Beating the House--Week 4

It figures, doesn't it? I start posting here just last week and wind up taking a beating instead of beating the house! Such is life in the world of gambling...if it was easy (and legal), everyone would do it...for every brilliant call like the Chiefs and Jags, there were duds like Rams and Saints...just horrible. Time to move on...it probably goes without saying but, while I try to pick every game each week, there are some that I would stay away from altogether if I were (wink, wink) "playing"...


Oakland (+4) at Miami--Cam Cameron finally figured out he needs to run the ball more in order to win...hey, they came close...Raiders already know they have to give the ball to Lamont Jordan...if Daunte doesn't fall apart, this is probably a field goal game...pick: Raiders.


Houston (-3) at Atlanta--Perfect example of a game that I wouldn't bet on with your money...Harrington wasn't terrible last week...did I really just say that? I'll give 'em another chance at home...D'Angelo Hall gets to cover Texans top WR which is...who? pick: Falcons.


Baltimore (-4) at Cleveland--Browns were in for their letdown last week but should get up for the divisional tilt...still, it won't be enough as Ravens D will make an impact that will decide game...pick: Ravens.


Chicago (-3) at Detroit--Are you kidding me? Do the oddsmakers have that much respect for Brian Griese and the Chicago D? Romo carved them up so Kitna will follow suit against a secondary that will be missing Tillman and Vasher...Detroit atones for last week's atrocity in front of home crowd... this is my pick of the week: Lions.


Green Bay (-1.5) at Minnesota--Another road favorite...but I actually like this one...Pack showed me up last week and proved they were for real...Brett Favre is my age, has been getting pummeled by NFL defenses for seventeen years, and still moves better than me...pisses me off...pick: Packers.


St. Louis (+13) at Dallas--This looks easy, right? Rams let me down last week but will be in desperation mode...Boys are coming off a huge win in Chicago on national TV...hunch here is they come out flat but still pull away in second half...pick: Cowboys.


New York Jets (-3) at Buffalo--Bills will also be in desperation mode but it won't matter here...Mangini may be snitch but he is a good coach...Pennington to Coles all day and Thomas Jones running at will...pick: J-E-T-S.


Tampa Bay (+3) at Carolina--Panthers own the Bucs, winning seven out of the last eight...I'd feel better about them if Delhomme were playing but their running game and defense are enough to win it...pick: Panthers.


Seattle (-2) at San Francisco--49ers came crashing back to reality last week...this just in: they're not that good...they'll play the Hawks close here but come up short again...Hasselbeck impressed me last week going toe-to-toe with Carson Palmer...I think he can outduel Alex Smith...pick: Seahawks.


Pittsburgh (-6) at Arizona--My good friend Kurt Warner (see picture above--for the record, I'm not a Born Again Christian) insists he'll play again this week despite Whiny Boy Leinart's comments...Cards will be confused and might not have Boldin...bigger hit to them than Pitt minus Hines Ward...sorry Kurt...pick: Steelers.


Kansas City (+11.5) at San Diego--Chargers are second most-disappointing team in football (Hello Saints!)...someone send a memo to Norv: Use LT more...a lot more! They should be good and pissed and embarking on the road to respectability...first stop is here...picks: Chargers.


Denver (+10) at Indianapolis--Cutler and Walker are dinged up and Broncos offense sputtered at home last week...can't afford to do that here...Indy went through the motions last week but will be fired up for this one...Addai will open up passing game for Peyton & Co. against the most overrated defense in football...pick: Colts.


Philadelphia (-3) at New York Giants--If Plaxico plays, this ought to be a good one...Giants defense is horrible but came through last week to preserve the victory...can they do it against a team that put up 56 points against Detroit? Westbrook is the wild card here but is likely a game-time decision...curse of Tiki continues as I'm 0-3 in Giants game so...pick: Giants.


New England (-7) at Cincinnati--The Pats are the best team in football top-to-bottom...this should be their toughest test to date but can't see any reason not to pick them every week, especially against a team that has a sieve for a defense...prediction: Chad Johnson scores one TD and pulls a can of Chunky New England Clam Chowder out of his pants and starts eating it with a fork...pick: Patriots.


Last week: 6-7-3 To Date: 26-18-4

Play Action - Week 4

Welcome to your weekly installment of Game-by-Game breakdowns of the slate of NFL games, for fantasy purposes.

Week 4 marks the beginning of Bye Week season, so you need to stay alert of those, in addition to any injury news.

Week 4 Byes: Jacksonville, New Orleans, Tennessee, Washington

The breakdowns include Team Receiving and Receiving totals (both Offensive and Defensive) based on Yards Per Game (YPG), with their NFL rank in parenthesis.
Click on the Game Links for a weather forecast.
1:00pm EST Games

Packers @ Vikings
Packer Offense - Receiving: 287 (5), Rushing: 57 (32)
Viking Defense - Receiving: 266 (23), Rushing: 67.3 (3)

Viking Offense - Receiving: 177.3 (28), Rushing: 128.3 (10)
Packer Defense - Receiving: 244.7 (15), Rushing: 90 (10)

Start: Brett Favre, Donald Driver, Packer Defense
Consider: Greg Jennings (check), James Jones, Adrian Peterson
Bench: Vernand Morency, Brandon Jackson, DeShawn Wynn, Donald Lee, Bubba Franks, Kelly Holcomb, Chester Taylor, Troy Williamson, Viking Defense

The Pack will remain among the NFL's pass-happiest teams. Even if Vernand Morency starts, you should take a wait-and-see approach. Chances are Favre hooks up with Driver for his record-setting TD pass. Franks has had a curious amount of targets, but it's still difficult to have faith in his as a fantasy starter. Jennings will likely start, if he doesn't, James Jones enjoys a very nice spike in his value. Taylor's likely return, as starting RB will affect Peterson's output negatively. All Day likely takes over as the feature back soon, but not right now, you shouldn't start Taylor unless you're in crisis. You should have absolutely no interest in the rest of the Viking offense, they will continue to struggle.

Ravens @ Browns
Raven Offense - Receiving: 229.3 (16), Rushing: 118 (14)
Brown Defense - Receiving 262.7 (21), Rushing: 176.3 (31)

Brown Offense - Receiving: 264.7 (11), Rushing: 120 (12)
Raven Defense - Receiving: 255 (19), Rushing: 61.7 (1)

Start: Willis McGahee, Todd Heap, Raven Defense, Braylon Edwards
Consider: Derrick Mason, Kellen Winslow (check)
Bench: Steve McNair, Mark Clayton, Derek Anderson, Jamal Lewis, Joe Jurevicius

The Ravens are rock solid against the run, and questionable against the pass. Jerricho Cotchery and Anquan Boldin have put up excellent numbers the past 2 weeks against them, is this Braylon Edwards' week? Don't get too carried away, this is the Browns we're talking about. Bench Jamal Lewis, he's not going anywhere this week. Winslow is on "Consider" due to his separated shoulder, check Sunday morning to see if he's active, he claims he will be. McGahee should finally get his first rushing TD and find holes to run through. The Raven passing game remains shaky, continue to wait-and-see with Clayton.

Bears @ Lions - Dome
Bear Offense - Receiving: 166.7 (29), Rushing: 87.3 (26)
Lion Defense - Receiving: 295.3 (32), Rushing: 129.3 (23)

Lion Offense - Receiving: 376 (1), Rushing: 67.7 (29)
Bear Defense - Receiving: 255.3 (20), Rushing: 92.7 (12)

Start: Jon Kitna, Roy Williams, Calvin Johnson (check), Shaun McDonald, Cedric Benson, Bernard Berrian
Consider: Brian Griese, Desmond Clark
Bench: Mike Furrey, Tatum Bell, Kevin Jones, Muhsin Muhammad, Greg Olsen, Bear Defense

The Bear defense is absolutely shredded with injuries, they will struggle mightily to slow down the explosive Lions passing game. Look for Roy Williams and Calvin Johnson (make sure he's active) to exploit the depleted secondary. McDonald continues to defy odds and makes a nice start here, bump him even higher if Johnson does not start. Kevin Jones won't be on the field long enough to make much of an impact. If you're in a pinch, Griese should make a nice start here against a feeble secondary, he'll look for Berrian often. If Benson can't steamroll the Lions, it's time for some very serious concerns. Don't be shocked if the Lions put 28+ points on the board.

Rams @ Cowboys
Ram Offense - Receiving: 217 (20), Rushing: 91 (21)
Cowboy Defense - Receiving: 267 (26), Rushing: 86.7 (8)

Cowboy Offense - Receiving: 286.7 (6), 146.3 (5)
Ram Defense - Receiving: 159.3 (2), Rushing: 152.3 (28)

Start: Marc Bulger, Torry Holt, Tony Romo, Marion Barber, Terrell Owens, Cowboy Defense
Consider: Brian Leonard, Jason Witten
Bench: Steven Jackson (injured), Isaac Bruce, Julius Jones, Patrick Crayton

Chances are that you won't see Bulger and his 2 broken ribs on the "Start" list again for quite some time if he can't improve his game against a fairly weak Cowboy pass defense. Brian Leonard would be a questionable start against a tough rush defense, but the RB ranks were ravaged in Week 3 and perhaps you're desperate. The Rams have been solid against the pass, but haven't faced the likes of Romo and company yet. The Rams are a mess, the offense has sputtered and they are on the brink of full-blown collapse with S-Jax likely out for a month. Look for the Boys to take the Rams behind the woodshed.

Raiders @ Dolphins
Raider Offense - Receiving: 204 (23), Rushing: 159.3 (3)
Dolphin Defense - Receiving: 177.3 (3), Rushing: 166 (29)

Dolphin Offense - Receiving: 274.7 (7), Rushing: 79.7 (27)
Raider Defense - Receiving: 268.7 (27), Rushing: 125.7 (22)

Start: Ronnie Brown, Chris Chambers, Dolphin Defense, LaMont Jordan
Consider: Trent Green, Ronald Curry, Raider Defense
Bench: Marty Booker, Daunte Culpepper, Jerry Porter

It's time to stop ignoring Trent Green as a viable QB2. Remember in the preseason when people were hyping the vaunted Raider pass defense? Yeahhhh, not so much. Look for Ronnie Brown to piece together consecutive nice days, and perhaps Chambers finally gets a TD. The Raider offense continues to depend fairly exclusively upon LaMont Jordan, as the Phins can't stop the run. Culpepper does not deserve starter consideration at this point, this is not 2002.

Jets @ Bills
Jet Offense - Receiving: 195.3 (26), Rushing: 90 (23)
Bill Defense - Receiving: 285.7 (30), Rushing: 177.3 (32)

Bill Offense - Receiving: 117.3 (32), Rushing: 108 (18)
Jet Defense - Receiving: 266.3 (25), Rushing: 121.3 (20)

Start: Chad Pennington, Thomas Jones, Laveranues Coles, Jerricho Cotchery, Jets Defense, Marshawn Lynch
Consider: Lee Evans
Bench: Trent Edwards

The Bills are absolutely abysmal. Offensively, Defensively, doesn't matter...they're awful. Trent Edwards couldn't possibly be any worse than Losman at this point. Evans deserves consideration only because he's facing the 25th ranked pass defense. Unleash all of your Jets. Yes, that even includes Chad Pennington and the Jet Defense.

Texans @ Falcons - Dome
Texan Offense - Receiving: 229.3 (16), Rushing: 89.3 (25)
Falcon Defense - Receiving: 200 (9), Rushing: 142.3 (25)

Falcon Offense - Receiving: 253.3 (12), Rushing: 89.7 (24)
Texan Defense - Receiving: 252.3 (18) , Rushing: 76.7 (6)

Start: Owen Daniels, Texans Defense, Alge Crumpler
Consider: Ron Dayne, Roddy White, Falcons Defense
Bench: Matt Schaub, Ahman Green (injured), Andre Johnson (injured), Andre Davis, Joey Harrington, Warrick Dunn, Jerious Norwood

Texans' WRs keep dropping like flies, making Schaub a bench player. Owen Daniels should again see an increase in his looks, perhaps even in the end zone. Ron Dayne is a viable option this week, again considering the massive amount of injuries to star RBs last week and Ahman Green likely to be inactive. It will be tough sledding for the Atlanta RBs against a good Houston rush defense. Roddy White is emerging as a decent, although inconsistent, WR3. Don't expect a lot of offense or scoring in this game.

4:00pm EST Games

Seahawks @ 49ers
Seahawk Offense - Receiving: 250.3 (13), Rushing: 108.3 (17)
49er Defense - Receiving: 210 (11), Rushing: 142.3 (25)

49er Offense - Receiving: 153.7 (30), Rushing: 90.7 (22)
Seahawk Defense - Receiving: 283.7 (29), Rushing: 102 (16)

Start: Matt Hasselbeck, Shaun Alexander, Deion Branch, Seahawk Defense, Frank Gore
Consider: Nate Burleson, Bobby Engram, Darrell Jackson
Bench: Alex Smith, Arnaz Battle, Vernon Davis (injured)

Defenders will likely be targeting Alexander's fractured wrist for the rest of the season, will he hold up? He should put together a nice game against a weak rush defense here. Hasselbeck should continue to find Branch. The 49ers offense is still anemic, although you must start Frank Gore every week. Gore will be even more active in the red zone with Vernon Davis out for at least 2 weeks.


Buccaneers @ Panthers
Buc Offense - Receiving: 201.3 (24), Rushing: 119.7 (13)
Panther Defense - Receiving: 251.7 (17), Rushing: 95.3 (13)

Panther Offense - Receiving: 227.3 (18), Rushing: 142.3 (6)
Buc Defense - Receiving: 199.3 (8), Rushing: 124.7 (21)

Start: DeShaun Foster, Steve Smith
Consider: Joey Galloway, Bucs Defense, Jeff King, Panther Defense
Bench: Jeff Garcia, Carnell Williams, Earnest Graham, David Carr, Jake Delhomme (injured), DeAngelo Williams

The Tampa Bay RB situation is a mess. Caddy needs to hold onto the ball if he wants to hold onto his job. He remains the feature back, for now. David Carr likely downgrades the entire Panther offense, but people had no faith in Delhomme to start the season either. Jeff King has put up decent numbers for a waiver wire TE. Foster is firmly entrenched as the feature back, until his inevitable injury anyway.

Steelers @ Cardinals - Dome
Steeler Offense - Receiving: 187.7 (27), Rushing: 198.3 (1)
Cardinal Defense - Receiving: 229.3 (12), Rushing: 101.7 (15)

Cardinal Offense - Receiving: 237.3 (14), Rushing: 118(14)
Steeler Defense - Receiving: 193.7 (7), Rushing: 79.7 (7)

Start: Willie Parker, Santonio Holmes, Heath Miller, Steeler Defense, Larry Fitzgerald
Consider: Ben Roethlisberger, Edgerrin James
Bench: Hines Ward (injured), Matt Leinart, Anquan Boldin (injured), Bryant Johnson

Santonio Holmes should be in your lineup for this week due to the absence of Hines Ward. Fast Willie should have another nice week and is likely to find the end zone. Heath Miller is being targeted more and makes a nice start. The Steeler Defense is stingy, so if you have a more exciting option than Edge, you should give them the nod. Leinart continues to look awfully shaky and had better pick up his play if he doesn't want Kurt Warner taking over. Boldin's status looks doubtful, but check on him before setting your lineup.

Broncos @ Colts - Dome
Bronco Offense - Receiving: 265 (9), Rushing: 133 (8)
Colt Defense - Receiving: 204 (10), Rushing: 95.7 (14)

Colt Offense - Receiving: 291 (4), Rushing: 112.3 (16)
Bronco Defense - Receiving: 108 (1), Rushing: 166 (29)

Start: Travis Henry, Javon Walker (check), Brandon Marshall, Peyton Manning, Joseph Addai, Marvin Harrison, Reggie Wayne
Consider: Jay Cutler, Brandon Marshall, Dallas Clark
Bench: Selvin Young, Brandon Stokley, Anthony Gonzalez, Both Defenses

You'll likely see a whole lot of Travis Henry as the Broncos try to play ball control. Check on Javon Walker before game time, Coach Shanahan could very well just be screwing with us again, though. Manning and the Colt WRs are in for a very tough test against the awesome Bronco pass defense. That said, you simply cannot leave them on your bench. Addai should cash in a nice game against the questionable Bronco rush defense.

Chiefs @ Chargers
Chief Offense - Receiving: 201.3 (24), Rushing: 64 (31)
Charger Defense - Receiving: 264.3 (22), Rushing: 88.7 (9)

Charger Offense - Receiving: 230.7 (15), Rushing: 67.3 (30)
Chief Defense - Receiving: 183.3 (6), Rushing: 113 (18)

Start: Tony Gonzalez, LaDainian Tomlinson, Antonio Gates, Charger Defense
Consider: Larry Johnson (check), Dwayne Bowe, Vincent Jackson
Bench: Damon Huard, Philip Rivers

A game featuring 2 of the Top 3 consensus overall picks...LT vs. LJ. Sure looks nice on paper, but check out the #30 vs. the #31 ranked rushing offenses, only the Packers are worse. Disappointment abound. That said, this is the game that Tomlinson starts to erupt. I can't say the same for Johnson (check his status on game day), I believe that he continues to struggle mightily behind his feeble O-Line. Bench Rivers, because he seems shaken right now. Start the Charger D, because the Chiefs aren't going to do much scoring. Gonzo is the most likely target for a Chief TD.

Sunday Night Football

Eagles @ Giants
Eagle Offense - Receiving: 268.3 (8), Rushing: 130 (9)
Giant Defense - Receiving: 273.7 (28), Rushing: 102.3 (17)

Giant Offense - Receiving: 265 (9), Rushing: 104.7 (19)
Eagle Defense - Receiving: 287 (31), Rushing: 71.7 (4)

Start: Donovan McNabb, Brian Westbrook (check), Kevin Curtis, Eli Manning, Plaxico Burress (check), Jeremy Shockey
Consider: Correll Buckhalter, Derrick Ward
Bench: Reggie Brown, Jason Avant, Eagle Defense, Brandon Jacobs (injured), Amani Toomer

D-Mac continues his tour of weak pass defenses. He should have another good week as he resumes his rebound. You already missed Curtis' biggest game of the season, but McNabb will be looking for him often again this week. Westbrook is questionable, if he doesn't go, Buckhalter makes a nice alternative. Since this is a late game, you may be better off with Westbrook on your bench and starting someone guaranteed to play, although if Westbrook does go, he's primed for a big game. Who knew the Eagle pass defense was actually worse than the Giants'? Eli should have a very nice day. Plax is playing on a bum wheel, likely for the rest of the season. Brandon Jacobs is unlikely to play, so Ward is a decent option if your RBs are injured or on a bye.

Patriots @ Bengals
Patriot Offense - Receiving: 295.7 (3), Rushing: 151.7 (4)
Bengal Defense - Receiving: 266 (23), Rushing: 145 (27)

Bengal Offense - Receiving: 312.3 (2), Rushing: 92 (20)
Patriot Defense - Receiving: 160.7 (3), Rushing: 74 (5)

Start: Tom Brady, Laurence Maroney (check), Randy Moss, Wes Welker, Ben Watson, Carson Palmer, Chad Johnson, T.J. Houshmandzadeh
Consider: Patriot Defense
Bench: Donte Stallworth, Rudi Johnson (injured), Kenny Watson

There's no shortage of offensive firepower in this game. The Bengals defense is also pretty bad, so Brady, Moss, Maroney and friends should all continue to impress. The Patriot Defense should be considered due to the chances of turnovers. Carson Palmer should be slinging it to attempt to keep up, which is also good for Chad Johnson and Housh. This is not, however, a good matchup against a solid defense, for a backup like Watson. Maroney has been missing practice, so keep an eye on his status.

Enjoy your Week 4 football viewing. It will be a historic week, with Favre breaking the all-time Passing Touchdowns record.
Feel free to leave comments or feedback of any kind.

Hooooowdy Ho!

You may or may not have noticed a few new faces on here.
There have been a few new authors brought in, I am excited to be working with them.

They were plucked fresh from the Rotoworld Forums.

Everybody please give a warm welcome to King Ding Aling, Milton J. and BlaZen.

Waiver Wire - Week 4

Welcome to my first edition of "Waiver Wire". Each Tuesday I will post my "Waiver Wire", suggesting to you who you should pick up off waivers for that week.

Come on, let's be honest. The "Waiver Wire" articles are one of the most important things to have if you plan on winning that highly coveted championship! Don't believe me? Just ask last year's owners who picked up Marques Colston and Maurice Jones-Drew before anyone else in their league.

My "Waiver Wire" will work a little different the most. It will be cut into 3 sections. The first one will be for "Must Adds". These are the players I think you should add regardless of the league size or point system of the league you are in. Next will be the "Deep Additions". Now in this section I will name to you the players I think you should add if your in a deep league (12-16 people), or if your REALLY shallow at the position of the players I name. Last but not least will be the "Keep an eye on" section. This is exactly what it sounds like, players you should not add but make sure to keep on eye on for the next week or two to see what they do.

I will not be having a "Drop/Cut" portion until week 6 because I am a huge believer that you should not cut anyone you have drafted within the first 5 weeks (excluding players drafted in the last few rounds and players with long term injuries).

And with no further adieu, BlaZeN's Waiver Wire!

Must Adds

Brian Leonard- So much for Jackson being the 2nd "safest pick", Huh? With S-Jax's current injury (partially torn groin muscle), he should out for 2-3 weeks. Not to mention that groin injuries like that don't normally go away, this is an injury that could nag Jackson for the rest of the year.
In comes former Scarlet Knight from Rutgers, Brian Leonard. Yes, the white man with insane hops, who indeed jump OVER Fabian Washington. Leonard is by far the best FA pickup this week. He will get the start this week against the Cowboys. If you don't own Jackson, try trading Leonard to his owner. You should be able to get GREAT value for him. If you own Steven Jackson, you better go get the man ASAP and pray Brian can do something behind that swiss cheese line that Jackson was not able to do.

Kevin Curtis (AKA White Lightning) - Curtis is by far and away the best WR pickup this week. He absolutely torched the Lions secondary this week netting 221 yards, and 3 TDs on 11 catches. Umm... Reggie who?
Its looks now that it is Kevin Curtis who will be McNabb's favorite target this year, not Brown. Can anyone say Donte Stallworth Part 2 (the white version of course) ?

Ron Dayne- I've got to be honest... I'm shocked that Ahman Green made it THIS far into the season until getting hurt. The man has injury after injury after injury. Even if Green starts this week, I would still rather have Dayne on my squad over Stecker. Reason being, Green won't stay healthy, end of story. Dayne should be active in that Houston backfield all year.

Roddy White- Lets just hope this isn't another tease for us fantasy owners. White had 127 yards and a TD on 7 receptions, the TD came on a 69 yarder. I really wouldn't expect any consistent numbers from White but with Leftwich just waiting to take Harrington's job, expect his value to rise even more. Go grab him while you still can.

Aaron Stecker- If you think the Saints will hand the ball off to Reggie 20+ times you're highly mistaken. Stecker should get a decent amount of carries with Deuce out for the year. If Leonard, and Dayne are both gone go get this guy... Now.

Dwayne Bowe- It is now apparent with Eddie Kenninson's injury that the rookie out of LSU, Dwayne Bowe, is the best WR on that Chiefs squad. Too bad he has Damon Huard as his quarterback.
Bowe should keep getting looks and snaps so he should have decent numbers. Just don't expect him to be anything more then a spot starter at best. At least until he proves me wrong.

Kenny Watson- This waiver pick up looks a lot better to a Rudi Johnson owner then it does anyone else. That being said, Rudi played like straight dookie against Seattle this week and hurt his hammy. Hamstring injuries tend to linger when it comes to Running Backs. Cincy will play the very tough run D of the New England Patriots this week then have a bye week 6. I don't expect decent numbers for Watson, but if you have a low waiver priority, I'd put a claim on him and watch him slip by all the others. Then go and try to trade him to Rudi's owner (let's hope for your sake he didn't go get him yet).

Najeh Davenport- If you own Willie Parker go get Najeh, NOW! HE is probably one of the better handcuffs to have.

Owen Daniels- If he's still not owned in your league, better go get this guy. The amount of injuries for that Texans receiving core is getting utterly ridiculous.

Deep Additions

Sammy Morris- Did you know that Sammy Morris has 3 MORE total points this year then Maroney? Well now you know, go pick him up if you're shallow at RB.

Brian Griese- OK, enough already! How many times have we heard Lovie Smith stand up at the podium and say "Rex is our quarterback"? Too many times for me to count... Well I think he's finally gotten over his little Wrecks Grossman crush. I expect to see Griese get the start this week. If your in need of help at QB I'd seriously consider swooping him up before someone else does.

Brandon Jones & Marty Booker- Booker is the more consistent option, but Jones could put up a few really nice stat lines considering hes probably Tennessee's most talented WR. Booker could possibly be a decent spot starter at times, but I doubt he's becomes anything more than that.

Joe Jurevicous & Bobby Engram- Engram has had a nice start, and should be picked up if you're in DIRE need for a WR start this week or next. But don't expect him to keep this up. With Burleson and Branch ahead of him he probably wont get too many looks, consistently. Not to mention Hackett could be on his way back. Big Joe might have a decent week against the Ravens, considering they couldn't tackle two straight physical #2 WRs (Cotchery and then Boldin). What's Joe? A Big physcial #2, if you really need a WR this week give Jurevicous a thought, believe it or not... See what I did there.

Daunte Culpepper- With McCown now hurt, its Culpepper's time to shine (metaphorically speaking, because I highly doubt a QB in Oakland this year will "Shine"). You know that Daunte will get scooped up after this weeks start unless he bombs... Light at QB? Vote Pepper for President!

Jeff King- King has been a top 10 fantasy TE this year. Although I don't expect him to keep THAT up, he's still a decent add in a PPR league, and if your weak at TE.

Keep an Eye On

Earnest Graham- Obviously you cant ignore someone who scores 2 rushing TDs, but in no way should he be picked up this week. Hes in a backfield with Caddy Williams, and Micheal Pittman, so there's not many carries for him. And if you expect to see him get any goal line carries, uh, don't. That being said, definitely keep an eye on him. Gruden said after the game that he needs to find a way to use Graham more.

Maurice Morris- He's the backup to Shaun Alexander. The Shaun Alexander that has a cracked bone in his wrist and has a cast on his arm. I shouldn't even have to tell you to keep an eye on em.

Samkon Gado- Wait and see if Houston will give him any carries know that Green is banged up. Hes proven before that he can be a solid back in this league, so don't be surprised if they do give him a shot.

Demetrius Williams & Kevin Walter- Don't let one bad game scare you off. Keep an eye on Williams for sure. With Clayton's uncertainty when it comes to action, you never know what Williams will do in that offense. It also helps that he's probably the best chance at WR for getting a TD. Kevin Walters and Jerome Mathis are the only two healthy wideouts for Houston. Need I say more?

Marcedes Lewis- He has a bye this week, but the dude is super talented and it looks like he can become a Garrard favorite.

Wheel & Deal - Week 4

It's time to discuss players that should either be sold high, or bought low following their Week 3 performance.

Alternatively, you can use this as a list of players to avoid buying high on and players that perhaps you should hold on to due to their frustrating recent output.

Players to Sell High:

Brett Favre - QB - Green Bay Packers
Favre makes this list because he was likely drafted as your backup. Assuming the player you drafted as your starter is performing well, and not a huge injury concern (McNabb), you should always look to trade away depth to fill holes in your roster. Favre will continue to sling it, given the sorry state of the Green Bay ground game, he has high quality WRs, but we all know that sooner or later, he's going to start putting up INTs.

Ronnie Brown - RB - Miami Dolphins
Brown absolutely shredded the Jets this week. Coach Cameron said that he wanted Brown more involved, and he certainly delivered...Jesse Chatman didn't even touch the ball. However, this was also Brown's only decent performance so far this season and I don't have faith that he'll suddenly become consistent. If you can get a high-level RB2 for him now, you should. If you could get Reggie Bush for him, you definitely should.

DeShaun Foster - RB - Carolina Panthers
Although he's probably pulled far enough ahead of DeAngelo Williams to not worry about looking over his shoulder, Foster is always a threat to get injured. He's never been an exciting guy to own. You could possibly get a more reliable RB2 for him.

Adrian Peterson - RB - Minnesota Vikings
Some people have a huge man-crush on All Day. He's looked great in Weeks 1 and 3. The problem is, the Vikings just aren't going to score many points. Peterson will also start losing some touches to Chester Taylor starting in Week 4, plus Peterson's injury history must be factored in as well. Again, I think that Reggie Bush would be a nice target.

Kevin Curtis - WR - Philadelphia Eagles
First, a disclaimer. I believe that Curtis cashes in another high quality performance against the weak Giants pass defense in Week 4, and he appears to have established himself as Philly's WR1.
That said, his value will not get any higher than it is right now. If you're someone that owns one of the recently injured big name RBs, it's time to shop Curtis for a RB2 caliber RB.

Braylon Edwards - WR - Cleveland Browns
Yes, he appeared here the last time I wrote a buy low/sell high, and has continued to perform well. Still, I worry about the very shaky Cleveland QB situation. If you can deal him for a WR1/WR2 in a more stable situation, you should jump all over it.

Vincent Jackson - WR - San Diego Chargers
He was a super hyped "sleeper" heading into the season, Week 3 was his first solid fantasy performance. He's still, at best, the third option on his team. The Chargers are struggling mightily, Philips Rivers is looking flustered, and Jackson really has hands of stone. Now that he's cashed in a good game, hype him up as breaking out and see if you can steal yourself a WR2 or RB depth.

Players to Buy Low:

Drew Brees - QB - New Orleans Saints
Follwing his miserable Monday Night performance, Brees' value can't get any lower. It's the perfect time to steal him. Yes, the Saints could very well implode this season, but I believe that in the weak NFC the Saints stand a good chance of a solid rebound. There's too much talent on their offense to really be this bad.

Reggie Bush - RB - New Orleans Saints
Moan and groan about the fact that he only had 35 yards of offense in Week 3, say that his 2 TDs were pure luck and that he's too small to be a reliable goal line option. The fact is, without Deuce around, Bush becomes the top scoring option for the Saints. It will be a tough sell for smart owners, but see if you can steal him away.

LaDainian Tomlinson - RB - San Diego Chargers
Talk up his low yardage totals and the fact that the #1 overall fantasy pick "only" has 3 TDs. You'll have to give up one of your horses, but for LT, this is about as low as his value will get. He's faced some brutal defenses thus far. Things change in Week 4 when he goes against KC, so this is your last best chance to get him.

Larry Johnson - RB - Kansas City Chiefs
Johnson has also faced some brutal rush defenses. When Week6 rolls around, that schedule starts to get awfully soft. LJ owners are likely high frustrated with their first round pick at this point. See if you can take advantage of that.

Larry Fitzgerald - WR - Arizona Cardinals
He was here last week as well. He watched his buddy Anquan light up the Ravens in the 4th quarter. Fitz has way too much talent for his pedestrian output so far. Matt Leinart will be inspired as he fights to keep his job, Fitz should benefit.

Lee Evans - WR - Buffalo Bills
Normally, it'd be inadvisable to go get a WR who just lost his starting QB. Evans was recommended before and then hung a giant goose egg on the board in Week 3. Evans would be a risky pick, but he's got too much talent to ignore. If an owner drafted him to be a WR1, he's likely pulled out all of his hair by now and you could take him away for a WR3 and a small bag of Doritos.

Players to Avoid:
Marc Bulger QB - St. Louis Rams
Word is that he's playing through 2 broken ribs. The way he gets knocked around behind his porous O-Line, this is a situation that you want no part of.

Maurice Jones-Drew - RB - Jacksonville Jaguars
Yes, I recommended him as a buy low last week. Now, I honestly believe that he has "Bust" written all over him.

Reggie Brown - WR - Philadelphia Eagles
Supposedly finally fully healthy and ready to shine, during the Eagles' pass-a-thon he only managed a piddly 2 grabs for 23 yards. Firmly behind Kevin Curtis and possibly Jason Avant, Brown doesn't look like he will produce this season.

Donte Stallworth - WR - New England Patriots
Generally, all Patriots are good Patriots to have. Three weeks of being virtually invisible...4 receptions, 66 yards, buried behind Randy Moss and Wes Welker. Stallworth isn't exactly producing his patented big plays this season. How long until his patented injury?

Side Notes:

Steven Jackson is now likely to miss at least 2-3 games.
Brian Griese is likely to start for the Bears in Week 4, a decent fill-in if you're desperate due to his match up against the freshly lit Lions secondary.
Daunte Culpepper is likely to start, but faces a tough Miami pass defense and he has limited weapons to use to begin with.
Byron Leftwich remains the Falcons 3rd string QB, for now.
Calvin Johnson and Hines Ward will likely be starting in Week 4.
Ron Dayne is likely to be the starting RB for the Texans against the Falcons and is a decent bet to score. Ahman Green's knee is just swollen, but he'll likely be inactive.
Vernon Davis is likely out until at least Week 7 with a partially torn MCL, look for better, safer alternatives.
DeShawn Wynn will not become Green Bay's feature back and is safe to drop despite Week 3's rumor mill.
Anquan Boldin should be good to go in Week 4, despite a strained hip injury on Sunday.
If you haven't dropped Patrick Crayton and Devery Henderson yet, why?

Another Major Injury - Deuce McAllister

ESPN has reported that Deuce McAllister has a torn ACL and will likely miss the remainder of the season.

This is good news for Reggie Bush owners, terrible news for owners of Deuce. It will be a hard road back for Deuce, if he truly does have a torn ACL, he's not far removed from his last major knee surgery.

McAllister has an MRI scheduled for Tuesday to confirm that it is indeed a tear. If it is, it'd be his 2nd major knee injury in 3 years, putting his career in questionable status.

Major Injury - Steven Jackson

The Rams have announced that RB Steven Jackson will be out for at least Week 4 and likely longer due to a partially torn groin.

This news makes Brian Leonard an absolute must add as he will be both the feature back as well as the goal-line back. Run, don't walk to add him if he is available in your league. If you already own him and are not the owner of Steven Jackson, look to trade him.

Also, the Seahawks have announced that RB Shaun Alexander is playing with a cracked wrist. He'll keep playing, but add Maurice Morris.

Beating the House - Week 3

New column here starting today and every Saturday for the rest of the season...selections are made against the point spread...these picks are for recreational purposes only unless you are lucky enough to live in Las Vegas...if you do, run to the nearest sportsbook after reading this and you could be living large!

Indianapolis (-6) at Houston--Colts looked a bit shaky last week but will come out blazing here to show they're still the team to beat...without Andre Johnson, the Texans offense will suffer...pick: Colts.

San Diego (-5.5) at Green Bay--Chargers will look to pick themselves up after their embarassment on national TV...Pack's defense will keep them in this one but they still lose by a touchdown...pick: Chargers.

Minnesota (+3) at Kansas City--Kelly Holcomb may be better than Tarvaris Jackson, but he's probably rusty and I have zero confidence in their wideouts...KC has looked dreadful but will ride Larry Johnson and Tony Gonzalez to a win here...pick: Chiefs.

Detroit (+6) at Philadelphia--McNabb and Co. are desperate for a win here but Lions are playing like the team with the swagger...too many weapons for Kitna so even if Philly gets it together, take the points...pick: Lions.

Buffalo (+16.5) at New England--Looks like a ridiculous spread but probably justified here...underdogs cover these a vast majority of the time when the game is out of hand and they score against a prevent defense...not here, Belichick is still pissed off...pick: Patriots.

Miami (+3) at New York Jets--Both teams are 0-2, divisional game, but the Jets have looked much better to date with their respectable showing against the Ravens...Jones, Coles and Cotchery go off at home...pick: Jets.

San Francisco (+9) at Pittsburgh--Battle of 2-0 teams with the nod again going to the home team...Big Ben looks healthy, Parker is a beast and the defense is inspired...bad news for Niners who have faced soft Ds in Arizona and St. Louis...pick: Steelers.

Arizona (+7.5) at Baltimore--If the Ravens didn't have such a dominant defense, they'd wouldn't be much of a threat...that offense doesn't scare anyone...I think Leinart will have to throw a ton and will keep them in the game...if they're getting more than a touchdown here, I like 'em...pick: Cardinals.

St. Louis (+3.5) at Tampa Bay--This one seems too easy to me and that should throw up a red flag but...the Rams finally get on track here...nice win for Bucs last week but I think they'll be a Jekyll-and-Hyde team all year so it's their week to lose again...pick: Rams.

Jacksonville (+3.5) at Denver--Broncos were lucky to win against Raiders last week with sneaky Shanahan calling that last second timeout! Jags D keep them in this and Henry will struggle to find the holes...it's a classic field goal game so take here...pick: Jaguars.

Cincinnati (+3) at Seattle--Bengals brace themselves for another wild one but should come out on top here as Seattle struggled at home in Week 1 and gave the game away last week...Chad Johnson jumps into end zone here twice with no threat of bodily harm...pick: Bengals.

Cleveland (+3) at Oakland--Great showing by the Browns putting up 51 points so chances are they're due for a letdown against a team that had a win stolen from them...Jordan should carve them up and control the clock for Raiders...pick: Raiders.

Carolina (-3.5) at Atlanta--Aside from Delhomme-to-Smith, what does Carolina have going for them and how are they road favorites...oh wait, it's Atlanta...call me crazy but Falcons cover if not win outright...pick: Falcons.

New York Giants (+3.5) at Washington--Normally I'd call for a close, hard-fought divisional game but G-Men have cost me two weeks in a row and Plax might not play...Jason Campbell impressed last week so if they can avoid the MNF hangover, they should pick apart an abysmal defense that plays with no heart...pick: Redskins.

Dallas (+3.5) at Chicago--The Cowboys offense is clicking but faces its toughest test at Soldier Field...like Ravens, Bears offense is well...almost offensive! Boys should do just enough to keep this one close as Romo still has a decent night...pick: Cowboys.

Tennessee (+4) at New Orleans--Who has been more disappointing than the Saints with many picking them in the preseason to be the best in the NFC...they can turn it around and it has to start here...home crowd on MNF will give them the jump start they need as Brees and Bush finally get on track...this is my pick of the week...pick: Saints.

Last week: 10-6 To date: 20-11-1 (You'll just have to trust me...)

Play Action - Week 3

Welcome to Play Action.
Every Saturday, we will look at this upcoming weekend's match ups and see who should and should not be playing from each of them.

Start = Guys who you should definitely have active.
Consider = Guys who won't stand out, but are alright if you don't have a superior option.
Bench = Guys who you should keep on your bench.

Without further adieu, let's look at Week 3.
Click the links to see the current weather forecast.

This will be posted on Friday the next 2 weeks, and back to the regularly scheduled Saturdays afterwards.

1:00pm EST Games

Vikings @ Chiefs
Viking Offensive YPG- 176.5 Passing (25), 131 Rushing (10)
Chief Defensive YPG - 169 Passing (6), 108 Rushing (15)

Chief Offensive YPG - 179 Passing (24), 71 Rushing (27)
Viking Defensive YPG - 264 Passing (25), 76 Rushing (6)

Start: Adrian Peterson, Tony Gonzalez, Viking Defense
Consider: Larry Johnson, Dwayne Bowe
Bench: All Viking WRs, Kelly Holcomb, Chester Taylor, Damon Huard

The Vikings could be without QB Tarvaris Jackson, as if the passing offense wouldn't have already been minimal. The Viking defense is solid against the run, weak against the pass. In case you haven't heard yet, the Chiefs offense isn't very good. It'd be hard to bench Johnson, but if you have decent options, this isn't likely the week he busts out. Taylor is still too risky to start this week, despite his belief that he'll start.

Rams @ Buccaneers
Ram Offensive YPG - 246.5 Passing (9), 68.5 Rushing (28)
Buc Defensive YPG - 224 Passing (20), 119 Rushing (20)

Buc Offensive YPG - 218.5 Passing (15), 88.5 Rushing (25)
Ram Defensive YPG - 149 Passing (4), 137.5 Rushing (25)

Start: Marc Bulger, Torry Holt, Isaac Bruce, Steven Jackson, Joey Galloway, Cadillac Williams
Consider: Randy McMichael, Rams Defense
Bench: Drew Bennett, Jeff Garcia, Bucs Defense

This should be the game that Steven Jackson finally gets on-track, Bulger took a beating last week and the Rams need to take some pressure off of him. The Ram defense has been solid against the pass thus far. Williams is the most likely option to score for the Bucs as Coach Gruden continues to ride him.

49ers @ Steelers
49er Offensive YPG - 99.5 Passing (31), 90.5 Rushing (23)
Steeler Defensive YPG - 148 Passing (3), 74 Rushing (5)

Steeler Offensive YPG - 197.5 Passing (22), 195 Rushing (2)
49er Defensive YPG - 215.5 Passing (17), 111 Rushing (16)

Start: Frank Gore, Ben Roethlisberger, Willie Parker, Hines Ward, Santonio Holmes, Heath Miller, Steeler Defense
Consider: Vernon Davis
Bench: Alex Smith, Darrell Jackson, Arnaz Battle

I fully expect that Big Ben puts up his standard average passing yardage totals, but he should add a couple TDs to make up for it. This is the game where the currently 2-0 49ers are exposed as pretenders, look at their pedestrian rankings going against the excellent Steelers. Bump D-Jax up to "Consider" if he's active. Vernon Davis likely gets more looks this week, but the Niners do still have an anemic offense opposing a stout Steeler defense.

Lions @ Eagles
Lion Offensive YPG - 321.5 Passing (1), 82 Rushing (26)
Eagle Defensive YPG - 188 Passing (8), 88 Rushing (8)

Eagle Offensive YPG - 203 Passing (19), 108.5 Rushing (17)
Lion Defensive YPG - 236.5 Passing (21), 107.5 Rushing (14)

Start: Jon Kitna, Roy Williams, Calvin Johnson, Donovan McNabb, Brian Westbrook, Reggie Brown
Consider: Mike Furrey, Shaun McDonald, Jason Avant
Bench: Both Defenses, Tatum Bell, Kevin Jones, L.J. Smith (surgery)

In Philly, if D-Mac can't carve up the feeble Lion secondary, expect the boo-birds to be unleashed early and often. Look for Reggie Brown to finally break out this week. The "Consider" cre for this game should be strongly considered at WR3. Westbrook is banged up, but he should start. Tatum Bell is useless and Kevin Jones is still limited, so look for the Lions to approach 50 pass attempts once again against a banged up Eagle secondary, while McNabb is around 40 in what should be a shoot out.

Colts @ Texans - Retractable Roof
Colt Offensive YPG - 294 Passing (2), 122,5 Rushing (12)
Texan Defensive YPG - 217 Passing (19), 69 Rushing (3)

Texan Offensive YPG - 216.5 Passing (16), 114 Rushing (14)
Colt Defensive YPG - 179.5 Passing (7), 123.5 Rushing (21)

Start: Peyton Manning, Marvin Harrison, Reggie Wayne, Joseph Addai, Dallas Clark, Ahman Green, Owen Daniels, Colt Defense
Consider: Anthony Gonzalez
Bench: Matt Schaub, Jacoby Jones, Kevin Walter, Texan Defense

Without Andre Johnson (knee), I can't imagine the Texans putting up much of a fight. Look for Owen Daniels to be the primary beneficiary of Johnson's absence, but look for the Texans to pound the ball, and then pound the ball some more. Look for Manning, Harrison, Wayne to put up their standard big numbers, and despite a tough Texan run D, look for Addai to put up good numbers as well.

San Diego @ Green Bay
Charger Offensive YPG - 167.5 Passing (27), 64.5 Rushing (29)
Packer Defensive YPG - 205.5 Passing (14), 98.5 Rushing (13)

Packer Offensive YPG - 227 Passing (13), 64.5 Rushing (29)
Charger Defensive YPG - 192.5 Passing (10), 112 Rushing (18)

Start: LaDainian Tomlinson, Antonio Gates, Donald Driver, Charger Defense
Consider: Philip Rivers, Vincent Jackson, Brett Favre
Bench: Michael Turner, DeShawn Wynn, Brandon Jackson, James Jones, Greg Jennings, Packer Defense

Someone has to pay for the embarrassing spanking that the Chargers took on Monday Night Football. Look for LT to get his mojo working better against a tough Green Bay unit. I'd prefer to wait and see with Rivers if you have another option. Wynn got a ton of attention this week, but other than a long TD run in Week 2, he hasn't shown anything yet. The return of Jennings cuts into Jones' current fantasy value.

Bills @ Patriots
Bill Offensive YPG - 96.5 Passing (32), 107 Rushing (18)
Patriot Defensive YPG - 158 Passing (5), 56 Rushing (1)

Patriot Offensive YPG - 280 Passing (4), 139 Rushing (8)
Bill Defensive YPG - 267.5 Passing (27), 177.5 Rushing (30)

Start: Tom Brady, Laurence Maroney, Randy Moss, Wes Welker, Ben Watson, Patriot Defense
Consider: Donte Stallworth, Sammy Morris
Bench: J.P. Losman, Marshawn Lynch, Lee Evans

One of the games' best all-around teams against, statistically, one of its worst. Losman has floundered thus far, and this is not the game for him to get well. That has absolutely killed Evans' value so far, and if you have enough other options to fill your lineup, Evans should be benched this week. The Bills defense is pathetic, get all of your Patriots out there. Morris deserves consideration since he is a goal line option, and I expect him out there in garbage time. If the Patsies shut LT down, I can't see Lynch having much success against them. Either Stallworth shows up this week, or not at all this season.

Dolphins @ Jets
Dolphin Offensive YPG - 240 Passing (12), 63.5 Rushing (32)
Jet Defensive YPG - 241 Passing (22), 126 Rushing (23)

Jet Offensive YPG - 201 Passing (20), 64.5 Rushing (29)
Dolphin Defensive YPG - 197.5 Passing (12), 178.5 Rushing (31)

Start: Chris Chambers, Thomas Jones, Laveranues Coles, Jerricho Cotchery
Consider: Trent Green, Ronnie Brown, Marty Booker, Both Defenses
Bench: Chad Pennington, Kellen Clemens

I'm giving Ronnie Brown the benefit of the doubt on this one, he almost made the "Start" list. Coach Cameron claims they will run the ball more this week. After rough match ups against the Patriots and Ravens the previous 2 weeks, look for Thomas Jones to bounce back against a bad Dolphin rush defense missing Zach Thomas. Cotchery is expected to be active, but make sure on Sunday. You can't trust Pennington to be healthy...in this game, or ever.

Cardinals @ Ravens
Cardinal Offensive YPG - 199.5 Passing (21), 146.5 Rushing (6)
Raven Defensive YPG - 208 Passing (16), 62 Rushing (2)

Raven Offensive YPG - 196 Passing (23), 112.5 Rushing (15)
Cardinal Defensive YPG - 190 Passing (9), 92 Rushing (10)

Start: Larry Fitzgerald, Anquan Boldin, Willis McGahee, Todd Heap, Raven Defense
Consider: Matt Leinart, Derrick Mason, Cardinal Defense
Bench: Edgerrin James, Bryant Johnson, Steve McNair, Mark Clayton

If you have another option, leave James on the bench against a fierce Raven run defense. Clayton should get his starter status back this week, but wait and see what he does. If the Raven D does have a soft spot, it's their pass defense, which is the Cardinals' strength, so trot out Leinart if you don't have a more attractive option, and leave Fitz and Quan active.

4:00pm EST Games

Bengals @ Seahawks
Bengal Offensive YPG - 287.5 Passing (3), 96 Rushing (20)
Seahawk Defensive YPG - 246.5 Passing (23), 111 Rushing (16)

Seahawk Offensive YPG - 241 Passing (11), 115.5 Rushing (13)
Bengal Defensive YPG - 267.5 Passing (27), 166.5 Rushing (28)

Start: Carson Palmer, Rudi Johnson, Chad Johnson, T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Matt Hasselbeck, Shaun Alexander, Deion Branch
Consider: Bobby Engram
Bench: Glenn Holt, Nate Burleson, both Defenses

The Bengal defense was positively carved up by the lowly Browns in Week 2. Seattle is likely salivating at the possibilities, but Cincy will likely be out to prove that they aren't completely incompetent. Still, start all of Seattle's big names. Start all your Bengal big names as well, just likely every other wee they're healthy. Engram deserves a long look if you don't have a better WR3 option.

Browns @ Raiders
Brown Offensive YPG - 251.5 Passing (8), 136 Rushing (9)
Raider Defensive YPG - 272 Passing (29), 144.5 Rushing (26)

Raider Offensive YPG - 168 Passing (26), 146 Rushing (7)
Brown Defensive YPG - 276.5 Passing (30), 171.5 Rushing (29)

Start: Jamal Lewis, Braylon Edwards, Kellen Winslow, LaMont Jordan, Ronald Curry
Consider: Josh McCown, Raider Defense
Bench: Derek Anderson, Jerry Porter

The game nobody but the hardest of die-hards wants to see. Look for the Brown offense to crash back down to reality this week. Derek Anderson had the game of his life in Week 2, he won't come close to repeating it this week, although a TD hookup with Edwards or Winslow isn't out of the question. They haven't shown it yet this season, but the Raiders do have an above average pass defense. Expect a slightly dinged Jordan to play, see the ball a lot, and put up very nice numbers again.

Jaguars @ Broncos
Jaguar Offensive YPG - 224 Passing (14), 94 Rushing (21)
Bronco Defensive YPG - 62.5 Passing (1), 156 Rushing (27)

Bronco Offensive YPG - 279.5 Passing (5), 176 Rushing (6)
Jaguar Defensive YPG - 117 Passing (2), 182 Rushing (32)

Start: Maurice Jones-Drew, Travis Henry, Javon Walker, Bronco Defense
Consider: Fred Taylor, Jaguar Defense
Bench: David Garrard, All Jags WRs, Marcedes Lewis, Jay Cutler, Selvin Young, Brandon Marshall

The Broncos pass defense is just sick, #1 with a bullet. Despite giving up nearly twice as many yards, the Jags have the #2 pass defense. Starting to get the impression that this will be a smash-mouth rushing contest yet? Rush defense has been the soft underbelly for both defenses thus far, so give MJD another shot. Walker is a weekly must-start, but all other WRs and QBs should be benched if you have decent alternatives.

Panthers @ Falcons - Dome
Panther Offensive YPG - 244 Passing (10), 126 Rushing (11)
Falcon Defensive YPG - 207 Passing (15), 126 Rushing (23)

Falcon Offensive YPG - 167.5 Passing (27), 89 Rushing (24)
Panther Defensive YPG - 194.5 Passing (11), 97.5 Rushing (12)

Start: Jake Delhomme, Steve Smith, Panther Defense
Consider: Drew Carter, DeShaun Foster, Alge Crumpler
Bench: DeAngelo Williams, Joey Harrington, Warrick Dunn, Jerious Norwood, All Falcon WRs

Joey Harrington is officially a lame duck QB with Byron Leftwich in town. He seems able to find Crumpler on a fairly regular basis, but that's about it. Delhomme will continue looking to Smith early and often. Look for the Falcons to continue to struggle to put any points on the board.

Giants @ Redskins
Giant Offensive YPG - 272.5 Passing (6), 109 Rushing (16)
Redskin Defensive YPG - 216.5 Passing (18), 90 Rushing (9)

Redskin Offensive YPG - 208 Passing (18), 160.5 Rushing (4)
Giant Defensive YPG - 310.5 Passing (32), 112.5 Rushing (19)

Start: Eli Manning, Jeremy Shockey, Jason Campbell, Clinton Portis, Santana Moss, Chris Cooley
Consider: Derrick Ward, Plaxico Burress, Amani Toomer, Antwaan Randle El, Ladell Betts
Bench: Uhhh...Brandon Jacobs?

This is THE week to unleash your Redskins, play all of their starters, and consider Betts if you don't have another decent option...the Giants don't stop anyone. Hell, they don't slow down anyone. Campbell is a legit #1 QB for this week, Moss is a borderline WR1. Plax is on "Consider" since I doubt he suits up. If he does, play him, if he doesn't, bump Toomer slightly. Ward looks good filling in for Jacobs, but the Skins have been tough against the run and the Giants will need to throw to keep up as the Skins light up their D.

Sunday Night Football

Cowboys @ Bears
Cowboy Offensive YPG - 261 Passing (7), 154 Rushing (5)
Bear Defensive YPG - 198.5 Passing (13), 73.5 Rushing (4)

Bear Offensive YPG - 127 Passing (29), 93.5 Rushing (22)
Cowboy Defensive YPG - 293.5 Passing (31), 92.5 Rushing (11)

Start: Tony Romo, Terrell Owens, Cedric Benson, Bernard Berrian, Bear Defense
Consider: Marion Barber III, Rex Grossman, Desmond Clark, Cowboy Defense
Bench: Julius Jones, Patrick Crayton, Jason Witten, Muhsin Muhammad, Greg Olsen

Can the fierce Bears defense slow down the fierce Cowboy offense? They did pretty well against the Chargers. If you have another good option at QB, maybe you consider benching Romo, although you really should never bench your studs. Barber is the most likely option to score for the Cowboys. Sit Witten if you can, as Briggs and the excellent Bear LBs should keep him under wraps. Grossman is an option if you're in dire straits, since the Cowboys pass defense has been awfully soft so far. Look for a couple deep shots to Berrian, and an INT or two.

Monday Night Football

Titans @ Saints
Titan Offensive YPG - 120 Passing (30), 211.5 Rushing (1)
Saint Defensive YPG - 265.5 Passing (26), 125.5 Rushing (22)

Saint Offensive YPG - 215.5 Passing (17), 102.5 Rushing (19)
Titan Defensive YPG - 248.5 Passing (24), 78 Rushing (7)

Start: Vince Young, Drew Brees, Reggie Bush, Marques Colston
Consider: LenDale White, Roydell Williams, Deuce McAllister
Bench: Chris Brown, Devery Henderson, Eric Johnson

Anyone been a bigger disappointment than the Saints so far? Didn't think so. If Young is ever going to start putting up respectable passing stats, this is his week to begin. Roydell Williams should be the prime beneficiary. Young, White and Brown should be able to run effectively as well, although Brown's scoring chances aren't great. Brees should continue to put up a respectable yardage total against the Titan DBs, and mis in some dump passes to Bush as well.

Let me know what you think of this article.

The Kings plays of the Week - Week 3

From now on every Friday you can check in to see who the King has as his plays of the week...
I am trying not to give obvious guys like Manning, Brady, LT etc... So for week 3 here is who I like.

QB:

I expect a big things from Vince Young this week VS. the Saints. The Saints gave up a lot of yardage to the Bucs last week and I feel that Young and the Titans should move the ball pretty well. The Bucs are not stopping anybody from throwing ranking 26th in pass defense with 0 INTS. Expect Young to get 220 yards 2 TD's and another rushing.

Jason Campbell is another play I really like this week. He played well against a very solid Philly D last week and this week faces a sub par Giants D. The Giants are dead last in passing D giving up over 300 yards a game so far. Expect Campbell to approach 250 yards and 2 TD's.

RB:

Laurence Maroney should go crazy against a terrible Bills Defense. The Bills have given up a ton of yardage to the Broncos and the Steelers thus far and I expect Maroney to do so as well. I would be a little worried about Sammy Morris (who should be a good RB3 or Flex option for week 3) stealing Maroney's goalline carries. But I expect Maroney to break a long one for 6 this week. I see 125 yards and 1 TD pretty easily this week for Maroney.

How about Thomas Jones. I think Jones can run against a marginal Miami run Defense. I expect the Jets to run the ball a lot with a dinged up Pennington. Jones could see 25 carries and should get all the goal line carries. I think Jones should get 112 yards and a TD.

I also really like DeShaun Foster this week against the Falcons. The Falcons are giving up plenty of yards on the ground but have yet to allow any rushing scores. I do think that will change this week with Carolina coming into the dome. I would not consider Foster an elite option this week because of the lack of rushing TD's gave up by the Falcons but I like his chances for a score.


WR:

Santana Moss is going to go insane this week. Get this guy in your lineup. I love Moss for the same reason I like Campbell. I fully expect Moss to catch a huge play of 40+ yards for a TD. Lets face it the Giants pass defense could not stop your local high school wide outs. Play Santana Moss and expect 130 yards and a TD.

Bobby Engram faces a Bengals defense that allowed 5 passing TD's last week. I know Engram is not quite the WR talent that Braylon Edwards is and his QB is better than Derek Anderson so I expect big things. Hasselbeck (should be started this week) is no slouch at all and should put up great numbers all day. I really like Engram and Branch (must start this week) this week and expect big things from both of them. I might not expect a TD because of Holmgren's love affair with Alexander (Must start) inside the 10. I project Engram around 98 yards no TD. Still not bad for a guy you can plug in off the Waiver wire in most leagues.
Marty Booker is a great 1 week guy this week as well. he plays a rather bad Jets passing defense that has allowed 5 TD's through the air. I think Booker and his teammate Chris Chambers are money this week. I fully expect 70 yards and a TD from Booker this week.

TE:

Before I start into my TE's I would like to vent my frustration towards Vernon Davis. They call him VD, now I know why he is infecting my team like VD right now. Come on Vernon please show everyone you are not just a combine freak and that you are a stud TE like everyone who drafted you thought you would be. You can get open VS. a Steelers defense that is not as good as it used to be but is still a top 3 passing D.

That being said Vernon Davis is my TE of the week. I expect Davis to get many more throws after venting his frustration with the offense earlier this week. Davis has 4 catches this season is looking like a fantasy bust but I always say the open mouth gets the food, and hopefully Mike Nolan agrees. Note to Alex Smith this Vernon Davis guy is pretty good, you might want to throw him the ball instead of alligator arm Darrel Jackson. Davis and head coach Mike Nolan had a meeting and they both seemed to say the right things after the interview so lets see what happens. I think Davis has 50 yards a TD this week. Don't be the guy who benches Davis when he busts out this week.

D/ST:

The Colts, yes the Colts. They are facing a Houston team who is going to be without Andre Johnson. I do not expect Jacoby Jones, Andre Davis and whoever the other WR's in Houston to scare the Colts much. I expect to see Bob Sanders up at the line early stopping the run. After the Colts build a substantial lead Sanders will go back into the secondary to help the pass D and the Colts will win big. I think 2 turnovers and 4 sacks should be plausible.

K:

I have to tell you this was the easiest choice ever. Jeff Reed, come on how can you not start a guy with this picture...





Well thats week 3 for all you people out there in fantasy land. Please comment and I will answer a few comments every week in my story.

Hot Adds

Here's some hot adds heading into Week 3.

DeShawn Wynn - RB - Green Bay
Wynn is a must add, THE must-add player for the week. Allegedly, he'll be given the chance to be the feature back with Brandon Jackson struggling mightily. Realistically, you should temper your expectations...other than a long TD run against the Giants in Week 2, he failed to put up inspirational numbers. That said, every feature back in the NFL deserves to be owned.

Owen Daniels - TE - Houston
The loss of Andre Johnson should benefit Daniels nicely. He will take over as their best receiving option and should put up good numbers at home against the Colts.

Jacoby Jones - WR - Houston
This is the other guy getting hype about more targets due to the loss of Andre Johnson. Personally, I'll believe it when I see it. Jones will certainly get more looks, but I'm not convinced that he'll put up better numbers than he has so far this season. Also temper your expectations since Coach Kubiak claims that Kevin Walter is the only Texan WR guaranteed a starting position.

Shaun McDonald - WR - Detroit
The best #4 WR in the NFL. If the Lions continue throwing 50+ times per game, there's obviously plenty of catches to go around. The drawback here is that McDonald has likely already reached his ceiling. The possibility exists for him to pass Mike Furrey on the depth chart, although Roy Williams and Megatron will remain the top 2 options. On the other hand, the Lions throw more than any other team, and love to go 4 wide.

Anthony Gonzalez - WR - Indianapolis
After being The Invisible Man in Week 1, Gonzalez made some nice grabs in Week 2. That should go a long was in earning endorsement loving Peyton Manning's trust, gaining more looks. A WR3 in this explosive offense should definitely be owned, he could end up with similar numbers to Brandon Stokley's a few seasons back.

Dwayne Bowe - WR - Kansas City
In Week 2 he stole a TD away from Tony Gonzalez and caught another nullified by penalty. Someone other than Gonzo has to catch the occasional pass in KC with Kennison out.

Bobby Engram - WR - Seattle
Never exciting, but he puts up respectable numbers year after year.

Indianapolis Colts - Defense/Special Teams
They're going against a Texans team that has looked impressive thus far, but they will be without Andre Johnson, making the Colts a very nice play for Week 3.

Houston Texans - Defense/Special Teams
Tied for 4th for fewest points allowed (24). 19th against the pass, 3rd against the rush. 25th in sacks (2) isn't pretty, but they have the 6th most INTs (3). Those stats are from a small sample size and one of the games was against the Chiefs, but they certainly deserve to be watched.

Jeff Reed - K - Pittsburgh
Yup, a kicker. Hey, the top-scoring kicker has been a waiver addition the past couple seasons, and it appears as though Reed very well may be on that route in 2007.

Everybody Panic!

2 weeks into the season, and we should have at least some semblance of a clue as to who may be looking at a bust season.
This post will cover some of the top offenders, and some guys who are still standing out on the fringe.

Full-Blown Panic:
Larry Johnson - The concern about his contract proved to be unnecessary. The concern about a bad team with a terrible offensive line, well, that's certainly legit. It's not like they can flip a switch and make things better. Through no fault of his own, LJ is looking at a very mediocre season.

Maurice Jones-Drew - 2 weeks, 18 carries, 63 yards, plus another 38 receiving and 0 TDs.
Look, nobody should have expected him to match last season's TD output, and he is still the #2 RB option on his own team...but this is terrible production, and The Jags are looking like a far cry from an offensive juggernaut. Obviously don't drop him, but if you have a LaMont Jordan, DeShawn Wynn or Derrick Ward on your bench, maybe you should give them a look in front of MJD.

Ronnie Brown - I guess we know why Jesse Chatman was discussed. He has a 4.2 YPC compared to Brown's 3.0. Brown has added 76 receiving yards...but 65 yards total on the ground and 0 TDs from a guy you got in the 2nd round. Zoinks!

Devery Henderson - An over-hyped "sleeper" before the season, he's been horrific. Drops passes like Grateful Dead fans drop acid. Cut ties immediately.

Patrick Crayton - This guy was suppsoed to get more looks with the Terry Glenn injury. Nope!

Brandon Jackson - Toting the rock for a 2.3 YPC isn't going to get you anywhere. Word on the street is that DeShawn Wynn will take over as Green Bay's feature back.

Donte Stallworth - He is the forgotten man in New England. Stories about Tom Brady spreading around the ball so much aren't necessarily true now, he just never had a WR with Randy Moss' skills.

Philip Rivers - He was absolutely terrible against the Patriots. He looks baffled. If, for some reason, you drafted him as your QB1, it's time to work a trade for somebody else.

On The Brink:
Reggie Bush & Deuce McAllister - The Saint offense has been anemic thus far. These guys haven't done anything...Mike Karney leads them in RB TDs. You've still gotta believe that this situation HAS to get better, the Saints have too much talent, right? Give them a little more time.

Marques Colston - See above. Unlike those guys, Colston actually has a TD. 117 yards over 2 weeks isn't scaring anyone though. He won't be sneaking up on defenses this season, and no other WR on this team is going to take pressure off of him.

Reggie Brown - I'll give him a pass, since he's been hurt. The Eagles face weak secondaries coming up. If he doesn't show anything then, it's time for full-blown panic. McNabb has been looking for Kevin Curtis primarily.

Mark Clayton - Through 2 games Clayton has 1 more reception on his career total...and 1 fewer yard. Much like Reggie Brown, I'll give him an injury pass. But he needs to show me something, anything, in Week 3.

Donovan McNabb - He's coming back from a tough injury and has looked tentative so far. He missed an easy TD hookup with Kevin Curtis last night, and his WRs are dropping balls left and right. He even claims that he's only at 75%. He's coming back from a very similar injury to the one that derailed Daunte Culpepper's career, so this certainly bears watching. If he can't carve up the feeble Detroit secondary in Week 3, it's officially time for full-blown panic.

Matt Leinart - He was supposed to bust out this year, and is more likely to have been drafted as a late QB1 than Philip Rivers. So far, despite a wealth of WR talent, he only has 2 TDs, 401 yards and 3 INTs. Last season was for learning, this season he should be showing us something.

Guys to Buy Low NOW!
Drew Brees - Too much talent for this lack of production to continue, I can't see his value getting any lower.

Donovan McNabb - The injury is certainly a concern, to go along with his complete lack of production so far. But come on, the Lions and the Giants are the next 2 teams on the schedule.

Laurence Maroney - See if his owner is frustrated about him losing touches and TDs, and then attempt to steal him away.

Maurice Jones-Drew - Yes, he's in full-blown panic. See exactly how cheaply you can get him. You don't want him as an RB2 right now, but he'd be a high upside RB3.

Brandon Jacobs - He's allegedly coming back much sooner than expected. See if his owner is worried, or lacking the depth to handle his absence. The window is closing fast here.

Larry Fitzgerald & Anquan Boldin - These guys are far too talented to be held down for long.

Lee Evans - He is a legitimate gamebreaker. J.P. Losman is floundering. If Losman wants to save his job, he'll start finding Evans early and often.

Vernon Davis - Yeah, it's hard to get excited about a guy that has 27 yards and 0 TDs through 2 weeks. He's screaming for the ball now, D-Jax is beat up (shocker), and I fully expect Alex Smith to look his way when the 49ers are in the red zone.

Guys to Sell High NOW!
Jamal Lewis - His performance against the Bengals will be the absolute peak of his season. See if you can find an owner that believes he's back on track for another 2000 yard season, and pillage away.

Clinton Portis - A nice showing, on national television. He remains a very high injury risk.

Braylon Edwards - Yes, the dude has a ton of talent. But the extremely shaky QB situation is going to drag him down. It very well may take a month and a half for the Browns to score another 51 total points.

Jake Delhomme - He's put together 2 very nice games and is among the league leaders in scoring. The fact remains, he's a mediocre QB. If you can get a nice return, unload him now before he reminds us all of his mediocrity.

Side Notes
I believe that LaMont Jordan remains the feature back in Oakland, despite the return of Rhodes.
Randy Moss will continue to thrive in New England.
If Kevin Jones is inexplicably still available on your waiver wire...for the love of meatloaf, pick him up!
Chris Brown has peaked. If you expect him to produce like he produced in Week 1, you really haven't paid any attention at all to the past few seasons.
Julius Jones is just about finished in The Big D.
The Cowboys defense was dramatically overrated coming into this season.
Take a long look at Amani Toomer this week if the injury to Plax is going to limit him.
Bump Owen Daniels up a few notches, as he'll be the Texans' best option without Andre Johnson.