Last year’s starting quarterbacks in the Super Bowl both suffered serious injuries and had to be carted off the field Sunday. Ben Roethlisberger was sandwiched between three Falcons' defenders, suffered a concussion and did not return, while Matt Hasselbeck suffered a sprained MCL and is expected to miss three games.

The Raiders broke an 11-game losing streak against the hapless Cardinals, Atlanta topped Pittsburgh in a shootout that featured nine passing touchdowns, Matt Bryant shocked the Eagles with a 62-yard field goal as time expired and Chester Taylor broke a franchise-record 95-yard TD scamper. Yes, it was quite an exciting Sunday of football.

The free agent wire will have plenty of options this week as well, including Jets’ rookie Leon Washington, Steelers’ backup Charlie Batch and Lions’ wideout Mike Furrey. Chutes ‘n’ Ladders will break down and exciting week seven of football.

Free Agent Possibilities
Quarterbacks
Joey Harrington, MIA 33-for-62, 414 yards, two HR, three INT
Charlie Batch, PIT 8-for-13, 195 yards, two TD
David Carr, HOU 25-for-34, 224 yards, two TD, 12 yards rushing
Mark Brunell, WAS 27-for-37, 226 yards, two TD
Damon Huard, KC 15-for-27, 232 yards, two TD, FL
Brad Johnson, MIN 15-for-24, 171 yards, TD
Jake Plummer, DEN 20-for-41, 209 yards, TD, two INT, 10 yards rushing
Andrew Walter, OAK 17-for-30, 263 yards, TD, INT
Charlie Frye, CLE 19-for-33, 149 yards, TD, INT
Matt Leinart, ARI 13-for-32, 203 yards, two INT
Bruce Gradkowski, TB 13-for-26, 104 yards, 11 yards rushing
J.P. Losman, BUF 16-for-25, 193 yards, INT, two FL
Seneca Wallace, SEA 14-for-25, 134 yards, two INT, FL

Leinart will go against the weak Green Bay secondary next week. Heck, Joey Harrington torched them for 414 yards through the air, so the USC rookie is definitely worth a roll of the dice. Anquan Boldin and Bryant Johnson are also advisable plays against the last-ranked pass defense. … Batch could get the starting nod vs. Oakland with Big Ben recovering from a concussion. He’s been superb in a backup role thus far, registering a 136.8 quarterback rating and a perfect 5-0 TD-INT ratio. Oakland came into last week as the top pass defense, but that has a lot to do with teams jumping out to big leagues and then killing the clock with the running game. If Batch gets the call, he’ll be a decent fill-in QB2 for the week. … If Carr is still out there on your waiver wire, you need to grab the Texan right away to serve as your backup. He’s thrown for 200-plus yards in five of his six games to go along with a respectable 9-4 TD-INT ratio.

Running Backs
Leon Washington, NYJ 20 rushes, 129 yards, two TD, rec, eight yards
Wali Lundy, HOU 19 rushes, 93 yards, TD, four rec, 15 yards
Mewelde Moore, MIN rec, five yards, 1-for-1, 15 yards, TD
Nick Goings, CAR rec, 20 yards, TD
Jerious Norwood, BUF eight rushes, 64 yards, rec, five yards
Justin Fargas, OAK 23 rushes, 66 yards
Samkon Gado, HOU 10 rushes, 27 yards, three rec, 15 yards
Zach Crockett, Oak eight rushes, 44 yards, three rec, 20 yards
Thomas Tapeh, PHI two rec, 15 yards, TD
Chris Perry, CIN three rec, 26 yards

It looks like Washington has landed the job with the Jets. The rookie scored the first two rushing touchdowns of his career and eclipsed the 100-yard mark for the second time. The job is his to lose now in the crowded Jets’ logjam backfield. … Lundy reclaimed his No. 1 RB job in Houston this week with a 93-yard effort in an upset against Jacksonville. He’ll take on the Titans this week – they rank dead-last against the run. … Norwood continues to do the most with the little opportunity he gets. The Falcons rookie is averaging an outstanding 7.6 yards per carry and is quietly on pace for 773 yards despite only getting about six carries per game. If Warrick Dunn suffers an injury, the kid would become a fantasy stud overnight.  

Wide Receivers
Marty Booker, MIA seven rec, 110 yards, TD
Mike Furrey, DET nine rec, 109 yards, TD
Santonio Holmes, PIT five rec, 91 yards, FL
Marcus Robinson, MIN four rec, 77 yards, TD
Nate Washington, PIT three rec, 76 yards, TD
Derek Hagan, MIA five rec, 53 yards, TD
Rod Smith, DEN six rec, 69 yards
Bryant Johnson, ARI three rec, 87 yards
Peerless Price, BUF five rec, 53 yards
Joe Jurevicius, CLE four rec, 40 yards, TD

The wide-open offense of Mike Martz is paying big dividends for Roy Williams, Jon Kitna and Mike Furrey. In another high-scoring battle, Furrey registered his first career 100-yard performance and led Detroit with nine receptions and his third TD. He shouldn’t still be a free agent with the Lions continually throwing down field. Use him as your WR3 or flex option following their bye this week. … With Troy Williamson going down early, Marcus Robinson picked up the slack in Minnesota’s pass attack, going for 77 yards and a TD. He’s been Brad Johnson’s favorite target of late, so consider the 10-year vet if need help at receiver, especially if Williamson misses the game. …. Keep your eye on undrafted rookie Derek Hagan in Miami – he’s got a dozen catches for 119 yards and a TD the past two weeks with Harrington under center.

Tight Ends
Dallas Clark, IND two rec, 41 yards, TD
Brandon Manumaleuna, SD four rec, 23 yards, TD
Reggie Kelly, CIN three rec, 34 yards, TD
David Martin, GB two rec, 31 yards, TD
Owen Daniels, HOU two rec, 20 yards, TD
Kris Wilson, KC two rec, 13 yards, TD
Ben Utecht, IND four rec, 52 yards
Courtney Anderson, OAK three rec, 55 yards
Robert Royal, BUF four rec, 36 yards

Major Offensive Injuries
An MRI on Matt Hasselbeck's knee has confirmed a "grade two" sprain of his MCL that is expected to keep him sidelined for the next two-to-four weeks. LB E.J. Henderson rolled into Hasselbeck's leg during Sunday’s upset to Minnesota. He tried to get up, but fell back to the ground immediately before being helped off the field. Seneca Wallace will replace him behind center as the Seahawks play the Chiefs, Raiders, Rams, and 49ers over the next month. He struggled to get it going Sunday, going 15-for-24 for 134 yards and two interceptions in backup duty. The good news in Seattle is that Shaun Alexander (foot) might return in week eight. We was begging coach Mike Holmgren before last week and stated that he won’t stand for being bench again. We’ll see if he’s able to practice this week. A duo of Wallace and Maurice Morris doesn’t exactly put fear in defender’s hearts.

Ben Roethlisberger was knocked unconscious by a vicious blow from DE Chauncey Davis, DE Patrick Kerney and LB Michael Boley Sunday in a high-scoring OT loss to the Falcons. He was carted to the locker room, underwent some X-rays and then returned to the sidelines in street clothes. Early indications are that the oft-injured QB suffered a mild concussion and will be questionable for next week’s contest against the lowly Raiders. Charlie Batch relieved him and connected for two touchdowns with stud wideout Hines Ward. The Steelers will re-evaluate Big Ben throughout the week.

Santana Moss left Sunday’s contest against Indy in the third quarter after suffering a strained hamstring. Clinton Portis missed sporadic time as well with a leg bruise and groin injury, but both playmakers are expected to return to action after Washington’s week eight bye. … LaMont Jordan’s back tightened up in pre-game warm-ups so he sat out the Raiders first win in 12 regular season contests. Justin Fargas (23,66), Zack Crockett (8,40) and ReShard Lee (2,7,1) replaced him in the victory. Teammate Andrew Walter also departed in the third quarter after tweaking his hamstring. He is expected to return next week against the might Steelers though. Stay away from the Raider backups from a fantasy perspective. … Greg Jennings suffered an ankle injury Sunday vs. Miami and did not return. He left at the end of the first half, underwent some medical tests and is being called questionable for next week. Troy Williamson also left in the first quarter against the Seahawks with a concussion and did not return. He began the season strong, but has been very quiet since. Feel free to drop the lightening-quick receiver.

Week Eight Schedule
Sunday, Oct. 29, 2006
Arizona at Green Bay 1:00 p.m.
Atlanta at Cincinnati 1:00 p.m.
Baltimore at New Orleans 1:00 p.m.
Houston at Tennessee 1:00 p.m.
Jacksonville at Philadelphia 1:00 p.m.
Seattle at Kansas City 1:00 p.m.
San Francisco at Chicago 1:00 p.m.
Tampa Bay at N.Y. Giants 1:00 p.m.
St. Louis at San Diego 4:05 p.m.
Indianapolis at Denver 4:15 p.m.
N.Y. Jets at Cleveland 4:15 p.m.
Pittsburgh at Oakland 4:15 p.m.
Dallas at Carolina 8:15 p.m.

Monday, Oct. 30
New England at Minnesota 8:30 p.m.

Byes - Buffalo, Detroit, Miami, Washington

Questions, comments, quandaries? Contact me at Matt@CREATiVESPORTS.com.

Hagan was a 3rd round pick, which is far from undrafted.