Fantasy Football Week 3: 7 Lessons We Learned

Each Sunday there are multiple important lessons that fantasy owners can learn from the events that transpire. While Sunday Ticket and NFL Red Zone help fantasy owners keep in touch with all of the week's games, it's not always easy to stay up to date on all of fantasy's relevant happenings across the league.

But don't worry fantasy owners, here's seven important things to take away from a busy Sunday across the NFL.

The Entire Bills Offense Is for Real and Fred Jackson Is a Top 5 Fantasy RB

Last year my fantasy team may as well have been located in China because the Bills were the farthest thing from my roster. This year I want all of them. Whether it's Ryan Fitzpatrick using his Ivy League brains to outsmart every defense he faces, Stevie Johnson proving last year wasn't a fluke, or Scott Chandler setting up camp in the end zone each Sunday, I want them all. The Bills and all of their fantasy options finally proved to me, and to the fantasy world, that they are indeed for real.

The biggest fantasy standout on this suddenly fantasy relevant team is Fred Jackson. In each of his first three weeks he has posted monster numbers in the air and on the ground, successfully convincing me that he is primed to be a top 5 fantasy running back for the remainder of the season.

Ryan Mathews Is Finally Getting the Goal Line Carries in San Diego

After Ryan Mathews' surprisingly disappointing season last year, he acquired a handful of doubters. One of the main arguments of these naysayers was that every time the Chargers got to the goal line it would be the bowling ball, Mike Tolbert, punching it in.

Finally, these doubters can sit down.

This Sunday Mathews crossed the goal line twice from within 5 yards while Tolbert was only used sparingly throughout the game. It seems to me as if Mathews is on verge of becoming the lone feature back in San Diego and more importantly one of the best fantasy backs in the league.

Matt Stafford to Calvin Johnson Is the Best QB to WR Connection in the NFL

Calvin Johnson has been considered one of the most talented wide receivers in all of football for some time now. His size, speed and amazing hands have made him a sight to see each and every Sunday, as he racks up ridiculous touchdown catches week after week. Finally, he has the elite quarterback he needs to take his talent to the next level.

This season, Matt Stafford has emerged as a great quarterback who will no doubt be considered one of this game's best sometime soon. Just as importantly to fantasy owners, Stafford has fallen in love with throwing to Calvin Johnson, especially in the end zone.

For the third consecutive week Stafford threw two touchdown passes to Johnson, in a stunning comeback win against the Minnesota Vikings. These two have quickly became the best quarterback/wide receiver combo in the entire league, and will stay that way as long as Stafford stays healthy.

Darren McFadden Is the Best Running Back in the League

The only thing I have to say about Darren McFadden's performance against the Jets this Sunday is wow. McFadden made the usually stingy Jets run defense look like the Detroit Lions of 2008 while on his way to a 171 yard rushing day and two touchdowns.

You know what else is ridiculous? McFadden has yet to have less than 150 yards on the ground in all three games this season.

McFadden has already proved to me this season that he is by far the most complete back in the NFL. When evaluating running backs you have to look at sic different dimensions; running between the tackles, outside running, pass catching, pass blocking, goal line finishing, and big play ability. McFadden excels at every single one of those categories.

Simply put, McFadden has become the best running back in the NFL.

Giselle Is Tom Bradys Second Love

I figured I finally had a good enough excuse to put a picture of Gisele Bundchen in my slideshow, so here it is guys. However, this picture comes with an important fantasy lesson from Week 3—Tom Brady loves Wes Welker.

In a week when Brady threw four interceptions, suffered his first loss to the Bills since 2003 and connected with Branch and Ochocinco for a combined two catches, Welker was ridiculous. When it was all said and done at Ralph Wilson Stadium, the Brady-Welker combo connected 16 times for 217 yards and two touchdowns. Ridiculous, just ridiculous. 

Move over Gisele, every Sunday Brady has a shorter and less attractive love interest, and his name is Wes Welker.

If Vick Is Your Fantasy QB You Better Have a Backup Plan

It is two straight weeks now that Vick has been knocked out of a game before it ended. But does that really come as a surprise football fans?

Vick's dangerous playing style leaves him extremely susceptible to injury, especially when defensive linemen are licking their lips trying to hit the over talked about quarterback into the ground each Sunday, even if the play is already over.

It has become clear after the second week of Vick injury uncertainty that all owners of this fantasy commodity need to take out a significant insurance policy on their first round pick. I think Mike Kafka is selling pretty good umbrella coverage.

There Is a New Breed of Running Back Emerging in the NFL

After the first three weeks of this year's NFL and fantasy season, I have noticed one main thing about running backs all over the league and it's that pass catching is in and running between the tackles is out. The new breed of running back who prefers catching the ball and finding space rather than hard nose running behind the big guys up front, has taken over the NFL.

It started with the Mike Martz offense in Chicago (Forte) and has spread to Philadelphia (McCoy), Detroit (Best), Baltimore (Rice) and teams all across the country. And I gotta say, I love it. These guys are PPR gold, and I'm buying in on all the running backs who are innovating this new trend.

However, this observation also comes with a secondary realization. In comparison to this new style of running back, it seems as if the traditional style runners are struggling all over the place. For example, Shonn Greene in New York, Rashard Mendenhall in Pittsburgh and LeGarrette Blount in Tamba Bay are all rarely catching passes and cannot seem to put up the consistent points that fantasy owners expected them to.

Coincidence? Maybe, but maybe not.