Z - From The Sidelines...

Locker Room Buzz - Week 6

October 12, 2007
17:53:27

There is a lot of great information we're hearing this week. A few teasers before you settle into what we feel is one of the better fantasy reports in the industry:

While the New York Giants defense was a laughing stock early in the season, they are a top tier fantasy defense this week. The Seattle Seahawks also have a young receiver they like that should finally get involved in the offense this week, as well. Even though Cincinnati Bengals running back Rudi Johnson (hamstring) is set to play this week, there's talk his touches could be limited. Are you aware the New Orleans Saints also plan to give a wide receiver more playing time this week? Who, and at what player's expense?

We're excited about this installment because of all the great fantasy relevance. Let's get to the Locker Room Buzz and find out what we're hearing throughout the NFL!

AFC East

Miami Dolphins

The Dolphins would like to have quarterback Trent Green (concussion) play again this season. One source thinks it could by Week 10 against the Buffalo Bills, after the team's Bye week.
Running back Ricky Williams isn't any closer to being reinstated. We hear that he probably won't be reinstated until after the trade deadline, which is next week. That would force Miami into a decision: keep him or cut him.
Still waiting on tight end David Martin to show up? New starting quarterback Cleo Lemon may need to rely on him heavily. Give Martin another couple of weeks; if he doesn't show a pulse, give up.

New England Patriots

Be prepared for the injury situation of running back Laurence Maroney (groin) to be an every-week guessing game. One source recommended to us to avoid playing him on a fantasy team any time soon.

The experiment of acquiring wide receiver Randy Moss appears to be going well. Obviously, judging from the talented receiver's stat line, right? He doesn't speak to the media because he feels that he has been burned in the past. He talks to all of the players, though, particularly quarterback Tom Brady; the two are locker neighbors. Both publicly - and privately - the Pats say Moss is working hard.

Another playing living up to his potential: tight end Benjamin Watson, whose blocking used to leave something to be desired. That's why tight end Daniel Graham (Denver Broncos) was so valuable to New England. In the last couple of weeks, though, head coach Bill Belichick has really praised Watson for his blocking. That's good news because it keeps Watson on the field. He has also worked on catching the ball with his hands, not his body. Belichick noted that Watson had his best offseason and camp.

The Pats aren't all business; we're told Friday practices are pretty light. Many of the players make some friendly "wagers" on games taking place between their respective colleges. Wideout Donte' Stallworth made University of Georgia alums Watson and defensive tackle Richard Seymour pay up; they had to wear University of Tennessee gear after the school's 35-14 victory over Georgia. Cornerback Ellis Hobbs (Iowa State) had to don Texas Tech colors because he lost his "bet" with running back Sammy Morris.
Few quarterbacks have played well the first time they've faced a Belichick defense. How will Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo fare against the Pats?

New York Jets

Everyone is wondering how close quarterback Chad Pennington is to losing his job to backup quarterback Kellen Clemens. They'll probably wait at least one more game before they evaluate the situation, though. We're told it's highly unlikely they would make an in-game switch.

Running back Thomas Jones let it be know that he thinks the Jets need to run the ball more - specifically, with him. The staff is aware of that need, as well, and they could run more this week. Of course, they led many to believe that the run would get more focus last week, too.

It appears that a little bit of the fascination with "Mangenius" is wearing off. Head coach Eric Mangini isn't in poor standing, though. The Jets just don't have as much talent as other teams do, and their play calling needs to improve. Last year, considering their schedule, they could make up for it. Last season, Mangini proved that he can handle the pressure in New York, but he needs more talent and players that fit his system. It's apparent to some observers that Mangini didn't do a good job with that this offseason; trading offensive guard Pete Kendall (Washington Redskins) was a mistake.

AFC North

Baltimore Ravens

The team has used running back Willis McGahee wisely and hasn't worn him out while giving him ample touches. They've done a great job at getting him in open space, but they need to use him more in the red zone. The team is aware of this and will try to get him more involved.

Our sources say this is the week wide receiver Mark Clayton will be a factor. The team likes his quickness in the red zone and may look to get him more involved there.

Tight end Todd Heap (hamstring) is about 90 percent. He could have played last week, but the he doesn't like to chance it when he's banged up. He's not soft, but the team just doesn't want to risk it.

There were some rumblings last week that if the team lost changes could be made. However, head coach Brian Billick is safe for this year, barring a total meltdown. There may be pressure to give up his play-calling duties, though.
Billick gave quarterback Steve McNair a huge vote of confidence, and he'll remain the starter as long as he's healthy. If quarterback Kyle Boller comes in and plays well this week, the media will likely start a controversy.

Cincinnati Bengals

Running back Rudi Johnson (hamstring) practiced Friday and will likely start this week. Expect no more than 15 carries from him, though. He had Kenny Watson will share the load, and look for Watson to get 10 to 15 touches, as well.

Antonio Chatman will be the No. 3 receiver this week for the injured Tab Perry (hip), but expect him to be a third-down receiver at best.
There was a rumor floating that wide receiver Chad Johnson was wearing out his welcome in Cincinnati. There is no validity to that, though.
The defense has been awful, and we're hearing there's not much chance at improving.
Head coach Marvin Lewis isn't on the hot seat, because owner Mike Brown knows he couldn't get anyone better right now. If it were a different city, maybe Lewis would be fired. The team is selling out games and selling more merchandise than ever before. It appears Brown is content at 8-8 if they are making money.

Cleveland Browns

Sources close to the team are telling us the Browns want to ride quarterback Derek Anderson as long as they can. The game against New England was a free pass because of how tough of a team they are. One of his picks was from a deflection, and head coach Romeo Crennel thought another interception was on a good decision.

Running back Jamal Lewis (foot) is very questionable this week, and Jason Wright would be the feature back. Running back James Harrison would be active in a supporting role, but he can't pick up a blitz very well. Harrison is a slightly better receiver and has more big-play ability, but he has ball control issues. Wright could have a good game against Miami's struggling run defense.
Tight end Kellen Winslow (shoulder) is about 85 percent after being bothered by a shoulder subluxation.
Offensive tackle Joe Thomas has been good this season. You don't hear his name, but he has played well.
There were rumors about trading nose tackle Ted Washington, who was inactive last week. However, Crennel downplayed it, saying it was a matter of being in the nickel a lot last week.
Look for the Browns to bring a safety in the box to neutralize Dolphins running back Ronnie Brown this week. They will look make quarterback Cleo Lemon beat them.

AFC South

Houston Texans

Wide receiver Andre Johnson (knee) should return next week, just as long as he practices Wednesday, Oct. 17, according to sources close to the team. Don't expect him to be limited if he can practice throughout the week, so the team isn't likely to treat him with kid gloves.

Look for running back Ahman Green (knee) to receive roughly 15 touches this week, with running back Ron Dayne chipping in with 10-12 of his own.

Rookie wide receiver Jacoby Jones (shoulder) is expected to get back into the mix this week as a No. 4 receiver and a special teams return man, but you shouldn't expect more than that out of him just yet.

The Texans are happy with their first-round selection of defensive tackle Amobi Okoye thus far, with one source saying he has shown that he belongs in the league and has been everything the team could have possibly wanted.

Jacksonville Jaguars

Quarterback David Garrard still has not thrown an interception this year, and he has the full confidence of the coaching staff. Don't expect the team to open up the playbook any time soon, however. They are content with allowing Garrard to do what he does best - move around to make plays and work the short-range passing game. The return of center Brad Meester (ankle) should only help his cause this week. The team is not concerned with stretching the field and is confident their current approach will keep defenses honest in terms of stopping the run.

Wide receiver Matt Jones has been non-existent this season, and he was even a healthy scratch in Week 3. Jones doesn't seem fazed by the situation, but his agent has gone as far as inquiring about having Jones shipped out of town. Jones wants to remain in Jacksonville, but he will need to improve his hands if he intends to stick with the team long-term.

Meanwhile, while Jones is making people wonder, wideout Dennis Northcutt is producing as the team's No. 1 option. The club thought he could be a team leader, and he has done just that by garnering the respect of his teammates. Younger players are already looking up to him, according to sources near the situation.

Head coach Jack Del Rio appears to be safe for now. Winning at the Denver Broncos and Kansas City Chiefs went a long way in the front office's eyes. Unfortunately, the fans haven't taken notice, since the Jags are looking at a blackout for this Sunday’s home tilt against the Texans with 3,000 tickets still available. If it's a nice day, and you are bored, go snatch up a ticket or two! With that plug you would think they pay us or something, huh?

Tennessee Titans

Despite suspended cornerback Pacman Jones saying recently that he fully expects to be reinstated by the league after 10 games, since he has met all of commissioner Roger Goodell's requirements as Jones said, our sources say quite the contrary. Don't look for Jones to be in a Titans uniform until the 2008 season.

With wide receiver Brandon Jones (knee) expected to miss this weekend's contest, look for wideout Roydell Williams to fill his spot. Fantasy owners could look to play Williams if you are in a desperate situation.

AFC WEST

Kansas City Chiefs

The Chiefs' running game went nowhere in Week 5, but their inability to generate a consistent ground attack has been an ongoing issue throughout the season. Part of the problem could be a lack of chemistry brought on by changes in the offensive line and exacerbated by running back Larry Johnson's training camp holdout.

Last Sunday was certainly a worst-case scenario for the Chiefs as the Jacksonville Jaguars kept their offense off the field and put a double-digit lead on the board. Then they stacked the line, and Kansas City had nowhere to run so they tried to get it done another way. Look for their running game to be better this week against a poor Cincinnati Bengals defense.

For those of you keeping track out there, running back Priest Holmes (neck) is eligible to come off the Non-Football Injury list until next week. Don't expect to see him in a game anytime soon as his return to the field continues to be a long shot.

Oakland Raiders

Quarterback Daunte Culpepper is set to make his second start this Sunday; if he continues to play well, and the team remains competitive, he could hold onto the job this season. Culpepper still needs to prove he can move the offense through the air as the team has been wildly unbalanced with him at the helm, running the ball more than 70 percent of the time.

There had been some speculation the team would entertain trade offers for Culpepper before the upcoming deadline, but given quarterback Josh McCown's (foot) health woes, and the fact that quarterback JaMarcus Russell isn't close to being ready, that seems highly unlikely. If the team were to make a move it would likely involve quarterback Andrew Walter, though McCown's injury could prevent that from happening as they wouldn't want to have to make Russell the No. 2 quarterback yet.

Running back LaMont Jordan (back) is hurting again, which makes the return of their offseason addition, running back Dominic Rhodes all the more important. Rhodes was suspended for the team's first four games but is expected to play this Sunday. However, if Jordan can't go look for running back Justin Fargas to get the start with Rhodes garnering 10-12 carries.

Another name to keep an eye in Oakland's crowded backfield is that of rookie running back Michael Bush (leg) as he can start practicing with the team next week. Then the club receives a three-week roster exemption before they must either move him to the 53-man roster or put him on Injured Reserve. The team would like to activate him and get him some work this season as it has already been over a year since the last time he carried the ball in a game situation.

Anyone waiting for tight end Zach Miller to make an impact in the box score is likely going to have to wait a little longer. The team is simply not throwing much, though Miller is endearing himself to the coaching staff with the great job he's doing with his blocking.

San Diego Chargers

It's hard to say, but tight end Antonio Gates' incredible start to the 2007 season may actually be slowing the maturation process of San Diego's young wide receivers Vincent Jackson and Craig Davis. Gates is clearly the favored target of quarterback Philip Rivers and frequently appears to be the first read on a given route. It'll be interesting to see what affect wide receiver Eric Parker's (toe) return has as he is a reliable veteran that Rivers can rely on to run the correct route. Davis appears to be in a bit over his head at this point.

The team is trying to downplay the significance of last weekend's dismantling of the Denver Broncos and not allowing themselves to get overly cocky, which some felt was an issue with their poor start.

NFC East

Dallas Cowboys

Believe it or not, quarterback Tony Romo made some strides in the Monday night debacle against the Buffalo Bills. He showed that he can bounce back after numerous mistakes and that he doesn't let things affect him like he used to. We hear that he earned a lot of respect from his teammates - and owner Jerry Jones.

Cornerback Terence Newman (foot) played really well last week, especially when you consider that he's probably at about 85 percent. He probably would've been better off if he had completely torn the plantar fascia; instead, he has a partial tear, which may not heal properly and won't heal as quickly.
Dallas is obviously pretty focused on this week's matchup with New England, but the feeling in the locker room hasn't been any different from that of most other weeks.

New York Giants

A lot of plays that running back Brandon Jacobs runs end with a blown whistle while he's still on his feet. In the past that was a concern because of potential injuries; Sunday's game against the Jets demonstrated that it could also be because of fumbles. Jacobs says that opponents are holding him up for precisely that reason. Head coach Tom Coughlin said that he won't tell his guys to stop fighting and go down, though, because they can just as easily come out of that spot with a surprise play as well as big gain.

Coughlin and his staff will, however, continue to emphasize ball security to Jacobs, just like they did with retired back Tiki Barber - hold it high and tight. Fumbling hasn't been a problem for Jacobs in the past, and it seems obvious that it would have to become a huge problem for New York to go away from Jacobs.

The Giants aren't getting a lot of production from tight end Jeremy Shockey mostly because they're using him as a run blocker, and he's good at it. He's in for pass protection, too, on some plays. He's not happy about it. We hear that there's a sense from both quarterback Eli Manning and offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride of some lost trust; Shockey has dropped some easy balls, especially on key plays. There will probably be a couple of games where they'll really need Shockey as a receiver, though.

After the success the Giants had with the split between Jacobs and running back Derrick Ward, look for more of the same going forward.
The addition of cornerback Aaron Ross to the starting lineup has made a huge difference to the defense. He has the secondary better, and he has provided a spark to the entire unit. His big-play ability has them all excited. Even if Ross doesn't make a play, he doesn't miss by much. His energy is contagious.

Philadelphia Eagles

The rocky start of quarterback Donovan McNabb has had fans and fantasy owners alike worried, but we're told not to panic. It's just too early in McNabb's recovery from surgery to repair the tear in his anterior cruciate ligament to start passing judgment. He should settle down and come around. The more glaring issue might have to do with the quality of his receivers.

Speaking of, what happened to the breakout campaign from wideout Reggie Brown? He has dropped a couple of passes, and sometimes McNabb just hasn't found him. Everyone is aware that McNabb doesn't put it right on the numbers most of the time. Observers have noticed that Brown doesn't always seem willing to go out of his way to make the tougher catches it takes to snare McNabb's passes, though. The sort of relationship the two have remains a mystery.

Interestingly, though, a source told us that, over the bye week, McNabb approached the coaches and asked them if they could put in more plays for Brown. The passer and receiver also met recently to see what they could do to get on the same page. Everyone around the team says they expect this situation to get better. Brown has the ability; that much seems certain. It might be time to target Brown, but hurry.

How much running back Brian Westbrook gets the ball this Sunday will largely be based on feel. If he shows he can handle it, they're expected to feed him a lot because he's their top weapon.
Reports of head coach Andy Reid's imminent resignation were obviously false. As one observer put it, he's more likely to have a heart attack on the job; his life seems to be coaching. Reid doesn't ever let reporters know what he's thinking, though, so when he looks unhappy, people draw their own conclusions.

Washington Redskins

H-back Mike Sellers' two touchdowns last week may not be an aberration; Remember, he scored eight times in 2005. The Redskins realized that they needed a bruiser at the goal line after the embarrassing loss to the Giants in Week 3 - they were stuffed, with goal to go, on third and fourth downs in the final seconds They still want to use running back Clinton Portis in those situations, too, to "give him his sugar," as one observer put it. Sellers' time will likely come at the expense of running back Ladell Betts, who could see his touches slip to about five or six per game.

If you haven't noticed, tight end Chris Cooley's targets are slowly increasing. Washington is making a bigger effort to create matchup problems for him. Coaches noticed that defenses were playing him differently, so they went back to the drawing board on him. This could be a good week for Cooley.

Look for wide receiver Keenan McCardell to eventually emerge as the team's No. 3 receiver. He seemed washed up after he couldn't make it with the Houston Texans, but he was apparently in really good shape when the Redskins signed him last week. Quarterback Jason Campbell is already very comfortable with him.
From an observer: The Washington defense may transitioning from one that merely limits points and yards to one that creates turnovers. The pressure they get on the quarterback is netting them plenty of sacks. Strong safety LaRon Landry has really adapted quickly, and his presence allows free safety Sean Taylor to roam the field more. They have a lot of players that can catch the ball now, too.

NFC North

Chicago Bears

The Bears are glad to have pulled off the comeback win last week against the Green Bay Packers, but they know the Packers gave them that game. The team feels like they are back on track and headed toward the playoffs, though. The team hasn't came out and said it's quarterback Brian Griese's job the rest of the season, but it's a good bet.

The same can be said for running back Cedric Benson. He would have to fumble like crazy to lose his job at this point despite being on thin ice in recent weeks.

Look for the team to throw the ball a lot this week since the running game might not be effective against the Minnesota Vikings.

Green Bay Packers

Running back DeShawn Wynn is expected to start in Week 6, and Vernand Morency will serve as the third-down back. While watching the game last week, we noticed that Morency was much more explosive than Wynn. Our sources said they felt the same way. Scouts think Wynn is more talented, but he has some toughness issues, which led to his underachiever tag in college.

Quarterback Brett Favre said he was open to coming back next season. If he doesn't get hurt, he may return, if he continues playing near this level.
What would that mean for backup Aaron Rodgers? Well, he'd likely be the backup again next season because he has two years left on his deal.
Wide receiver Greg Jennings is slowly earning the "injury-prone" label, but the jury is still out.
Wide receiver Koren Robinson's one-year mark since being suspended will be next week, and there's a good chance he'll be reinstated. The team has a spot for him as a No. 4 receiver.
In the offseason, middle linebacker Nick Barnett was charged with a misdemeanor battery charge; he and his attorney are fighting it. He's accused of pushing a girl to the ground, but he won't be suspended for it. A fine is the most that would happen.

Minnesota Vikings

Our sources believe it's still too early to say the Vikings made a mistake by trading up to get quarterback Tarvaris Jackson last year. The bigger mistake may have been making him the starter this year. He may have a short leash this week if he turns the ball over a lot, but backup Kelly Holcomb didn't impress anyone when Jackson (ankle) was out. Benching Jackson would be an admission of a major mistake; head coach Brad Childress won't make that admission.

There was a fight in practice this week involving running back Chester Taylor and defensive end Erasmus James. James allegedly landed a punch, and Taylor threw a chair at James, and the chair hit offensive tackle Bryant McKinnie. Sources say Taylor is the kind of guy that likes to annoy people to get a rise out of them. James is quite temperamental, and he's easy to rile up. Childress held a team meeting after the incident, and we understand that the players have put this behind them - it has become a joking matter, in fact.

Tight end Visanthe Shiancoe and wide receiver Robert Ferguson have questioned how they are being used. Ferguson felt he had some ideas to offer to the coaches because of his experience in similar offenses.
Sidney Rice is the sleeper at receiver. He has great hands and runs good routes. He's at least as fast as Ferguson, although that isn't saying much.
The Vikings wanted a third-round pick from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in order to let go of running back Mewelde Moore. Obviously this is a crazy proposal because he's not worth the pick. The team doesn't trust that running back Adrian Peterson and Taylor can stay healthy, and the team is very thin after Moore. They made the price the steepest one they thought Tampa would consider.

NFC South

Atlanta Falcons

Quarterback Joey Harrington was pulled last week for his eventual replacement quarterback Byron Leftwich. Leftwich was awful, so awful that the team was shocked some of his throws were so bad. He was way off on his passes and very immobile.

Tight end Alge Crumpler went on a mini-rant with the media about being tired of losing. The team feels along the same lines. The team is running college plays, and they don't understand why they can't run what helped them lead the league in rushing last year.
Crumpler doesn't like his short routes being called. He's running drags, curls and short crosses, which sends him right into the defense. He wants to outrun linebackers and find the seam in the Cover 2.
He'll be staying in to block a lot more though due to their struggling and banged-up offensive line. Look for a decline in his production.

Offensive tackle Justin Blalock is looking horrible on film. Undrafted rookie tackle Renardo Foster run blocks well, but he has been slow in his setup. Guard Tyson Clabo will be at right tackle, and he hasn't played there since college. If New York Giants defensive end Michael Strahan plays the whole game, he may get six sacks this week against an awful Falcons line.

Linebacker Michael Boley has been stellar the last three weeks, capped off by a 15-tackle effort last week. Our sources have been saying all along he's a star in the making. Keep your eyes on this third-year horse.

Linebacker Demorrio Williams is still stuck in a timeshare with linebacker Stephan Nicholas because Williams can't stop the run. He's better at coverage, and Nicholas is much better against the run.

Cornerback DeAngelo Hall has been quiet and done his job. He has been professional, and the waves he caused have quieted. The team doesn't appear to be shopping him and won't bench him.

Carolina Panthers

The best news out of Carolina today has sadly been that quarterback David Carr (back) is likely to play in Week 6. If not, the team may have had to rely on quarterback Vinny Testaverde. Had that occurred, they would have pounded the run. Now it looks like the running backs won't get an increased workload.

The loss of quarterback Jake Delhomme (elbow) really hurts wide receiver Steve Smith's fantasy value. They had a special relationship, and Delhomme would force throws others wouldn't even try. Smith should still be a good receiver, but don't expect the elite status he was in Weeks 1 and 2.

As for Delhomme, he is hoping he'll be 100 percent in seven to nine months following Tommy John surgery. The surgery will take place sometime next week, and it'll be four months before he can throw. In baseball, pitchers can come back stronger and throwing harder than they did before the surgery. It's different in football, but it's somewhat realistic for that to happen here as well.

New Orleans Saints

Quarterback Drew Brees has one touchdown and nine interceptions on the season. However, he says none of the issues have been mechanics. He has pressed to make things happen, and they have been playing from behind all season.

Running back Reggie Bush received the biggest workload of his career last week with 21 rushes and nine receptions. Our sources say he came out of the game fine, and you can expect him to get 25 to 30 touches per game. It's unlikely he'll be used to return kicks as he has done infrequently.

The receivers haven't performed well at all, and it's their own doing. They haven't faced any double-teams, they just aren't getting open. They have dropped a ton of passes as well. The biggest culprit of that has been wideout Devery Henderson. He's likely to lose looks to No. 3 receiver Lance Moore, and this could continue through the season.

The team had seven kickers work out this week because place kicker Olindo Mare (groin) has been hurt and has performed awful when on the field. The one that stood out was kicker Martin Gramatica, but nothing is imminent right now as Mare is good to go this week.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

After losing their starting running back two weeks in a row, the Buccaneers will likely have to throw more. They lost running back Michael Pittman (ankle), who was great at catching passes out of the backfield - so that hurts. The team is built well enough to survive with their group of running backs, which includes Earnest Graham and Kenneth Darby. They probably aren't going to thrive with them though.

Graham will likely get the bulk of the work while Darby should see some action.
Look for fullback B.J. Askew to be involved for a few carries.
Fullback Zack Crockett should be active but likely won't be a factor as a backup fullback. You can probably only expect some receptions.

The jury is still out on their offensive line without tackle Luke Petitgout (knee). Expect them to need to use the tight ends more to block because teams are going to dare them to run the ball. However tight end Alex Smith may finally start coming out of his shell. The team could use him all over the field and in the red zone as a receiver.

Speaking of receivers, Joey Galloway has been quiet the last three weeks. Head coach Jon Gruden said the team wants to make a better effort to get him the ball. Galloway had two drops last week so his numbers could be a bit different had he caught those.

NFC WEST

Arizona Cardinals

Despite the loss of quarterback Matt Leinart (collarbone) for the season, don't expect to see many changes in the team's every-down offense under the stewardship of quarterback Kurt Warner. The team wants to be able to run the ball effectively, and despite Warner's proficiency in running the no-huddle there doesn't figure to be a marked increase in that approach. Before, defenses could anticipate the no-huddle when Warner entered the game, but now that he'll be in for the entire game, it could become even more effective due to the element of surprise.

Even though Leinart's injury originally called for six weeks to heal, that was the best-case scenario. Plus, you would have to add two to three more weeks for rehab, which would've put Leinart back with less than a month left in the season. On top of that the team was only carrying two quarterbacks and didn't have an available roster spot to sign quarterback Tim Rattay. Given all that information, it doesn't seem as though the team prematurely pulled the plug on Leinart's 2007 season.

Considering Warner's injury history during the latter part of his career, one might think we'd see a more conservative approach going forward - one that would feature a steady diet of running back Edgerrin James. Don't look for that to happen. The team is winning with their current formula, and to alter it keep Warner in the lineup could be counter-productive; there are no guarantees that they would experience the same success with a toned-down attack. It appears as though they are just going to let Warner play his game and allow the chips to fall where they may.

Seattle Seahawks

With wide receivers D.J. Hackett (ankle) and Deion Branch (foot) out of action, the team would really like wideout Nate Burleson to step up his game, but that has not happened over the past couple of weeks. One school of thought is that Burleson is struggling to adapt to head coach Mike Holmgren's precision passing game after being molded in Minnesota, where the strategy was more to throw the ball deep and have the receiver go get it.

One name to remember with the team's shortage at wideout is that of wide receiver Ben Obomanu. The second-year receiver has good hands and runs crisp routes. He led the team in receiving during the preseason and could be in line for extended playing time.

The main reason we could see a healthy dose of Obomanu in Week 6 is that the Seahawks may run a lot of three- and four-receiver sets against the Saints to open up the offense. One reason is to give running back Shaun Alexander more room to operate in the ground game. Also look for quarterback Seneca Wallace to get some snaps at receiver.

Getting back to Alexander, much has been made of his struggles this season, and the career-ending injury to fullback Mack Strong (neck) isn't going to help matters. Defenses have also been playing eight men in the box frequently and daring Seattle to beat them over the top. It'll be interesting to see what happens when Alexander finally gets healthy and out of the cast. A Week 9 game against the Cleveland Browns looks like a probable target date for that to happen.

Strong's retirement could mean more playing time for running back Leonard Weaver, who has explosive potential; Weaver could be used catching passes out of the backfield and running on the draw. Weaver's primary shortcoming thus far has been his blocking, which of course was Strong's bread and butter.

Do you remember tight end Bennie Joppru? Many people don't, but the former second-round pick has been making a good impression in practice, and if he can stay healthy he could make an impact. However, "ifs" don't get much bigger than that.

St. Louis Rams

Quarterback Gus Frerotte made a couple of poor throws last week, but he moved the team down the field and did enough that the team doesn't feel they need to rush quarterback Marc Bulger (ribs) back from injury. For the first time this season, head coach Scott Linehan also took over play-calling duties, which included a heavy dose of the no-huddle offense. The offensive line played better as well. On the heels of one of their best offensive days of the season, in Week 6 St. Louis expects to start the same five players along the offensive line that they did last Sunday, which amazingly marks the first time that has happened this season.

Running back Brian Leonard likely opened some eyes after he ran for over 100 yards against Arizona last week. His solid play was the result of improved play from the offensive line, extensive use of the no-huddle and frequent three-receiver sets that spread the defense. Don't look for another 100-yard day against the Baltimore Ravens this Sunday, though.

Injured running back Steven Jackson (groin), who was originally only supposed to miss three weeks, has just started doing things on the side this week and may not return to the lineup for an additional two to three weeks. Week 10, after the club's bye, has been rumored as a possible return date.

The team brought tight end Randy McMichael in during the offseason, but he did very little over the first month of the season. However, with Frerotte at the helm and Linehan calling the plays in Week 5, McMichael responded with his best game of the season. The three of them worked together during their time with the Miami Dolphins, and even though McMichael is not the top option on most routes, Frerotte is used to looking for him.