FANTASY FOOTBALL WEEK 4 TIGHT END RANKINGS

Here are the Week 4 fantasy football tight end rankings based on opposing matchups.

1.  Jimmy Graham
2.  Jordan Cameron
3.  Julius Thomas
4.  Jason Witten
5.  Antonio Gates
6.  Tony Gonzalez
7.  Martellus Bennett
8.  Rob Gronkowski****injury watch
9.  Brandon Myers
10. Owen Daniels
11. Coby Fleener
12. Heath Miller
13. Jermaine Gresham
14. Kyle Rudolph
15. Charles Clay
16. Tyler Eifert
17. Scott Chandler
18. Brent Celek
19. Dallas Clark
20. Robert Housler

FANTASY FOOTBALL WEEK 4 WIDE RECEIVER RANKINGS

Here are the Week 4 wide receiver fantasy football rankings based on opposing matchups:

1.  Calvin Johnson
2.  Demaryuis Thomas
3.  Julio Jones
4.  Dez Bryant
5.  A.J. Green
6.  Wes Welker
7.  Brandon Marshall
8.  Pierre Garcon
9.  Eric Decker
10. Torrey Smith
11. DeSean Jackson
12. Reggie Wayne
13. Marques Colston
14. Antonio Brown
15. Victor Cruz
16. Andre Johnson***injury watch
17. Josh Gordon
18. Larry Fitzgerald
19. Cecil Shorts
20. T.Y. Hilton****injury watch
21. Julian Edelman
22. Vincent Jackson****injury watch
23. Hakeem Nicks
24. Mike Wallace
25. Steve Johnson
26. Dwayne Bowe
27. Eddie Royal
28. Kenbrell Thompkins
29. Mike Williams****injury watch
30. Golden Tate
31. Brian Hartline
32. DeAndre Hopkins
33. Denarius Moore
34. Michael Floyd
35. Marlon Brown
36. Emmanuel Sanders
37. Roddy White
38. Sidney Rice
39. Stephen Hill
40. Donnie Avery

FANTASY FOOTBALL RUNNING BACK HOT ZONE: WELCOME TO THE SHOW BILAL POWELL

 Once again it is time for the fantasy football Week 4 Running Back Hot Zone where we delve in on all the latest injuries and demotions that muddle the changing of the guard at this very important position.

LEVEL 4

1.  Bilal Powell-Chris Ivory (injured):  Chris Ivory's latest hamstring injury opened the door for Powell to have a career-day last Sunday in rushing for 149 yards on 27 carries while also catching two passes.  Head coach Rex Ryan publicly said that the team will use Powell as their workhorse again this Sunday against a tough Tennessee Titans defense.  While not the greatest runner in the world, Powell can move the pile and has receiving ability which adds more value in PPR formats.  If Powell continues to perform well, we may not mention Ivory's name again.

2.  Jason Snelling/Jacquizz Rodgers-Steven Jackson (injured):  It was expected that Snelling would get the majority of carries last week in the first game for the Falcons without Steven Jackson but Rodgers actually got slightly more work overall on the ground.  It looks like a classic timeshare split right down the middle which negatively affects both guys' value.  Snelling carries some all right value in PPR formats but overall both guys should not be relied on as your starting option this week.

3.  Knowshon Moreno-Montee Ball-Ronnie Hillman:  On and on it goes for the three-headed Denver backfield.  Just when we thought we got some clarity on the situation with Knowshon Moreno rushing for two scores in Week 2 against the New York Giants, we see all three carries virtually match each other in carries in Week 3 against the Oakland Raiders, with Hillman the only one to score.  This remains quite possibly the most annoying running back situation in all of fantasy football and despite the talents of those involved, its best to steer clear of this mess.

4.  Jonathan Franklin-Eddie Lacy-James Starks:  Another week and another injury for a Packers running back.  First Lacy suffers a concussion in Week 3 which was followed by the knee injury by Starks last week.  Thus the Packers turn to another rookie in Franklin who rushed for over 100 yards last week but whose lost fumble at the end of the fourth quarter cost his team the win.  Still Franklin has better receiving skills than Lacy and should be given the majority of carries in Week 4.

LEVEL 3

5.  Giovani Bernard-BenJarvus Green-Ellis:  It's only a matter of time.  That is what I said about the rookie Bernard taking over for veteran BJGE.  Bernard's vast ability in both the running and receiving game has already manifested itself with 3 touchdowns the last two weeks.  BJGE won't be able to stop this running train from taking off and if Bernard is lingering on any wire, be sure to grab him quick.

LEVEL 2

6.  LeGarrette Blount-Stevan Ridley:  A changing of the guard in play once again in the New England backfield?  Stevan Ridley has not done a thing right this season and as a result first Shane Vereen and now Blount have seemingly moved ahead of him on the depth chart.  Blount got more carries than Ridley last week and at least until Vereen returns, could be the guy to own.  Either way the Pats running game looks like a no-go for the fantasy football world.

7.  Pierre Thomas-Mark Ingram:  The Saints have pretty closed the door shut on the terrible Mark Ingram era in naming Pierre Thomas the no questions asked starter.  Sensing his place on the bench, Ingram has asked for a trade.  Basically Ingram has done next to nothing to ever warrant looking at him in fantasy football terms again, while Thomas has some usefulness in PPR formats due to his pass catching abilities.

There you have it.  Let us hear your thoughts on these situations.  Also follow us on Twitter at ROTOBOSS.  

FANTASY FOOTBALL WRAPUP: THURSDAY 49ERS/RAMS

Colin Kaepernick owners everywhere (and Anquan Boldin owners as well) could breath a little easier after seeing the 49ers dominate on both sides of the ball Thursday night over the once again hapless Rams.  Let's get to all the central storylines from the game from a fantasy football angle.

-No doubt Kaepernick owners everywhere were starting to wonder if they had a bust on their hands after the 49ers' read option QB was a complete abomination the last two weeks after a stellar opener.  Whispers that opposing defensive coordinators had figured out how to stop the read option offense intensified these worries.  However a ridiculously poor Rams defense was all that Kaepernick needed to get his season back on track as he threw for 167 yards and 2 touchdowns.  Kaepernick also didn't throw any picks for the first time in three weeks although he lost a fumble.  Overall the yardage was not impressive but Kaepernick reached the two touchdown threshold which is the bare minimum we want out of our fantasy football QB's.

As far as the other side was concerned, Sam Bradford as horrendous in throwing for 202 yards with 1 garbage time TD and an INT.  While I still like Bradford's arm, there are no more excuses this season with regards to him not having any help as Tavon Austin, Jared Cook, and Austin Pettis have significantly improved the passing weapons.  He remains strictly a two-QB format guy but even in that format he is a bit shaky right now.

-Frank Gore predictably had a monster game against the shoddy Rams run defense which allowed DeMarco Murray to run wild on them all afternoon last week.  Gore had his first 100-yard game of the season with 153 and his second touchdown.  A lost fumble was annoying and so was not catching any passes.  It is now BEYOND annoying how a guy who routinely caught between 40-60 passes a season can't get a sniff of the ball through the air since Jim Harbaugh became coach.  So in essence Gore is now no longer a PPR gem like he used to be which means if he doesn't have running games like he had last night, he is a liability.

-We have reached the point where you have to cut Daryl Richardson.  Yes he has caught passes this season but rushing for only 16 yards on 12 carries last night continues to shed a spotlight on how awful his running has been.  Get him out of there.  And don't run to pick up Isaiah Pead or Zac Stacy either.

-Anquan Boldin did next to nothing like his QB the last two weeks but the two reconnected Thursday as the wideout grabbed 5 passes for 90 yards and a score.  Solid and effective.  As Kaepernick goes so goes Boldin this season.

-Vernon Davis returned from his hamstring strain and luckily for his owners one of his two catches went for a touchdown.  Looking like he was playing a bit slower than usual, Davis was not a focal point of the offense.  However he retains his knack for scoring touchowns.

-I can only say nice things about Austin Pettis as far as Rams receivers are concerned.  He is having a nice season as he caught five passes Thursday night for 59 yards.  Some PPR appeal here for sure.  That's about all I want to say about this.

There you have it.  As always we welcome comments below.  Also be sure to follow us on TWITTER at ROTOBOSS

FANTASY FOOTBALL STATUS REPORT: RYAN BROYLES WR DETROIT LIONS

Opportunity is everything when it comes to possible production from any player at any position on the field in fantasy football terms.  Whether it is due to injury or poor performance, I changing of the guard at a starting position is a prime opportunity for the player who is being given the chance to step into the void that as created.  Such is the case with Detroit Lions second-year WR Ryan Broyles whose return to active duty for Week 4 just happens to coincide with the broken arm suffered by starter Nate Burleson in a late night car accident.  Head coach Jim Schwartz went on record Wednesday saying that Broyles in a sense will be thrown right into the fire and that he won't be on any sort of play count.  So in steps Broyles into one of the most productive pass offenses in the NFL this season led by gunslinging QB Matthew Stafford and star receiver Calvin Johnson.  The Lions throw it all day on first, second, and third down and what is interesting is that Burleson was actually the team;s leading receiver over Johnson through three weeks.  So right off the bat one can see why Broyles makes for a very smart pickup this week as he moves into the extremely attractive slot position for the Lions Sunday.

As far as Broyles is concerned, he opened some eyes with some nice work as a rookie in 2012 when the former second round pick caught 22 passes in 10 games with two touchdowns.  Blessed with top end speed and solid route running ability, Broyles shows a knack for the big play.  However injuries have been part of the equation going back to his college days and he wound up missing the first three games of 2013 after offseason knee surgery.  But that is neither here nor there as Broyles is now ready to go Sunday and will be setting up shop in the precious slot position for the explosive Lions.

So what could we really expect out of Broyles going forward?  Well based on the frequency of how often the Lions throw, Broyles would have to be hiding on the sidelines to not have balls thrown his way.  While Burleson is a much more refined and experienced receiver, it is not out of the question that Broyles can put up some similar numbers.  He even has the advantage over Burleson as far as big plays are concerned so there is some better TD potential here as well.  Put it all together and you have an intriguing mix of potential and sleeper value in all formats.  Get him in there.

2013 FANTASY FOOTBALL UPDATED WIDE RECEIVER RANKINGS

Last but not least we delve into the wide receivers as we update the first batch of fantasy football rankings.

1.  Calvin Johnson:  No one else is even close.
2.  Julio Jones:  Is just an impossible matchup right now.  Been more consistent than Bryant, Green, and Marshall.
3.  A.J. Green:  Has not gotten off to the gangbuster start expected.  Still he is a stud through and through.
4.  Demaryuis Thomas:  Despite presence of Welker and Decker, Thomas has been  clear number 1 superstar.
5.  Dez Bryant:  Week 3 output was a little low only because Cowboys jumped out so quickly.
6.  Brandon Marshall:  A bit banged up which has his catches per game down slightly.
7.  Wes Welker:  Initial worries about not enough catches to go around for Welker look overblown.  Still looks like the same 100-catch monster he was with the Patriots.
8.  Randall Cobb:  Right on schedule as far as his rise to number 1 receiver status.
9.  Jordy Nelson:  Has upped his catches per game and working great off of Cobb.
10. Andre Johnson:  Was putting up his usual stellar numbers until yet another leg injury.
11. Victor Cruz:  Was maintaining his numbers until the Carolina trainwreck.  Worried about how poor Eli Manning and the offensive line has looked.
12. Torrey Smith:  The time is now for Smith to become the Pro Bowler he has the potential to be.
13. Cecil Shorts:  Amazing how good Shorts has been despite the horrid Jags QB play.
14. Larry Fitzgerald:  Hamstring injury has capped a terrific start in Week 1.
15. Pierre Garon:  Continuing with his great chemistry with RG3.
16. Eric Decker:  After a quiet Week 1, Decker has been right there with the best the last two weeks.
17. DeSean Jackson:  Still not sold he can make it through a whole season healthy and being productive.
18. Antonio Brown:  Great sign from Brown with his 9-catch/2-TD Week 3.
19. James Jones:  Like with Denver, enough balls to go around in Green Bay.
20. Marques Colston:  Old reliable.
21. Reggie Wayne:  Old reliable 2.0.
22. Steve Smith:  Old reliable 3.0.
23. Julian Edelman:  Doing what Wes Welker has done in New England.  Terrific value.
24. Anquan Boldin:  Has vanished with the rest of the 49ers offense the last two weeks.
25. Stevie Johnson:  Only guy to ever give Darrell Revis fits.
26. Vincent Jackson:  Wasn't doing much before rib injury in Week 3.
27. DeAndre Hopkins:  Looks like a star real soon.
28. Roddy White:  Down, down we go as White's high ankle sprain is making him look like a major shell of his former Pro Bowl self.
29.  Hakeem Nicks:  Amazing how quick his career is tanking.
30. Tavon Austin:  Lots of catches but not many yards.
31. Mike Wallace:  Been a complete no-show two of three weeks.
32. Miles Austin:  Yet another hamstring injury to worry about.
33. T.Y. Hilton:  Expected more by this point but that because Darius Heyard-Bey's presence is hurting his potential.
34. Greg Jennings:  All about the QB as Jennings is just an ordinary player with Christian Ponder after being a Pro Bowler with Aaron Rodgers.
35. Josh Gordon:  Will move up quickly if he adds to great Week 3 bustout.
36. Emmanuel Sanders:  Solid and more big plays ahead.
37. Brian Hartline:  Ryan Tannehill still not consistent enough to recommend any Dolphins receiver as more than a WR 3.
38. Danny Amendola:  I know this is a harsh ranking but the guy is NEVER healthy.
39. Andre Roberts:  Carson Palmer's slump not helping any Cardinals receiver.   
40. Kenbrell Thompkins:  Caught to touchdowns last week which hopefully is a sign he is finding his footing as a player after working off rookie rust.

FANTASY FOOTBALL WEEK 4 ADDS/DROPS

ADDS 

Josh Gordon: Talk about a monster debut. Fresh off serving a two game suspension, Gordon was an instant star in Week 3 by catching 10 passes for 146 yards and 1 touchdown. Gordon was a big play guy last season as a rookie when he caught 5 touchdown on 50 receptions and with Brian Hoyer showing he is not Brandon Weeded at least through one start, this nice story is set to continue.  

Fred Jackson: C.J. Spiller apparently will be ready to go for Week 4 after suffering a thigh injury against the New York Jets but let that be a warning about the ability of the former Clemson star to hold up as the every down back. In addition, veteran Fred Jackson has played better than Spiller so far this season, with last Sunday being more evidence of this when he rushed for 72 yards to Spiller's 9 on 3 less carries.  

Chiefs Defense: The offense is not the only positive change that has coincided with the arrival of new head coach Andy Reid. The defense has been tremendous in putting forth a massive pass rush led by Tamba Hali, Dontari Poe, and Justin Houston.  

New York Jets Defense: Finally the Jets have a pass rush to complement the always stout Rex Ryan defense. They sacked E.J. Manuel eight times last week and Muhammud Wilkerson and rookie Sheldon Richardson in the middle are a pass rushing tandem not to be messed with.

 LeGarrette Blount: Many took note that Blount got more carries than Stevan Ridley last week as the latter continues to take up residence in Bill Belichick's doghouse. Last season's 1,200-plus yard rushing campaign by Ridley seems like it never happend. Blount has not been great in his career but with Tom Brady under center you know that the middle will be softened up.  

Ryan Broyles: Meet the prime benefactor from the broken arm suffered by Nate Burleson in a car accident early Tuesday. The big play Broyles now graduates to the slot where he will no doubt get a bunch of looks from Matthew Stafford going forward. The Lions are throwing all day long which means the workload itself will help Broyles reach WR 3 status quickly.  

Brian Hoyer: Those who play in two-QB formats should take a look here. Hoyer was tremendous in his debut in Week 3 when he tossed for over 300 yards and 3 scores. However I want to see him do it again so pick him up as a bench option for now.

Bilal Powell:  Ran wild against Buffalo after replacing the injured Chris Ivory.  Has PPR appeal as well due to his pass catching ability.  Could literally run with the workhorse gig.

DROPS  

Stevan Ridley: Yes drop him. Like with David Wilson, you got to know when to fold em. Ridley is not getting out of the Bill Belichick doghouse anytime soon and with Shane Vereen expected back by Week 9, he could be completely pushed aside for good. What a bust. 

Nate Burleson: No need to hold Burleson for the 6-8 weeks he will need to recover from the broken arm. He will be there when you need him again.  

Issac Redman: With LeVeon Bell coming back this week, Redman goes back to oblivion where he belongs.

Kellen Winslow:  Winslow has been a non-factor for two weeks now despite rookie QB Geno Smith having his best start of the season in Week 3.

FANTASY FOOTBALL WRAPUP: DENVER/OAKLAND

                   

One more game to finish up Week 3.  Here are the main storylines from the Denver Broncos and Oakland Raiders. 

-Peyton Manning is a fantasy football god right now.  He was once again completely locked in Monday night in throwing for 374 yards and 3 touchdowns.  Turnover-free football as well.  I still think with this vast arsenal of receivers that Manning can challenge the 50-TD mark.  Right now he ranks right at the top of the fantasy football QB rankings and its not even close.

On the other side Terrell Pryor did his best to pick up some numbers in garbage time by throwing for 281 yards and a score while also rushing for 36.  While he has played better than I thought he would, Pryor is still strictly a backup guy in single-QB formats.

-Darren McFadden is another one who put in his numbers during garbage time as he ran for a touchdown and threw for another in the fourth quarter.  The passing score still counts so that was nice.  What wasn't nice was the almost complete absence of numbers anywhere else as McFadden rushed for a brutal 9 yards on 12 carries.  Yeah when your carries outnumber your rushing yards, you have problems.  Also shockingly McFadden failed to catch a pass.  That is beyond amazing since it was prime dumpoff time as the Raiders were playing catch up all game.  Either way it was one step forward and two steps back for McFadden who can't ever seem to put sustained success together.

-Talk about a strict split in work duties.  Ronnie Hillman (9), Montee Ball (11), and Knowshon Moreno (12) virtually divided up the carries almost right down the middle.  Hillman scored the only touchdown of the three and ran for the most yardage in 66.  What this is a reminder of is the fact that none of these guys can be counted on as anything but a RB 3.

-Wow the Broncos are silly at receiver.  For the second week in a row Eric Decker was the number 1 guy in catching 8 balls for 133 yards and a score.  We hardly remember his Week 1 horror show.  Demaryuis Thomas was no slouch in catching 10 passes for 94 yards but he took a slight backseat to Decker due to not scoring.  Finally Wes Welker contributed 7 receptions for 84 yards and his own touchdown.  If you own any of these guys, you are lucky.

Oh an I almost forgot new sensation Julius Thomas.  Thomas scored for the third straight game but only caught 3 passes overall for 37 yards.  Thomas reminds me of Jermichael Finley the last few seasons in Green Bay.  Supreme talent but one who will be somewhat volatile with the receptions total from week to week given the wide receiver weapons on the club.

-Denarius Moore did his thing for the Raiders in catching 6 passes for 124 yards and 1 touchdown.  He did some nice things last season before suffering a brutal concussion.  You could add him this week but ideally he would be your bench option.

There you have it.  Let us hear your thoughts.

FANTASY FOOTBALL UPDATED TIGHT END RANKINGS

It is now time to update the tight end rankings for the first time since the season got underway as we continue to check out all the positions and how they have been impact by the first few games.

1.  Jimmy Graham:  Man among boys right now.  Putting up numbers better than most wideouts.
2.  Jordan Cameron:  Just like that Cameron shoots right to the top tier given his massive impact so far both in raw receptions and in touchdowns.  Could turn out to be the value play of the season.
3.  Julius Thomas:  Wow what  find he has been.  Right there with Cameron as some much-needed youth at this spot.
4.  Jason Witten:  Solid and steady as always.  Keep up the touchdowns bro.
5.  Greg Olsen:  Right there as the main outlet for Cam Newton along with Steve Smith.
6.  Rob Gronkowski:  Could be back by Week 4 which would be the early end of initial projections for his return.
7.  Vernon Davis:  Has to not allow the hamstring injury to knock him down a few pegs.
8.  Jermichael Finley:  Was as hot as any tight end before suffering a concussion.  Has taken a step up in development finally.
9.  Tony Gonzalez:  Has actually looked his age for the first time in his career.  Three nondescript games out of three causing some concern.
10. Antonio Gates:  Has been pretty good but his best days are a thing of the past.
11. Brandon Myers:  Was showing some nice chemistry with Eli Manning but Giants offense a complete trainwreck.
12. Martellus Bennett:  Jay Cutler has taken an instant liking to his new tight end.  Could be a terrific T source.
13. Jermaine Gresham:  Has been hurt by arrival of Tyler Eifert.
14. Coby Fleener:  Show is now his with Dwayne Allen finished for the season.
15. Jared Cook:  Up and down so far but St. Louis offense better suited for his skills.

FANTASY FOOTBALL WRAPUP: 4:00 GAMES AND LATER

     

Let's finish out the rest of Sunday's game in the fantasy football Week 3 wrapup.

-Matt Ryan is pretty damn consistent ever since Dirk Kotter became offensive coordinator last season.  He is almost a lock for two scores each week which he did Sunday against Miami among his 231 yards.  A late last second pick though took some shine off the game as those lost points could have made a difference in a close game.

-We are really starting to see Ryan Tannehill develop as he has been instrumental in leading the Dolphins to a 3-0 record.  He threw for 236 yards with 2 touchdowns and 1 pick Sunday and is starting to catch up to Andrew Luck, RG3, and the rest of his draft class.  Tannehill has graduated to QB 2 usage.

-Still no bustout for Lamar Miller as Daniel Thomas is firmly entrenched as the goal-line back.  Damn.

-Jason Snelling owners couldn't be happy seeing Jacquizz Rodgers gain 86 yards on 11 carries while their guy got only 11 carries of his own for 53 yards.  Strict timeshare in play here so RB 3 category goes both.

-Julio Jones is right there now with A.J. Green and Dez Bryant in fighting for the title of number 2 receiver behind Megatron.  Jones caught 9 passes for 155 yards and is a big play waiting to happen.  Roddy White meanwhile was a dud for third week in a row with only 2 grabs for 16 yards.  This is not looking good at all for White owners hoping for a rebound from the high ankle sprain.  While I won't call it a cliff season yet, White is quickly losing his appeal as an impact fantasy football receiver.

-Speaking of cliff seasons, Tony Gonzalez has yet to do much of anything through three weeks.  He caught 4 harmless balls for only 24 yards Sunday and has been a non-factor for his owners throughout.  As someone who owns Gonzalez, frustration has already set in.  You can never totally doubt the guy but eventually age was going to be a factor here.  Could that finally be happening?  So far the results say yes.

-Can't wait to hear Mike Wallace pop off this week after catching only 2 passes for 16 yards.  Like I said in the summer, Wallace is a volatile fantasy football receiver due to his fluctuation in stats.

-Clearly a nice game by Geno Smith of the New York Jets as the rookie threw for 331 big yards with 2 scores and 2 picks.  Progress for sure but Smith is still a turnover machine and the Jets offense will have few games like this given their lack of weapons.

-Bilal Powell has now firmly pushed Chris Ivory out of the picture after rushing for 149 yards on 27 carries.  A terrific receiver, Powell also chipped in two receptions.  Those in PPR formats should absolutely give Powell a shot due to his receiving ability and the fact the Jets are looking like they will use him as their workhorse runner.  Don't go crazy with expectations though as Powell has a lot more to prove in order to be depended on as anything more than a stopgap.

-So remember that guy who told you to avoid drafting C.J. Spiller in Round 1 due to his bust potential when everyone else as creating pools of drool around his legs?  Yup that was me who told you to steer clear and no look.  After being a no-show for two games, Spiller goes out and rushes for a grand total of 9 yards on 10 carries before leaving with a knee injury.  Uh-oh.  And yes I was right.  Spiller was grossly overdrafted this summer with little in the ay of proof he could hold up as the number 1 guy.  Meanwhile Fred Jackson becomes a MAJOR person of interest as the guy still has a great deal of RB 2 ability.  Yes he is aging but there is not much tread on the tires since he didn't play much early on in his career.  Jackson showed he as still fresh by rushing for 72 yards on only 7 carries.  A terrific receiver, Jackson is a PPR diamond in the rough if Spiller is going to miss games.  Go get him.

-Really I don't know why you would ever read another fantasy site.  On the heels of being correct on Spiller so far, I told you I was avoiding Colin Kaepernick due to my mantra of needing to see a breakout guy do it a second time before I buy in.  Well Kaepernick was a dud for the second week in a row as he failed to once again throw a touchdown in a 150 yards/1 INT slopfest.  Time to panic?  Not yet as he still has a ton of ability but so far Kaepernick has proven to be an overreach draft buy.

-It took Trent Richardson all of one carry to make good in his debut with Indy by scoring right off the bat.  However his day was quiet after that as expected with 35 yards on 13 carries.  Meanwhile Ahmad Bradshaw made a clear statement that he should remain at least part of a timeshare with Richardson by rushing for 95 yards and a score on 19 carries.  Hold Bradshaw.

-It is likely those who went up against Seattle Seahawks QB Russell Wilson this week lost as the second-year stud threw FOUR touchdowns among his 202 yards.  What a terrific player the kid is and he more than has cemented his status as an every week guy.  Just don't look for a string of 300 yards games as the Seahawks offense is not set up for that.

-I can't catch a abreak this season with my receivers.  Both A.J. Green and Brandon Marshall are on my roster but both have been underwhelming so far based on what they did last season.  Marshall caught only 5 balls for 52 yards with no scores.  Jay Cutler meanwhile is getting more comfortable with the talented Alshon Jeffrey who grabbed 7 passes for 51 yards.  Pick up Jeffrey.

-Matt Forte is the man.  Rushing for 87 yards on 16 carries with a TD while also catching 4 passes, the guy continues to churn out big game after big game.

-Antonio Brown finally realized the season is underway as he caught 9 passes for 196 monster yards and 2 scores.  With Heath Miller back, the field opens up some for Brown whose ability to hit the big play should make him a solid guy going through the rest of the season.

There you have it.  As always let us hear your thoughts.

FANTASY FOOTBALL WRAPUP: 1:00 GAMES

Tons and tons of news to get to in Week 3 fantasy football.  Let's get right to it.

-We all love Drew Brees due to his awesome passing totals each week which is fantasy football gold.  He did more of the same Sunday in passing for 342 yards and 3 touchdowns an 1 INT.  However Brees also RUSHED for a touchdown as he exploded the fantasy football scoreboard.

-If you can't throw a touchdown against the New Orleans Saints than you don't deserve to be used in fantasy football.  Looking at you Carson Palmer.  Enjoy the wire.

-Palmer's bad day meant a second straight week of next to nothing from Larry Fitzgerald (5 catches for 64 yards).  I thought Palmer was supposed to fix that?

-Jimmy Graham is an absolute beast ho can't be stopped right now as he caught two more touchdown passes Sunday to go with 9 catches for 134 yards.  Unreal.  Forget Jason Witten and Rob Gronkoski.  There is no competition over who is the best tight end in football. 

-Aaron Rodgers had a rare off day Sunday in throwing only 1 touchdown with 2 picks for a total of 244 yards.  If you want to trade him to me please feel free.

-Andy Dalton was pretty miserable early on this season but did well to reclaim some of his solid name by throwing for 235 yards with 2 TD's and 1 INT.  He never wows you but the numbers are good enough, especially in two-QB leagues.

-Giovani Bernard will get the majority of carries for Cincy soon.  It is only a matter of time as he rushed for 50 yards on only ten carries and a score.  He also chipped in 4 catches for 49 yards.  Reminds me of a less muscular Doug Martin.  Pick him up everywhere where available.

-How about Jonathan Franklin for Green Bay?  The other rookie Packers running back took over for an injure James Starks by running for 103 yards on 13 carries and a 1 touchdown.  He also caught 3 passes for 23 yards.  Unfortunately he lost the game for the Packers by fumbling away the football late in the fourth.  With Edie Lacy likely out for Week 4 s he continues to recover from a concussion and Starks likely out with a knee issue, Franklin should be added if you need a back.

-A.J. Green owners like yours truly had to be pulling their hair out after he got blanked in the first half.  Green rebounded to salvage the day with a TD grab but only 4 receptions doesn't cut it.

-Jordy Nelson had his turn to lead the Packers in receiving with 8 grabs for 93 yards.

-He gets too much disrespect considering the terrific numbers he puts up every year but Dallas Cowboys QB Tony Romo just quietly gets the job done like he did Sunday with three touchdown passes among his 210 yards.  I am an annual fan of Romo given the value he always brings.  Never grouped in as a top fantasy football draft pick, Romo supplies more bang for the buck than almost any other passer.

-It took awhile but we were reminded of why we are always intrigued with DeMarco Murray as he was not fooling around Sunday in rushing for an insane 175 yards on 26 carries with 1 TD while also catching 3 passes for 28 yards.  Against a Jeff Fisher defense.  The Cowboys love to pass too much for Murray to ever be a top tier runner but especially in PPR formats he carries some burgeoning potential.

-Through three games we can say Tavon Austin is a high volume receiver with a low yardage total after catching 6 passes for only 30 yards.  Use only in PPR for now.

-Hmmm this Brian Hoyer fella.  Threw for 321 yards and 3 touchowns in a smashing debut.  Yes he threw three picks but give the kid a break.  Not even Hoyer's mother picked him up for her fantasy football team but those in two QB formats should at least consider him as a backup.  Don't jump the gun yet and use him unless you are desperate but he need to be monitored.  We hardly knew ya' Brandon Weeden.

-Jordan Cameron was a guy I compared to Jason Witten in the summer.  Who else made that comparison?  Told you all to pick him up.  Added THREE more touchdowns Sunday on 6 catches for 66 yards.  Can you say WOW?  On Cleveland no less.  We are looking at the next star tight end folks.

-And now we get to Josh Gordon off his to game suspension.  Dusts himself off to catch TEN passes for 146 yards and 1 TD.  I will go out on a limb in saying he ill be the number 1 pickup this week.

-No Adrian Peterson won't rush for 2,000 yards.  He lost a fumble for the second week in a row in rushing for 88 yards but he did net a touchdown.  Also helped PPR owners with 6 catches for 27 yards.  Take a deep breath Peterson owners.  Nothing to worry about.

-I traded for Greg Jennings in trying to shore up my third receiver spot.  I am not impressed.  Only 3 catches for 43 yards.  Wonder how much of a product of Aaron Rodgers he was.

-Surprised Philip Rivers only threw 22 passes for 184 yards and 1 TD after how good the Chargers passing offense had been.  Rivers netted the TD on the Chargers' first drive which no doubt gave his owners the idea of another big day.  Not to be.  Rivers however did nothing to lose this one so put him out there again.

-That big pickup of Eddie Royal wasn't so neat was it?  Only 2 catches for 34 yards.  He was never that good people.

-It has been a bit of a struggle for Tom Brady owners with all the inexperience and injuries making up his wide receiver corps.  However there is light at the end of the tunnel as both Danny Amendola and Rob Gronkowski could be back next week.  Holding the fort this week as rookie Kenbrell Thompkins who finally showed flashed of what he did in preseason by catching two touchdown passes.  Thompkins only caught one other pass though so don't drool too much.  Aaron Dobson was actually more busy with 7 catches for 52 yards.

-As a Doug Martin owner, I continue to wonder where all the receptions have gone.  Only two yesterday after none last week.  No touchdowns again either.  This is starting to remind me of Matt Forte's second season when he was a big disappointment off a great rookie campaign.

-Telling that LeGarrette Blount got more touches than Stevan Ridley.  It looks more and more like Ridley is not getting out of Bill Belichick's doghouse.  Bench him outright. Yuck.

-No garbage time points for RG3 Sunday as he failed to throw for a touchdown and as picked once.  Yes 385 yards is a huge total but it was totally empty.  Right now Griffin owners are wondering what to do here but there really is no easy answer.  I think Griffin is throwing it good enough and will get better as the season goes on.  Give him another week.

-Alfred Morris is being swallowed up by the fact the Redskins can't run it in the second half since they are always playing catchup.  Only rushed for 73 yards on 15 carries but he did score.

-On the other side, Joquie Bell is a guy I want to see more and more.  Has the classic PPR makeup in rushing for 63 yards and a score on 20 carries while also catching 4 passes for 69 yards.  Reggie Bush should be back next week but Bell is involved enough that he can continue being a RB 2.

-Matthew Stafford continues to sling it with the bets of them in throwing for 385 yards with 2 scores and 1 INT.  Told you all to draft him too as a comeback guy.

-If you on a New York Giants offensive player than my condolences.  Cut Eli Manning loose as that is the rule when you throw for only 119 yards and yet another pick.  A doughnut on touchdowns.  What a disgrace.  The entire offense is a joke right now as David Wilson rushed for only 39 yards on 11 carries.  Victor Cruz caught only 3 balls while Hakeem Nicks was shut out.

-DeAngelo Williams is turning back the clock to his first round pick days as he rushed for 120 yards on 23 carries.  Still onoly like him as a RB 3 though.

-Both Matt Schaub and Joe Flacco failed to throw a touchdown pass.  In our cut-and-dried world that means they were bums.  Both guys go up and down more than an elevator.

There you have it.  Post your comments below.

FANTASY FOOTBALL WEEK 3 RUNNING BACK RANKINGS

Here are the fantasy football running back rankings for Week 3 based on opposing matchups.

1. Adrian Peterson
2. Marshawn Lynch
3. C.J. Spiller
4. Doug Martin
5. Arian Foster
6. Matt Forte
7. Alfred Morris
8. Chris Johnson
9. Frank Gore
10. Knowshon Moreno
11. Joquie Bell
12. DeMarco Murray
13. DeAngelo Williams
14. Lamar Miller
15. Stevan Ridley
16. Darren McFadden
17. Ryan Matthews
18. Darren Sproles
19. Giovani Bernard
20. Rashard Mendenhall
21. Ray Rice
22. James Starks
23. David Wilson
24. Maurice Jones-Drew
25. Ahmad Bradshaw
26. Bernard Pierce
27. Ben Tate
28. Trent Richardson
29. Reggie Bush
30. BenJarvus Green-Ellis
31. Bilal Powell
32. Jacquizz Rodgers
33. Fred Jackson
34. Chris Ivory
35. Jason Snelling

FANTASY FOOTBALL INJURY REPORT: RAY RICE TO BE ON ICE, REGGIE BUSH/JOQUIE BELL TO SPLIT WORK

          

Friday is here which means it is time for the weekly Injury Report as fantasy football owners try to fine-tune their rosters before Sunday's games. 

-Don't count on seeing Baltimore Ravens RB Ray Rice in the lineup Sunday as a team source told us directly he will be sitting.  Rice is being listed as doubtful which gives him on paper a 25 percent chance to play.  He has not practiced at all this week and the reality is that Bernard Pierce will start against the Houston Texans on Sunday.

-Detroit Lions RB Reggie Bush returned to practice Friday and should be ready to go Sunday against the Washington Redskins.  Bush and Joquie Bell apparently will split the workload in Week 3 but the Redskins are so horrible defensively that both men are usable as RB 2's this week.

-San Diego Chargers WR Malcolm Floyd will miss at least a month after suffering a scary neck injury last Sunday against the Philadelphia Eagles.  Push up the value of both Eddie Royal and Vincent Brown, along with tight end Antonio Gates who will see an uptick in receptions in the suddenly potent Chargers offensive attack.

-Indianapolis Colts WR T.Y. Hilton should be ready to go on Sunday despite being listed as probable with a groin injury.  Hilton has been limited during practice but all signs point to him being out there.  With Darius Heyward-Bey out with his own injury issues, Hilton is primed for continued big play success due to his athleticism.

-Surprisingly Miami Dolphins WR Mike Wallace appeared on the injury report Friday as questionable due to a groin injury.  Wallace was seen practicing all week however which likely means he will be out there.  It has been a volatile start to the season for Wallace who followed up a one-catch Week 1 with a 9-catch monster game in Week 2.

-Both Larry Fitzgerald (hamstring) and Rashard Mendenhall (toe) practiced with the Arizona Cardinals Sunday which points to both men likely playing Sunday.  Fitzgerald only lasted a half last week with 2 meaningless catches before had to come out with the hamstring but the fact he practiced (which was something he didn't do last week) is a nice sign.

-Houston Texans WR Andre Johnson has been fully cleared to play Sunday after the concussion he suffered in Week 2 against the Tennessee Titans.  At 32, Johnson is still at the top of his game as a fantasy football wide receiver 1.

-Chicago Bears WR Brandon Marshall returned to practice Friday with no issues after coming out of Thursday's session with a back injury.  Marshall is all set to start.

There you have it.  As always posts comments below.  Also be sure to stick with us all Sunday morning to see who plays and who sits.

FANTASY FOOTBALL WRAPUP: THURSDAY

  

Fantasy football Week 3 kicked off Thursday night with an emotional battle between the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles which marked the return of Andy Reid to the city that booed Santa Claus.  As always let's get right to all the notable fantasy football action.

-  It was not a night for the quarterbacks, in particular Michael Vick Thursday night.  Taking a page out of his inconsistent and turnover-prone past, Vick completed only 13-of-30 for 201 yards and 1 TD with 2 big interceptions.  Vick also lost a fumble which gave him three turnovers on the night.  If not for the 95 yards rushing, it would have been one big disaster for Vick and his fantasy football owners.  A few things on Vick:  one is that Andy Reid clearly has a firm book on his former QB so the struggles were not a surprise to some degree.  However this also was a look back at how poorly Vick can play at times and this is not what his to this point excited fantasy football owners wanted to see.  Clearly these owners are feeling a bit skittish having Vick as their starter right now but if you took my advice, you drafted him as your backup only.

Another thing on Vick.  The book on Vick is that once he starts to get hit, whether it is early in a game or early in the season, he loses his mechanics, gets skittish in the pocket, and the turnovers start to flow.  It will be interesting to see next week if this pattern continues as Vick as hit all night long.

As far as Alex Smith was concerned, it was a typical Alex Smith night as he threw for 273 yards with no scores or picks while rushing for 33.  Again he should be only used in two-QB formats.

-Now for the running backs . With Reid coaching the Chiefs and having coached the Eagles for years, the one thing he emphasized on offense was putting the ball in the running backs' hands both in the running and receiving game.  We saw that in both runners last night in a major way.  First Kansas City's Jamaal Charles continued his big start to the season with 92 rushing yards on 20 carries and 1 TD.  Charles has still yet to rush for 100 yards in the first three games but as you know that is never the whole story when it comes to his dynamic game.  Charles also chipped in a PPR-busting 7 receptions for another 80 yards.  Charles now has caught 6, 7, and 8 passes in the first three games as he cements his status as PPR gold.  With Ray Rice and Arian Foster off to slow starts, Charles is right there with this next guy behind Adrian Peterson in the updated running back rankings which will be released later.

Getting over to LeSean McCoy, his terrific start continued as well as he rushed for a ridiculous 158 yards and 1 TD.  McCoy is looking like he will lead the NFL in rushing in this offense but unlike Charles, he is not catching passes which bears watching.  McCoy has only 6 catches in the three games which calls into questions whether Chip Kelly emphasizes throwing to the running back.  No matter, McCoy has been a monster as he has rushed for 184, 53, and 158 yards in his three outings.  Wow.  The only concern I have is in December when the fantasy football playoffs begin.  Could McCoy be worn down than?  McCoy hinted at concern for this when he ran 31 times in the team's opener.  He did a sprain an ankle in the second quarter but returned later.  With so much time off before the next game, McCoy will be all right.  Stay tuned.

-Not much to speak of in the receiving games outside of the on again/off again performance of Donni Avery of Kansas City.  Avery came out of hibernation to catch 7 passes for 144 yards.  In fact the Eagles had no answers for Avery who was constantly openly all night and who added major yardage after the reception.  We have seen this song and dance out of Avery before, especially last season in Indy.  He will have his big games and than follow them up with duds.  Call him the newer version of Lance Moore.  Pick him up if you want to but Avery has a lot more to prove to be an every week option.  DeSean Jackson caught only 3 passes for 62 yards to start his fantasy football owners on a bad note.  Jason Avant chipped in 5 catches for 87 yards and a touchdown but no one owns him anyway.  Dwayne Bowe meanwhile continued to be quiet with 1 whole catch for 4 yards.  In fact to put it accurately, Bowe has been a dog.  Alex Smith does not throw the football down the field which kind of neuters Bowe's fantasy football impact.  Not good.  WR 3 is looking like his status right now which is a major downgrade in his ability.

There you have it.  Post comments below.

FANTASY FOOTBALL WEEK 3 QB RANKINGS

Here are the fantasy football Week 3 QB rankings based on the opposition.

1.  Peyton Manning
2.  Aaron Rodgers
3.  Drew Brees
4.  Matthew Stafford
5.  Colin Kaepernick
6.  Michael Vick
7.  Matt Ryan
8.  Robert Griffin III
9.  Tony Romo
10. Cam Newton
11. Tom Brady
12. Eli Manning
13. Russell Wilson
14. Philip Rivers
15. Andrew Luck
16. Matt Schaub
17. Alex Smith
18. Sam Bradford
19. Jay Cutler
20. Joe Flacco
21. Ryan Tannehill
22. Carson Palmer
23. Terrell Pryor
24. Josh Freeman
25. Geno Smith

FANTASY FOOTBALL TRADE FALLOUT: TRENT RICHARDSON NOW A COLT

    

99 percent of the time, NFL trades that take place in-season are almost univeraslly non-descript minor ones. Every once in awhile you get a blockbuster however which was the case Wednesday when the Cleveland Browns shockingly dealt former first round RB Trent Richardson to the Indianapolis Colts for a first round pick. The explosive but oft-injured Richardson apparently "was not a fit" in new head coach Rob Chudzinski's offense whatever that means which led to the deal going down quickly. The shock was instantaneous around the NFL as Richardson was clearly the best offensive player on the team and one of the most gifted overall on both sides of the football. However for whatever reason the perpetually rebuilding Browns felt he was not useful enough for them and thus swung the deal. So what kind of impact does the move have for the purpose of fantasy football? Let's dig in and find out.

-First off, Richardson benefits the most out of all this by far. Whereas I told you all to avoid drafting him this past summer due to the utter lack of support on offense, which led opposing defenses to stack the box with 8 and sometimes 9 defenders, Richardson will have much more room to run in Indy with Andrew Luck leading a high-powered passing offense. With Reggie Wayne, T.Y. Hilton, and Coby Fleener stretching the field, Richardson will see daylight like never before when he totes the football. Blessed with tremendous speed and cutback ability, Richardson is primed for a big time stretch the rest of the way. Also an adept pass receiver, Richardson plays well in PPR and standard formats. His biggest challenge of course is staying healthy which has been a struggle going back to his Alabama days. So far good on that front this season though. Thus those who took a chance on Richardson in drafts this past summer will be rewarded in a tremendous way.

-The flip side of this move is the Browns signing Willis McGahee off the street to replace Richardson. McGahee of course is coming off knee surgery and will likely need some time to get in shape. Chris Ogbonnaya will likely start in Week 3 as McGahee gets himself familiar with the playbook. In addition, Ahmad Bradshaw will see his value vanish almost completely since Richardson will likely get the bulk of the work. Thus what was at one time looking like a big rebound campaign was under way, Bradshaw now finds himself as a bench guy at best. How quickly some things change. 

FANTASY FOOTBALL WEEK 2 ADDS/DROPS

Week 3 in fantasy football is quickly approaching and so let's see who makes the list for the hot pickups and the undesirable drops.

Week 3 Adds

Eddie Royal:  This is stating the obvious as Royal has now caught five touchdown passes in two games.  Clearly Royal won't maintain his 40 touchdown pace but there is a crying need for a number 1 receiver in San Diego with Danario Alexander out for the season and Malcolm Floyd coming off a scary neck injury.  Royal was a PPR whiz back during his rookie season with Denver but than fell off the map since.  Philip Rivers is looking to throw all day under new offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt so at least in the short-term, Royal makes an excellent pickup playing the slot role in the suddenly potent Chargers attack.

Bernard Pierce:  The first of many running back handcuffs this week as Ray Rice is likely going to be a game-time decision with a hip flexor injury.  Pierce is universally considered one of the best....if not THE BEST....backup running back in the game and the Ravens have made it a point to try and get him more involved.  Not a terrific receiver, Pierce makes for a better add in standard formats.

Jason Snelling:  Snelling is the total package as a running back unlike Pierce as he is very adept at catching the football as well as running with it.  Reminds me of Joquie Bell of Detroit.  With Steven Jackson's status up in the air with a calf injury, Snelling is a smart pickup, especially in PPR formats.  However keep in mind he would draw the tough Miami defense this week if he starts.

Nate Burleson:  Burleson is a veteran guy who has always seemingly been a borderline fantasy football receiver.  However the Lions are throwing the football all day once again and Burleson once again is doing his thing as a very solid number 2 guy.

Austin Pettis:  Pettis was terrific Sunday in leading the Rams in receiver and he seems to have a nice rapport with QB Sam Bradford.  He looks like a decent WR 3 option going forward.  Likely better for PPR leagues than those who are TD-heavy setups.

Week 3 Drops

Montee Ball:  The Denver running back gig is no doubt Knowshon Moreno's to town off his two-TD/93 yard rushing game against the New York Giants.  Ball meanwhile lost a fumble near the goal-line which no doubt will give John Fox pause in trusting him too much.  Wait until Moreno inevitably gets injured.

Fred Davis:  Davis was intriguing coming into the season as he looked good in camp and did some nice things before a suspension and injury marred his 2012.  So far nothing doing with Davis and RG3 so no need waiting for it to happen with some other good options available.

David Wilson:  I know its only two games but Wilson was as bad as can be and now Brandon Jacobs is in town to take the goal-line work.  Wilson now seems so preoccupied with not fumbling that his running has suffered.  A disaster all the way around.  Andre Brown should get the main running back job when he gets back from his broken leg.

Issac Redman:  Redman has been dreadful through two games and the Steelers as as whole have been one big mess.  Wait until LeVeon Bell gets back before looking at a Steelers running back.

Ben Roethlisberger:  It is all right ot hold onto him as a backup but Big Ben has been a Big Bust along with the rest of his teammates on both sides of the football.  With no good weapons at receiver, terrible protection, and a shaky running game, Roethlisberger is useless.

There you have it.  As always let us hear your thoughts.

FANTASY FOOTBALL INJURY FALLOUT: STEVEN JACKSON OUT 2-4 WEEKS WITH CALF INJURY

      

Ugh.  It was a Bloody Sunday for top fantasy football running backs this past Sunday as Steven Jackson, Ray Rice, Eddie Lacy, Maurice Jones-Drew, and Reggie Bush all hit the sidelines with various maladies of differing significance.  On the more severe end was the news Tuesday that Atlanta Falcons back Jackson could be out the next 2-4 weeks with a thigh injury.  Jackson hurt the high early in the team's Sunday win over the St. Louis Rams and never returned as Jason Snelling led the way to a late victory.  Jackson carried this kind of risk going into the season given the fact he has past the very dangerous age of 30 coming into the year and so this news is not all that surprising.  Still this leaves a decent void in the lineups of Jackson's fantasy football owners and thus that hole needs to be filled.  So how to go about it?  Fortunately there are some interesting possible replacements which could be sitting on the wire.

The most obvious replacement pick is Snelling who did very well down the stretch last Sunday in replacing an ineffective Jacquizz Rodgers to catch some passes, run the ball solidly, and score a touchdown to save the day.  Now Snelling will be relied on to be the bellweather back for the Falcons starting Sunday against the Miami Dolphins and that along makes him the best bet to take Jackson's spot on your roster.  The Dolphins defense is a tough one though so it is not the greatest matchup this week.  However those in PPR formats should be especially interested.

Following up on the injury tangent, Bernard Pierce is another potentially big time injury replacement, in his case for Rice who is questionable with a hip flexor injury.  Pierce opened up more than a few eyes with very good production the second half of his rookie season in 2012 which included his contributions to the team's Super Bowl title.  While Pierce is not the receiver Snelling is, he is a very good runner who can easily hold down a RB 2 role in Rice's place.

In addition, James Starks is a must grab now that the news leaked out that rookie RB Lacy could be out through Week 4 due to the concussion he suffered last Sunday.  The Packers gave Starks almost all the work once Lacy was in the locker room and he responded by going for over 100 yards while also catching passes out of the backfield all game.  

Going even further, the options get limited quick.  Joquie Bell has been snatched up in most leagues if Bush can't go so that is probably out.  Chris Ivory of the New York Jets and Pierre Thomas of the New Orleans Saints are also deeper guys to focus on.  Either way replacing Jackson is not easy to say the least.  But as always you can't throw in the towel, especially this early in the season.  Rank them Starks, Snelling, Pierce, and than the rest.

FANTASY FOOTBALL STATUS REPORT: PHILIP RIVERS QB SAN DIEGO CHARGERS

Heading into the 2013 fantasy football season, San Diego Chargers QB Philip Rivers was universally being left out as a starting options in a standard 12-team league.  My how the mighty had fallen indeed.  Once considered a rock solid top 5-7 fantasy football and real life QB, Rivers was lauded for his gunslinging ability which resulted in 4 straight 4,000 yard seasons with his TD totals from 2008-2011 reading 34, 28, 30, and 27.  However free agency began to take a toll on the Chargers, with big time weapons Vincent Jackson and Darren Sproles leaving town, along with age taking a big chunk out of star tight end Antonio Gates' effectiveness.  Thus the 2012 season became a trainwreck for Rivers who threw for only 3,606 yards.  Sure the 26 touchdown tosses were nice but they were more than offset by 15 interceptions.  Rivers began to look shaky in the pocket as his pass protection was among the worst in the NFL and with a wideout corps that lost the emerging Danario Alexander for the season before camp was through, it surely was not looking promising for Rivers to re-emerge as a big time fantasy football asset.

However an ignored transaction that didn't involve a player during the offseason should have been looked at with more intrigue however when it came to Rivers and his prospects.  The Chargers went out and hired former Arizona Cardinals head coach Ken Whisenhunt to be their offensive coordinator and his pass loving ways were well documented.  Thus when Week 1 came around versus Houston, it was no surprise to see Rivers come out firing and in the end never taking his foot off the passing pedal in throwing for four touchdowns in a late last-second loss.

Week 2 brought more of the same with in fact even better results for Rivers as the Chargers went into Philadelphia and upset the Eagles with the QB throwing for an insane 419 yards and 3 more touchdowns.  Rivers wound up completing 36 of 47 passes and was in complete control throughout the game.  Thus that makes two weeks out of two that the Chargers threw first and asked questions later.  Rivers stands here heading into Week 3 with 7 touchdowns and only 1 interception and a whole bunch of his former great name reclaimed.

Obviously Rivers should be picked up in all formats, even if he sits as very good insurance for your starter.  In a league where QB's are always under injury threat, having a rock solid guy like Rivers as your backup is fantasy football genius.  Beyond that, Rivers absolutely is worthy of being used as an every week starter again as he has made a nice rapport with Eddie Royal, Vincent Brown, Malcolm Floyd, and the still effective Gates.  There is more than enough talent there for Rivers to continue his very solid play and in the end his place as a fantasy football-worthy starting option is back in play.  Go get him and plug him in right away while he is hot.

2013 FANTASY FOOTBALL UPDATED QB RANKINGS

With two weeks of the fantasy football season pretty much in the books, lets do out first update on the QB rankings.

1.  Aaron Rodgers:  The best.  No questions asked.n.
2.  Peyton Manning:  Is ridiculously locked in right now and has about the best batch of receivers in football.  50 TD's not out of the question
3.  Drew Brees:  Clearly loved having Sean Payton and his pass-happy ways back.
4.  Matt Ryan:  Falcons passing offense still in high gear despite slow starts of Roddy White and Tony Gonzalez.
5.  Michael Vick:  Vick makes the biggest move up the board and rightfully so as he one again is a TD machine.  Just has to stay healthy.
6.  Colin Kaepernick:  Sunday night was a dud but gets a pass since it was against Seattle.
7.  Philip Rivers:  How about the starts Rivers is having?  Status Report on tap.
8.  Tom Brady:  Lack of weapons even becoming too much for Brady as Week 2 versus Jets was tough to watch.
9.  Robert Griffin III:  Putting up a lot of scores but when the game is out of reach.  Still they all count the same.  Becoming more of a pocket passer with only one rushing yard in Week 2.
10. Matthew Stafford:  Was a terrific bargain in drafts this summer.  Showing why with two good outings.
11. Tony Romo:  Overshadowed but steady as they come.
12. Andrew Luck:  Luck misses Bruce Arians and his knack for throwing downfield.  More conservative pass offense a bit of a worry.
13. Cam Newton:  Once again off to a slow start amid questions on his true passing ability.  Stay patient.
14. Russell Wilson:  I like Wilson a lot but I still have a very tough time he matches last season's TD total in this run-heavy offense.
15. Jay Cutler:  Marc Trestman passing offense doing wonders for Cutler but still throwing his picks.
16. Sam Bradford:  Have liked Bradford for awhile now and since he has some toys to throw to finally, early results not a surprise.
17. Matt Schaub:  Throwing the ball more than ever early on but that is because Texans have fallen behind early.
18. Alex Smith:  You know he won't turn it over and is one of the best QB 2's in fantasy football.
19. Joe Flacco:  Awesome in Week 1 and than back to his all right ways in Week 2.  Shaky due to his wayward numbers.
20. Eli Manning:  Already has seven picks amid nice start in yardage and touchdowns.  Lack of running game a problem though.
21. Andy Dalton:  Solid but unspectacular.
22. Ben Roethlisberger:  Could be headed for ugly season with awful protection and own poor running game.
23. Carson Palmer:  Still can sling it but throws too many interceptions.
24. E.J. Manuel:  Promising future and could be a help soon based on early numbers.
25. Ryan Tannehill:  Played great in Week 2 but need to see more to trust him fully.
26. Terrell Pryor:  Michael Vick-lite with the running but passing needs work.
27. Jake Locker:  Accuracy is horrendous.
28. Josh Freeman:  Complete mess right now who needs a change of scenery.
29. Christian Ponder:  Just doesn't seem to have the arm to succeed fully.
30. Brandon Weeden:  Horrible passer and he is old.
31. Geno Smith:  Shows signs but turnovers indicative he is not ready yet.
32. Blaine Gabbert:  Complete bust.

There you have it.  Let's hear what you think.

FANTASY FOOTBALL WRAPUP: 4:00 GAMES AND LATER

-What a difference a week makes when it comes to San Francisco 49ers QB Colin Kaepernick and WR Anquan Boldin.  After playing pitch and catch all last week versus the woeful Washington Redskins defense, Kapernick and Boldin were almost complete zeroes for their fantasy football owners last night.  The Seattle Seahawks defense is ridiculous and so there is no need to overreact on their numbers (Kaepernick:  127 passing yards/3 INT's, Boldin:  1 catch for 7 yards).  Both guys will be very good starters the rest of the way but just keep this in mind the next time they play Seattle.  In fact keep this in mind when ANY of your players are going against Seattle.

-Not much better for Frank Gore who rushed for a grand total of 16 yards on 9 carries.  OF course the week I traded for him.  Gore will be a decent fantasy football running back but remember age is a constant worry.

-Marshawn Lynch continued his string of good games against the 49ers by rushing for 98 yards and 2 touchdowns while also catching 3 passes with one going for a third score.  Of course 2.0:  I was playing against the Lynch owner. 

-When it comes to Drew Brees, the only number that counts is the amount of touchdown tosses as he always throws for over 300 yards.  Well Brees threw for only one touchdown while also tossing two picks.  Ehhhh.

-Doug Martin has been a source of frustration for his fantasy football owners which includes me.  After doing nothing last week against the New York Jets, Martin ran for 144 big yards yesterday but for zero scores.  Martin has yet to hit paydirt and he also failed to catch a football Sunday.  Overall it has not been nearly what Martin's fantasy football owners expected and my view is that the awful Josh Freeman is causing opposing defenses to rightfully stack the box to stuff the run game to start the season.  Obviously you have to be patient and Martin should be just fine but there is some concern about a sophomore slump.

-Jimmy Graham was a man among boys Sunday as he caught 10 passes for 179 yards and 1 TD.  Wow.  The best tight end by far.

-Vincent Jackson was all right with five catches for 77 yards while Mike Williams did nothing in grabbing 2 balls for 9.

-The Matthew Stafford comeback season is well underway as he put two good games back-to-back to open the season.  Stafford threw for 278 yards and 2 touchdowns and no picks.  With all the weapons at his disposal, Stafford is primed for a very strong season.

-Reggie Bush got hurt AGAIN.  After putting up a big time opener, Bush left the game twice with a knee issue that will now lead to an MRI.  His status for next week is questionable at best so get ready for more work by the intriguing Joquie Bell who rushed for 31  yards on 8 carries while also catching 5 passes for 41 yards.

-Calvin Johnson put up two more touchdowns on his 6 receptions for 116 yards.  To think I was one pick away from getting him in the Experts League.  Ended up with the so far shaky Doug Martin.

-Larry Fitzgerald owners might have preferred he simply not play since they were obligated to put him in the lineup after hearing he would battle through his injured hamstring.  Fitzgerald lasted only one half as he caught only two passes for 33 yards.  And where was last week's sensation Andre Roberts?  Roberts caught only 3 balls for 36 yards.  Back to the wire we go.

-My goodness are things ugly with New York Giants QB Eli Manning.  Manning upped his INT total to an insane 7 through two games with 4 more on Sunday while throwing for 307 yards and one score.  As great an arsenal of weapons as Manning has, he must be benched for now given the fact opposing defenses are not respecting the Giants run game and instead are crowding the secondary.

-Speaking of the Giants run game, what a mess.  David Wilson didn't fumble which is about the only positive thing you can say bout his 17 yard rushing day.  Cut him loose or bury him deep on your bench.  It is just not happening.

-Knowshon Moreno was the guy we touted all along and he was the one to emerge as the starting running back for the Denver Broncos.  Moreno solidified that spot by rushing for 93 yards on only 13 carries with two touchdowns.  Also an underrated receiver, Moreno caught 3 passes for 33 yards.  Ride him now as your RB 2.

-It was Eric Decker's turn to shine in the Broncos passing attack as he caught 9 balls for 87 yards.  Meanwhile Julius Thomas picked up his third touchdown among his 6 catches.  A true number 1 tight end option.

-Things were a bit quieter for Wes Welker who caught only 3 passes for 39 yards.  This was the concern we had in the preseason about how Welker may not see as many passes in the Denver offense given how many weapons there are.  Demaryuis Thomas bore this out as well by catching 5 passes for a nondescript 52 yards.

-Victor Cruz remains a top flight receiver with 8 catches for 118 yards.  He clearly has the favored receiver role over Hakeem Nicks who caught only 4 for 83 yards amid a dislocated finger.  Finally Brandon Myers has become a trusted outlet for Manning with six more grabs for 74 yards.

-I won't even bring up any Jacksonville Jaguars as there is nothing nice to wsay about anyone there.

-Darren McFadden reminded us why we all come back to him every year despite his injuries.  He ran for 129 yards while also catching 4 passes for 28.

-The Terrell Pryor encore was not great as predicted as he threw for only 126 yards while rushing for 50.  He is not a good throwing of the football which limits his upside.

FANTASY FOOTBALL WEEK 2 WRAPUP: 1:00 GAMES

No need wasting any time.  Let's get right to all the 1:00 action.

-It doesn't matter how you get the fantasy football points, its that you get them at all.  Such is the case of Washington Redskins QB Robert Griffin III who for the second week in a row picked up the majority of his points in garbage.  Griffin threw for 320 yards and 3 touchdowns to go with 1 INT in a losing effort to drop the team to 0-2.  The biggest thing might have been Griffin running for only 1 yards as maybe the coaching staff has finally got into his head about not putting himself at risk.  Either way that's two big passing games in a row despite the fact they came when the contest was out of reach.

-Aaron Rodgers is an absolute machine as evidenced by his 4-TD/480 yard performance.  Really if you are a Rodgers owner and you don't guarantee yourself a playoff spot, than something is wrong.

-Eddie Lacy owners were screwed right off the bat as the rookie left with a concussion on his first and only carry.  James Starks clearly was the backup as he came in to rush for 132 monster yards and 1 TD while also catching 4 balls for 36 yards.  Starks is a must own in all formats if Lacy needs to miss a game.

-Jordy Nelson has been a standard league gem since coming into the league as he always has shown a knack for scoring touchdowns.  He added two more Sunday as part of his 3 catch/66 yard effort.  He will never threaten the league lead in receptions but will do so in receiving touchdowns.

-Rodgers lamented the fact James Jones was so out of the game plan last week.  So what does he do?  Completes 11 passes to him for 178 yards.  Wow.  Jones was a TD monster last season and like Nelson has done his best work there.  HIs receptions total vary like pretty much every other Green Bay wideout but clearly Jones is back in the game plan.

-Yes there is room for three fantasy football-worthy receivers on a team as Randall Cobb showed in catching 9 balls for 128 yards and a score.  And even Jermichael Finley makes it four as he caught 6 passes for 65 yards and a score of his own.  Rodgers spoke in the preseason abotu how Finley was primed for his best season ever and so far that prediction is right on the money.  Finely could really be going places he has never been before.

-Pierre Garcon remains RG3's best friend Sunday as he caught 9 balls for 143 yards and a touchdown.  As long as Garcon is healthy, he is a very good WR 3.

-Quietly effective game for Alfred Morris who rushed for 107 yards on only 13 carries while also catching 2 passes for 13 more yards.

-Joe Flacco was back to his ordinary numbers Sunday in throwing for a pedestrian 211 yards and 1 TD.  Ho-hum.

-Scary news right now about Ray Rice leaving with a non-contact hip injury.  Dislocated hip is the fear which would finish Rice for the season so stay tuned. 

-I told you all to avoid Trent Richardson this season in drafts despite the appealing talent for two reasons.  Once was his penchant for injuries and the other was his miserable team that would cause defenses to stack the box against him.  Well Richardson had his second ineffective game in two weeks in rushing for only 58 yards on 18 carries while also catching 5 balls for 21 yards.  Yup.  Could be a long season.  But you knew that already.

-Jordan Cameron is such a Jason Witten clone it is scary.  5 more catches for 95 yards Sunday.  Nice.

-Marlon Brown was a popular pickup this week with Jacoby Jones on ice for 4-6 weeks and he responded by catching his second TD in two weeks. 

-The Atlanta Falcons offense is a monster and QB Matt Ryan's 374 yard/2 TD outing is about what we expect now going forward.  Top five lock at this stage of his career.

-Julio Jones' graduation to the top receiver on Atlanta is firmly cemented as evidenced by his insane 11 catch/182 yard/TD outing.  I had at one point worried about the amount of raw catches Jones could get but no more.  As good as there is in the NFL.

-Roddy White has to be benched until proven otherwise as he followed up his awful 2 catch Week 1 with only 3 grabs in Week 2.  The high ankle sprain could be a long-term issue and so White's fantasy football owners are in big trouble there.

-Tony Gonzalez has been very ordinary to start the season outside of the one TD last week.  He caught only 4 passes for 33 yards.  Not the bang for the buck Gonzalez owners were looking for but the week you bench him will be the one he breaks out,.

-Jason Snelling needs to be owned if Steven Jackson needs to miss time with the calf strain that cost him most of Sunday's game.  Snelling caught four balls for 41 yards while rushing for 19 yards and a TD.  Jacquizz Rodgers looked awful in Jackson's place so Snelling is the one to own.

-Austin Pettis announced his arrival as a potential fantasy football help in this newfound Rams passing attack by catching 8 passes for 78 yards and a TD.  Jared Cook meanwhile cooled off with only 1 catch for 10 yards which brings him back to his inconsistent Tennessee days.

-Tavon Austin has been as advertised so far as he caught his first TWO touchdowns Sunday among his 6 grabs for 47 yards.  I liked Austin a lot and he looks very solid in PPR formats.

-Daryl Richardson also is a PPR guy whose poor running makes him a liability in standard formats.  Richardson caught 5 passed for 45 yards but only running for 35 on 10 carries.

-Time to start considering Philip Rivers an every week star again.  After a year-plus of shaky play due to a lack of weapons and a poor offensive line, Rivers is absolutely exploding in the Ken Whisenhunt offense.  After throwing for four TD's in the opener, he followed that up by throwing for 3 more to go with 419 yards.  Whisenhunt clearly wants to throw first and run second and Rivers is looking up to the task.  Get him in there if Rivers is sitting on your bench and your starter is underwhelming.

-I told you all in the summer that Michael Vick could be a sneaky great sleeper grab given the Chip Kelly offense and through two weeks he has only been quite possibly the best producing QB in fantasy football.  Vick was a monster for the second week in a row Sunday by throwing fora ridiculous 428 yard and two touchdowns while also rushing for another on 6 carries.  The 6 carries amounted to 23 rushing yards.  There is nothing Vick can't do on a football field and all he has to do is stay healthy.  Since we know that won't totally happen, take what you can get.

-LeSean McCoy could in no way replicate his awesome Week 1 numbers but he was still very good with 53 rushing yards and 114 receiving yards on 5 receptions.

-DeSean Jackson has finally graduated from WR 3 purgatory as he caught 9 passes for 193 monster yards and 1 TD.  Jackson has never caught 70 or more passes which always held him back in PPR formats but this new offense is clearly putting him in WR 1 territory.  Hate the attitude but can't argue with the results.

-It was a turn back the lock game for Antonio Gates who caught 8 passes for 124 yards.  He would have scored as well but lost a fumble by the goal line.  These outings were becoming a thing of the past so this is a nice sign.

-If you had Eddie Royal in your lineup than you should be writing on this website.  Royal caught 3 touchdowns Sunday among his 7 catches for 90 yards.  Royal has been a non-factor since his rookie season with Denver.  With Malcom Floyd getting seriously injured, Royal is looking like a terrific pickup this week.

-Jay Cutler is a hot and cold QB.  Has been his whole career both in real life and in fantasy football.  However we all have seen numerous cases where a pass-happy new offense coordinator can elevate a player's status, most recently with Matt Ryan and Michael Vick.  Well Marc Trestman is the new head coach and brings a vast pass happy formula to his team.  Cutler showed how good Trestman's system can be by passing for 290 yards with 3 TD and 2 INT.  The interceptions are always part of the equation however but overall Cutler looks like he could be primed for a next step season.

-Matt Forte is absolute fantasy football gold in PPR formats.  Has been since he came into the league.  The latest gem was catching 11 passes Sunday for 71 yards.  He also rushed for 90 yards on 19 carries.  Love him.

-Brandon Marshall did his thing with 7 catches for 113 yards and a score.  Greg Jennings did as well on the other side with 5 catches for 84 yards.

-Adrian Peterson is behind the 2,000 yard mark but that is me just being sarcastic.  Ran for 100 yards on 26 carries.  He is still decent.

-E.J. Manuel sure looks like the next very good read option QB.  He led the Bills to a last second thriller over the Carolina Panthers Sunday by throwing for 296 yards with 1 TD and 1 INT.

-Cam Newton loves to drive his owners crazy.  This is the second straight slow start to his season as he threw for 229 yards with 2 TD and 1 INT.  Only 15 yards rushing.  (sigh)

-Stevie Johnson doesn't get the credit he deserves for putting up numbers in a horrible Bills passing era the last few years.  He caught the game winning TD from Manuel which was among his 8 receptions for 111 yards.

-C.J. Spiller had the quietest 103 yard rushing game you can have. Also snared 4 passes which went for nothing.  So far through two games Spiller has done next to nothing. 

-Matt Schaub has been somewhat overrated the last few seasons but so far in 2013 has been good after throwing for 3 TD's Sunday.  He also threw two picks but Schaub's numbers are making the grade.

-Arian Foster rushed for his first TD of the season among his 79 yards on 19 carries.  Look for Foster to get more and more involved as the season goes along.

-DeAndre Hopkins is sure exciting to watch.  He reminds me of Julio Jones which is saying something as Hopkins caught 7 passes for 117 yards and the game-winning score.  Great signs all around.

-I guess all you have to do is complain.  A week after crying that he had only 1 reception in the team's WINNING opener, Mike Wallace caught 9 passes for 115 yards and 1 TD Sunday.  I think the numbers will be pretty volatile from week-to-week but for this one at least Wallace yielded profit.

-Baby steps for Lamar Miller who rushed for his first TD of the season but overall had only 69 rushing yards and 2 receptions.  Not impressed yet.

-T.Y. Hilton needs to be started Indy coaches.  The exciting kid caught 6 passes for 124 yards and reminds me of Randall Cobb.

-Among QB-2's in two-QB formats, Alex Smith is probably the top rated guy.  He threw for 2 touchdowns Sunday among his 223 yards.  What is really nice about Smith as well is the fact he doesn't throw picks.

-Jamaal Charles was a bigger weapon in the receiving game by catching 8 passes for 48 yards and a touchdown.  No issues with last week's bruised quad.

-Dez Bryant was unstoppable as usual as he caught 9 passes for 141 yards and a score.  Continuing his awesome second half of last season.

-Dwayne Bowe caught his first TD of the season Sunday among his 4 catches for 56 yards.  Always a very good TD guy, Bowe should be very solid with Smith under center.

-Jason Witten was a no-show with only 3 catches for 12 yards.  Trade him to me please.

FANTASY FOOTBALL WRAPUP: JETS-PATRIOTS

Fantasy football Week 2 went underway Thursday night when the New York Jets visited the New England Patriots in the rain. Here are some of the storylines coming out of the outing.

 -Things are not looking good at all in the short-term for Patriots QB Tom Brady who was beside himself with frustration at his very raw receiving corps throughout Thursday's game. With both Danny Amendola and Rob Gronkowski out, in addition to seeing Aaron Hernandez land in jail and Wes Welker defect to Denver, Brady is left with a ragtag batch of wideouts led by a former college QB in Julian Edelman. With rookies Kenbrell Thompkins and Aaron Dobson stuggling badly for the second week in a row, Brady forced the ball all night to Edelman to the tune of 18 targets and 13 completions. Overall Brady finished a woeful 13-of-39 for only 185 yards with 1 TD. With Amendola now possibly out until as long as Week 6 and no word yet on how soon Gronkowski will get back, these are bad times for Brady and his fantasy football owners. It was the concerns about Brady's receiving corps that had me dropping Brady down in the QB rankings heading into this season, putting him squarely behind Matt Ryan, Andrew Luck, and Cam Newton who he easily would have been ahead with even decent weapons. Right now with the very good Tampa Bay Buccaneers secondary on tap next week, Brady could be argued as guy who shoukd be benched. Seriously.

-Speaking of Edelman, he was the prize of the waiver wire this week as it was expected he would see a ton of work playing the Welker role and serving as the only experienced receiver on the team who is active. The 13 catches were a huge tally for those in PPR formats but in standard leagues not so much as Edelman got only 78 yards out of those catches with zero touchdowns. In other words an almost useless night in standard leagues. However with no end in sight with Amendola's return, Edelman needs to be continally put into the lineup no matter the format due to the high volume of attention he will get. As far as Dobson and Thompkins, well both guys clearly are not ready for this yet. Sure Dobson caught the TD pass but he also was screamed at by Brady on a number of occasions for running the wrong route and he also had the dropsies. Thompkins was a non-factor once again himself. Both guys should be benched in all leagues nad I can't voice opposition if you want to cut them outright. We have reached the point where that is all right.

-Stevan Ridley is absolutely killing his fantasy football owners now off his Week 1 benching in Buffalo for fumbling. With Shane Vereen out until Week 9 after wrist surgery, Ridley was given another prime opportunity to remind us all of his 1,200-plus 2012 campaign. Instead Ridley churned out all of 40 yards on 16 carries which was horrific on a night the Pats needed help with the run game since the weather was rough. In PPR leagues you need to plant Ridley on the bench and standard formats could give him one more shot. Ugly all around though.

-Nothing doing at all with the Jets offense. Geno Smith threw 13 interceptions in a brutal night. Chris Ivory was all right with 52 rushing yards on 12 carries but unless he scored he is pretty worthless. Stephen Hill caught 4 passes for 86 yards but that is the extent of the offense. There you have it. As always let us hear what you think.

FANTASY FOOTBALL WEEK 2 ADDS/DROPS

The first week of the fantasy football season is in the books and with Week 2 on tap, let's take a look at this week's hot pickups and drops.

WEEK 2 PICKUPS Leonard Hankerson: Major bustout game for the Redskins wideout who caught 5 passes for 80 yards and two scores Monday. While the Redskins were forced to pass often after falling behind by a wide margin early which took them out of their balanced running approach, Hankerson represents the future over the ancient Santana Moss.

Julian Edelman: Caught two touchdowns of his own Sunday as the forgotten man in the New England passing offense. With Danny Amendola on ice for Thursday, Amendola is looking like a significant weapon.

Andre Roberts: People forget about Roberts due to the bright star of Larry Fitzgerald on the other side by he matched his Pro Bowl counterpart Sunday with 8 catches. Michael Floyd got the sleeper pub but Roberts seems primed to be the second leading receiver on the suddenly pass-happy Cardinals offense.

Terrell Pryor: This pertains to those who play in two QB formats only. Pryor ran for over 100 yards and tossed a touchdown pass Sunday in a near upset of the Colts. While his passing skills are hit or miss right now, the running part of his game makes Pryor a decent enough QB 2 option.

Sam Bradford: Bradford finally has some toys to throw to in Jared Cook and Tavon Austin and Jeff Fisher allowed the passing offense to open up with some nice results Sunday. The former Oklahoma Sooner threw for two touchdowns and almost 300 yards. The arm is tremendous and this could finally be the season Bradford makes good on his former number 1 overall status.

Joquie Bell: Get this guy on your team if you play in a PPR format. Even in standard leagues Bell scored two touchdowns Sunday as he served in the goal-line back role. He is a terrific pass catcher so Bell all of a sudden has RB 2 appeal.

Pierre Thomas: Mark Ingram is getting close to colossal bust territory as he was horrific Sunday. Thomas meanwhile rushed for over 40 carries and caught four passes. Those in PPR should take a gander.

Knowshon Moreno: This is clearly a passing offense in Denver so Moreno won't get too many chances to score but he is the starter so there is value to be had overall.

Marlon Brown: The loss of Jacoby Jones for 4-6 weeks means Brown gets to build on his nice Week 1 debut when he caught a touchdown. The Ravens are more apt to pass the football lately and Brown will pick up the slack.

DROPS

*****TOO EARLY TO DROP ANY OF YOUR DRAFTED PLAYERS AFTER ONLY 1 WEEK. PATIENCE PEOPLE ALTHOUGH I CAN UNDERSTAND THOSE WHO KICKED LAMAR MILLER AWAY.

FANTASY FOOTBALL ISSUES: THE CHIP KELLY REPORT

Monday night's football game between the Philadelphia Eagles and Washington Redskins was big on a number of fronts.  For one, there was the much-hyped return of Redskins QB Robert Griffin III to his fantasy football owners.  However the biggest story leading up to all of NFL Week 1 was how new Eagles head coach Chip Kelly's and his explosive rapid fire offense would translate to the NFL.  The values of Michael Vick, LeSean McCoy, DeSean Jackson, etc. hung in the balance.  Well as far as the first half was concerned, Kelly's offense and reputation couldn't have been any more potent as the Eagles jumped out to a 26-7 halftime lead.  Just as advertised, the Eagles took between 12-15 seconds between each offensive play, gassing the Redskins defense from the start.  They would wind up running the second most plays in one half in NFL history and the players involved all benefited tremendously.  Vick was a monster, throwing for two touchdowns and rushing for another.  Than there was McCoy who wan all over the Redskins defense both in the first and second half.  As far as the final stats were concerned, here is how things ended up.

Michael Vick:  15/25 for 203 yards with 2 passing TD's and one rushing TD.  He also ran for 54 yards and lost a fumble.  It was an awesome performance and it reminded of Vick's MVP-worthy 2010 season which resurrected his career coming off of his prison stint.  Clearly Vick still has the goods to be a big time fantasy football QB, both in the run and passing game.  As long as he stays healthy that is.  This is exactly what I foresaw being a possibility which is why I actually touted Vick as a sleeper and recommended drafting him for the first time in his career.  Now I have been a very longtime Vick critic and rightfully so but his value dropped so low to the point that he was well worth an investment given the appeal of Kelly's system.  Clearly he fits it to a T.

However the one black mark on the night was the fact that Vick and most of the rest of the Eagles offense were sucking wind in the second half.  In fact Vick and company (outside of McCoy) did next to nothing as possibly all those offensive plays in the first half caught up with them as well.  That should be less of a problem going forward though as the offense gets into better shape.

LeSean McCoy:  31 carries for 184 yards and 1 TD along with 1 catch for 5 yards.  McCoy was one of the stars of Week 1 as he ran wild Monday night.  Damn I should have drafted him.  I should have known better too that McCoy would be a monster in this offense as Kelly actually called more run plays than pass plays while at Oregon.  Bryce Brown proved to be a non-factor as well carrying only 9 times so this clearly is McCoy's show.  While the one catch was a disappointment in PPR formats, the overall body of work was tremendous.  McCoy could very well lead the NFL in rushing.

THE REST:  DeSean Jackson caught 7 passes for 104 yards and 1 TD as he for once in his career looked like a PPR guy.  Jackson has never been a big receptions receiver so this bears watching.  No one else caught more than 3 passes though so at this point only Jackson is worth monitoring going forward into Week 2.

So at least for one week the Chip Kelly Show was everything it was advertised to be.  We need to see more before we can conclude this is how it will be every week but for now those who invested here have to be feeling pretty swell for that choice.

FANTASY FOOTBALL RUNNING BACK HOT ZONE: WHY MUST YOU TORTURE US DAVID WILSON?

Tuesday during the fantasy football seasons will see the weekly column called Running Back Hot Zone which will report on all the latest news and happenings out of the all-important scoring position.  So without further delay let's get right to it.

-For those of you who took notice of the POLL I placed on the site Sunday afternoon asking who was the biggest bust in fantasy football to that point saw that a certain deserving running back who wear blue and calls New York home was not included.  Well if I put the poll up after the Giants debacle versus the Cowboys than Wilson surely would have been included and won going away.  It was beyond a hideous performance by the second-year back as Wilson lost two fumbles on only 7 carries and also showed his pass blocking to be horrific.  Wilson rightfully earned a seat on the bench in favor of the overwhelmed Da'Rell Scott.  Clearly this was not what Wilson's fantasy football owners had in mind when they thought they were getting a major bustout season, especially with complement Andre Brown out with a broken leg.  What is really frustrating is that no one will doubt Wilson's explosiveness and vast potential.  No one other than maybe Chris Johnson can go from 0-60 faster than Wilson and be a threat to take it to the house on any given play.  In addition, Wilson was a terrific pass catcher in college and so he is was in line to be at the very least a major PPR weapon.  But the fact of the matter is that Wilson's football instincts and technique is horrendous.  Fumbles have been a major problem going back to his Virginia Tech days and his pass blocking is going to get Eli Manning killed which Tom Coughlin will not stand for.  The result was that the Giants held a wide ranging running back workout Monday which included Beanie Wells, Willis McGahee, Joe McKnight, and former mate Brandon Jacobs.  The Giants are expected to sign of those veterans and thus Wilson will see a number of his carries taken away.  With Coughlin not trusting him now, Wilson is looking like a major fantasy football bust only a week into the season.  Amazing.  If you are an owners, obviously you can't cut him yet but I am not optimistic things will get better soon.

-Those who own the Tennessee Titans' Chris Johnson couldn't be happy seeing Jackie Battle earn a goal-line carry Sunday which he converted for a touchdown.  In the past we saw LenDale White serve as the goal-line runner for Tennessee which took a bite out of Johnson's TD potential and that is now likely going to be the case this season based on the Battle usage.  Thus Johnson's value will firmly be cemented as a RB 2 in all formats.

-LeSean McCoy is one of my guys but I failed to get my hands on him for this season>  There were questions about how McCoy would be used in Chip Kelly's offense but the answer was a phenomenal 184 yards/1 TD outing against the Washington Redskins Monday.  As much talk as there has been about the passing game for the Eagles, Kelly actually ran the ball more during his stay in Oregon which means McCoy could be in line for an MVP-type fantasy football season.

-It looks like there is room for two fantasy football running backs in Detroit as both Reggie Bush and Joquie Bell starred.  Bush scored on a long TD reception, while Bell took it in for two scores in a goal-line deal.  Both Bell and Bush are very capable receivers but it looks like the former will get the goal-line work which could make him a bit more valuable if the usage stays the way it is.  Either way both guys need to be started for the time being.

-The loss of New England Patriots RB Shane Vereen for "weeks" due to surgery to repair a broken wrist is a major bummer off his monster game versus the Buffalo Bills.  Stevan Ridley was benched after losing an early fumble which has been an issue in his short career.  The Pats have no choice but to go back to Ridley who was a revelation last season in rushing for over 1,200 yards.  So Ridley owners are back in play here.

-Lamar Miller was a complete joke Sunday, rushing for only 3 yards on 10 carries.  Are you kidding me?  As someone who owns Miller, there was no doubt who I pointed the finger at when it came to me losing during Week 1 in the Experts League.  Daniel Thomas was not much better but at least he scored from in close.  Terrible signs for Miller with Thomas getting the goal-line work and the Dolphins run blocking was horrendous to the point that the Miami Hurricane alum could be worth cutting if he doesn't get it turned around fast.  Unreal.

-Finally Matt Forte got the goal-line work when the Bears were in close Sunday instead of Michael Bush and he made it count by getting into the end zone.  Huge appeal here for Forte in all formats and if he continues to get goal-line work, than he is a clear RB 1 in all formats.  I am pumped to see where this goes.

There you have it.  As always let us hear your thoughts.