Explosive performances were the norm of week three. Big name receivers such as Randy Moss, Anquan Boldin, and TJ Houzmanzadeh kept the live scoring tracker of your leagues updated by the minute. Points just kept racking up on the running back side with the biggest fantasy weekend yet by one, with Ronnie Brown and Brian Westbrook having comparable days. Rushing for over 100 yards with two touchdowns, and also receiving for 100 yards with a reception touchdown. Westbrook left in the fourth quarter with an abdominal strain or he could have had an additional touchdown or to. Thus, Ronnie Brown squeezed out a higher total then Westbrook thanks to his statue of liberty two point conversion.

Nevertheless, Brown has been a dud for fantasy owners most of his career. His only reliable performances have came against the Jets. Is he a one week wonder or just starting to gel in Cam Cameron’s new offense?

Quarterbacks

Joey Harrington
It’s official any owner that was waiting for the Panthers defense to show something, had to have lit up seeing the Falcons facing them. Yet, Harrington ripped the defense a part and once again the Panthers defense put up a mere few fantasy points. Harrington looked too comfortable out there. This has happened once in awhile during his career and is not going to happen much with the Falcons.

Jon Kitna
Realization occurred this week, and sooner or later Kitna will to. Throwing for nearly 450 yards is an eye popping stat. At a lesser extent but should not be too far off is also his 46 attempts. Mike Martz’s past quarterbacks could not survive a full season in this type of offense (Warner, Bulger) and neither will Kitna. They’re throwing at a higher rate then Martz even did in St. Louis. Start selling Kitna high now and get what you can. A 35 year old veteran that does not know how to slide, has no running game, and airs it fifty times a game. The over/under on how many games he can last is set at six by Notjustagame.

Running Back

Adrian Peterson
His day is coming as an elite fantasy back, but a tease has been placed before owners eyes. Unless Chester Taylor’s injury lingers unexpectedly, then the time share that was supposed to happen will start back up again. Peterson will have his few solid games here and there, but not a string of games like the last three weeks. Especially last week after he fumbled and had that overturned by a challenge, and then fumbled without a review on the very next play. This is comparable to Cadillac Williams a few years ago before he came back down to earth with injuries and not as good of performances.

DeShaun Foster
He may get a feature sole role when he becomes a free agent, but clearly the Panthers want DeAngelo Williams to become that guy. The Panthers have tried far too long for Foster to get it done, and it just hasn’t worked out. He can spread out good performances but just isn’t dependable. Injuries have kept that from happening, and once injury prone, always injury prone.

Earnest Graham
His touchdowns had to of made Cadillac owners sick to their stomachs. Why Cadillac was not a part of those carries is easy to figure out. Graham’s carries suddenly happened right after Williams fumbled at the start of the fourth. Hold onto the ball Cadillac and those touchdowns will be yours.

Wide Receivers

Derrick Mason
He may have caught eight balls including a touchdown, but you can see the fast decline of Mason. He has been a steady healthy receiver that has caught a large amount of footballs, now though the torch is being past to the youngsters in Baltimore. Demetrious Williams has been emerging, and the stud of last year that stole Mason’s shine is back on the field, in, Mark Clayton.

Kevin Curtis
It was just his day…a career day. Curtis did all of his damage practically in one half. It had to do with a lot of things. McNabb was airing it out to prove to people he is still the real deal. The biggest factor though was the Lions secondary that seemed to be fine in covering Reggie Brown on the right side, but horrific with their left corner and safety.

Brandon Marshall
A year or two away from either sinking as a guy people thought would rise, or becoming that player. His size and speed was on showcase but for a few reasons we do not expect this to happen as much. The Broncos running game which had been their main focus was shut down to 47 yards. Even though the Broncos were dominated in the time of possession it forced Cutler to throw a little more. For Javon Walker to be held to ten yards receiving is incredible. Also, Brandon Stokely seems to be getting more involved with the offense.

We know what brand of bread you buy, wonder bread. Your team is filled with so much luck, you have enough wonder bread slices to make three sandwiches.

Quarterbacks

Donovan McNabb
Chop this one up as his best statistical game of the season. Usually you can get one or the other from McNabb in terms of success with either yardage or touchdowns. To get both at high rates turned out to be a great surprise. They just jumped on the 49ers with the passing game, and didn’t go away from it. Fantasy fans that let McNabb slip out the first round are paying the price. He has always been able to put up great season numbers, and it’s because of games like Sunday. But throwing the ball a lot is not what the Eagles offense is about. They’ll settle down and get Brian Westbrook more involved.

Anthony Wright
Jack Nicholson never noticed, Anthony Wright, co-starring in As Good as It Gets. Probably because the sequel was yanked and destroyed, just what Brian Billick is about to do with his quarterbacks. Anthony Wright has an arm to use but not enough field smarts, and with Kyle Boller his assets to the team are still undisclosed. Wright threw forty times against the Titans weak defense and had sufficient yardage for a quarterback that threw twenty times, with 212 yards. Being on the trading block for a quarterback is unheard of in the NFL. It looks like the Ravens are going to change that. Maybe giving up Chester Taylor could bring about some decent offers.

Trent Dilfer
Composed and fluent as he has ever been. Dilfer is becoming one of those veterans that come into his own in their later years. He just looks comfortable about everything on the field. It does help when you’ve got a cast of receivers that could run for the USA Olympic team. Antonio Bryant, Dennis Northcutt, Braylon Edwards, and Frisman Jackson are arguably the fastest quartet of receivers in the NFL. Things will only get better for the passing game when Kellen Winslow Jr. returns next season to team up with Steve Heiden who has looked amazing. Keep in mind the Browns are a young team and are bound for trouble. When trouble comes that’s when the turnovers start and get silly.

Running Backs

Stephen Davis
Seventy seven yards sounds right. Three touchdowns, now that’s a clerical error. Maybe someone at STATS Inc. was inputting credit for touchdowns to the wrong back. His one yard plunges are a good sign that the Panthers will use him all the time as the goal line back. We’re still doubting though that he makes it the midway point before something pops up or out. He is a battered back and sustaining this type of success just doesn’t happen to a repaired body barely healed.

Thomas Jones
Last week we told you to start him and get the most of the fantasy value out of him that you can. We sure hope you listened because the warmth he is going to get being on the sidelines from November on, is going to be more than he gets underneath piles of tacklers. He should be a starter, and if a team wants to trade for him, than his fantasy value sky rockets. We know one team out there (Arizona, didn’t you draft Jones) that really needs a back. Jones showed his growth as a running back last season, and obliterated the Lions defense for seven yards a carry Sunday. Depending on how much the Bears continue to use him, he could still be a fill in bye week plugger or more.

Wide Receivers

Santana Moss
Gaining practically all your yardage and two touchdowns in the last few minutes of a game is what you call the definition of wonders in fantasy football. Moss has built his reputation as a big play guy, and that’s it. He has speed and Dallas slept on that for the final minutes. There should have been adjustments made to prevent that after the first touchdown. If the Redskins can get the offense clicking, than Moss’s value will be steady. With Clinton Portis able to get out the blocks, that’ll open the opportunity for Moss to stretch the field even more. But what Moss did on Monday night is something that isn’t supposed to happen in football. It was comparable to what Reggie Miller did against the Knicks, with eight points in a brief period of seconds. Glitches on defense happen and make lifetime moments. Moss just experienced one.

Troy Brown
He is a key player, but one of those that’s just needed on the field. He does the little things without catching the ball, but somehow he has been getting them to start this season. If you were to project Brown’s season stats it would be easy. Having a scatter plot for yards would be all over the yardage marks of zero to one hundred yards, and his touchdown last week may show up with another dot or two.

Before you get extra curricular on viewing a waiver wire pick up, think before wasting your time. Numbers do stand out, but look at prior numbers as well. If a guy is the fourth receiver, and has a breakout game, don’t expect that to continue. It’s called luck and making a couple of big plays when he was on the field. If an injury occurs on that team, than you may want to scoop that athlete up.

Quarterbacks

Gus Frerotte
Bad days are coming for Frerotte. His history shows that he has never been a steady quarterback. He hasn’t been able to remain a starter on a team ever, and that pattern will continue. Once he starts showing his true self, Sage Rosenfels will get his chance. You all just viewed Frerotte’s best game of the season.

JP Losman
Not ready is the keyword with Losman. His main value right now is his ability to scramble with his legs. But he is not going to have many solid games throwing the football, as defenses continue to learn his weaknesses. Give him time and he’ll be a nice fantasy quarterback.

Running Backs

Willie Parker
A great back but carries will be taken away shortly. Even though Staley is willing to take the back seat to Parker, he’ll get some carries. As will Jerome Bettis whenever he can return. Yardage may be Parker’s best friend this season, but reaching the end zone inside the ten won’t. He’ll have to break some mighty long runs to eclipse over five or six touchdowns. If you’re really weak at running back, you may just want to insert Parker along with Bettis or Staley. Likely Bettis, because he is known to bull doze for touchdowns. That way you’re sure to get the touchdowns and yardage points. It may sound crazy, but it’s guaranteed to work. When is the last week Pittsburgh’s running game has ever been shut down?

Stephen Davis
He looks old out there, and another injury is just around the corner. You’re supposed to have fresh legs after sitting out the majority of the off-season. If Carolina plans on using Davis as their main back, he will not make it past the mid point of the season. He had one run last week that he should have been able to break into the end zone, but instead he was tracked down embarrassingly. If Carolina starts to use Foster more like the did a few years ago, that will help Davis more than people would think. He can be a more aggressive and useful back with twelve to fifteen carries a game.

Wide Receivers

Frisman Jackson
Cupid must have set a one day date between a football and Frisman Jackson. The date went well but I think the football was only interested in a one day stand. Somehow Cleveland’s offense is stocked at wide receiver and running back. Once they can figure out which back to use, and get their young receivers acclimated this team is going to be back. Back to the point they were in 2002 when Tim Couch faded and Kelly Holcomb led them to the playoffs.

Joey Galloway
Galloway has the talent, but is more teasing than a woman secretary. Literally Galloway will be a forgotten sole, and pop up one week with a noticeable game. Ever since 1998 in Seattle his season stats have been detoriating worse than people getting yearly plastic surgery. Injuries are part of the blame, but he is thirty three now. Any great games this year will come because of having Michael Clayton on the other side.

Keenan McCardell
He sure left a burning trail against the Cowboys secondary. McCardell has always been a guy to rack up yardage, but the two touchdown receptions was amazing. The last time he had a multi touchdown game was October 6th, 2003. It’s a wait and see thing with McCardell. He could actually prove to be one of those strong veterans. With Antonio Gates back, that’s going to leave more open areas for McCardell to be found, or void McCardell out completely as Brees looks Gates way every time.

By Zack Cimini

The Vikings offense is high potent but Michael Bennett?s success in week sixteen is definitely a one week wonder. He has been on the pine for the majority of the year, and disappointed many owners with his downfall. Minnesota has already made it clear that they don?t have a definitive starter and will use a cluster of players. Bennett benefited from Smith?s illness last week and showed that he is capable in case the situation presents itself again.

Bennett is the fastest back in the league, and may be on the trading block in the off-season with the Vikings crowded backfield. Onterrio Smith, Mewelde Moore, and Moe Williams all are directly involved, even though the Vikings don?t focus on the running game at all. It?s an unusual proposition, but the Vikings like to take their chances with Culpepper and their receivers.

If needed though, this team could run the ball every down like a high school football team and succeed. So if Culpepper were to go down, the assumption of the Vikings being at total disarray is false. The Vikings could flip the script and try to develop the running game to open up the passing attack.

Either way none of the Vikings are a solution to your fantasy football team until the Vikings decide on a feature back. Whoever plays the best in the playoff run should get full attention towards strengthening that outcome. So just keep your eyes on this situation.

By Zack Cimini

Any standout Buffalo Bills offensive performance is going to produce a wow among fantasy football owners. It has already been disappointing enough if you wasted a high pick on Travis Henry, or Eric Moulds on having a bounce back year. But last week against the St. Louis Rams, Drew Bledsoe managed to have his best game of the season and hooked up with this week?s one week wonder in tight end Mark Campbell.

Tight ends are known for scoring touchdowns on few catches, especially in the red zone. Campbell did just that catching all three of his touchdowns in the red zone, upping his total to five touchdowns this season. Campbell is a nice option if you were forced to draft a tight end in your league and waited until the last round, but Buffalo?s inept offense makes it a headache in banking on anyone from their team.

This team is starting to change their direction from an April 2005 top five NFL pick, to now maybe finishing at .500. I know that sounds impossible, but the Bills remaining schedule could be the easiest in the NFL. They face Miami, Seattle, Cleveland, Cincinnati, San Francisco, and then finally a tough final game against Pittsburgh.

by Zack Cimini
notjustagame.com

Here are this week?s wonders.

Quarterbacks

Vinny Testaverde:
The Jets game was so ineffective that Testaverde had to throw the football over 50 times. People are doubting Curtis Martin, but he has just had a rough start to the season. There won?t be another game that Testaverde throws for over 300 yards.

Jon Kitna:
Kitna always tests fantasy football owners. He is always good for four to five great fantasy football games, but you never know when it?s going to happen. This week it happened against a solid Raiders defense. The Bengals have a talented group of receivers, so Kitna should be an effective fantasy backup quarterback.

Brad Johnson:
Here is another quarterback that threw way more than he usually does. The Buccaneers are getting absolutely no production from the ex Cardinal running backs, and it?s putting the burden on the shoulders of Johnson. He did what he could do but the Buccaneers are going to be in trouble, if he has to throw to win games.

Running Backs

Trung Canidate:
Canidate finally showed signs that fantasy football owners have been looking for. But it is obvious that the Redskins are going to use Betts just as much. Canidate could be a Warrick Dunn type player if he would get some catches out of the backfield.

Moe Williams:
Williams has had two great games to start off the season, but don?t jump on his wagon just yet. Onterrio Smith saw his first action of the season, and stole a little of the spotlight away from Williams. If Smith continues to shine, expect more and more carries to go to him. Williams is still a very solid option though, because he will get you touchdowns. 150 yards is a little too much for Williams, I?d expect him to get around sixty to eighty total yards a game.

Wide Receivers

Dallas Clark:
Sure he is a great young tight end, but people are talking too much about him too early in his career. The Colts still have Marcus Pollard, and most of Clark?s yardage last week came on one catch. Clark will be a great one in the future but not now.

Dane Locker:
The third receiver in the Rams offense usually puts up solid stats. Locker is playing the Az Hakim role right now, but he isn?t as dynamic as Hakim. Locker probably had his best game of the season last week, and isn?t even worth considering even if you are desperate at wide receiver.