News:Alex Carder went 29-for-50 for 328 yards with two touchdowns and one interception as well as nine carries for 42 yards Saturday against Eastern Michigan.
Analysis:Alex Carder will finish an injury-shortened senior season with 1,652 passing yards along with 13 touchdowns and 10 interceptipns.
News:Alex Carder (finger) went 19-for-37 for 275 yards with three touchdowns and four interceptions along with 18 carries for 52 yards on Saturday against Buffalo.
Analysis:Alex Carder had not played since being injured on September 22, and can now be confidently put back into fantasy lineups for the Broncos' season finale next week against Eastern Michigan.
News:Alex Carder (finger) practiced earlier this week, but it is unclear if he will play in the final two games of the season, David Drew of the Kalamazoo Gazette reports.
Analysis:Alex Carder seems unlikely to play Saturday against Buffalo, so Tyler Van Tubbergen should make at least one more start and is worth starting in deep leagues.
News: Coach Bill Cubit said Alex Carder (finger) will not play Saturday against Central Michigan, David Drew of the Kalamazoo Gazette reports.
Analysis:Alex Carder will miss his sixth straight game, so Tyler Van Tubbergen will make at least one more start.
News:Alex Carder (finger) was at Monday's practice without the brace he had been wearing on his right hand, according to the Kalamazoo Gazette.
Analysis:Alex Carder looks unlikely to play Saturday against Northern Illinois, but coach Bill Cubit has suggested he could return November 3 against Central Michigan.
WMU's Carder Targeting November 3 To Return To Action
News:Alex Carder (finger) is aiming to return for a Nov. 3 rivalry game against Central Michigan, MLive.com reports.
Analysis: If he remains on track, Alex Carder miss the next two games against Kent State and Northern Illinois before returning against Central Michigan.
News:Alex Carder (finger) is expected to have the pin removed from the middle finger on his right hand on Monday, according to David Drew of the Kalamazoo Gazette.
Analysis:Alex Carder's progress through rehab after having the pin removed will determine if he will be able to return this season. Tyler Van Tubbergen will continue to start in his place.
WMU's Carder Not Ruled Out For Season, But No Timetable For Return
News: Coach Bill Cubit said he expects Alex Carder (finger) to play again this season but an exact timetable has not been set, according to the Kalamazoo Gazette.
Analysis:Alex Carder suffered the injury to the middle finger on his right hand on September 22 against UConn, and missed last week's game against Toledo. Tyler Van Tubbergen will start in his place.
News: Coach Bill Cubit said Alex Carder (right hand) will undergo surgery on Thursday morning, according to David Drew of the Kalamazoo Gazette.
Analysis:Alex Carder's timetable to return to action is unknown right now, but he has not been ruled out for the season. Tyler Van Tubbergen will start Saturday against Toledo, and perhaps a few more games.
News:Alex Carder (right hand) will miss Saturday's game against Toledo, according to David Drew of the Kalamazoo Gazette reports.
Analysis:Alex Carder suffered the injury to his throwing hand last week against Connecticut. Junior Tyler Van Tubbergen will start in his place.
News:Alex Carder (right hand) dressed for Monday night's practice, but did not take any snaps and is considered questionable right now for Saturday's game against Toledo, according to the Kalamazoo Gazette.
Analysis:Alex Carder is scheduled to see a doctor on Tuesday, after which more may be known about his status for Saturday's game.
WMU's Carder Productive Before Leaving With Hand Injury
News:Alex Carder (hand) went 18-for-34 for 237 yards and a touchdown along with one carry for seven yards Saturday against Connecticut, but left the game early with a hand injury.
Analysis: More should be know about Alex Carder's status for next week against Toledo as the coming week goes on.
News:Alex Carder went 24-for-44 for 209 yards with one touchdown and one interception along with seven rushing yards against Minnesota on Saturday.
Analysis: If Alex Carder continues his early season trend, a big game looks to be coming against UConn next week.
WMU's Carder Throws Five Touchdowns Against Eastern Illinois
News:Alex Carder went 29-for-40 for 364 yards with five touchdowns and one interception while adding 11 rushing yards Saturday night against Eastern Illinois.
Analysis:Alex Carder should be able to keep the positive momentum going next week against a Minnesota secondary that has yet to be truly tested this season.
News:Alex Carder went 26-for-43 for 239 yards with one touchdown and three interceptions on Saturday against Illinois.
Analysis: Definitely not was his fantasy owners were looking for in the first game of the season, but Alex Carder should get well in a big way next week against Eastern Illinois.
News:Alex Carder is on the watch list for the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm watch list, given annually to a senior or fourth-year quarterback, David Drew of the Kalamazoo Gazette reports.
Analysis:Alex Carder will lose his top wide receiver from last season in Jordan White, but another big year still looks on the horizon for his senior season.
News:Alex Carder is on the watch list for the Manning Award, according to the Kalamazoo Gazette.
Analysis:Alex Carder threw for a school-record 3,873 yards with 31 touchdowns in 2011, setting a single-game record with 548 passing yards against Toledo along the way. He is in line for another big season as a senior in 2012.
News:Alex Carder is on the watch list for the Walter Camp Player of the Year Award, according to CBS Sports.com.
Analysis:Alex Carder will lose his best wide receiver from 2011 (Jordan White), but production close to last season (3,873 yards, 31 touchdowns) should still be in store.
WMU's Carder On Initial Watch List For Davey O'Brien Award
News:Alex Carder is on the initial watch list for the Davey O'Brien Award, which is given to the top quarterback in the nation each year, CBS Sports.com reports.
Analysis:Alex Carder had 3,873 passing yards with 31 touchdowns and 14 interceptions in 12 games last season, while completing close to 66 percent of his passes along with 253 rushing yards and four touchdowns. Despite losing his top wide receiver in Jordan White, another big season looks in store for 2012.
News: Filling in for the injured Alex Carder (shoulder), Western Michigan quarterback Tyler VanTubbergen threw for 252 yards and six touchdowns, and added another score and 60 yards on the ground.
Analysis: I guess when Jordan White is your receiver (7-138-2), it doesn't matter who's throwing. Carder should be fine should the Broncos play in a bowl, and is just a junior, but assuming there isn't a regime change, VanTubbergen is a name to remember down the line.
News: Western Michigan quarterback Alex Carder is dealing with a right (throwing) shoulder injury and his status for this afternoon's game against Akron is in question. "(Carder) looked good throwing it," coach Bill Cubit said after practice on Tuesday "We’ll see how it goes."
Analysis: The Broncos need a victory to stay in the bowl hunt and it is Senior Day at Waldo Stadium. You have to imagine Carder will play if he's able to, but he's an injury risk for fantasy owners. Tyler Van Tubbergen will play if Carder can't go.
News: Western Michigan quarterback Alex Carder carved up a Toledo defense for 548 yards passing and seven touchdowns. He added a one-yard scoring rush to boot.
Analysis: Ho hum, just another Tuesday night in the MAC. Things have the potential to get somewhat more difficult next Wednesday against Miami (OH) but the Broncos offense is back in a groove, and weeknight MAC games are churning out eye-popping offensive performances. It's becoming must see TV!
News: Western Michigan quarterback Alex Carder again struggled against Northern Illinois, throwing for just 194 yards and a touchdown in a blowout loss.
Analysis: Carder was intercepted once, and at a loss for words following the game. "I'm sorry, I'm still a little bit shocked. I think we thought we were better than we are," offered Carder after the game. It probably won't be a fun week of practice for the Broncos, but they'll bounce back in a big way next week against Eastern Michigan.
News: Western Michigan quarterback Alex Carder has bad memories of Northern Illinois' Huskie Stadium, otherwise known as the "wind tunnel."
Analysis: Saturday's forecast doesn't look terrible, and Carder proved last week he can get it done on the ground as well (13 carries, 95 yards.) This offense is rolling, and the game figures to be a shootout, so keep rolling Carder and wide receiver Jordan White out there.
News: Western Michigan wide receiver Chleb Ravenell is earning some high praise from his teammates, including leading receiver Jordan White. Said White, "if he puts it together, he's the best receiver on the team," following Ravenell's fourth quarter touchdown grab against UConn.
Analysis: Linked is a pretty decent read on Ravenell, his struggles with motivation and injuries, and not understanding the talent he possesss. He's forming a chemistry with quarterback Alex Carder, and it's all systems go for Ravenell. Make sure he isn't available in your league.
News: Western Michigan quarterback Alex Carder gashed the UConn defense for 479 yards and five touchdowns in an upset win.
Analysis: An amazing performance against a pretty stingy Husky defense. Carder now has three-straight games with at least 300 yards passing. This offense is clearly jelling after early-season struggles, which is great news for owners of Broncos, and bad news for MAC defenses.
News: Wide receiver Chleb Ravenell, who suffered a sprained ankle Sept. 6, will try to play against Central Michigan this weekend.
Analysis: Ravenell was a preseason sleeper because of the offense he plays in with a solid quarterback in Alex Carder. Now that he appears to be healthy, keep an eye on Ravenell and the numbers he puts up this weekend.
News: Western Michigan quarterback Alex Carder struggled for a second straight week, throwing for just 143 yards and two touchdowns against Nicholls State.
Analysis: The scores help salvage a very pedestrian day for Carder. We would have thought Nicholls State would have jump started the offense here, but now we have to hope a matchup with in-state conference rival Central Michigan does the trick. Keep Carder in your lineup next week - they'll get things going.
News: Western Michigan quarterback Alex Carder struggled in the Big House, completing 22 of 31 passes for just 183 yards. He was intercepted once while having no touchdowns.
Analysis: The Wolverines pressured Carder often, and it clearly got to him. Weather didn't help his cause either (the game was called early) but I expected more of a shootout. Carder clearly isn't match up proof, but Nicholls State will feel the brunt of Mr. Carder's frustration next week.
News: Western Michigan quarterback Alex Carder and wide receiver Jordan White didn't need much time in yesterday's scrimmage, as they connected on a 97 yard swing pass on the first play.
Analysis: Wowsers. Saftey Demetrius Pettway offered, "Are we allowed to tackle him?" Nice to see teammates laying down to the Broncos offensive stars. Wide receiver Chleb Ravenell continues to be impressive, and should definitely enter into your thoughts as a late round flier in larger leagues.
News: Carder is on the watchlist for the Davey O'Brien Award, which honors the nation's top quarterback.
Analysis: Carder is a fairly big longshot to win the award, but a repeat of (or improvement on) his 2010 campaign (3,334 passing yards, 30 touchdowns) would keep him among the top signal callers in the MAC and make him a solid fantasy option.
News: Carder completed 23-of-33 passes for 251 yards and four touchdowns against Bowling Green on Friday.
Analysis: Carder was superb in his first season as starter, throwing for 3,334 yards and 30 touchdowns while running for 226 yards and six more touchdowns. He's looking like a decent bet to do well again in 2011, but the loss of wideouts Jordan White and Juan Nunez could be difficult to deal with.
News: Carder completed 17-of-21 passes for 349 yards and four touchdowns against Eastern Michigan Saturday while running for 34 yards.
Analysis: Carder is a risky start against a relatively tough Kent State defense, but his MAC-only league owners likely have no better option.
News: Carder completed 27-of-44 passes for 272 yards and three touchdowns against Central Michigan Friday.
Analysis: With Eastern Michigan coming up, Carder is probably a must-start in all formats.
News: Carder faces a Northern Illinois defense Saturday that has allowed six passing touchdowns compared to 12 interceptions.
Analysis: It's hard for us to suggest you should bench Carder after his five-touchdown performance against Akron but...it was against Akron, after all. Northern Illinois will be a difficult test for Carder, but you should probably keep him starting in MAC-only leagues at least.
News: Carder completed 28-of-43 passes for 277 yards and two interceptions against Notre Dame Saturday.
Analysis: Two rushing touchdowns saved the day for Carder's owners. All things considered, it was not a bad showing by Carder, and his owners are all but required to start him against Akron.
News: Carder completed 17-of-29 passes for 265 yards and a touchdown against Ball State Saturday while running for 66 yards and three touchdowns.
Analysis: Carder heads to Notre Dame in his next matchup, so unfortunately for his owners, a repeat performance is not in store.
News: Carder completed 14-of-33 passes for 104 yards, one touchdown and one interception against Idaho Saturday.
Analysis: Yuck. Idaho isn't exactly a brilliant defensive team, so this really looks bad. Don't start him until he gets his act together.
News: Carder completed 24-of-33 passes for 298 yards, five touchdowns and an interception against Nicholls State Saturday.
Analysis: This was a nice showing, but it was against an FCS opponent. Still, Carder has great receivers to throw to and you have to like how he's looked so far. He isn't a bad play against Toledo next week.
News: Carder completed 27-of-49 passes for 220 yards, two touchdowns and an interception against Michigan State Saturday.
Analysis: It was a nice performance on the whole, as Carder will definitely have easier matchups when MAC competition begins for Western Michigan. He has a great group of receivers to throw to, as well. Feel free to start him against Nicholls next week if you need help at quarterback.
News: Carder, a redshirt sophomore, appears to have secured the starting quarterback position for Western Michigan, with his main competition - fifth-year senior Drew Burdi - now moved to wide receiver, MLive.com reports.
Analysis: Carder is an untested player under center, but played so well during spring practice that Burdi has been switched to a new position. The Broncos subsequently open fall camp for the first time since 2006 with the starting and back-up quarterback (Tyler VanTubbergen) roles already decided.
