We want to get cute with our Week 3 wide receiver rankings, but it’s just not wise to bet against the likes of Brandon Marshall, Terrell Owens and Plaxico Burress to put up big days. There are really no surprises in the top 15 projected wideouts, with the lone exception being Carolina’s Steve Smith, who returns from a two-game suspension.

We are also cautiously optimistic that the Cincinnati Bengals offense will get back on track, which would mean quality performances by the duo of T.J. Houshmandzadeh and Chad Johnson. For at least one more week, both of these guys should remain fixtures in fantasy lineups, so don’t push that panic button just yet. Read more »

Big names have big matchups this week, so huge performances by running backs could mark Week 3 of NFL action. On the flip side, some other top performers - Adrian Peterson, LaDainian Tomlinson, Ryan Grant and Darren McFadden - enter the weekend as question marks while they nurse injuries, making for a stark contrast between certainty and uncertainty.

Frank Gore, Michael Turner and Brandon Jacobs fall under the category of “sure things” because of their stature and soft matchups. Tomlinson tops the list of “unsure things” with a sprained toe, making him a scary must-start at home against the Jets. Steven Jackson is shortly down the same list, not because of injury, but because of how poorly he and the Rams have played so far. Read more »

As the NFL and the collective fantasy world gear up for Week 3 action, questions come to mind. Are two of the top seven statistical tight ends really Miami Dolphins? Did the Oakland Raiders really win by 15 points last week? Is Gus Frerotte the answer to the Vikings’ troubles? Will the Rams hold a team to under 35 points even once this season?

The answers (yes, sadly yes, apparently, and don’t hold your breath) may make life in the fantasy world a little more complicated than usual. Read more »

Week 3 could feature several games that produce shootouts like last week’s San Diego-Denver clash or Philadelphia-Dallas on Monday night.

Jay Cutler leads the NFL in passing yards after brilliant performances against Oakland and San Diego and gets another favorable matchup with the Saints in town this week. For anyone not convinced on starting Cutler, search our tag for Brandon Marshall and Eddie Royal, Cutler’s top two targets.

49ers QB J.T. O’Sullivan surprised everyone with a gutsy performance in Seattle. Look out for a HUGE fantasy day at home against Detroit. He’s almost guaranteed to put up numbers, although if the Niners grab a big lead early the Lions may see San Francisco’s backups.

This week is also about quarterbacks who need to prove something. Matt Hasselbeck’s sqaud is 0-2 after two subpar performances, and the veteran needs to bounce back with a strong outing against St. Louis. Philip Rivers and company are also 0-2, and they need nothing more than a convincing win on Monday Night Football vs. the Jets.

Baltimore’s Joe Flacco can prove that Week 1 was no fluke, Donovan McNabb can knock off his toughest test this year, and Aaron Rodgers can finally prove himself against a team that actually has a victory.

Here are the top quarterbacks for Week 3:

Road games make things interesting for quarterbacks this week. While a handful of friendly matchups exist among the position’s elite, facing road crowds can change their dynamic. With that fact in mind, there is no sure dominator this week, but a cast of 15 quarterbacks who could produce comparable stat lines.

Peyton Manning (knee), Drew Brees (missing top WR), Tony Romo (tough matchup) and Ben Roethlisberger (shoulder) are among the quarterbacks who have questions to answer this week. All four are likely to pass their individual tests, and besides, they’re all must-start options regardless of their matchups. Read more »