There were an inordinate amount of injuries around the NFL last week, putting the vast majority of fantasy leagues quickly into decision mode. Stars like Anquan Boldin, Rudi Johnson, Jake Delhomme and Steven Jackson will likely be restricted to spectator status this weekend, while David Carr, Bryant Johnson, Kenny Watson and Brian Leonard will be thrown into action into prominent roles after being stashed away on most league’s waiver wires the initial three weeks of the season.
The Weekly Forecast will try to shed some light on what is going on around the league to help you set your best lineup for the important Week 4 of the fantasy football season. We’ll break down a few depth chart changes, the latest on the injury report and the favorable/unattractive matchups for Sunday’s action on the gridiron.
Quarterbacks
The Bills will be without J.P. Losman for probably a couple weeks, so third-round draft selection Trent Edwards will be plunged into action to make his first NFL start. The Stanford product will face the Jets defense, that ranks No. 28 against the pass, surrendering 264.7 passing years per contest. They’ve allowed a 6 TD/1 INT in their three games.
Delhomme missed practice all week (elbow) and remains doubtful for this week’s game against the Bucs. David Carr will make his 76 start of his six-year career in his stead and first with the Panthers. Tampa has given up 185.7 passing yards/gm. They’ve been tough to score on though, allowing just two passing TDs.
Daunte Culpepper will also make his first start against the Dolphins. It could be some extra motivation for the former Madden video game cover boy. Pep used to be an absolute stud in the realm of fantasy football. In 2004, he threw for 4,717 yards and 39 TDs. He’s played just a dozen ineffective games in the three seasons since then. He’s a nice gamble against his former teammates. Oakland signed the nine-year veteran after the Dolphins released him in the preseason.
Kelly Holcomb will get another start with Tarvaris Jackson sidelined. … Steve McNair is expected to start, but Kyle Boller could see some reps as well. … Same of goes for Matt Leinart and Kurt Warner in Arizona. … Marc Bulger is pretty banged up with a rib injury and bum shoulder, but will start.
Injury List
Marc Bulger (ribs) – probable, will start
Jake Delhomme (elbow) – doubtful, David Carr expected to start
Tarvaris Jackson (groin) – questionable, likely won’t play, Kelly Holcomb will replace
J.P. Losman (knee) – expected to miss two weeks, Trent Edwards will start
Josh McCown (foot) – doubtful, Daunte Culpepper will start
Steve McNair (groin) – probable, expected to start
Chad Pennington (ankle) – questionable, will start
D.J. Shockley (knee surgery) – out for the season
Chris Simms (hip) – out indefinitely
Michael Vick (personal) – out for the season
Running Backs
The Rams will need Bulger in there because they will have a rookie running back starting in the backfield. Steven Jackson will sit out the contest, and probably another week or two after that. … Ron Dayne is expected to start for the banged up Texans as Ahman Green deals with an injury. There’s a slim chance he could still play, but Dayne should see around 20 carries this week. … Rudi Johnson is out for Cincy this week so Kenny Watson will get the start for that high-powered offense. Watson had nine rushes for 60 yards and a TD last week. He’s worth using as your RB3 or flex option because they score so many damn points – 31 PPG, tied for 4th. He’ll see New England though, the game’s No. 1 defense (and offense). … Deuce is no longer for the Saints so expect Aaron Stecker to see a bigger role. Reggie Bush has one career 20-carry game and that’s when he posted a career-high 126 yards. Expect to see more of those contests now – Bush just jumped into being a RB1. … The Packers are expected to be without leading rusher Brandon Jackson. He’s just managed 97 yards in three contests, averaging a meager 2.6 YPG. DeShawn Wynn and Vernand Morency will split the action in the backfield, but Green Bay will be doing a lot of passing.
Injury List
Shaun Alexander (wrist) – probable, will start
Mike Alstott (neck) – out for the season
Mike Bell (concussion) – out, Cecil Sapp will be backup
Michael Bush (leg) – might return in Week 7
T.J. Duckett (ankle) – out indefinitely
Ahman Green (knee) – questionable, likely will not play, Ron Dayne expected to start
Noah Herron (knee) – out for the season
Priest Holmes (neck) – likely out for the season
Kenny Irons (knee surgery) – out for season
Brandon Jackson (shin splints) – questionable, likely will not play
Steven Jackson (groin) – out 2-3 games, Brian Leonard will replace
Brandon Jacobs (knee) – out for Week 4, Derrick Ward will replace
Rudi Johnson (hamstring) – out for Week 4, Kenny Watson will start
Laurence Maroney (groin) – questionable, likely will play
Deuce McAllister (knee surgery) – out for the season, Aaron Stecker will be backup
Maurice Morris (hip) – probable, likely will play
Vernand Morency (knee) – probable, likely will play
Chris Perry (ankle) – return Week 7
Dominic Rhodes (suspension) – return Week 6
Chester Taylor (ribs) – will start Week 4
Derrick Ward (ankle) – questionable, missed practice on Friday
Brian Westbrook (knee, ribs) – questionable, game-time decision, expected to play
Ricky Williams (suspension) – applying for reinstatement
Wide Receivers
After hauling in 14 catches for 181 yards and two TDs last week, the Cards are expected to be without Boldin this week. He’s missed practice all week so Bryant Johnson should replace him in the starting lineup. The Cards see the dominating Steelers defense this week and are expected to go with a two-QB attack. … Burress expects to be active this weekend, but there’s a chance he might not be able to practice the next month because of his ankle injury. … Andre Johnson and Jacoby Jones are out for the Texans this week, so Andre Davis, Kevin Walter and Jerome Mathis will be their receiving options. … Hines Ward will miss just his fourth career game in his 10-year career against the Cards. Nate Washington will replace him in the lineup. He’s a decent option if you got hit hard with injuries and byes this week.
Injury List
Anquan Boldin (hip) – doubtful, likely will not play, Bryant Johnson would start
Troy Brown (knee surgery) – return Week 7
Plaxico Burress (ankle) – questionable, expected to play
Tim Carter (knee) – questionable, likely will not play
Jerricho Cotchery (shoulder) – questionable, will start
Brian Finneran (knee surgery) – out for the season
David Givens (knee surgery) – might return in Week 7
Terry Glenn (knee surgery) – out indefinitely, might return in late October
D.J. Hackett (ankle) – out indefinitely, might return in Week 9
Chris Henry (CIN) (suspension) – return Week 9
Ike Hilliard (ankle) – questionable, expected to play
Chad Jackson (knee) – might return in Week 7
Vincent Jackson (back) – probable, expected to play
Greg Jennings (hamstring) – probable, likely will play
Andre Johnson (knee) – out for Week 4, might return Week 6
Jacoby Jones (shoulder) – out for 2-3 weeks, Kevin Walter will likely start
Eddie Kennison (hamstring) – out indefinitely, Dwayne Bowe will replace
Santana Moss (groin) – bye Week 4, week-to-week
Eric Parker (toe) – out, might return in Week 5
Tab Perry (hamstring) – out indefinitely, Glenn Holt will be slot WR
Josh Reed (thigh) – probable, expected to play
Koren Robinson (suspension) – applying for reinstatement
Marcus Robinson (quadriceps) – out for the season
Rod Smith (hip) – return week 7
Steve Smith (NYG) (shoulder) – out indefinitely
Donte Stallworth (knee) – questionable, likely will play
David Tyree (wrist) – out 3-5 more weeks
Javon Walker (knee) – game-time decision, Brandon Stokley or Domenik Hixon will start
Hines Ward (leg) – out for Week 4, Nate Washington will start
Tight Ends
Mark Campbell (back) – out for the season
Dallas Clark (knee) – questionable, will play
Vernon Davis (knee) – return Week 7
David Martin (toe) – probable, will start
L.J. Smith (groin) – out for Week 4, Brent Celek and Matt Schobel will replace
Daniel Wilcox (ankle) – questionable
Kellen Winslow (shoulder) – game-time decision, returned to practice Friday
Kickers
David Akers (quadriceps) - probable
Josh Scobee (quadriceps) – might be out 4-6 more weeks
Matchups for Week 4
Toughest against the pass
(stats based exclusively on Weeks 1-3)
1. Denver (108.0 YPG) – Peyton Manning, Marvin Harrison, Reggie Wayne
2. St. Louis (159.3 YPG) – Tony Romo, Terrell Owens, Patrick Crayton
3. New England (160.7 YPG) – Carson Palmer, Chad Johnson, T.J. Houshmandzadeh
4. Jacksonville (166.7 YPG) - BYE
5. Miami (177.3 YPG) – Daunte Culpepper, Ronald Curry, Jerry Porter
6. Kansas City (183.8 YPG) – Phillip Rivers, Antonio Gates, Vincent Jackson
Easiest against the pass
1. Detroit (295.3 YPG) – Brian Griese, Bernard Berrian, Muhsin Muhammad
2. Philadelphia (287.0 YPG) – Eli Manning, Plaxico Burress, Jeremy Shockey/Amani Toomer
3. Buffalo (285.7 YPG) – Chad Pennington, Laveranues Coles, Jerricho Cotchery
4. Seattle (283.7 YPG) – Alex Smith, Darrell Jackson, Arnaz Battle
5. New York Giants (273.7 YPG) – Donovan McNabb, Kevin Curtis, Reggie Brown/Brian Westbrook
Toughest against the run
1. Baltimore (61.7 YPG) – Jamal Lewis, Jason Wright
2. Tennessee (63.3 YPG) - BYE
3. Minnesota (67.3 YPG) – DeShawn Wynn, Vernand Morency
4. Philadelphia (71.7 YPG) – Derrick Ward, Reuben Droughns
5. New England (74.0 YPG) –Kenny Watson, DeDe Dorsey
6. Houston (76.7 YPG) – Warrick Dunn, Jerious Norwood
Easiest against the run
1. Buffalo (177.3 YPG) – Thomas Jones, Leon Washington
2. Cleveland (176.3 YPG) – Willis McGahee, Musa Smith
3T. Denver (166.0 YPG) – Joseph Addai, Kenton Keith
3T. Miami (166.0 YPG) – LaMont Jordan, Justin Fargas
5. St. Louis (152.3 YPG) – Julius Jones, Marion Barber
Week 4 Schedule/Weather
Sunday, 9/30 1:00pm ET
Baltimore @ Cleveland 58/75, 10%
St. Louis @ Dallas 60/77, 10%
Chicago @ Detroit (Dome)
New York Jets @ Buffalo 56/73, 10%
Houston @ Atlanta (Dome)
Oakland @ Miami 75/84, 30%
Green Bay @ Minnesota (Dome)
Sunday, 9/30 4:00pm ET
Pittsburgh @ Arizona 65/93, 0%
Tampa Bay @ Carolina 55/81, 10%
Seattle @ San Francisco 51/72, 0%
Denver @ Indianapolis (Dome)
Kansas City @ San Diego 58/71, 10%
Sunday, 9/30 8:15pm ET
Philadelphia @ New York Giants 53/71, 10%
Monday, 10/1 8:30pm ET
New England @ Cincinnati 55/78, 10%
Byes
New Orleans, Tennessee, Jacksonville, Washington