The good news for Week 3 is that fewer injuries have been cause for fantasy owners to make mad dashes to the waiver wire. Bad news is, fewer sound options exist in free agency, meaning fewer chances to address weak links in your lineups.

The two players most heavily pursued this week are sure to be running back Darren Sproles, who suddenly has handcuff value for LaDainian Tomlinson owners, and San Francisco quarterback J.T. O’Sullivan, who registered his first career 300-yard game last week. Lots of speculative picks remain, but few fantasy teams can afford to look beyond their present issues and focus on the future.

Explosiveness from the wide receiver position is nearly impossible to find after rookies Eddie Royal and DeSean Jackson found their way onto fantasy rosters in Week 1. San Francisco’s Bryant Johnson is the closest thing to it, but amounts to the most glorified in a group of stop-gap options that also includes Justin Gage and David Patten.

Keep plugging away in free agency, but be cautious how you use waiver options. While making incremental improvements to your teams can be helpful, falling to the back of the waiver wire pack can cost you higher profile free agents down the road. If a player can’t make a difference for you, wait until the waiver period is over and try to get him without compromising your position.

QUARTERBACKS

Trent Edwards, Buffalo Bills
Status: Playing smart, efficient football
Key Stats: Has 8 TD passes in last 6 starts
What to Watch For: More explosion, which could come with better matchups
Other Notes: Has a little bit of everything in pass catchers … red zone threat in TE Robert Royal, deep threats in WRs Lee Evans and James Hardy, and receiving RB Marshawn Lynch … good cast, good vibe coming out of Buffalo … is an exceptional backup QB option and an above average starter for those ravaged by injuries or ineffectiveness.

J.T. O’Sullivan, San Francisco 49ers
Status: Reaping benefits of a Mike Martz offense
Key Stats: Threw for 321 yards and led 49ers to victory in Seattle
What to Watch For: How he fares in soft matchups, vs. DET and at NO, in next two weeks
Other Notes: Wouldn’t be the first no-name QB to find success in a Martz offense … Kurt Warner, Marc Bulger, and to a lesser extent, Jon Kitna have all done the same … has adequate weapons in Bryant Johnson, Isaac Bruce, tight end Vernon Davis and running back Frank Gore.

Gus Frerotte, Minnesota Vikings
Status: Waiting in the wings, should Tarvaris Jackson falter
Key Stats: Averaged 235.5 yards/game in 4 starts last season
What to Watch For: If/when coach Brad Childress turns to Frerotte in Week 3
Other Notes: Jackson has struggled mightily as a passer, which has slowed an otherwise good offense … if Jackson can’t get the ball in the end zone again this week, look for Childress give Frerotte a try … Frerotte was OK as a starter last year, but has better weapons in ‘08 … is a good bet to be the team’s starter by Week 4.

Kerry Collins, Tennessee Titans
Status: Getting good chance to keep starting job
Key Stats: Just 128 yards passing, but 1 TD and no turnovers in Week 2
What to Watch For: How he fares in Vince Young’s absence, what happens when Young (knee) gets healthy
Other Notes: Titans QB job not a glorified one; their run-first approach takes burden off QB, which means fewer opportunities to air it out … Collins is only an option in extremely deep leagues and those that start two quarterbacks.

RUNNING BACKS

Darren Sproles, San Diego Chargers
Status: Becoming valuable handcuff for banged-up L.T. (toe)
Key Stats: Had 125 yards from scrimmage, a receiving TD, and a kick return TD in Week 2 at Denver
What to Watch For: L.T.’s status, currently questionable, for Week 3
Other Notes: With slight build (5-6, 181), isn’t a candidate for more than 10-12 carries per game, but is a big play waiting to happen … can get involved in passing game and gain huge yardage in open space … return potential a bonus, a job he doesn’t figure to give up even if L.T. is limited vs. the Jets.

Brandon Jackson, Green Bay Packers
Status: Getting more involved in offense with Grant nursing a sore hammy
Key Stats: Turned 7 carries into 61 yards and a TD in Week 2
What to Watch For: The extent of Grant’s hamstring injury, how the Packers use Jackson in an effort to keep Grant healthy
Other Notes: At worst, is a good handcuff for Grant owners … at best, is a speculative pickup in the event that Grant is forced to miss any time … Packers are high on Jackson’s ability, he had just been slow to develop … an interesting situation to watch.

Michael Pittman, Denver Broncos
Status: Goal-line back in Broncos’ crowded backfield
Key Stats: Tied for NFL lead with 3 rushing TDs
What to Watch For: More clarity on Denver’s running back situation
Other Notes: Like Selvin Young and Andre Hall, is an excellent pass catcher out of the backfield … hasn’t been more than a situational back since rushing for 926 yards in ‘04 … is currently the most valuable Broncos running back because of goal-line and short-yardage touches.

Andre Hall, Denver Broncos
Status: Favorite to head Denver’s RB committee
Key Stats: Has 17 carries for 92 yards in first 2 games
What to Watch For: Who, if anybody, wins majority of carries
Other Notes: Has a 5.0 ypc career rushing average … keep an eye on return of rookie RB Ryan Torain (elbow), who was a favorite to win job out of camp … injury to either Selvin Young or Michael Pittman would make him a must-add in all leagues.

Pierre Thomas, New Orleans
Status: Preferred goal-line back for Saints … for now
Key Stats: Had 6 carries for just 8 yards, but scored a TD in Week 2
What to Watch For: Deuce McAllister’s return from knee surgery, how it affects Saints’ backfield situation
Other Notes: Saints are high on his ability … if McAllister stays sidelined, could out-duel Reggie Bush for a majority of carries … Saints spread attack leaves defenses soft in the middle.

Tim Hightower, Arizona Cardinals
Status: Taking goal-line carries from Edgerrin James
Key Stats: Has scored TDs in back-to-back weeks
What to Watch For: Arizona’s ability to create goal-line chances
Other Notes: Won’t get regular work between the 20s, but is a sure thing inside opponents’ 10-yard lines … may be this year’s top “touchdown vulture,” a nice title for those in scoring-only leagues … was a fifth-round pick in the ‘08 draft out of Richmond.

WIDE RECEIVERS

Bryant Johnson, San Francisco 49ers
Status: Emerging as a No. 3 fantasy WR
Key Stats: Had 6 catches for 78 yards and a TD in Week 2
What to Watch For: Consistency from QB J.T. O’Sullivan, 49ers offense
Other Notes: Getting plenty of looks with 11 catches in 2 weeks … O’Sullivan is almost exclusively targeting his wideouts, as TE Vernon Davis had zero catches in Week 2 … has favorable matchups against the Saints and Lions in next 2 games.

Kevin Walter, Houston Texans
Status: A vastly underrated fantasy option
Key Stats: 3 catches, 41 yards, TD in Week 1; 65 catches in ‘07
What to Watch For: How pass-heavy Houston’s offense is
Other Notes: Is a big and reliable target for QB Matt Schaub … had 5 or more catches in 7 of his final 12 games last season … got unexpected bye in Week 2 because of damage caused by Hurricane Ike.

David Patten, New Orleans Saints
Status: Option No. 1 with Colston for next 4-to-6 weeks
Key Stats: Had 5 catches for 55 yards in first game without Colston
What to Watch For: If he can add TDs to consistent pass-catching
Other Notes: Has had at least 740 yards four times during his 11-year career, including 792 yards and 3 TDs in ‘07 … is a good bet to match or exceed those totals this season … has more value in PPR leagues because of 6-catch, 80-yard potential each week.

Justin Gage, Tennessee Titans
Status: Getting boost with switch to backup QB Collins
Key Stats: Had 59 yards and a TD in Collins’ first start
What to Watch For: Scoring potential; gets few opportunities for run-heavy Titans offense
Other Notes: Biggest beneficiary of switch to Collins, who is a better pure thrower than Vince Young … has had 45+ receiving yards in 8 of last 10 games.

Matt Jones, Jacksonville Jaguars
Status: Making good on first-round potential?
Key Stats: Had 4 TDs in final 5 games (including postseason) of ‘07
What to Watch For: More momentum, how Jags’ offense functions behind depleted O-line
Other Notes: Reportedly had the best training camp of his career, but it followed an arrest for cocaine suspension in the offseason … stands at 6-foot-6 and has blazing speed - physical tools that translate well to red zone targets … value takes likely hit when Jerry Porter (hamstring) returns to the lineup.