Francona Wins Big in Return to Fenway

Connelly’s Top Ten: Rask Falls on Face

Bruins Lose 4-3 in OT as Rangers Fight to Stay Alive

For the Bulletin Board: Lundqvist’s “Lucky Bounces,” Savard’s “#ByeByeTorts”

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Fantasy Football Report: Week 4

I think we just need to start a pool. Which QB will leave a game with an injury this week. Week 4 saw an injury to rookie Matthew Stafford. Granted, he wasn’t as big a name as others who have bitten the dust this season, but it’s still something. I think the NFL needs to send NFL QB’s to a mandatory rugby camp in order to toughen them up.

Eli Manning Has a Foot Problem

To be more specific, Eli has an injury to the plantar fascia. He is listed as day-to-day, but hopefully he won’t miss Sunday’s game. If he does, David Carr would start in his place.

Matthew Stafford Injures Knee

As I mentioned earlier, Detroit’s first overall pick in the draft, QB Matthew Stafford, suffered a knee injury against the Bears on Sunday. ESPN.com reports that the kneecap popped out of position, but then popped back in. Stafford could play Sunday, but Daunte Culpepper would start if Stafford can’t.

Michael Crabtree Contract Talks Resume

The 10th overall pick in the 2009 draft, WR Michael Crabtree, has re-opened contract talks with the 49ers. Crabtree would need to sign by November 17th in order to play this season. Crabtree was a holdout throughout all of camp and the preseason and now that the 49ers are 3-1, he has all of a sudden decided that he wants to play for San Francisco. What a selfish punk!

Week 4 Top Performers

David Garrard (QB), Jacksonville Jaguars

Garrard proved that the terrible Titans’ secondary can be exploited by anybody as he threw for a season-high 323 yds and 3 TD. He added 38 rush yds to his day as well.

Week 5 Outlook

Garrard faces the Seahawks on Sunday. Many thought that Seattle had a good pas defense after shutting down Marc Bulger and Shaun Hill. Over the past two weeks, they have faced legitimate QB’s and have allowed over 580 pass yds. They can be exploited.

Rashard Mendenhall (RB), Pittsburgh Steelers

With Willy Parker injured, Mendenhall made the most of his opportunity with 165 yds and 2 TD.

Week 5 Outlook

Even if Willie Parker can play Sunday, I think Mendenhall deserves the majority of the carries. Parker averages only 3.1 ypc this season and Mendenhall has proved he can handle a full workload. With either back, the matchup against the lowly Detroit defense is looking very tasty.

Steve Smith (WR), New York Giants

Smith hauled in 11 catches for 134 yds and 2 TD. He now leads the NFL with 34 receptions and four receiving TD.

Week 5 Outlook

Smith may have a tough time against Oakland CB Nnamdi Asomugha, who shut down Houston’s Andre Johnson last week. Then again, Smith has been the second-most targeted WR in football, so he may find a few open spaces.

Antonio Gates (TE), San Diego Chargers

Fantasy’s best TE managed 124 yds and his first two TD’s of the season

Week 5 Outlook

San Diego has the bye-week in Week 5.

Robbie Gould (K), Chicago Bears

Gould came through in a big way by going 2-2 on field goals (22, 52) and went 6-6 on XPM.

Week 5 Outlook

Chicago has the bye week in Week 5.

San Francisco 49ers Defense

San Fran wiped the floor with the St. Louis Rams offense as they racked up five sacks, an interception, two fumble recoveries, and three TD’s in a 35-0 win.

Week 5 Outlook

Don’t expect something that good in Week 5 as the 49ers face a well-rested Atlanta offense that is fresh off the bye-week and fresh off a loss to the Patriots. Matt Ryan will have something to prove.

Week 4 Duds

Tony Romo (QB), Dallas Cowboys

Romo ran head-first into an impressive Denver defense and came away with a decent 255 pass yds. Then again, he also failed to throw a TD pass. He also threw an INT and lost a fumble.

Week 5 Outlook

If you ever wanted to see a bounce-back game, this will be it. Romo gets an early Christmas gift as he will get to shred the Kansas City secondary on Sunday. The Chiefs are still one of the worst defenses in football with over 250 pass yds allowed per game.

Fred Jackson (RB), Buffalo Bills

Our fears were conformed on Sunday as RB Marshawn Lynch returned from suspension and immediately ate into Jackson’s carries. Jackson came away with 68 total yds and no scores.

Week 5 Outlook

Jackson and Lynch split carries evenly on Sunday (Jackson-9, Lynch-8), but Buffalo hosts Cleveland on Sunday and the Browns have the second worst rush defense in football with 176.8 rush yds allowed per game. Even if Jackson only gets 10-12 carries, he will still catch plenty of passes out of the backfield.

Andre Johnson (WR), Houston Texans

I mentioned earlier how Johnson was kept in check by Oakland CB Nnamdi Asomugha. ‘Dre had just 66 yds on the day with no TD’s.

Week 5 Outlook

Redemption is at hand as Johnson and Matt Schaub get to run wild on Arizona’s secondary that gives up over 280 pass yds per game.

Jason Witten (TE), Dallas Cowboys

Witten couldn’t get open in the Broncos’ secondary and amassed just 31 yds with no scores.

Week 5 Outlook

I mentioned earlier that the Cowboys will get to have a field day against Kansas City. Witten leads Dallas in receptions (23) and targets (27), so expect a productive day.

Shayne Graham (K), Cincinnati Bengals

Graham missed both a field goal and an extra point on Sunday and has missed a field goal in each of the past two games.

Week 5 Outlook

Graham is not a good option as the Bengals have to face the tough Ravens defense. Even if he gets an opportunity, Graham has proved very shaky as a kicker this season.

New York Jets Defense

Rex Ryan’s crew may have only allowed 12 points, but they didn’t do anything else exceptional against the Saints as they had one fumble recovery and…that’s about it.

Week 5 Outlook

The Jets do face a potent rushing attack in the form of the Dolphins, but they shouldn’t be concerned with Chad Henne taking the snaps. The Jets will focus all of their energy on stopping the run and force Henne to throw it and make some mistakes.

Unexpected Stars

Mohamed Massaquoi (WR), Cleveland Browns

The rookie came out of nowhere to be Derek Anderson’s favorite target with 11 receptions for 148 yds.

Week 5 Outlook

I think Massaquoi could have another solid game against the Bills. Buffalo has allowed 226 pass yds per game this season and only allowed 86 pass yds last week…against Miami’s Chad Henne. Buffalo is vulnerable to the pass and Derek Anderson clearly favors Massaquoi as a receiver. Besides, given Cleveland’s terrible defense, this may turn into an unexpected shootout.

Jermichael Finley (TE), Green Bay Packers

With just five catches and 62 yds in his first three games, Finley caught six passes for 128 yds and a TD on Monday night.

Week 5 Outlook

Green Bay has the bye-week in Week 5, but Finley’ next two games (DET, CLE) look very promising.

Jerome Harrison (RB), Cleveland Browns

With Jamal Lewis nursing a hamstring injury, Harrison stepped up with 152 total yds.

Week 5 Outlook

If Jamal Lewis can’t go again, the Harrison is an excellent option against a Buffalo defense that allows over 150 rush yds per game.

Sidney Rice (WR), Minnesota Vikings

Rice caught five passes for 70 yds and a TD. It was his second straight week with a receiving TD.

Week 5 Outlook

Anybody on the Vikings’ offense is a great play as Minnesota travels to St. Louis to take on the Rams. St. Louis allows over 350 total yds of offense per week.

Austin Collie (WR), Indianapolis Colts

Collie has had to step up and replace some of the production left by the void of Anthony Gonzalez. He had 65 yds and a TD on Sunday.

Week 5 Outlook

Collie and Pierre Garcon have been leaned on to fill the #2 WR spot this season. Both are good plays against the Titans. Tennessee’s secondary is a mess and they allow an NFL-worst 282 pass yds per game. With Peyton Manning getting a chance to rip them apart, this could be a huge day for Colts’ receivers.

Sports of Boston Football League

• I lost for third week in a row. But I lost to the highest scoring team of the week. SoB’s KC destroyed me by a score of 145.08-92.62.
• Our friend Dan remains the only undefeated team in the league at 4-0.
• Recent pickups include: Jerome Harrison, Kenny Britt, David Carr, and Tashard Choice.

Tags: Andre Johnson, Antonio Gates, David Garrard, Eli Manning, Fantasy, Fantasy Football Report, Fred Jackson, Jason Witten, Matthew Stafford, Michael Crabtree, Rashard Mendenhall, Steve Smith (NYG), Tony Romo

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