Fantasy Football Love/Hate Week 3: Yep, Time To Get Stressed Out

Week 3 has always been one of the most stressful in the early part of the year for me. Don’t believe it? Just ask the Saints.

But that’s another story. Another long, long story.

Unless you’re 2-0, I always look at this as close to a must-win as one can have. It’s just about the end of the first quarter in most fantasy leagues, and to start with a one- or two-game deficit makes things really tough.

If you’re 1-1, opening 1-2 is ugly. If you’re 0-2, the chances of winning a title after an 0-3 start are getting close to the slim-to-none department. That’s why this week is as important as ever to look at matchups.

Before the first couple of weeks, it’s too tough to predict matchups. You just don’t know what you’re going to get unless your players are going against the Ravens or the Saints. Now, things are becoming a bit more clear, which is why I will begin using this year’s defensive stats in matchups.

Think long and hard about those tweeners. Make the right choices and stay away from must-wins as long as possible — until about Week 14.

LOVE

QUARTERBACK
Tony Romo, Cowboys vs. Bucs (32nd vs. pass)
Mr. Inconsistent has a fantastic matchup this week against a pass defense that allowed over 500 yards to Eli Manning. Not sure who from Tampa Bay will be able to stop Miles Austin and double that for Dez Bryant.
Honorable mention: Matt Cassel, Chiefs at Saints (If I have a QB against N.O. I’m doing my darndest to get him in); Jay Cutler, Bears vs. Rams (Doesn’t he remind you of Cush from Jerry Maguire?)

RUNNING BACKS
Kevin Smith, Lions at Titans (30th vs. run); Pierre Thomas, Saints vs. Chiefs (27th vs. run)
All this Mikel Leshoure talk is a bit premature. Smith is still the starter, and looked pretty good in Week 1. Besides, who does well against the 49ers these days? … It’s so hard to use the mighty mite, because the Saints’ offense is so unpredictable. But you have to assume the boys in Black and Gold will try to pound it early in this one to make their presence felt, and Thomas is by far the team’s best rusher.
Honorable mention: Donald Brown, Colts vs. Jaguars (Jags are really bad); Peyton Hillis, Chiefs at Saints (If Jamaal Charles is limited, Hillis becomes a must-start)

WIDE RECEIVERS
Kenny Britt, Titans vs. Lions (6th vs. pass); Torrey Smith, Ravens vs. Patriots (7th vs. pass)
Detroit secondary is a bit banged up, and Britt is primed to have his first good week of the season. Again, who will be throwing to him is still in question with Jake Locker hurt, but it shouldn’t have much of an effect on Britt. … Here’s one where an early ranking can be a misconception. Confident that Joe Flacco will try to air it out, and this could be a big one for the fastest guy on the field.
Honorable mention: Lance Moore, Saints vs. Chiefs (just his kind of game); Andrew Hawkins, Bengals at Redskins (love this rookie)

TIGHT END
Jermaine Gresham, Bengals at Redskins (31st vs. pass)
If this guy is going to get untracked, it’s going to be here. If not, feel free to cut him and go after the likes of Dennis Pitta or Martellus Bennett, if they haven’t already been scooped up.
Honorable mention: Coby Fleener, Colts vs. Jaguars (has 14 targets through two games)

KICKER: Shayne Graham, Texans at Broncos (has been excellent and now he’s headed to Mile High air)

HATE

QUARTERBACK
Michael Vick, Eagles at Cardinals (11th vs. pass)
His streak of four consecutive 300-yard passing games comes to an end against a rising defense. Last week in Foxborough was no fluke, and Vick will be running around and throwing picks as usual. Won’t be surprised at all if Cards start 3-0.
Not-so-honorable mention: Carson Palmer, Raiders vs. Steelers (not that you’d start him, anyway)

RUNNING BACKS
Michael Turner, Falcons at Chargers (1st vs. run); Willis McGahee, Broncos vs. Texans (8th vs. run)
I’ve talked about this already this season, and it’s getting to the point where he just needs to ride your pine until/if things change. Turner has no burst and will never be part of the Falcons’ passing game, rendering him nearly worthless at this point. … Overall, McGahee has looked good so far. But there’s going to be nowhere to go against the Texans, who are looking like the best team in the AFC early on (and just so happen to be my Super Bowl pick).
Not-so-honorable mention: Jamaal Charles, Chiefs at Saints (knee needs some rest); Steven Jackson, Rams at Bears (shocker: he’s hurt and in the doghouse); Adrian Peterson, Vikings vs. 49ers (gonna take a pounding against give-nothing D)

WIDE RECEIVERS
Vincent Jackson, Bucs at Cowboys (23rd vs. pass); Marques Colston, Saints vs. Chiefs (27th vs. pass)
Don’t be fooled by a good week against the Giants. Jackson will be double-teamed with a below-average QB throwing to him. In other words, except in outstanding matchups, you can use this advice all year. … Where the hell has Colston been? Disappeared in the first half last week, and dropped a ton of passes against Washington. Something just isn’t right here.
Not-so-honorable mention: Jeremy Maclin, Eagles at Cardinals (tough matchup and he’s hurt); Wes Welker, Patriots at Ravens (must be benched yet again)

TIGHT END
Brent Celek, Eagles at Cardinals (11th vs. pass)
Arizona relatively kept Rob Gronkowski in check last week, and literally put a hurting on Aaron Hernandez. As good as Celek has been early in the season, this matchup isn’t a good one.
Not-so-honorable mention: Jacob Tamme, Broncos vs. Texans (so disappointing thus far)

KICKER: Robbie Gould, Bears vs. Rams (use only if you want a ton of extra points)

MY WEEK 3 LINEUPS (as of Thursday)

FINKS FOOTBALL LEAGUE (touchdown-heavy scoring, 3 pts passing TD, no PPR, 20-team keeper league with two separate conferences – which have separate drafts — of 10 teams)
MojoXpress (1-1, won 38-36)
Starters: PRivers, MLynch, LMcCoy, CalJohnson, JNelson, PHarvin (flex), JFinley, Akers
Bench: CPalmer, MVick, ABradshaw, KevSmith, AJeffery, BTate, BWells, RMoss, JGresham, SGraham

WHO DAT LEAGUE (mostly standard scoring, 6 pts passing TD, no PPR, 12-team keeper league)
Squirrel Pool (1-1, won 106-105)
Starters: MStafford, TRichardson, MLynch, VCruz, ABrown, KOgletree (flex), JFinley, Lions Def, GHartley
Bench: PRivers, KevSmith, KBritt, RTurbin, BWells, RMoss, JCook, Saints def (can’t get rid of ‘em!)