| Given a choice, certainly no NFL player would
want a week off during the season if it meant suffering through a tragedy such as last
week’s terrorist attacks. But the week off was necessary to put as much behind us as
possible. Now, it’s back to the new real world, and that means it’s back to
fantasy football as well. So let’s take a look at the handful of nicked-up, even
banged-up players who may benefit from not playing last week. The players are listed
alphabetically. Chiefs WR Derrick Alexander — Alexander played
through a sore Achilles tendon in Week One, and it showed. He’s had some trouble
cutting and pushing off with the sore tendon, and the rest should help him put Week One
behind him. Alexander had nary a catch in the game, breaking his streak of 26 straight
games with at least one catch. In 2000, Alexander averaged nearly five catches per game.
The Chiefs have rested him in practice this week in the hopes that the more rest Alexander
gets, the better off he’ll be.
Cowboys QB Quincy Carter — After banging his right thumb off of a
defender’s helmet in practice last week, Carter likely would not have played in Week
Two if the games had gone on. Now, heading into This weekend, Carter is expected to be
ready to go against the Chargers in Dallas. His thumb is recovering well, according to
reports, though backup QB Anthony Wright has been handling most of the snaps in practice.
Saints WR Albert Connell — Though Connell did play in Week One
vs. the Bills and did catch a 46-yard TD pass, the hamstring injury that hobbled him for
three months in the preseason could act up if it’s pushed too hard right away. The
week off certainly will give Connell’s leg a rest, and the bonus here is that the
Saints have a bye this weekend, so by Week Four, Connell’s hamstring should be in
great shape.
Giants WR Ike Hilliard — After undergoing toe surgery, Hilliard
has missed a lot of preseason and regular-season practice time, and just returned to
practice on Monday. The Week Two postponement will only help Hilliard get back time lost.
Hilliard is progressing well in his recovery, and was reportedly cutting well in practice,
but it’s not 100 percent certain that he will play this weekend.
Panthers RB Richard Huntley — Huntley is practically screaming
that he’s ready to go after missing a significant chunk of practice time with a
lingering hamstring injury, but the Panthers’ coaching staff believes he’s
close, but not there yet. With Tshimanga Biakabutuka not playing impressively in Week One,
backup Nick Goings stepped in and played well. But given a choice, we believe that the
coaching staff would give a healthy Huntley more of a shot at the starting job than a
healthy Goings. The Panthers may rest Huntley this week, since the game is in Atlanta on
AstroTurf. But, the Panthers’ next six games are on grass and Huntley might just get
his shot then.
Titans QB Steve McNair — McNair’s shoulder is still sore
after McNair was driven into the ground by Dolphins DT Jermaine Haley. McNair left the
game and wasn’t expected to play in last weekend’s game. McNair has sat out
eight days worth of practice at this point, and it’s uncertain whether McNair will
play this weekend or not. But, you can bet that the Titans will certainly mull it over
carefully and without the week off, McNair might not even have a shot at playing this
weekend.
Bears WR Marcus Robinson — Robinson is working his way back from
back surgery in July and is making good progress. He played in the Week One loss to
Baltimore, but he didn’t look fully comfortable on the field yet. A week off
certainly will help Robinson, who the Bears definitely would like to have in their lineup
to help the maturation of top rookie David Terrell.
49ers WR J.J. Stokes — Stokes bruised his hamstring likely in the
opener, in which he had a very good performance. The injury isn’t severe enough that
it would have kept Stokes out of last week’s game, and the rest should help heal the
bruise and get Stokes closer to 100 percent in time for this weekend’s big game
against the Rams.
Rams QB Kurt Warner — Warner has said that his thumb, while not
100 percent, should be ready enough for him to play on Sunday, though the velocity he can
put on his throws and the accuracy of them could be a concern. Warner sprained the thumb
on his throwing hand in Week One, and he probably would have played in Week Two. But
instead, the week off could be a blessing to Warner, who seems to have evolved into a bit
of an injury concern to many fantasy owners during the past calendar year.
Colts WR Reggie Wayne — The Colts’ top pick in the 2001
draft has missed most of the preseason and Week One with a high left ankle sprain. He was
expected to be ready to play in Week Two, and certainly should be in there this week.
Wayne came into the preseason heralded as the No. 2 receiver after Marvin Harrison. But
after a very good Week One performance, Jerome Pathon may have taken that title for the
moment.
NOTE: The NFL has announced that this weekend’s games, formerly called "Week
Three" will now be considered Week Two games. The former Week Four games will be Week
Three, and so forth until the final week, Week 17. |
