Start Em Sit Em: Fantasy Football Week 3 Boom, Busts, and Sleepers

Week 2 Recap

Quarterbacks:

Michael Vick Projected: 200 passing yards, 2 TD's, an interception, 80 rushing yards and a rushing TD

Michael Vick Actual: 284 passing yards, 2 TD's, 37 rushing yards

Tom Brady Projected: 200-220 passing yards, 2 TD's, 2 INT's

Tom Brady Actual: 248 passing yards, 2 TD's, 2 INT's

Jason Campbell Projected: 240 passing yards, 2 TD's, 30 rushing yards

Jason Campbell Actual: 87 passing yards, 0 TD, 1 INT, 19 rushing yards

Analysis: As expected, Vick had a great day against the Lions garbage secondary, though he didn't scramble nearly as much as he did Week 1 against the Packers.

Brady had a forgettable day against the Jets, throwing two picks despite hitting Randy Moss for a touchdown on Revis Island early, and Revis eventually checking out of the game with a hamstring injury.

As for Jason Campbell...yikes. In his second game with his new team, after a bad—not horrible—first half, I don't think anyone foresaw Raiders head coach Tom Cable pulling the plug in favor of Bruce Gradkowski. Then again, we're talking about the Raiders here.

Running Backs:

Michael Turner Projected: 100 rushing yards, TD, two catches for 15 yards

Michael Turner Actual: 75 rushing yards

Pierre Thomas Projected: 50 rushing yards, 0-1 TD's, two catches

Pierre Thomas Actual: 46 rushing yards, eight catches for 56 yards

Darren Sproles Projected: 20 rushing yards, five catches for 60 yards

Darren Sproles Actual: 37 rushing yards, four catches for 63 yards

Analysis: Unfortunately for Turner, a tweaked groin ended what looked like would have been a very productive day, as he had 75 yards on only nine attempts.

Jason Snelling promptly drew into the game and made Turner's fantasy owners experience some of their own groinal discomfort, as they helplessly watched him rush for 129 yards and two touchdowns, as well as another touchdown through the air.

Pierre Thomas was pretty ineffective on the ground against the 49ers, but a special teams play that broke one of Reggie Bush's glass legs helped Thomas get heavily involved in the passing game, matching a career high eight catches. Can you say must start?

If you put Darren Sproles in your line-up week two, he was a quality flex play, going for 100 total yards.

Week 2 Recap, Continued...

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Wide Receivers:

Santana Moss Projected: Six catches, 90 yards, TD

Santana Moss Actual: 10 catches, 89 yards

Austin Collie Projected: 4 catches, 50 yards

Austin Collie Actual: 4 catches, 25 yards, TD

Jacoby Jones Projected: 5 catches, 60 yards, TD

Jacoby Jones Actual: 6 catches, 53 yards, TD

Analysis: Moss didn't find pay dirt, but still had a huge day—especially in PPR leagues—with 10 catches for 89 yards.

Collie did find the end zone, but was a ghost otherwise, catching only four passes.

Manning didn't look his way at all down field, as his longest pass went for nine yards, and two of his passes—including the touchdown—were screens.

Not a bad flex play moving forward, but his stock is obviously back down to earth after his insane 11 catch game in week one.

As for Jones, Kevin Walter's 144-yard game sure didn't help his stock moving forward, but in Week 2, he had a solid game of his own.

Tight Ends:

Brent Celek Projected: Eight catches, 70 yards, TD

Brent Celek Actual: Three catches, 27 yards

Marcedes Lewis Projected: 3 catches, 30 yards

Marcedes Lewis Actual: 5 catches, 70 yards

Jermaine Gresham Projected: 5 catches, 40 yards, TD

Jermaine Gresham Actual: 3 catches, 15 yards

Analysis: So basically, if you did the exact opposite of what I said about tight ends, you were good to go.

Vick hit everybody but Celek, Garrard couldn't hit anybody except Lewis (and the hands of the San Diego defenders), and Carson Palmer couldn't hit anyone (16 for 35).

For your sake, I hope you have Antonio Gates or Dallas Clark. Or both.

Quarterback Boom: Jay Cutler

Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

What are the chances that Jay Cutler—known gunslinger and interception poster boy—still has his sparkling five to one touchdown to interception ratio after Monday night's game against the notoriously good Green Bay pass defense? Very low.

What are the chances Matt Forte suddenly starts averaging more than the 2.9 yards per carry he's averaged through two weeks against a defense that have held all running backs to under 65 yards thus far? Also very low.

Monday night's rivalry game featuring the Packers and Bears is going to be a shootout.

Neither team has been able to run the ball with any success thus far (it scares to think what most of the fantasy world expected for Brandon Jackson last week), and both quarterbacks have rocket arms.

Because you probably used a first-round draft pick on Aaron Rodgers, I don't think I need to convince you to start him.

Cutler, on the other hand, was a player taken in the middle rounds of most drafts—usually (and laughably) behind players like Joe Flacco and Matt Ryan.

If you have one of those quarterbacks in addition to Cutler, you're starting Cutler this week—and probably every other week for that matter.

Projection: A candidate to throw for 300 yards on any given week, Cutler thus far has thrived in Mike Martz's passing system, throwing for almost 650 yards and five touchdowns through two games.

He'll have his one of his hardest match-ups of the season this week, but chances are the Bears will be behind and Cutler will have to throw 40+ times.

He may throw an interception or two, but he may also throw three or four touchdowns.

Look for Cutler to go over 300 yards passing with three TDs and two INTs.

Quarterback Bust: Josh Freeman

Streeter Lecka/Getty Images

Freeman's play through two games has been a pleasant surprise. Not only has he been efficient with four TD's to only one INT, but the cellar dwelling Tampa Bay Buccaneers somehow managed to pull off back-to-back wins.

Expect that to change in Week 3.

Let's face it: Freeman is a good young quarterback, but his numbers have been so good because his teams first two opponents have been the garbage Browns and free falling Panthers.

Up against the Steelers, easily one of the best defenses in the NFL sporting the best defensive player in the NFL, look for interception happy Freeman from last season to re-emerge.

Projection: 170 yards passing, 1 TD, 3 INT

Quarterback Sleeper: Brett Favre

Jamie Squire/Getty Images

No kidding, he's playing the Lions.

Actually, there are a few other reasons why Favre is likely to get out of the horrible funk he's been in through two weeks.

Firstly, the Favre that skips training camp that we've grown accustomed to the past couple seasons has had huge week three's in back-to-back years.

In 2008, he threw for 271 yards, 3 TD's, and 2 INT's in week three after failing to hit 200 yards in the first two weeks; last year, he had his first 300 yard game in—at the time—over a full season, while adding 2 TD's and an INT.

With Bernard Berrian playing like Bernard Berrian, Percy Harvin in desperate need of an aspirin, and Chargers GM A.J. Smith playing mind games with Vincent Jackson, Favre's receiving corps isn't looking too good.

That is, unless we've taken a time machine back to...never mind, Hank Baskett's never been good.

Favre's supporting cast woes will likely be off-set by Detroit's lackluster corners (such as Alphonso Smith and Nathan Vasher), so it's not reason enough to shy away from him this week.

The Vikings are desperate. Desperate to win, and desperate to get their future hall of fame quarter back—center piece of any potential Super Bowl run—going.

And believe it or not, the Vikings may actually trail for parts of this game.

Projection: 250 yards passing, 2 TDs, 1 INT

Running Back Boom: Maurice Jones-Drew

Sam Greenwood/Getty Images

JACKSONVILLE, FL - SEPTEMBER 12: Maurice Jones-Drew #32 of the Jacksonville Jaguars runs for yardage during the NFL season opener game against the Denver Broncos at EverBank Field on September 12, 2010 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/G

Against an Eagles defense that allowed three touchdowns to Detroit Lions rookie Jahvid Best, expect one of fantasy's best players to finally find pay dirt.

Jones-Drew is a must-start every week, and after a horrid 31-yard game against the Chargers last week, look for him to have a big bounce back.

Projection: 120 yards rushing, 2 TD's, 3 catches for 20 yards

Running Back Bust: Jerome Harrison

Gregory Shamus/Getty Images

DETROIT - AUGUST 28: Jerome Harrison #35 of the Cleveland Browns tries to escape the tackle of Dre Bly #32 of the Detroit Lions during preseason game on August 28, 2010 at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

Stop starting this guy. Please.

He's in a time share in which he's currently being out played, doesn't get goal-line carries, and averaged 2.1 yards per carry against the Chiefs.

If he couldn't run all over the Chiefs, there's no way he's even worth risking a start on against the Ravens (who, in case you didn't know, have a pretty good defense).

Projection: 40 yards rushing, 2 catches for 10 yards.

Running Back Sleeper: LaDainian Tomlinson

Andrew Burton/Getty Images

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - SEPTEMBER 19: LaDainian Tomlinson #21 of the New York Jets is tackled by Brandon Meriweather #31 of the New England Patriots at the New Meadowlands Stadium on September 19, 2010 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Jets defeated the

LT is back.

Okay, he's not back, but much like the seemingly decrepit Thomas Jones, the Jets superb offensive line has greatly benefited LT.

Right now he's clearly playing better than Shonn Greene, as he has significantly more yards on fewer carries, and sees more downs thanks to his ability to catch passes out of the backfield.

Going forward, LT is a great flex play any week. This week, he faces a Dolphins defense that has been solid through two games, but did allow over 180 total yards to Adrian Peterson last week.

Expect LT to find the end zone for the first time with the J-E-T-S.

Projection: 70 yards rushing, 1 TD, 5 catches for 30 yards

Wide Receiver Boom: Dez Bryant

Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

ARLINGTON, TX - SEPTEMBER 02: Wide receiver Dez Bryant #88 of the Dallas Cowboys at Cowboys Stadium on September 2, 2010 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

With Marion Barber playing like he's finished, and against a Houston defense that has allowed Peyton Manning and Donovan McNabb each to throw for over 420 yards, look for Dez Bryant to get his first non-special teams touchdown in week three.

He and Romo have had decent rapport thus far—hooking up for 10 completions on 14 targets—so look for Romo to look Bryant's way all day long in what will likely be a shootout.

Projection: 7 catches, 80 yards, and a TD

Wide Reciever Bust: Steve Smith (Panthers)

Elsa/Getty Images

FOXBORO, MA - DECEMBER 13: Steve Smith #89 of the Carolina Panthers celebrates after he scored a 41-yard touchdown reception in the first quarter against the New England Patriots on December 13, 2009 at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo

The one and only contributing member of the putrid Carolina Panthers offense is likely to see his production shut down this week.

Not only will Steve Smith now be dealing with rookie quarterback Jimmy Clausen starting, but he has a tough match-up against a relatively stout Bengals pass defense, which picked off Joe Flacco four times last week.

And while Smith's first two weeks were solid fantasy weeks, the production stems from the fact that two of his (relatively low) eight receptions went for touchdowns, and the law of averages says it won't be a three-peat this week.

Projection: 4 catches for 60 yards

Wide Receiver Sleeper: Terrell Owens

Joe Robbins/Getty Images

CANTON, OH - AUGUST 8: Terrell Owens #81 of the Cincinnati Bengals looks on before the game against the Dallas Cowboys during the 2010 Pro Football Hall of Fame Game at the Pro Football Hall of Fame Field at Fawcett Stadium on August 8, 2010 in Canton, Oh

See a trend?

Owens has been a solid addition to the Bengals receiving corps, catching 10 passes for 110 yards through two weeks.

Owens will has a light week three match-up against what has been a pitiful Carolina Panthers team.

Logic says the Bengals will coast to victory and run the clock out, but before that happens I like Owens chances of catching his first TD of the season in this one.

Projection: 6 catches, 50 yards, and a TD

Tight Ends...

Andy Lyons/Getty Images

INDIANAPOLIS - SEPTEMBER 19: Dallas Clark #44 of the Indianapolis Colts catches a pass while defended by Kenny Phillips #21 of the New York Giants during the NFL game at Lucas Oil Stadium on September 19, 2010 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Ly

In light of last weeks horrendous tight end picks, I'll leave you with this:

Start Dallas Clark. Start Antonio Gates. Don't start Randy McMichael...he sucks.