Through five weeks of the season, ageless veteran Brett Favre (1,527 passing yards, nine TDs) and enigmatic wideout Randy Moss (551 receiving yards) have been a couple of the best stories of 2007. They currently lead the league in passing and receiving on their first place teams.
Favre turned 38 on Wednesday and still plays the game with the heart he did when he played with Atlanta in 1991. He’s made 242 consecutive starts since replacing Don Majkowski and amazing still plays the game with the passion of a child.
Meanwhile, Moss is coming off two lackluster seasons in Oakland; he’s found an instant chemistry with Tom Brady, who is on pace to break the single season TD record. He’s logged an outstanding 128.7 quarterback rating with a 16-2 TD-INT ratio. Moss has found the end zone a league-high seven times and has reclaimed his former elite status in fantasy.
The Weekly Forecast will get you up to date with the most recent injury news and help you set your best lineup for Week 6. We could have a Vinny Testaverde appearance for the Panthers, a possible change at quarterback in the Big Apple and likely new starting running backs for the Raiders, Browns and Bucs.
Quarterbacks
43-year-old Testaverde could get the start at quarterback for the Panthers if David Carr can’t go this week. Carr was downgraded to questionable on Saturday and is expected to be a game-time decision. This will mark the 21st season in Vinny’s resume. … Frerotte, Warner and Culpepper will also start this week thanks to injuries to the starters.
Injury List
Marc Bulger (ribs) – doubtful, Gus Frerotte will start
David Carr (back) – questionable/game-time decision, Vinny Testaverde would replace
Jake Delhomme (elbow) – out for the season
Trent Green (concussion) – out for the season, Cleo Lemon will replace
Tarvaris Jackson (groin) – expected to start, Kelly Holcomb returns to backup role
Matt Leinart (shoulder) – out for the season, Kurt Warner takes over
J.P. Losman (knee) – bye, questionable for Week 7, Trent Edwards would replace
Josh McCown (foot) – out indefinitely, Daunte Culpepper will start
Steve McNair (groin) – questionable, game-time decision, Kyle Boller would replace
Chad Pennington (ankle) – questionable, expected to start – Kellen Clemens would replace
D.J. Shockley (knee surgery) – out for the season
Alex Smith (shoulder) – bye, questionable for Week 7, Trent Dilfer would replace
Chris Simms (hip) – out for the season
Michael Vick (personal) – out for the season
Running Backs
Steven Jackson, Jamal Lewis, LaMont Jordan and Michael Pittman are all expected to be stuck on the sidelines in Week 6, while Brian Leonard, Jason Wright, Ernest Graham and the Dominic Rhodes/Justin Fargas combination will be their replacements. Brian Westbrook, Rudi Johnson and possibly Laurence Maroney will return to action this week, while Ahman Green and Fred Taylor remain questionable for their matchups.
Injury List
Joseph Addai (shoulder) – bye, expected back for Week 7 MNF, Kenton Keith would replace
Shaun Alexander (wrist) – probable, will start
Mike Alstott (neck) – out for the season
Mike Bell (concussion) – questionable, Selvin Young is immediate backup
Michael Bush (leg) – might return in Week 7
T.J. Duckett (ankle) – questionable, No. 3 in depth chart
Ahman Green (knee) – questionable, Ron Dayne expected to start
Travis Henry (suspension) – bye, active until appeal heard, Selvin Young would replace
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
Steven Jackson (groin) – out, Brian Leonard will replace
Rudi Johnson (hamstring) – Expected back in Week 6
LaMont Jordan (back) – doubtful, Dominic Rhodes/Justin Fargas would replace
Jamal Lewis (foot) – out, Jason Wright will replace
Laurence Maroney (groin) – questionable, 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?
Michael Pittman (ankle) – out 6-8 weeks, Earnest Graham will replace
Clinton Portis (knee) – questionable, expected to play
Dominic Rhodes (suspension) – return Week 6
Fred Taylor (groin) – questionable, game-time decision
Derrick Ward (ankle) – questionable, likely will play
Brian Westbrook (knee, ribs) – expected to start in Week 6
Carnell Williams (knee) – out for the season
Ricky Williams (suspension) – applying for reinstatement
Wide Receivers
Injury List
Anquan Boldin (hip) – doubtful, missed practice all week, Bryant Johnson would replace
Troy Brown (knee surgery) – return Week 7
Isaac Bruce (hamstring) – questionable, Drew Bennett would replace
Plaxico Burress (ankle) – questionable, expected to play
Tim Carter (knee) – questionable
Laveranues Coles (knee) – questionable, expected to 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
Marvin Harrison (knee) – bye, probable for MNF in Week 7
Chris Henry (CIN) (suspension) – return Week 10
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) – might be out until Week 11
Calvin Johnson (back) – bye
Joe Jurevicius (knee) – questionable, game-time call
Eddie Kennison (hamstring) – questionable, not expected to play
Santana Moss (groin) – probable, expected to return
Eric Parker (toe) – expected to miss another 2-3 weeks
Tab Perry (hamstring) – questionable, Glenn Holt would be slot WR
Peerless Price (neck) – out for the season
Antwaan Randle El (hamstring) – questionable, vows he’ll 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
David Tyree (wrist) – out 1-3 more weeks
Javon Walker (knee) – bye
Hines Ward (leg) – bye
Tight Ends
Injury List
Dallas Clark (knee) – questionable, will play
Vernon Davis (knee) – bye, return Week 7?
Todd Heap (hamstring) – questionable, expected to start
David Martin (toe) – probable, will play
L.J. Smith (groin) – questionable, expected to play and be limited
Daniel Wilcox (ankle) – questionable
Kellen Winslow (shoulder) – probable, remains a must-start,
Kickers
Olindo Mare (groin) - probable
Josh Scobee (quadriceps) – out indefinitely, John Carney will likely replace
Matchups for Week 6
Toughest against the pass
1. Denver (145.6 YPG) - Bye
2. Pittsburgh (163.0 YPG) – Bye
3. Miami (171.6 YPG) – Derek Anderson, Braylon Edwards, Kellen Winslow
4. Indianapolis (172.8 YPG) – Bye
5. Kansas City (174.4 YPG) – Carson Palmer, Chad Johnson, T.J. Houshmandzadeh
6. New England (177.2 YPG) – Tony Romo, Terrell Owens, Jason Witten/Patrick Crayton
7. Jacksonville (178.2 YPG) – Matt Schaub, Andre Davis, Kevin Walter
8. Washington (182.0 YPG) – Brett Favre, Donald Diver, Greg Jennings
Easiest against the pass
32. Buffalo (287.8 YPG) – Bye
31. Cleveland (267.0 YPG) – Cleo Lemon, Chris Chambers, Marty Booker
30. Minnesota (266.8 YPG) – Brian Griese, Bernard Berrian, Muhsin Muhammad
29. Detroit (263.6 YPG) – Bye
28. Cincinnati (251.0 YPG) – Damon Huard, Tony Gonzalez, Dwyane Bowe
27. San Diego (247.2 YPG) – Daunte Culpepper, Ronald Curry, Jerry Porter
26. Chicago (246.0 YPG) – Tarvaris Jackson, Bobby Wade, Sidney Rice/Troy Williamson
Toughest against the run
1. Minnesota (62.0 YPG) – Cedric Benson, Adrian Peterson
2. Baltimore (66.6 YPG) – Brian Leonard, Travis Minor
3. Tennessee (72.2 YPG) – Earnest Graham, Kenneth Darby
4. Pittsburgh (72.6 YPG) – Bye
5. New England (74.2 YPG) – Julius Jones, Marion Barber
6. Philadelphia (74.5 YPG) – Thomas Jones, Leon Washington
Easiest against the run
32. Denver (187.6 YPG) – Bye
31. Miami (174.2 YPG) – Jason Wright, Jerome Harrison
30. Cleveland (157.4 YPG) – Ronnie Brown, Jesse Chatman
29. Cincinnati (152.0 YPG) – Larry Johnson, Michael Bennett
28. St. Louis (146.0 YPG) – Willis McGahee, Musa Smith
27. Buffalo (133.6 YPG) – Bye
26. Oakland (129.5 YPG) – LaDainian Tomlinson, Michael Turner
Week 6 Schedule
Sunday, October 14 1:00pm ET
Miami @ Cleveland
Minnesota @ Chicago
Washington @ Green Bay
Philadelphia @ New York Jets
St. Louis @ Baltimore
Tennessee @ Tampa Bay
Cincinnati @ Kansas City
Houston @ Jacksonville
Sunday, October 14 4:05/15pm ET
Carolina @ Arizona
New England @ Dallas
Oakland @ San Diego
Sunday, October 14 8:15pm ET
New Orleans @ Seattle
Monday, October 15 8:30pm ET
New York Giants @ Atlanta
Byes
PIT, DET, DEN, IND, SF, BUF
The All-Bye Week 6 Team – consider yourself lucky if you get to avoid these players stashed away on your opponent’s rosters:
QB Peyton Manning, Jon Kitna
RB Joseph Addai, Travis Henry, Willie Parker
WR Roy Williams, Marvin Harrison, Reggie Wayne
TE Dallas Clark, Vernon Davis
Flex Marshawn Lynch, Frank Gore