Snap, Crackle and Pop

Don't expect Boldin to repeat record-setting performance

By Greg Kellogg, Special to SI.com

Snap, Crackle and Pop is a weekly column that reviews the major injuries (Snap) and then projects both busts (Crackle) and sleepers (Pop) for the coming week.

With Week 1 in the books, it looks like the most dangerous position to play in the NFL is no longer the QB. Let's give that designation to the wide receivers, where a 180-pound man is asked to cross the middle knowing that a 250-pound man is salivating at the chance to crumple his little body.

And crumple would be an apt description as several teams including the Packers, Falcons, Cardinals, Saints and Raiders all had receivers suffer injuries in Week 1.

Snap

Mike Martz is leaning toward keeping Kurt Warner out of Sunday's game because of a concussion. AP

• Kurt Warner suffered a mild concussion in the first quarter of his game against the New York Giants. Head coach Mike Martz would have you believe this is why he is leaning toward starting Marc Bulger against the 49ers this week. In reality, Bulger's increased mobility is likely the deciding factor. Warner got beat up all day and still managed to keep his team in the game by throwing for 342 yards and a score but kept them out of reach by turning the ball over four times (three on lost fumbles). As bad as Warner was, Martz was worse -- having Warner attempt two unsuccessful fourth-down attempts (12 and 8 yards) when in field goal range.

• The Falcons' Brian Finneran had been looking like he would be the go-to guy in the red zone. A big receiver with good hands. Unfortunately the hands, or at least two of the bones in his left hand, are going to keep Finneran off the field for the next four to six weeks. Quentin McCord will replace him in the lineup for the time being.

• You can just mark down the entire Packers receiving corps as the next Snap segment. Donald Driver strained his neck and, though the X-rays and scans were normal, is day to day and may miss next week's game. Robert Ferguson is definitely out after spraining his MCL and tearing ligaments in his right ankle. Karsten Bailey and tight end Wesley Walls both injured their hamstrings, leaving the Packers searching for answers. Look for them to try to sign ex-Packer and Eagle Antonio Freeman to start alongside Javon Walker. For now the starters are Walker and Charles Lee.

Crackle

• Detroit was stunned by the success of rookie Anquan Boldin, as was most of the fantasy world. Boldin torched the Lions for an NFL rookie record 217 yards on 10 catches. He added two TDs, but that success is very hard to match. Still, fantasy owners will be quick to pick up this rookie that went undrafted in many fantasy leagues. Just don't expect the same results this week -- Arizona faces a Seahawks team that kept the Saints receivers scoreless until a late Joe Horn TD that was meaningless to all but the fantasy world.

• The Jaguars have been trying to get rid of Mark Brunell and after Sunday one has to wonder what they are thinking. But success against a normally stout Panthers defense will be hard to match against a Bills defense that not only shut out the Patriots but also picked off Tom Brady four times while holding him under 125 passing yards.

• Dallas may have found a star in RB Aveion Cason, but when one only gets four touches, it is hard to tell for sure. Cason was amazing -- gaining 106 total yards on two rushes and two receptions and scoring once. This week he faces a Giants defense that limited Marshal Faulk to 28 yards on nine carries (55 total yards).

Pop

• The Minnesota Vikings invaded Lambeau and ravaged both the Packers and Brett Favre. But even though the Lions roared against the Cardinals, they still managed to make cult heroes of Jeff Blake and Anquan Boldin. While many will wonder if Favre has anyone left to throw the ball to, this analyst is sure that he will find ample targets to exploit a weak Lions secondary.

• The Vikings didn't need a lot from their running game against the Packers. And that is what they got -- not a lot. But in Week 2, the Vikes and RB Moe Williams will face a Bears team that allowed Garrison Hearst and Kevan Barlow to gain 118 yards on 26 combined carries (4.54 yards per carry) and score a TD. Hearst added 41 yards and another score through the air. Look for Moe to improve on his 80 yards this weekend.

• Buffalo didn't need their passing game to dismantle the Patriots. But Eric Moulds still managed 81 yards on four receptions. This week they face a Jaguars defense that was obliterated by the Panthers second-team QB. Bledsoe and Moulds should be able to dominate from the opening snap.

Famous Quotes

"Football is a mistake. It combines two of the worst things about American life. It is violence punctuated by committee meetings."
 -- Political Columnist George Will

Greg Kellogg, current co-owner of the Fantasy Asylum and RotoCourt, is a member of the Professional Football Writers of America trade association and has been writing about fantasy Football on a national stage since 1996.