Week
3 - Top 10 Non-Studs at Each Position
by Paul Eide
Fantasy Football Director
9/26/09
We all know who the studs
are, but
what if you have to pick between the rest of the field? Who can you
rely on? For
quarterbacks, if I’m recommending a start I’m saying you can expect
200+ yards
and at least one TD. For running backs, you can expect a minimum of 75
yards
and a possible TD. For wide receivers, you can expect at least 75 yards
and a
possible TD. For tight ends, you can expect at least 50 yards and a
possible
TD, though I will only rank the top five. I will present each position
by
“Tiers” for quick reference on who the best “Non studs” are.
I’m not going to rank
defenses
because everyone in your league already owns the top 15 defenses, so
there is
no real insight there. I refuse to rank kickers; get the ones in the
highest
scoring offense and ride them all year. Let the prognostication begin!
Quarterback
Tier One
1. Trent Edwards, Bills vs. Saints- 442 yards and four
touchdowns in
the first two games with no help from T.O. The consensus was the
Edwards would
have a better year, but so far he has exceeded expectations and has a
favorable
match up this week vs. the Saints 29th ranked pass defense.
2. Joe Flacco, Ravens vs.
Browns-
Flacco gets his third quality
start in a row and is emerging as a near “must start” fantasy
quarterback.
3. Byron Leftwich,
Buccaneers vs.
Giants-
With 91
attempts in ’09 Leftwich has thrown the second most passes in the NFL,
trailing
only Tom Brady’s 100. He is also averaging just under 300 yards passing
in two
games and has four TD’s to two INT’s. The Bucs will get behind the
Giants early
forcing Leftwich to throw frequently.
Tier Two
1.
Matt
Schaub, Texans vs. Jaguars
2. Ben
Roethliesberger, Steelers @ Cincinnati
3. Eli
Manning, Giants at Buccaneers
Tier Three
1.
Carson Palmer, Bengals vs.
Steelers
2. Jay
Cutler, Bears @ Seahawks
3. Mark
Sanchez, Jets vs. Titans
4. Jake
Delhomme, Panthers @ Dallas
One Week Bust- Philip Rivers, Charger
vs. Dolphins
One Week Sleeper- Mark Sanchez, Jets vs.
Titans
One Week Super Sleeper- Jason Campbell,
Redskins @ Lions
Running Back
Tier One
1. Willis McGahee, Ravens
vs. Browns-
The Browns have given up over 200
yards rushing a game and have allowed opponents to rush for five TD in
two
games. McGahee
looks rejuvenated by the Ravens three pronged RB attack and should have
plenty
of touches this week.
2. Tim
Hightower, Cardinals vs.
Colts-
The Colts
have the NFL’s best pass defense, but also own the third worst defense
against
the run surrendering 176 yards per game. That’s great news for
Hightower owners
who have already gotten great production out of him in the first two
weeks of
the season, with a TD in each game. All signs point to him being
productive on
Monday night.
3. Fred
Jackson, Saints @ Bills- This could be your last
chance to
use Jackson as an unquestioned
starter, with
Marshawn Lynch returning from suspension in week four. Its an
appetizing match
up for Jackson versus the Saints
defense that is giving up over 25 points
per game. Jackson will again be the
centerpiece in the Bills offensive
attack.
Tier Two
1.
Felix
Jones. Cowboys vs. Panthers
2. Ahmad
Bradshaw, Giants at Buccaneers
3. LeSean
McCoy, Eagles vs. Chiefs
Tier Three
1.
Derrick
Ward, Bucs vs. Giants
2. Mewelde
Moore, Steelers @ Bengals
3. Jonathon
Stewart, Panthers @ Cowboys
4. Correll
Buckhalter, Broncos @ Raiders
One Week Bust- Steven Jackson, Rams vs.
Redskins
One Week Sleeper- LaRon McClain, Ravnes vs.
Browns
One Week Super Sleeper- Mewelde Moore, Steelers
@ Bengals
Wide Receiver
Tier One
1. Donald Driver, Packers @ Rams- Let’s hear it for the guy
no one
wants to start consistently! It seems like he’s older than he is, but
Driver is
still a solid fantasy play especially this week vs. a suspect Rams
defense. The
Packers have a lot to prove this week and should exploit a weak Rams
secondary
early.
2.
Jerricho Cotchery, Jets vs.
Titans-
The Titans
are the leagues worst defense vs. the pass but are still solid against
the run.
If the Jets have a shot at winning in this one, its going to come via
the pass
and Cotchery should benefit.
3. Terrell
Owens, Bills vs. Saints- This is it for T.O. if he can’t produce
vs. the
NFL’s 28th ranked pass defense, you can’t start him blindly
for the
rest of the season. Something tells me T.O. puts the BS aside as all
eyes will
be on him this weekend, just the way he likes it.
Tier Two
1.
Hines
Ward, Steelers @ Bengals
2. Chad Ochocinco, Bengals vs.
Steelers
3. Santana
Moss, Redskins @ Lions
Tier Three
1.
Pierre
Garcon, Colts @ Cardinals
2. Lee
Evans, Bills vs. Saints
3. Derrick
Mason, Ravens vs. Browns
4. Devery
Henderson, Saints @ Bills
One Week Bust- Vincent Jackson, Chargers
vs.
Dolphins
One Week Sleeper- Pierre Garcon, Colts @
Cardinals
One Week Super Sleeper- Julian Edelman,
Patriots vs.
Falcons
Tight End
Tier One
1. Kellan Winslow, Buccaneers
vs. Giants- With the lack of receivers in Tampa, coupled
with a porous defense that forces the Bucs to throw more than they
want,
Winslow is a must start fantasy tight end from here on out.
2. Brent
Celek, Eagles vs. Chiefs- No one wanted to
believe the hype
surrounding Celek after his performance in the playoffs last year, but
thru the
first two games he is proving doubters wrong. Kevin Kolb will look to
use him
as a safety valve again this week as he settles in to his starting
role.
Tier Two
1.
Jeremy
Shockey, Saints @ Bills
2. Chris
Cooley, Redskins @ Lions
3. Visanthe
Shiancoe, Vikings vs. 49ers
One Week Bust- Antonio Gates, Chargers
vs. Dolphins
One Week Sleeper- Brent Celek, Eagles vs.
Chiefs
One Week Super Sleeper- Kellan Davis, Bears @
Seahawks
