BustedKnuckles
Footballguy
AFC East
Buffalo — If you have two other capable running backs, rest RB Marshawn Lynch this week. The rookie has gotten off to a nice start to his career, but the Patriots are giving up just 56 rushing yards per game, second in the NFL. … Don’t even flirt with the idea of starting QB J.P. Losman. The Patriots’ defense thrives on confusing the heck out of quarterbacks, and Losman is more mistake-prone than almost any other starting quarterback in the league. … WR Lee Evans poses an interesting predicament for fantasy owners. Evans was dominant at times in 2006, but has been limited to just 22 receiving yards this season. We’ll give him a pass in his Week One game as he battled premier cover corner Champ Bailey all afternoon, but he failed to get going against the Steelers last week, as well. But, the guy is simply too good of a player to bench. Our advice is to give him the start, assuming that Buffalo will be trailing and having to pass, and revisit the situation next week.
Miami — It may be tempting to start RB Ronnie Brown against the Jets’ 23rd-ranked run defense, but if you have two other decent running backs, try to resist the urge. Brown failed to get it going against the Redskins and injury-plagued Cowboys, and there’s not much reason to think he’ll turn things around here. Further limiting his chances is coach Cam Cameron’s decision to get backup Jesse Chatman more repetitions. … Rest QB Trent Green this week. Although he ranks 11th in the NFL in passing yards per game, he has tossed just three TD passes, and faces a good Jets secondary. … Despite our advice to sit Green, WR Chris Chambers deserves to be played. Chambers is off to a great start this season, and Cameron’s move of Chambers (15-201-0) to the weak side — where he’s facing more single coverage — has paid dividends.
New England — The Patriots are going to have a field day against the Bills in Foxborough, so start all of the following Pats: QB Tom Brady, WRs Randy Moss and Wes Welker, RB Laurence Maroney, TE Ben Watson and the Patriots’ defense. The Bills are allowing 445 yards per game, but the Broncos and Steelers don’t possess the type of offensive talent the Patriots do. 500 yards of total offense is well within reason. Defensively, the Patriots should rack up sacks and interceptions. Basically, feel fortunate if your roster includes one of New England’s stars.
New York Jets — QB Chad Pennington should get the start against Miami, but you’d be wise to keep him on the bench. His ankle sprain could limit his mobility, and that’s not a good thing facing off against a Dolphins’ defense that thrives on getting pressure on the quarterback. … For those of you who’ve waited patiently for RB Thomas Jones to get going, you should be rewarded this week with his first big game of the season. The Dolphins rank 31st in the league against the run, and their age is finally catching up to them. Definitely give Jones the start. … WR Jerricho Cotchery had the big game last week against the Ravens, but WR Laveranues Coles remains the top target in the receiving corps. He’s a fast, tough receiver, and will have a big game against an injury-riddled Dolphins secondary.
AFC North
Baltimore — QB Steve McNair (groin) was optimistic that he could play vs. the Jets in Week Two, but the Ravens started Kyle Boller instead, and Boller played well in a 20-13 Baltimore victory, completing 23-of-35 passes for 185 yards and two touchdowns. Boller is a limited player, but he knows the offense, and the Ravens are not going to rush McNair back if he isn’t ready. However, McNair was not listed on Wednesday’s injury report, and he has been practicing, so make sure to monitor the Ravens’ QB situation into the weekend. … No matter the Ravens’ quarterback, tread carefully when starting Ravens WRs Mark Clayton, Derrick Mason and Demetrius Williams. Only Williams is racking up more than 10 yards per reception on the season, and he’s a part-time player. Clayton has one catch for minus-1 yard in two games. … RB Willis McGahee was a bigger part of the offense last week, but he didn’t have a rush of more than nine yards. Nonetheless, he’s a solid start vs. Arizona.
Cincinnati — Start QB Carson Palmer and WRs T.J. Houshmandzadeh and Chad Johnson in all formats no matter the opponent. RB Rudi Johnson comes highly recommended, too. What else is there to say about a Cincinnati offense that racked up 45 points in defeat last week? Well, we can also talk about WR Glenn Holt, who will be the No. 3 receiver this week if Tab Perry (hamstring) is out. Perry can’t stay healthy, and Holt caught five passes for 52 yards and a touchdown vs. Cleveland. Holt might be a nice short-term pickup if he continues to play well as we enter the portion of the schedule laden with bye weeks. … Our take on the Bengals’ defense as far as fantasy football goes? If your league gives points for interceptions and turnovers and ignores points and yards surrendered, keep a spot for Cincy. If not, bid goodbye to these cats of prey.
Cleveland — If you started QB Derek Anderson last week, many congratulations. Anderson had six career TD passes entering the Week Two tilt with Cincinnati; now, he’s in double-digits with 11 after the Bengals were beaten for five scores through the air. The two questions on Fantasy owners’ minds this week: 1) Is Anderson a worthy waiver-wire pickup, and 2) is he a good play vs. Oakland? The answers depend upon the size of your league and how desperate you are for QB help. Anderson isn’t an especially accurate passer, and Brady Quinn is still Cleveland’s QB of the future, but when he’s hot, he can rack up some enviable numbers. That said, the Oakland secondary can be tough, and it’s hard to endorse Anderson on the road. However, TE Kellen Winslow is a must-start, and RB Jamal Lewis is a solid No. 2 option in most formats. What about WR Braylon Edwards, you ask? He’s a nice No. 2 or 3 option in bigger leagues, but don’t get too excited about his two TD catches vs. Cincinnati. Both were against Bengals rookie CB Leon Hall, and one was the result of a blown coverage.
Pittsburgh — RB Willie Parker has racked up 235 yards on 50 carries this season, a reassuring sign to Fantasy owners who may have worried that offensive coordinator Bruce Arians was going to be too pass-happy. But Arians has maintained good balance in Pittsburgh’s first two games. Parker remains a must-start. The Niners’ defense is improved, but the San Francisco offense has scuffled, and this could lead to Patrick Willis and Co. tiring as the game progresses. … QB Ben Roethlisberger has thrived in the Steelers’ shotgun, four-WR sets — formations that should give San Francisco’s secondary trouble in Week Three, especially if the Steelers’ offensive line continues to give him the time he needs. So work Roethlisberger and WRs Hines Ward and Santonio Holmes into the lineup.
AFC South
Houston — WR Andre Johnson (knee) is likely out for the Week Three showdown vs. Indianapolis. His absence bolsters the value of WRs Kevin Walter and Jacoby Jones, but not so much that should rush out and start them. TE Owen Daniels, however, is worth a look, especially in leagues with 12 teams or more. … RB Ahman Green is racking up 4.6 yards per carry, but he has the same number of total carries this season (31) as plodding backup Ron Dayne, who has received the lion’s share of fourth-quarter work in back-to-back games. Cramping kept Green out of the game late vs. Carolina. The positive for fantasy owners is that he scored vs. the Panthers and that the lack of early-season work can only help keep him fresh as the season progresses.
Indianapolis — RB Joseph Addai has flourished in his role as the Colts’ featured back. He has rushed for 199 yards and two touchdowns in two games. And he has got the Texans’ number after carrying 31 times for 182 yards (5.9-yard average) in two games vs. Houston last season. … In his last three games vs. the Texans, QB Peyton Manning has thrown nine TD passes and zero interceptions. … If Manning has dominated the Texans in recent years, that means WRs Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne probably have also had strong outings. Harrison totaled 15 catches for 239 yards and two TDs in two games last season, while Wayne had a stellar performance in the first meeting (6-135-0) and was invisible in the second game (3-27-0) in 2006. The Texans surrendered 153 receiving yards and three TDs to Panthers WR Steve Smith last week. … Make sure you get TE Dallas Clark, who led the Colts in receiving in Week Two (7-69-1), into your starting lineup this week. … A healthy SS Bob Sanders has helped the Colts’ defense, which held New Orleans without an offensive touchdown in Week One and limited the Titans to two offensive TDs in Week Two, become an every-week fantasy defense, especially with Texans WR Andre Johnson (knee) out this week.
Jacksonville — QB David Garrard has been solid in two starts since replacing Byron Leftwich, passing for 476 yards, two TDs and zero interceptions. He’s worth picking up as a fantasy backup at this point. … The Jaguars’ running game has not gotten on track. In Week One, Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew were limited to a combined 13 carries and 48 yards. Last week, the Jaguars showed a commitment to the run, giving Taylor and Jones-Drew a combined 27 carries. But they failed to produce, combining for 87 yards and no scores. Take away Taylor’s 29-yard run, and he carried 15 times for 27 yards. Look for Taylor and Jones-Drew to rebound this week vs. a Broncos defense that’s surrendering 156 rushing yards per game. … The Jaguars’ WR corps remains too inconsistent to consider. After being a healthy scratch in Week One, WR Reggie Williams caught a TD pass last week. WR Dennis Northcutt leads the Jaguars in receiving with just nine catches for 132 yards. And WR Matt Jones missed practice Wednesday with a heel injury and was called out for his poor body language by head coach Jack Del Rio.
Tennessee — Here’s a stat to keep an eye on: QB Vince Young has completed 62.2 percent of his passes thus far. The biggest criticism of Young to date is that he’s not an accurate passer, but the early returns suggest he’s not as inaccurate as he was as a rookie. And we all know he’s still a dangerous runner. If Young becomes a more polished passer, the fantasy prospects of the Titans’ receivers will improve. None come highly recommended at this point, though WR Roydell Williams is off to the best start of the group and might be worth a look in bigger leagues against a New Orleans secondary that has had its problems to this point. … RB LenDale White leads the Titans with 33 carries. RB Chris Brown has 31. They figure to split carries again this week. Both are decent No. 3 RB or “flex” options in most formats.
AFC West
Denver — Although the occasional blunders are apparent from time to time (two interceptions, one of which was returned for a touchdown, and one safety against Oakland in Week Two), QB Jay Cutler is looking like he already has starting fantasy potential — and should be starting in a lot of leagues right now. Cutler has 573 passing yards in two outings this season and has thrown at least one TD pass in all seven career starts. … Don’t worry about RB Travis Henry this week against the typically stout Jacksonville run defense. The Jaguars have yet to show their teeth, ranking last in the NFL in rushing yards allowed thanks to getting gutted by Tennessee in Week One. … No. 3 WR Brandon Stokley has made his presence felt with six catches for 108 yards and a touchdown through two games, as the Broncos are operating out of a fair amount of three-WR sets, which is helping keep TE Tony Scheffler on the pine in favor of Daniel Graham.
Kansas City — TE Tony Gonzalez said he was “embarrassed” by the way the Chiefs have played offensively, but answers are hard to find for Kansas City’s struggles this season. RB Larry Johnson should find the going to be tough against a Minnesota defense that finished first in the NFL against the run last season and currently ranks sixth after solid efforts against Atlanta and Detroit. … Rookie WR Dwayne Bowe could be on the cusp of being a free-agent commodity. He caught a TD pass last week in his first start (another was called back for an illegal shift) and is said to be ready to hold on to his starting job, in place of Samie Parker, once Eddie Kennison returns from a hamstring injury.
Oakland — Now would seemingly be a great time to dust off your collection of Raiders, such as RB LaMont Jordan and WRs Ronald Curry and Jerry Porter. They face an enticing showdown with a Browns defense that has allowed 10 TD passes in two games. If you’re in a league that requires two starting quarterbacks, Josh McCown could even warrant a look. … Jordan has been running hard, with 229 yards and a touchdown on 40 carries, and the offensive line is blocking considerably better for the run than the pass. Jordan’s performance is making it possible that it may not be a dual backfield when Dominic Rhodes returns from suspension in Week Five. Rhodes will undoubtedly have a role, but Jordan may keep a significant workload based on how he’s played. … After finishing last season ranked third overall defensively and first vs. the pass, the Raiders' defense ranks 28th and 29th, respectively, in those areas through two weeks.
San Diego — The Chargers have scored just 28 points in the first two games after scoring 31 points per game in 2006. The total of 464 yards against the Bears and Patriots is the worst back-to-back output since 2003 for the Chargers. Blocking issues and the inability of wide receivers to separate from defensive backs have been issues, but QB Philip Rivers has looked shaky in the pocket as well, throwing three interceptions in 61 attempts. The passing game will have to earn respect from opposing defenses before RB LaDainian Tomlinson sees fewer defenders crowding the line of scrimmage. … As far as the Chargers’ defense is concerned, NT Jamal Williams (elbow) should be fine to face Green Bay, but the Chargers likely will be without ILB Matt Wilhelm (calf) this week.
NFC East
Dallas — Some numbers that might want to make you think about playing RB Marion Barber against a tough Bears defense that has held Larry Johnson and LaDainian Tomlinson in check: Barber has rushed for at least one touchdown in each of his past four road games, and of his 22 career rushing scores, 12 of them have been away from home. Barber has eight multiple-touchdown games in his career (four of which came on the road). And though that alone is not a reason to start him, he’s the kind of back who could trip up the Bears when he spells Julius Jones. Witness Chargers RB Michael Turner’s 40 rushing yards in relief of Tomlinson in Week One. Barber might be good for one score, though his yards likely won’t be terrific.
N.Y. Giants — With WR Steve Smith (scapula) out for at least two weeks, QB Eli Manning could throw almost exclusively to his top 2-3 targets against the Redskins. WR Sinorice Moss hardly gets reps these days, making the Giants easier to defend. Will WR Plaxico Burress (ankle) be one of those targets? It’s about a 50-50 shot he’ll play, but he’s tougher than most people give him credit for being and likely will end up gutting it out. A breakout game for TE Jeremy Shockey or WR Amani Toomer, a week after both were flagged for mindless dead-ball penalties, is not out of the question. But know this about Shockey: The Redskins have held him to three receptions for 31 yards combined in the teams’ past three meetings.
Philadelphia — If you play the Eagles’ defense, you had better be doing it to expect sacks and interceptions and not be worried about yards or points. The Lions are likely to move the ball against the Eagles’ banged-up secondary. Lions WRs Roy Williams, Calvin Johnson, Mike Furrey and Shaun McDonald are a menace to cover, so only consider the defense in leagues where there are no penalties for yards or points allowed. … RB Brian Westbrook, who has 51 touches in two games, is suffering from a swollen knee and could be limited if he plays. Look for RB Correll Buckhalter to get more carries either way, but Tony Hunt should see his first action of the season.
Redskins — TE Chris Cooley is a must-play this week. Based on how tight ends have done against the Giants in the first two weeks (Cowboys TE Jason Witten caught six passes for 116 yards and a TD in Week One, and Packers TEs Donald Lee and Bubba Franks combined for eight receptions and two TDs in Week Two), Cooley should be a major factor. Though he was held in check somewhat against the Giants last season with nine receptions and 90 yards in the two meetings, he has had some fantasy success against them in the past. The coaches would love to see him more involved in the overall game plan. … Want a sleeper receiver for down the line? WR Reche Caldwell might be your guy a few weeks from making a serious impact, but he is likely to replace Brandon Lloyd as the third wideout on the depth chart in no time.
NFC North
Chicago — A Bears offense that is ranked only 29th in passing yards and 30th in total yards could catch a break going up against a Cowboys secondary that has given up six TD passes and an average of 293.5 passing yards per game. … Rookie TE Greg Olsen participated in his first full practice Wednesday since getting injured in the last exhibition game and is expected to see his first action of the season Sunday night against Dallas. WR Bernard Berrian leads the team with 10 catches for 148 yards and is the only wideout on the team with more than 20 receiving yards or three catches. … LB Lance Briggs has been an IDP heavyweight so far this season. In Week Two, Briggs had 12 tackles, a sack, a pass deflection, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. … After struggling mightily in Week One, Bears RB Cedric Benson showed signs of getting his act together in Week Two, rushing for 101 yards on 24 carries.
Detroit — With Eagles CB Lito Sheppard not likely to play and S Brian Dawkins still feeling the effects of a neck injury, the Lions are likely to — what else? — test the Eagles through the air. QB Jon Kitna appears fine after going back into the game following a concussion and should be good to go. And you can make a case for all four wide receivers being good plays, though Shaun McDonald might be a better option than Mike Furrey based on the team’s distribution so far.
Green Bay — QB Brett Favre is coming off a stellar effort last Sunday, starting off the second half with 14 straight completions. After throwing three TD passes last week, Favre needs four TD passes to break Dan Marino’s all-time NFL career mark of 420. … With RB Vernand Morency (knee) considered a long shot to be able to play this Sunday, you might want to consider DeShawn Wynn for fantasy purposes, Wynn had two TDs last week along with 50 yards on 10 carries. … A decision perhaps very late in the week is expected on WR Greg Jennings (hamstring), so keep him on the bench to be safe. … TE Bubba Franks (knee), who had a TD catch last week, was limited in practice this week but is expected to play Sunday vs. the Chargers. … With Favre appearing to operating in high gear, his favorite target WR Donald Driver (8-73-1 last week) remains a strong fantasy option.
Minnesota — Even if QB Tarvaris Jackson’s groin allows him to play, you might want to avoid playing him or any Vikings receivers or tight ends until they prove they can perform at a higher level. … RB Chester Taylor (hip) has improved slowly and could play, though the prevailing thought is that Mewelde Moore has earned himself regular touches after a fine performance against the Lions.
NFC South
Atlanta — Don’t go rushing out to sign QB Byron Leftwich to your fantasy team now that the ex-Jaguars signalcaller has signed with Atlanta. We hear Leftwich won’t be ready to start until Week Five at the earliest. And even when he does take over the starting job, he likely won’t fare much better than Joey Harrington has with the Falcons’ weak WR corps. … RB Warrick Dunn and TE Alge Crumpler are the only Falcons worth getting into your starting lineup this week. Dunn scored a touchdown last week — the Falcons’ lone TD of the season and his first rushing touchdown since Week 12 last season — and had the Panthers’ number in Week One last season, rushing for 132 yards. Crumpler is the Falcons’ top receiving threat, and the Panthers’ safeties are the Achilles’ heel of the defense. Texans TE Owen Daniels posted five catches for 58 yards vs. Carolina last week. … Ageless wonder PK Morten Andersen re-signed with the Falcons this week. Don’t add him to your roster yet, but he may be worth adding down the road when your starter is on a bye.
Carolina — Look for WR Steve Smith, who had eight catches for 153 yards and three TD receptions in Week Two, to get even more touches this week as he has been the only weapon in the Panthers’ arsenal. … Second-year RB DeAngelo Williams could be getting more carries in the coming weeks if DeShaun Foster’s ball-security issues persist. One of the main reasons head coach John Fox has stuck with Foster as his starter is because he trusts him to protect the ball. After getting a bad rap for fumbling in college and early in his NFL career, Foster fumbled just twice last season. But he fumbled again in the opener. … Second-year TE Jeff King has emerged as QB Jake Delhomme’s second favorite target behind Smith. King has nine catches in two games. No. 2 WR Drew Carter has only six catches. … Delhomme continues to work his way back toward becoming a must-start fantasy player every week. Through two games, he has thrown for 508 yards, six TDs and one interception. … Get the Panthers’ defense in your starting lineup this week against a Falcons offense that has scored just one offensive touchdown in two games and has surrendered 13 sacks.
New Orleans —QB Drew Brees had a decent fantasy outing last week, throwing for 260 yards, one TD and one interception. He should get even better this week vs. a Tennessee defense that ranks 24th in pass defense. … Look for RB Deuce McAllister to get a heavier workload this week after carrying the ball 10 times in each of the first two games. The Saints figure to stick with the run a lot longer this week as they try to establish an offensive identity. … It’s time to consider benching RB Reggie Bush. He seems to have regressed after the strong finish to his rookie campaign. Bush is gaining 3.0 yards per carry and hasn’t scored a touchdown. Tennessee ranks 9th vs. the run and has done a good job shutting down the Jags’ and Colts’ rushing attacks. … WR Marques Colston found the endzone last week and remains an every-week starter. But No. 2 WR Devery Henderson should be on his way to your fantasy bench. He has more dropped passes (4) than catches this season (3) and is in danger of losing his starting spot to WR David Patten. … Consider putting TE Eric Johnson in your starting lineup this week. The Titans had a tough time containing Colts TE Dallas Clark (seven catches, 69 yards, one TD) last week, and Johnson is athletic enough to get open vs. the Titans.
Tampa Bay — Despite nursing sore ribs, RB Cadillac Williams scored twice in the Buccaneers’ Week Two win — those were Williams’ first trips to the endzone since Week Three last season, when he scored just once all season long. Get Williams in the lineup again this week vs. a Rams defense that’s surrendering 137.5 rushing yards per game. … QB Jeff Garcia (10-of-16 passing, 243 yards, two TDs) delivered the sort of performance in Week Two that Jon Gruden expected when he signed the free-agent quarterback in March. Garcia is worth starting this week a Rams secondary that has allowed three TD passes and is missing CB Tye Hill (back). … WR Joey Galloway has found the fountain of youth. The 35-year-old receiver made four catches for 135 yards and two TDs (including a 69-yard TD catch) last week vs. the Saints. Galloway has developed a solid rapport with Garcia and is an every-week starter. … The Buccaneers’ defense shut down the Saints in Week Two and should be able to slow down a Rams offense this week that’s reeling from the loss of OLT Orlando Pace and ORG Richie Incognito to injuries.
NFC West
Arizona — Don’t look now, but RB Edgerrin James leads the NFC in rushing with 220 yards on 50 carries (4.4-yard average). James’ 128 yards rushing last week against Seattle were his most in 24 games, and his 17-yard TD run was his longest as a Cardinal. He also had the 53rd 100-yard game of his career. … The extra work that QB Matt Leinart put in leading up to Arizona’s first win of the season paid off. Coming off arguably the worst performance of his career in Week One, Leinart completed 23-of-37 passes for 299 yards and a TD with one interception. This Sunday, Leinart faces a Ravens secondary that had a surprisingly difficult time containing Jets backup QB Kellen Clemens in the second half last week. … One of the league’s more solid IDPs so far has been Cardinals starting ILB Gerald Hayes, who has 12 tackles, a sack and a forced fumble through two games. The forced fumble late in Arizona’s Week Two victory over Seattle set up PK Neil Rackers’ game-winning field goal. … Rackers made 3-of-4 FG attempts against Seattle, including a 52-yarder. … WR Anquan Boldin could be a good fantasy option this week. He’s the same kind of physical receiver as the Jets’ Jerricho Cotchery, who had a huge game vs. Baltimore last week.
St. Louis — QB Marc Bulger put up some hefty passing numbers in Week Two, throwing for 368 yards and a touchdown in the loss to the Niners, but he also took a terrific beating, feeling the effects of six sacks and also losing a fumble. … RB Steven Jackson continued his early-season struggles, managing only a modest 60 yards rushing on 21 carries while also being extremely limited as a receiver. If there’s a bright side, it’s that the Rams’ ground game started off strong vs. the Niners before petering out as the game wore on. … WR Isaac Bruce had a big game last Sunday vs. San Francisco’s vastly improved secondary, catching eight passes for 145 yards. … WR Torry Holt had his second TD catch in as many games and continues to be a solid fantasy option despite operating at less than full strength. … WR Drew Bennett, an offseason free-agent addition, made his presence felt as a Ram for the first time last week, catching three passes for 42 yards.
San Francisco — With the Niners’ offense stumbling out of the gate in very unimpressive fashion, the only truly legitimate fantasy performer up to now is RB Frank Gore, who still looks a bit rusty according to team insiders but is a good bet to regain his sensational form of last season quickly enough. Gore suffered a leg sprain last week vs. the Rams but is listed as probable for this Sunday’s game in Pittsburgh. Even after his 43-yard broken-field TD run in St. Louis last week, Gore has just 136 yards rushing the first two games after setting the Niners’ single-season franchise record last season. He’ll be hard-pressed to find many openings vs. a stout Steelers run defense that will be stacked to stop him. … As was the case when he was in Seattle, WR Darrell Jackson seems to be showing up on the Niners’ injury list on a regular basis. Jackson suffered a back injury against the Rams, but is listed as probable for this Sunday.
Seattle —With WR D.J. Hackett still out indefinitely with a foot injury, you might consider Nate Burleson as a fantasy weapon in a pinch, especially against Cincinnati’s Swiss cheese pass defense. Burleson had a 24-yard TD catch last week. Hackett watched practice from the sideline all week with a protective boot on his right foot. … You definitely should consider WR Deion Branch vs. Cincy’s shaky secondary. After not catching a pass in Week One, Branch exploded with seven catches for 122 yards vs. Arizona in Week Two. … QB Matt Hasselbeck had a productive day vs. Arizona in Week Two, throwing to eight different receivers for 278 yards, one TD and no interceptions. … While he has yet to really get it going in his usual manner, RB Shaun Alexander still had 70 yards rushing and a touchdown against Arizona’s improved defense. Alexander is a native of Cincinnati and could be a bit more motivated this Sunday because of that fact.
Buffalo — If you have two other capable running backs, rest RB Marshawn Lynch this week. The rookie has gotten off to a nice start to his career, but the Patriots are giving up just 56 rushing yards per game, second in the NFL. … Don’t even flirt with the idea of starting QB J.P. Losman. The Patriots’ defense thrives on confusing the heck out of quarterbacks, and Losman is more mistake-prone than almost any other starting quarterback in the league. … WR Lee Evans poses an interesting predicament for fantasy owners. Evans was dominant at times in 2006, but has been limited to just 22 receiving yards this season. We’ll give him a pass in his Week One game as he battled premier cover corner Champ Bailey all afternoon, but he failed to get going against the Steelers last week, as well. But, the guy is simply too good of a player to bench. Our advice is to give him the start, assuming that Buffalo will be trailing and having to pass, and revisit the situation next week.
Miami — It may be tempting to start RB Ronnie Brown against the Jets’ 23rd-ranked run defense, but if you have two other decent running backs, try to resist the urge. Brown failed to get it going against the Redskins and injury-plagued Cowboys, and there’s not much reason to think he’ll turn things around here. Further limiting his chances is coach Cam Cameron’s decision to get backup Jesse Chatman more repetitions. … Rest QB Trent Green this week. Although he ranks 11th in the NFL in passing yards per game, he has tossed just three TD passes, and faces a good Jets secondary. … Despite our advice to sit Green, WR Chris Chambers deserves to be played. Chambers is off to a great start this season, and Cameron’s move of Chambers (15-201-0) to the weak side — where he’s facing more single coverage — has paid dividends.
New England — The Patriots are going to have a field day against the Bills in Foxborough, so start all of the following Pats: QB Tom Brady, WRs Randy Moss and Wes Welker, RB Laurence Maroney, TE Ben Watson and the Patriots’ defense. The Bills are allowing 445 yards per game, but the Broncos and Steelers don’t possess the type of offensive talent the Patriots do. 500 yards of total offense is well within reason. Defensively, the Patriots should rack up sacks and interceptions. Basically, feel fortunate if your roster includes one of New England’s stars.
New York Jets — QB Chad Pennington should get the start against Miami, but you’d be wise to keep him on the bench. His ankle sprain could limit his mobility, and that’s not a good thing facing off against a Dolphins’ defense that thrives on getting pressure on the quarterback. … For those of you who’ve waited patiently for RB Thomas Jones to get going, you should be rewarded this week with his first big game of the season. The Dolphins rank 31st in the league against the run, and their age is finally catching up to them. Definitely give Jones the start. … WR Jerricho Cotchery had the big game last week against the Ravens, but WR Laveranues Coles remains the top target in the receiving corps. He’s a fast, tough receiver, and will have a big game against an injury-riddled Dolphins secondary.
AFC North
Baltimore — QB Steve McNair (groin) was optimistic that he could play vs. the Jets in Week Two, but the Ravens started Kyle Boller instead, and Boller played well in a 20-13 Baltimore victory, completing 23-of-35 passes for 185 yards and two touchdowns. Boller is a limited player, but he knows the offense, and the Ravens are not going to rush McNair back if he isn’t ready. However, McNair was not listed on Wednesday’s injury report, and he has been practicing, so make sure to monitor the Ravens’ QB situation into the weekend. … No matter the Ravens’ quarterback, tread carefully when starting Ravens WRs Mark Clayton, Derrick Mason and Demetrius Williams. Only Williams is racking up more than 10 yards per reception on the season, and he’s a part-time player. Clayton has one catch for minus-1 yard in two games. … RB Willis McGahee was a bigger part of the offense last week, but he didn’t have a rush of more than nine yards. Nonetheless, he’s a solid start vs. Arizona.
Cincinnati — Start QB Carson Palmer and WRs T.J. Houshmandzadeh and Chad Johnson in all formats no matter the opponent. RB Rudi Johnson comes highly recommended, too. What else is there to say about a Cincinnati offense that racked up 45 points in defeat last week? Well, we can also talk about WR Glenn Holt, who will be the No. 3 receiver this week if Tab Perry (hamstring) is out. Perry can’t stay healthy, and Holt caught five passes for 52 yards and a touchdown vs. Cleveland. Holt might be a nice short-term pickup if he continues to play well as we enter the portion of the schedule laden with bye weeks. … Our take on the Bengals’ defense as far as fantasy football goes? If your league gives points for interceptions and turnovers and ignores points and yards surrendered, keep a spot for Cincy. If not, bid goodbye to these cats of prey.
Cleveland — If you started QB Derek Anderson last week, many congratulations. Anderson had six career TD passes entering the Week Two tilt with Cincinnati; now, he’s in double-digits with 11 after the Bengals were beaten for five scores through the air. The two questions on Fantasy owners’ minds this week: 1) Is Anderson a worthy waiver-wire pickup, and 2) is he a good play vs. Oakland? The answers depend upon the size of your league and how desperate you are for QB help. Anderson isn’t an especially accurate passer, and Brady Quinn is still Cleveland’s QB of the future, but when he’s hot, he can rack up some enviable numbers. That said, the Oakland secondary can be tough, and it’s hard to endorse Anderson on the road. However, TE Kellen Winslow is a must-start, and RB Jamal Lewis is a solid No. 2 option in most formats. What about WR Braylon Edwards, you ask? He’s a nice No. 2 or 3 option in bigger leagues, but don’t get too excited about his two TD catches vs. Cincinnati. Both were against Bengals rookie CB Leon Hall, and one was the result of a blown coverage.
Pittsburgh — RB Willie Parker has racked up 235 yards on 50 carries this season, a reassuring sign to Fantasy owners who may have worried that offensive coordinator Bruce Arians was going to be too pass-happy. But Arians has maintained good balance in Pittsburgh’s first two games. Parker remains a must-start. The Niners’ defense is improved, but the San Francisco offense has scuffled, and this could lead to Patrick Willis and Co. tiring as the game progresses. … QB Ben Roethlisberger has thrived in the Steelers’ shotgun, four-WR sets — formations that should give San Francisco’s secondary trouble in Week Three, especially if the Steelers’ offensive line continues to give him the time he needs. So work Roethlisberger and WRs Hines Ward and Santonio Holmes into the lineup.
AFC South
Houston — WR Andre Johnson (knee) is likely out for the Week Three showdown vs. Indianapolis. His absence bolsters the value of WRs Kevin Walter and Jacoby Jones, but not so much that should rush out and start them. TE Owen Daniels, however, is worth a look, especially in leagues with 12 teams or more. … RB Ahman Green is racking up 4.6 yards per carry, but he has the same number of total carries this season (31) as plodding backup Ron Dayne, who has received the lion’s share of fourth-quarter work in back-to-back games. Cramping kept Green out of the game late vs. Carolina. The positive for fantasy owners is that he scored vs. the Panthers and that the lack of early-season work can only help keep him fresh as the season progresses.
Indianapolis — RB Joseph Addai has flourished in his role as the Colts’ featured back. He has rushed for 199 yards and two touchdowns in two games. And he has got the Texans’ number after carrying 31 times for 182 yards (5.9-yard average) in two games vs. Houston last season. … In his last three games vs. the Texans, QB Peyton Manning has thrown nine TD passes and zero interceptions. … If Manning has dominated the Texans in recent years, that means WRs Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne probably have also had strong outings. Harrison totaled 15 catches for 239 yards and two TDs in two games last season, while Wayne had a stellar performance in the first meeting (6-135-0) and was invisible in the second game (3-27-0) in 2006. The Texans surrendered 153 receiving yards and three TDs to Panthers WR Steve Smith last week. … Make sure you get TE Dallas Clark, who led the Colts in receiving in Week Two (7-69-1), into your starting lineup this week. … A healthy SS Bob Sanders has helped the Colts’ defense, which held New Orleans without an offensive touchdown in Week One and limited the Titans to two offensive TDs in Week Two, become an every-week fantasy defense, especially with Texans WR Andre Johnson (knee) out this week.
Jacksonville — QB David Garrard has been solid in two starts since replacing Byron Leftwich, passing for 476 yards, two TDs and zero interceptions. He’s worth picking up as a fantasy backup at this point. … The Jaguars’ running game has not gotten on track. In Week One, Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew were limited to a combined 13 carries and 48 yards. Last week, the Jaguars showed a commitment to the run, giving Taylor and Jones-Drew a combined 27 carries. But they failed to produce, combining for 87 yards and no scores. Take away Taylor’s 29-yard run, and he carried 15 times for 27 yards. Look for Taylor and Jones-Drew to rebound this week vs. a Broncos defense that’s surrendering 156 rushing yards per game. … The Jaguars’ WR corps remains too inconsistent to consider. After being a healthy scratch in Week One, WR Reggie Williams caught a TD pass last week. WR Dennis Northcutt leads the Jaguars in receiving with just nine catches for 132 yards. And WR Matt Jones missed practice Wednesday with a heel injury and was called out for his poor body language by head coach Jack Del Rio.
Tennessee — Here’s a stat to keep an eye on: QB Vince Young has completed 62.2 percent of his passes thus far. The biggest criticism of Young to date is that he’s not an accurate passer, but the early returns suggest he’s not as inaccurate as he was as a rookie. And we all know he’s still a dangerous runner. If Young becomes a more polished passer, the fantasy prospects of the Titans’ receivers will improve. None come highly recommended at this point, though WR Roydell Williams is off to the best start of the group and might be worth a look in bigger leagues against a New Orleans secondary that has had its problems to this point. … RB LenDale White leads the Titans with 33 carries. RB Chris Brown has 31. They figure to split carries again this week. Both are decent No. 3 RB or “flex” options in most formats.
AFC West
Denver — Although the occasional blunders are apparent from time to time (two interceptions, one of which was returned for a touchdown, and one safety against Oakland in Week Two), QB Jay Cutler is looking like he already has starting fantasy potential — and should be starting in a lot of leagues right now. Cutler has 573 passing yards in two outings this season and has thrown at least one TD pass in all seven career starts. … Don’t worry about RB Travis Henry this week against the typically stout Jacksonville run defense. The Jaguars have yet to show their teeth, ranking last in the NFL in rushing yards allowed thanks to getting gutted by Tennessee in Week One. … No. 3 WR Brandon Stokley has made his presence felt with six catches for 108 yards and a touchdown through two games, as the Broncos are operating out of a fair amount of three-WR sets, which is helping keep TE Tony Scheffler on the pine in favor of Daniel Graham.
Kansas City — TE Tony Gonzalez said he was “embarrassed” by the way the Chiefs have played offensively, but answers are hard to find for Kansas City’s struggles this season. RB Larry Johnson should find the going to be tough against a Minnesota defense that finished first in the NFL against the run last season and currently ranks sixth after solid efforts against Atlanta and Detroit. … Rookie WR Dwayne Bowe could be on the cusp of being a free-agent commodity. He caught a TD pass last week in his first start (another was called back for an illegal shift) and is said to be ready to hold on to his starting job, in place of Samie Parker, once Eddie Kennison returns from a hamstring injury.
Oakland — Now would seemingly be a great time to dust off your collection of Raiders, such as RB LaMont Jordan and WRs Ronald Curry and Jerry Porter. They face an enticing showdown with a Browns defense that has allowed 10 TD passes in two games. If you’re in a league that requires two starting quarterbacks, Josh McCown could even warrant a look. … Jordan has been running hard, with 229 yards and a touchdown on 40 carries, and the offensive line is blocking considerably better for the run than the pass. Jordan’s performance is making it possible that it may not be a dual backfield when Dominic Rhodes returns from suspension in Week Five. Rhodes will undoubtedly have a role, but Jordan may keep a significant workload based on how he’s played. … After finishing last season ranked third overall defensively and first vs. the pass, the Raiders' defense ranks 28th and 29th, respectively, in those areas through two weeks.
San Diego — The Chargers have scored just 28 points in the first two games after scoring 31 points per game in 2006. The total of 464 yards against the Bears and Patriots is the worst back-to-back output since 2003 for the Chargers. Blocking issues and the inability of wide receivers to separate from defensive backs have been issues, but QB Philip Rivers has looked shaky in the pocket as well, throwing three interceptions in 61 attempts. The passing game will have to earn respect from opposing defenses before RB LaDainian Tomlinson sees fewer defenders crowding the line of scrimmage. … As far as the Chargers’ defense is concerned, NT Jamal Williams (elbow) should be fine to face Green Bay, but the Chargers likely will be without ILB Matt Wilhelm (calf) this week.
NFC East
Dallas — Some numbers that might want to make you think about playing RB Marion Barber against a tough Bears defense that has held Larry Johnson and LaDainian Tomlinson in check: Barber has rushed for at least one touchdown in each of his past four road games, and of his 22 career rushing scores, 12 of them have been away from home. Barber has eight multiple-touchdown games in his career (four of which came on the road). And though that alone is not a reason to start him, he’s the kind of back who could trip up the Bears when he spells Julius Jones. Witness Chargers RB Michael Turner’s 40 rushing yards in relief of Tomlinson in Week One. Barber might be good for one score, though his yards likely won’t be terrific.
N.Y. Giants — With WR Steve Smith (scapula) out for at least two weeks, QB Eli Manning could throw almost exclusively to his top 2-3 targets against the Redskins. WR Sinorice Moss hardly gets reps these days, making the Giants easier to defend. Will WR Plaxico Burress (ankle) be one of those targets? It’s about a 50-50 shot he’ll play, but he’s tougher than most people give him credit for being and likely will end up gutting it out. A breakout game for TE Jeremy Shockey or WR Amani Toomer, a week after both were flagged for mindless dead-ball penalties, is not out of the question. But know this about Shockey: The Redskins have held him to three receptions for 31 yards combined in the teams’ past three meetings.
Philadelphia — If you play the Eagles’ defense, you had better be doing it to expect sacks and interceptions and not be worried about yards or points. The Lions are likely to move the ball against the Eagles’ banged-up secondary. Lions WRs Roy Williams, Calvin Johnson, Mike Furrey and Shaun McDonald are a menace to cover, so only consider the defense in leagues where there are no penalties for yards or points allowed. … RB Brian Westbrook, who has 51 touches in two games, is suffering from a swollen knee and could be limited if he plays. Look for RB Correll Buckhalter to get more carries either way, but Tony Hunt should see his first action of the season.
Redskins — TE Chris Cooley is a must-play this week. Based on how tight ends have done against the Giants in the first two weeks (Cowboys TE Jason Witten caught six passes for 116 yards and a TD in Week One, and Packers TEs Donald Lee and Bubba Franks combined for eight receptions and two TDs in Week Two), Cooley should be a major factor. Though he was held in check somewhat against the Giants last season with nine receptions and 90 yards in the two meetings, he has had some fantasy success against them in the past. The coaches would love to see him more involved in the overall game plan. … Want a sleeper receiver for down the line? WR Reche Caldwell might be your guy a few weeks from making a serious impact, but he is likely to replace Brandon Lloyd as the third wideout on the depth chart in no time.
NFC North
Chicago — A Bears offense that is ranked only 29th in passing yards and 30th in total yards could catch a break going up against a Cowboys secondary that has given up six TD passes and an average of 293.5 passing yards per game. … Rookie TE Greg Olsen participated in his first full practice Wednesday since getting injured in the last exhibition game and is expected to see his first action of the season Sunday night against Dallas. WR Bernard Berrian leads the team with 10 catches for 148 yards and is the only wideout on the team with more than 20 receiving yards or three catches. … LB Lance Briggs has been an IDP heavyweight so far this season. In Week Two, Briggs had 12 tackles, a sack, a pass deflection, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. … After struggling mightily in Week One, Bears RB Cedric Benson showed signs of getting his act together in Week Two, rushing for 101 yards on 24 carries.
Detroit — With Eagles CB Lito Sheppard not likely to play and S Brian Dawkins still feeling the effects of a neck injury, the Lions are likely to — what else? — test the Eagles through the air. QB Jon Kitna appears fine after going back into the game following a concussion and should be good to go. And you can make a case for all four wide receivers being good plays, though Shaun McDonald might be a better option than Mike Furrey based on the team’s distribution so far.
Green Bay — QB Brett Favre is coming off a stellar effort last Sunday, starting off the second half with 14 straight completions. After throwing three TD passes last week, Favre needs four TD passes to break Dan Marino’s all-time NFL career mark of 420. … With RB Vernand Morency (knee) considered a long shot to be able to play this Sunday, you might want to consider DeShawn Wynn for fantasy purposes, Wynn had two TDs last week along with 50 yards on 10 carries. … A decision perhaps very late in the week is expected on WR Greg Jennings (hamstring), so keep him on the bench to be safe. … TE Bubba Franks (knee), who had a TD catch last week, was limited in practice this week but is expected to play Sunday vs. the Chargers. … With Favre appearing to operating in high gear, his favorite target WR Donald Driver (8-73-1 last week) remains a strong fantasy option.
Minnesota — Even if QB Tarvaris Jackson’s groin allows him to play, you might want to avoid playing him or any Vikings receivers or tight ends until they prove they can perform at a higher level. … RB Chester Taylor (hip) has improved slowly and could play, though the prevailing thought is that Mewelde Moore has earned himself regular touches after a fine performance against the Lions.
NFC South
Atlanta — Don’t go rushing out to sign QB Byron Leftwich to your fantasy team now that the ex-Jaguars signalcaller has signed with Atlanta. We hear Leftwich won’t be ready to start until Week Five at the earliest. And even when he does take over the starting job, he likely won’t fare much better than Joey Harrington has with the Falcons’ weak WR corps. … RB Warrick Dunn and TE Alge Crumpler are the only Falcons worth getting into your starting lineup this week. Dunn scored a touchdown last week — the Falcons’ lone TD of the season and his first rushing touchdown since Week 12 last season — and had the Panthers’ number in Week One last season, rushing for 132 yards. Crumpler is the Falcons’ top receiving threat, and the Panthers’ safeties are the Achilles’ heel of the defense. Texans TE Owen Daniels posted five catches for 58 yards vs. Carolina last week. … Ageless wonder PK Morten Andersen re-signed with the Falcons this week. Don’t add him to your roster yet, but he may be worth adding down the road when your starter is on a bye.
Carolina — Look for WR Steve Smith, who had eight catches for 153 yards and three TD receptions in Week Two, to get even more touches this week as he has been the only weapon in the Panthers’ arsenal. … Second-year RB DeAngelo Williams could be getting more carries in the coming weeks if DeShaun Foster’s ball-security issues persist. One of the main reasons head coach John Fox has stuck with Foster as his starter is because he trusts him to protect the ball. After getting a bad rap for fumbling in college and early in his NFL career, Foster fumbled just twice last season. But he fumbled again in the opener. … Second-year TE Jeff King has emerged as QB Jake Delhomme’s second favorite target behind Smith. King has nine catches in two games. No. 2 WR Drew Carter has only six catches. … Delhomme continues to work his way back toward becoming a must-start fantasy player every week. Through two games, he has thrown for 508 yards, six TDs and one interception. … Get the Panthers’ defense in your starting lineup this week against a Falcons offense that has scored just one offensive touchdown in two games and has surrendered 13 sacks.
New Orleans —QB Drew Brees had a decent fantasy outing last week, throwing for 260 yards, one TD and one interception. He should get even better this week vs. a Tennessee defense that ranks 24th in pass defense. … Look for RB Deuce McAllister to get a heavier workload this week after carrying the ball 10 times in each of the first two games. The Saints figure to stick with the run a lot longer this week as they try to establish an offensive identity. … It’s time to consider benching RB Reggie Bush. He seems to have regressed after the strong finish to his rookie campaign. Bush is gaining 3.0 yards per carry and hasn’t scored a touchdown. Tennessee ranks 9th vs. the run and has done a good job shutting down the Jags’ and Colts’ rushing attacks. … WR Marques Colston found the endzone last week and remains an every-week starter. But No. 2 WR Devery Henderson should be on his way to your fantasy bench. He has more dropped passes (4) than catches this season (3) and is in danger of losing his starting spot to WR David Patten. … Consider putting TE Eric Johnson in your starting lineup this week. The Titans had a tough time containing Colts TE Dallas Clark (seven catches, 69 yards, one TD) last week, and Johnson is athletic enough to get open vs. the Titans.
Tampa Bay — Despite nursing sore ribs, RB Cadillac Williams scored twice in the Buccaneers’ Week Two win — those were Williams’ first trips to the endzone since Week Three last season, when he scored just once all season long. Get Williams in the lineup again this week vs. a Rams defense that’s surrendering 137.5 rushing yards per game. … QB Jeff Garcia (10-of-16 passing, 243 yards, two TDs) delivered the sort of performance in Week Two that Jon Gruden expected when he signed the free-agent quarterback in March. Garcia is worth starting this week a Rams secondary that has allowed three TD passes and is missing CB Tye Hill (back). … WR Joey Galloway has found the fountain of youth. The 35-year-old receiver made four catches for 135 yards and two TDs (including a 69-yard TD catch) last week vs. the Saints. Galloway has developed a solid rapport with Garcia and is an every-week starter. … The Buccaneers’ defense shut down the Saints in Week Two and should be able to slow down a Rams offense this week that’s reeling from the loss of OLT Orlando Pace and ORG Richie Incognito to injuries.
NFC West
Arizona — Don’t look now, but RB Edgerrin James leads the NFC in rushing with 220 yards on 50 carries (4.4-yard average). James’ 128 yards rushing last week against Seattle were his most in 24 games, and his 17-yard TD run was his longest as a Cardinal. He also had the 53rd 100-yard game of his career. … The extra work that QB Matt Leinart put in leading up to Arizona’s first win of the season paid off. Coming off arguably the worst performance of his career in Week One, Leinart completed 23-of-37 passes for 299 yards and a TD with one interception. This Sunday, Leinart faces a Ravens secondary that had a surprisingly difficult time containing Jets backup QB Kellen Clemens in the second half last week. … One of the league’s more solid IDPs so far has been Cardinals starting ILB Gerald Hayes, who has 12 tackles, a sack and a forced fumble through two games. The forced fumble late in Arizona’s Week Two victory over Seattle set up PK Neil Rackers’ game-winning field goal. … Rackers made 3-of-4 FG attempts against Seattle, including a 52-yarder. … WR Anquan Boldin could be a good fantasy option this week. He’s the same kind of physical receiver as the Jets’ Jerricho Cotchery, who had a huge game vs. Baltimore last week.
St. Louis — QB Marc Bulger put up some hefty passing numbers in Week Two, throwing for 368 yards and a touchdown in the loss to the Niners, but he also took a terrific beating, feeling the effects of six sacks and also losing a fumble. … RB Steven Jackson continued his early-season struggles, managing only a modest 60 yards rushing on 21 carries while also being extremely limited as a receiver. If there’s a bright side, it’s that the Rams’ ground game started off strong vs. the Niners before petering out as the game wore on. … WR Isaac Bruce had a big game last Sunday vs. San Francisco’s vastly improved secondary, catching eight passes for 145 yards. … WR Torry Holt had his second TD catch in as many games and continues to be a solid fantasy option despite operating at less than full strength. … WR Drew Bennett, an offseason free-agent addition, made his presence felt as a Ram for the first time last week, catching three passes for 42 yards.
San Francisco — With the Niners’ offense stumbling out of the gate in very unimpressive fashion, the only truly legitimate fantasy performer up to now is RB Frank Gore, who still looks a bit rusty according to team insiders but is a good bet to regain his sensational form of last season quickly enough. Gore suffered a leg sprain last week vs. the Rams but is listed as probable for this Sunday’s game in Pittsburgh. Even after his 43-yard broken-field TD run in St. Louis last week, Gore has just 136 yards rushing the first two games after setting the Niners’ single-season franchise record last season. He’ll be hard-pressed to find many openings vs. a stout Steelers run defense that will be stacked to stop him. … As was the case when he was in Seattle, WR Darrell Jackson seems to be showing up on the Niners’ injury list on a regular basis. Jackson suffered a back injury against the Rams, but is listed as probable for this Sunday.
Seattle —With WR D.J. Hackett still out indefinitely with a foot injury, you might consider Nate Burleson as a fantasy weapon in a pinch, especially against Cincinnati’s Swiss cheese pass defense. Burleson had a 24-yard TD catch last week. Hackett watched practice from the sideline all week with a protective boot on his right foot. … You definitely should consider WR Deion Branch vs. Cincy’s shaky secondary. After not catching a pass in Week One, Branch exploded with seven catches for 122 yards vs. Arizona in Week Two. … QB Matt Hasselbeck had a productive day vs. Arizona in Week Two, throwing to eight different receivers for 278 yards, one TD and no interceptions. … While he has yet to really get it going in his usual manner, RB Shaun Alexander still had 70 yards rushing and a touchdown against Arizona’s improved defense. Alexander is a native of Cincinnati and could be a bit more motivated this Sunday because of that fact.
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