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Fantasy RunDown: THE MACHINE Dominates

Each Tuesday I will break down the weekend that was in the SporTech Fantasy Pigskin League. Team of the week, standing changes and key injuries will be discussed.

Team of the Week
THE MACHINE grabs the Heineken Premium Player of the week for destroying Fred Evans Taser 137-85. I’m willing to bet that as long as Tom Brady and Randy Moss stay healthy, THE MACHINE is going to be hard as hell to beat all season long. Whoever faces him on New England’s bye week is one lucky team. THE MACHINE received a whopping 20 points from Tom Brady on a night where he looked mediocre. Randy Moss pulled in two touchdowns last night to top off with 26 points. A big game out of Sammy Morris was not enough.

Honorable mention goes out to the Benched Bruisers who took TBNL out to the woodshed with a 128-68 beating behind strong efforts from LT2, Torry Holt and Terrell Owens.

One quarter of the way through the season, The Oak Hill Steelers grab the honorable “You Suck as Bad as the Dolphin’s Award” for starting the season 0-4-0. That’s ok because in his fantasy league, I have started 0-4-0 as well.

Key injuries after the jump…

Key Injuries

Alex Smith – Alex Smith has been diagnosed with a Grade 3 shoulder separation, which includes torn ligaments connecting his collarbone to his shoulder blade, but no surgery is planned. Smith said Monday that he expects to miss “several weeks,” with Dr. Jim Garrick telling the San Francisco Chronicle that his recovery could be “as short as two or three weeks.”

Javon Walker – Javon Walker said Monday that he’s unsure about his Week 5 status, but added that his knee injury “is not long term.

Carnell Williams – Yahoo! Sports reports that Carnell Williams’ torn patella tendon is career-threatening. A lot of times we hear that an injury is “career-threatening” (Daunte Culpepper, Carson Palmer, Kellen Winslow), but the players return to the field. Browns DB Gary Baxter is currently trying to return from two torn patella tendons and isn’t back yet. Either way, it’s hard to imagine the Bucs counting on Caddy as their unquestioned primary back next year.

Anquan Boldin – Anquan Boldin will go to see a doctor about the lingering soreness in his hip that kept him out of Week 4. Boldin was unable to practice at all last week before being declared inactive on Sunday afternoon. “Every time he picks his leg up or moves his leg out, he’s having a little bit of pain,” coach Ken Whisenhunt said.

Anthony Henry – Cowboys CB Anthony Henry is not expected to play in Week 5. Henry’s played at an extremely high level so far this season, so Dallas’ secondary is likely to suffer without him. The Fort Worth Star-Telegram believes he could miss a few weeks.

Brian Westbrook – NBC’s Andrea Kremer reports that Brian Westbrook has a muscle tear in his abdomen. The Eagles didn’t want to risk a bigger tear or possible damage to his ribs. The Eagles have a bye next week, so Westbrook will have had three weeks of rest by the time Week 6 rolls around.

L.J. Smith – L.J. Smith (groin) is listed as out for Week 4. Coach Andy Reid said Wednesday that Smith is hoping to return after the Eagles’ bye in Week 5.

Brandon Jacobs – Brandon Jacobs’ practice workload will increase this week. He seems to have a good chance of practicing fully all week. Giants coach Tom Coughlin wouldn’t hint at how he’ll use Derrick Ward and Jacobs in Week 5, but Ward should still play a prominent role on passing downs and as a change of pace. Reuben Droughns could be deactivated on game days.

Calvin Johnson – Lions coach Rod Marinelli said Monday that Calvin Johnson (lower back bruise) was “close” to playing in Week 4 against the Bears. “I’m not going to say that I expect him to play (in Week 5),” Marinelli said. “We’ll have to see how things go…I’m hoping that he will play.”

Vernand Morency – Vernand Morency (knee) came out of Sunday’s game sore and will be limited in practice Wednesday. Morency’s primary role in Week 4 was on third downs, which may not change if he continues to experience soreness.

Greg Jennings – Greg Jennings (hamstring) isn’t expected to practice until Friday. Jennings should be fine for next Sunday night’s game.

Jake Delhomme – Jake Delhomme said Monday that he’s yet to make a throw since suffering an elbow injury on September 23, adding that he’s “hoping” to do so this week. It sounds like Delhomme will try to avoid surgery for now, but he’s clearly not close to returning yet.

LaMont Jordan – X-rays on LaMont Jordan’s injured back came back negative Monday. Initial reports indicated that Jordan’s back injury could be serious, but this is a great sign that it may be something he can overcome during the Raiders’ bye week.

Isaac Bruce – Isaac Bruce underwent an MRI on his strained hamstring Monday, but the results of the test weren’t immediately made available. Bruce’s status for a Week 5 tilt with the Cardinals is uncertain.

Steven Jackson – Steven Jackson has been ruled out for Week 5, as expected. Jackson remains out indefinitely with a 40 percent groin tear. Brian Leonard will start against an impressively effective Arizona defense in Week 5.

Todd Heap – Ravens coach Brian Billick acknowledged that Todd Heap’s availability for Week 5 was his biggest injury concern coming out of Sunday’s loss. Billick says Heap’s hamstring injury is isolated to the lower part of his leg, which is good news, but wouldn’t say whether the Pro Bowler will play in Week 5.

Good luck in Week 5!