RB
Steve Slaton, HOU - He has been on my list since before the season started but he is starting to look great as no other running back with the Texans is doing anything. I have him ranked as a 3RB and a good flex or bye week play. This is of course based on whether the o-line can hold up.
Correll Buckhalter, PHILLY - Westbrook seems to get injured every year so if you have him or you need a good option in week 4 due to bye weeks I would pick him up. I dont expect Westbrook to be at full speed this week and Buckhalter should have a decent day. I have him as a solid 2RB if Brian is out.
Derrick Ward, GIANTS - This guy seems to stay on the waiver and that amazes me. Maybe its because everybody has running backs on the roster capable of producing this year however this guy is one to grab if you only have 2 or 3 steady backs. He will get you 50-100 yards a week and has the chance to add a touch to those yards.
Rudi Johnson, LIONS - He looked great in week 3 and should be a decent middle to lower 2RB for the remainder of the year.
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WR
Brandon Lloyd, BEARS - He is becoming the go to guy for the Bears and is a worthy of a low end 2WR.
Steve Smith, GIANTS - With the Plaxico Burress suspension its possible that Smith picks up the slack in week 5. Its only one game but if it helps you win that week then take a look at him. I also like Domenik Hixon, who looked pretty solid in the preseason, to be another good option. I have them both as 3WR for week 5 but don't expect this to continue once the man is back.
Ike Hilliard, TAMPA BAY - I know Antonio Bryant is there but I like Hilliard better out of the two. He seems to be the endzone favorite and I expect Brian Griese to get better as we move forward. Expect decent number this week against a suspect Broncos defense.
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TE
Jerramy Stevens, TAMPA BAY - Stevens has the potential to be a solid tight end. Last season he scored 4 touchdowns with Seattle and that is saying something in regards to the wide receivers the seahawks have had. In his first game of the year coming off a suspention he performed well inlcuding a touch. I like him as a decent option if you are hurting at the tight end positions and I know most of us are. Hopefully you are not dealing with a league that has the WR/TE flex but if you are then he is a decent pick up.
The other tight ends worthy of a spot on a roster have all been mentioned in previous weeks. They are all really a hit or miss and its very difficult to find consistency at this position this season.
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QB
Brian Griese, TAMPA BAY - I am going to jump on the Bucs QB and say if you need a guy on your roster at this position he is a solid bye week fill in and possibly even a middle end passer as we see him improve. Tampy is a good team with some decent running backs and this should allow him to get the ball downfield with his accurate and strong arm.
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DEF
San Francisco - This is a good defense not to far behind the feared Steelers D in overall points. They even look better then PITT in certain stats. I would grab them up as there are not a lot of decent options for defenses this year. The other option here would be Jacksonville. If somebody dumped the Jags D on the waiver a week ago pick them up. They will be a good option as the season moves along, especially at home.
Kicker
Ryan Longwell, John Carney and Olindo Mare - This guys are leading the league in scoring for kickers. They are the top 3 overall in fantasy points however they are still on the waiver in a large amount of the leagues. If you are standing behind a well known name kicker who is not producing this season, aka Adam Vinatieri, grab one of these guys and enjoy double the points. Dont worry about the name, worry about perfomance.
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IDP
Cortland Finnegan, TENN - He is the overall leader in points for IDP players this season and he has a very good defense around him. Grab him and play him if you have an under perfoming player on your team. He is worth the upside over a DL who may only get you 3 tackles on an off week and I think he will have another 4-6 interceptions with 2-3 of them for touchdowns by the time its all said and done.
I will have another edition of pickups of the week on Friday, this will reflect anything that has happened over the course of the week in practices around the NFL.
Steve Slaton, HOU - He has been on my list since before the season started but he is starting to look great as no other running back with the Texans is doing anything. I have him ranked as a 3RB and a good flex or bye week play. This is of course based on whether the o-line can hold up.
Correll Buckhalter, PHILLY - Westbrook seems to get injured every year so if you have him or you need a good option in week 4 due to bye weeks I would pick him up. I dont expect Westbrook to be at full speed this week and Buckhalter should have a decent day. I have him as a solid 2RB if Brian is out.
Derrick Ward, GIANTS - This guy seems to stay on the waiver and that amazes me. Maybe its because everybody has running backs on the roster capable of producing this year however this guy is one to grab if you only have 2 or 3 steady backs. He will get you 50-100 yards a week and has the chance to add a touch to those yards.
Rudi Johnson, LIONS - He looked great in week 3 and should be a decent middle to lower 2RB for the remainder of the year.
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WR
Brandon Lloyd, BEARS - He is becoming the go to guy for the Bears and is a worthy of a low end 2WR.
Steve Smith, GIANTS - With the Plaxico Burress suspension its possible that Smith picks up the slack in week 5. Its only one game but if it helps you win that week then take a look at him. I also like Domenik Hixon, who looked pretty solid in the preseason, to be another good option. I have them both as 3WR for week 5 but don't expect this to continue once the man is back.
Ike Hilliard, TAMPA BAY - I know Antonio Bryant is there but I like Hilliard better out of the two. He seems to be the endzone favorite and I expect Brian Griese to get better as we move forward. Expect decent number this week against a suspect Broncos defense.
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TE
Jerramy Stevens, TAMPA BAY - Stevens has the potential to be a solid tight end. Last season he scored 4 touchdowns with Seattle and that is saying something in regards to the wide receivers the seahawks have had. In his first game of the year coming off a suspention he performed well inlcuding a touch. I like him as a decent option if you are hurting at the tight end positions and I know most of us are. Hopefully you are not dealing with a league that has the WR/TE flex but if you are then he is a decent pick up.
The other tight ends worthy of a spot on a roster have all been mentioned in previous weeks. They are all really a hit or miss and its very difficult to find consistency at this position this season.
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QB
Brian Griese, TAMPA BAY - I am going to jump on the Bucs QB and say if you need a guy on your roster at this position he is a solid bye week fill in and possibly even a middle end passer as we see him improve. Tampy is a good team with some decent running backs and this should allow him to get the ball downfield with his accurate and strong arm.
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DEF
San Francisco - This is a good defense not to far behind the feared Steelers D in overall points. They even look better then PITT in certain stats. I would grab them up as there are not a lot of decent options for defenses this year. The other option here would be Jacksonville. If somebody dumped the Jags D on the waiver a week ago pick them up. They will be a good option as the season moves along, especially at home.
Kicker
Ryan Longwell, John Carney and Olindo Mare - This guys are leading the league in scoring for kickers. They are the top 3 overall in fantasy points however they are still on the waiver in a large amount of the leagues. If you are standing behind a well known name kicker who is not producing this season, aka Adam Vinatieri, grab one of these guys and enjoy double the points. Dont worry about the name, worry about perfomance.
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IDP
Cortland Finnegan, TENN - He is the overall leader in points for IDP players this season and he has a very good defense around him. Grab him and play him if you have an under perfoming player on your team. He is worth the upside over a DL who may only get you 3 tackles on an off week and I think he will have another 4-6 interceptions with 2-3 of them for touchdowns by the time its all said and done.
I will have another edition of pickups of the week on Friday, this will reflect anything that has happened over the course of the week in practices around the NFL.