Obviously, we all wish for the health of all the league's players. That's obvious. I write this post not because I'm overly concerned about Anquan Boldin's long term health. This isn't like the Kevin Everett tragedy in Buffalo last year. Boldin reportedly has movement and feeling in all his extremeties which is fantastic news. I write this because Boldin is having an absolutely monster year so far and it'd be a shame if he were to miss extended time.
First, the backdrop of what happened real briefly.
Late in the game, with the Cardinals trailing 56-35 and just 30 seconds or so left on the clock, Cardinals standout WR Anquan Boldin suffered a scary helmet-to-helmet collision with Jets safety Eric Smith. Some might contend that the hit was viscious by Green as the case could be made that he led with his helmet. But that's for the league to decide. Others might wonder why Cards coach Ken Whisenhunt had Boldin and others in the game. You play to win the game, sure, but you also have to protect multi-million dollar assets when there is literally no chance at your team winning the game. I'm sure Cards fans will discuss this throughout the week.
Best of luck in a speedy recovery. Sounds like he'll be ok. Now, let's take a look at what Boldin's been able to accomplish through his team's first four games. Unless you're playing in some sort of strange communist league, Boldin is the most productive fantasy WR in the game thus far in 2008.
Through four weeks, Boldin is 5th in receiving yards, 1st in receiving TDs, 6th in receptions, and through three weeks at least (not yet updated after Week 4), the top rated WR by Football Outsiders' metrics
Now, in terms of just receptions or yards, Boldin's not on pace to shatter any records or anything. If he were to keep the same pace, he'd finish with 108 catches for 1400+ yards and 20 TDs. But put together in a package, Boldin's having a tremendous statistical start to his 2008 season. How about comparing his pace (which, mind you, is not entirely unrealistic to sustain given AZ's propensity to throw the ball when Kurt Warner is the QB), to the 2007 totals of Randy Moss, who undeniably had one of the greatest single seasons of any WR in NFL history.
Moss 2007: 98 receptions, 1493 yards, 23 TDs
Again, it's early and when the weather turns, Arizona might have trouble being as proficient on offense when they head to places like New England and Philadelphia in Novemeber and December. But through one quarter of the season, Boldin has consistently put up the kind of numbers that non-Cardinals fans can and should appreciate.
Single season Receptions Leaderboard