Here’s your injury update for week 8!

AFC North

The Baltimore Ravens wide receiver, Lee Evans, will miss Sunday’s game against the Arizona Cardinals. Evans has missed the past four games recovering from an ankle injury. According to the Ravens website, Evans is at the end of his recovery and should be back in the game soon.

The Cleveland Browns are hurting from a few injuries this week. Mohammad Massaquoi, wide receiver, suffered a concussion and will sit out of Sunday’s game against the San Fransisco 49ers. Fellow teammate and tight end, Ben Watson, returned to practice on Friday after suffering from a concussion. Watson is listed as questionable along with running back Peyton Hillis who is dealing with a hamstring injury.

Hines Ward, wide receiver for the Pittsburgh Steelers, is listed as questionable. Ward didn’t practice all week due to a sprained ankle.

AFC South

Houston Texans wide receiver Andre Johnson was ruled out for Sunday’s game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The hamstring injury kept him out last week, and ever after practice, Johnson didn’t feel ready to play.

Running back Joseph Addai, Indianapolis Colts, is listed as questionable for Sunday’s game against the Tennessee Titans. The hamstring injury continues to bother Addai. And for those of you who might care (not sure why you’d be), Kerry Colins, quarterback, has been put on injured reserve after suffering from a concussion.

AFC East

The Buffalo Bills wide receiver Donald Jones will not play in Sunday’s game against the Washington Redskins. Jones is recovering from an ankle injury.

Daniel Thomas, running back for the Miami Dolphins, continues to struggle with hamstring issues. He was limited at practice on Thursday and is listed as questionable for Sunday’s game against the New York Giants.

New England Patriots running back BenJarvus Green-Ellis is still dealing with a toe issue that arose two weeks ago. He is listed as questionable, but doesn’t seem to want to give any details about his progress.

AFC West

Running back Mike Tolbert, of the San Diego Chargers, will most likely sit out of Monday’s game against the Kansas City Chiefs. Tolbert is suffering from a hamstring and hand injury. Malcom Floyd, wide receiver, was able to practice a little on Friday along with tight end Antonio Gates, and both will hopefully be set for Monday’s game.

NFC North

The Green Bay Packers lost rookie running back Alex Green last Sunday when playing the Minnesota Vikings. Green will remain out for the rest of the season due to a knee injury he suffered in the game.

The Detriot Lions have seen a few injuries that will take a hit to their team. Quarterback Matthew Stafford has been dealing with an ankle injury all week. Stafford was able to practice both Thursday and Friday. Although listed as questionable, it looks as though only a major setback will prevent him from playing. However, running back Jahvid Best has been ruled out after suffering from a concussion. The Lions take on the Denver Broncos on Sunday.

Receiver Percy Harvin, Minnesota Vikings, is listed as questionable while dealing with a rib injury. Adrian Peterson was dealing with an ankle issue but returned to practice on Thursday and will play in Sunday’s game against the Carolina Panthers.

NFC South

The New Orleans Saints running back Mark Ingram has been ruled out for Sunday’s game against the St. Louis Rams. Ingram missed the entire week of practice due to a right heel injury.

NFC East

Brandon Jacobs, running back for the New York Giants, is listed as probable for Sunday’s game against the Miami Dolphins because of a knee ailment. Expect him to return to the field.

NFC West

Arizona Cardinals running back Chris Wells (Beanie Wells) will be a game time decision for their match up against the Baltimore Ravens. Wells practiced on his bad knee on Thursday, and they were hoping to see him continue to advance.

Wide receiver, Braylon Edwards, for the San Fransico 49ers will also be a game time decision due to a knee injury. Edwards practiced limitedly this week and looked as though he could play, but no one seems to have a for sure answer.

The Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch is listed as probable for Sunday’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals. Lynch sat out last week after suffering from back spasms.

Sam Bradford, quarterback for the St. Louis Rams, will miss his second game while he sits out with an ankle injury on Sunday when the Rams take on the New Orleans Saints. Wide receiver Danario Alexander is doubtful for the game as well, as he continues to deal with a hamstring issue.

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That’s your injury update for week 8. I hope these games prove to be as exciting as the games of the World Series! Happy football!

AFC North

Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Lee Evans has not played most of the season because of an ankle injury. However, the Ravens are confident he will return this season. When that will be is another story. He’s not quite ready yet.

Running back Peyton Hillis of the Cleveland Browns missed his third straight practice Friday and is looks questionable for Sunday’s game against the Seattle Seahawks. Hillis is dealing with a hamstring issue that has plagued him for awhile. Montario Hardesty would start in his place.

Mike Wallace and Rashard Mendenhall of the Pittsburgh Steelers are listed as probable for Sunday’s game against the Arizona Cardinals.

AFC South

Sorry Andre Johnson owners. The Houston Texans wide receiver will not play against the Tennessee Titans on Sunday.

Indianapolis Colts running back Joseph Addai practiced on Friday but is listed as questionable for Sunday’s game against the New Orleans Saints. It’s a prime time game, so the best you can do is check before the noon games on Sunday and hope they’ve decided before you set your roster. Grab Delone Carter or even Donald Brown if you’re counting on Addai, so you can make a last minute switch if need be.

AFC East

Miami Dolphins running back Daniel Thomas is listed as questionable for Sunday’s game against the Denver Broncos. Thomas continues to suffer from a hamstring injury, but he is expected to play. Wide receiver Brandon Marshall is expected to play as well.

AFC West

Antonio Gates is expected to play Sunday against the New York Jets. This will be Gates first appearance since week 2.

NFC North

There are mixed reports for Chicago Bears wide receiver Earl Bennett. He is listed as probable. However, most reports note that his chest is still an issue he’s dealing with and that he will likely not play on Sunday against the Tampa Bay Bucs.

Jahvid Best has been ruled out of Sunday’s game against the Atlanta Falcons due to a concussion.

NFC South

Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones is listed as doubtful for Sunday’s game against the Detroit Lions. Jones is suffering from a strained hamstring. Tight end Tony Gonzalez, who was experiencing issues with his elbow, is listed as probable.

Tight end Jimmy Graham of the New Orleans Saints was limited in Friday’s practice because of a sore ankle. He is listed as probable for Sunday’s game against the Indianapolis Colts.

Carolina Panthers tight end Greg Olsen is listed as probable, after dealing with a toe injury. However, he practiced in full on Friday should play Sunday against the Washington Redskins.

LeGarrette Blount, running back for the Tampa Bay Bucs, is out for Sunday’s game against the Chicago Bears. Blount is dealing with a knee injury.

NFC West

St. Louis Rams quarterback, Sam Bradford, suffered an ankle sprain and is listed as a game time decision for Sunday’s game against the Dallas Cowboys.

Alright fantasy fans. Get to it! And good luck!

Andre Johnson is gone.  Ben Roethlisberger is banged up.  Miles Austin is on the mend.  Marques Colston is back, but when will he get on track?

With the bye weeks now here, the time has come when fantasy leagues are truly won and lost.  If you drafted well, and got a little lucky, you should be near the top of the standings.  But nobody can ever completely escape the injury bug.  Managing your lineup properly when byes and injuries attack is what separates the good owners from the great ones.

So let’s look at the Week Five games and decide who to start and who to sit this week.

As always, let’s briefly recap last week’s picks just to see how we did.

Once again, “Start Em” guys are QBs/TEs outside of the Top 12 and RBs/WRs outside of the Top 25. “Sit Em Guys” include QBs/TEs that are in the Top 12 and RBs/WRs that are in the Top 25.

Week Four Recap

Overall – 29 for 47 (62%)

Best Player Predictions: 2 for 4

• Hits: Megatron and Rob Gronkowski
• Misses: Matt Stafford and Adrian Peterson

Start Em Predictions: 2 for 4

• Hits: BenJarvus Green-Ellis and Greg Olsen
• Misses: Ben Roethlisberger and Plaxico Burress (Thanks a lot…Sanchez…)

Other Guys I Liked Predictions: 12 for 16

• Hits: Eli Manning, Philip Rivers, Matt Hasselbeck, Fred Jackson, Michael Turner, Brandon Jacobs, AJ Green, Wes Welker, Roddy White, Jimmy Graham, Jermaine Gresham, and Tony Gonzalez
• Misses: Jay Cutler, Jahvid Best, Reggie Wayne, and Jermichael Finley.

Worst Player Predictions: 0 for 4

• Misses: Kyle Orton, Texans’ Running Backs (HUGE MISS…sorry guys), Sidney Rice, and Owen Daniels

Sit Em Predictions: 1 for 4

• Hits: Joe Flacco
• Misses: Ray Rice (Never will I ever doubt him again), Dwayne Bowe, and Vernon Davis

Other Guys I Didn’t Like Predictions: 12 for 15

• Hits: Matt Cassel, Blaine Gabbert, Matt Schaub, Chad Henne, Daniel Thomas, James Starks, Cowboys’ Running Backs, Chad Ochocinco, Jeremy Maclin, Anquan Boldin, Heath Miller, and Kellen Winslow
• Misses: Denver Running Backs, Steve Smith 1.0, and Benjamin Watson

And now onto the Week 5 start em, sit em picks.

Fantasy Football Week 5 Start Em, Sit Em Projections

One brief change this week:

As you know, Jerod did the Start/Sit column the last two years before handing the keys to me this year. He still edits the column before it’s posted though, and helps out in the comment section answering questions throughout the week. And while we agree on the majority of these picks, there are some spots where we differ, and we think it will add value to the column to have him chime in with alternate viewpoints when he has them.

So at the end of each position section, you’ll see a blockquote with Jerod’s quick-hit thoughts on the picks, especially any he strongly disagrees with. As always when it comes to our fantasy advice, MSF is an ego-free zone where helping readers put the best possible lineup together is the goal. This is just one more way we can work together to do that.

Remember that the following teams are on bye in Week 5:

• Cleveland
• Dallas
• St. Louis
• Miami
• Washington
• Baltimore

Fantasy Football Week 5 Start Em, Sit em Picks: Quarterbacks 

Projected Best Performer – Michael Vick

Vick started to look like the Vick of last season on Sunday, and his team still got the loss.  Buffalo’s secondary leaves a lot to be desired, as they have been torched by several teams already this season.  Look for Vick to try and put the Eagles on his shoulders as they travel to Buffalo trying to save their season.  The Eagles may not win, but Vick should have a MONSTER day.

Michael Vick Fantasy Football Week 5 Projection – 380 passing yards, 3 TDs and 1INT; 85 rushing yards, 1 TD

Start Em – Philip Rivers

I almost feel like this is cheating, but Rivers is only ranked 14th among fantasy quarterbacks.  Look for him to start moving up the charts this week in Denver.

Philip Rivers Fantasy Football Week 5 Projection – 350 yards, 3 TDs

Other Guys I Like:

• Eli Manning – At home against Seattle.
• Drew Brees – On the road in Carolina.
• Curtis Painter – Played well in his debut, and will be doing his best against the Chiefs to make sure the Colts don’t finish with the worst record in the league.
• Mark Sanchez – The Pats’ defense is beyond banged up right now…and they weren’t all that good to begin with – especially against the pass.

Projected Worst Performer – Cam Newton

No, this is not one of those “He can’t really be this good!  He’s going to fail eventually!” picks… I have actually been very impressed by the youngster so far this year.  Unfortunately, the Saints’ defense will be unlike anything he has played so far.  The Packers were definitely a better defense, but they played very vanilla against him.  He has never faced a defense that will attack him like New Orleans will this Sunday.  I think Newton will go on to have a very good season, but not this week against New Orleans.

Cam Newton Fantasy Football Week 5 Projected Stats – 180 passing yards, 1 TD and 2 INTs; 45 rushing yards, 2 fumbles

Sit Em – Tom Brady

Just hear me out.  Obviously, if you have Tom Brady, you probably don’t have a reliable backup.  That’s ok.  He could still get you 15 to 18 fantasy points this week.  However, if you are in a small league, and you were able to pick up someone like Matt Stafford as a backup, you should look very seriously at benching Brady this week, and it has everything to do with the Patriots’ Week 5 opponent and Brady’s checkered history against them.

The Jets have one of the best passing defenses in the league, and Darrelle Revis will be able to shut down Wes Welker better than anyone else in the league.  That leaves Brady with only Rob Gronkowski as a legitimate weapon all day, and the Jets will be licking their chops to rush Brady if New England only has five guys protecting him.

Plus, consider Brady’s last five starts against the Jets:

• 2010 Playoffs: 299 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT
• 2010 Week 2: 248 yards, 2 TDs, 2 INTs
• 2010 Week 13: 326 yards, 4 TDs, 0 INT
• 2009 Week 11: 310 yards, 1 TD, 0 INT
• 2009 Week 2: 216 yards, 0 TD, 1 INT

Based on the averages, Brady will still throw for 250 yards, and may even have a few TDs…and of course he has the potential to throw a 4 TD gem against anyone…but the Jets have also proven that more often than not they at least pull Brady back to the pack; thus, there could definitely be much better options than him for your lineup this week.

Tom Brady Fantasy Football Week 5 Projected Stats – 250 yards, 1 TD and 1 INT

Other Guys I Don’t Like

• Ben Roethlisberger – The Steelers are just bad, and he’s banged up.
• Donovan McNabb – I’m just trying to pad my stats for next week…
• Matt Ryan – They might lose by 50 points to Green Bay.
• Jay Cutler – Detroit’s defensive line will make him dance by the second quarter.

Jerod’s thoughts:

Everything here sounds reasonable, including Jon’s thoughts on Brady (who I’d still start though, personally), but I disagree on Matt Ryan. He and the Falcons offense are much better at home and in domes, and the Green Bay defense is giving up a lot through the air. I say start Ryan. He’s a top 10 QB this week.

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Fantasy Football Week 5 Start Em, Sit em Picks: Running Backs

Projected Best Performer – Maurice Jones-Drew

Jacksonville is just awful, and they will ride Mo-Joe until he falls over in the second quarter during week 8.  I feel bad for the guy, having his prime ruined on lousy teams.  Fortunately, his fantasy owners will make good – especially this week against Cincinnati.

Maurice Jones-Drew Fantasy Football Week 5 Projection – 180 yards, 1 TD; 80 yards receiving

Start Em – Joseph Addai

He’s quietly had a pretty decent year, despite all of the upheaval in Indy.  The Colts’ offense should move a little more fluidly with Curtis Painter as well.  To top that off, Indy will be playing Kansas City in a game that the Colts foolishly think they need to win.  Colts’ fans will watch in horror as Indy ruins their chances at Andrew Luck.

Joseph Addai Fantasy Football Week 5 Projection – 135 yards, 1 TD; 45 yards receiving, 1 TD

Other Guys I Like

• Darren Sproles – He’s just so fast…and Carolina’s LBs are hurt.
• LeGarrette Blount – San Francisco is actually sneaky decent…Tampa Bay will be forced to grind it out more than normal.
• LaDainian Tomlinson – He might have 150 yards receiving against the Pats.
• Mike Tolbert – Playing Denver…enough said.

Projected Worst Performer – Rashard Mendenhall

He’s awful, and Tennessee is good.

Rashard Mendenhall Fantasy Football Week 5 Projected Stats – 10 yards rushing

Sit Em – Michael Turner

Remember the last time Green Bay played Atlanta, on that fast turf, indoors, and jumped out to a huge lead, and rendered Michael Turner unusable against a defensive line that was already amazing at stuffing the run?  Oh.  Me neither…

Michael Turner Fantasy Football Week 5 Projected Stats – 25 yards rushing; 15 yards receiving

Other Guys I Don’t Like

• Shonn Greene – Not a great matchup against NE.
• BJGE – Pats won’t have a good day on offense.
• James Starks – The Packers don’t run the ball…and they don’t need to.
• Matt Forte – Detroit’s defensive line will make him cry by the second quarter.

Jerod’s thoughts:

Joseph Addai has been surprisingly effective this season, and I like him as a flex option this week, perhaps even over Mendenhall (who I’m growing to hate), but I personally would not start him over Michael Turner. I know the Packers held him down in the playoffs last year, but in Week 12 of 2010 he had over 100 yards and a TD against Green Bay in the Georgia Dome, and Green Bay’s defense is not nearly as good this year. Hell, let me just say it: I like everyone in the Packers-Falcons game, and with Turner averaging 4.6 yards per carry this year, I can’t recommend sitting him.

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Fantasy Football Week 5 Start Em, Sit em Picks: Wide Receivers

Projected Best Performer – Megatron

I will continue to pick him every week until he becomes human.

Calvin Johnson Fantasy Football Week 5 Projection – 8 catches for 120 yards and 3 TDs.

Start Em – Deion Branch

If the Jets do what I think they will do, I think Branch will have a breakout game of sorts.  Look for Gronkowski and Welker to be neutralized, and Branch to have a pretty decent game.

Deion Branch Fantasy Football Week 5 Projection – 7 catches for 90 yards and 1 TD.

Other Guys I Like

• Reggie Wayne – Got a lot of targets last week with Painter, and should have a favorable matchup against anyone on KC.
• Hakeem Nicks – Huge game for him.
• AJ Green – He’s unbelievable…I keep telling you.
• Devery Henderson – Despite registering zero catches last week, Carolina won’t be able to stay in front of him and Henderson will bounce back.

Projected Worst Performer – David Nelson

Nnamdi Asomugha finally justifies the money that was spent on him this summer.

David Nelson Fantasy Football Week 5 Projected Stats – 4 catches for 30 yards.

Sit Em – Pierre Garcon

Don’t chase TDs!  He only had two catches on Monday Night, and although they ended up being two giant home runs, he only caught the ball one-fourth of the time it was thrown to him.  Believe me, this is hard for me to say, because Pierre is my favorite player.  I may or may not have spent more than 100 bucks on a Super Bowl jersey with his name and number that ended up being a curse against the Saints.  Either way, don’t be fooled by his “big game” against Tampa.  He’s hit or miss…and this week is a miss.

Pierre Garcon Fantasy Football Week 5 Projected Stats – 0 catches

Other Guys I Don’t Like

• Wes Welker – Bad game by his standards.
• Victor Cruz – Stop drinking the Cruz kool-aid…right now…at least for one more week.
• Steve Smith 1.0 – Tough game for Newton and the Panthers.
• Jacoby Jones – Don’t be fooled…he won’t have a break out game, no matter who is hurt on his team.

Jerod’s Thoughts:

So long as people make sure to still start Wes Welker – because you can’t sit him right now – I’m fine with him being in Jon’s dislike section. I also agree on Garcon. Don’t overreact to one big week and a couple of fluky touchdowns. As for Nelson, the question is who will Nnamdi cover? The Eagles play a lot of zone, which has been part of their secondary’s downfall since they have a lot of good cover corners. And I agree on Branch. I thought he’d bounce back last week, but I think it comes this week with one of Brady’s favorite all-time targets getting the 3rd or 4th best cover option on the Jets.

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Fantasy Football Week 5 Start Em, Sit em Picks: Tight Ends

Projected Best Performer – Jermaine Gresham

He’s really good and the Jaguars are really bad.

Jermaine Gresham Fantasy Football Week 5 Projection: 7 catches for 120 yards and 1 TD.

Start Em – Brandon Pettigrew

I watched, first hand, two weeks ago as the Chicago Bears proved they couldn’t guard tight ends and Jermichael Finley went off.  Look for Pettigrew to have a big day in a huge Monday Night Football game that the city of Detroit deserves.

Brandon Pettigrew Fantasy Football Week 5 Projected Stats – 5 catches for 130 yards and 1 TD

Other Guys I Like

• Greg Olsen – Cam Newton’s security blanket all game against the blitzing Saints.
• Dallas Clark – Let’s just hook everybody up the the Curtis Painter rejuvenation machine!
• Owen Daniels – He’s the guy that will get more looks with Andre Johnson being out.
• Scott Chandler – I know I always say not to chase TDs…but I think he grabs one or two this week.

Projected Worst Performer – Heath Miller

When Tight Ends lose it…they LOSE it…and Heath Miller has lost it.

Heath Miller Fantasy Football Week 5 Projected Stats – 1 catch for 8 yard

Sit Em – Vernon Davis

Tampa Bay did a great job of locking down Dallas Clark, and they should have similar success against the 49ers.

Vernon Davis Fantasy Football Week 5 Projected Stats – 4 catches for 40 yards

Other Guys I Don’t Like

• I originally picked Jimmy Graham, but as I thought about it, I started to have second thoughts.  Then, I read Jerod’s thoughts below, and completely agreed.  There really aren’t any of the big name tight ends that I dislike this week…so I am sticking to Davis and these other two guys.
• Jeff King – Rough day for Arizona
• Jeremy Shockey – One get enough looks against New Orleans.

Jerod’s thoughts:

First off, you can’t sit Jimmy Graham. Sorry Jon, but I disagree here strongly. He hasn’t caught fewer than four passes this year and he’s had over 100 yards the last two weeks. He’s also scored three times. The reality is that Graham, not Colston, not Meachem, not Moore, not Henderson, is Drew Brees’ #1 target right now. Also, I’d think long and hard before sitting Vernon Davis. Alex Smith gained a lot of confidence last week, and Davis remains the best receiving threat on the team. If you’re going to sit him, make sure it’s for someone the caliber of Gronkowski, Pettigrew, or Graham. Remember: talent usually wins out over time, and few tight ends are as talented as Vernon Davis.

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As always, feel free to ask your questions in the comment section and I will do my best to respond.  Or, you can send them to me on twitter anytime: @The_Dr_Twitch.

The Chiefs team as a whole gets a lot of attention this week due mainly to the injury of Jamaal Charles, which opens up some opportunities for other guys on that squad.

The game itself is changing with the way teams throw the ball.  Yes running backs are still important but QBs and WRs are becoming the high scorers week in and week out.  Don’t be late to the party.

Fantasy Football Week 3 Stock Up

QB Colt McCoy

No, Colt is not the caliber of player as Matt Schaub or Tom Brady, but in terms of fantasy value, the Dolphins defense offers a lot of opportunity for the 2^nd year vet.

Two things jump out at me when you look at him this week.  First, the Browns throw the ball a lot in that West Coast system; and second, Miami’s best corner Vonte Davis is out with a hamstring injury.  Couldn’t get a much more favorable matchup than this.

QB Kevin Kolb

The Cards go up against a defense that is slightly underrated.  Be that as it may, the Seattle offense is so inept that 3 and outs have become the norm and the defense is forced to stay on the field.  The defense is averaging over 35 minutes on the field, which is going to create many opportunities for Kolb this week.

RB Jahvid Best

Forget all the talk about the Detroit defense, this offense is putting up some serious numbers.  It seems as if the NFL these days is a pass-first, run-second league, but running backs are still putting up numbers.  The best thing about Best is his versatility and ability to score points from catching passes out of the backfield as he has been targeted 13 times so far this year.

Chargers RBs

If you are looking for the KC defense to rebound after two straight weeks of getting burned for 40 points, this isn’t the week.  San Diego really knows how to spread the wealth around when it comes to their skill players.  On the year, Mike Tolbert and Ryan Mathews are ranked 8^th and 11^th for fantasy RBs and average 20 plus touches each week.

WR David Nelson

This is going to be the week in which we find out if the Bills and their 4 wide receiver offense are for real.  It might sound crazy but against the Patriots, (who aren’t exactly ball hawking this year so far) another 30-point shootout could be in the works.

WR Nate Burleson

Almost put Santana Moss in this spot, but you already know about him, so enough about Moss and more about the man opposite of “Megatron” in Detroit.  Here is an equation to love: fantasy star Matthew Stafford + Minnesota run defense = Nate Burleson big day.  It is looking like a 10-point day for the former Viking and a lot better option than Roy Williams, but more on that later.

TE Rob Gronkowski

While we were saying avoid him last week, and wrongly so, this week is the exact opposite.  No Aaron Hernandez means no more competition for targets amongst TEs and more love from Tom Brady.  Now who wouldn’t like that?

TE Fred Davis

After a few years of not living up to his potential, Davis looks like he has overtaken Chris Cooley as the number one fantasy option at tight end on the Redskins.  Everyone seems to be expecting the Cowboys defense to have a big game with the rival skins coming to town but as Lee Corso would say, not so fast my friend! Fred Davis is looking to have a big day.

Fantasy Football Week 3 Stagnant Stock

Kansas City Backfield

It isn’t normal to do this, but of all the suggestions this could be the most honest one.  Given the obvious, Jamaal Charles is done for the year and the Chiefs just don’t have the receiving options to sling the ball 45 times a game, so here is the deal: Dexter McCluster is small and can’t carry the ball 20 times a game; neither can Thomas Jones because he is a 33 year old RB in the NFL when the life expectancy is around four years; and the third option is Le’Ron McClain, who had a big year in Baltimore when he was one of the feature backs.  Any of these guys could step up and be leaned upon in KC, so its vital to stay up to date with what is going on with that trio.

Fantasy Football Week 3 Stock Down

QB Sam Bradford

Maybe you have him starting on your team, then again maybe you shouldn’t.  If Steven Jackson plays, the Ravens will have the choice of who they want to limit on Sunday.  With the skill of their run defense, chances are Bradford is going to have the cavalry thrown at him by way of the blitz.

QB Matt Cassel

I don’t know if LOL is appropriate for formal writing, but that is what I must say to the play of the 70% owned Cassel.  The Chiefs have scored 10 points this year and Cassel has put up 3 points himself.  Is it bad that he put up 6 of those points in week 1?

RB Shonn Greene

The experts and football heads all around the world can predict big things for anybody, but until they step up, it is best to leave them alone.  The Raiders’ run defense is not as bad as it seems and with a more formal run game, the Jets don’t have the type of offense that gets guys in space like Buffalo does.

RB Joseph Addai

What is worse than a rookie taking away your carries?  A visit from the run stopping Pittsburgh Steelers.  You tend to feel a little bad for this guy, as his skills were fitting well with Peyton Manning.  Check downs, protection changes, and change of pace run plays really let Addai do his thing.  Now he is being leaned upon as the go-to guy in this offense and he just isn’t cut out for that.

WR Early Doucet

It was easy for fantasy owners to get excited about the 16 point game in week 1 against the Panthers but that is in the past.  Why couldn’t he duplicate that performance against the Redskins?  Why is water wet?  All kidding aside, this NFC west matchup could go any way it wants to.  Just don’t count on a double digit game until Kevin Kolb is truly comfortable with this offense.

WR DeSean Jackson

Fantasy Blasphemy!  I just get the feeling that Tom Coughlin will do everything he can to make his day difficult.

TE Kellen Winslow

He’s projected as questionable for Sunday’s game vs Atlanta.  Tampa Bay hasn’t seen the big numbers expected out of Winslow so far in 2011 but its only week 3.  No need to panic about his production.  Just give it some time before you expect the double digit games.

Bills D/ST

That 13 point outing in week 1 was against the hopeless Chiefs.  Did you see what Jason Campbell did against this defense with a slew of his top receivers out?  Oh yea, and add to the fact that New England will hang 59 points on a team if they feel like it, a negative

Because we at MSF try our best to get you our Start Em, Sit Em picks before everyone else, we have to take a few chances. One of the downsides to coming out with these picks on Tuesday is that we won’t know all of the injury updates that come out later in the week. We answer your questions and update our predictions accordingly as more information comes out.

However, a few predictions didn’t pan out this week because of injuries (either during the game, or because guys with nagging injuries didn’t end up suiting up on Sunday)…so out of fairness to me, we are going to throw out Michael Vick, Felix Jones, and Dez Bryant.

So besides those guys who caught the injury bug, I went 29 out of 46 overall…a little under 65%. I improved from week one…and that’s exactly what you should try to do from week to week in fantasy.

If you missed the $250 MSF Week 1 Freeroll Challenge at FanDuel, shame on you. But the good news is that we’ll be doing another one in Week 3! Details to come soon.

Click here to sign up at FanDuel to play the best weekly fantasy football game around.

Fantasy Football Week Three

Also, don’t miss Andy Bottoms’ Week 3 waiver wire advice!

Week Two Recap

Best Player Predictions: 2 for 3
Picks: Ray Rice, Megatron, and Jermaine Gresham (Michael Vick)
Calvin Johnson had two TDs, and Rice still put up 15 fantasy points in a horrible week for Baltimore. Gresham, however, was a complete no-show. Unfortunately for him, AJ Green announced himself to the world this week, and Gresham didn’t get a lot of targets.

Start Em Predictions: 2.5 for 4
Picks: Tony Romo, Shonn Greene, Jabar Gaffney, and Dallas Clark
Romo was an absolute “hit” of a pick…and he didn’t even play the whole game. However, Greene, Gaffney, and Clark were all lukewarm. None of them killed you if you started them, but none of them really went out and crushed it either. Greene and Clark both got TDs to salvage their days, and Gaffney had a solid amount of yards with no TDs. I’m giving myself 1/2 points for all three of them.

Other Guys I Liked Predictions: 13 for 17
Hits: Drew Brees, Tom Brady, Phillip Rivers, Matthew Stafford, Jay Cutler, Matt Forte, Darren Sproles, LeSean McCoy, Hakeem Nicks, Miles Austin, Jason Witten, Dustin Keller, and Aaron Hernandez
Misses: Kerry Collins, Devin Hester, Jacoby Jones, and Ed Dickson

Worst Player Predictions: 3 for 4
Picks: Cam Newton, DeAngelo Williams, Mike Thomas, and Brandon Pettigrew
Completely missed on the Auburn alum…and completely nailed the other three. I still find it hard to believe that Cam Newton is going to be doing this all year, but he is definitely worth a look right now, especially if you need a solid backup. Also, since I live in Charleston, SC, and am forced to have every single second of every Panther game shown to me on tv, I have to say I’ve loved the young guy’s attitude in both losses this year.

Sit Em Predictions: 0.5 for 4
Picks: Matt Ryan, Michael Turner, Santonio Holmes, and Scott Chandler
Holmes scored a TD to salvage an otherwise mediocre day, so I’m giving myself a half point on that one. Other than that, Matt Ryan, Michael Turner, and Chandler were all misses.

Other Guys I Didn’t Like Predictions: 8 for 14
Hits: Donovan McNabb, Sam Bradford, Colts’ RBs, LaDainian Tomlinson, Mark Ingram, Mike Thomas, Ben Watson, Greg Olsen, Todd Heap
Misses: Matt Hasselbeck, Sam Bradford, LeGarrette Blount, AJ Green, Steve Smith 1.0, and Dwyane Bowe.

On to Week Three!

Just a little clarification… “Top Performer” predictions can be anybody…I can put Tom Brady in there every single week if I want to (and by the looks of it, I may just have to do that). However, “Start Em” guys will be QBs/TEs outside of the Top 12 and RBs/WRs outside of the Top 25 at their position (unless, for some reason, a lot of people are predicting them to have a terrible week and I disagree). “Sit Em” guys will be QBs/TEs that are in the Top 12 and RBs/WRs that are in the Top 25 at their position.

Again, the goal of this article is to help you with the FRINGE guys…any idiot could sit down and predict, with great accuracy, that the top 10 fantasy QBs will have good weeks. At MSF, we try to help you with the difficult choices.

Fantasy Football Week 3 Start Em, Sit Em Projections: Quarterbacks

Projected Best Performer: Tom Brady
What? You were expecting someone else? It’s possible it will be incredibly windy in Buffalo this weekend…unfortunately, that is the Bills’ only hope at slowing down Justin Bieber on Sunday.

Tom Brady fantasy football Week 3 projection – 390 yards; 4 TDs, 1 INT

Projected Worst Performer: Matt Cassel
He’s been awful so far this year…and now he will be playing without his best offensive weapon against a team that will be trying to exact revenge after making so many dumb mistakes against the Pats last week.

Matt Cassel fantasy football Week Three projection – 195 yards; 1 TD, 3 INTs

Start Em QB: Rex Grossman
This is a combination of two things: I actually really like what Grossman has done so far this year; and the Cowboys’ secondary is terrible. The possibility exists that Washington will be in for a tough game on the road in Dallas, but I don’t think it will affect Grossman’s numbers very much on Monday Night.

Rex Grossman fantasy football Week 3 projection – 330 yards; 3 TDs, 1 INT

Other Start ‘em QBs for Week 3:

• Philip Rivers – Always.
• Matt Stafford – As long as he’s healthy.
• Cam Newton – Home against Jacksonville…he should have a very solid day again.
• Matt Ryan – Big game against Tampa Bay.

Sit Em QB: Ryan Fitzpatrick
This might not sound like a huge leap of faith, but Fitzpatrick is currently the fifth overall ranked fantasy QB, and New England’s pass defense isn’t exactly spectacular. Nevertheless, I really don’t like Fitzpatrick this week.

If the Bills end up trailing by 14 or more early on (I think they will), Fitzpatrick won’t have the time to sit back in the pocket like he did against Oakland this week. NE will get him uncomfortable, and force him into a few more mistakes than normal.

Ryan Fitzpatrick fantasy football Week Three projection – 230 yards; 1 TD, 2 INTs

Other Sit ‘em QBs for Week 3:

• Aaron Rodgers and Jay Cutler – (Relatively to what they will normally do)…I think the GB/CHI game will be a lot uglier than what people will be expecting.
• Donovan McNabb – Against Suh…yikes!
• Kerry Collins – Maybe the last game of his career.

Fantasy Football Week 3 Start Em, Sit em Projections: Running Backs

Projected Best Performer: Maurice Jones-Drew
Mo-Joe should get lots of carries if and when Blaine Gabbert starts on Sunday, and he will probably be fantastic until he dies in week 5 due to being unbelievably over-worked for the past twenty years.

Maurice Jones-Drew fantasy football Week 3 projection – 140 Rushing Yards, 1 TD; 85 Receiving Yards, 1 TD

Projected Worst Performer: Colts’ RBs
They are awful…and they will be playing Pittsburgh. There’s just nothing to like about the Colts’ offense this week.

Joseph Addai and Delone Carter fantasy football Week Three projection – 28 Rushing Yards TOTAL

Start Em RB: Rashard Mendenhall
I’m really down on Mendenhall this year, but against the Colts on Sunday Night, he will haul a lot people back onto his bandwagon.

Rashard Mendenhall fantasy football Week 3 projection – 115 Rushing Yards; 45 Receiving Yards, 1 TD

Other Start ‘em RBs for Week 3:

• LeSean McCoy – Maybe no Vick…maybe tons of stats for the RB.
• Fred Jackson – Gets a surprising amount of yardage on the ground against NE.
• Ray Rice – Could be the overall top performer against St. Louis.
• Shonn Greene – The second of like six or seven straight great weeks for him.

Sit Em RB: Jahvid Best
I think the Lions will do pretty well against Minnesota this week, but I don’t necessarily love the matchup for Best. The Vikings’ D-Line is still solid, but more importantly, they have shown to be vulnerable in the air. Megatron and his friends will be targeted early and often…and for good reason.

Jahvid Best fantasy football Week Three projection – 45 Rushing Yards; 45 Receiving Yards

Other Sit ‘em RBs for Week 3:

• Adrian Peterson – Ndomakong Suh (you’re still starting him of course, but temper expectations)
• Darren McFadden – Not against the Jets. He may break one big reception, but otherwise, he will be bottled up.
• Packers Running Backs – The platoon is killing both of them…and neither will run well in Chicago.

Fantasy Football Week 3 Start Em, Sit em Projections: Wide Receivers

Projected Best Performer: Brandon Marshall
Marshall will most likely be playing in an ugly game at Cleveland. Both teams will try to run the ball quite a bit in order to control the clock, and the passing games will be left out a little bit. That won’t be a problem for Marshall though. He will create matchup problems for the undersized Cleveland secondary all day, and while the Dolphins may lose, Marshall should have a big day.

Brandon Marshall fantasy football Week 3 projection – 8 Catches for 165 Yards and 1 TD.

Projected Worst Performer: Denarius Moore
Revis Island. Moving on.

Denarius Moore fantasy football Week Three projection – 1 Catch for 9 Yards

Start Em WR: Santana Moss
Moss is quietly having a very solid fantasy season once again. At this point, he is the 27th ranked WR, and he only has one TD meaning his value hasn’t been super inflated. He should have a great game against the soft Dallas secondary, and if the game turns into a high-scoring affair, Moss will get a lot of targets. Surprisingly, he’s still Washington’s big-play guy at this point in his career, and I expect him to break a couple on Monday Night.

Santana Moss fantasy football Week 3 projection – 9 Catches for 140 Yards and 1 TD.

Other Start ‘em WRs for Week 3:

• Reggie Wayne – The only Colt player that will have a good week.
• Larry Fitzgerald – He is becoming more comfortable with Kolb…look out.
• AJ Green – I think he’s one of the top 5 talented WRs in the league already…and I’m not kidding. Just watch this. Plus, it looks like Andy Dalton knows that now as well.
• Steve Smith 1.0 – If Cam has a big day, Steve will have a big day.

Sit Em WR: Dwayne Bowe
Just a bad day to be a Chiefs fan. Cassel will most likely struggle, and San Diego will concentrate on shutting Bowe and the running game down. Last year against San Diego, Bowe combined for 2 catches and 16 yards…that’s the TOTAL for both games. Be very careful before Tasting the Dwayne Bowe this weekend.

Dwayne Bowe fantasy football Week Three projection – 3 Catches for 30 Yards.

Other Sit ‘em WRs for Week 3:

• Julio Jones – I still don’t think he’s that good. He may break out in week 8, but he’s way too inconsistent to be looked at this early in his career. Just click on this article for proof.
• Jeremy Maclin – He and DeSean Jackson are just too inconsistent…but I think it’s Jackson’s turn this week to have a big week and Maclin will be left out.
• Santonio Holmes – Keller and Plaxico are options 1 and 2 in the red zone for the Jets right now. And Greene is probably #3.

Fantasy Football Week 3 Start em, Sit em Projections: Tight Ends

Projected Best Performer: Rob Gronkowski
This is a no-brainer. Hernandez is banged up and will miss a few games. Gronkowski may go for 400 yards in this offense right now.

Rob Gronkowski fantasy football Week 3 projection – 9 Catches for 145 Yards and 2 TDs.

Projected Worst Performer: Todd Heap
There is a reason that Baltimore let him go so easily…and you should let him go as well.

Todd Heap fantasy football Week Three projection – 0 Catches

Start Em TE: Brent Celek
If Vick is banged up and can’t go, or even if he is healthy but playing a little more conservatively, Celek should have a big game. Currently, he sits 30th overall in the TE rankings, but Celek owners should look forward to this Sunday.

Brent Celek fantasy football Week 3 projection – 8 Catches for 85 Yards and 1 TD.

Other Start ‘em TEs for Week 3:

• Dustin Keller – Quickly becoming the Sanchize’s favorite target.
• Tony Gonzalez – He’s still got a little left in the tank…I was wrong.
• Jermaine Gresham
• Owen Daniels – High scoring affair against New Orleans…Schaub will look to him often to beat the Saints’ blitz.

Sit Em TE: Dallas Clark
I just hate the matchup. Polomalu will be ranging all over the middle of the field, and Collins will be on his back for much of the game. Clark may be needed to pass block more than normal, and he just won’t be able to get into the game at all.

Dallas Clark fantasy football Week 3 projection – 5 Catches for 40 Yards and 1 Fumble

Other Sit ‘Em TEs for Week 3:

• Scott Chandler – Don’t chase Touchdowns! They will end up disappointing you.
• Jimmy Graham – One of those weeks that Brees finds everybody but him.
• Ben Watson – The classic “I scored a TD early and I look better than I really am” guy. Take it out, and you have a guy with 6 catches for 61 yards. Not terrible…but not a starter in a league with less than 25 teams.

Good Luck in Week Three!  As always, feel free to ask questions in the comment section, or on my twitter (@The_Dr_Twitch) or to our MSF Fantasy Twitter account (@FantasyMSF).

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Stay caught up with all of our Week 3 fantasy football analysis:

• Week 3 Start em, Sit em Projections
• Week 3 Waiver Wire Advice
• Week 3 Stats to Know
• Week 3 Fantasy Football Talk Start/Sit Podcast
• Week 3 Player Rankings at QB, RB, WR, TE, K, and D/ST
• Week 3 Sleeper Picks

LeGarrette Blount only given five carries?!

Steve Smith for 178 yards?! Listen, I knew that Arizona was trying to figure out their secondary and was very weak after getting rid of Rodgers-Cromartie, but I never would have recommended you play Cam Newton in his first game as a pro!

I have a friend, to save his identity we will call him Kentoso, who had a great draft and his team blew up this week which was expected, but he blew up in an unexpected spot. He had both Stafford and Calvin Johnson. While I thought both of them would do well, I didn’t think they would do that well together. Stafford is dedicated to getting the ball to his best receiver. Much like Stafford, Kentoso is dedicated to a few things; fantasy football, pairing a strong receiver/ QB together, and drinking until he has no shame.

This week’s predictions will look at QB dedications that they will try to exploit this week or lose trying.

That is right, Kentoso, this one goes out to you for all those nights you don’t remember, for the time you duct tapped all the beer cans you drank through the night together and made a “wand”, and for the time you woke up in the hospital with an IV in. Thanks for beating me Week 1!

To begin, I will go back with where I started last week.

Kerry Collins and Joseph Addai/Dallas Clark

I predicted Joseph Addai would have a solid game against the Texans. My thought was that Kerry Collins would be getting rid of the ball as soon as possible and Addai would have a lot of opportunities. He only had 8 carries and 2 receptions. Expect more this week.

First, the Browns defense isn’t very good. Second, every week that Collins is there the team is going to get more in tune with him. Indy wasn’t able to create drives last week. When you’re playing from behind and constantly going 3 and out, no one will have a chance to put up points. Look for Addai and Dallas Clark to be integral parts of the offense. Expect around 100 total yards from Addai, most of them coming off screen passes as Collins leans on him.

Cam Newton and Steve Smith/Greg Olsen

The first game with Cam Newton made Steve Smith look like he was back in stud form. I don’t believe it.

First off, just read above. Cam Newton is an upgrade on QB for sure, but Steve Smith scored half of the fantasy points he scored last year in this one game. This week will be a better judge of how the Carolina passing attack will be this season. I would start Steve Smith as a number 2 or flex at best and stay away from Newton. If anyone, I would be high Greg Olsen since Cam Newton will be trying to get rid of the ball in a hurry as Clay Matthews charges at him!

On an additional note, there were only 11 games last year where the QB threw for 400 or more yards. There were 4 during this first week. Tamper your expectations with Newton. He won’t always be throwing for 400 yards. In fact, probably not again this season.

Rex Grossman and Santana Moss

I live in Bloomington, Indiana. In fact, I live very close to Grossman drive. Before preseason I thought the most interesting thing about the Redskins QBs would be the fact that they just brought in Ben Chappell who came from the same high school (Bloomington South) as Rex Grossman. I was definitely wrong!!

Grossman looked smart inside the pocket and made some great passes in a route of the Giants. Just like we looked out above, the Cardinals helped Cam Newton look like the number one overall pick was worth it. Expect Grossman to hook up with Santana Moss for major yards and for Rex to look like the Grossman that took the Bears to the Super Bowl. Moss for 100 and a TD and Grossman for 300 or more, easy. Grossman is a sneaky play this week.

Jay Cutler and Matt Forte

Speaking of Bears, both Jay Cutler and Matt Forte are great plays this week. I really like Forte from a skills standpoint and he showed it in Week 1 with 68 yards rushing and 90 yards receiving. He led the team in both. The Saints love to blitz. Cutler takes a lot of sacks and dances in the pocket, but he is smart about getting the ball to his best playmaker in Forte. Forte will be able to bust through the Saints’ defense and bail out Cutler for some major yards again this week.

Like I said before, it’s not that fun to draft Ichiro.  You know exactly what you’re getting.  (Or at least you used to know, before this season.) On the flip side, thinking about Jason Heyward’s upside gives us all visions of glory.

But when it comes to drafting running backs for your fantasy football team this year, save the “sleepers” for other positions.

Assuming you are in a 10 to 12 team league, or a fun weekly challenge game like FanDuel, and you have to start at least two running backs, it won’t be good enough to simply know which guys are in the top five.

Here are my top 25 running backs for 2011, along with some guys I think you should stay away from. The latter group is who we’ll start with.

Fantasy Football RB Rankings: The “Stay-Aways”

• Mark Ingram – The Lockout will hinder rookies greatly this year.  The rookie running back slump continues, even though the kid has unreal talent.
• Joseph Addai – As a Colts fan, I think I speak for everyone else in Hoosier Country when I say, “You just can’t trust this guy.”
• All Other Colts’ Running Backs – If you need me to explain this one, you have probably never played fantasy football.
• Jonathan Stewart – Just a hunch, but I think the Panthers will try to justify spending a billion dollars on DeAngelo Williams…if only for this season.
• BenJarvus Green-Ellis – Also a hunch, but I have a feeling that the Patriots are going to be high-flying, just like they were in their 18-1 season.  Expect a lot of passing, yards, and scoring…through the air.
• CJ Spiller – At this point, he’s destined to become a homeless man’s Devin Hester.  And in a league that no longer has kickoff returns, that isn’t a good thing.
• LaDainian Tomlinson – Eight steps beyond washed-up at this point.
• Daniel Thomas – See Ingram, Mark.
• Fred Jackson – I just don’t see the Bills leading a lot of games this year.  Their running game and Mr. Jackson will suffer.

Fantasy Football RB Rankings: #21-25

The boring guys who will win you games

• Marshawn Lynch
• Ryan Mathews
• Mike Tolbert
• Ahmad Bradshaw
• Shonn Greene

Ironically, these guys are all pretty similar.  Most of them like to pound it inside and eat up short yardage situations.  Expect all of them to be able to punch it into the end zone for you as well.

Of these five, Greene has the most upside since the Jets will likely be good, but Sanchez will still struggle, causing them to rely heavily on their defense and running game.

Fantasy Football RB Rankings: #16-20

Your “all or nothing” guys…that will win you weeks, and break your heart.

• Jahvid Best
• Felix Jones
• Knowshon Moreno
• Ryan Grant
• LeGarrette Blount

These guys are all on the same level to me. 

Best intrigues me the most because I feel that he has the most raw talent of the bunch…but as we are all well-aware, his injury history will scare many away.

I really think this could be Knowshon Moreno’s breakout year, and it wouldn’t surprise me at all if he ended up as a top seven running back…though the QB situation will make his job that much more difficult.

Beware of Ryan Grant.  The Packers’ RB was injured for most of last season, and he will come back hungry, ready to show everyone that he is, in fact, very important to his team’s success.  Also, it’s probably a safe bet that Green Bay will be winning a lot of games this year, and Grant will be benefactor #1.

Fantasy Football RB Rankings: #11-15

It’s just not fun taking them, but you can’t let them slide past you.

• DeAngelo Williams
• Frank Gore
• Matt Forte
• Steven Jackson
• Peyton Hillis

None of these guys will earn you high praise on draft night, but they will all give you an easy 1000 yards, 8 TDs, and receptions out of the backfield.  Again, the lockout will affect a lot of young guys, players on new teams, and players with new coaches.

While Williams, Gore, and Hillis are all playing for new coaches, they will definitely be one of the foundational elements that their coaches are hoping to build upon.  Gore, Forte, and Jackson are about as “Ichiro-esque” as you can get.  Barring injury, expect solid numbers from them across the board.

Fantasy Football RB Rankings: #10

I have to place him this high, but I’m scared to death of him myself.

• Michael Turner

It’s possible he’s past his prime.  It’s possible that all of the carries the past few years have killed his legs.  It’s possible that Atlanta will become more of a passing team this year.  It’s also possible he has one more year left in him.

This is all I know.  Someone will draft Michael Turner in your league this year, and it will either make, or break his team.  I am scared to death of him, but I also know he could have one more good year left in him, and I understand he could very well come back to bite me.

Fantasy Football RB Rankings: #8-9

“Old Reliables” that may not be so reliable.

• Maurice Jones-Drew
• Rashard Mendenhall.

If healthy, both Jones-Drew and Mendenhall will easily be top-ten RBs.  Both of their teams love to grind it out, and both guys can do the job.  However, Mendenhall has had fumble issues in the past, and just how long can a guy as small as Mo-Joe stay healthy?

If it were me, and I drafted either of these guys early, I would take his backup late in the draft – especially if I had Mo-Jo, because I think Rashard Jennings could really surprise some people this year, if given the opportunity.

Fantasy Football RB Rankings: #6-7

The new kids on the McBlock.

• Darren McFadden
• LeSean McCoy

These two guys have more “home-run” ability than anyone besides Chris Johnson, Jamaal Charles, and maybe Adrian Peterson.

McCoy will be playing in a high-powered offense that has surprisingly less weapons than you thought.  Seriously, they have Michael Vick, DeSean Jackson, Jeremy Maclin, and…yeah you thought they had more, didn’t you?  Well, McCoy will surprise a lot of people this year that didn’t take notice before.  He is one of the smoothest runners in the game, and can also catch the ball out of the backfield.

McFadden, on the other hand, finally seemed to figure it out last year.  If he is finally putting the work in to match his unbelievable talent, the Raiders could have a top five fantasy player on their team, easily.

Fantasy Football RB Rankings: #4-5

Don’t be disappointed with these guys.

• Ray Rice
• Arian Foster

We have all been there.  We get the fourth pick in the draft, and we love three guys.  Obviously, those three guys go 1-2-3, and we are stuck fuming to ourselves for the next four picks.  On draft day, don’t be “disappointed” with Rice or Foster.

Sure, maybe the next three guys will have marginally better years, but the fact is that in most seasons the difference between guys 1-3 and 4-6 isn’t really that big.  Be happy with either of these guys, and then focus on building out the rest of your team.  Nobody has ever won a fantasy league with just one guy, but plenty have lost it by not concentrating for half of their draft.

Fantasy Football RB Rankings: #2-3

The enigmas

• Chris Johnson
• Jamaal Charles

I think these are the only two guys in the league that could rush for 2000 yards.  They could also both get injured or, in CJ’s case, randomly miss a lot of time because of contract issues.  Either way, if things go well, Charles and Johnson will make a LOT of fantasy owners happy with their home run ability coupled with their coach’s love for the running game.

Fantasy Football RB Rankings: #1

Old Faithful

• Adrian Peterson

In my opinion, he’s still the best in the biz.

When Adrian Peterson – the best and most consistent player in fantasy football over the last four years – gets injured, there is no bigger news in the fantasy football world. Thus, we’ll lead off with news about the man they call All Day.

Sadly, there isn’t a whole lot of new news to pin our Week 13 hopes on.

Peterson is set to test the ankle in practice today. He has not practiced yet this week, instead rehabbing and resting the ankle. He says that the pain has gone away and that he feels good, but we won’t know anything definitive until he practices, sees how the ankle responds to cutting, and then how it responds over the next 24 hours.

Keep your eye on this injury leading up to kickoff. The Vikings play early, which is good, and we know that Toby Gerhart is the clear #1 option to replace Peterson, which is also good. If you can nab Gerhart, he’s a solid play against a terrible Buffalo run D if Peterson is out.

Colt McCoy is still dealing with an ankle injury. The Miami Dolphins’ secondary will be pleased to know that they can pad their interception totals against Jake Delhomme.

Jahvid Best has practiced this week and should play Sunday, though he’ll probably split carries with Maurice Morris. Oh, and the matchup isn’t exactly favorable.

Austin Collie, who was taking the fantasy world by storm before a series of injuries killed his momentum, has practiced this week and very well might play Sunday. We won’t know until before game time however. Having Blair White as insurance isn’t a bad thing if you can get him. There is always a risk with Collie re-injuring himself though, so it may be wise to see him get through a game before you trust him.

Joseph Addai remains limited in practice. Even he plays Sunday, he won’t get a full workload and probably shouldn’t be in your lineup. Mike Hart, on the other hand, has practiced in full and might be able to go this week. If so, he has been better than Donald Brown this year and has some value.

Head over to MSF Fantasy Sports to see our complete Week 13 injury updates. We provide the latest injury news on every fantasy-relevant player who appears on the Week 13 injury report.

If you have questions, ask them in the comment section there. Commenting is turned off here.

Then start scrolling through the injury updates below and make sure your roster decisions include this info.

Regarding Sidney Rice, we’ll know more Saturday. Minnesota will either activate him from the PUP list and he’ll play this week or sometime after, or he’ll be out for the year. Right now there is no telling, so don’t count on Rice yet. And if you own him but Vincent Jackson is available in your league, make that swap right now.

For the first week in a long time, there is no legitimate concern about Percy Harvin missing Sunday’s game. Sure, his ankle is still sore, and he’s not practicing in full, but that’s par for the course for Harvin. With nothing new to concern us, he appears to safe to play in Week 11.

Joseph Addai is back practicing on a limited basis for the Colts. His status for Week 11 is still day-to-day. Donald Brown and Javarris James are both healthy. My expectation would be that even if Addai plays he’ll split carries with these two. Add in the fact that New England is a team you beat through the air, and the Colts’ running back quagmire is one to stay away from.

Austin Collie was originally expected to play in Week 11, and he still might, but there are conflicting reports regarding what he did Saturday. Here it says he practiced in full on Thursday and here it says he was absent. The Colts need him, so he’ll play if ready, but coming back from concussions isl always tricky. Check to see what he does Friday.

Jacob Tamme owners rejoice! He was not on the Thursday injury report. Looks like he’s safe to play.

Jahvid Best missed practice on Thursday as he continues to deal with his troublesome toe. See if he practices Friday, but he’ll likely be a GTD on Sunday and hasn’t been all that effective even when playing,  and Dallas isn’t terrible against the run. His normal backup Kevin Smith has already been declared out for Week 11. Maurice Morris will get the start in Week 11 if Best can’t go, and he’ll have decent value in 22-27 range simply because the Detroit offense does create scoring opportunities and should be able to move the ball against the Dallas.

Head over to MSF Fantasy Sports for our complete Week 11 injury report, including injury updates on Antonio Gates, Ryan Torain, and many, many more.

I told everyone on Twitter (@FantasyMSF) and in the comment sections here at MSF Fantasy Sports that if he plays, you have to play him. With supreme talents like White, you play them if their team feels comfortable doing so.

And all Roddy White did was go out at put up 100+ yards and 2 TDs. Let that be a lesson as we delve into every fantasy-relevant Week 10 injury.

In other WR news, Sidney Rice is not even on the injury report!

He will play Sunday against the Bears; the question is how much? Everything I’ve heard has indicated they’ll bring him back to game action somewhat slowly, and it will depend on how he recovers today from a hard workout Thursday. Considering the matchup against a very good Bears pass D, I am sitting Rice in the leagues I have him, unless I hear that he’ll start and 30-40+ plays.

Percy Harvin has been playing very well recently, despite a persistent ankle injury. Now he has migraines added to it, and he hasn’t practiced this week. As usual with Harvin, it will be a day-to-day thing that won’t be resolved until Sunday. Hey, you know it would be like this when you drafted him. Deal with it.

The Indianapolis Colts continue to have one of the busiest injury reports of any team. Let’s run it down bullet-point style like we did last week:

• Joseph Addai has not been practicing as he deals with his neck/shoulder injury. He is questionable for Week 10 but not expected to play. Still, monitor his health if you’re planning on Donald Brown starting for you.
• Speaking of Donald Brown…he made it through a week without getting banged up! He’s not on the injury report! Rejoice! Right now Brown appears like the safest bet to get 15-20 carries out of the Colts backfield. I know Javarris James scored two TDs last week, but I still like Brown this week against a Bengals D that can be run on.
• And in other Colts RB needs, Mike Hart has not been practicing because of an ankle injury. He is questionable for Week 10.
• Austin Collie continues to deal with the effects of a concussion. He is improving but not practicing, and he is not expected to play in Week 10.
• Everyone’s favorite scrappy sleeper Blair White has been missing practicing with a shoulder injury. He is questionable for Week 10. You’ll have to track this one.
• Jacob Tamme practiced in full on Thursday and will be good to go on Sunday.

The Detroit Lions are starting to rival the Indianapolis Colts for injury annoyance. Let’s go bullet points for them too:

• Matthew Stafford is dealing with yet another shoulder injury. So far, there has not been an official announcement about his future status, just that he’ll be week-to-week. The expectation though is that he’ll miss at least 4-6 weeks, which means he’s probably not going to have much fantasy value. I’d be okay with you dropping him, especially if you can pick up…
• Shaun Hill will be the starting QB for the Lions this week. He is still dealing with a broken left forearm, but he apparently can hand off and do everything he needs to do. I would be cautious about starting him because he’s a serious risk to be knocked out early if he takes a bad shot, but the matchup against the Bills is awfully inviting.
• Jahvid Best is on the injury report with that damn toe again, but he is expected to play. The Bills are an excellent matchup, so you’ll want Best playing if he suits up on Sunday.
• And Calvin Johnson is…not on the injury report! Yes! Okay Detroit, I lied. You aren’t as bad as the Colts. Give me a healthy MegaTron and we’re cool.

Head over to MSF Fantasy Sports to see the complete Week 10 injury update, including the latest injury news on Steve Smith, Marshawn Lynch, and the running back quagmires in Washington and Carolina.

Note that commenting is turned off here, but you can ask your questions in the comment section over at MSF Fantasy Sports.

Here we go:

• Joseph Addai still has not been practicing because of his neck. He likely won’t play.
• Mike Hart still hasn’t practicing either this week and is likely to be a game-time decision.
• Donald Brown is the healthiest of all the Colts backs and should see an increase in workload this weekend. He is the one to start if you’re going to start any.
• Austin Collie has been practicing this week, but whether he plays Sunday is another story. He’ll be a game-time decision.
• Anthony Gonzalez shocked no one by getting dinged up in Week 8, and he is questionable for Week 9.

Donald Driver is unlikely play to Week 9 for the Packers.

In Detroit, Kevin Smith did not practice Thursday because of a knee issue. There is no word on whether he will play or not, but the matchup isn’t good anyway (Jets). Jahvid Best and Calvin Johnson are both on the injury report, but both have been practicing fully and will play.

Peyton Hillis owners can rejoice because the Browns RB is not on the injury report. Where the Browns have issues is at QB. Seneca Wallace has not been practicing because of his ankle injury, and neither has Jake Delhomme. Expect Colt McCoy to get another start this weekend.

Head over to MSF Fantasy Sports to see the complete Friday Injury Update, including the latest injury updates on Antonio Gates, DeSean Jackson, Percy Harvin, and every other fantasy-relevant injury for Week 9.

Note that commenting is turned off here, but you can ask all your questions in the comment sections over at MSF Fantasy Sports.

What? You hadn’t heard yet? Yeah, he’s got a bum ankle. He’s been in a walking boot all week. Hasn’t practiced. The streak – the streak – is in jeopardy.

Look, let’s just get the Brett Favre portion of this injury update out of the way right off the bat. I will believe that Brett Favre is not going to start on Sunday when Tarvaris Jackson is under center and has taken the first snap of the game. Until then, I don’t care if practices or doesn’t practice. I don’t care if he says he’s going to play or not. I don’t care if Brad Childress says Favre will play or not.

If we’ve learned one thing from all of the Favre nonsense over the past few years, it’s this: no matter what, when the issue is Brett Favre playing football, expect him to play. That’s it, it’s that simple.

When you can find me one, just one, example of the opposite being true, then we’ll talk. Until then, you simply have to assume he’ll play – the only debate is over how well he’ll play. For the record, I have Favre ranked #21 in this week’s player rankings.

So there’s your Brett Favre injury update. Now onto all of the other Week 8 injury updates for all fantasy-relevant offensive players.

Joseph Addai remains out for the Colts with a neck injury. He could miss a few weeks. Similarly, Austin Collie is out after have surgery on his hand. He will also likely miss a few weeks.

Stepping in for Addai will be, well, we’re not quite sure yet. Donald Brown is supposed to be the guy, but he continues to be slowed by a hamstring injury and still hasn’t practiced. WTF Donald!? The problem here is that the Colts play Monday night, so you need to know who is starting for them Sunday or use an alternative. The best case would be for you to snatch up Mike Hart and then just start whoever ends up playing. At this point, Hart is a decent guy to have with the inability of Addai and Brown to stay healthy.

Stepping in for Austin Collie could be Anthony Gonzalez, another guy who hasn’t been able to stay healthy. Gonzo has practiced all week and should play. How well? Who knows. We haven’t seen him on the field in a while.

Concerning me as I go through the injury report is that Reggie Wayne and Pierre Garcon, my top two WRs for Week 8 thanks to the matchup versus the Texans, are both on there with hamstring injuries. Garcon did not practice Thursday. Wayne practiced some. Both are expected to play, so I wouldn’t worry about it too much. With the injuries the Colts have had, look for Peyton Manning to lean on these two guys heavily against a Texans’ pass D that is simply awful.

Carson Palmer has not been practicing because of a hip issue. He is expected to play Sunday against the Dolphins, and should have another solid day. He’ll be throwing to Terrell Owens who is on the injury report but also expected to play.

Dexter McCluster has the dreaded high ankle sprain and will likely be out a few weeks. Bench him for now, if you were planning to play him at all anyway.

Head over to MSF Fantasy Sports to see the rest of the Week 8 injury updates, including Antonio Gates, Malcom Floyd, Steven Jackson, DeAngelo Williams, and many more.

Yesterday, Adam Schefter tweeted that Colts TE Dallas Clark would be out indefinitely after suffering a hand/wrist injury during the team’s Week 6 victory over the Redskins. He said that Clark was seeking additional opinions and that the length of his absence was not yet known.

In other less serious – but still important – Colts injury news, RB Joseph Addai said that his left shoulder is a problem. There is apparently nothing torn, but it’s still never a good thing when a player says that “It’s just the nerve…it could come back any time between now and four or five weeks.”

Uncertainty, as we know, is the bane of the fantasy owners’ existence. Head over to MSF Fantasy Sports for our analysis of the fantasy impact on the Clark and Addai injuries.

The coaching staff has experienced the most turnover, starting with the departure of head coach Tony Dungy, who was replaced by protégé and former assistant coach Jim Caldwell. Several other coaching changes also have been made in addition to Caldwell taking over.

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Longtime offensive coordinator Tom Moore retired as well, as did offensive line coach Howard Mudd, although both were brought back to the team before the start of training camp as “special advisors.” In addition, defensive coordinator Ron Meeks was replaced by Larry Coyer, who has been assigned the challenge of turning a mundane defense into at least a respectable one. And the most scrutinized position of late is that of new special teams coach Ray Rychlesky, who replaced Russ Purnell.

Other less notable coaching changes also have been made this offseason in an attempt to correct what was viewed by many as a subpar 2008 season despite a sixth straight 12+ win season, as well as a wildcard playoff berth, the first round ejection by 8-8 San Diego that capped the 2008 season.

As to players on the field, the draft brought much needed help at running back and on the defensive line.

The first round brought the Colts RB Donald Brown from Connecticut, who will hopefully boost a subpar running game and provide a sort of “Thunder and Lightning” combination between he and incumbent starter Joseph Addai.

Defensive tackles Fili Moala (Southern Cal) and Terrance Taylor (Michigan) were aquired in the second and fourth rounds, respectively. while receiver Austin Collie (BYU) was added in the fourth as well. Pat McAfee, a punter, was drafted to replace long time booter Hunter Smith who has found a new home in Washington with the Redskins.

Let’s break down each of the three units as the Colts get ready for the regular season, which is now less than two weeks away.

The Offense (The Good)

Of course any team with Peyton Manning will be successful offensively. The good news is that Manning’s knee is at full strength, and we won’t have to wait a hand full of games in the regular season to watch the timing get ironed out, as happened last year.

Joseph Addai has shown signs of returning to his former self in the preseason thus far, and rookie running back Donald Brown continues to impress. The question remains, however, will the offensive line be able to consistently open holes for these two feature backs to run through?

The line is healthier than last year, but there is a glaring issue in the worst possible spot: Peyton’s blind side. OT Tony Ugoh has been replaced as a starter by Charlie Johnson, due to the fact that no one on the coaching staff believes that Ugoh is working his hardest, nor living up to the potential his draft position and salary would suggest. However, Johnson has not been much better thus far, with the Colt’s O-line giving up a horrific three sacks in just the first possession alone of the first preseason game against the Vikings.

The most intriguing position on the Colts offense comes at wide receiver. With the departure of long time #1 receiver Marvin Harrison, the Colts are looking to fill a significant void of experience and production. Reggie Wayne will become the #1 WR (and basically was last year) while 3rd-year man Anthony Gonzalez will take over the #2 spot.

But who will be the #3 WR in the slot?

Dallas Clark, the Colts starting tight end, will no doubt be put into the slot with various personnel groupings. Through two weeks of the preseason, we have seen Pierre Garcon and rookie Austin Collie making great plays and looking to be solid contenders for the slot when the Colts go 3-wide. 

Tom Santi and Jacob Tamme look to have locked up the backup roles to starting TE Dallas Clark.

The Defense (The Bad)

Amidst all of the many questions that surround one of the NFL’s worst third down defenses is, what about Bob? It’s been a while since Bob Sanders has played an entire season, but when he is in the lineup we all know that his presence is invaluable as a stabilizing and inspirational force  in the Colts’ D.

The linebackers looks solid, anchored by Gary Brackett, Phillip Wheeler, and Clint Session, but still seems somewhat weak in certain coverage and run schemes and situation.

The defensive line seems to have improved, adding a couple of 300+ pounders, but the injury to Raheem Brock could make things a little more challenging. The pass rush, anchored by DE’s Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis, seems as strong as ever; but, can the Colts stop the run?

Only time will tell if Larry Coyer can make a major difference replacing Ron Meeks as the leader of what was ranked as one of the worst run defenses in the league last year, as well as one of the worst defenses at getting off of the field on third down.

A lot of questions remain for the Colts on defense, and only time will tell how good the D can be in 2009.

Special Teams (The Ugly)

Where do I start with the special teams?

The Colts can boast that they have one of the most reliable placekickers in the league in Adam Vinatieri. However, the lack of touchbacks, the poor kick coverage, and poor kick returns that are often riddled with turnovers and bad decisions, have plagued the Colts for years and made both the offense and defense have to work much harder to attain victory.

They say that defense wins championships, but I personally believe that special teams plays just as important a role, if not slightly more. There must be change. There must be improvement. Need I say more? Ray Rychlesky, the pressure is on from Day 1.

2009 Outlook

This season’s schedule seems a little soft at first glance, but there could be teams that were weak last season that may be more of a challenge this year. The Colts will host the Jaguars, Seahawks, 49ers, Texans, Patriots, Titans, Broncos, and Jets, and will find themselves traveling to the Dolphins, Cardinals, Titans, Rams, Ravens, Texans, Jaguars, and Bills.

Will the Colts make it to 12 wins for a seventh consecutive season? Las Vegas thinks not. The over-under for the Colts is currently 10. My prediction is somewhere between 11 and 12 wins, but, of course, that’s why they play the games!

There has been a lot of change in Indianapolis this offseason, and the Colts have more competition in the AFC then ever before. Only time will tell if Peyton Manning will win his second Super Bowl, or perhaps a record 4th MVP. He’s Peyton, so anything is possible.

Either way, here’s hoping on another fun ride and successful season for the Colts — one of the NFL’s best and most consistent team over the course of this decade.

**********

* – Bob Sanders / Marlin Jackson photo credit: NFL Gridiron Gab

At the beginning of the season, this appeared to be a great late season game for the NFL Network, but that was before the Jacksonville Jaguars pissed all over themselves and completely fell apart. It all started with Matt Jones getting busted with his nose in a pile of cocaine, then continued with a rash of injuries to the offensive line, and ultimately has culminated in Jack del Rio laughing and pointing elsewhere to divert attention when someone accuses him of dropping ass (picture, right). It’s okay coach, you’re on a football field. Drop ass all you want. Just don’t mess around with axes anymore.

Anyway, enough about the insignificant and pathetic Jaguars.

Tonight’s game does have huge ramifications for the Indianapolis Colts, and for fantasy football players across the country who are participating in their league’s championship round this week. With fantasy studs like Peyton Manning, Reggie Wayne, Maurice Jones-Drew, Reggie Williams…wait, never mind on that one, Dallas Clark, and Joseph Addai on the field, this game will either get people off to great starts in Week 16 or leave them in a huge hole. And as you look to set your rosters (or if you are just an interested Colts fan), you need to know the latest injury updates regarding Harrison, Addai, Clark, and Sanders.

That’s why we’re here.

Injury Update – WR Marvin Harrison

This one is the easiest to definitively reports. Marvin Harrison will not play for the Indianapolis Colts tonight, as he did not even make the trip to Jacksonville, as reported by ESPN. No one knows exactly what the injury is to Harrison; Tony Dungy says it’s a hamstring, while others claim Harrison hurt his knee against Detroit, while some bozos are still trying to make a story out of comparing Marvin Harrison’s shooting to Plaxico Burress’s shooting. So who knows exactly why Marvin Harrison is out. Everyone rips the Patriots for not being forthcoming about injuries, but most people give Tony Dungy a free pass (although PFT does not, and good for them). I say who the hell cares. I don’t like the Colts, I don’t have Marvin Harrison in fantasy, and I don’t gamble on the NFL. He’s out. Bench him. That’s it.

Injury Update – RB Joseph Addai

Joseph Addai has a shoulder injury as continues to be listed as questionable. According to IndyStar.com, Tony Dungy is optimistic that Addai will be able to suit up, but he will be a game-time decision. If you own Joseph Addai, you’ll just have to monitor this up to kick off. The guy I am playing in the championship round of one league has Addai, so I’m hoping he does not get to feast on Jacksonville’s struggling defense. But even if Addai does play, he has not carried more than 16 times or gone over 70 yards since week 11. That was also the last time he scored a touchdown.

Injury Update – SS Bob Sanders

The perpetually questionable game-time decision Bob Sanders is…listed as questionable and a game-time decision, according to Tony Dungy. As with Joseph Addai, Tony Dungy is optimistic that Sanders will play. Jack Del Rio, Maurice Jones-Drew, Maurice Jones-Drew fantasy owners, and the rest of the Jaguars are hopeful that Bob Sanders will sit this one out. We’ll have to wait and see, as usual.

Injury Update – Indianapolis Colts Roster

Based on the official injury report, listed on NFL.com, it appears as if the Colts team is questionable and a game-time decision to even be on the field tonight against Jacksonville. 12 players are listed as questionable, many of whom are starters and for whom there is no indication that they will not play. Additionally, three other players are listed on the injury report with “Not Injury Related” next to their name.

So…let’s get this straight. They are on the injury report, but it’s not injury related. Yep, makes perfect sense.

This is one reason, other than their silly fans, that I stay away from owning Indianapolis Colts players in fantasy football. Trying to assess their injury situation is like trying to see your reflection in the Wabash River. Impossible.

As far as a prediction for tonight’s game goes, I just don’t see Jacksonville winning it. They will most likely cover whatever the spread is and play the Colts tough, but Peyton Manning is not losing to David Garrard this late in the season with so much on the line. Obviously, having Addai and Sanders would be a boon to the Colts chances, but either way I see them winning a tight game thanks to Peyton’s excellence.

Colts 27 | Jaguars 24