Empty the Bench

Plugging the studs at running back, quarterback and wide receiver into your starting lineup is easy, but fantasy championships are won with the smart decisions on fringe starters every week. We agonize over these spots until 5 minutes before kickoff, then kick ourselves about our choices 5 minutes after kickoff; we’re talking about the RB2, WR3, WR/TE Flex, and WR/RB Flex plays.

Unless you’re prepared to carefully groom the fringes of your roster–both in the draft and through waivers–and make the right decisions with those players occupying tertiary roles every week, your team will underwhelm. These decisions are rarely easy or clear-cut, but fortunately there’s a ton of info out there at your disposal to help you settle on the players you’re most comfortable with. If you’re right, you deserve to win. If you’re wrong, well, tough nuggets.

Every week for the 2007 NFL season, in addition to listing individual players in our Matchups and our Rankings, we’ll also do our best to rank the guys who are likely causing you some consternation, and give you a quick thought on what to expect from each one. Unlike the Rankings, these names are not drawn from the entire player pool.

Not sure if you should go with Calvin Johnson or Wes Welker? Tossing and turning over whether to start Clinton Portis or Adrian Peterson? We’re here to help. It’s Week Three of ETB’s Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet.

Week 3 Rankings

Week 3 Wide Receiver #3 Ranks

1. Deion Branch, Seattle Seahawks vs. CIN
2. Calvin Johnson, Detroit Lions @ PHI
3. Wes Welker, New England Patriots vs. BUF
4. Santonio Holmes, Pittsburgh Steelers vs. SF
5. Ronald Curry, Oakland Raiders vs. CLE
6. Jerricho Cotchery, New York Jets vs. MIA
7. Bernard Berrian, Chicago Bears vs. DAL
8. Vincent Jackson, San Diego Chargers @ GB
9. Jason Avant, Philadelphia Eagles vs. DET
10. Roydell Williams, Tennessee Titans @ NO and Shaun McDonald, Detroit Lions @ PHI (TIE)

Fortune Cookies: He was probably drafted to fill your roster’s WR2 slot, but despite his strong rebound performance last week, Deion Branch remains a weak option there but a strong WR3 against Cincinnati… As we mentioned repeatedly in our Week 3 Matchups, the Bills secondary is one of the league’s worst and Wes Welker will be active over the middle… Lions rookie WR Calvin Johnson will be a strong WR2 before too long; right now, he’s a weekly threat for 75 yards and a score… Monster game last week for Jerricho Cotchery: 7 catches and 165 yards, but no score. He won’t get that yardage against Miami, but he may get his first TD of ‘07… The Raiders are going to ride the LaMont Jordan train all day against the porous Browns defense, but there’ll be enough scraps left over for Ronald Curry… Bernard Berrian has WR2 talent, but unfortunately his QB only has Pop Warner skills. Still, this is a very beatable Cowboys secondary… Despite his slow start, Chargers HC Norv Turner is pleased with Vincent Jackson and thinks he’s doing just fine. We do too, and expect him to have a solid game against a good Packers secondary… Jason Avant has been the only reliable target for the uneven Donovan McNabb thus far, and should excel in the slot against a Lions secondary with little depth… We’re putting ourselves on the line by ranking Roydell Williams here despite only one week of real production. Don’t let us down against the generous Saints secondary, buddy… Regular ETB reader Judd has the over/under on Shaun McDonald receptions against Philly at 5.5; he’s averaged 6.5 (and 80 yards) so far…

Week 3 Running Back #2 Ranks

1. LaMont Jordan, Oakland Raiders vs. CLE
2. Adrian Peterson, Minnesota Vikings @ KC
3. Clinton Portis, Washington Redskins @ NYG
4. Willis McGahee, Baltimore Ravens vs. ARZ
5. Edgerrin James, Arizona Cardinals @ BAL
6. LenDale White, Tennessee Titans @ NO
7. Carnell Williams, Tampa Bay Bucs vs. STL
8. Ronnie Brown, Miami Dolphins @ NYJ
9. Jamal Lewis, Cleveland Browns @ OAK
10. Cedric Benson, Chicago bears vs. DAL

Fortune Cookies: He was a receptions monster in Week 1 (9 for 89) and rushing stud in Week 2 (25 for 159); expect LaMont Jordan to find a happy middle ground in both categories at home against the NFL’s worst defense… With Ladell Betts helping ease the load, Clinton Portis will stay fresh and put up yardage against the Giants… The Vikings need to rely on their rushing attack as much any team in the NFL right now, which bodes well for Adrian Peterson with Chester Taylor still questionable… Willis McGahee carried the ball 26 times last week against the Jets, and scored the first receiving TD of his career; the Cards have been tough versus the run, but McGahee is still a solid play at home… Edgerrin James has confidence in his offensive line, is tied for the league lead in rushes, and is fifth in rushing yards. Tough matchup though… Andrew is all about Stay Puft LenDale this week in the Titans’ Monday night matchup against a Saints team that let Carnell Williams score twice… It really does pain us to rank Carnell Williams, but the Rams can’t stop the run and Williams is healthy… We’re ranking Ronnie Brown here in the hope that he realizes his job could be on the line and comes out with a full head of steam against the league’s 23rd-ranked rushing defense… Apparently Jamal Lewis isn’t dead just yet, but there’s no way he comes close to last week’s sick 216 rushing yards total–not this week, not the rest of the season… Playing at home, against a defense that has given up 55 points and 772 yards of offense and lost their starting NT, if Cedric Benson can’t produce here he’s no longer a viable RB2…

Week 3 Wide Receiver/Tight End Flex Plays

1. Calvin Johnson, Detroit Lions @ PHI
2. Wes Welker, New England Patriots vs. Buffalo
3. Santonio Holmes, Pittsburgh Steelers vs. SF
4. Ronald Curry, Oakland Raiders vs. CLE
5. Bernard Berrian, Chicago Bears vs. DAL
6. Kevin Curtis, Philadelphia Eagles vs. DET
7. Nate Burleson, Seattle Seahawks vs. CIN
8. Brandon Marshall, Denver Broncos vs. JAC
9. Owen Daniels, Houston Texans vs. IND
10. Randy McMichael, St. Louis Rams @ TB

Fortune Cookies: Calvin Johnson is a big, strong target who figures to get more and more looks around the red zone as Kitna gets comfortable with him… We have a feeling the Patriots are going to tee off on a secondary missing three key contributors, and Wes Welker will be very active… Look for Santonio Holmes to be targeted often as Hines Ward draws Nate Clements all day… The Cleveland secondary simply doesn’t have anybody who can keep up with Ronald Curry in terms of strength or skills downfield… Dallas is currently giving up 293.5 yards a game through the air, 31st in the NFL, which should mean one of Bernard Berrian’s best games this season… Kevin Curtis has a chance to redeem himself to fantasy owners after that egregious drop last week, and what better situation that at home versus the Kittens… We like Nate Burleson’s skills after the catch, and Cincy showed last week they’ll give up yards after contact… The Jacksonville secondary isn’t what it was in recent years, and ETB favorite Brandon Marshall continues to impress with 6 receptions and 70 yards… Owen Daniels was targeted seven times last week, and we think he’ll be in double figures in Week 3 with Andre out… We still believe in Randy McMichael’s talent and think this is the week he busts out…

Week 3 Wide Receiver/Running Back Flex Plays

1. Marion Barber, Dallas Cowboys @ CHI
2. Ladell Betts, Washington Redskins vs. NYG
3. Thomas Jones, New York Jets vs. MIA
4. Brandon Marshall, Denver Broncos vs. JAC
5. Deuce McAllister, New Orleans vs. TEN
6. Derrick Mason, Baltimore Ravens vs. ARZ
7. Julius Jones, Dallas Cowboys @ CHI
8. DeAngelo Williams, Carolina Panthers @ ATL
9. Ahman Green, Houston Texans vs. IND
10. Chris Brown, Tennessee Titans @ NO

Fortune Cookies: Marion Barber III and Julius Jones are both in the same boat this week–as they always are–against the Bears at Soldier Field; if one of them is to score, it’ll likely be Barber who does… Ladell Betts is earning about a 60/40 split or so with Portis in the Redskins backfield, and he’ll have his chances against the crappy Giants defense… The Miami Dophins have been surprisingly soft against the run so far (178.5/per, good for second worst overall), so it’s a fortuitous time for Thomas Jones and the Jets O-line to overachieve… Deuce McAllister has to do something one of these weeks, right? If he can’t produce in the Superdome this week, it’ll be tough to continue starting him… As Demetrius Williams and Mark Clayton struggle through injuries, Derrick Mason continues to be a reliable, professional option… Julius Jones does his damage between the 20s these days, but the Bears will not be giving up many yards on the ground… One of these days DeAngelo Williams is going to break a long run or screen pass, put it in the endzone, and push himself into a featured role over DeShaun Foster… The Texans figure to lean on Ahman Green more with Andre out, but he has Ron Dayne stealing carries and the Colts could get up early and force the Texans to pass all game… Chris Brown can’t break tackles, but he can get it done in the open field. That’s OK, because this Saints defense doesn’t tackle well and leaves a lot of pasture to roam in, so both Titans backs could have productive days…