Hopefully many of your fantasy teams aren’t in shambles after Week 2’s “injury apocalypse” because the show must go on. Some of the players that you have grabbed off of the waiver wire as injury replacements are ready to contribute right away, while others might deserve a stash until further notice. With so much negativity going on in the NFL, and the 24 hour sports news cycle covering everything but the actual games, it will be enjoyable to sit back and watch some tangible football. Week 3 ought to bring more optimism to fantasy owners, as teams should be over their early season jitters and we should see more explosive plays going forward.
Quarterbacks to Start
Russell Wilson, Seahawks: Wilson is coming off a surprising loss to the San Diego Chargers, but that did not stop him from having a decent fantasy day. Wilson has thrown for 2 TD’s in both of his games, and reached 17 fantasy points in both of his matchups, making him the 8th ranked fantasy QB. The Denver Broncos defense that Wilson will face has already given up big fantasy days to Andrew Luck and Alex Smith. Look for Wilson to have an effective afternoon regardless of the outcome of the score.
Tom Brady, Patriots: Brady has been highly disappointing to fantasy owners that drafted him expecting a bounce back season. Brady has put up consecutive weeks of under double digit fantasy performances, but luckily he gets the Oakland Raiders defense this Sunday. If Brady can’t get between 17-25 fantasy points this week, it might be time to look for a replacement.
Kirk Cousins, Redskins: Cousins is a direct plug-and-play for all Robert Griffin II owners, and people should play him with confidence this week. The Redskins take on the Philadelphia Eagles who are coming off of a big comeback win on Monday night against the Colts, but did not look like world beaters by any means. Cousins has a good grasp of the Redskins offense, and has drawn many comparisons to Bengals QB Andy Dalton, who thrived in the Jay Gruden offense last season. While this is not the Jaguars defense that Cousins lit up for 250 yards and 2 TDs in substitute duty last week, expect him to play efficiently against the Eagles.
Quarterbacks to Sit
Jake Locker, Titans: Locker appeared in the start portion of last week’s column, and while he did not play terrible, he under performed in a matchup against the Dallas Cowboys. This week he will face a much tougher Cincinnati Bengals defense on the road. Locker showed problems with accuracy and pocket presence against the Cowboys, and should struggle with those issues again this week against a dominant Bengals front seven.
EJ Manuel, Bills: While the Bills as a team have gotten off to a fast 2-0 start, it might be in spite of EJ Manuel and not because of. Manuel has not played well in either matchup, but he did show some improvement from week 1 to week 2. The San Diego Chargers are coming off a huge win against the Seattle Seahawks and will look to keep that momentum going Sunday in Buffalo.
Ben Roethlisberger, Steelers: Roethlisberger will face one of the top 5 fantasy defenses on Sunday in the Carolina Panthers, and despite Greg Hardy’s absence, the Panthers should be able to make life difficult for Big Ben. Roethlisberger has already been sacked seven times this season and thrown 3 interceptions. Do not anticipate Big Ben going off against this stout Panthers defense. The Panthers have a 10 game streak of not allowing multiple passing TDs.
Running Backs to Start
Marshawn Lynch, Seahawks: Lynch is coming off of a six carry performance against the San Diego Chargers, his lowest since joining the Seahawks, yet still managed to score double-digit fantasy points because of a receiving TD. Look for beast mode to get back on track this week against the Broncos who have allowed the 13th most fantasy points to opposing RBs this season.
Rashad Jennings, Giants: Jennings has not gotten off to the fantasy start that many of his owners thought he would after his explosive preseason. Jennings is a pure volume play, as he has logged at least 16 carries in both games this year. The Texans defense is giving up 4.3 yards per carry this season, and Jennings should be able to exploit this matchup to a productive afternoon.
Knile Davis, Chiefs: The later that we get into the week, the more likely it appears that Jamaal Charles will not play Sunday against the Dolphins, opening the door for Davis to perform like a top 15 fantasy RB. Davis was featured in the waiver wire column on Tuesday, and if you were lucky enough to aquire his services, do not hesitate to insert him into your lineup.
Running Backs to Sit
Andre Ellington, Cardinals: Ellington is still hampered by that nagging foot injury and has not shown the speed burst that made him a fantasy darling last year. Combine that with the fact that he will be facing a tough matchup in the San Francisco 49ers, and Ellington is a prime candidate to sit for the week. If you have other RB options or even a good WR option for a flex position, you should look to replace Ellington in your lineup.
Terrance West, Browns: West has started off his rookie campaign with a bang after consecutive double digit fantasy output weeks. The Baltimore Ravens have yet to allow a rushing TD on the ground this year amd that was against fantasy studs Gio Bernard and Le’Veon Bell, respectively. Isaiah Crowell continue to be a factor in Cleveland and may even vulture West for his goal line carries.
Frank Gore, 49ers: This is more so matchup based than talent based, as the Arizona Cardinals have given up the 3rd least amount of fantasy points to opposing RBs this year. Gore is not really known for the explosive long runs anymore, and I cannot see him eating away at the formidable Cardinals front 7 for a good fantasy day.
Wide Receivers to Start
Keenan Allen, Chargers: Allen has been held in check the first 2 weeks of the season because of tough matchups against Patrick Peterson and Richard Sherman. This week Allen should be able to exploit a matchup against the Buffalo Bills secondary.
Cordarrelle Patterson, Vikings: Last week I correctly predicted that Patterson would struggle against the Darelle Revis and the Patriots defense; this week is a whole different story. The New Orleans Saints secondary has struggled to cover anybody through their first 2 games, and I expect Patterson to give Rob Ryan fits on Sunday. The Vikings will not be blindsided at the end of the week with the news of no AP like they were last week, and I am sure that OC Norv Turner has implemented a lot of plays, both running and passing for Patterson.
Michael Crabtree, 49ers: Crabtree got off to a slow start to the fantasy season with just a 2 point outing against Dallas, but he was coming off of a preseason calf injury and the 49ers jumped out to a big lead on the Cowboys, so the game dictated away from them having to pass the ball. Crabtree bounced back with 82 yard receiving and a TD. The Cardinals have given up the 15th most fantasy points to opposing WRs, and with Vernon Davis likely out, Crabtree could benefit from some extra targets.
Wide Receivers to Sit
James Jones, Raiders: Insert WR facing Darrelle Revis
Sammy Watkins, Bills: Sammy Watkins exploded last week for 8 catches for 117 yards and a TD, but until I start to see more consistency from EJ Manuel and the passing attack in Buffalo, Watkins should be on your fantasy bench.
AJ Green, Bengals: Green also has not practiced this week and will be a game-time decision for Sunday’s game against the Titans. Fantasy owners who are banking on him to perform to fantasy stud level on Sunday should look elsewhere for WR help immediately.
Tight Ends to Start
Martellus Bennett, Bears: Bennett is off to a hot start this season with 15 catches and 2 TDs, 1 in each game. He’s second on the team in targets (20) behind only Brandon Marshall, and Cutler has been looking his way in the red zone. Bennett should be started in all leagues.
Larry Donnell, Giants: I’m going to keep rolling the dice on my boy Larry Donnell who I have been promoting heavily in the waiver wire columns, until enough fantasy owners recognize his skill as a hidden gem. He leads the NY Giants in Targets, Catches, and TDs. Eli Manning has to throw to someone, and Donnell is a big target with sure hands, and keeps coming down with the ball.
Niles Paul, Redskins: It looks as if Jordan Reed will miss another week, which will heavily benefit Paul. Niles Paul is second in the NFL amongst TE’s in receiving yards, and as long as Reed is out, he should be in your lineup
Tight Ends to Sit
Vernon Davis, 49ers: Davis is coming of an ankle injury against the Chicago Bears, and even though the reports out of San Francisco are optimistic, I do not expect Davis to have a big day against Arizona even if he plays.
Kyle Rudolph, Vikings: I don’t want to say that the Vikings made a huge mistake by paying Rudolph all of that money in the offseason, but if I think they should have waited to see him have another breakout season at least. Rudolph has never really impressed me with his down the field catching ability and is too TD dependent to be fantasy relevant. If he scores a TD you’ll be happy with you 8-10 point production, if he doesn’t score than owners are left with a big hole in their lineups for the week.
Ladarius Green, Chargers: I have to admit when I am wrong, and I was dead wrong about estimating Green’s value coming into the season. Antonio Gates looks fresher than ever, and the only way Green will become relevant is if Gates breaks down throughout the season. Until then, not only should Green not be in your lineup, but he shouldn’t even be on your roster.
Defenses to Start
Texans: Insert D/ST facing Eli Manning.
Ravens: The Ravens are coming off a dominant performance against the Steelers last Thursday and could be getting Ladarius Webb back to their lineup to face the Browns.
Colts: The Colts face the Jaguars who just gave up 10 sacks last week to the Redskins.