If the past couple weeks are a prelude to how the football season is going to be, fantasy owners better be aware of who is backing up the stars. Superstar running backs Deuce McAllister and Cadillac Williams are done for the season, while stud receivers Andre Johnson, Anquan Boldin and Javon Walker continue to be sidelined with nagging injuries.

Most leagues’ waiver wires have been like revolving doors, featuring new hot pickups each and every week thus far. Unheralded and undrafted players like Derrick Ward, Andre Davis, Sammie Morris and Earnest Graham have already played prominent roles this season, and you can expect that trend to continue. Players like Kenton Keith, Selvin Young and Brian Leonard have recently become commodities because of injuries to established starters. This week, we’ll see veterans Gus Frerotte, Trent Dilfer and David Carr behind center for their squads, while Drew Bennett, Bryant Johnson and Demetrius Williams are expected to be new additions to their starting lineups at wide receiver.

The Weekly Forecast will break down all the bumps, bruises and black and blues around the NFL to help you set your best possible lineup for Week 5.

Quarterbacks
It’s been a tough year for Marc Bulger through four weeks of action. Not only is he dealing with a bad right shoulder and two broken ribs, but he’s gotten virtually no support from his running game. RB Steven Jackson will miss his second straight game as Leonard replaces him in the backfield. The banged up Bulger will also sit out the contest to try to heal his aching body. In his stead, the Rams will turn to Gus Frerotte. The 14-year veteran has shown flashes of brilliance throughout his career, but is definitely not somebody you can rely on against the much-improved Cardinals defense. It’s going to be a long year for Bulger – those ribs will need more than a few weeks to completely heal. If there is a decent option in your free agent pool, it might be wise to cut ties with him. 

Arizona will continue to utilize a two-man quarterback plan, hurting the overall fantasy value of both Matt Leinart and Kurt Warner. … The Ravens appear to be heading into a similar scheme with the injury prone Steve McNair and Kyle Boller. … Trent Dilfer will replace Alex Smith at quarterback for the Niners. There was much speculation that Smith’s season could be over, but San Francisco is saying they only expect him to miss about a month of action.

Injury List
Marc Bulger (ribs) – out for week 5, Gus Frerotte will start
Jake Delhomme (elbow) – doubtful, David Carr expected to start
Tarvaris Jackson (groin) – Bye, might return in Week 6
J.P. Losman (knee) – expected to miss another week, Trent Edwards will start
Josh McCown (foot) – Bye, out indefinitely, Daunte Culpepper will start
D.J. Shockley (knee surgery) – out for the season
Alex Smith (shoulder) – will miss at least 3-4 weeks, Trent Dilfer will replace
Chris Simms (hip) – out indefinitely
Michael Vick (personal) – out for the season

Running Backs
Travis Henry caught headlines this week for the wrong reasons. The seven-year veteran, who has 433 yards rushing through four games, failed a drug test and is expecting to be hit with a one-year suspension. He’s delaying the inevitable by appealing the suspension because of a technicality in the testing process, so it could buy him another few weeks of action. Selvin Young is a must-have pickup in all leagues with the penalty hanging over Henry’s head. … The Colts might be without Addai this week because of a shoulder injury that forced him to leave last week’s contest. He’s missed practice all week and remains a game-time decision. In his place, former CFL superstar, Kenton Keith would start at running back for the Colts. He came in during the second half in Week 4 and rambled for 80 yards on just 10 carries. With that high-powered offense, he has the potential to be a No. 1 RB. … Ahman Green is expected to sit out his second straight week so Ron Dayne will get another start. … Michael Pittman and Earnest Graham will take over the Bucs RB duties now that Cadillac is done for the season. Pittman is a multi-dimensional back that is going to put up good yardage numbers, but you can expect Graham to continue finding the end zone. Both are decent RB3/flex options.

Injury List
Joseph Addai (shoulder) – questionable, Kenton Keith would replace
Shaun Alexander (wrist) – probable, will start
Mike Alstott (neck) – out for the season
Mike Bell (concussion) – questionable
Michael Bush (leg) – might return in Week 7
T.J. Duckett (ankle) – questionable, No. 3 in depth chart
Ahman Green (knee) – out for Week 5, Ron Dayne expected to start
Travis Henry (suspension?) – questionable, Selvin Young will take over soon
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) – doubtful, Brian Leonard will replace
Brandon Jacobs (knee) – probable, will split carries with Derrick Ward
Rudi Johnson (hamstring) – Bye, expected back in Week 6
LaMont Jordan (back) – Bye, week-to-week, Dominic Rhodes/Justin Fargas would replace
Laurence Maroney (groin) – game-time decision, Sammie Morris would replace
Deuce McAllister (knee surgery) – out for the season
Maurice Morris (hip) – probable, likely will play
Vernand Morency (knee) – probable, likely will play
Alvin Pearman (knee surgery) – out for the season
Chris Perry (ankle) – return Week 7
Clinton Portis (knee) – questionable, expected to play
Dominic Rhodes (suspension) – Bye, return Week 6
Chester Taylor (ribs) – will split carries with Adrian Peterson
Derrick Ward (ankle) – questionable, likely will play
Brian Westbrook (knee, ribs) – Bye, questionable in Week 6
Carnell Williams (knee) – out for the season
Ricky Williams (suspension) – applying for reinstatement

Wide Receivers
Bruce, Boldin, Ward, Harrison, (Andre) Johnson, Mason and (Santana) Moss are expected to miss Week 5. To go along with Chad Johnson, T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Ronald Curry and Kevin Curtis – who have a bye this week - many teams are forced to hit their league’s free agent pool for a surrogate starter.

They say one man’s misfortune is another man’s opportunity and this is definitely the case in fantasy football.

If you need some help at receiver this week, think about adding the services of Aaron Moorehead, who is expected to start for the injured Marvin Harrison. There’s still a slight chance the future Hall of Famer could suit up so monitor this until the 11th hour. But if he does play, expect decent numbers – Peyton Manning always spreads the wealth. … With Andre Johnson likely out another two weeks, Kevin Walter and Andre Davis are becoming decent options for the surprising Matt Schaub in Houston. Consider them short-term options if you’re short-handed at WR this week. … Eddie Kennison is back in the lineup for the Chiefs this week after sitting out the first month. Dwyane Bowe is expected to keep his starting spot though.

Injury List
Anquan Boldin (hip) – doubtful, not expected to play, Bryant Johnson will start
Troy Brown (knee surgery) – return Week 7
Isaac Bruce (hamstring) – out, Drew Bennett would replace
Plaxico Burress (ankle) – questionable, expected to play
Tim Carter (knee) – questionable
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
Marvin Harrison (knee) – questionable, Aaron Moorehead would replace
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
Andre Johnson (knee) – doubtful, might miss Week 6 too
Calvin Johnson (back) – questionable, likely will play
Jacoby Jones (shoulder) – out for 1-2 weeks, Andre Davis would replace
Eddie Kennison (hamstring) – not on injury list, Dwayne Bowe will still get playing time
Derrick Mason (knee, back) – questionable, Demetrius Williams would replace
Santana Moss (groin) – doubtful, not expected to play
Eric Parker (toe) – expected to miss another 3-4 weeks
David Patten (calf) – status uncertain
Peerless Price (neck) – out for the season
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) – probable, expected to play
David Tyree (wrist) – out 2-4 more weeks
Javon Walker (knee) – out for Week 5, Brandon Stokley would replace
Hines Ward (leg) – out for Week 5, Nate Washington would replace

Tight Ends
Mark Campbell (back) – out for the season
Dallas Clark (knee) – questionable, will play
Vernon Davis (knee) – return Week 7
Todd Heap (hamstring) – game-time decision, missed practice this week
David Martin (toe) – probable, will play
L.J. Smith (groin) – Bye, week-to-week
Daniel Wilcox (ankle) – questionable
Kellen Winslow (shoulder) – questionable, expected to start

Kickers
David Akers (quadriceps) -
Josh Scobee (quadriceps) – out indefinitely, John Carney will likely replace

Matchups for Week 5
Toughest against the pass
(stats based exclusively on Weeks 1-4)
1. Denver (114.5 YPG) – Phillip Rivers, Antonio Gates, Vincent Jackson
2. Miami (145.0 YPG) – Matt Schaub, Andre Davis, Kevin Walter
3. Jacksonville (150.7 YPG) – Damon Huard, Dwyane Bowe, Tony Gonzalez
4. New England (156.2 YPG) – Derek Anderson, Braylon Edwards, Kellen Winslow
5. Kansas City (167.8 YPG) – David Garrard, Matt Jones, Reggie Williams

Easiest against the pass
32. Buffalo (282.5 YPG) – Tony Romo, Terrell Owens, Patrick Crayton/Jason Witten
30T. Detroit (267.5 YPG) – Jason Campbell, Antwaan Randle El, Keenan McCardell/James Thrash
30T. Cleveland (267.5 YPG) – Tom Brady, Randy Moss, Wes Welker
29. Minnesota (266.8 YPG) – BYE
27T. San Diego (253.0 YPG) – Jay Cutler, Brandon Marshall, Brandon Stokley
27T. New York Jets (253.0 YPG) – Eli Manning, Plaxico Burress, Jeremy Shockey/Amani Toomer

Toughest against the run
1. Minnesota (62.0 YPG) - BYE
2. Tennessee (63.3 YPG) – Warrick Dunn, Jerious Norwood
3. New England (69.8 YPG) – Jamal Lewis, Jason Wright
4. Baltimore (71.0 YPG) – Frank Gore, Michael Robinson
5. Philadelphia (74.5 YPG) – BYE
6. Houston (80.0 YPG) – Ronnie Brown, Jesse Chatman
7. Dallas (80.5 YPG) – Marshawn Lynch, Anthony Thomas

Easiest against the run
32. Miami (199.2 YPG) – Ron Dayne, Samkon Gado
31. Denver (181.0 YPG) – LaDainian Tomlinson, Michael Turner
30. Cleveland (160.0 YPG) – Laurence Maroney (questionable), Sammie Morris/Kevin Fault
29. St. Louis (157.0 YPG) – Edgerrin James, J.J. Arrington
28. Cincinnati (152.0 YPG) – BYE
27. Buffalo (148.0 YPG) – Julius Jones, Marion Barber

Week 5 Schedule/Weather
Sunday, October 7 1:00pm ET
Jacksonville @ Kansas City 82/55, 40%
Miami @ Houston (Dome)
Detroit @ Washington 88/63, 10%
Atlanta @ Tennessee 89/68, 10%
Arizona @ St. Louis (Dome)
Seattle @ Pittsburgh 85/64, 10%
Cleveland @ New England 71/57, 30%
Carolina @ New Orleans (Dome)
New York Jets @ New York Giants 79/64, 30%

Sunday, October 7 4:05/15pm ET
Tampa Bay @ Indianapolis (Dome)
Baltimore @ San Francisco 73/51, 10%
San Diego @ Denver 49/42, 40%

Sunday, October 7 8:15pm ET
Chicago @ Green Bay 82/63, 40%

Monday, October 8 8:30pm ET
Dallas @ Buffalo 77/62, 10%

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)