're struggling in a few leagues as well. We understand the dilemma. Let me give you an example:

On one team, our quarterback, St. Louis Rams Marc Bulger (ribs), who has tanked it so far this season. He was viewed as one of the top-six fantasy quarterbacks that you could count on. We also have running backs that are not producing such as Kansas City Chiefs Larry Johnson (hamstring), Jacksonville Jaguars Maurice Jones-Drew and the aforementioned McAllister. To top it off, though no longer owned, we drafted Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Terry Glenn (knee). We should have viewed this draft as an omen but we're not giving up. It's too early for that!

What does this have to do with the Locker Room Buzz? Easy! KFFL's Hot Off the Wire player newsfeed is viewed as the best in the industry, but the Locker Room Buzz fills you in on what we're hearing from teams. Who is really in line to start if someone goes down? Is Rudi's hamstring a long-term issue? When will Glenn return? Is Atlanta Falcons wideout Roddy White the real deal with his big game last week? Does Buffalo Bills quarterback Trent Edwards have the gun and brains to really help the Bills? There are tons of injuries and talk we're hearing from locker rooms around the NFL. As always, enjoy, and good luck this weekend!

AFC East

Buffalo Bills

The Bills are expected to scale back the playbook for rookie signal caller Trent Edwards, who's filling in for J.P. Losman (knee). That means the package will be a little smaller; it doesn't mean they'll restrict the kinds of throw he's allowed to make or anything like that. That's good new for fantasy owners of wideout Lee Evans.

Why? The Bills simply need to get him the football. Edwards can do that. He has a strong arm, and he's accurate. This is a rookie passer at home, where it's generally easier to make your first start. Evans has been a disappointment thus far, but it's hard to sit him unless you have a better player or a much better matchup.

Running back Dwayne Wright has received twice as many carries as running back Anthony Thomas, but that's more of a product of the position the team has been in. The Bills have been getting blown out. They're last in the league in time of possession. They might as well give carries to Wright, see what he can do. Thomas is great in blitz pickup, and as the vet, he's virtually entrenched as the backup.

Rookie back Marshawn Lynch hasn't been able to sniff 100 yards for the same reason that Wright is getting time. Buffalo's defense can't get off the field. This week, against the New York Jets, look for Lynch to get close to 25 carries and perhaps hit the century mark for the first time in his career.

Miami Dolphins

Running back Ronnie Brown finally had that bust-out game many thought him capable of. That should be enough to quell the doubts, right? The Dolphins might still need some convincing, and they could continue to experiment with the how to use Brown. They should give him plenty of touches again this week. The Oakland Raiders defense isn't exactly a brick wall, though, so how telling might Brown's Week 4 performance be?

Rookie wideout Ted Ginn Jr. continues getting reps as the No. 3 receiver, but they aren't throwing to him much. Don't expect that to change until things start slowing down for him, sometime around the midway point of the season or later.

This defense has been incredibly frustrated, and the temperature is rising. Linebacker Joey Porter guaranteed a win this week, and he's hoping that it's enough to motivate him and his teammates. He has nothing to lose, though. If the Fins go 0-4, their season is over. They aren't terribly motivated to play against Raiders passer Daunte Culpepper, but Culpepper is excited to face his former club.

New England Patriots

What's up with wide receiver Donte' Stallworth? Despite his lack of production, he's really not in danger of sliding down the depth chart. Head coach Bill Belichick said this past week that he's pleased with Stallworth's progress. How soon that translates into fantasy points is anyone's guess, but hey, it's progress.

Meanwhile, running back Laurence Maroney hasn't hit paydirt yet. That shouldn't come as a total surprise; last year he wasn't much of a goal line threat because they had running back Corey Dillon. Whether it's lingering concern about his shoulder or the fact that he's not a big power-back, the situation is disconcerting. Unless he breaks a long one, don't look for him to score much.

Wideout Jabar Gaffney continues to play himself into favor. For all intents and purposes (read: fantasy), Gaffney and Stallworth share the No. 3 role on this team.

New York Jets

Tight end Chris Baker has two touchdown catches in three games. He's a huge target, he runs good routes, he knows how to work in open spaces, and some might say that he has the best hands on the team. That's saying something. The Jets are making a bigger effort to involve the tight end in the passing game. Look for them to continue to target Baker, along with receiver Laveranues Coles, in the red zone.

In the preseason wideout Brad Smith appeared to be becoming a multi-purpose weapon for this Jets offense. He's speedy, he's athletic, he's smart... and he's not used often enough. Don't look for him to have much of a fantasy impact.

AFC North

Baltimore Ravens

Quarterback Steve McNair (groin) should be ready to go this week. Head coach Brian Billick said they could use a committee approach at quarterback, but that doesn't appear likely. The team wants to use quarterback Kyle Boller some because they need to see what they have in him before they decide if he's the future or if they need to draft another quarterback. The team understands that McNair needs to rest to get healthy, and the team has a lot more confidence in Boller than the last three years. However, everyone knows the best chance of winning lies with McNair.

Wide receiver Mark Clayton (calf) will be limited to third-down and passing situations. Expect Clayton to be a hit-or-miss player every week. Even if he's healthy, the team wants to spread the ball around, and any receiver could have a hot hand any week.

Receiver Demetrius Williams has looked good, but he probably won't steal Clayton's job. The only real reason he has played this much is because Clayton is hurt. The team knows Williams has the height that others don't, and he should still be part of the offense whether he starts or not.

Receiver Derrick Mason has really busted it after a down year last year. Defenses have really focused more on the young receivers, and he has made a big effort, especially after the catch, after not being involved much last year. Mason may be the most consistent receiver, as far as catches and yards go, that the Ravens have. They haven't looked at him much in the red zone, though.

Cincinnati Bengals

Running back Rudi Johnson (hamstring) is out for Week 4, and Kenny Watson will start in his place. For Johnson, a really tough guy, to sit, the injury has to be serious. The team is on a bye in Week 5, so Johnson should be back in Week 6.

Watson brings a little more speed on the outside. He has so much experience in the third-down packages, so it may relegate him this week to a limited role. The team signed running back DeDe Dorsey, who was with the team two preseasons ago. You may see Dorsey in there on some first and second downs because Watson is so well-versed on the third-down plays. The team is really happy for Watson to get this chance. Not to say they are glad Johnson is out, but the team really likes Watson because of his maximum effort. You also may see fullback Jeremi Johnson get a few carries.

Wide receiver Glenn Holt was shut out last week after having a big game in Week 2. However, we still feel he'll be a viable contributor. He wants to make up for his fumble and is ready to get on the field. He has come a long way to get where he is, and he could bust it this week.

Head coach Marvin Lewis has come under fire a bit. However, it hasn't come from the front office. He's in absolutely no danger of losing his job. The fans are getting frustrated, though. He was brought in to bring the NFL state of mind to the Bengals. He did that, but he has brought them only to mediocrity. The team shows no signs of improving on defense. They made some questionable personnel decisions in the offseason by letting some good special teamers go. There has been a big turnover as well. Only one defensive player remains from before Lewis took over, and that is defensive end Justin Smith. He has had five drafts, so it's his stamp on the team.

Cleveland Browns

Two weeks after quarterback Derek Anderson threw five touchdowns, he's on a bit of a hot seat. If he has a bad half, you may see rookie Brady Quinn. Anderson had a terrible half last week, but the kickoff return by wide receiver Joshua Cribbs brought them within six points. The players don't seem to have a preference at quarterback, because they know Quinn is coming eventually. Anderson is a likable guy that plays with a lot of heart so no one is against him at all.

The team has practiced an end-around with Cribbs every day since training camp opened, but they haven't run it yet. He is utilized on all return and coverage plays, so he is being maximized. He may only see four or five plays per game on offense.

Running back Jamal Lewis will face his former mates for the first time this week, but he has been downplaying it. He said he knows their weaknesses, but they are No. 1 against the run. He could very well have a decent game in the 85-to-105-yard range. However, if the Browns are losing early, he won't see enough carries to come close.

The team hasn't had a two-game winning streak in four years. If head coach Romeo Crennel were to be fired during the season, he would be replaced by defensive coordinator Todd Grantham. Grantham is manning the 31st-ranked total defense this season.

Pittsburgh Steelers

Pittsburgh Steelers receiver Santonio Holmes should increase his production this week with Hines Ward (knee) out. Holmes should be a star, especially as Ward gets older and starts to break down. Holmes should have a good game this week, but if he doesn't - the Steelers are in trouble. Ward being gone this week shouldn't affect Holmes. Ward doesn't attract a lot of attention from defenses.

The team was really stressing throwing deep in the preseason, but offensive coordinator Bruce Arians has kept that weapon in his holster. They really haven't needed it yet. When they play better teams, they'll have to throw deeper, and they don't have many deep threats besides Holmes. Whenever Ward comes back you can look for them to open the offense up a bit because quarterback Ben Roethlisberger loves to throw deep.

Strong safety Troy Polamalu only has 10 tackles on the season and not much else. There's no real reason for it, because he's blitzing as much as he usually does. It's a matter of circumstance.

The team has 10 sacks from nine different players, so they've been trying to get others involved.

AFC South

Houston Texans

The Texans will be without wide receivers Andre Johnson (knee) and Jacoby Jones (shoulder), while pseudo-wideout Jerome Mathis (leg) is also likely to miss the game. That leaves the team with wide receivers Andre' Davis and Kevin Walter as the top-two options at the position. Active will be four tight ends, and there is a good probability that tight end Owen Daniels is the team's leading receiver in Week 4.

The pecking order for fantasy owners for this week is as follows:

With running back Ahman Green (knee) likely on the shelf this week, tailback Ron Dayne returns from missing Week 3 play. The team is likely to start Dayne and spell him with running back Samkon Gado, but you shouldn't expect anything more than 20 carries for Dayne. Gado could approach 10 carries.

The offensive line has improved significantly in Houston from just a year ago, and a lot of this can be attributed to the play of quarterback Matt Schaub. Expect, despite being without a lot of receiving options, for Schaub to work the intermediate routes.

Defensive end Mario Williams, last season's No. 1 overall pick, is enjoying the benefits of being healthy. His play has increased, largely due to more maturity, smarter decisions and being more comfortable within the defensive scheme. He has been rather disruptive but still needs to work on consistency and some technique.

Indianapolis Colts

Despite the Denver Broncos' run defense being suspect, at best, the Colts will stick to their normal game plan and run as much as they typically do. Over the past four meetings, the Colts have had field days passing the ball.

Wide receiver Reggie Wayne has 28 receptions for 492 yards and seven touchdowns in his last four games alone! No, that's not from a game of Super Tecmo Bowl!

Look for a lot of passing, and quarterback Peyton Manning is expected to challenge Broncos cornerback Dre' Bly often. Bly is expected to be covering Wayne most of the day.

Rookie left tackle Tony Ugoh (ankle) replaced retired left tackle Tarik Glenn this offseason and has drawn praise for his play. While Ugoh occasionally makes the expected rookie miscue, he is still playing well. Speed rushers figure to give Ugoh the most trouble, but he is often bailed out by how quickly Manning releases the ball.

Defensive end Dwight Freeney is the highest paid defensive lineman in league history, and he surely isn't playing like it if you check out the stats. Through three games, Freeney has posted five total tackles and zero sacks. He was continuously held by New Orleans Saints left tackle Jammal Brown without penalties being called. Freeney experiences arguably more double-teams than any player in the league, and he even draws the occasional triple-team - something that is virtually unheard of. He is applying pressure and making opposing quarterbacks rush throws, but he remains sackless through three games. Any one of these games he can explode in classic Freeney fashion.

AFC West

Denver Broncos

The wide receiver situation for the Broncos needs to have an eye kept on it. Wideout Javon Walker (knee) missed some time this week with fluid on his surgically repaired knee, which is never a good sign. The team is treating it with rest right now to avoid it becoming worse, but it needs to be paid attention to.

Speaking of the wide receivers, wide out Rod Smith (hip) will have his status reassessed after six weeks to find out where he is health wise. He remains a long way away and, barring a setback for Walker, the team doesn't need him right now. Wide receiver Brandon Marshall, the team's No. 2, has a lot of ability and is playing incredibly well.

Kansas City Chiefs

There is still reason to hold out hope for running back Larry Johnson, but this may not be the week. His lack of production isn't believed to be a product of his contract holdout and new deal. The team will continue feeding him the football. In time, he'll get his due. When that time comes has yet to be determined, which continues to frustrate his fantasy owners.

Rookie wide receiver Dwayne Bowe is still learning but is finding a way to get open in the red zone but not anywhere else. He is a possession-type receiver and can go after the ball in jump ball situations. Don't be surprised to see the team work in specific plays that put him in a situation to succeed.

Bowe is clearly the future at receiver for the team so when wide receiver Eddie Kennison (hamstring) returns to full speed, look for wideout Samie Parker to find his way to the bench to keep Bowe in the lineup. Parker's nice plays are few and far between, but even if Bowe starts look for them both to play a lot.

One of the few things that are making fantasy owners happy is the play of tight end Tony Gonzalez. The team is making a concerted effort to get him the ball. He is out on pass patterns more than he is staying in to block and it will likely stay that way even when Kennison returns. The team is, after all, giving Gonzo a lot of cash.

A quarterback change is coming for the Chiefs and it could be as early as this week. Quarterback Damon Huard is set to start against the Chargers, but we could see quarterback Brodie Croyle replace him soon if not at some point this weekend.

Oakland Raiders

The revolving door at quarterback in Oakland is still revolving. While quarterback Daunte Culpepper is expected to start this weekend, he needs to play well or we could see quarterback Josh McCown (foot, hand) again when healthy.

With Culpepper at the helm, expect the team to try to run more. The Raiders are running well and Miami isn't stopping the run. Plus, the field may be wet so Culpepper could just be a game manager. You could also see a lot of double tight end sets.

Speaking of tight ends, Zach Miller has not been used that much so far. In camp, they got him the ball in the open area. So far they haven't done that. If one of the quarterbacks develops something with him, it could help his cause but it is too early to see if that improves. Plus, tight end John Madsen continues to see time in double-tight sets; he is more of a receiver than a blocker and the team is getting tricky with him. Much like Miller, he could be a weapon if the team ever wanted to go that way.

The Raiders seem to want Culpepper to get wide receiver Jerry Porter more involved, but it is too early to tell if Culpepper has any chemistry with his receivers. Getting the receivers involved in general would be a plus, including receivers Johnnie Lee Higgins and Mike Williams.

Williams, by the way, has trouble holding onto the ball. However, considering the team only has four receivers he cannot be in the doghouse that much! He shows some flashes sometimes and is a good athlete. However, how much does he want to play? Is he too soft? While the team insists he is not too big, he may still be too heavy, and Williams hasn't killed himself trying to get into shape. Williams seems to be a project for head coach Lane Kiffin at this point.

A while back in this space we talked about the team parting ways with quarterback Andrew Walter. The team had a deal in place to trade him to an undisclosed team, but McCown's injury has forced the team to keep him. Rookie quarterback JaMarcus Russell just isn't ready to be the team's No. 2 but could be their No. 3 this weekend now that he's on the active roster.

Running back LaMont Jordan owners can thank the Raiders' changing from a man blocking approach to a zone-blocking technique on the offensive line. Offensive line coach Tom Cable has turned the line around and it is unbelievable in comparison to last year. Jordan wasn't fond of the scheme at first but is doing quite well running behind it, as is backup running back Justin Fargas.

Don't be surprised if running back Adimchinobe Echemandu is released when running back Dominic Rhodes is able to return from his suspension after this week.

San Diego Chargers

Chargers running back LaDainian Tomlinson continues to struggle and is frustrated. The pressure is getting to him. LT is still upset the team didn't keep former head coach Marty Schottenheimer, although it helped that the team added Norv Turner as the replacement. Plus, the passing of Tomlinson's father also rattled him.

All of LT's frustrations rolled over last week, when cameras caught him and quarterback Philip Rivers jawing at each other on the sideline. LT thought he was open on the play, Rivers tried to tell him he wasn't high on the pecking order of reads on it. Everyone involved is chalking it up to competitive banter, though.

Receiver Vincent Jackson finally showed up last weekend and the team would like to make an effort to get him more involved. The team still talks about getting the running game going since nothing has changed, but it is not a bad idea to aim for a more balanced attack since the passing game finally worked last week.

Receiver Eric Parker (foot) should be able to return in mid-October and will likely come back as the team's third receiver. It is too early to tell if he will knock rookie wideout Craig Davis back out of the lineup.

The Chargers, by the way, seemed to be resting on their laurels and believing all of the press clippings. Starting 1-2 on the season is a wake up call, especially after being punched in the mouth by the New England Patriots in Week 2.

NFC East

Dallas Cowboys

Can you believe the start that running back Marion Barber III has had? Well, you might if you drafted him, but don't look for it to lead to more touches. The Cowboys are expected to maintain the split between him and running back Julius Jones. If it ain't broke, don't fix it. Whatever Dallas is doing is working.

Everyone keeps waiting for wideout Patrick Crayton (hand) to take advantage of his chance to start with receiver Terry Glenn (knee) sidelined. Crayton dropped a gimme touchdown pass against the Chicago Bears Sunday, so the coaching staff had a reason to be down on him. They're not, though, and there's little chance that he falls out of favor.

Speaking of Glenn, his arthroscopic knee surgery a couple of weeks back went well. He remains in the early stages of his rehab; generally it takes about four to six weeks to recover from such a procedure. The Cowboys still have no timetable (at least publicly), though, so he's likely out at least another month. There's not even a guarantee that he'll play this year or not.

Wide receiver Sam Hurd has played well in limited time, but expect him to remain No. 3. When Glenn returns, Hurd likely will slide down the depth chart even further. Hurd has little chance of displacing Crayton.

New York Giants

It looks like wide receiver Plaxico Burress (ankle) will play again on that bum ankle. If he can't, wideout Sinorice Moss would probably benefit most in terms of playing time. Don’t expect him to have a large fantasy impact, though. Quarterback Eli Manning would then likely rely more heavily on tight end Jeremy Shockey and receiver Amani Toomer. There's just something about Moss - despite his speed, Moss just can't seem to get open enough.

Running back Derrick Ward has been pretty impressive thus far. Running back Brandon Jacobs (ankle) is still expected to be the lead ball carrier, but one could see a scenario where Ward still gets close to 10 carries per game when Jacobs is back.

If Jacobs isn't able to go at all this week, which seems likely, look for running back Reuben Droughns to get a little more work because Ward (ankle) is banged up. Droughns seems to be suited for that short-yardage or goal line role, but he could also get some carries between the 20s. Look for Droughns' workload, especially near the goal line, to decrease significantly once Jacobs is healthy, though.

The Giants seem pleased with Manning's overall development this season. However, head coach Tom Coughlin was not too pleased with the pick Manning threw late in the second quarter against the Washington Redskins; it led to a field goal at the end of the half. Otherwise, the staff felt that Manning showed a lot of poise in that comeback victory.

Keep in mind that there's always the chance that Plax can't finish the game. Of course, he was able to do so last week and turned in a big second half.
The Giants keep talking about using running back Ahmad Bradshaw, but they don't seem comfortable with his ability to pick up the blitz. Can they afford that against the Philadelphia Eagles' heavy blitz packages?
Linebacker Mathias Kiwanuka lined up a lot over the defensive end or as a down lineman against Washington. New York seems to have taken away most of his coverage responsibilities, and they're typically letting him do what he does best: rush the passer. The Giants are having their safeties pick up tight ends now.

Philadelphia Eagles

Where did that come from? Quarterback Donovan McNabb answered the critics and hecklers Sunday when he lit up the Detroit Lions in a 56-21 win. At the end of last week he lost the brace that he had been wearing on his knee, so perhaps it was just a mental hurdle. McNabb said the loss of the brace had a lot to do with extension in his plant leg and his accuracy. Oh, and it helps that the Lions were pretty bad defensively. It's hard to say that McNabb is all the way back, though.

If running back Brian Westbrook (abdomen) can't play, running back Correll Buckhalter would start. If that happens, look for the Eagles to air it out even more. It'd be a surprise for Buckhalter to end up with 20 carries. Running back Tony Hunt could also be in the mix and even halfback Reno Mahe could get some touches.

Wideout Kevin Curtis blew up along with McNabb, but that really wasn't part of the game plan. Philly just knew that they wanted to attack that Detroit secondary. The Eagles had been saying that he was more of the second or third option. Mostly it was just a chance for Curtis to show what he can do. The former St. Louis Rams No. 3 man has always said that he feels he can be a featured receiver. Hard to argue with him right now, but figure the Giants are aware of him heading into this Sunday night's matchup.

While Curtis flourished, receiver Reggie Brown is nowhere to be found. The Eagles aren't set up to have one receiver be the guy every week, but it's extraordinary that Brown hasn't been the guy yet at all. They probably need to get him involved soon to make him happy, and there may be no better time than against the Giants, who, as mentioned, could be focused on Curtis.

NFC North

Chicago Bears

The team is expected to open up the offense a bit with new quarterback Brian Griese. He distributes the ball more and gets it to players that haven't gotten it much. He's accurate, and wide receiver Muhsin Muhammad could have five or six catches this week. Receivers Mark Bradley and Devin Hester could see more looks too. Griese isn't hesitant about checking it down, which could mean more catches for backs and tight ends.

The locker room has been quiet this week because they realize they are a big part of why quarterback Rex Grossman was benched. Grossman didn't play well, but he wasn't the only reason. Grossman was defending his players that made mistakes, and now he's the one that took the fall.

Don't expect the team to switch from Griese any time soon. The team should probably cut Grossman, but it would be an insult to the general manager and offensive coordinator. Griese should have at least three games as the starter - maybe more.

Linebacker Lance Briggs (hamstring) and defensive lineman Tommie Harris (hamstring) are very questionable this week, and cornerbacks Charles Tillman (ankle) and Nathan Vasher (groin) aren't expected to play. So the defense is in trouble. They have a good matchup this week against the Detroit Lions as they have to use three or four wide receivers, and they can't max protect the quarterback. That should lead to some sacks and turnovers.

Detroit Lions

Running back T.J. Duckett (ankle) is still in the team's plans as their short-yardage back. He just needs to get healthy.
Wide receiver Calvin Johnson (back) probably won't play the full load this week, but he hasn't been playing as much as the starters anyway.
The team was pretty mad about the shellacking they received at the hands of the Philadelphia Eagles. They want to prove something, and the Bears are banged up. Grossman had five touchdowns and no picks against them last year. We'll see what Griese can do.

Green Bay Packers

Expect the Packers offense to utilize the short-passing game to make up for their non-existent running game. You never know who will get the most receptions each week, but the tight ends probably won't figure in much. They used a lot of three-wide receiver sets last week. In 15 of 60 snaps, the Packers used a three-wide, two-tight end set. It spreads the defense out well.

Speaking of tight ends, quarterback Brett Favre has no preference of his tight ends. Tight end Bubba Franks has speed limitations, but he's a big target to cover in the red zone. On the other hand tight end Donald Lee has been getting some catches as well, and they are good for dump-offs and quick turn-in patterns.

Head coach Mike McCarthy trusts Favre, and Favre trusts the defense. Favre will throw some picks but probably not like he did before. The team thinks they are past those days, and Favre doesn't think he has to do it himself.

Running back Vernand Morency (knee) is expected to make his season debut though he will probably be limited. With Brandon Jackson (shin) banged up, expect to see running backs DeShawn Wynn, Morency and Ryan Grant share the carries. However, you can only expect about 20 carries total.

Minnesota Vikings

Running back Chester Taylor (hip) should be the starter because head coach Brad Childress said he would be starting when he returned. However, it doesn't really matter. Running back Adrian Peterson has played so well in Taylor's absence, and they are expected to use both of their backs. The team will likely play Taylor and see how healthy he is, but expect them to ride Peterson.

Quarterback Kelly Holcomb should start again for injured quarterback Tarvaris Jackson (groin). The team has placed all their eggs in Jackson's basket, so Holcomb has no chance at stealing the starting job. If they were to abandon their plan now, it would send a horrible message.

Wide receiver Robert Ferguson has moved his way up the depth chart, but the team won't say that yet. Receiver Bobby Wade remains the No. 1 with Ferguson likely the second option. They are followed by wide receivers Sidney Rice, who may have the best hands on the team, Troy Williamson, who is the No. 1 on the depth chart for confidence purposes, and rookie Aundrae Allison.

Minnesota's secondary is really suspect toward the pass. However if Packers receiver Greg Jennings (hammy) is out, they have a much better chance. If Jennings is spreading the field, the Vikes have no chance at stopping the Packers' passing game.

NFC South

Atlanta Falcons

Cornerback DeAngelo Hall pretty much lost his team the game with his blowup last week after Carolina Panthers wide receiver Steve Smith got in his head. He has had problems in the past, such as when he was getting in unnecessary fights in practice last season. A lot of people feel he was given special treatment under former head coach Jim Mora. There was an incident that irked many players last year when the team took the bus to a team function; Hall and Mora took Hall's Lamborghini. With the new regime, he hasn't been allowed to do the things he did. In fact, some refer to him as "MeAngelo," suggesting he's only out for himself. That blowup with Smith supports that.

If the Falcons can get anywhere close to market value for Hall he could be dealt. Hall is a free agent after next season, and it's possible he gets moved. Hall isn't happy and, while he says he began in Atlanta and wants to finish in Atlanta, neither side is really happy. If the team trades Hall, that is an indication that they're in a full-blown rebuilding stage.

Running back Jerious Norwood continues to struggle grasping the offense. The staff wants to get him more involved, but he is holding himself back. He thrived last season in the West Coast offense, and that's what they ran at Mississippi State. He is having to learn a whole new offense and isn't picking it up.

The Falcons have no plans to change from the power-running scheme. They like the talent they have for the offense, but it's the line that is having issues. They are used to zone-blocking and are having trouble transitioning.

Wide receivers Roddy White and Michael Jenkins had good games last week, and White seems to be coming out of his shell. However, he has never had back-to-back 100-yard games, so we'll see if he can change that this week. Jenkins has shown more signs of being a playmaker than White. Jenkins had seven touchdowns last year, and both have shown talent in spurts. It's just a matter of seeing it over time.

Wide receiver Joe Horn is doing exactly what the team is asking him to do. The problem is that it isn't translating into much production. He has a little bit left in the tank, but don't expect them to send him on deep routes.

Quarterback Joey Harrington had a huge game last week, but it didn't buy him any time at holding off Byron Leftwich. Leftwich is still the No. 3 this week, and there's no official word on we'll he'll take over. However, it's probable that he will after the bye week in Week 9. If the team is 0-5 in Week 6, you could see Leftwich against the New York Giants.

Carolina Panthers

Running back DeShaun Foster has looked really good this season, and running back DeAngelo Williams hasn't done a lot with his chances. They want to keep Williams in the mix, but Foster will have every opportunity to be the featured back. Health is the main thing. Foster has a lengthy injury history, so you shouldn't drop Williams yet. Just keep in mind that Foster has a firm grip on the starting job.

Quarterback Jake Delhomme (elbow) is unlikely to play this week, which means David Carr will start. Carr showed signs in the preseason that he is still holding on to the ball too long. However, he and the Panthers are conscious of his struggles in Houston with the Texans, and Carr feels the Panthers' line is much better than the one in Houston. There's very little chance that Carr becomes the fulltime starter unless Delhomme is out for an extended period. Delhomme played very well the first three weeks, and it's his job when he returns.

Keary Colbert will continue to be the No. 2 receiver in name, with Drew Carter the No. 3. However, both have shown very little to prove they can be factors. Wide receiver Dwayne Jarrett is still being brought along slowly, and there are no indications he will be active this week. Tight end Jeff King is their second best receiver, and he should emerge as a big red zone weapon.

Defensive end Julius Peppers doesn't have a sack on the season and has really struggled. Part of this is because the team is doing so many things with him, including dropping him into coverage. Instead of rushing the quarterback for 30 plays a game, it's only about 20 plays right now. Expect some changes because the current scheme hasn't worked well.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Wouldn't you know it: One week after running back Cadillac Williams received the 25-plus carries he needs to be effective, the Bucs go away from it a week later. It seems head coach Jon Gruden was trying to send a message to Williams after he fumbled. Gruden benched wide receiver Michael Clayton for the same reason. Running back Earnest Graham had a good week, but don't expect him to get more than eight carries because he's a big player on special teams.

Running back Michael Pittman had seven carries for 56 yards and three catches for 35 yards last week. His role could expand, but he's not a breakaway threat. Pittman should continue seeing no more than 10 to 15 touches.

Wide receiver Ike Hilliard, who is very good on third downs, is still the starter. It doesn't look like either Clayton or Maurice Stovall is anywhere near taking the starting receiver's job. Clayton has the body, is a good blocker and wants to play, but his focus isn't there. There are times when he just tries to do too much. He dropped a ball last week when there wasn't a defender within 15 yards of him.

Quarterback Jeff Garcia has been really steady. He has no turnovers; the only real concern is keeping him healthy. He's diving head-first and trying to block people. He'd be even better if someone would catch the ball besides receiver Joey Galloway.

NFC West

Arizona Cardinals

Is quarterback Matt Leinart's job in jeopardy after quarterback Kurt Warner, coming off the bench, almost led them to victory? Don't hold your breath. The team wanted to use some no-huddle against the Baltimore Ravens, but it was intended for a one series. Warner played so well, the team stuck with him. Don't be shocked to see this same situation happen again, but Leinart isn't on a short leash.

The Cardinals are trying to dial back the offense a bit for Leinart and hope he will eventually be the quarterback who can do everything for them. He just isn't there yet, and he has regressed learning the offense. Is he distracted by off-the-field drama? No, it doesn't seem like it. Offensive coordinator changes have affected him, and he is learning on the fly. Plus, head coach Ken Whisenhunt has been tough on the quarterbacks.

Speaking of Whisenhunt, the Cardinals' players are up for this weekend's game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Whisenhunt's former team. A lot of them would like to win this one for their coach.

San Francisco 49ers

The 49ers are without tight end Vernon Davis (knee) this weekend - possibly up to four weeks. The most realistic situation is he could return in late October versus the New York Giants, as a bye week will assist with timing. Depending on what is available on your waiver wire, you may have to just tuck him away for the time being.

The offense has stunk even with Davis on the field; how can the 49ers adjust? Tight end Delanie Walker, who was a receiver in college, has good hands, size and route-running skills. However, there hasn't been much of a passing game to go around. While capable, it is too early to tell if the 49ers will try to get the ball to him.

How about the wide receivers? A lot of the same. The passing game just isn't there. The team has lacked consistency on every phase of offense, which is hurting the passing game. It all comes down to the running game, as that could eventually open up the pass. Now how they get there is the question.

This week, against the Seattle Seahawks, don't be shocked to see Seattle play an extra man in the box to attempt a shut down of running back Frank Gore and dare quarterback Alex D. Smith to beat them. Last week the 49ers used shot gun formations to spread it out. If they can make something happen with the passing game early, Gore could then be used to wear down the defense.

Even with the passing game struggling, barring something drastic, do not expect the team to sit down Smith any time soon in favor of veteran quarterback Trent Dilfer.

Seattle Seahawks

Quarterback Matt Hasselbeck is gaining rave reviews after an incredibly solid start. His two picks have come off deflections by his own receivers. Other than that, he is throwing and playing better than ever.

Seattle wide out D.J. Hackett (high ankle sprain) could return in early November but looked much better this week so an earlier return is possible. Will he have a starting job to return to?

Wide receiver Nate Burleson has been in the lineup with Hackett out but was a bit shaky in Week 3 with some drops. It hadn't been an issue until then, and he has a few more weeks to prove to the job should be his. However, a few more shaky games like that and the job could be Hackett's when healthy. Eventually Hackett could turn into the team's slot receiver, replacing veteran wideout Bobby Engram. That won't necessarily happen this year, though.

Running back Shaun Alexander (wrist) can't blame his wrist injury on dropping some passes, which happened again last week. Alexander simply isn't that good of a receiver. Running back Maurice Morris, on the other hand, is really good at catching passes so he should continue to give Alexander a blow when needed, but his role may never be that significant. There is some thought the team wanted to use Alexander more in the passing game this year, but he dropped a few balls in the preseason. The cast on his hand won't hinder his pass receiving skills, if anything it may force him to concentrate more.

Speaking of the running game, it has started off slowly this year and become stronger in the second half of games. Is the line to blame or Alexander? Possibly a bit of both. Either way, head coach Mike Holmgren likes to build the run through the passing game in his West Coast Offense. With the 49ers likely to try to shut down Alexander and the passing game hot right now, we could see a bit more passing this week but they are inclined to build the run through the pass anyway.

Keep an eye on tight end Marcus Pollard this weekend. There is some thought the team may try to get him going early versus the 49ers.

St. Louis Rams

Rams quarterback Marc Bulger (ribs) is less than 100 percent and has struggled thus far this season. However, don't look for the team to pull him unless he further aggravates his injury. If a benching were coming, it would have happened last week when he threw three picks. He came through Week 3 in better shape, as he wasn't hit or sacked nearly as much as he was the week before.

Head coach Scott Linehan seemed to dance around questions as to why backup quarterback Gus Frerotte didn't start last week. Basically, Bulger is not on a short leash - the team will live and die with him at the helm.

The Rams have to adjust without running back Steven Jackson (groin) for the time being. Jackson struggled in the first three weeks, and now rookie running back Brian Leonard gets his crack. It is going to be tough for fantasy players to expect miracles. The line seemed to play well last week but may not have held their blocks long enough. If there is any silver lining, they have faced more talented defenses than that of the Dallas Cowboys.

In addition to Leonard, look for running back Travis Minor to work in as the third-down back. That hurts Leonard in point-per-reception leagues. Rookie running back Antonio Pittman also saw some reps with the first-team and could see some situations he gets on the field. Jackson owners can only bide their time until he returns.

The banged up Rams' offensive line seemed to block well last week so even with more injuries they should be OK, but not great. They didn't handle the 49ers’ 3-4 very well, but the Cowboys’ 3-4 is a bit more vanilla. They should be all right. Dallas, however, could try to confuse them.

Place kicker Jeff Wilkins is struggling and may be headed towards one of his "off" years we have seen before. He doesn't kick as good on grass and missed three kicks in a row for only the second time in his career. They weren't by much, but a field goal is either good or it isn't for fantasy players!

The Rams could try to open things up a bit more this week. They have been getting pounded by local media for being too conservative on offense.