Snap, Crackle and Pop

Chiefs keep on clicking thanks to Holmes, Hall

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.

Dante Hall is fantasy beast -- if your league counts individual return touchdowns. Dave Kaup/Getty Images

For those of you who still don't believe -- Kansas City is really good. Not only did the Chiefs pass their test against a strong and previously undefeated opponent, they won the game without a score from their top player.

Priest Holmes played well enough, but after seven TDs in the first three games, folks have come to expect him to score multiple times each game. And that just isn't realistic.

But then neither is expecting part-time wide receiver and full-time special teams stud Dante Hall to score each week. But he has done that for the past four games and shows no sign of slowing down. Hall has to be one of the most exciting players in the league when he has the ball in his hands.

Hall's highlight reel from the second Denver game in 2002 was amazing enough. He had five receptions for 143 yards and two scores. One of those was simply amazing when he turned a short out pattern into a 75-yard TD by making virtually the entire Broncos defense look silly. This year, he had two returns, one on a kickoff and one on a punt, that should have gotten him nothing. One turned into a 41-yarder, the other a 93-yard TD.

He even helps his team by being a decoy. On the opening kickoff, Hall took a squib kick, ran up and then left before handing the ball to Marc Boerigter for a 44-yard return. Somehow the Chiefs need to find a way to get the ball in this guy's hands a bit more often.

Snap

Hit your waiver wires quick, boys and girls. One of last year's more pleasant surprises is going to be shaking off the dust starting next week. Emmitt Smith fractured his left scapula (that's the shoulder blade for you non-medical types) and will be out for what is being termed as "several weeks." This actually could be a good thing for the Cardinals as Marcel Shipp should provide a bit more explosiveness from the RB position.

Just when you start believing in rookie WRs, one goes and blows out his shoulder. The Cardinals have gotten great results from Anquan Boldin and Bryant Johnson thus far, much better than could have been reasonably expected. But Johnson injured his shoulder in fourth quarter after catching a 6-yard pass (his only catch of the night). Johnson is expected to be out for up to two weeks and probably will be replaced by Bryan Gilmore.

You have to love the way Jeff Fisher and the Tennessee Titans play strong defense and win ugly. That might be a little harder to do now that safety Samari Rolle is expected to miss three to six weeks with a broken and dislocated shoulder. Fortunately, their next three opponents (Houston, Carolina and Jacksonville) are not known for lighting it up in the passing game. Unfortunately, they now may be tempted to try.

Crackle

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers were holding opposing offenses to 106 passing yards going in to Monday night's debacle in Tampa. The first half seemed designed to make me look good based on my recommendation to sit Mr. Manning this week. But the second half, and especially the final quarter, belonged to Archie's kid. Mea culpa. Of course, this game can only serve to anger this proud defense, which means there is no way in the world I would want to be Patrick Ramsey next week.

The Dolphins have been quite stingy against the run this year. Tiki Barber has been the top back against them and he was limited to 71 yards on 20 carries. Barber did manage a rushing TD, something only Drew Bledsoe had managed prior to Week 5. This week the Dolphins set their sites on shutting down Fred Taylor. Taylor has shown his breakaway speed already this year, rushing for 422 yards on just 99 carries and turning a screen pass into a 60-yard TD against the Chargers. Taylor now has 598 total yards and three TDs this season but look for his per game averages to dip after Week 6.

Earlier this year, we were amazed and surprised by Cardinal rookie Anquan Boldin. Lately Boldin has slowed in performance and this week he gets to go up against a very strong Baltimore Ravens defense. The Ravens are only allowing 209 passing yards a game and with Bryant Johnson out, you can expect their focus to be fixed firmly on Boldin.

Pop

Quick -- cut me off before I make a total fool of myself. No, I can't believe I am doing this. Ahhhhh! As Nike says, "Just do it!" Kordell Stewart faces a Saints team that is missing over half of its projected defensive starters and just gave up six TD passes two weeks ago. Stewart should have gotten a real boost to his confidence after leading his team to a come-from-behind win over the Raiders.

Travis Henry has really struggled running the ball this year. Sure, he has six rushing TDs but he also is averaging 2.7 yards per carry and TDs can't happen forever. But this week he has the benefit of facing a defense that has decided not to play the run -- or at least it seems that way. The Jets are allowing a league-worst 174 rushing yards per game and have given up an average of one rushing TD per game. Henry looked much better this past weekend running the ball, but I believe we will see his best this weekend.

Arizona has been fairly stiff against the run and Baltimore has depended on the run to move the ball. But the way the Cardinals play pass defense, don't be too surprised if Brian Billick turns to his passing game this weekend. And the surprise hero could be Travis Taylor. In his first four games, Taylor has been limited to 11 catches for 90 yards and a single TD. He could double those numbers this week alone.

Famous Quotes

"We all want to thank Emmitt for allowing us to enjoy every yard."  -- Michael Irvin

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.