Snap, Crackle & Pop

Foster out, Davis in for Panthers. Might  be Henry out, McGahee in for Bills

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.

Snap

Corey Dillon is averaging 5.0 yards per carry. Rick Stewart/Getty Images

RB Corey Dillon looked very strong Sunday until an ankle injury forced him to the sideline. The injury is not expected to keep him out for long though. "I think he'll be all right," head coach Bill Belichick said in his Monday press conference. "I thought he ran the ball hard. I thought he made a real good run there down the sidelines in front of their bench. I thought it was a big-time run."

The only good news for Carolina after RB DeShaun Foster broke his clavicle -- which will keep him out for six-to-10 weeks -- is Stephen Davis should be back this week. Davis was expected to play last week, but an unimpressive warm-up caused coach John Fox to put him on his game-day inactive list.

RB Travis Henry tweaked his ankle against the Jets, but the way Willis McGahee played probably hurt him more than his ankle.

Coach Jon Gruden decided to go with QB Chris Simms over incumbent starter Brad Johnson to try and spark his moribund offense. He got a spark, but it was provided by Brian Griese after Simms injured his left shoulder. Griese is expected to start in Week 6.

In Miami, starting QB Jay Fiedler suffered what is being reported as broken ribs (though the team is not disclosing the nature of his injury) and then three plays later, replacement QB A.J. Feeley suffered a concussion. How long can it be until we see Wes Walker line up under center. After all, it seems he is doing everything else.

Owners with ultra-back LaDainian Tomlinson knew he had a sore groin going into Sunday's game, but they have to be wondering how much better his dayt would have been had he not restrained the groin in the third quarter. Backup Jessie Chatman had 120 total yards and a score -- add that to Tomlinson's numbers before he got hurt (56 yards rushing and 54 yards receiving) and you have a classic outing.

People are starting to believe me about RB Kevan Barlow  -- the guy just can't stay healthy. Even when he takes the field he is fighting through injuries.  "I don't know what the problem is," Barlow said. "But 2.4 yards a carry is a joke." It starts with the line Kev -- but you are not without some of the blame yourself. Fantasy owners may want to look to Jamal Robertson for insurance.

RB Cory Schlesinger tried to come back a bit too early and his hamstring let him know it. Expect Stephen Trejo to take his place as the blocking back in the Detroit offense.

Detroit fans can release the breath they have been holding since rookie WR Roy Williams left the Atlanta game with a sprained ankle. Later examination showed that it was not the dreaded "high-ankle" sprain. Williams is day-to-day and will be replaced by Az Zahir-Hakim if he can't make it back for the Green Bay game this week.

It seems nothing is going right for WR Santana Moss this season. He is struggling to rekindle the magic from last year and just when it seemed Chad Pennington was throwing to him more and more, he has to leave the game with cramps. Not to worry though. This is not an injury that is likely to linger.

Can't say the same for WR Tim Carter of the Giants. Carter broke his hip and is out for the season. His roster spot will likely be taken by rookie WR Jamaar Taylor, but his role as the deep threat will probably fall to Amani Toomer.

Most reports are saying WR Isaac Bruce suffered a mild concussion. You wouldn't know it by listening to the Reverend though. Bruce said, "I don't have a concussion. I just got a little ... but I'm fine. I've got nothing. I'm ready to go."

The Colts were without TE Marcus Pollard, who was a last minute scratch due to a sore left knee. Dallas Clark caught a TD in his absence.

Crackle

His receivers aren't making things easy for QB Matt Hasselbeck -- neither will this week's opponent. The Patriots have been very good against the pass, but have struggled stopping the run. Seems they miss the big uglies they let go this offseason more than they thought they would. New England has only allowed two rushing TDs but it's allowing RBs 4.2 yards every time they carry the ball. The Patriots have sacked opposing QBs 16 times and picked off five passes, while allowing only four passing TDs this year. With the way Seattle's receivers are dropping passes, the Seahawks may turn to the run to attack the Patriots.

Seattle showed its vulnerability to the passing game when it allowed the Rams to stage their unlikely comeback last week. Seattle has allowed opposing running backs only 3.5 rushing yards per attempt and opposing teams only 85 rushing yards per game. Further, the Seahawks have only given up one rushing TD this year. That doesn't bode well for Dillon. Look for New England to attack Seattle with the short-passing game.

Buffalo WR Eric Moulds will have to face a Miami defense that has shut down every QB it has faced this season, including New England's Tom Brady. Miami brings pressure and has the type of corners that excel in bump-and-run, man-to-man coverage. With the immobile and often-hit Drew Bledsoe at quarterback, Moulds will have trouble having the time to get open downfield against the Dolphins, who still play good defense.

Pop

QB Steve McNair has yet to have one of those monster games he often had last season. Even in his blow-out win against the Pack, he barely topped 200 passing yards, though he did manage a pair of TD tosses. But this week he will face a Houston defense that was torched by Daunte Culpepper last week. Houston plays better at home than on the road, but this game is in Tennessee, so don't be surprised to see McNair author his first three TD game of the year.

Cleveland now gets to go against a defense that is relatively weak against the run. RB Lee Suggs has not started a game this season, but that should change this weekend. The last two games were started by William Green, who totaled seven carries in those contests, while Suggs was given the rock 33 times. Coach Butch Davis likes the extra dimension Suggs brings to the offense -- a dimension that should be in evidence against a Bengals team that he torched at the end of last season.

In Week 2, WR Donte' Stallworth gave a glimpse of his true talent by catching nine balls for 113 yards and a score. Since then he hasn't scored or topped five receptions or 70 yards. That should change this weekend when the Saints face a Vikings team that is on fire. Culpepper has led the Vikes to an average of 32 points in their three wins. Fortunately, for Stallworth owners, they are also allowing an average of 293.8 passing yards a game. Count on the Vikes concentrating their coverage on Joe Horn and leaving Stallworth in one-on-one situations.

Famous Quotes

"I've always believed I can play running back, deep down inside."

-- Bronco's RB Reuben Droughns after rushing for 193 yards in his first start as a tailback

Greg Kellogg is a co-owner of the Fantasy Asylum, a member of the Professional Football Writers of America and the Fantasy Sports Writers of America trade associations, and has been writing about fantasy football on a national stage since 1996. You can now hear Greg and his partners on The Three Egos radio show every Thursday night at 10:05 pm ET on FFRadio.com.