Here's what KFFL's inside sources are saying this week.

Quarterbacks

• The Chicago Bears' Jay Cutler claimed that his concussion this year was his first. Though Chicago has disputed them, reports say he has had multiple instances of concussions. There isn't much to worry about now, Cutler owners, but what if he sustains another one? Maybe he misses more time than his recent inactive week....
• Cleveland Browns rookie Colt McCoy, who's expected to start Sunday, has looked accurate in practice. Unfortunately, McCoy doesn't have a big frame and could've used some time on the bench to work on bulking up. Expect ample checkdowns and increased wildcat use this week.
• Don't read into head coach Todd Haley's public defense of Matt Cassel. The Kansas City Chiefs remain reluctant to use their aerial attack. If they don't employ it more often this week against the Houston Texans, when will they?

• What's next for No. 4?

  Brett Favre (elbow) has more issues with accuracy than throwing deep. If he were to miss a game this year, it'd more likely come from injury than a suspension for his textual harassment. The Minnesota Vikings' signal caller would probably have to be convinced to sit, but his elbow tendonitis isn't responding to cortisone shots. Maybe he's pulled during a game to keep his consecutive games played streak going.
  Jenn Sterger's cooperation in the off-field stuff will determine if a suspension is warranted. A fine is likelier for Favre, but if he were to be suspended for a few games, he might just retire on the spot. It'll probably be a few weeks or a month before we know anything further on any league action.
• Don't downgrade Tom Brady now that the New England Patriots jettisoned Randy Moss. Spreading the rock will help like it did back when they won Super Bowls. He won't have to keep Moss happy by forcing passes to him anymore.
• Speaking of Brady, the reported confrontations he had with quarterbacks coach Bill O'Brien are a little blown out of proportion. However, numerous players have had an issue with O'Brien because of the offensive schemes he drew up last year. He seemed like he didn't have the capacity to run that department.
• Our insider doesn't think the New Orleans Saints' Drew Brees (knee) has been himself. Brees says he's fine, but something with his knee might be bothering him. He's underthrowing people. Of course, lack of a legitimate running game hasn't helped, either.
• The San Francisco 49ers' Alex D. Smith is going to take more downfield shots and will try to open things up a bit more. He has played cautiously in the past but will probably be in attack mode more often.

Running backs

• Ray Rice has looked better in goal line situations than Willis McGahee lately. Expect the Baltimore Ravens' goal line split to be more even moving forward.
• Chester Taylor is unofficially the Chicago Bears' short-yardage back and is the likelier choice to be in on plays near the goal line. Taylor is a better fit than Matt Forte, whose upright running style takes a bit away from his potential in those situations. Forte will also receive slightly more touches, though it won't be an even split.
• The Cleveland Browns' trade of Jerome Harrison means it's Peyton Hillis' show. Their acquisition of Mike Bell fits more with him being the spell guy for Hillis - Bell can run similar downhill plays between the tackles. James Davis' role is still unknown, but it probably doesn't amount to a work increase from his backup duty.
• Marion Barber III will be the Dallas Cowboys' starting running back. Don't worry, Felix Jones owners: That's just Wade Phillips trying not to hurt Barber's feelings. Jones will remain the lead back in terms of touches.
• If Detroit Lions wideout Calvin Johnson (shoulder) can't go this week, expect to see the Detroit running backs play a bigger role.
• Mike Hart (hip) should play and see about five to 10 touches for the Indianapolis Colts this week. However, he'll relinquish the No. 2 role when Donald Brown (hamstring) comes back, likely after their Week 7 bye.
• Sure, Randy Moss is once again on the Minnesota Vikings, but Adrian Peterson will be the focus for the Dallas Cowboys' defense this week.

• Felix Jones to remain lead back?

  New Orleans Saints new addition Julius Jones could stick if Pierre Thomas' ankle injury keeps lingering. Jones' best seasons came with Dallas when Sean Payton was their offensive coordinator. He hasn't been in town long enough to warrant much work this week, but if no PT next week, he could see more.
• As for Reggie Bush, the Saints' playmaker won't go until he's 100 percent; he won't rush back. Bush is hoping and praying he'll be back for Week 8, but it's not a good sign. Our insider wouldn't be surprised if Bush's absence extended past Week 8, which would put him past the expected recovery time when he went out.
• The New York Jets typically aim for a 50-50 touch split for running backs LaDainian Tomlinson and Shonn Greene, but LT's play has given him most of the touches early on. Greene is getting into a groove now, though, so whenever possible, expect them to aim for an even split.
• Jerome Harrison isn't all that familiar with the Philadelphia Eagles' West Coast offense. He probably won't play this week. Long term, however, he's a better fit than the traded Mike Bell. Harrison fits the bill of former Eagle Correll Buckhalter - someone who can make an impact on five touches.
• The San Diego Chargers should divvy out a 50-50 touch split between Ryan Mathews and Mike Tolbert. Their eventual goal is to make it Mathews with around 25 touches and Tolbert with around four or five. That'll probably happen when Mathews puts in a full week of practice, but he still might get a slight majority before that happens. Don't be surprised if this week's game against the St. Louis Rams will be the time for San Diego to see what Mathews has.
• The Seattle Seahawks will likely go with a 50-50 percent or 60-40 percent touch split between their backs Marshawn Lynch and Justin Forsett this week. Lynch is still picking up the new offense, which has a few of the zone principles from Buffalo but is still a difficult one to learn. Once he is comfortable in it, touches will probably go 75-25 or 65-35 to Lynch.
• LeGarrette Blount didn't play much last week because the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were concerned about pass protection schemes. They stuck with Cadillac Williams most of the time. Not surprising because he's the starter anyway. Williams will continue to see two-thirds of touches, possibly three-fourths, if they're really that concerned about protection.
• Expect Jacksonville Jaguars linebacker Justin Durant to spy the Tennessee Titans' Chris Johnson this week and force Titans quarterback Vince Young to beat them.
• Keiland Williams might see more work on third down for the Washington Redskins, but Ryan Torain, who did some good things in pass protection last week, will be given every chance to be the primary back. If the running game isn't work, though, Washington is quick to abandon it, as they did last week against the Green Bay Packers.

Wide receivers

• The Atlanta Falcons' Michael Jenkins will be in the game plan this week. Harry Douglas will see fewer snaps, and Atlanta will go with Jenkins in the red zone.
• Baltimore Ravens wideouts Anquan Boldin and Derrick Mason have favorable matchups with New England Patriots cornerback Devin McCourty and Kyle Arrington.
• The Denver Broncos' Brandon Lloyd should remain at this level of involvement in the offense. He has a rapport with quarterback Kyle Orton and has been more consistent in his focus this year; his physical talents are finally paying off.

• All's quiet on the V-Jax front

  The pecking order for looks on the Detroit Lions if Calvin Johnson (shoulder) doesn't play: Nate Burleson (ankle), tight ends Brandon Pettigrew and Tony Scheffler, then running back Jahvid Best.
• New York Jets cornerback Antonio Cromartie could give Lloyd fits this week. Lloyd is still start-worthy, but he might see a drop-off from his recent brilliant performances.
• Even with his increased duties in the return game, Eddie Royal won't lose any offensive reps for the Broncos. He'll probably be a useful safety valve this week - read "a bunch of receptions" - against the New York Jets' aggressive defense.
• The Green Bay Packers' loss of tight end Jermichael Finley (knee) should, in theory, open things up for Greg Jennings. Expect Green Bay to go with a lot of three- and four-wide sets.
• Houston Texans All-Pro Andre Johnson (ankle) says his ankle feels better this week, almost 100 percent, though it'll bother him the rest of the year. He was double covered a lot last week.
• Mike Sims-Walker improved a little bit coming off the line of scrimmage, something he has struggled with most of the season. The Jacksonville Jaguars were happy about that and are still counting on him being an integral part of the attack.
• Don't buy into Todd Haley's kind words for Dwayne Bowe. The Kansas City Chiefs' wideout is doing some little things right, such as run blocking, but his drops last week exemplify his shaky fantasy stock.
• Wes Welker should continue his reception-hungry game with Randy Moss no longer with the New England Patriots. However, Welker hasn't been able to avoid tackles as much as he used to.
• The New York Giants' Hakeem Nicks played against Detroit Lions corner Alphonso Smith twice in college, though they didn't spend a lot of time matched up against each other. Still, there is a familiarity there. Our insider wasn't sure which way this matchup would go.
• The San Diego Chargers' organization is not talking to the media about Vincent Jackson's impending report to the team. Jackson is eligible to play Nov. 28 (Week 12) and must report by the week of the Oct. 31 game. The Bolts aren't that keen to welcome him back - they're producing a good offense without him.
• Brandon Gibson will benefit the most right now from Mark Clayton's season-ending knee injury. The St. Louis Rams' passing game, however, is fluid behind Danny Amendola, their slot option. Mardy Gilyard will now start but remains a work in progress.
• Deep watch list: Danario Alexander, the leading receiver in college football last year. The Rams promoted him from the practice squad now that he's healed from his knee surgery. He's 6-foot-5, 215 pounds - the Rams don't have a wideout with that much size.
• Deon Butler will be the new starter for the Seattle Seahawks with Deion Branch headed to New England. Expect this to be an audition, though. If Butler plays like he did in the preseason, our insider felt it'd be his gig. He did have some drops against the St. Louis Rams earlier this year, though. Ben Obomanu will receive a shot; he has good hands, knows all three WR positions and could be more reliable. Golden Tate still isn't trusted yet.
• Joey Galloway may continue to start ahead of Anthony Armstrong for the Washington Redskins, at least for a bit, but Armstrong played more snaps last week, and AA could take the job as early as this week.

Tight ends

• The Dallas Cowboys are making a more concerted effort to involve Jason Witten in the red zone. It worked last week. If they can consistently protect quarterback Tony Romo better inside the 20, it'll go a long way to freeing up Witten.
• The New York Jets' Dustin Keller should have an easy time finding fantasy production against an injury-marred Denver Broncos defense. Key injuries to the secondary means this unit will have a hard time covering the middle of the field.
• The Green Bay Packers' Andrew Quarless is similar to the injured Jermichael Finley (knee). Quarless is big and probably faster than Finley, though he doesn't have as much change of direction. He should fill in somewhat, but the rookie will still make mistakes and isn't a strong blocker. Quarless and Donald Lee (chest) will probably split time, though Green Bay will try to get Quarless involved in the passing game.
• Tony Moeaki (Kansas City Chiefs) should take advantage of playing a former Chief, Houston Texans strong safety Bernard Pollard. As with Houston overall, Pollard is weak in pass coverage.
• As expected the New England Patriots' Aaron Hernandez and Rob Gronkowski should see more looks with Randy Moss out of town.
• Zach Miller owners shouldn't worry about Jason Campbell starting for the Oakland Raiders. Miller will probably be the favorite target of Campbell and Bruce Gradkowski (shoulder); Campbell still doesn't throw to the wideouts; our Raiders source thinks Miller's lack of stats with Campbell under center is a coincidence.
• Heath Miller should benefit the most with quarterback Ben Roethlisberger back behind center for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
• Michael Hoomanawanui returns to the St. Louis Rams this week, but it might take him a few weeks to build on his preseason momentum and recapture his promising rapport with quarterback Sam Bradford.

Place kickers

• New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton said he was ready to switch back to Garrett Hartley, but our source wasn't quite sure about that. If Hartley misses a kick Sunday, expect New Orleans to have auditions lined up for Monday.

Around the league

• Expect Baltimore Ravens safety Ed Reed (hip) to come back in Week 7. He has reportedly looked great in workouts.
• The Denver Broncos' patchwork defense will be a work in progress for however long they're missing free safety Brian Dawkins (knee), safety Darcel McBath (ankle), cornerback Andre' Goodman (quadriceps), linebacker Wesley Woodyard (hamstring) and Robert Ayers (foot). The loss of Ayers will set back their pass rush.
• The Green Bay Packers will probably stick with the run more, regardless of who is behind center or how it works, in order to shorten the game because of injuries.
• The New York Jets' pass defense has suffered without cornerback Darrelle Revis (hamstring), who's 50-50 to play this weekend. However, there have also been chemistry issues with safety Brodney Pool and cornerback Antonio Cromartie adjusting to the new system. Kyle Wilson has played more than they wanted him to because of Revis' injury. Their pass rush isn't there unless they blitz.
• Also, our San Diego Chargers insider predicted the Jets will sign linebacker Shawne Merriman, who is expected to be released in a few weeks by the San Diego Chargers, because the Jets know how to use vets in successful situational play.
• The Chargers will probably have left tackle Marcus McNeill in the lineup this week.