Fantasy Football: Monday News and Notes

In running through a post-mortem on yesterday's games, you can't help but notice there were many stars that fell short to expectations. We all know it can happen, but it hurts many teams more in a bye week.

How many people out there got burned by both Jones-Drew and Reggie Bush yesterday? Neither had the kind of game you would hope for. Sometimes, those are the breaks. Let's round up the action.

• The biggest news is the potential shoulder separation of Aaron Rodgers. Rodgers took a pretty solid hit, but he was able to come back and throw a touchdown pass to Jennings in the next series. He said after the game that the injury was sore, meaning we'll have to watch over the week to see if Rodgers takes all the snaps in practice.
• Gus Frerotte took a nasty hit as well. Tarvaris Jackson stepped back on to the field, but it didn't end up making a difference in the end. Frerotte hurt his hand in the fourth quarter while being hit as he threw the ball from the end zone. No word on Frerotte's availability at this point, but we'll watch this one as well.
• Carson Palmer was sidelined yesterday with a sore elbow, leaving Ryan Fitzpatrick to start for the Bengals. An MRI showed no structural damage, and Palmer expects to be able to prepare this week for the game against Dallas. The Bengals aren't as certain as to his ability to get back on the field right now. I'd be willing to bet that if there is any chance Palmer can take the snaps, they'll let him. Is anyone else curious why they're willing to use Fitzpatrick instead of the veterans currently available as free agents?
• Another major injury note surrounded a scary hit of Anquan Boldin in the end zone. The game, at that point, was virtually out of reach, yet the Cardinals attempted to put the ball in the end zone one more time. Boldin was nailed from the front and back with two scary hits, one where the Jets defender launched himself into the receiver. He was alert and talking to teammates as he was taken off the field. It's never a good sign, though, when movement in the extremities needs to be confirmed. Keep in mind, there were 27 seconds to go in a three-touchdown game.
• Backup running backs came through in big ways all across the NFL. Fred Jackson had a better day than Marshawn Lynch, and Deuce McAllister was better than Reggie Bush. McAllister comes back to relevance, and should be looked at as a handcuff to Bush. He ran for 73 yards and a touchdown in the win over the 49ers. Yes, Pierre Thomas is the goal-line back, but McAllister would be the every-down guy if Bush is hurt. Fred Jackson should already be owned by all Lynch owners. He had another fine day out of the backfield, stealing the touchdown scored away from Lynch.
• The Saints' receivers are going to be tough sells. Without Colston and Shockey, it will be a committee approach as to who will have the big game. This week, Lance Moore had over 100 yards and a touchdown, with Robert Meachem approaching the yards and garnering a touchdown reception as well. His damage, though, was done largely on one 52-yard play, since he had just one other reception. The same is true of Devery Henderson, who had one 81-yard reception for a touchdown. The Saints receivers are big-play reliant, and that doesn't make for steady fantasy starts.
• Laveranues Coles had himself a season in one game, catching three of Favre's six touchdown passes. Coles has been better in each week, after a less than stellar performance in Week One. He has over 70 yards in each of the last three games, and now has four total touchdowns on the season. The Jets need him involved to be successful, and that is what they got yesterday afternoon.
• Apparently, Larry Johnson didn't take any too kindly to my pronouncement of his fantasy death. Johnson has responded with two electric games, including a near 200-yard performance against Denver yesterday. Johnson still does not have the breakaway speed, as was evidenced by his being caught from behind on the first of his big runs yesterday. That said, he is relevant again, and it's good to see.
• The Texans had beaten the Jaguars in Jacksonville in each of the last two seasons. While they weren't able to pull off the hat trick, they did push the Jags to the brink. Matt Schaub had himself a day, throwing for over 300 yards and three touchdown passes. The lucky recipient of two of them was Kevin Walter. Walter had been a question mark heading into the game but came up huge. He's the second option to Andre Johnson, but that means he won't be seeing the same type of attention. He works the middle of the field very well, and is a decent matchup play in all formats.
• Chris Johnson and Steve Slaton continued solid rookie performances. The two have been the most pleasant of surprises at the quarter-pole of the season. While Johnson was expected to have an impact, the amount of carries he has taken away from LenDale White is alarming. White is still the guy at the goal line, but Johnson is getting the majority of the work otherwise. The only concern will be the work load. He didn't need to take hits like this in college. Jeff Fisher may monitor that as the season moves along. Slaton was expected to get this type of work, but with Ahman Green out, he has responded. Green has likely lost his job.
• Jake Delhomme came back in a big way against a poor pass defense. Yes, Carolina looked very good, but it was against Atlanta. I'm just not a believer that they have the ability to truly stop teams. They let every team pass on them at some point in the game. Atlanta faced a better run defense; one that returned two starters to the lineup, and was unable to get the ground game going. Thus, a "bend but don't break" defense didn't quite work. I think Delhomme is a good quarterback, I just don't want owners getting too excited over one game at home.
• Why am I down on the Atlanta pass defense? They stopped a Tampa team that was starting a new quarterback in his first time out and a Kansas City team that started Tyler Thigpen. Jon Kitna threw for 262 yards and Delhomme for 294. When a team has decent receivers, and an average starting quarterback, Atlanta struggles. Their 200 yards per game passing number is deceiving.
• I'm enjoying Michael Bush, as he continues proved again this week that he has the ability to backup McFadden efficiently. With the lead back hurting, Bush took 14 carries and grabbed another seven receptions. He is certainly the handcuff to have at this point, and will provide decent numbers against some porous AFC West defenses if given the opportunity.

Back as the need arises, check in for the Week Four Hangover tomorrow!