This Week’s Top Team: Okay, last week was much like Week 1, and I’m tired of being just good enough to stay over the century mark, so I have some big changes going into this week’s rundown… Get ready, I’m about to knock some socks off.
QB: Tom Brady vs. Buffalo: This is a no-brainer in my opinion. The Patriots have been great, and Tom Brady has been unreal, plus I expect their defense to struggle a little bit this week as Buffalo’s tandem of Lee Evans and JP Losman will play better. But Tom will outshine those two, and pickup about 25 points for me.
RB: Brian Westbrook vs. Detroit: I expect Brian to get about 15 carries for 100 yards, but through the air is where I expect him to do most of his damage. Detroit’s secondary couldn’t keep up with Keyshawn Johnson, so I don’t expect them to even realize how fast Westbrook burned past them. The Eagles need a win, and to get it, they’ll rely on their most explosive player.
RB: LaDainian Tomlinson vs. Green Bay: Honestly, I think the world of Green Bay’s defense – I just don’t see LT having 3 bad weeks in a row. He’s the best player in the league, and his offensive line is solid. When this week is all said and done, I expect LT to have more Week 3 fantasy points than any other player.
WR: Steve Smith vs. Atlanta: There isn’t a corner in the league I’d pick to shut down Steve Smith. Atlanta doesn’t have the greatest defense and Smith is THE weapon in Carolina. Atlanta knows it, Jake Delhomme knows it, and John Fox (who knows very little) knows it as well. But nobody thinks Steve Smith will struggle on Sunday.
WR: Randy Moss vs. Buffalo: You probably saw this coming, I took Randy Moss, fresh off of producing big enough stats to change the name of my Bad Plays of the week from the Randy Moss’s – to now becoming a top receiver from this week’s action. Well, Randy is back, and I love it. Seeing as though I expect Tom Brady to have a big day, I think Randy Moss is sure to catch a couple touchdowns against one of the worst secondaries in the league.
TE: Chris Cooley vs. Giants: Last week I picked a tight end not name Antonio Gates, and the kid stepped up and produced the top fantasy score for TEs in Week 2. So, I’ll move away from Gates again, and go for the TE who should torment the Giants secondary.
K: Josh Brown vs. Cincinnati: The Hawks will move the ball easily and Josh Brown could be the guy winning the game in Seattle. I expect about 4 field goals from this game winning K in the rainy state.
D: Vikings vs. Chiefs: Larry Johnson says he wants 40 carries in this game. Larry, I don’t think your team will have the ball for that long, big guy. I love LJ, and think he’s right up there with LT at the top of NFL running backs, but the Vikings are built to kill the Chiefs.
LUCKY’S Week 3 SLEEPERS
Tarvaris Jackson: Nobody will start Jackson, but against a Detroit secondary that has nobody to stop even the most anemic of wide receiving corps, I think Jackson will have a couple touchdown passes. That will rank him in the Top 15 of Week 2 quarterbacks, and probably make him start-worth for some unlucky fantasy team out there.
Jeff Garcia: Jeff makes a return to my sleeper list, this week, and looky there, that coincides with another easy match-up. The Ram secondary is very similar to the very poor unit in New Orleans, so it should be wide open receivers for Jeff and the Bucs.
Derek Ward: DW will be getting all the carries for the second week in a row, and despite the Redskins’ solid ranking against the run this season, I expect a century mark for Ward, at least.
Maurice Jones Drew: The Jaguars play the Broncos, a team that has a stellar secondary and a questionable front line of defense. The Jaguars a strictly a running team that has been pretending to be something else in recent weeks. I expect Jones Drew to get 15+ touches, and that means a big day for the little guy.
Thomas Jones: After two very tough match-ups and a bad leg, Jones will finally show what he’s made of against the Dolphins in Week 3. I expect Jones to have a huge week, so if you can get him cheap, pull that trigger.
Ronald Curry: RC is back and he’s ready to explode like he did in Week 1. Yes, the Raiders have what I’d call a solid fantasy match-up in Week 3. A talented young speedy receiver – check. A coach who likes to throw the rock – check. A quarterback with a big arm – check. And the last and most important ingredient, the Browns secondary. Checkmate.
Vincent Jackson: I like Vince to pull home around 100 yards and a touchdown in Week 3. I know that’s crazy speak because not only is the Packers’ defense solid, but the Chargers’ offense has been pathetic. But, you heard it here first, Norv will turn the passing game loose this week, using it to set up LT. The Chargers will walk over the Packers, and Vincent will have a big day.
Eric Johnson: It seems like TEs get easy action from the Titans defense, so I expect EJ to be big this week. He’ll have room, and Drew Brees will settle for the sure thing more in this one, so a decent day from EJ is an option.
Cowboys DST: The Cowboys were a good option last week, as I predicted, and this week will be much of the same. The Cowboys could capitalize big time if Rex has one of those Rex days. However, this is a risky pick because Rex could always have one of those other Rex days.
LUCKY’S Week 3 Bench Riders
We’ll go with bench riders until I become more clever… Could be a while. I’m also done picking on Mike, he needs no more pub.
Matt Leinart: Baltimore’s in town this week. Yep. That’s about all I have to say about that one.
Larry Johnson: I don’t like Larry’s match-up in Week 3, regardless of the improved workload he’s expected to get. Like I said in another article this week, the Vikings are built to stop the Chiefs offense.
Edgerrin James: This seems like an easy pick, but I’m not sure, he might get around 70 yards. Either way, 7 points from your starting running back isn’t a good option.
Braylon Edwards: Braylon had a huge week in Week 2, but I don’t see him terrorizing the Raiders like he did the Bengals. Edwards is solid, and some fantasy gurus are quick to point out the Raiders’ short comings in the secondary this year, but they’re wrong. Numbers are one thing, but the Raiders have been solid and their ranking will only improve when thy shut down the Browns in Week 3.
Todd Heap: Heap is a must start in most leagues, but I don’t see him doing much more than 4 catches for 40 yards against the Arizona Cardinals. Their safety unit is premium.