Thursday Morning Quarterback - Week 3 Recommendations (Fri 9/24/10)
Hi everyone,
With a couple of weeks of NFL action now in the books, there’s finally some real data to look at and use to forecast future performance. Several notable fantasy stalwarts are currently listed as Questionable (e.g. - Steven Jackson), so be sure to look for updated injury info before setting your final lineups. If you’ve been disappointed by the relative lack of offensive fireworks the first two weeks of the season, you’ll be a happy camper this weekend. Here are my recommendations for Week 3 - all games are Sunday during the day unless otherwise noted:
Tennessee at New York Giants (Sunday early) - The Giants’ offense and defense rebound; the Titans and Brandon Jacobs’ helmet do not. New York 24 Tennessee 21.
- Tennessee
- Yes (Should definitely be in your starting lineup): RB Chris Johnson, TE Bo Scaife, DEF
- No (Should definitely NOT be in your starting lineup): RB Javon Ringer, K Rob Bironas
- Maybe So (Okay to start if you don’t have a better option): QB Vince Young; WRs Kenny Britt, Nate Washington, & Justin Gage.
- New York
- Yes: QB Eli Manning, RB Ahmad Bradshaw, WRs Steve Smith and Hakeem Nicks, DEF
- No: RB Brandon Jacobs, K Lawrence Tynes
- Maybe So: WR Mario Manningham (Probable-illness), TE Kevin Boss (Probable-concussion)
Cincinnati at Carolina - Jimmy Clausen’s debut as a starter goes better than expected, but it’s not enough to keep up with Cincinnati’s offense’s breakout game. Cincinnati 31 Carolina 20.
- Cinncinati
- Yes: QB Carson Palmer, RB Cedric Benson, WRs Chad Ochocinco & Terrell Owens (Probable-back), DEF, K Mike Nugent
- No: None
- Maybe So: TE Jermaine Gresham
- Carolina
- Yes: RB DeAngelo Williams, WR Steve Smith (Probable-thigh), K John Kasay
- No: WR Brandon LaFell (Questionable-hamstring), DEF
- Maybe So: QB Jimmy Clausen, RB Jonathan Stewart
Dallas at Houston - The battle for the state of Texas becomes an old-fashioned shootout. Matt Schaub keeps the Texans undefeated, the Cowboys winless, and Jerry Jones fuming. Houston 34 Dallas 27.
- Dallas
- Yes: QB Tony Romo, RB Felix Jones, WRs Miles Austin & Dez Bryant (Questionable-ribs), TE Jason Witten (Probable-concussion), K David Buehler
- No: RB Tashard Choice, DEF
- Maybe So: RB Marion Barber, WR Roy Williams
- Houston
- Yes: QB Matt Schaub, RB Arian Foster, WR Andre Johnson (Questionable-ankle), TE Owen Daniels (Questionable-knee), K Neil Rackers
- No: DEF
- Maybe So: WRs Kevin Walter and Jacoby Jones
San Francisco at Kansas City - Alex Smith demonstrates that his performance against New Orleans wasn’t a fluke, and the Chiefs prove that they’re nowhere near being a playoff contender yet. San Francisco 27 Kansas City 17.
- San Francisco
- Yes: QB Alex Smith, RB Frank Gore, WR Michael Crabtree, TE Vernon Davis, DEF, K Joe Nedney
- No: None
- Maybe So: WR Josh Morgan
- Kansas City
- Yes: WR Dwayne Bowe
- No: QB Matt Cassel, WR Dexter McCluster, DEF, K Ryan Succop
- Maybe So: RBs Jamaal Charles, Thomas Jones
Pittsburgh at Tampa Bay - Pittsburgh quarterback Charlie Batch plays just well enough to win (Ben who?), and for one day Tampa Bay quarterback Josh Freeman’s ascent to stardom is put on hold. Pittsburgh 24 Tampa Bay 10.
- Pittsburgh
- Yes: RB Rashard Mendenhall, WR Hines Ward (Probable-calf), TE Heath Miller, DEF
- No: QB Charlie Batch, K Jeff Reed
- Maybe So: WR Mike Wallace
- Tampa Bay
- Yes: TE Kellen Winslow (Questionable-knee)
- No: QB Josh Freeman (Probable-thumb), RBs Cadillac Williams (Probable-hamstring) and Kareem Huggins (Probable-groin), DEF, K Conor Barth
- Maybe So: WR Mike Williams
Buffalo at New England - The team with the star quarterback, the moody wide receiver, and the muddled backfield beats the team with the new starting quarterback, no fantasy-relevant wide receivers, and the muddled backfield. New England 34 Buffalo 17.
- Buffalo
- Yes: None
- No: QB Ryan Fitzpatrick, WR Lee Evans, DEF, K Rian Lindell
- Maybe So: RBs Marshawn Lynch, C.J. Spiller, & Fred Jackson
- New England
- Yes: QB Tom Brady (Probable-shoulder), WRs Randy Moss and Wes Welker, DEF, K Stephen Gostkowski
- No: RBs Sammy Morris and BenJarvus Green-Ellis, WR Julian Edelman (Questionable-foot)
- Maybe So: RB Fred Taylor (Questionable-toe), TE Aaron Hernandez
Cleveland at Baltimore - Having second thoughts about Joe Flacco after the first two games? Don’t worry, the third time’s the charm. Baltimore 38 Cleveland 13
- Cleveland
- Yes: None
- No: QB Seneca Wallace/Jake Delhomme (whichever one starts), RBs Jerome Harrison (Questionable-thigh) and Peyton Hillis, WR Mohamed Massaquoi, DEF, K Phil Dawson
- Maybe: WR Josh Cribbs
- Baltimore
- Yes: QB Joe Flacco, RB Ray Rice (Probable-ankle), WR Anquan Boldin, TE Todd Heap (Questionable-shoulder), DEF, K Billy Cundiff
- No: None
- Maybe So: WRs Derrick Mason (Questionable-knee) and T.J. Houshmandzadeh
Detroit at Minnesota - The Vikings make it look more difficult than it should be, but finally get in the win column. Shaun King comes back to earth and gets very familiar with the view of the dome’s ceiling lights, courtesy of Jared Allen. Minnesota 24 Detroit 21
- Detroit
- Yes: RB Jahvid Best, WR Calvin Johnson
- No: QB Shaun Hill, WR Nate Burleson (Questionable-ankle), DEF, K Jason Hanson
- Maybe So: TEs Brandon Pettigrew & Tony Scheffler
- Minnesota
- Yes: QB Brett Favre, RB Adrian Peterson, WR Percy Harvin (Questionable-hip), TE Visanthe Shiancoe, DEF
- No: RB Toby Gerhardt, WR Bernard Berrian (Questionable-knee), K Ryan Longwell
- Maybe So: WR Greg Camarillo
Atlanta at New Orleans - New Orleans has been less than impressive in their 2-0 start. Atlanta shows why they’re a contender for the crown (assuming they can stay healthy). Atlanta 28 New Orleans 27.
- Atlanta
- Yes: QB Matt Ryan, RB Michael Turner, WR Roddy White, TE Tony Gonzalez
- No: WRs Michael Jenkins (Questionable-shoulder) and Harry Douglas, DEF, K Matt Bryant
- Maybe So: RB Jason Snelling
- New Orleans
- Yes: QB Drew Brees, RB Pierre Thomas, WR Marques Colston, K Garrett Hartley
- No: RB Chris Ivory (Probable-knee), WR Lance Moore, DEF
- Maybe So: WRs Robert Meachem and Devery Henderson, TE Jeremy Shockey
Washington at St. Louis (Sunday late) - Washington rebounds from losing a heartbreaker to thrash a team that made Bruce Gradkowski look respectable. Washington 31 St. Louis 14
- Washington
- Yes: QB Donovan McNabb, RB Clinton Portis (Probable-wrist), WR Santana Moss, TE Chris Cooley, DEF
- No: WR Joey Galloway, K Graham Gano
- Maybe So: None
- St. Louis
- Yes: None
- No: QB Sam Bradford, RB Steven Jackson (Questionable-knee), WRs Mark Clayton and Laurent Robinson (Questionable-foot), DEF, K Josh Brown
- Maybe So: None
Philadelphia at Jacksonville - This game won’t be a true test of QB Michael Vick’s ability to lead the team in the face of adversity, which probably explains why head coach Andy Reid made the move this week. Philadelphia 34 Jacksonville 17
- Philadelphia
- Yes: QB Michael Vick, RB LeSean McCoy, WRs DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin
- No: TE Brent Celek (Probable-chest), DEF, K David Akers
- Maybe So: None
- Jacksonville
- Yes: RB Maurice Jones-Drew (Probable-ankle), WR Michael Sims-Walker, TE Marcedes Lewis
- No: RB Rashad Jennings, DEF, K Josh Scobee
- Maybe So: QB David Garrard, WR Mike Thomas
Indianapolis at Denver Upset alert: Peyton Manning and his sidekicks looked unbeatable in last Sunday night’s Manning Bowl II, but Denver channels the emotion surrounding wide receiver Kenny McKinley’s death to pull a shocker. Denver 27 Indianapolis 24
- Indianapolis
- Yes: QB Peyton Manning, RB Joseph Addai (Questionable-knee), TE Dallas Clark, WRs Reggie Wayne and Austin Collie, TE Dallas Clark
- No: DEF, K Adam Vinatieri
- Maybe So: RB Donald Brown, WR Pierre Garcon (Questionable-hamstring)
- Denver
- Yes: QB Kyle Orton, RB Correll Buckhalter, WRs Eddie Royal and Demaryius Thomas
- No: RBs Knowshon Moreno (Out-knee) & Laurence Maroney (Probable-thigh), DEF, K Matt Prater
- Maybe So: None
Oakland at Arizona - If a game takes place in the desert and no one is there to watch it, does it make a noizzzzzzzzz? Arizona 21 Oakland 17
- Oakland
- Yes: RB Darren McFadden, WRs Louis Murphy and Darrius Heyward-Bey, TE Zach Miller, DEF
- No: QB Bruce Gradkowski, K Sebastian Janikowski
- Maybe So: RB Michael Bush (Probable-thumb)
- Arizona
- Yes: RB Tim Hightower, WR Larry Fitzgerald, DEF, K Jay Feely
- No: QB Derek Anderson
- Maybe So: WR Steve Breaston (Questionable-knee), RB Beanie Wells (Questionable-knee)
San Diego at Seattle - With San Diego literally heading north, both teams continue to show that their Week 1 performances were flukes. San Diego 33 Seattle 13
- San Diego
- Yes: QB Philip Rivers, WR Malcom Floyd (Probable-leg), DEF, K Nate Kaeding
- No: RB Ryan Mathews (Out-ankle)
- Maybe So: RBs Darren Sproles and Mike Tolbert, WR Legedu Naanee
- Seattle
- Yes: RB Justin Forsett, TE John Carlson
- No: QB Matt Hasselbeck, RBs Leon Washington and Julius Jones, DEF, K Olindo Mare
- Maybe So: WRs Mike Williams (Probable-thigh), Deon Butler, & Deion Branch
New York Jets at Miami (Sunday night) - This week’s episode of Animal House NFL is shot on location in Miami. Braylon Edwards stays sober long enough to catch the game-winning touchdown New York 24 Miami 21
- New York
- Yes: RBs Shonn Greene and LaDainian Tomlinson, WRs Braylon Edwards and Jerricho Cotchery, TE Dustin Keller, DEF
- No: K Nick Folk
- Maybe So: QB Mark Sanchez
- Miami
- Yes: WR Brandon Marshall
- No: QB Chad Henne, DEF, K Dan Carpenter
- Maybe So: RBs Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams
Green Bay at Chicago (Monday night) - Bears fans are legitimately excited about their team’s prospects after a 2-0 start, but they’re not even close to being in Green Bay’s class yet. Green Bay 31 Chicago 14
- Green Bay
- Yes: QB Aaron Rodgers, RB Brandon Jackson, WRs Greg Jennings and Donald Driver, TE Jermichael Finley, DEF, K Mason Crosby
- No: None
- Maybe So: None
- Chicago
- Yes: QB Jay Cutler, RB Matt Forte, WRs Johnny Knox and Devin Hester, TE Greg Olsen
- No: DEF, K Robbie Gould
- Maybe So: WRs Devin Aromashodu and Earl Bennett
Good luck to your teams this weekend!
The Sherpa
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