Week 4 Preview: Aftereffects of the Trades

GAME of the WEEK

Austin (2-2) vs Anglia (3-1)

Not only does this game feature two co-division leaders, it also features two teams greatly affected by this week's trade frenzy. Anglia, despite winning three of their first four games, traded away QB Brett Favre, RB Frank Gore and WR Reggie Brown. The benefactor of this purge? Austin's biggest rival, the New Mexico Raiders. Austin in turn completed a trade of their own, trading injured WR Hines Ward to New Mexico for Brown and others.

Former Raiders WR Jerricho Cotchery and LB Victor Hobson will start for the Dark Knights and should have good games against the Bills. Look for Cotchery to score in the 15-20 range. Anglia QB Jon Kitna will get to pick on the depleted Chicago secondary and could be in for a 30+ game. DL Taylor will try to rebound against the Raiders and the prospect of sacking former teammate Daunte Culpepper will have him at the top of his game.

In Austin, Brown will get the start against a poor Giants secondary while RB Ronnie Brown will look to build on last week's great game when he faces the Raiders. QB Marc Bulger has struggled but should excel against Dallas. If he doesn't, his next stop could be the bench. On defense, the Predators will be without LB Matt Wilhelm and LB Zach Thomas is a gametime decision. Austin will start newly-signed LB Leroy Hill.

The winner: Austin.

Boston (2-2) vs Washington (4-0)

Both these teams entered the season looking like good bets to go deep into the playoffs. Boston hasn't risen to the expectations yet, while Washington has looked like the class of the league. If the Inferno are to take down the undefeated Braves, they'll need a few outstanding performances and several great games.

Boston QB Peyton Manning draws a very tough opponent in Denver, a team with two excellent CBs. Both Inferno RBs should have good games, while WR Roy Williams could be in for a 25-30 point game against Chicago. LB Brian Urlacher will be busy as virtually the only healthy player on the Chicago starting defense. DB Ronde Barber is a very good bet for a pick or two this week against Carolina.

Washington RBs LaDanian Tomlinson and Marion Barber should dominate this week and will probably outscore their Boston counterparts. In a game filled with superstars, the winner might depend on the performance of WR Bobby Engram, who will start due to the injury to Andre Johnson and the ineffectiveness of Troy Williamson. Both Washington DB should pile up tackles as should LB Derrick Brooks against the run-first Panthers.

The winner: Washington.

Chicago (3-1) vs Fairfax (2-2)

Chicago sits alone on top the NFC North as a result of scoring the second most points in the league behind Washington. Fairfax started 0-2, but a big doubleheader total in Week 3 has them red-hot and in second place in the division.

Chicago will start in a big hole by getting zero points from their QB. Starter Vince Young is on bye and backup Jake Delhomme is injured. RB Jamal Lewis plays his old team and is more likely to score five points than 15. The secondary, much like the QB position, will be a problem due to injury and the bye. DBs Chris Hope and Charles Tillman are out, so Michael Huff will be asked to start along with Troy Polamalu.

With QB Donovan McNabb and RB Brian Westbrook facing the Giants, another big game from Fairfax is to be expected. The RB2 will be rookie Brian Leonard, who's getting the start for the Rams thanks to injury. LB Thomas Howard has recorded a big play in each of the first three games, and could easily make it four in a row against Miami. Fairfax's tough secondary should dominate Chicago's weakened unit.

The winner: Fairfax.

Greenville (2-2) vs New Mexico (2-2)

Greenville has posted a decent record but will need to start scoring more points if they want to make the playoffs in the suddenly-strong AFC South. The New Mexico Raiders made a couple trades mid-week and are the favorites to win the AFC.

Greenville QB Jay Cutler will need to throw early and often in an attempt to keep up with the Colts and should end the day with great numbers. RB Marshawn Lynch faces a bad Jets run defense. WR Mark Clayton is still recovering from injury but remains in the Storm starting lineup. DL Mario Williams has been mediocre after a huge Week 1, but facing the Falcons is the dream of many DL in the league. LB Ray Lewis is a gametime decision and would be sorely missed.

New Raider QB Brett Favre will probably get to start along with RB Frank Gore. With the Redskins on a bye, New Mexico will start a RB with no points on the season. WR Randy Moss should continue to post great numbers, but WR Steve Smith might become frustrated early with his new weak-armed QB. This week the Raiders signed DB Anthony Henry, one of the league leaders at the position, and he will start.

The winner: New Mexico.

Cincinnati (3-1) vs California (1-3)

A couple huge performances led to a Cincinnati sweep in Week 3, and the Keepers should extend their AFC-leading three-game winning streak against California. The Xtreme have scored the fewest points in the league, averaging 17 points less than the next-closest team.

With the starting Bengals RB out, the Keepers will start RB Kenny Watson, though New England is a very tough matchup for him. While WR Kevin Curtis won't score 40 again, he should have a good day against the Giants on Sunday night. With LB Mike Peterson and DB Reggie Nelson off, the Keepers will look to DB Sean Considine and LB Eric Barton. Barton has struggled this season but could have a big day against the Bills, who will be running the ball at Barton a lot.

California's top two QBs are off, so the Xtreme will be starting the Oakland QB this week. Josh McCown is currently listed as the starter, but he's not expected to play due to injury. Look for Daunte Culpepper to be in before the game starts. WR Ronald Curry has a nice matchup against Miami. LBs Shawne Merriman and DeMeco Ryans should both get to double-digits this week, with Merriman probably notching a sack or two.

The winner: Cincinnati.

Lower Saxony (2-2) vs Halifax (1-3)

The Patriots shook up their roster, trading Larry Johnson away after a doubleheader split. Halifax has lost three straight including both games last week, but a high point total suggests the losses are just a product of bad luck.

The remaining stud RB on Lower Saxony, Rudi Johnson, will miss the game Monday night due to injury, and the Patriots will have to start new addition DeShaun Foster as their sole RB this week. The WRs will be led by Laveranues Coles, who has a big game on the horizon when he plays Buffalo. LBs Barrett Ruud and Paris Lenon have been great thus far, and Channing Crowder might get another start in the middle. All three should have double-digits.

QB Tom Brady could score 30+ points on Monday night for Halifax. RB Cedric Benson has ben disappointing, but he'll get an easy matchup against Detroit. WRs Larry Fitzgerald and Reggie Wayne face top-tier CBs this week. DB Terrence McGee should be healthy enough to play this week and should have a solid game. Due to byes, the Armada will have a gap at DL, with Dwayne White being the only active player.

The winner: Halifax.

Utica (1-3) vs Glasgow (1-3)

These two teams are at the bottom of their respective divisions, and the loser of this game will be the odds-on favorite to miss the playoffs. As such, this is a critical game for both franchises.

Utica QB Tony Romo has been one of the best players in the league this season and should continue to excel against St. Louis. The rest of the offense is hurting. Both starting RBs will miss this week due to injury, leaving DeAngelo Williams as the only healthy RB. Two of the top three Utica WRs are on bye. LB2 Lance Briggs has missed practice and might not play this weekend either. LB1 London Fletcher is off this week.

Glasgow RB Joseph Addai will be leaned on heavily by the Colts and should score 20+. WR Torry Holt is a good breakout candidate this week agasint Dallas. WR Bernard Berrian will look to establish a rhythm with his new QB against a poor Detroit secondary. The only player missing from the Glasgow defense is Sean Taylor, but the other two DBs have outscored Taylor this season. Only one Warrior is out due to injury.

The winner: Glasgow.

Carson City (1-3) vs Bertrand (2-2)

These two teams are tied for last in their respective divisions. Bertrand has actually outscored the first-place Keepers, while the Bandits are in danger of missing the playoffs, having scored the second-fewest amount of points in the league.

Bandits QB Matt Leinart struggled last week and spent some time on the bench. Carson City might want to do the same, with Trent Green averaging 15 points per game. WR Shaun McDonald should have another good game against Chicago. DL Trent Cole has been fantastic in the first three weeks and could have another big game against the Giants. With one DL injured and another off, the DL2 spot will be a weakness this week.

Ground Force RB2 Ron Dayne will get to start for the Texans this week and makes a solid play for Bertrand. WR has been a big weakness, but all three starters have good matchups in Week 4. Even against a tough team, Carson Palmer should be able to score 20+. The DL tandem of Aarons Schobel and Kampman will do what they do best: score points. LB Stephen Cooper is a sleeper pick for Defensive Player of the Week.

The winner: Bertrand.