Moon over Minnesota

While today's news isn't entirely surprising, it is nonetheless shocking.

The Pats have dealt Randy Moss back to his original club for a 3rd round draft pick. The Vikings are negotiating a contract extension for their once and future star, and they obviously intend to get him in the starting lineup by this weekend.

Wow.

As great a move as this is for Minnesota and Brett Favre, in particular, it seems like a huge loss for the Patriots and Tom Brady. I don't care how reliable Julian Edelman is, or how much promise they see in Brandon Tate, neither comes close to Randy Moss' explosiveness.

This is bad news for Brady's owners, and possibly even worrisome news for Wes Welker's owners, who will likely see their star receiver blanketed by opposing defenses who no longer have to double-up on Moss.

Tate may be the biggest beneficiary, since he's likely to step into Moss' deep-threat role. And I wouldn't think he'd draw two defenders on most plays. Edelman should likewise be worked into the offense more. Aaron Hernandez's rise up the TE rankings should also get a boost.

Obviously, Favre is the big winner in this blockbuster trade. Moss gives him the play-making target that was lost when Sidney Rice went down. And just imagine what Minnesota's offense will look like down the stretch when Rice returns. Moss, Rice, AP, Harvin, Shiancoe. Wow...

While I'd rather have Brady throwing to Moss than the ancient Favre, even Moss gets a slight uptick in that he won't have a bye week this season. Though I suppose you could count his Week 4 goose egg as worse than a bye...

Anyone still holding onto Bernard Berrian should dump him immediately.

Meanwhile, those wondering if Dwayne Jarrett would be a good pickup while Carolina's Steve Smith misses time with an ankle injury should look elsewhere. Jarrett was arrested for DUI (again), and summarily dismissed by the Panthers. Bonehead.

Lynch to Seattle, injury updates and the return of Big Ben

It's been a busy week so far.

Marshawn Lynch has been traded to Seattle for future draft picks. There's nothing surprising about this development, as Buffalo has been showcasing Lynch for weeks in anticipation of trading him.

This helps clear up the Bills' backfield situation, where Fred Jackson is currently locked in as the starter, while rookie C.J. Spiller tries to reclaim the feature back role he thought was his after a phenomenal preseason. Jackson has more short-term value, but despite his early struggles during the regular season, Spiller is destined to emerge as the better long-term fantasy performer. And given the fact that Buffalo (0-4) is already essentially out of the playoff picture, it only makes sense for them to give their No. 1 pick plenty of work as the season progresses.

In Seattle, I don't anticipate much change in the short term, as Justin Forsett remains the primary ballcarrier. But Lynch wasn't acquired as window dressing...he'll be worked into the offense as quickly as possible. The Seahawks, fittingly, operate a West Coast offense, which is new to Lynch, so it could take a couple of weeks. But the timing is perfect, as Seattle has their bye this week. Don't be a bonehead and release Forsett (as some sites have already suggested), but if you're still holding out hope for Leon Washington, it's time to say goodbye. He'll likely be relegated to return duties. Julius Jones is already looking for work.

On the injury front, Michael Vick says he will be out 1 or 2 weeks, or more. The Philadelphia Inquirer is speculating that it could be more like 6 weeks. You didn't come into the season counting on Vick, so hopefully you can manage without him while he recovers from his rib cartilage injury.

LeSean McCoy, currently the No. 3 RB in Fantasyland, fractured a rib in the same game in which Vick went down. He kept playing through it, though; and the Eagles are hoping he can tough it out this week, too. But you can bet this will come down to a game-time decision, which could be problematic since the Eagles-49ers contest is on Sunday night. Mike Bell will start if McCoy is unavailable.

Clinton Portis has hinted that he won't be able to play on his injured groin in the Week 5 matchup with Green Bay, which makes Ryan Torain an intriguing play, especially with several good RBs on bye and injured.


A sore hammy will probably keep Darren McFadden out of action for at least a week, giving Michael Bush a shot at the feature role against San Diego. The Raiders aren't yet a good team, but they aren't awful anymore either. Bruce Gradkowski is a legitimate passing threat, which helps open up the running lanes. Bush could be a solid bye-week filler this weekend.

And, in case you've been too busy watching Dancing With the Stars to notice, Big Ben is back with the Steelers preparing to torch the Browns when they visit in Week 6. Pittsburgh is one of four teams on bye this week (along with the Dolphins, Patriots and Seahawks).

Santonio Holmes will be on the field when the Jets host the Vikings on Monday Night Football. No telling how quickly Holmes will get into the groove with Sanchez, but I imagine Rex Ryan will be eager to see what his new toy can do.

Look for game-time decisions for both Andre Johnson and Jacoby Jones. You'd think that would be great news for Kevin Walter and his owners, but AJ's absence proved detrimental to Walter last weekend, when he drew Oakland's top CB, Nnamdi Asomugha. He should have an easier go of it in Week 5 against the Giants' secondary.

Carolina's Steve Smith will surely miss Sunday's contest due to his high ankle sprain.

Week 4 Heroes & Zeros

This was a great week to start…

Kyle Orton, QB, Broncos – Continued his pass-happy ways, with 341 yards, 2 TDs and an INT, plus 11 rushing yards.
Peyton Manning, QB, Colts -- Tossed 2 TDs with 1 INT, plus 352 passing yards.
David Garrard, QB, Jaguars – Turned around his fortunes with 163 passing yards and 2 TDs, plus 44 more on the ground with another TD.

Arian Foster, RB, Texans – After scaring his owners (read: me) by being benched for a quarter and a half, he made up for it with 131 rushing yards, 56 receiving yards, and a pair of TDs.
LaDainian Tomlinson, RB, Jets – Showed what he has left in the tank with 133 rushing yards and 2 TDs, plus 3 catches for 22 more yards.
Maurice Jones-Drew, RB, Jaguars – Finally got it in gear, with 105 rushing yards, 2 catches for 16 yards, and a TD both ways.
Joseph Addai, RB, Colts – Cashed in with 63 rushing yards and 2 TDs, plus 3 catches for 19 yards.
Rashard Mendenhall, RB, Steelers – Scored twice while rushing for 79 yards.
LeSean McCoy, RB, Eagles – In PPR leagues, his 12-catch, 110 yard receiving day, plus 64 rushing yards, were especially sweet.
Ahmad Bradshaw, RB, Giants – Ran for 129 yards and a TD, plus 2 catches for 14 yards and a fumble.

Terrell Owens, WR, Bengals – His 10-reception, 222-yard, 1-TD day marked his best fantasy production since mid-2007.
Calvin Johnson, WR, Lions – Reeled in 6 passes for 86 yards and 2 TDs.
Eddie Royal, WR, Broncos – Hauled in 8 catches for 113 yards and a TD.
Davone Bess, WR, Dolphins – Collected 9 passes for 93 yards and a score.
Reggie Wayne, WR, Colts – Torched the Jags with 15 catches and 196 receiving yards.
Brandon Lloyd, WR, Broncos – In PPR leagues, his 11-catch, 115-yard day was golden.

Antonio Gates, TE, Chargers – Another monster game, with 7 catches for 144 yards and 2 TDs.
Zach Miller, TE, Raiders – Captured 11 balls for 122 yards and a TD.
Dustin Keller, TE, Jets – Just 28 yards on 4 catches, but 2 went for scores.

Patriots defense/special teams – Scored on a kickoff return, a blocked punt and an interception return. Also blocked a field goal, had 2 sacks and 4 INTs.
Giants defense – Registered 10 sacks and 3 turnovers while limiting the Bears to a 4th-quarter field goal.
Chargers defense – Scored on an INT return, racked up 9 sacks and 3 turnovers and held Arizona to 3 offensive points.

This was a great week to play against…

Mike Vick, QB, Eagles – Got hammered on his way to the end zone and left the game after passing for just 49 yards and running for 17 more.
Jay Cutler, QB, Bears – Looked awful before leaving with a concussion, passing for just 42 yards and an INT, and losing 1 of his 3 fumbles.
Matt Hasselbeck, QB, Seahawks – Passed for just 191 yards with 0 TDs, 1 INT and a fumble against the no-longer-sorry Rams.
Eli Manning, QB, Giants – Despite the winning effort, passed for just 195 yards without a score, and lost 2 fumbles.

Tom Brady, QB, Patriots – Didn’t need to pass much, so he finished with just 153 yards and a single TD.

C.J. Spiller, RB, Bills – Followed up a great Week 3 with 11 rushing and 4 receiving yards.
Marshawn Lynch, RB, Bills – Rushed for a paltry 8 yards and lost a fumble.
Laurence Maroney, RB, Broncos – Ran for 5 yards, and caught 2 passes for 10 more.
Ray Rice, RB, Ravens – Though he got into the game, he tallied just 20 rushing yards and a solitary 9-yard reception.
Matt Forte, RB, Bears – Tallied 34 combined yards on Sunday night.
Beanie Wells and Tim Hightower, RBs, Cardinals – Just 49 combined yards on the day for the backfield committee.
Cedric Benson, RB, Bengals – Registered 60 yards on the ground, with no receptions.
Chris Johnson, RB, Titans – When he rushes for a mediocre 53 yards, catches 3 passes for 11 more, and coughs up a fumble, it’s a great week to face him.
Ronnie Brown, RB, Dolphins – Ran for 27 yards and added 4 catches for 29 more.

Randy Moss, WR, Patriots – Held catchless by the Dolphins.
Mike Sims-Walker, WR, Jaguars – Blanked during his team’s upset victory over the Colts.
Santana Moss, WR, Redskins – He posted a goose egg in McNabb’s triumphant return to Philly.
Mario Manningham, WR, Giants – He played, but caught nothing.
Andre Johnson, WR, Texans – Those who weren’t paying attention, or following my tweets, may have started the game-time scratch.
Legedu Naanee, WR, Chargers – Missed out on the fun with a 4-yard catch.
Louis Murphy, WR, Raiders – Managed a single 5-yard catch.
Lee Evans, WR, Bills – No Darrelle Revis? No problem for the Jets' secondary, as Evans produced one 6-yard catch.
Steve Smith, WR, Panthers – Left with a high ankle sprain after catching just 2 balls for 11 yards.
Jacoby Jones, WR, Texans – A calf injury contributed to his failure to soar in AJ’s absence, with one 12-yard reception.
Johnny Knox and Devin Hester, WRs, Bears – Suffered with their QBs, pulling in just 4 catches for 42 yards total.
Mike Wallace and Hines Ward, WRs, Steelers – Held to two catches apiece, with 24 and 14 yards, respectively.
DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin, WRs, Eagles – With Vick gone, the dynamic duo recorded just 4 catches for 34 yards between them.

Owen Daniels, TE, Texans – Upstaged by fellow TE Joel Dreesen, with 8 yards on a single reception.

Colts defense/special teams – Did absolutely nothing. No sacks, no turnovers and gave up 31 points to a team that scored 3 points last week. Yeah, I picked them up in one league just for this “primo” matchup…

In Fantasyland, as in the NFL, expect the unexpected

Four weeks into the 2010 NFL season, the Kansas City Chiefs are the only undefeated team still standing, with an assist from this week’s bye. No disrespect, but who would be shocked if Don Shula and his ’72 Dolphins have already popped the champagne?

Meanwhile, in Fantasyland – where this columnist resides – Kyle Orton has out-performed Drew Brees, Matt Schaub and Tony Romo, and Michael Vick’s injury is cause for mourning.

Chris Johnson has almost fallen out of the Top 10 ranks among running backs, which now features a former practice squad player (Arian Foster), a presumed draft bust (Darren McFadden), a rookie on a winless team (Jahvid Best) and a 7th-round draft pick and Denver castoff (Peyton Hillis).

Among wideouts, the players to own thus far include Brandon Lloyd, Mark Clayton, Kevin Walter and, of course, the incomparable…Austin Collie.

Can you imagine the ridicule you would have endured had you drafted a roster comprised of such newcomers, no-names and has-beens?

To be sure, just as Maurice Jones-Drew showed that it’s too early to give up on slow-starting fantasy studs, there’s plenty of time for the shooting stars to fall back to Earth. Just ask your neighborhood Jay Cutler owner how quickly your fantasy fortunes can change.

All of which is to say that a losing record at this point of the season, though undesirable, is not irreversible. Bye weeks, an unrelenting parade of injuries and the temperamental fantasy gods are sure to wreak havoc on your high-flying competitors at some point.

Keep tweaking your roster, concentrate on making wise starting lineup decisions and, if all else fails, cross your fingers. As we’ve seen already, anything can happen in today’s NFL.


FREE AGENT PICKS AND PANS

To win a fantasy championship, you need to start with a good draft. But filling in your roster throughout the season with the right free agents can also make a big difference. Here’s a look at a few players worth considering, and others who would look better in someone else’s line-up.

Catch ‘em while you can

Sam Bradford, QB, Rams – It’s hard not to be impressed by what this rookie is doing in, and for, St. Louis. He’s tossed a touchdown or two in every game, and aside from a three-interception debacle in his debut, he’s kept the turnovers to a minimum. With a favorable schedule ahead, owners with bye-week or injury issues could do worse than Bradford, especially with the Lions on tap next.


Ryan Torain, RB, Redskins – He looked great on his 12-yard scoring rumble, and finished with 70 rushing yards on the day. With Clinton Portis adding a groin injury to his wrist problems, Torain should stay busy for at least another week, and possibly much longer.

Michael Bush, RB, Raiders – If Darren McFadden’s hamstring injury forces him out of action, Bush can be a decent proxy in his absence. Oakland is actually moving the ball this season, and Bush is a battering ram at the goal-line.

Brandon Lloyd, WR, Broncos – I had reservations about him earlier this season, but Lloyd has consistently been one of Kyle Orton’s favorite targets. And this year, that’s a very good thing. Despite his status as a Top 10 wideout after four weeks, Lloyd is still available in more than a third of fantasy leagues. (For that matter, Orton is still available in many leagues, too!)

Don’t be fooled

Kevin Kolb, QB, Eagles – It’s too early to project when Michael Vick will return from his rib cartilage injury, but it’s not too soon to know that Kolb will yield the job back the minute Vick is ready. Kolb has been unimpressive in limited playing time this season, so despite the weapons at his disposal, he can’t be counted on in the interim.

Laurence Maroney, RB, Broncos – Even if Knowshon Moreno doesn’t return as expected in Week 5, Maroney’s performance since being traded to Denver – capped by Sunday’s five-yard rushing effort against the Titans – confirms his expendability, especially with Baltimore up next.

Derrick Ward, RB, Texans – The box score shows 80 rushing yards and a touchdown. Look closer and you’ll see that the bulk of his damage was done while Arian Foster was being disciplined for missing a team meeting. Ward may not even be the best handcuff to Foster, as Steve Slaton remains above him on the depth chart.

Sunday morning news you can use

Greetings, Fools. Here we go again. Let's take a quick look at what we know so far today, before the tweeting begins.

Donald Brown and Pierre Garcon did not travel with the team to Jag-land, so that's great news for Addai and Collie owners. Addai is questionable with a knee, but don't let that fool you. He's fine (just rested on Friday after practicing Wed/Thurs). They didn't want to take any chances because they knew Brown was unlikely to play.

It's looking more and more like Pierre Thomas won't play. The Saints brought DeShawn Wynn up from the practice squad, which is what they were expected to do if Thomas can't roll. Ladell Betts and Chris Ivory should get the most RB action, with Betts the better of the two.

If I had to guess, I'd say Andre Johnson will suit up today, but I'd also not be surprised if he was used mostly as a decoy. As I said earlier this week, you have to start him if he plays, because he's AJ. But you might not like what you get in return.

Ray Rice (knee) is a near lock to play today. Again, you probably can't afford to sit him, but going against the Steelers, in rainy/sloppy conditions, it could be a rough day for the fantasy superstar.

Fred Taylor (toe) won't play Monday night, which leaves the door open again for BenJarvus Green-Ellis to get the bulk of the carries for the Pats. He's a nice flex play against a Dolphins squad that has given up plenty of rushing yards this season.

The Raiders' passing attack has a terrific matchup this week, and Louis Murphy (clavicle) should be on the field. While it's hard to get excited about any Oakland player, Gradkowski-to-Murphy could be heard often today. In a pinch, both could make nice starters.

Looks like Jahvid Best will play today, so get him in your lineups against the Pack.

Steven Jackson is much more iffy, as he's not warming up on the field yet. Ken Darby is a risky proxy who could surprise.

Check my tweets for further updates in a bit. Good luck to all Fools!

Sporting News Fantasy Source column

Here are a few excerpts from my 4th & Long column, which runs every Friday on Sporting News' Fantasy Source site.

THE TRAINER'S TABLE

Several players will be game-time decisions on Sunday, so you're playing with fire if you don't follow the inactive reports prior to the game. As a reminder, I tweet them all every Sunday morning (www.twitter.com/ladd_biro), along with other breaking news.

Pierre Thomas is one of the guys I'll be tracking. He has a history of missing time with injuries, and his sore ankle could cost him a tasty matchup in Carolina. Ladell Betts is projected to get the bulk of the reps if Thomas sits, with rookie Chris Ivory also seeing action. But more likely, we'll just get more of Drew Brees -- who will wear a brace to protect his sore knee -- and his receivers. I'm not hanging my hat on either backup rusher, or, for that matter, Thomas, as he carries the risk of seeing limited action if he does suit up.

Kenneth Darby played well after Steven Jackson suffered a groin injury last Sunday, and it's looking more and more like he'll get another chance to prove his value this weekend. The Rams took a look at free agent Larry Johnson earlier in the week, and they decided he was no better than the guy they already had. Jackson's status against Seattle will go down to the wire; but as of now, it's not looking promising. Darby could be a decent flex-play in a pinch, but the real beneficiary of Jackson's absence will probably be Mark Clayton.

Ray Rice practiced Friday and is preparing as if he'll play this weekend, though a bruised knee won't be his only obstacle. Willis McGahee will likely take the pounding at the goal-line, if the Ravens are fortunate enough to get there against Pittsburgh's defense, which has been playing lights-out all season. You probably can't sit your No. 1 pick if he plays, but keep your expectations for Rice low.

Rookie sensation Jahvid Best used the word "definitely" when asked if he will play Sunday despite his turf toe injury. We haven't heard his coach say that, though; but it's a good sign. I learned my lesson about projecting sub-par results for Best against the Eagles in Week 2, so I'd start him if he's active against Green Bay. But if he sits, I wouldn't touch either Maurice Morris or Kevin Smith with a 10-foot pole.

Knowshon Moreno is all but certain to rest his hammy again this weekend, leaving Denver's backfield in the hands of Laurence Maroney and Correll Buckhalter. As with last week's game, neither back offers much to get excited about.

Beanie Wells looked good in his 2010 debut against the Raiders, and you can expect even more from him this week, especially since Arizona's receiving corps is in such a shambles. Larry Fitzgerald is the last man standing, while Steve Breaston and Early Doucet both nurse injuries.

Ronnie Brown labored through a sore hamstring during Sunday night's matchup with the Jets, we are now told, but he is fully expected to play against the Patriots. Still, there's a measure of risk there, since they don't play until Monday night. Keep an eye on his status in case you need to hedge your bets.

Mario Manningham may not have suffered a concussion last week as originally feared. He is expected to play Sunday, and he's a decent start against Chicago.

MUSICAL CHAIRS

Jacksonville picked up recently released Bills QB Trent Edwards.Don't be surprised if Edwards challenges David Garrard for the starting job at some point this season.Garrard has been dreadful so far this year.

What in the name of Brandon Stokley is going on in Indy? Three weeks into the 2010 season, the No. 1 wide receiver in Fantasyland is...wait for it...Austin Collie! Yeah, I predicted that. (Not.) Remember Pierre Garcon? He'll probably miss another week with his sore hammy. Collie has been limited by a heel injury in practice this week, but he's still an absolute must-start against the Jags.

Now that the deadline has passed for Vincent Jackson to secure a trade that would reduce his suspension to four weeks -- and with the bye weeks upon us -- few teams have the luxury of carrying his dead weight any longer. Feel free to waive him for a player that actually plays.

Owen Daniels is still noticeably hampered by his knee injury, and he has sat out practice this week due to a hamstring injury. Keep him in reserve against Oakland, even if he's active.

PERSONAL NOTES

To Jay Cutler: I'm sorry I doubted you. Nice work so far. But, for the record, it's a long season and you still have time to prove me right.

To Terrell Owens: Are you kidding me? You're already throwing Carson Palmer under the bus? Dude...just shut up and play. You wore out your act years ago.

To Shonn Greene: I would never have used a first- or second-round pick on you, but when you were there in the middle of Round 3, I though I had a steal. How 'bout you toss me a bone every now and then, huh?

Week 4 Starters & Benchwarmers

Wondering whether or not to start Aaron Rodgers and Chris Johnson, or bench Jimmy Clausen and Brian Westbrook? The network bozos specialize in that kind of advice. If you’re looking for real help with your starting lineup conundrums, read on.

Here are my picks to roll, and get rolled, in Week 4 of the 2010 season.

Watch ‘em roll


Kyle Orton, QB, Broncos at Titans. Only Philip Rivers has passed for more yards than Orton to date, and Denver’s aerial attack should remain prolific while Knowshon Moreno rests another week. Though Tennessee’s secondary has allowed just one passing TD in 2010, they gave up big yards to the Giants in their first test against a decent passing team. Orton poses their biggest threat to date.

Joseph Addai, RB, Colts at Jaguars. Donald Brown is nursing a hamstring injury and could miss Sunday’s game. That’s great news for Addai’s owners, who have yet to celebrate any visits to the end zone this year. He’ll fix that Sunday against the Jaguars’ mediocre run defense.

Ryan Mathews, RB, Chargers vs. Cardinals. All signs point to the rookie returning to the field after recovering from an ankle injury. Even though Mike Tolbert has looked solid in the interim, and he could poach a goal-line carry or two, a healthy Mathews is worth starting against the awful Arizona run defense.

Jacoby Jones, WR, Texans at Raiders. Whether or not Andre Johnson (ankle) suits up, Jones will undoubtedly be a bigger part of the Texans’ game plan. Kevin Walter is approaching every-week-starter territory, but Jones also belongs in your lineup against a statistically sound Raiders secondary that nevertheless has surrendered two passing scores apiece in three games against mediocre competition.

Mark Clayton, WR, Rams vs. Seahawks. Steven Jackson will be a game-time decision with his injured groin; but either way, the Rams will likely choose to attack Seattle’s 30th-ranked pass defense in this contest. Clayton remains red hot in tandem with his rookie quarterback.

More thumbs up (excluding the no-brainers): QBs Michael Vick, Donovan McNabb, Jay Cutler, Chad Henne, Mark Sanchez; RBs Matt Forte, Ronnie Brown, Peyton Hillis, LaDainian Tomlinson, Justin Forsett, Cedric Benson, BenJarvus Green-Ellis; WRs Austin Collie, Lance Moore, Johnny Knox, Donald Driver, Jeremy Maclin, Braylon Edwards, Nate Washington, Santana Moss, Malcom Floyd.

Roll ‘em back

Joe Flacco, QB, Ravens at Steelers. The Browns (and Anquan Boldin) made him look like an All Pro last week, but Flacco has otherwise been a fantasy scrub this season. Look for another sub-par performance on Pittsburgh’s home turf. The Steelers have given up just one passing TD versus five interceptions to date.


Ahmad Bradshaw, RB, Giants vs. Bears. He has excelled while Brandon Jacobs has imploded. But Bradshaw will hit a speed bump against the Bears’ NFL-best rush defense. Reserve him if you can.

Clinton Portis, RB, Redskins at Eagles. Though Philly’s run defense is nothing special, Portis would be best left on your bench, thanks to a wrist injury and the expectation that Ryan Torain will get more involved in the action, especially on first and second downs. Portis may be relegated to passing-down duties, since he’s better at blitz pickups than the younger Torain.

Steve Smith, WR, Panthers at Saints. You probably don’t have the luxury of sitting Smith now that the bye weeks are here, but things could get ugly(er) for rookie QB Jimmy Clausen in the raucous Superdome on Sunday. Smith will be blanketed by the Saints’ opportunistic secondary, so don’t expect him to help you win this week.

Michael Crabtree, WR, 49ers at Falcons. With a new coordinator striving to inject some creativity into the offense, it will take time to turn this struggling unit around. Traveling cross-country won’t help. Crabtree and his QB have been on different pages all season – Alex Smith has a pathetic 6.6 quarterback rating when throwing his way – so don’t expect an overnight fix.

More thumbs down: QBs Carson Palmer, Alex Smith, David Garrard, Derek Anderson; RBs Ray Rice, Jahvid Best, Jerome Harrison, CJ Spiller, Correll Buckhalter; WRs Derrick Mason, Mike Sims-Walker, Hines Ward, Calvin Johnson, Eddie Royal.

TAKING A FLIER

Bruce Gradkowski, QB, Raiders vs. Texans. With the onset of the bye weeks, short-term fixes are needed at virtually every position. Gradkowski had a solid showing in Arizona last week and now returns home to face the awful Texans secondary. Houston has coughed up a league-worst 1,143 passing yards and six touchdowns, while failing to capture a single interception over the first three games.

DON’T BE THE BONEHEAD WHO…keeps Garrett Hartley in your starting lineup this week. Because he remains on the Saints’ roster, inattentive fantasy owners may believe he’s a safe play. (In fact, Hartley is still owned in more than three-quarters of fantasy leagues!) But he’ll be inactive now that John Carney has returned to handle the field goal duties.