Injuries ripped through the league again in Week 4 as each of the three leading rushers – Travis Henry, LaMont Jordan and Joseph Addai all suffered injuries. Cadillac Williams will be stuck in park the rest of the season after he suffered a serious right knee injury. Brett Favre passed Dan Marino’s record for career-TD passes with two passing scores in a victory over the Vikings – as the Pack Attack jumped out to a 4-0 start. The Colt, Cowboys and Patriots, who play Monday Night, remain the only other undefeated squads.
We’ll take a look at Week 4 around the NFL in this edition of Chutes ‘n’ Ladders. Find out what free agents will be popping up around your league, the latest additions to the injury report and next week’s schedule.
Quarterbacks
Free Agent Possibilities
Daunte Culpepper got his first start of the season Sunday against Miami and had three rushing TDs and two passing TDs, as the Raiders knocked off the Dolphins. Coach Lane Kiffin didn’t seem willing to tab him the team’s starter afterwards though, saying Josh McCown (finger) would compete for the starting job once he’s healthy. JaMarcus Russell will also likely be in the mix around mid-season.
Although Marc Bulger was highly ineffective once again, coach Scott Linehan said he will remain the Rams starting quarterback. Gus Frerotte got some action in mop-up duties, going 3-for-6 for 28 yards. … Matt Leinart (7-got-14, 93 yards) and Kurt Warner (14-for-21, 132 yards, TD) split time in their upset with over the Steelers. This divided role will hurt each player from a fantasy perspective, but add important depth to the Cardinals offense. …
Daunte Culpepper, OAK 5-for-12, 75 yards, two TD, seven rushes, 28 yards, three TD
Joey Harrington, ATL 23-for-29, 223 yards, two TD
Damon Huard, KC 17-for-29, 284 yards, two TD, two INT
Brian Griese, CHI 34-for-52, 286 yards, two TD, three INT
Derek Anderson, CLE 10-for-18, 204 yards, two TD, INT
Kelly Holcomb, MIN 21-for-39, 258 yards, TD, INT
Jeff Garcia, TB 15-for-25, 176 yards, 10 yards rushing, TD
Chad Pennington, NYJ 32-for-39, 290 yards, TD, two INT
Trent Edwards, BUF 22-for-28, 234 yards, TD, INT
David Carr, HOU 19-for-41, 155 yards, TD, INT, 28 yards rushing
Major Offensive Injuries
Alex Smith suffered a separated shoulder on the third play of Sunday's game and is expected to miss 4-6 weeks. Trent Dilfer replaced him and played poorly in Week 4, going 12-for-33 for 128 yards, two interceptions, five sacks and two fumbles. He’ll go against a strong defense in the Ravens, who he helped lead to a Super Bowl XXXV victory over the Giants.
There’s some speculation Jake Delhomme could require elbow surgery, although the Panthers denied the report and said they are just taking it day-to-day. David Carr could get another start against the winless Saints next week.
Running Backs
Free Agent Possibilities
Justin Fargas, OAK 22 rushes, 179 yards
Selvin Young, DEN eight rushes, 81 yards, two receptions, 19 yards
Leon Washington, NYJ four rushes, 24 yards, TD, eight receptions, 38 yards
Correll Buckhalter, PHI 17 rushes, 103 yards, four receptions, 35 yards
Ernest Graham, TB 17 rushes, 48 yards, TD
Michael Pittman, TB 15 rushes, 90 yards
Kenton Keith, IND 10 rushes, 80 yards
Brian Leonard, STL 16 rushes, 58 yards
Ron Dayne, HOU 15 rushes, 62 yard
Adrian Peterson was only in the Vikings backfield for 24 of Minnesota’s 65 plays, but still managed 112 yards rushing. Chester Taylor started and was on the field for 40 of the 65 and they were together once. However Taylor managed just 40 yards rushing – and 37 were on one play. Peterson ripped off a 55-yard scamper en route to a 108-yard first half. … Ricky Williams applied for reinstatement from the league after being suspended for drug use. Once he proves he’s clean, it could take several weeks before the NFL grants him readmission.
Major Offensive Injuries
Cadillac Williams sustained a possibly career-threatening torn patella tendon in Week 4 and will miss the remainder of the season. With Mike Alstott also out for the season, the Bucs will turn to both Michael Pittman and Earnest Graham to man the backfield. Expect Pittman to start and get the brunt of the carries, but Graham could be a nice source for TDs. He’s got three the past two weeks now. Pittman had 69 yards rushing in the second half when Cadillac went down.
LaMont Jordan left Sunday’s contest against Miami with a back injury that could stick him on the sidelines for a few weeks. The Raiders have a bye in Week 5 and then Dominic Rhodes returns from a four-game suspension. Justin Fargas filled in with 179 yards on 22 carries. He now has 261 yards on the season – last year’s top-two rushers, LaDainian Tomlinson has 262 and Larry Johnson has 263.
Travis Henry left his right knee and ankle and briefly left against the Colts. Selvin Young replaced him for a few plays, then Henry returned to post 26 carries and 131 yards. After the game, he said feared it was a career-ending injury right after it happened. Monitor his health throughout the week – he believes he’ll be able to go against San Diego in Week 5. Young had 100 total yards in sparing time, including a 10.1 rushing average.
Joseph Addai departed Sunday’s victory vs Denver with a bruised shoulder. He racked up 136 yards and a TD and is on pace for 1,628 yards in 2007. He should be able to start vs Tampa next week. Kenton Keith got extensive time at RB in his absence, piling up 80 yards on 10 carries. He’s a must-have if you own Addai. … Brian Westbrook has a tear in his abdomen so the Eagles replaced him with Correll Buckhalter against the G-Men Sunday night. Philly has a bye next week so Westbrook will get substantial rest before taking on the Jets in Week 6. … Brandon Jacobs (knee) will get a lot more work in practice this week and could possibly return for this week’s contest against the Jets. Expect Derrick Ward to continue playing a prominent role in the offense though. … Marcel Shipp (ribs) left in the second quarter and did not return. He’ll only get time if Edgerrin James misses action – Shipp has just two carries all season.
Wide Receivers
Free Agent Possibilities
Patrick Crayton, DAL seven receptions, 184 yards, two TD
Dwayne Bowe, KC eight receptions, 164 yards, TD
Michael Jenkins, ATL six receptions, 64 yards, two TD
Andre Davis, HOU five receptions, 117 yards, TD
Sidney Rice, MIN six receptions, 75 yards, TD
Jerheme Urban, ARI five receptions, 53 yards, TD
James Jones, GB four receptions, 49 yards, TD
Kevin Walter, HOU six receptions, 77 yards
Ike Hilliard, TB seven receptions, 114 yards
Bobby Wade, MIN five receptions, 83 yards
Muhsin Muhammad, CHI five receptions, 49 yards, TD
Major Offensive Injuries
Marvin Harrison left in the second quarter against Denver with a bruised knee and did not return. He finished with just one catch for eight yards. There’s speculation the injury might be worse than just a bruise and could even be an MCL or knee sprain. He’s questionable for the Bucs next week. Anthony Gonzalez would likely move into the starting lineup if Harrison did have to miss just his third game over the past nine seasons.
The Redskins signed Keenan McCardell as the Redskins fear Santana Moss’ groin injury will force him to miss at least a few games. … Isaac Bruce left this week’s contest with a hamstring injury. He had just one catch for 24 yards and he’s considered questionable for next week.
Tight Ends
Free Agent Possibilities
Donald Lee, GB four receptions, 66 yards
Desmond Clark, CHI seven receptions, 44 yards, TD
Quinn Sypniewski, BAL six receptions, 34 yards, TD
Justin Peelle, MIA three receptions, 45 yards, TD
Week 5 Schedule
Sunday, October 7 1:00pm ET
Jacksonville @ Kansas City
Miami @ Houston
Detroit @ Washington
Atlanta @ Tennessee
Arizona @ St. Louis
Seattle @ Pittsburgh
Cleveland @ New England
Carolina @ New Orleans
New York Jets @ New York Giants
Sunday, October 7 4:05/15pm ET
Tampa Bay @ Indianapolis
Baltimore @ San Francisco
San Diego @ Denver
Sunday, October 7 8:15pm ET
Chicago @ Green Bay
Monday, October 8 8:30pm ET
Dallas @ Buffalo
Byes
Cincinnati, Minnesota, Oakland, Philadelphia
(make sure you bench Carson Palmer, Rudi Johnson, Chad Johnson, T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Adrian Peterson, Daunte Culpepper, LaMont Jordan, Justin Fargas, Ronald Curry, Donavon McNabb, Kevin Curtis, Brian Westbrook, Correll Buckhalter)