The NFL's trade deadline falls on October 14, and while it more than likely will not affect teams' game preparation for this weekend and next, there is a chance that some players will be "showcased" in Weeks 5 and 6. Ranked in order of who'd be the most desirable acquisitions, here are 15 offensive skill players that might be available in a trade. I do think defender swaps are more likely, if there are any deals at all:
1. Lions WR Roy Williams - Cowboys would be the favorites to get him.
2. Chiefs TE Tony Gonzalez - Gonzo deserves chance to play for a winner.
3. Giants RB Derrick Ward - Giants known to deal surplus backs before.
4. Packers WR Donald Driver - Youth at WR may make Driver expendable.
5. Saints WR Devery Henderson - True deep threats never easy to find.
6. Bucs QB Jeff Garcia - Brian Griese's struggles make a deal less likely.
7. Giants WR Sinorice Moss - Giants have tried to deal him for awhile.
8. Lions WR Shaun McDonald - 49ers could use this trusty slot receiver.
9. Chiefs QB Damon Huard - Return of Croyle could put Huard on block.
10. Panthers WR D.J. Hackett - Expendable when Ryne Robinson returns.
11. Bucs WR Michael Clayton - Someone may view him as rehab project.
12. Steelers WR Nate Washington - Has good size, deep threat ability.
13. Dolphins WR Ernest Wilford - Miami most likely team to make a deal.
14. Jaguars WR Reggie Williams - No longer needed thanks to Matt Jones.
15. Titans RB Chris Henry - A seventh-rounder would probably do the trick.
Arms
Donovan McNabb - Will start against Shawn Springs-less Washington.
Ben Roethlisberger - Should start, but Byron Leftwich a nice "handcuff."
Carson Palmer - Expected to start at Dallas after Friday's full practice.
Aaron Rodgers - Full-blown game-time decision, but guessing he plays.
Vince Young - Appears healthy enough to be Kerry Collins' active backup.
Wides
Santonio Holmes - Probable, has ideal matchup against banged-up Jags.
Roy Williams - Will start, be covered by Bears backup CB Corey Graham.
Sidney Rice - If Bernard Berrian sits, Rice could have a big game @ NO.
Kevin Curtis - Still only working with scout team, check back in Week 6.
Bernard Berrian - Late addition to injury report shouldn't be gambled on.
Justin Gage - Titans No. 1 receiver is highly unlikely to face Baltimore.
Marty Booker - Shouldn't be counted on to play or play well if he goes.
Laurent Robinson - Michael Jenkins to take all the split end snaps @ GB.
Koren Robinson - "Sleeper" shine has totally worn off due to knee woes.
Mario Manningham - Should finally play with Plaxico Burress suspended.
Backs
Brian Westbrook - 50-50 to start, but needs to be used if he is active.
Chris Perry - Says he isn't injured and will start Sunday against Dallas.
Willis McGahee - Expected to start, but don't use him against Titans.
LenDale White - White will play, but not a good bet for TDs @ Ravens.
Maurice Morris - Seahawks unlikely to rush him back from knee sprain.
Kregg Lumpkin - Brandon Jackson will back up Ryan Grant vs. Atlanta.
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Ends
Antonio Gates - Will start at Miami, likely be covered by Yeremiah Bell.
L.J. Smith - Questionable; it could go either way on whether he plays.
Leonard Pope - Questionable; has two catches on the young season.
Legs
Lawrence Tynes - Probably won't be given the nod for another week.
Arms
Brodie Croyle - Expected to return, create QB controversy after bye week.
Wides
Marques Colston - Likely out at least 2 more weeks; Lance Moore starting.
Plaxico Burress - Suspended for Sunday; will return to dominate next week.
Anquan Boldin - Steve Breaston will draw the start Sunday against Bills.
Joey Galloway - Old man is not healing quickly from his sprained foot.
Brandon Lloyd - Lloyd's knee injury will let Devin Hester play more WR.
Roscoe Parrish - Leodis McKelvin handling kick and punt returns for BUF.
David Patten - Groin injury cost Patten his starting job; can be dropped.
Joe Jurevicius - Has begun light jogging, but lacks timetable for return.
Backs
Willie Parker, Rashard Mendenhall - Mewelde Moore draws start @ JAX.
Ryan Torain - The rookie continues to be talked up by the Broncos' beat.
Carnell Williams - PUP'd running back uncertain to contribute this year.
Chris Taylor - Ahman Green returns as Texans' No. 2 RB vs. Indianapolis.
DeDe Dorsey - Went on injured reserve with a torn hamstring Tuesday.
Ends
Jeremy Shockey - Saints still say Shockey has a shot to return in Week 6.
Legs
None of significance.
Roy Williams vs. Bears
Time: 1:00PM ET
Chicago is not expected to have RCB Nathan Vasher (right hand surgery) for Sunday's early game and may also be down LCB Charles Tillman (shoulder), who is listed as questionable on the injury report. The Bears will go with 2007 fifth-round pick Corey Graham in Vasher's place and he will mostly be assigned to Williams. Graham, who played collegiately at New Hampshire, likely would've gone higher in the draft had he not broken his fibula as a senior, but this will be his first career start and he lacks the strength to disrupt Williams in his routes. As suggested earlier, the Lions could also be showcasing Williams for a trade before the Oct. 14 deadline and he should lead Detroit in targets in this game after being conspicuously left out of the game plan in Weeks 1-3.
Domenik Hixon vs. Seahawks
Time: 1:00PM ET
Plaxico Burress' one-game suspension will give Hixon the start opposite Amani Toomer in Sunday's affair. Steve Smith will stay in the slot. There were rumblings that Hixon was on the verge of supplanting Smith as the Giants' third receiver before he was given the starting nod for this one, as the explosive kickoff return man had a huge preseason and racked up 60 yards off the bench in Week 2. Hixon can run after the catch and the position Burress plays calls for frequent downfield route running. The Giants are unlikely to throw to Toomer's side often, as he will be covered by red-hot Seahawks LCB Marcus Trufant, and Hixon should see a healthy dose of targets. Hixon's good size (6'2/200) and tackle-breaking ability could also pose matchup problems for RCB Kelly Jennings, who is frail at only 180 pounds and may struggle to bring Hixon down.
Wes Welker @ 49ers
Time: 4:15PM ET
The 49ers have had little success defending the seams since losing third corner Shawntae Spencer to a season-ending ACL injury. Last week, Saints slot guy Lance Moore racked up seven catches, 101 yards, and two touchdowns against the Niners' incompetent inside coverage, while being mostly "guarded" by Dashon Goldson. Like Moore, Welker is exceptionally quick in a short area and should have no problem blowing by Goldson off the line of scrimmage. With 49ers LCB Nate Clements on Randy Moss and RCB Walt Harris defending Jabar Gaffney, Welker is the best bet among Patriots receivers for 8-10 catches Sunday.
Santonio Holmes @ Jaguars
Time: 8:15PM ET
With their top two tailbacks out for this game, the Steelers are unlikely to have success running the football in Jacksonville. Pittsburgh uses a power-based running scheme and journeyman third-down back Mewelde Moore isn't a between the tackles runner. Look for coordinator Bruce Arians to take a pass-happy approach against a Jaguars defense that is missing starting right corner Drayton Florence (groin) and free safety Reggie Nelson (knee). The biggest beneficiary will likely be Holmes, as LCB Rashean Mathis will stay on Hines Ward and Santonio will draw well-traveled veteran Will James, who couldn't make the Bills in training camp. James is a good-sized corner, but has very little chance of keeping up with Holmes in a foot race and will need help from a safety. That's where Nelson's absence will really hurt. Look for an easy 100+ yards out of Holmes Sunday, whether or not Ben Roethlisberger plays.
Week 5 Matchups to AvoidLarry Johnson @ Panthers
Time: 1:00PM ET
Johnson put up gaudy stats in his last two games, but keep in mind that he did it against the Broncos, who were without top interior run defender Dewayne Robertson, and Atlanta, which was missing NT Grady Jackson at the time. The Panthers haven't allowed 100 yards or a rushing touchdown to LaDainian Tomlinson, Matt Forte, Adrian Peterson, or Michael Turner in their first four games. The Chiefs will also be minus LT Branden Albert (elbow), and won't be able to run behind undersized replacement Herbert Taylor (6'3/295). Kansas City will have to double team Julius Peppers on that side and will be restricted to running to the right side, which will be easy for Panthers coach John Fox to game plan against. Fox comes from the Bill Parcells/Bill Belichick tree and understands how to exploit a matchup. Don't expect L.J. to stay hot on the ground in Week 5.
Kevin Walter vs. Colts
Time: 1:00PM ET
Walter is coming off a two-touchdown game and appears to have made significant improvement since last season. However, his strengths are sure hands and run-after-catch ability, and the latter is exactly what the Colts' cornerbacks are trained to offset. The Texans will likely take a run-first approach entering this game, as Indy ranks last in the AFC in rush defense and is second against the pass. Walter can expect 5-6 targets Sunday, but he is unlikely to come out with more than a handful of grabs and 50 or so yards while squaring off against Colts LCB Kelvin Hayden, an efficient tackler.
Amani Toomer vs. Seahawks
Time 1:00PM ET
As mentioned previously, Toomer is likely to draw Marcus Trufant in primary coverage Sunday. Seahawks assistant head coach/secondary Jim Mora has helped Trufant become one of the NFL's premier shutdown corners. This will also be the first game Trufant's played this season without a cast on his injured left hand. The Seahawks' franchise player, Trufant has been beaten just once this season man-to-man, and while Toomer still runs crisp routes for the most part and is a reliable pass catcher, his declining speed and quickness gives him little chance of posting a worthwhile fantasy game in this matchup. Domenik Hixon and Steve Smith will likely be the main beneficiaries of Plaxico Burress' one-game absence.
J.T. O'Sullivan vs. Patriots
Time: 4:15PM ET
Patriots coach Bill Belichick has had two weeks to prepare for this game as New England returns from its bye, and that's always bad news for his opponent. The Niners' best shot at beating the Pats will be to keep time of possession in their favor and the ball in Frank Gore's hands. While O'Sullivan may end up with 25-30 pass attempts, Belichick will have dissected loads of game film leading up to Sunday and has likely put together a successful scheme to get to JTO. San Francisco leads the NFL in sacks allowed (19) through four weeks. Expect Adalius Thomas, Mike Vrabel, and Ty Warren to add 6-7 more to that tally this weekend.
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