The 2003 Mastermind Weekly Newsletter: Week #5

FFMastermind.com Weekly Newsletter Week #5 "4th & One" Injury Report
Volume VIII, Issue 5
Updated: October 4, 2003

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-- Week #5 "4th & One" Injury Report --

SATURDAY - 12:30 PM PT: The following are the key injuries heading into the 4th 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.

Denver Broncos QB Jake Plummer (knee) - Probable.

Philadelphia Eagles QB Donovan McNabb (thumb) - Probable.

Atlanta Falcons QB Doug Johnson (forearm bruise) - Expected to play.

San Francisco 49ers QB Jeff Garcia (groin) - Expected to play.

Minnesota Vikings QB Daunte Culpepper (three transverse back fractures) - Not expected to start.

Cleveland Browns QB Kelly Holcomb (hairline fracture in right leg) - Not expected to start.

Jacksonville Jaguars QB Mark Brunell (left elbow) - Not expected to start, Will be the #3 QB.
Atlanta Falcons QB Mike Vick (bropken fibula) - Expected to miss another 2-3 weeks.
New York Jets QB Chad Pennington (dislocated wrist) - Expected to miss 4+ more weeks.
Miami Dolphins QB Brian Griese (toe) - Questionable, Expected to be the #3 QB this week.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers FB Mike Alstott (neck strain) - Downgraded to Questionable.
San Diego Chargers RB LaDainian Tomlinson (calf) - Probable.
Chicago Bears RB Anthony Thomas (shoulder) - Probable.
Kansas City Chiefs RB Priest Holmes (hip) - Expected to play.
Cincinnati Bengals RB Corey Dillon (groin) - Downgraded to Doubtful, Not expected to play.
Cleveland Browns RB William Green (shaken up) - Expected to play.
San Francisco 49ers RB Kevan Barlow (strained neck) - Expected to play.
St. Louis Rams RB Lamar Gordon (sprained left wrist) - Team has a BYE, but injury not serious.
New England Patriots RB Kevin Faulk (arm) - Practiced Friday, Questionable.
Indianapolis Colts RB Edgerrin James (back) - Praticed Friday, Upgraded to Probable, Expected to play.
Denver Broncos RB Clinton Portis (sternum) - Practiced Friday, Questionable, but expected to play.
St. Louis Rams RB Marshall Faulk (fractured left hand/knee) - Expected to miss 3-5 more weeks.
Buffalo Bills RB Travis Henry (bruised ribs) - Practiced Friday, Questionable, Game-Time decision.
Indianapolis Colts RB Dominic Rhodes (knee) - Probable.
Green Bay Packers RB Najeh Davenport (hamstring) - Questionable.
Buffalo Bills RB Sammy Morris (sports hernia) - Expected to miss at least one more week.
New York Giants RB Tiki Barber (ankle) - Expected to play.
St. Louis Rams RB Dan Curley (tore calf muscle) - Terams on a BYE, OUT Indefinitely.
Minnesota Vikings RB Michael Bennett (foot surgery) - On PUP List; Targeting an early November return.
New Orleans Saints WR Joe Horn (knee contusion) - Practiced Friday, Expected to play.
Minnesota Vikings WR Randy Moss (back) - Sat Friday, Probable, Expected to start.
San Francisco 49ers WR Terrell Owens (Achilles) - Expected to play.
New York Giants WR Ike Hilliard (foot) - Probable.
Atlanta Falcons WR Peerless Price (foot and neck) - Practiced Friday, Still Questionabe, but says he'll play.
Pittsburgh Steelers WR Plaxico Burress (hip) - Upgraded to Probable, Expected to play.
Pittsburgh Steelers WR Hines Ward (concussion) - Expected to play.
New England Patriots WR David Patten (right knee) - Questionable.
New England Patriots WR David Givens (chest) - Questionable.
Green Bay Packers WR Robert Ferguson (knee) - Expected to play.
Cleveland Browns WR Dennis Northcutt (several cracked ribs) - Probable.
San Francisco 49ers WR Cedrick Wilson (quad) - Expected to play.
Denver Broncos WR Ed McCaffrey (thigh) - Probable.
Buffalo Bills WR Josh Reed (back) - Expected to play.
San Diego Chargers WR Tim Dwight (knee) - Upgraded to Probable, Expected to play.
San Diego Chargers WR Eric Parker (ear infection) - Upgraded to Probable, Expected to play.
Detroit Lions WR Shawn Jefferson (ribs) - Questionable, but likely to play.
Oakland Raiders WR Jerry Porter (hernia surgery) - Not expected to play.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers WR Joe Jurevicius (sprained right knee) - Doubtful.
Minnesota Vikings WR D'Wayne Bates (foot) - Not expected to play.
San Diego Chargers WR Reche Caldwell (wrist) - Expected to miss 6 more weeks.
St. Louis Rams WR Shaun McDonald (Thumb) - Teams has a BYE.
Arizona Cardinals WR Jason McAddley (concussion) - Expected to miss 1-2 more weeks.
Arizona Cardinals WR Kevin Kasper (back) - Probable.
Atlanta Falcons WR Brian Finneran (broken hand) - Practiced Friday, Questionable, but could see time as the #3 WR.
Cincinnati Bengals WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh (hamstring) - Questionable.
Indianapolis Colts WR Brandon Stokley (hamstring) - Questionable.
New Orleans Saints WR/KR Michael Lewis (groin) - Not expected to play.
Atlanta Falcons TE Alge Crumpler (shoulder) - Practiced Friday, Probable.
Cleveland Browns TE Aaron Shea (shoulder) - Questionable.
New England Patriots TE Daniel Graham (shoulder) - Questionable.
Minnesota Vikings TE Jim Kleinsasser (abdomin) - Probable.
Carolina Panthers TE Kris Mangum (ankle) - Questionable.
Cincinnati Bengals TE Matt Schobel (hamstring) - Questionable, Game-time decision.
San Diego Chargers TE Josh Norman (hamstring) - Not expected to play.
San Diego Chargers TE Stephen Alexander (strained groin) - Expected to miss 4-6 weeks.
Tennessee Titans TE Frank Wycheck (concussion) - Not expected to play.
San Francisco 49ers TE Eric Johnson (broken collarbone) - Expected to miss 4-6 more weeks.
Detroit Lions KR Eddie Drummond (lower right leg) - Expected to miss several weeks.
Arizona Cardinals OG Leonard Davis (sprained ankle) - Expected to play.
San Diego Chargers OG Solomon Page (ankle) - Not expected to play.
Miami Dolphins OG Mark Dixon (stress fracture in right leg) - Underwent surgery, Not expected to play.
Pittsburgh Steelers OLT Marvel Smith (nagging left shoulder) - Questionable.
Indianapolis Colts OT Ryan Diem (ankle sprain) - Not expected to play.
New England Patriots NT Ted Washington (fractured left leg) - Expected to miss 3-5 more weeks.
Philadelphia Eagles DE Kevin McDougle (ankle) - Not expected to play.
New Orleans Saints DE Darren Howard (dislocated right wrist) - Expected to miss 7-9 more weeks.
New York Giants DT Keith Hamilton (pulled hamstring) - Questionable, but expected to play.
New Orleans Saints DT Johnathan Sullivan (torn cartilage in left knee) - Upgraded to Probable.
Atlanta Falcons LB Will Overstreet (shoulder surgery) - Lost for the season.
Tennessee Titans LB Peter Sirmon (lower back fractures) - Questionable.
Philadelphia Eagles LB Keith Adams (concussion) - Not expected to play.
Carolina Panthers LB Dan Morgan (hamstring) - Probable, Expected to play.
New England Patriots LB Mike Vrabel (broken arm) - Doubtful.
New York Jets LB Jason Glenn (sprained ankle) - Team has a BYE.
Seattle Seahawks LB Orlando Huff (high ankle sprain) - Questionable.
Carolina Panthers LB Mike Caldwell (knee) - Questionable.
New Orleans Saints LB Sedrick Hodge (hairline fracture of right kneecap) - Not expected to play.
Jacksonville Jaguars LB Keith Mitchell (neck) - Probable.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers LB Shelton Quarles (fractured left forearm) - Not expected to play.
Philadelphia Eagles CB Bobby Taylor (foot) - Not expected to play.
Philadelphia Eagles CB Troy Vincent (strained hamstring) - Questionable, Possible Game-Time decision.
San Diego Chargers CB Sammy Davis (lower back injury) - Probable.
Houston Texans CB Aaron Glenn (groin) - Team has a BYE.
Jacksonville Jaguars CB Kiwaukee Thomas (groin) - Doubtful.
New York Jets CB Donnie Abraham (broken shoulder) - Expected to miss 6 more weeks.
New Orleans Saints CB Dale Carter (eye) - Upgraded to Probable.
Kansas City Chiefs CB William Bartee (ankle) - Questionable.
Seattle Seahawks CB Shawn Springs (broken bone in right shoulder) - Expected to miss 4 more weeks.
San Francisco 49ers CB Jason Webster (slight fracture of tibia) - Not expected to play.
Indianapolis Colts CB Joseph Jefferson (groin) - Not expected to play.
Philadelphia Eagles FS Brian Dawkins (foot) - Not expected to play.

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

-- Initial Fantasy Waiver Wire --

9/28/2003 - SUNDAY - 8:30 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...

Minnesota Vikings QB Gus Frerotte - FOUR TD passes! Frerotte showed why he's known as the "Super Sub" of the league! If the opponents don't know he'll start, he can burn them for big yardage. QB Daunte Culpepper's injury status is uncertain, meaning Frerotte could get another surprise start next week.

Cincinnati Bengals QB Jon Kitna - He's playing his best football right now, tossing THREE TD passes today. He's far from a STUD, but Kitna can be effective on occasion.

Cleveland Browns QB Tim Couch - If QB Kelly Holcomb (leg) can't play next week, he'll get another start, and is worth a look by owners in need.

Houston Texans QB David Carr - The guy is tough, sneaking in a game-winning score at the gun today. The Texans are on a BYE next week, but owners in larger leagues should give him a look for future use in these BYE weeks.

Philadelphia Eagles RB Brian Westbrook - Although he's playing in a true RBBC, he proved he can produce with a 62-yard TD run today against a tough Bills run defense.

Cincinnati Bengals RB Rudi Johnson - With RB Corey Dillon gimpy, he subbed for him and totaled 62 yards of offense against the Browns. If Dillon can't play next week, it appears Johnson is the man to own, not RB Brandon Bennett.

Houston Texans RB Domanick Davis - He totaled 91 yards of offense in an expanded role today against the Jaguars. It's clear that HC Dom Capers prefers a healthy Davis to RB Tony Hollings, who put the football on the ground last week.

Atlanta Falcons RB T.J. Duckett - He got the surprise start against the Panthers and produced nicely... 100 rushing yards on just 14 carries. Pick him up of the waiver wire if someone dropped him!

Buffalo Bills WR Bobby Shaw - He solidified his position as the #2 WR today by catching eight passes for 92 yards and a score. QB Drew Bledsoe is comfortable looking to him in the clutch, and so should fantasy owners.

Cleveland Browns WR Quincy Morgan - With one big catch and run for a 71-yard TD today, Morgan propelled himself back into a decent fantasy play, especially with QB Tim Couch on the field.

Jacksonville Jaguars WR Troy Edwards - With one great one-handed catch and run for an 84-yard score, he made a statement to his new team that he can play and produce. Owners in larger leagues should give Edwards a look.

Oakland Raiders WR Alvis Whitted - Filling the role of injured WR Jerry Porter, he caught four passes today for 44 yards and a score. Whitted isn't Porter, but he might just be the answer for the Raiders' recent problems in their passing game.

New England Patriots TE Daniel Graham - With three more catches for 54 yards today, Graham is starting to emerge as a big-play producer. It's clear that QB Tom Brady likes to target him in the mid-rang passing game.

San Diego Chargers TE Justin Peelle - He scored again today, and should get more playing time with both TE Stephen Alexander and TE Josh Norman far from being healthy enough to play.

New Orleans Saints TE Ernie Conwell - At the time of this writing, he's caught another six passes for 88 yards. Yes, he dropped the first three passes thrown to him, but he's rebounded and showed the coaches he can make plays.