QUARTERBACKS

 

Drew Bledsoe, Cowboys (YES!): Obviously every week isn’t going to be like last week for the Cowboys. However, the Giants have given up big chunks of passing yardage this year, and the Cowboys may have a limited Julius Jones. Even if the Cowboys do the inverse of last week and get behind in this one, they’ll still have to throw it a lot. 

 

Daunte Culpepper, Vikings (NO!): Like a lot of people, I thought that the Vikings’ performance last year while Randy Moss was hurt demonstrated that the offense would continue to function without him. This team has shown that Moss’ antics weren’t all that big a deal this year. This is a bad situation, with a tough road matchup for the offense.

 

RUNNING BACKS

 

Curtis Martin, Jets (YES!): The Bills have figured out how to make their pass defense look even better: by failing to stop the run so completely that nobody bothers to pass. The Jets, with their quarterback injuries, should welcome that state of affairs.

 

Ronnie Brown, Dolphins (NO!): The battle of Florida is not the time to start Brown, particularly with Ricky Williams back. The Bucs are the best run defense in the league – by far. 

 

WIDE RECEIVERS

 

Reggie Wayne, Colts (YES!): The Colts' pass offense hasn’t been what was expected, but this is a week when they should click. Plus all the injured receivers around the league should make the Colts’ receivers all the more valuable.

 

Chris Chambers, Dolphins (NO!): The only thing the Bucs arguably do better than stop the run is stop the pass. 

 

TIGHT ENDS

 

Ben Troupe, Titans (YES!): The fantasy sleeper of the year had a big week last week. He’s Steve McNair’s favorite red zone target so far, and a Titan tight end has caught at least seven balls each of the last three weeks.

 

Chris Baker, Jets (NO!): His huge performance in Week One makes his numbers deceptive. 

 

KICKERS

 

Jose Cortez, Cowboys (YES!): The Cowboys should be able to roll up yardage here, but they might not reach the end zone consistently.

 

Jeff Wilkins, Rams (NO!): My hunch is that the Rams won’t score a lot in this one. 

 

DEFENSES/SPECIAL TEAMS

 

New York Giants (YES!): They just might be the top fantasy defense this year, despite some of their yardage issues.

 

Tampa Bay Bucs (NO!): This is the opposite of the Giants – a great defense that isn’t scoring fantasy points.