2008 Fantasy Football Week 3 Recommendations
Quarterbacks
- Jay Cutler (Broncos)
- Tony Romo (Cowboys)
- Eli Manning (Giants)
- Donovan McNabb (Eagles)
- Kurt Warner (Cards)
- Peyton Manning (Colts)
- Aaron Rodgers (Packers)
- Drew Brees (Saints)
- Phillip Rivers (Chargers)
- Jon Kitna (Lions)
- Brett Favre (Jets)
- Ben Roethlisberger (Steelers)
- Matt Cassel (Patriots)
- J.T. O’Sullivan (49ers)
- Derek Anderson (Browns)
- Matt Hasselback (Seahawks)
- Jason Campbell (Redskins)
- Marc Bulger (Rams)
- David Garrard (Jaguars)
- Trent Edwards (Bills)
- Jake Delhomme (Panthers)
- Kerry Collins (Titans)
- Matt Schaub (Texans)
- Carson Palmer (Bengals)
- Gus Frerotte (Vikings)
- Matt Ryan (Falcons)
- Kyle Orton (Bears)
- Chad Pennington (Dolphins)
- JaMarcus Russell (Raiders)
- Brian Griese (Bucs)
- Joe Flacco (Ravens)
Week two post-Brady looks a lot different than we would have thought at the start of the year. Every “expert,” including myself, thought Cutler would have a breakout year this season, but he has went above and beyond so far. Cutler has been the best fantasy QB through two games and that should continue against a bad Saints defense. It is for that reason alone that he tops Romo, the second most valuable QB so far. I am not a huge Eli Manning fan, but he should have another big week this week against the Bungles. His brother, Peyton, still has to prove he is fully healthy and back on track before he goes top five. The big jumps for me this week are Aaron Rodgers and J.T. O’Sullivan. Rodgers has played almost as well as anybody this season, and he gets to take on a Dallas defense that while good on paper got shredded Monday night. Other signs that point to a good week for “A-Rod” are, at home (the Cowboys seem to never come to Lambeau), Roy Williams out, and short week for a battered Cowboy D. O’Sullivan may be one of those every other week plays this season. Martz is sure to give him some big numbers; the question for him is sustainability. We will get a good idea this week against an awful Lions defense.
Running Backs
- Adrian Peterson (Vikings)
- Brian Westbrook (Eagles)
- Frank Gore (49ers)
- Willie Parker (Steelers)
- Marshawn Lynch (Bills)
- Marion Barber (Cowboys)
- Michael Turner (Falcons)
- Clinton Portis (Redskins)
- Brandon Jacobs (Giants)
- Ladainian Tomlinson (Chargers)
- Joseph Addai (Colts)
- Steven Jackson (Rams)
- Maurice Jones-Drew (Jaguars)
- Reggie Bush (Saints)
- Julius Jones (Seahawks)
- Chris Johnson (Titans)
- Thomas Jones (Jets)
- Matt Forte (Bears)
- Jonathan Stewart (Panthers)
- Darren McFadden (Raiders)
- Earnest Graham (Bucs)
- Larry Johnson (Chiefs)
- Ryan Grant (Packers)
- DeAngelo Williams (Panthers)
- Kevin Smith (Lions)
- Sammy Morris (Pats)
- Willis McGahee (Ravens)
- Lendale White (Titans)
- Jamal Lewis (Browns)
- Edgerrin James (Cardinals)
- Chris Perry (Bengals)
- Laurence Maroney (Patriots)
- Justin Fargas (Raiders)
- Michael Bush (Raiders)
- Selvin Young (Broncos)
- Ricky Williams (Dolphins)
- Deuce McCallister (Saints)
- Brandon Jackson (Packers)
- Ahman Green (Texans)
- Ronnie Brown (Dolphins)
- Fred Taylor (Jaguars)
- Derrick Ward (Giants)
- Ahmad Bradshaw (Giants)
- Tim Hightower (Cards)
- Steve Slaton (Texans)
- Darren Sproles (Chargers)
- Jerious Norwood (Falcons)
- Maurice Morris (Seahawks)
This week is all about injuries. Till we know if LT is healthy he takes a big drop. As a note, if he is not Darren Sproles becomes a must play RB2/Flex. Packers RB Ryan Grant may not play much, making Brandon Jackson a sleeper flex play in deep leagues. McFadden and Fargas may not play which means Michael Bush is another must play for fantasy owners. Laurence Maroney and LaMont Jordan are hurting, giving Sammy Morris the opportunity to help some teams out. All of that just means owners need to watch the wires until the last minute and then set their lineups. One other note, Michael Turner looks like an excellent play this week against a terrible Chiefs team.
Wide Receivers
- Terrell Owens (Cowboys)
- Plaxico Burress (Giants)
- Randy Moss (Patriots)
- Brandon Marshall (Broncos)
- Larry Fitzgerald (Cards)
- Anquan Boldin (Cards)
- Calvin Johnson (Lions)
- Reggie Wayne (Colts)
- Greg Jennings (Packers)
- Andre Johnson (Texans)
- Braylon Edwards (Browns)
- Chris Chambers (Chargers)
- Hines Ward (Steelers)
- Wes Welker (Patriots)
- Steve Smith (Panthers)
- Roddy White (Falcons)
- Dwayne Bowe (Chiefs)
- DeSean Jackson (Eagles)
- Donald Driver (Packers)
- TJ Houshmanzedah (Bengals)
- Santonio Holmes (Steelers)
- Torry Holt (Rams)
- Patrick Crayton (Cowboys)
- Anthony Gonzalez (Colts)
- Eddie Royal (Broncos)
- Lee Evans (Bills)
- Santana Moss (Redskins)
- Jerricho Cotchery (Jets)
- Chad Johnson (Bengals)
- Marvin Harrison (Colts)
- Roy Williams (Lions)
- Reggie Brown (Eagles)
- Reggie Williams (Jags)
- Laverneous Coles (Jets)
- Isaac Bruce (49ers)
- Derrick Mason (Ravens)
- Vincent Jackson (Chargers)
- Justin Gage (Titans)
- David Patten (Saints)
- Antwaan Randle El (Redskins)
- Ronald Curry (Raiders)
- Bernard Berrian (Vikings)
- Courtney Taylor (Seahawks)
- Sidney Rice (Vikings)
- Drew Bennett (Rams)
- DJ Hackett (Panthers)
- Bryant Johnson (49ers)
- James Jones (Packers)
- Darrell Jackson (Broncos)
- Justin McCareins (Titans)
- Jabar Gaffney (Pats)
- Matt Jones (Jaguars)
- Tedd Ginn Jr (Dolphins)
- Amani Toomer (Giants)
- Joey Galloway (Bucs)
- Koren Robinson (Seahawks)
- Javon Walker (Raiders)
- Devin Hester (Bears)
Owens should do well against a tough Packers secondary. The Packers corners always gamble for a pick or hit a few times a game opening up big play opportunities for TO. I like Burress a lot this week for the same reasons I like Manning, great match up and both are hot right now. Everybody told me last week that I could not have Fitzgerald and Boldin back to back in the Top Ten, look how that worked out. I am sticking with it. The biggest change this week is Roy Williams down, I have stayed on the bandwagon as long as I could stand. He is perhaps the most overrated receiver this decade. Lastly, Desean “Bonehead” Jackson should have had his first TD last week against the Cowboys; he will get it this week against Pittsburgh (a side prediction, he will hold on to the football till he gets to the bench).
Tight Ends
- Jason Witten (Cowboys)
- Antonio Gates (Chargers)
- Tony Gonzalez (Chiefs)
- Kellen Winslow (Browns)
- Tony Scheffler (Broncos)
- Chris Cooley (Redskins)
- Jeremy Shockey (Saints)
- Heath Miller (Steelers)
- Vernon Davis (49ers)
- L.J. Smith (Eagles)
- John Carlson (Seahawks)
- Todd Heap (Ravens)
- Donald Lee (Packers)
- Anthony Fasano (Dolphins)
- Donte Rosario (Panthers)
- Randy McMichael (Rams)
- Owen Daniels (Texans)
- Zach Miller (Raiders)
- Alge Crumpler (Titans)
- Ben Utech (Bengals)
- Greg Olsen (Bears)
- Robert Royal (Bills)
- Kevin Boss (Giants)
- Dallas Clark (Colts)
- Leonard Pope (Cards)
- Ben Watson (Pats)
- Mercedes Lewis (Jags)
- Dustin Keller (Jets)
The top guys are the top guys for a reason. There will be the typical big difference between elite TE and the rest this week. The hardest part about TE is figuring out whom to play outside of the top four or so players. Tony Scheffler is efforting to join the elite, we shall see. The best sleeper this week should be John Carlson, Seattle has nobody else healthy to throw the ball to this week and they play the worst team in the league, the Rams.
Kickers
- Nick Folk (Cowboys)
- Mason Crosby (Packers)
- Stephen Gostkowski (Pats)
- Shayne Graham (Bengals)
- Nate Kaeding (Chargers)
- Jeff Reed (Steelers)
- Adam Vinatieri (Colts)
- Neil Rackers (Cards)
- David Akers (Eagles)
- Ryan Longwell (Vikings)
- Jason Hanson (Lions)
- Robbie Gould (Bears)
- Josh Brown (Rams)
- Phil Dawson (Browns)
- John Kasay (Panthers)
- Josh Scobee (Jags)
- Rian Lindell (Bills)
- Rob Bironas (Titans)
- Shaun Suisham (Redskins)
- Kris Brown (Texans)
- Joe Nedney (49ers)
- Martin Gramatica (Saints)
- Sebastian Janikowski (Raiders)
- Matt Bryant (Bucs)
- Jason Elam (Falcons)
- Olindo Mare (Seahawks)
- John Carney (Giants)
Kickers are all about the same at the end of the year, so it comes down to a week-by-week match up question. My favorite kicker to jump up this week is Ryan Longwell; he should get a few more chances with Frerotte in as the starter.
DEF/ST Teams
- NY Giants
- NE Patriots
- TEN Titans
- CHI Bears
- BUF Bills
- SEA Seahawks
- CAR Panthers
- TB Bucs
- MN Vikings
- BAL Ravens
- SD Chargers
- PHI Eagles
- CLE Browns
- PITT Steelers
- ARI Cardinals
- JAX Jaguars
- HOU Texans
- ATL Falcons
- OAK Raiders
- IND Colts
- GB Packers
- DAL Cowboys
- SF 49ers
- NY Jets
- WASH Redskins
- DEN Broncos
- KC Chiefs
- CIN Bengals
- DET Lions
- NO Saints
- STL Rams
- MIA Dolphins
Defenses change week to week more than anything else in fantasy football. The Packers were number one last week and now they are twenty-one. Those kinds of changes illustrate the importance of match-up when picking a defense. This week the two I like to surprise are Tampa Bay and Cleveland (yes you read that right). The Bucs and Monte Kiffin are masters at confusing young QB’s, and they will do it again this week. The Browns defense is not very good, but it is good enough to shut down the Ravens rushing attack and pressure Joe Flacco into mistakes. This pick is less about the Browns playing well than it is about the Ravens offense playing poorly.
By Brian Chmielewski
ProFootball-fans.com Fantasy Football Director of Content
Fans can contact Brian via email at bchmfantasybaseball @ yahoo.com