Rookies step into the spotlight, for better or worse

If the theme of Week 2 was the wicked sting of the injury bug, this weekend may go down as the dawn of the Class of 2014.

Injury and ineptitude led to a changing of the guard at quarterback in Minnesota and Jacksonville, respectively. Much like Derek Carr in Oakland, both Teddy Bridgewater and Blake Bortles are stepping into less-than-desirable offensive situations and cannot be expected to prosper in the short term. Meanwhile, in Cleveland, a certain uber-hyped freshman QB is still awaiting his turn, perhaps because his achingly short “highlight” reel features as many yellow flags as red ones.

Alfred Blue, Bishop Sankey and Lorenzo Taliaferro joined Carlos Hyde, Jeremy Hill and Terrance West as rookie runners to be reckoned with. If not right away, then soon enough.

Jordan Matthews put Rookie of the Year voters on notice with his star turn in Philly. He joins Sammy Watkins, Brandin Cooks, Kelvin Benjamin and Mike Evans as first-year wideouts with promising futures. And their definition of “future” is a whole lot shorter than we might have expected. John Brown, who also turned heads Sunday, faces a more daunting path to fantasy relevance given the established veterans above him in the Cardinals’ WR pecking order.

Even Travis Kelce stepped up to represent for the tight ends, snaring his first scoring reception in the Chiefs’ victory on Sunday.

One rookie making headlines for all the wrong reasons is Nate Freese, who missed four out of his seven field goal attempts. He was released Monday by Detroit, which signed former Eagle Alex Henery.

FREE AGENT PICKS AND PANS

To win a fantasy championship, it helps to start with a great draft. But filling in your roster throughout the season with the right free agents is also important, especially as you navigate the challenging bye-week schedule. Here's a look at players worth considering, and others who would look better in someone else's lineup.

Catch ‘em while you can

Donald Brown, RB, Chargers.  Now that Danny Woodhead has been lost for the season, and with Ryan Mathews (knee) sidelined, Brown is the last healthy and proven running back standing in San Diego.  Those with big holes to fill in their Week 4 schedule – thanks to the upcoming byes, injuries and/or suspensions – could land a bona fide workhorse off this week’s waiver wire.

Lorenzo Taliaferro, Ravens. So much for Bernard Pierce (thigh) solidifying his starting job. Now that Taliaferro has had his moment in the sun, the talented rookie has surely earned his fair share of Baltimore’s now-three-headed backfield. Many Ravens observers believe Taliaferro is the pick of the litter, making him worth a roster spot in the event that he emerges in a leading role.

Alfred Blue, RB, Texans. Those who drafted Arian Foster (hamstring) knew they were assuming a significant injury risk, and the inevitable came to pass in Week 3. Blue, a sixth-round rookie out of LSU, did a serviceable job as Foster’s proxy, and should be scooped up at a minimum by those banking on Foster.

Jordan Matthews, WR, Eagles. Rookie wideouts are notoriously inconsistent fantasy contributors, but Matthews has the potential to defy the odds. After his breakout game against Washington, he certainly seems more deserving of a roster spot than Riley Cooper. It’s a good thing when Nick Foles takes a shine to you.

Don’t be fooled

Blake Bortles, QB, Jaguars. It was only a matter of time before the No. 3 overall draft pick was handed Jacksonville’s starting job, but that doesn’t make Bortles roster-worthy. After all, he steps into one of the worst offenses in the land, with arguably the weakest offensive line to protect him. Look away. 

Teddy Bridgewater, QB, Vikings. Again, move along. Nothing to see here. The Bridgewater Era has arrived in Minnesota, a bit earlier than anticipated due to Matt Cassel’s broken foot. Let him work through his growing pains as a free agent – or better yet, on an opponent’s roster. With below-average talent around him, especially with Adrian Peterson out of the picture, the rookie’s ceiling is low.


Eddie Royal, WR, Chargers. Let me think, where have we seen this before? Oh yeah, last season, when Royal caught five TD passes in the first two games. Then we scarcely heard from him again outside of a brief, mid-season cameo. You can learn from Royal’s well-documented history or doom yourself to repeating it.

Sunday morning updates - Week 3

Good morning, Fools, from the Big Apple. I'm actually in upstate New York, after having attended my nephew's wedding last night. Taking the fam to the city today, so I won't be able to watch the games live or tweet this afternoon. Sorry…you're on your own with the inactives.

I'll catch up on the games later tonight and tomorrow morning.

Meanwhile, here's what we know so far as we prepare to lock in our starting lineups:

There are some concerns about Bernard Pierce due to his thigh injury. Baltimore signed a RB from their practice squad to the active roster, in a possible sign of worry…so if Pierce is your guy, pay attention. I love his chances against the Browns, but only if he plays! Otherwise, Justin Forsett gets a big thumbs up.

Really wish I knew how things are going to play out with Jamaal Charles and Knile Davis today. Charles has been back at practice sharing snaps the last couple of days. I'd like either of them against the Dolphins if I knew they'd get a majority of the carries; but an uneven split -- not knowing who gets more -- really worries me.

On the other side of the ball, Lamar Miller will start for Miami while Knowshon Moreno rehabs his elbow.

DeAngelo Williams (hamstring) is expected back in the lineup today.

MJD is on track to return to the lineup, but Darren McFadden is expected to get the majority of the action in the Raiders' backfield.

Mark Ingram is out.

DeSean Jackson (shoulder) looks very iffy for his revenge match with the Eagles.

Hakeem Nicks is also highly questionable for the Colts' tilt with the Jags.

Both Alshon Jeffery and Brandon Marshall are questionable for the Monday nighter, but most reports indicate that both are expected to play; just as they did last week. But there's always the risk that one (or both) will have a setback between now and then, so you're clearly gambling if you lock them in your lineup.

We won't know about Eric Decker's status until Monday, at the earliest. You'd be wise to make other plans.

Jerricho Cotchery will be a game-time decision; but surely you've already decided you will never start him, right?

DeAndre Hopkins appears to have put his illness behind him and will suit up today. Look for another nice red zone opportunity and plenty of targets in New York.

Gronk will play, but he's clearly not 100% yet. He's not getting a full complement of snaps, which is normally fine because they use him so effectively when he's in, especially in the red zone. I wouldn't bench him for many players, but I will be subbing in Antonio Gates for him today. Hope I'm not a week too late!

Vernon Davis (ankle, knee) is trying to get back on the field today, but he'll likely come down to a game-time call. The Niners are at Arizona in the late-afternoon games, so you may not be able to wait on him.

That's it for now. Gotta head down to the city. Enjoy your day, and good luck to all Fools!

Week 3 Starters & Benchwarmers

Wondering whether or not to start LeSean McCoy and Jordy Nelson, or to bench Alfred Blue and Jerricho Cotchery? The network bozos specialize in that kind of advice. If you’re looking for help with your real starting lineup conundrums, read on.

Here are my picks to roll, and get rolled, in Week 3 of the 2014 season.

Watch ‘em roll

Philip Rivers, QB, Chargers at Bills. Buffalo may be 2-0, but they’ve been soft in the passing game. Meanwhile, Rivers and Antonio Gates are BFFs again, and it’s only a matter of time before Keenan Allen explodes. With Ryan Mathews sidelined, Rivers will need to be at his best; and he is clearly up to the task.

Bernard Pierce, RB, Ravens at Browns. Now that Pierce is seemingly locked into the lead back role in Baltimore (with Justin Forsett taking a back seat in Week 2), he stands to prosper most against the run-challenged Cleveland defense. Look for Pierce’s first 100-yard performance since 2012 and his first TD of the season.

Ahmad Bradshaw, RB, Colts at Jaguars. Bradshaw continues to out-perform Trent Richardson as both a runner and receiver, and he isn’t laying the ball on the ground, either. In this decidedly lopsided contest, look for the better back to dominate the sieve-like Jaguars defense.

Sammy Watkins, WR, Bills vs. Chargers. Sore ribs aren’t expected to keep the rookie out of this contest, so look for a nice follow-up to last week’s breakout performance. We knew Watkins had the talent and the tools; the only question was whether EJ Manuel could get him the ball. He can.

DeAndre Hopkins, WR, Texans at Giants. I’m not convinced the Texans are for real, but I like their chances against the woeful Giants. Hopkins is getting lots of love in the red zone, and should have plenty more opportunities to soar in Week 3. Hopkins has been held out of practice due to an illness this week, but that should be well under control by Sunday.

More thumbs up (excluding the no-brainers): QBs Andrew Luck, Jay Cutler, Russell Wilson, Kirk Cousins; RBs Gio Bernard, Rashad Jennings, Jonathan Stewart, Joique Bell, Matt Asiata, Alfred Morris, Pierre Thomas, Knile Davis, Darren Sproles, Zac Stacy; WRs Cordarrelle Patterson, Mike Wallace, Reggie Wayne, T.Y. Hilton, Julian Edelman, Keenan Allen, Percy Harvin, Pierre Garcon, Andre Johnson, Larry Fitzgerald, Dwayne Bowe, Marques Colston, Victor Cruz, Jeremy Maclin.

Roll ‘em back

Ben Roethlisberger, QB, Steelers at Panthers. He’s coming off a rough outing against the Ravens and there’s no relief in sight on this road trip to Carolina. The Panthers manhandled Matt Stafford and the Lions in Week 2 and will be just as inhospitable to Big Ben & Co. on Sunday night.

Frank Gore, RB, 49ers at Cardinals. Carlos Hyde is eating into Gore’s carries, keeping the veteran from achieving his fantasy potential. Meanwhile, Arizona’s run defenders have picked up where they left off last year (among the NFL’s elites).

Montee Ball, RB, Broncos at Seahawks. You always hate to bench a premium draft pick, but if you have a safer option, consider it. Ball was stifled by the Seahawks in the Super Bowl and he wasn’t exactly dominant against the Chiefs last week. On the road against that fired-up defense, Ball is in for a rough outing.

Torrey Smith, WR, Ravens at Browns. With just four receptions on 10 targets over two weeks, Smith has taken a back seat to his ageless cohort, Steve Smith. He’s likely to be shadowed by Joe Haden in this matchup, so don’t expect Torrey to get back on track right away.

James Jones, WR, Raiders at Patriots. Jones was a popular waiver-wire acquisition this week after reeling in his second TD reception in as many games. But he’ll face a stout pass defense on Sunday that should keep his rookie quarterback under constant pressure. While Jones has become the King of Garbage Time Stats, he remains a gamble in this unfavorable matchup.

More thumbs down: QBs Eli Manning, Jake Locker, Tony Romo, Andy Dalton, Alex Smith; RBs Trent Richardson, LeVeon Bell, Shonn Greene, DeAngelo Williams, Darren McFadden, Maurice Jones-Drew, Toby Gerhart; WRs Kendall Wright, Riley Cooper, Allen Hurns, Markus Wheaton, Mohamed Sanu, Terrance Williams, Michael Crabtree.

TAKING A FLIER

Khiry Robinson, RB, Saints vs. Vikings. New Orleans’ three-headed backfield is now down to two, opening up more opportunities for Robinson, especially near the goal line. The second-year back has yet to catch a pass in his short career (that’s Pierre Thomas’ domain), but he should get ample opportunities to rumble over Minnesota’s soft run defenders.

DON’T BE THE BONEHEAD WHO…fails to plan ahead for the Week 4 bye schedule. With six teams (Bengals, Broncos, Browns, Cardinals, Rams and Seahawks) idle, many fantasy squads will soon be scrambling for substitutes on the waiver wire. Making a move or two in advance means you won’t have to get in line.

Week 2 Heroes & Zeros

This was a great week to start…

QBs

Aaron Rodgers, Packers – Got off to a rough start, but rallied with 346 passing yards and 3 TDs, 28 rushing yards and a fumble.

Jay Cutler, Bears – He also started slow, but finished with 176 yards and 4 TDs, plus 25 rushing yards, without a turnover.

Philip Rivers, Chargers – Defied the vaunted Seahawks defense by passing for 284 yards and 3 TDs without a turnover.

Peyton Manning, Broncos – Passed for “just” 242 yards but had another TD trio without a turnover.

RBs

Darren Sproles, Eagles – Ran for 26 yards and a TD, but exploded with 7 receptions for 152 yards.

Ahmad Bradshaw, Colts – Had 70 rushing yards and caught 5 passes for 26 yards and a pair of TDs.

Giovani Bernard, Bengals – Ran for 90 yards and a TD, adding 5 receptions for 79 yards.

DeMarco Murray, Cowboys – Rumbled for 167 yards and a TD, though he lost a fumble.

Knile Davis, Chiefs – Ran for 79 yards and 2 TDs and caught 6 passes for 26 yards in relief of Jamaal Charles.

Alfred Morris, Redskins – Tallied 85 yards and 2 TDs on the ground.

WRs

Jordy Nelson, Packers – Raced past the Jets with 209 yards and a score on 9 receptions.

Brandon Marshall, Bears – Pulled down 5 passes for 48 yards and a TD hat trick.

Dez Bryant, Cowboys – Despite an early injury, reeled in 10 passes for 103 yards and a TD.

Randall Cobb, Packers – Scored twice on 5 catches for 39 yards.

Sammy Watkins, Bills – Showed his rookie promise with 8 receptions for 117 yards and a TD.

James Jones, Raiders – Hauled in 9 passes for 112 yards and a trash-time TD, though he lost a fumble.

TEs

Antonio Gates, Chargers – Ladarius who? The well-aged TE reeled in 7 catches for 96 yards and a TD trifecta.

Jimmy Graham, Saints – Hogged all Brees’ attention with 10 receptions for 118 yards and 2 TDs.

Delanie Walker, Titans – Torched Dallas with 10 receptions for 142 yards and a TD.

Owen Daniels, Ravens – Scored twice on 5 receptions for 28 yards.

D/STs

Patriots – Smothered the Vikings with 6 sacks, 4 INTs, scored on a blocked FG and held Minnesota to 7 points.

Bills – Collected 4 sacks, 2 turnovers, a kickoff return TD and held Miami to 10 points.

Redskins – Sacked Chad Henne 10 times, got an INT and held the Jags to 10 points.

This was a great week to play against…

QBs

Robert Griffin III, Redskins – Just 38 passing and 22 rushing yards before leaving with a nasty ankle injury.

Ben Roethlisberger, Steelers – Limited to 217 passing yards and an INT, without a score.

Matt Ryan, Falcons – After his impressive opener, passes for just 231 yards, with 3 INTs offsetting his lone TD pass.

Matt Cassel, Vikings – Tossed 4 picks while accumulating just 202 yards and 1 TD.

RBs

Knowshon Moreno, Dolphins – Knocked out of the game after a 4-yard carry.

Jamaal Charles, Chiefs – Totaled just 12 yards before exiting with an ankle injury.

Carlos Hyde, 49ers – Not getting enough touches to matter, as his 5-total-yard day proved.

Lamar Miller, Dolphins – Even with the backfield mostly to himself, managed only 46 yards rushing and 7 receiving.

Toby Gerhart, Jags – Just 8 rushing and 9 receiving yards.

Fred Jackson, Bills – Totaled 51 combined yards.

Reggie Bush, Lions – Disappoints with just 26 rushing yards and 2 catches for 6 yards.

Chris Johnson, Jets – Limited to 21 rushing yards.

Shane Vereen, Patriots – Took a backseat to Stevan Ridley, rushing for just 40 yards.

Pierre Thomas, Saints – Ran and received for 16 yards each.

Matt Forte, Bears – Ran for just 21 and caught 5 passes for 15 yards.

Shonn Greene, Titans – Rushed for 40 yards (37 more than Bishop Sankey).

Ryan Mathews, Chargers – Combined for 57 yards before leaving with an injury.

Eddie Lacy, Packers – Held to 43 rushing and 18 receiving yards on 2 receptions.

WRs

A.J. Green, Bengals – Left with a toe injury before catching a pass.

Marques Colston, Saints – Blanked by the Browns.

Danny Amendola, Patriots – Shut out of the action.

Greg Jennings, Vikings – Limited to a 4-yarder.

Rod Streater, Raiders – Caught a 6-yard pass.

Riley Cooper, Eagles – He had an 8-yarder.

Torrey Smith, Ravens – Caught a 10-yarder. That’s it.

Pierre Garcon, Redskins – Held to a 12-yarder.

Allen Hurns, Jags – Only 13 yards on 2 receptions. Mm-hmm.

Michael Floyd, Cardinals – Just 19 yards on the day.

DeSean Jackson, Redskins – He, too, had 19 yards before leaving injured.

Terrance Williams, Cowboys – Only 20 yards on 2 receptions.

Tavon Austin, Rams – Ran for 21 yards but didn’t catch a pass.

Reggie Wayne, Colts – Just 28 yards on 3 catches.

Kelvin Benjamin, Panthers – Collected 46 yards on 2 balls.

Roddy White, Falcons – Only 42 yards on 5 receptions.

Brandin Cooks, Saints – Ran for 31 yards but only caught 3 passes for 17 yards.

Anquan Boldin, 49ers – Only 34 yards on 2 catches.

Kendall Wright, Titans – Despite the favorable matchup, just 31 yards on 3 catches.

TEs

Rob Gronkowski, Patriots – Only 32 yards on 4 catches.

Jason Witten, Cowboys – Ditto.

Vernon Davis, 49ers – Just 39 yards on 3 receptions before leaving early.

Week 2: Rough week gets rougher

After a week the NFL would love to forget, things managed to get uglier still once the players took to the field. At least this time the ugliness wasn't self-inflicted.

Jamaal Charles sprained an ankle after accumulating just 12 total yards. Robert Griffin III suffered a nasty dislocated ankle just before teammate DeSean Jackson was knocked out with a shoulder injury.

The Dolphins lost new starting RB Knowshon Moreno (dislocated elbow), reportedly for at least a month, on his first carry. A.J. Green was bounced by a strained foot before he could register a catch. Ryan Mathews was carted off the field with a knee injury and Tavon Austin left with his own knee troubles.

Dexter McCluster’s foot injury could open the door to more touches by rookie Bishop Sankey in the weeks ahead. And Marcedes Lewis (ankle) left the game with a walking boot and crutches.

Eric Decker yanked a hammy, while Vernon Davis left the Sunday night matchup hobbling on a sprained ankle.

Of course, both of Chicago’s starting wideouts entered the Sunday nighter banged up, Brandon Marshall’s bravado performance notwithstanding. Both Antonio Brown (head) and Dez Bryant (shoulder) were knocked out early but each returned to post strong performances.  

The moral of this story? Actually, there are at least three.

First, watch the inactive reports up until the last minute. Lots of fantasy players missed out on Marshall’s heroics, including many who still had the flexibility to make a change at the eleventh hour.

Second, handcuff your stud running back(s). I know I’m a broken record on this, but you never know when the backups will be pressed into service.

And third, don’t neglect your bench. Constantly look for opportunities to upgrade – not churn, mind you; but upgrade – to provide the depth you’ll need to overcome injuries and to manage the upcoming bye weeks.

Unfortunately, injuries are part of the game. They can be painful, sometimes career-ending for the players. But they need not put your season in jeopardy.

FREE AGENT PICKS AND PANS

To win a fantasy championship, it helps to start with a great draft. But filling in your roster throughout the season with the right free agents is also important. Here's a look at players worth considering, and others who would look better in someone else's lineup.

Catch ‘em while you can

Kirk Cousins, QB, Redskins. Many believe Cousins is a better fit for Washington’s offense than Griffin, and now he’ll have the opportunity to prove them right (or wrong). If you need help at the position, Cousins is worth a flier. RG3 is expected to be out for an extended period; and if Cousins excels, even a healthy Griffin might not get his job back.

Knile Davis, RB, Chiefs. Charles’ early exit left the backfield in his understudy’s capable hands. After scoring twice and combining for 105 yards, Davis proved he is worthy. Charles’ owner should already have him handcuffed; but if not, scoop him up.

Matt Asiata, RB, Vikings. Arguably the most anonymous handcuff in the NFL, Asiata excelled late last season in relief of an injured Adrian Peterson before racking up 84 total yards and a score against the Patriots on Sunday. Though Peterson has been re-activated for Week 3, you’re playing with fire if you don’t hedge your bets with Asiata.

Don’t be fooled

Mohamed Sanu, WR, Bengals. Sanu broke loose for a long scoring strike after A.J. Green went out. But don’t think that’s a sign of things to come. Sanu has shown flashes in the past, but more often than not has disappeared. Marvin Jones is a better bet for consistent production once he returns from his broken foot.

Ladarius Green, TE, Chargers. Think Antonio Gates has lost a step? Who cares? The Green Era in San Diego will just have to wait. Philip Rivers is still locked onto his old pal, and Gates clearly has plenty left after his TD hat trick against the vaunted Seahawks defense. Somehow, Gates is available in roughly half of all leagues. What are you waiting for?

Week 2 Starters & Benchwarmers

Wondering whether or not to start Peyton Manning and Calvin Johnson, or to bench Johnny Manziel and Eddie Royal? The network bozos specialize in that kind of advice. If you’re looking for help with your real starting lineup conundrums, read on.

Here are my picks to roll, and get rolled, in Week 2 of the 2014 season.

Watch ‘em roll

Carson Palmer, QB, Cardinals at Giants. The old man proved he’s still got some moxie – even scrambling for 29 yards against the Chargers – and it doesn’t hurt that he’s blessed with a very talented receiving corps. Palmer will build on his solid opener against the shell-shocked Giants secondary, and you can bet he’ll get Larry Fitzgerald intimately involved this time.

Alfred Morris, RB, Redskins vs. Jaguars. Right now, about the only thing the Washington offense has going for it is Morris, who racked up 91 rushing yards against Houston in Week 1. His job gets easier when the Jags come to town. Look for the struggling Robert Griffin III to lean heavily on his trusty backfield mate.

Terrance West, RB, Browns vs. Saints. Notching “one hundo” in your NFL debut is pretty impressive, especially when you don’t even enter as the starter. With Ben Tate (sprained knee) out, West should pick up where he left off last week. Though fellow rookie Isaiah Crowell will share some carries and could poach another TD run, West is the back to start in this contest against New Orleans’ soft run defense.

Kendall Wright, WR, Titans vs. Cowboys. It’s not just about the delicious matchup. It’s that a healthy Jake Locker is starting to look like a quality NFL quarterback, and that’s all his talented wideout needs to soar. As usual, Wright did the most with his targets in Week 1, and he’s a great bet to be among the week’s receiving leaders against Dallas. Did I mention the delicious matchup?

Brandin Cooks, WR, Saints at Browns. The rookie had an impressive debut against the Falcons and will be matched up against a fellow first-year player (CB Justin Gilbert) who surrendered 97 receiving yards to Markus Wheaton, yet another freshman, in Week 1. With Cleveland rightly consumed with containing Jimmy Graham and Marques Colston, Cooks should have little trouble getting open. Drew Brees will find him.

More thumbs up (excluding the no-brainers): QBs Andy Dalton, Nick Foles, Russell Wilson, Matt Stafford; RBs Montee Ball, Arian Foster, Knowshon Moreno, Andre Ellington, Frank Gore, C.J. Spiller, Giovani Bernard, Mark Ingram, Darren McFadden; WRs Larry Fitzgerald, Michael Floyd, Emmanuel Sanders, Reggie Wayne, T.Y. Hilton, Jeremy Maclin, Percy Harvin, Andre Johnson, Marques Colston, Roddy White, Cordarrelle Patterson, Dwayne Bowe.

Roll ‘em back

Philip Rivers, QB, Chargers vs. Seahawks. Facing his second tough test in as many weeks, Rivers is a risky start against the Legion of Boom, which travels down the coast on a high after beating up Aaron Rodgers & Co. Rivers put up pedestrian numbers against the tough Cardinals pass defense in the opener, but this week’s opponents won’t be as generous.

Rashad Jennings, RB, Giants vs. Cardinals. Jennings was the lone bright spot on an otherwise mediocre Giants offense last Monday night. But with little air support to open up his running lanes, Jennings’ light will be hidden against Arizona’s stout run defense.

Doug Martin, RB, Buccaneers vs. Rams. St. Louis is stronger against the run than they appeared against the Vikings, and they’ll show it in Tampa on Sunday. Martin shouldn’t be trusted even when fully healthy, and he heads into this game with a “minor” leg injury. Look for Bobby Rainey to keep building his case for supplanting the overrated starter.

Danny Amendola, WR, Patriots at Vikings. With Rob Gronkowski back in the lineup and both Julian Edelman and Kenbrell Thompkins getting the lion’s share of Tom Brady’s attention, Amendola appears to be an afterthought in the Patriots’ passing game. Keep him sidelined until he gives you reason not to.

Victor Cruz, WR, Giants vs. Cardinals. Cruz managed just 24 receiving yards on two receptions against the Lions, and Arizona brings a much more formidable secondary this week. There is no reason to think Eli Manning or his receivers will get their act together in this poor matchup.

More thumbs down: QBs Eli Manning, Robert Griffin III, Alex Smith; RBs Trent Richardson, Maurice Jones-Drew, Reggie Bush, Steven Jackson, DeAngelo Williams, Ryan Mathews; WRs Rod Streater, Terrance Williams, Reuben Randle, Sammy Watkins, Tavon Austin, Cecil Shorts, Golden Tate.

TAKING A FLIER

Andrew Hawkins, Browns vs. Saints. With Jordan Cameron either out or, at best, pushing through a shoulder injury, Hawkins will undoubtedly be a busy man as Brian Hoyer does his best to keep pace with his prolific counterpart. In PPR leagues especially, Hawkins should post impressive numbers against a vulnerable Saints secondary.

DON’T BE THE BONEHEAD WHO…overreacts to the first week’s results and makes a trade you’ll regret the rest of the season. I’ve been asked to opine on several trade scenarios that appear ridiculously lop-sided, and yet the “loser” in the deal is ready to pull the trigger. Hey, nothing wrong with taking advantage of a panicked competitor; just make sure you’re not the victim!