The 2003 Mastermind Weekly Newsletter: Week #1

FFMastermind.com Weekly Newsletter Week #1 "4th & One" Injury Report
Volume VIII, Issue 1
Updated: September 6, 2003

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-- Week #1 "4th & One" Injury Report --

SATURDAY - 2:30 AM PT: The following are the key injuries heading into the first week of the 2003 NFL season and include each player's status for this week's game. We will be updating this report once each day from Sunday night through the following Saturday evening.

Atlanta Falcons QB Mike Vick (bropken fibula) - Healing Weel, Not Surgery Needed, Expected to miss the first four games of the season.
New York Jets QB Chad Pennington (dislocated wrist) - Expected to miss 8-12 weeks.
San Francisco 49ers QB Jeff Garcia (bulging disk) - Expected to start.
Miami Dolphins QB Brian Griese (toe) - Could miss 6-8 weeks.
Buffalo Bills RB Travis Henry (foot) - Expects to play.
Oakland Raiders RB Charlie Garner (knee) - Practiced Friday, Probable.
San Francisco 49ers RB Kevan Barlow (hamstring) - Probable.
Detroit Lions RB James Stewart (shouklder) - Placed on IR, Will Undergo Surgery, Lost for Season.
Minnesota Vikings RB Michael Bennett (foot surgery) - On PUP List; Will miss at least 6 weeks.
Minnesota Vikings RB Doug Chapman (high ankle sprain) - Practiced Friday, Questionable, but likely to play.
Houston Texans RB Jonathan Wells (turf toe) - Probable.
Houston Texans RB Domanick Davis (back) - Probable.
Carolina Panthers RB DeShaun Foster (knee surgery) - Expected to play.
Tennessee Titans RB Robert Holcombe (neck) - Probable.
Philadelphia Eagles RB Brian Westbrook (knee) - Probable, Expected to play.
Cincinnati Bengals RB Rudi Johnson (thigh) - Not expected to play.
Jacksonville Jaguars RB LaBrandon Toefield (ankle) - Probable.
Indianapolis Colts RB Dominic Rhodes (knee) - Not expected to play.
Indianapolis Colts RB James Mungro (ribs) - Not expected to play.
Tennessee Titans RB Dwone Hicks (ankle) - Questionable.
San Diego Chargers FB Lorenzo Neal (bacterial infection) - Probable.
Miami Dolphins FB Rob Konrad (broken pinky finger) - Expected to play.
San Diego Chargers WR Daivd Boston (heel) - Practiced Friday, Expected to play.
Cincinnati Bengals WR Chad Johnson (ankle) - Expected to play.
Cincinnati Bengals WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh (hamstring) - Not expected to play.
Oakland Raiders WR Jerry Porter (abdominal strain) - Probable.
New Orleans Saints WR Donte Stallworth (hamstring) - Probable.
San Francisco 49ers WR Tai Streets (groin) - Probable.
Dallas Cowboys WR Antonio Bryant (torn left quadriceps) - Expected to play, but won't start.
Philadelphia Eagles WR James Thrash (concussion) - Expected to play.
Indianapolis Colts WR Brandon Stokley (hamstring) - Questionable.
Baltimore Ravens WR Frank Sanders (foot) - Doubtful, but hopeful to play.
Detroit Lions WR Az-zahir Hakim (knee surgery) - Not expected to play.
Washington Redskins WR Taylor Jacobs (abdominal trauma) - Released from Hospital, Not expected to play.
Tennessee Titans WR Jake Schifino (shoulder) - Probable.
Pittsburgh Steelers WR Chris Doering (ankle) - Probable.
Kansas City Chiefs WR/KR Dante Hall (finger) - Probable.
Kansas City Chiefs TE Tony Gonzalez (knee) - Practiced Friday, Probable.
New York Giants TE Jeremy Shockey (fractured rib) - Probable.
Denver Broncos TE Shannon Sharpe (back spasms) - Probable.
Tennessee Titans TE Frank Wycheck (concussion) - Probable.
San Francisco 49ers TE Eric Johnson (broken collarbone) - Expected to miss 10-12 weeks.
San Diego Chargers TE Stephen Alexander (groin) - Questionable.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers TE Todd Yoder (knee) - Questionable.
Seattle Seahawks TE Ryan Hannam (sprained knee) - Not expected to play.
Oakland Raiders P Shane Lechler (groin strain) - Probable.
Miami Dolphins C Tim Ruddy (knee) - Expected to play.
Houston Texans C Steve McKinney (knee) - Questionable.
Dallas Cowboys OG Larry Allen (hamstring) - Questionable.
Miami Dolphins OG Mark Dixon (stress fracture in right leg) - Sat Wednesday, Questionable.
Green Bay Packers OG Marco Rivera (torn MCL) - Probable.
Carolina Panthers OT Matt Willig (sprained ankle) - Questionable.
Oakland Raiders OT Langston Walker (knee) - Questionable.
Oakland Raiders OT Chad Slaughter (foot) - Questionable.
Pittsburgh Steelers OT Todd Fordham (ankle) - Questionable.
Pittsburgh Steelers OT Oliver Ross (ankle) - Questionable.
New York Giants DE Michael Strahan (toe) - Practiced Monday, Probable.
Houston Texans DE Gary Walker (shoulder) - Questionable.
Oakland Raiders DE Sam Williams (knee) - Questionable.
Jacksonville Jaguars DE Tony Brackens (microfracture knee surgery) - Expected to start.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers DL Ellis Wyms (ankle sprain) - Probable.
Philadelphia Eagles DE Derrick Burgess (torn Achilles tendon) - Lost for Season.
Arizona Cardinals DT Marcus Bell (knee) - Not expected to play.
Tennessee Titans DT Rien Long (groin) - Probable.
San Diego Chargers DT Dequincy Scott (bacterial infection) - Probable.
San Diego Chargers DT Jason Fisk (bruised right shoulder) - Questionable.
St. Louis Rams DT Ryan Pickett (high ankle sprain) - Sat Monday, Questionable.
Denver Broncos DT Daryl Gardener (hand) - Expected to miss at least one week.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers LB Shelton Quarles (fractured left forearm) - Expected to miss several weeks.
Pittsburgh Steelers LB Joey Porter (shot in the buttocks) - Expected to miss 2-8 weeks.
St. Louis Rams LB Robert Thomas (abdominal strain) - Sat Monday, Questionable.
Tennessee Titans LB Rocky Calmus (hamstring) - Questionable, Could miss up to 3 weeks.
New York Jets LB Marvin Jones (hamstring) - Expected to play.
Atlanta Falcons LB Sam Rogers (knee) - Not expected to play.
Green Bay Packers LB Na'il Diggs (sprained shoulder) - Probable.
Cleveland Browns LB Kevin Bentley (ankle) - Probable.
Seattle Seahawks LB Orlando Huff (sprained knee) - Could miss two weeks.
Houston Texans LB Jay Foreman (neck) - Questionable.
Indianapolis Colts LB Rob Morris (knee) - Questionable.
Tennessee Titans LB Keith Bulluck (knee) - Probable.
San Francisco 49ers LB Cornelius Anthony (deep bone bruise in right thigh) - May miss only 2 weeks.
Jacksonville Jaguars LB T.J. Slaughter - Questionable.
San Diego Chargers LB Ben Leber (sprained right ankle) - Questionable.
Oakland Raiders CB Phillip Buchanon (hamstring) - Expected to play.
Oakland Raiders CB Nnamdi Asomugha (bruised right shoulder) - Expected to play.
Miami Dolphins CB Patrick Surtain (knee surgery) - Expected to play.
Tennessee Titans CB Andre Woolfolk (toe) - Questionable.
Seattle Seahawks CB Shawn Springs (broken bone in right shoulder) - Expected to miss eight weeks.
Minnesota Vikings CB Denard Walker (hamstring) - Expected to start.
Minnesota Vikings CB Brian William (concussion) - Expected to start.
Minnesota Vikings CB Ken Irvin (dislocated big toe) - Probable.
Detroit Lions CB Dre' Bly (sprained right ankle) - Practiced Wednesday, Questionable, But Expected to play.
San Francisco 49ers CB Jason Webster (slight fracture of tibia) - Expected to miss 3+ weeks.
Indianapolis Colts CB Nick Harper (knee) Doubtful.
Indianapolis Colts CB Joseph Jefferson (groin) - Doubtful.
Indianapolis Colts CB Walt Harris (knee) - Questionable.
Green Bay Packers S Darren Sharper (groin) - Practiced Wednesday, Questionable, Likely to play.
New York Jets S Jon McGraw (concussion) - Uncertain for next week.
Pittsburgh Steelers S Mike Logan (hip flexor
Jacksonville Jaguars DB James Trapp - Questionable.
St. Louis Rams FS Aeneas Williams (ankle surgery, broken leg, persistent turf toe) - Expected to play.
Indianapolis Colts FS Idrees Bashir (knee) - Questionable.
Atlanta Falcons SS Cory Hall (torn MCL) - Expected to miss 3-4 weeks.

AS A REMINDER, FOR THE VERY LATEST INJURY NEWS CHECK OUT PREMIUM INJURY QUICK BITS EVERY DAY!

-- Initial Fantasy Waiver Wire --

9/1/2003 - MONDAY - 11:00 PM: The following waiver wire is a quick first look at certain players who could make a solid fantasy impact. They may or may not be free agents in your league, but we want to ensure you know about them in order to have the first chance at a possible free agent acquisition. This list does NOT replace our free-agent feature released on Tuesday nights ("The Market"). You should consider it an abbreviated earlybird bonus list with a quick 1-2 lines of fantasy analysis. Note: This list is NOT A RANKING, but rather just a quick list. Our free-agent rankings for the week will be released in Tuesday's "Market" feature...

Cleveland Browns QB Kelly Holcomb - He's been named the new Browns starter and has big play potential. He'll make some mistakes, but could also be good for upwards of 25 TD passes.

New York Jets QB Vinny Testaverde - The old man might still have some kick in his play. He's a pretty big risk, but owners in larger leagues in need of a backup should give him a look.

Baltimore Ravens QB Kyle Boller - He's a rookie, so his play will be spotty, but he's got a rocket arm, and will connect on deep passes with WR Travis Taylor. Worth a look as a #3 QB for insurance purposes.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers RB Michael Pittman - His court hearing has been delayed... again, until November. That means he'll be starting for the Bucs until mid-season, if not longer. Maybe he went undrafted in early August drafts? If so, pick him up now!

Detroit Lions RB Olandis Gary - Brought in to blunt the loss of RB James Stewart, Gary could be starting by week's end if he looks better in practice than RB Shawn Bryson.

Carolina Panthers RB DeShaun Foster - The coaches believe he's healthy, as they released RB Dee Brown, making Foster the top backup to RB Stephen Davis. If the wiggle is back, Foster will see significant playing time.

Houston Texans RB Tony Hollings - He's quickly recovered from torn knee ligaments suffered in college last season. If RB Stacey Mack starts to struggle, Hollings will get his chance!

Tennessee Titans WR Drew Bennett - He's won the #2 starting wideout position, and will make some big plays for the Titans with an emerging QB Steve McNair targeting him. Makes a great #5 fantasy WR.

Carolina Panthers WR Steve Smith - He's overcome his hamstring injury and is set to start as the #2 WR for the team. He has blazing speed, and will be good for some long pass plays. Don't overlook him!

MInnesota Vikings WR Nate Burleson - He's already pushing WR D'Wayne Bates, and he's only a rookie. He runs precise routes and has great hands. The coaches love him and will make every effort to keep him involved.

New England Patriots WR David Patten - Many wideouts have tried to take his job, but Patten has held firmly onto the #2 WR postion for the team. He's quick, and can catch the long-ball with great accuracy, making him a quality #5 WR for your fantasy roster.

Indianapolis Colts TE Dallas Clark - He'll fill the Ken Dilger role on the team, and has already gained the confidence of QB Peyton Manning. Should be good for at least three scores if not more this season.

St. Louis Rams TE Brandon Manumaleuna - He's won the Rams starting TE job, and will be used like Ernie Conwell was last season, to a great degree in the red zone. Our deep sleeper won't be asleep very long!