Jabar Gaffney and the rest of the Patriots are in for a big game this week.

Snap
Don’t expect to see Houston RB Ron Dayne this week. Dayne injured his ankle early in last week’s game and was relieved by rookie Darius Walker.  Houston plays a Thursday game against Denver, which makes it unlikely that the slow-healing Dayne can get ready with a short week.

The Arizona Cardinals lost another receiver.  TE Leonard Pope dislocated his right ankle against the Seahawks last Sunday. Pope will go on Injured Reserve and is done for the season.   Troy Bienemann and Ben Patrick will share time at tight end.  In addition to Pope, star WR Anquan Boldin may sit again this Sunday.  He missed last week with a toe injury. It would be a shame for Boldin owners if he doesn’t get to face the rotten Saints defense.  Have the Bryant Johnson handcuff ready to go if Boldin does not improve.

Chargers’ FB Lorenzo Neal fractured a fibula last Sunday.  The Chargers will put him on IR, ending his 2007 season.  Neal is not on many, if any, fantasy rosters. However, he is the lead blocker for LaDainian Tomlinson.  The veteran Neal has blocked for a 1,000 yard rusher for each of the last eleven seasons. Tomlinson will miss him.

49ers’ QB Trent Dilfer left the game late last week with a concussion. Dilfer will probably sit this Saturday against the Bengals.  The Sacramento Bee is reporting that  Alex Smith will have shoulder surgery on Thursday, ending any chance to play again this season. So who will play quarterback for the 49ers? Sixth year QB Shaun Hill would get the start.  Hill did very well last week in relief of Dilfer and faces a bad Bengals defense.

This might be the week that Buccaneers QB Jeff Garcia returns from a back injury.  Coach Jon Gruden admits to playing games with Garcia’s status the past two weeks.  Gruden never intended to play Garcia. I’m not sure we should believe him this week either. Expect the league office to give Gruden a call.

Crackle
The Dolphins (0-13) are getting tired of losing. That’s why I think you will see Cleo Lemon back at quarterback on Sunday.  Though winless, the Dolphins moved the ball much better with Lemon.  In the four games John Beck has started, Miami has totaled only 27 points.  The Dolphins scored more than that in two of Lemon’s four starts.  In two weeks Miami will travel to New England.  They want to avoid the spectacle of being a winless team facing an undefeated Patriots squad. That’s why they will want to sneak by a dispirited Ravens team this week. Lemon is not a recommended play against the Ravens, but his presence will greatly benefit wide receivers Marty Booker and Ted Ginn.

The Steelers have lost Aaron Smith for the season with a torn biceps muscle. That’s Aaron Smith, the star defensive end, not Anthony Smith, the loudmouth safety.  Anthony Smith is fine, despite being burned repeatedly by Patriots receivers — must have been the asbestos uniform.  Safety Troy Polamalu may sit again due to a knee injury.  But even without Smith and Polamalu, the signs point to a bounce-back effort by Pittsburgh’s defense.  First, they are playing at home, where they are a much different team.  They are 7-0 in Pittsburgh and their defense allows less than ten points per home game.  Secondly, they need this game since the Browns are only one game behind them in the AFC North. Thirdly, the Jaguars don’t have the playmakers that the Patriots do.  Wide receivers Dennis Northcutt, Reggie Williams and Ernest Wilford won’t scare you. Finally, this defense is too good and has too much pride.  They will want to take their frustration out on Jacksonville.  Simply put, the Steelers will make David Garrard and company pay for the embarrassment in Foxboro.  Expect the Steelers to clamp down on the Jaguars running game, making it a long day for Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew.

As we get later and later into the season the influence of the weather becomes greater.  The weather is a big fantasy impact to your place kickers.   You are better off with a mediocre kicker (e.g., Olindo Mare) indoors than an elite kicker in the rain and wind. Kickers with potentially severe weather include:

• The Patriots’ Stephen Gostkowski and the Jets’ Mike Nugent in Foxboro
• The Steelers’ Jeff Reed and the Jaguars’ Josh Scobee in Pittsburgh
• The Giants’ Lawrence Tynes and the Redskins’ Shaun Suisham in Giants Stadium
• The Browns’ Phil Dawson and the Bills’ Rian Lindell in Cleveland

Pop
Everyone on the Patriots offense is a fantasy play, including fourth-string wide receiver Jabar Gaffney.  For the first ten games of the season Gaffney was a non-factor.  However, he has three straight games with a TD and has 14 receptions and 217 yards in that span.

The Bears will start Kyle Orton at quarterback on Monday night. Orton began the season third on the depth chart behind Rex Grossman and Brian Griese.  Grossman is done for the year with a knee injury and Griese has been ineffective.  Orton has not thrown a pass in the regular season since 2005, so he should be fresh at least.  The Bears will get a good look at Orton in the final three games.  Lucky for him he will face two awful pass defenses in those three games.  Minnesota is dead last in the NFL in pass defense.

The Denver Broncos running back situation is finally clear.  It took only 15 weeks, but I have it figured out now. Selvin Young is the man, even with Travis Henry healthy and available.   Young ran for 156 yards against the Chiefs last week. He remains a strong play this week against the Texans.

It looks like the Saints will shut down Reggie Bush for the season.  Aaron Stecker is a decent play against the Cardinals.  Stecker had 100 yards on the ground last week in his first start of the season.

Quick hits: Buffalo QB Trent Edwards versus the Browns, Oakland RB Justin Fargas versus the Colts, Indianapolis WR Anthony Gonzalez versus the Raiders and Chicago TE Desmond Clark versus the Vikings.