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Each week, the Fantasy Cheat Sheet will combine Fantasy analysis and game predictions with a confidence scale to help owners get a definitive answer on who to start in their leagues.
What do the numbers mean? That's our confidence scale. It slides from 10.0 for a mega-awesome start to 5.0 for an average rating to a 1.0 for a mega-crappy rating.
Is the confidence scale based on a specific scoring system? It is based on standard leagues but is (mostly) applicable to PPR leagues. You should probably consult our PPR-specific rankings for more detail.
Who is listed below? Everyone who matters, but anyone already starting in 90 percent or more of CBSSports.com leagues is considered an obvious must-start. We're not going to waste your time trying to convince you to start Tom Brady.
What if someone isn't listed below? If someone's missing, it's not an accident. Anyone missing is a definitive must sit, if not a must-cut player. Or they're on bye.
What's the best way to find a specific player on this page? Use your personal search function -- CTRL-F on PCs and Command-F on MACs. If neither of those are options, or if you're on a mobile device, you can search by game. Games are listed by starting times.
What if I am still unsure who to start or sit after reading this? Ask me! Shoot me a note on Twitter (@daverichard) (use #CBSFCS). You can always consult our rankings, too.
Let's get to work:
Redskins at Giants, Thu., 8:25 p.m. ET
Quarterbacks
Kirk Cousins (2.2): The Giants have allowed back-to-back quarterbacks to post 20-plus Fantasy points, but Cousins has one touchdown and six interceptions in two career games against the Giants.
Eli Manning (7.9): Last year Manning threw seven touchdowns in two games against Washington. With the Redskins pass rush and secondary good but not great, Manning figures to ascend on the short week, just like his big bro.
Running backs
Matt Jones (8.7): Jones' snap count is on the rise -- 10 in Week 1, 31 in Week 2. He still trails Morris but he's averaging more yards per carry (6.0) and has more touchdowns (two). Because there will be enough carries to go around and Jones is the more explosive back, I like him better.
Alfred Morris (8.2): Morris' snap count is on the decline -- 48 in Week 1, 34 in Week 2. Morris will have to develop a hot hand early on against the Giants to be the more effective running back, but he's the easier back to slow down compared to Jones.
Rashad Jennings (7.3): Jennings is averaging just 12 touches per game and last week he collapsed with 24 total yards. Andre Williams started cutting into his workload. Despite two starting running backs landing at least 13 touches each against Washington this year, neither one scored nor totaled more than 75 yards against the Redskins.
Shane Vereen (6.2): Vereen played on 18 more snaps than Jennings, had three more touches than Jennings and had 71 more total yards than Jennings. Might the Giants offense be better off with Vereen?
Wide receivers
Pierre Garcon (6.1): Gotta like his targets so far this season -- 15 through two games with 12 receptions. And while his recent track record against the Giants is ugly, there's no denying the favorable matchup. Garcon's good to go in PPR.
Odell Beckham (9.5): Obvious must-start.
Rueben Randle (3.3): Maybe he'll pick up more opportunities after the Giants released Preston Parker (those could also go to Geremy Davis -- a FanDuel sleeper), but you'd have to have nerves of steel (and a brain to match) to start him.
Tight ends
Jordan Reed (7.5): The Giants allowed three touchdowns to Cowboys tight ends and then let the Falcons' meandering tight ends collate four catches for 77 yards. Reed is going to have a big game.
Larry Donnell (3.5): Remember that three-score game Donnell had at Washington in a Thursday game last year? Since then he's scored three touchdowns total including one last week. Risky choice particularly since the Redskins have defended tight ends moderately well.
Defense/Special teams
Redskins (4.9): The Giants have scored 26 and 20 points in their first two games and should be poised to post at least 21 against Washington, even with its improved defense.
Giants (3.1): With a limited pass rush, a banged-up secondary and a run defense struggling, the Giants might have a hard time slowing down Washington.
Falcons at Cowboys, Sun., 1 p.m. ET
Quarterbacks
Matt Ryan (7.7): It's nerve-racking to see Eli Manning and Sam Bradford combine for 15 Fantasy points against the Cowboys through two weeks, but Ryan has been at 19 or 20 Fantasy points in standard leagues. I'm still not buying the Dallas defense being dominant against the pass.
Brandon Weeden (2.1): The last time Weeden threw two touchdowns in a game? December of 2013 against the Jaguars. Atlanta's secondary isn't perfect, but a guy with a 56.4 completion percentage shouldn't be counted on in Fantasy.
Running backs
Devonta Freeman (6.8): Big opportunity for Freeman, who has never been a productive rusher (2.1 yards per carry or fewer in each of the three contests he had at least 10 rushes in). It's real hard to buy into Freeman after the effort the Cowboys put in against DeMarco Murray a week ago.
Joseph Randle (7.1): It's not that Randle has done enough good things to keep the lead back job, it's that no one else has done anything to take it away. A 3.4 rushing average is nasty. Expect him to be used a little bit more as a pass-catcher in Week 3 compared to Weeks 1 and 2.
Lance Dunbar (5.4): The Falcons have allowed 18 Fantasy points to running backs on receiving yardage alone! Dunbar is the Cowboys' top pass-catching back (11 catches, 13 targets) and should have some opportunities to be valuable in PPR formats.
Wide receivers
Julio Jones (9.7): Obvious must-start.
Roddy White (5.45): Roddy White claims he's OK with not being targeted more than once last week, but Matt Ryan says it's because coverage dictated it. Non-No. 1 receivers against the Cowboys have totaled under 40 receiving yards so far this season.
Leonard Hankerson (4.5): No one's ready to start Hankerson, but the 11 targets he had last week were tied for the most he's had ever. Another big game could signal a changing of the guard at No. 2 receiver in Atlanta.
Terrance Williams (7.0): His big score last week came from Weeden, and he hit the seven-target mark for the second time this season. No. 1 receivers have done well against the Falcons so far. He's at least worth a flex play in all formats.
Cole Beasley (4.2): Disappointing start for Beasley, who has just eight catches for 63 yards on 11 targets. Where are the targets?!
Tight ends
Jason Witten (5.3): Aside from a touchdown to Larry Donnell last week, the Falcons have done a nice job against opposing tight ends. Witten, if he plays, is banged up and averaging less than 8.0 yards per catch so far this year.
Defense/Special teams
Falcons (6.3): This might be the first week the Falcons come up with double-digit Fantasy points thanks to the matchup against Weeden with no Dez Bryant. Weeden's teams have scored 17 or fewer points in five of his last six starts including one start from 2014.
Cowboys (2.5): It seems unlikely for the Cowboys to have another great outing against a Falcons offense that has averaged 25.0 points per game.
Buccaneers at Texans, Sun., 1 p.m. ET
Quarterbacks
Jameis Winston (4.7): Alex Smith and Cam Newton both decimated the Texans for big weeks. No one will take the chance on Winston doing the same, but last week's heroics are reason for optimism. He could be a very sneaky tournament play on FanDuel.
Ryan Mallett (2.3): Don't tempt fate -- the Buccaneers will come after Mallett behind his rag-tag O-line and pressure him much as they did Brees last week. He has never had 20 Fantasy points in a standard league.
Running backs
Doug Martin (6.7): He's shown some flash, he's just disappointing with more fumbles lost (one) than touchdowns (zippo). The Texans have been reasonably good defending the run and should have enough up front to disrupt Tampa Bay's offensive line.
Chris Polk (4.0): Polk leads the Texans running backs in carries and rush yards and is tied for the lead in targets. Unfortunately, he's also averaging 3.2 yards per carry and 6.0 yards per reception. If you're desperate, he's your guy.
Wide receivers
Mike Evans (7.9): Though there's no promise of this, the Bucs should aim to get Evans more work after letting him knock off some rust last week. No Austin Seferian-Jenkins won't hurt things, either. Houston's secondary couldn't handle the deep ball very well last week.
Vincent Jackson (6.8): It's funny, Jackson had a ton of targets in Week 1 and did little, but came through on a handful of targets in Week 2. The real difference is that he caught a touchdown. He's a safer No. 3 receiver in PPR leagues.
DeAndre Hopkins (8.9): Obvious must-start.
Nate Washington (4.4): Take note: Washington has at least eight targets in each of his last two games. Problem here is that Mallett doesn't always throw a catchable ball. If you're desperate, Washington should get open against a suspect secondary.
Defense/Special teams
Buccaneers (3.7): They stunned last week with their dominance at New Orleans. You'd have to be desperate to start them, though they might get a couple of Mallett turnovers.
Texans (5.5): If they can't get three or four sacks against this offensive line, they're not even close to being as good of a unit as we thought.
Bengals at Ravens, Sun., 1 p.m. ET
Quarterbacks
Andy Dalton (7.0): His track record against Baltimore is as pretty as a pig in mud. The Ravens might come out on fire in their home debut and in a must-win game (if they lose they're 0-3) so there's some concern Dalton won't have his best game.
Joe Flacco (4.1): When faced with a mild pass rush and a suspect secondary, Flacco thrived last week. Not the case this week as the Bengals should be able to hang with the Ravens. Don't chase his Week 2 points.
Running backs
Jeremy Hill (9.2): Expect him to get his job back along with most of the workload you envisioned when you drafted him. The Ravens held the Bengals' run game in check last year but allowed 4.3 rush yards per carry to Latavius Murray last week with a touchdown.
Giovani Bernard (6.6): Gio should push for a few more snaps than usual along with a bunch of passing downs work. He could make a big enough dent to be a factor in PPR leagues.
Justin Forsett (7.6): If there's a stat that will make the Ravens lean on Forsett as a receiver again, it's that the Bengals have allowed 172 receiving yards to running backs on 21 catches with two touchdowns through two games. Forsett is still on the No. 2 running back radar, but he's fading.
Wide receivers
A.J. Green (9.0): Obvious must-start.
Marvin Jones (5.9): If Michael Crabtree could post over 100 yards with a touchdown on the Ravens secondary, then Jones should have a shot to get at least 70 yards and maybe a score too.
Steve Smith (6.0): He'll have tough matchups wherever he lines up but he's leading the Ravens in targets with 23 and it's not close. No. 1 receivers have struggled against the Bengals so far.
Tight ends
Tyler Eifert (7.4): This is a big test -- literally and figuratively -- for the Ravens. They've been good against tight ends dating back to last year but Eifert has been on fire for the Bengals.
Crockett Gillmore (4.5): Don't expect a big follow-up to last week's numbers for Gillmore as the matchup is much tougher for him and his quarterback.
Defense/Special teams
Bengals (7.3): The Ravens exploded for 33 points in Week 2 but that seemed more matchup-driven than anything else. The Bengals have held the Ravens to 20 or fewer points in five of their last six meetings.
Ravens (4.7): Cincinnati's offense is loaded, making it a tall order to stop. But even after allowing 37 points at Oakland, the defense should be focused on rebounding against a familiar foe. The Bengals have scored at least 23 points on the Ravens in four of their last five meetings.
Eagles at Jets, Sun., 1 p.m. ET
Quarterbacks
Sam Bradford (4.3): Part of me believes Bradford will get his act together, but it's tough to see it happening on the road against a really good Jets defense. Think about some other options before going with Bradford.
Ryan Fitzpatrick (5.4): Fitzpatrick has thrown multiple touchdowns in two straight and did the same vs. Philadelphia while with the Texans last year. He's a sneaky FanDuel play.
Running backs
DeMarco Murray (7.7): It's so hard to get away from Murray, but the Jets run defense has been outstanding and the Eagles just can't get their act together. It'll happen soon for Philly, but this was going to be a tough matchup all along.
Darren Sproles (6.0): It's easy to think the Eagles will try to get Sproles out in space to avoid the Jets' D-line and give him a chance to make some plays. The Jets haven't had to deal with a scatback like Sproles yet, and Chip Kelly might go back to him after giving him just five touches in Week 2. He might be worth taking a chance on.
Chris Ivory (8.8): With three defensive starters potentially out, Ivory's catching the Eagles at a real good time after taking on 16 touches on Monday.
Wide receivers
Jordan Matthews (8.0): Obvious must-start? Even with the matchup being what it is, he carries too much potential to be benched.
Nelson Agholor (5.0): It's not good if he's left one-on-one with Darrelle Revis or Antonio Cromartie. This is an easy week to keep Agholor benched.
Brandon Marshall (8.6): No. 1 receivers have had at least 80 yards and a touchdown in each of two games against Philly this year. It doesn't take much imagination to envision Marshall as the third.
Tight ends
Zach Ertz (3.3): He's quickly falling out of favor in the Fantasy community. Tough to see him pick up a bunch of stats against the Jets ... or anyone at this point.
Defense/Special teams
Eagles (3.5): Don't look now but the Jets offense has posted at least 20 points in each game and are moving the chains thanks to their passing game. The beleaguered Eagles seem set to struggle.
Jets (6.7): Figure them to be a good enough option. There's a hunch that the Eagles start to fix their problems this week, but not enough to turn them into a dynamic offense again.
Colts at Titans, Sun., 1 p.m. ET
Quarterbacks
Andrew Luck (9.2): Obvious must-start, and finally a favorable matchup.
Marcus Mariota (5.9): Mariota lands a favorable matchup even if Vontae Davis plays. Indy has allowed 67.9 percent of the throws against them to be completed at an 8.3 yards per attempt clip.
Running backs
Frank Gore (7.9): You can tell Gore still has the ability to play at a high level, he's just stunk against two really good run defenses. The Titans were gashed by Isaiah Crowell last week. Keep him active.
Bishop Sankey (5.9): The Browns run defense and the game flow in Week 2 kept Sankey from having a good game. Expect the trend to continue as the desperate Colts figure to put some points on the board.
Dexter McCluster (5.3): Dex could be a decent PPR sleeper since it's clear he'll be the one on the field when the Titans are forced into hurry-up mode. There's a good chance of that happening in Week 3.
Wide receivers
T.Y. Hilton (8.2): Hilton wasn't a decoy last week, he was "Revis-ed." Though his recent track record against Tennessee is surprisingly weak, the Titans don't have a cornerback to fear and they're clearly susceptible to the deep ball.
Donte Moncrief (7.6): Moncrief is pretty much the Colts' No. 2 receiver -- second on the team in targets but first in catches, yards and touchdowns. He has become a must-start choice.
Andre Johnson (5.7): No one should write Johnson off, but everyone should consider benching him. It's not like he routinely whipped the Titans when he was with the Texans.
Kendall Wright (6.9): Wright's a very good flex option, even if Vontae Davis plays. Even though his track record against Indy stinks, he has a shot at decent totals so long as Mariota is his quarterback.
Tight ends
Coby Fleener (3.9): If Dwayne Allen is out, Fleener figures to see a lot of playing time. He's a sleeper after the Titans yielded two touchdowns to tight ends in Week 1 and were barely tested against them in Week 2. He also has three scores in his last two games against Tennessee.
Anthony Fasano (4.1): Fasano is a big-time sleeper if Delanie Walker is still out. Mariota has leaned on his tight ends through two weeks, finding the end zone with them in each game.
Defense/Special teams
Colts (2.9): Last year they might have been a sneaky play against a bad Titans offense. This year they're risky considering their secondary and the Titans ability to put up some numbers (28.0 points per game so far this year).
Titans (2.3): The Colts might have only scored three touchdowns this season, but at 0-2 and their backs against the wall they figure to come out firing.
Jaguars at Patriots, Sun., 1 p.m. ET
Quarterbacks
Blake Bortles (5.2): The Patriots have allowed plenty of passing totals to opposing quarterbacks so far, and Bortles started to get in a groove last week. He's a FanDuel sleeper for sure.
Tom Brady (9.8): Obvious must-start.
Running backs
T.J. Yeldon (7.2): It's been slow moving for Yeldon so far with 3.3 yards per carry, but the Jaguars tried to get him going with 28 touches last week. Running backs have destroyed the Pats through two weeks, but how many touches will Yeldon get once the Jags fall behind?
Dion Lewis (8.1): Forget about the 32 touches, the 5.0 rushing yardage, the 14.9 receiving yardage and the big workload to start the season. How about this: Lewis fumbled in Week 2 and was on the field for the Patriots' very next offensive play. He stayed in the game! That tells you everything you need to know about how Bill Belichick views Lewis. He's a Top 20 running back until further notice.
LeGarrette Blount (6.3): This seems like a matchup where Blount could get more involved as a between-the-tackles grinder, but Lewis has played so well and offers so much versatility that the Patriots might opt to lean on him more and Blount less. If you want to start Blount because of his potential to score, go right ahead.
Wide receivers
Allen Robinson (8.1): Both No. 1 receivers the Patriots have faced this year have posted at least 60 yards and a touchdown. Robinson is next.
Allen Hurns (4.4), Marqise Lee (4.7): We could see Hurns and Lee pick up a couple of extra targets as the Jaguars lean on their three-receiver set. They're sure to play from behind, giving extra opportunities to both. Lee's speed makes him a very sneaky one-week FanDuel sleeper.
Julian Edelman (8.5): Obvious must-start.
Tight ends
Rob Gronkowski (10.0): Obvious must-start.
Defense/Special teams
Jaguars (1.9): Against Tom Brady and the Patriots at Foxboro? I'd rather take a zero.
Patriots (5.7): Lots of people will race to this DST because they're hosting the Jags, but don't be surprised if J-Ville puts up some points, be it in garbage time or otherwise.
Chargers at Vikings, Sun., 1 p.m. ET
Quarterbacks
Philip Rivers (6.9): Rivers' track record against Mike Zimmer-coached defenses is not good, throwing multiple touchdowns against them once in four tries. That suggests Zimmer gets his guys schemed up well against Rivers' Chargers. He shouldn't do any better than the 21 Fantasy points Matthew Stafford specifically threw for against them in Week 2 (Stafford ran for 20 yards to push him to 23 Fantasy points; Rivers barely runs).
Teddy Bridgewater (5.7): I'd imagine that Norv Turner's familiarity with John Pagano's defense (they worked together for several years in San Diego) will help guide Bridgewater. I wouldn't expect big yardage, but a couple of touchdowns shouldn't be out of the question.
Running backs
Danny Woodhead (7.5): The Vikings had a few issues with running backs making plays out of the backfield last week, which is one of Woodhead's specialties. He's had no fewer than 13 touches in each of his first two games and should compile at least that many in Week 3.
Melvin Gordon (7.4): Gordon looked pretty darn good against the Bengals in Week 2, rumbling for 88 rush yards on just 16 carries. A breakout game is expected soon -- probably next week against the Browns.
Adrian Peterson (9.6): Obvious must-start.
Wide receivers
Steve Johnson (7.2): Johnson's ability to run tight red-zone routes make him a candidate to score every week. The Vikings haven't really been tested by a quality slot receiver yet, but Johnson did well against a good slot corner last week.
Keenan Allen (6.3): It's another challenging matchup for Allen, who didn't have many targets in Week 2 and got figured out pretty quickly by a smart defense. He faces another in Week 3.
Mike Wallace (5.6): Wallace picked up more targets and catches in Week 1 when the Vikings were chasing points. He has also had more deep targets than Johnson, and that's an area the Vikings might be able to exploit against the Bolts.
Charles Johnson (5.3): Time to drop Johnson? Three targets per week and only one legit deep target on the season isn't going to get the job done. While cutting him seems rash, starting him against a good San Diego secondary isn't the best idea either.
Tight ends
Ladarius Green (4.9, if he plays): Five catches per week is pretty good, and the Vikings defense against tight ends got exploited last week. Green's risky but there's some decent hope for a score and good yardage with it.
Kyle Rudolph (8.0): Rapidly becoming a must-start tight end, Bridgewater has thrown at him more than anyone other Viking so far. The Chargers have struggled against tight ends through two weeks.
Defense/Special teams
Chargers (3.9): It wouldn't be a surprise to see the Chargers register a couple of sacks but they're going to give up some points to Adrian Peterson and the Vikings.
Vikings (6.5): I'm excited about the Vikings defense getting a shot at a couple of turnovers and potentially holding the Chargers to under 24 points, with some sacks along the way, of course.
Saints at Panthers, Sun., 1 p.m. ET
Quarterbacks
Drew Brees (5.8): It looks like Brees will play against a Panthers defense that's been great against the pass, but really hasn't been tested yet either (sorry Blake Bortles and Ryan Mallett). Still, expect a run-based game plan from the Saints. Brees' last multiple passing touchdown game at Carolina came in 2011.
Cam Newton (6.8): Cam's recent numbers against the Saints were real bad until last season when he broke through for a four-score surprise. New Orleans' pass defense has been ugly but to trust Newton in part means trusting his depleted receiving corps. There's some risk here.
Running backs
Mark Ingram (8.6): The Saints will probably build a game plan around running the ball, but the Panthers run defense has been sharp. He should be able to grind his way to at least 10 Fantasy points in a standard league.
C.J. Spiller (5.1): Spiller should see an uptick in touches now that he's knocked some rust off but he's never been as effective a player on natural grass versus FieldTurf.
Khiry Robinson (4.2): Robinson has looked pretty good in limited work and is worth stashing, not starting.
Jonathan Stewart (8.0): Stew's had at least 18 touches in each game this year and takes on a Saints defense he has a solid track record against. New Orleans has allowed 4.3 yards per rush to running backs.
Wide receivers
Brandin Cooks (7.1): There are a number of variables that bring down Cooks' value, starting with his quarterback's arm strength and continuing with his receiving average (12.3 yards per). Cooks also isn't the same kind of receiver on grass as he is on turf.
Brandon Coleman (5.4): His size and targets (6.5 per game) give him some appeal, but if the Panthers were able to limit DeAndre Hopkins last week, Coleman should be a piece of cake for them.
Marques Colston (4.0): When Brees got going after taking a hit to his arm, it was Colston over the middle as his top target. But Colston hasn't scored in three straight against Carolina and isn't really a reliable choice.
Tight ends
Greg Olsen (6.1): Olsen had a great game against the Saints late last year, but was pretty much a casual observer in several prior matchups. Between his slow start and the Saints safeties, he's not exactly a reliable starting option.
Defense/Special teams
Saints (2.7): The Saints have yet to register 10 Fantasy points in a typical league, and even though the Panthers don't have an overpowering offense, they should be good enough to keep the Saints suspect defense at bay.
Panthers (7.7): They're worth taking a chance on -- the Panthers held the Saints to under two touchdowns in two of their last three meetings. Plus, who knows just how Drew Brees feels.
Steelers at Rams, Sun., 1 p.m. ET
Quarterbacks
Ben Roethlisberger (8.6): No one's taken apart the Rams secondary yet, but Ben Roethlisberger's track record against Gregg Williams and Jeff Fisher-coached defenses isn't stellar -- three games with 20-plus Fantasy points out of seven. Expect a nice game from Roethlisberger but don't be surprised if it's far from what he did last week.
Nick Foles (4.2): Some sleepers are good choices and others carry major risk. Even though each quarterback to face the Steelers this year has turned in at least 30 Fantasy points, Foles could end up falling flat on his face.
Running backs
Le'Veon Bell (9.4): He's back -- and is an obvious must-start.
DeAngelo Williams (5.8): It was fun to start Williams while Bell was out (if we started him). He'll get some touches with Bell back but clearly won't have the same kind of workload.
Tre Mason (6.5): If Todd Gurley is out, Mason should have a better shot at double-digit Fantasy points than he did last week. Doesn't mean he'll get them though.
Benny Cunningham (4.9): The Steelers are allowing 7.7 yards per catch to running backs on the year and Cunningham could play a decent amount if the Rams are chasing points.
Wide receivers
Antonio Brown (9.8): Obvious must-start.
Kenny Britt (5.1): Britt has sleeper appeal as a downfield threat against a bad Steelers secondary. You're taking a chance starting him. He's a sneaky FanDuel tournament play.
Tavon Austin (4.7): The Steelers secondary is a mess and Austin is especially fast on the Rams home turf. If you're desperate, he's got some potential on limited targets.
Tight ends
Heath Miller (5.7): The Rams used to be good at covering tight ends. Used to be. Miller has mild appeal, particularly since the Rams could make this a game and force the Steelers to throw a good amount.
Jared Cook (4.7): Cook leads the Rams in targets, catches and yards. He's used more as a receiver than a tight end and could be a very sneaky choice if you're desperate at tight end or looking for a FanDuel sleeper.
Defense/Special teams
Steelers (4.5): A lot of people will pick up the Steelers because they're facing the Rams, but this is a really bad defense. You can find better.
Rams (5.1): You drafted the Rams DST to be great, but after this challenging matchup, they play at Arizona and at Green Bay before a Week 6 bye. How confident are you in using this DST through their bye week? Maybe it's time to either carry two or move on from this one.
Raiders at Browns, Sun., 1 p.m. ET
Quarterbacks
Derek Carr (5.5): There's a lot of buzz over Carr after he dismantled the Ravens in Week 2. But the Browns killed the buzz on Marcus Mariota last week. Using Carr seems a little risky and unnecessary, though it's worth noting he threw for just over 325 yards at Cleveland last year.
Josh McCown (3.0): The Raiders pass defense is woefully bad, but so is McCown. There's just no way he should be trusted in Fantasy.
Running backs
Latavius Murray (9.0): Each team to face the Browns has seen a running back land at least 100 total yards, plus they're allowing 8.7 yards per catch. Murray has been great as a do-it-all back for Oakland.
Isaiah Crowell (8.4): The Raiders have allowed 4.7 yards per carry to running backs with three rushing scores in two games. Crowell should thrive in what should be his best matchup of the season.
Wide receivers
Amari Cooper (7.7): Joe Haden or not, Cooper's breakout last week is evidence he can indeed play in this league. It's easy to feel good about starting him.
Michael Crabtree (5.8): Crabtree actually leads the Raiders in targets and catches and should continue to see looks from Carr. The Browns have allowed three touchdowns to receivers over the last two weeks, and Crabtree has two red-zone targets to Cooper's zero.
Travis Benjamin (6.2): OK, the matchup for Benjamin makes for a one-week fix. But we'd rather see Johnny Manziel throw to him than McCown, and we'd also be more willing to trust a receiver who played more than 57.5 percent of his team's snaps and ran more than nine routes in a game like Benjamin did last week. There's a lot of excitement over Benjamin, and for one week he's worth a shot if you don't like your receiving options, but don't expect it to last.
Defense/Special teams
Raiders (4.1): Theoretically the Raiders DST makes sense because the Browns offense isn't that great, but the Raiders defense is banged up and hasn't played well yet. On the road doesn't seem like the best time.
Browns (5.9): Cleveland has registered seven sacks, four takeaways and a special-teams touchdown through two weeks. The Raiders might have a little trouble matching the 37 points they scored last week at home against a tired Ravens defense. The Browns DST is a sleeper.
49ers at Cardinals, Sun., 4:05 p.m. ET
Quarterbacks
Colin Kaepernick (5.6): Kap has stepped up to play the Cardinals -- check out his last five against them. He's had at least 21 Fantasy points in four of his last five, but can he do it again? Arizona's pass defense has been excellent.
Carson Palmer (9.1): The Niners secondary got shelled last week and will get shelled again. Even Jim Tomsula noticed how well Palmer has been playing and realized his pass rush will have to get to him quickly. That might not happen too often. Palmer's going to have another big game.
Running backs
Carlos Hyde (7.8): The Cardinals run defense has been great, allowing 3.3 yards per carry through two games. They let up a touchdown last week and a bunch of receiving yards to backs in Week 1. If Hyde couldn't get moving at Pittsburgh, it's tough to see him rebound in a big way at Arizona.
David Johnson (6.4): Forget Chris Johnson -- he's the same guy he has been for years. David Johnson is the electric rookie who will start taking time away from him and from Andre Ellington when he returns. He's safest as a flex in Week 3.
Wide receivers
Anquan Boldin (7.4): Boldin has a sweet track record against his old team, including at least 14 Fantasy points in two of his last three against them.
Torrey Smith (6.0): Smith will draw plenty of attention because of his deep speed -- he might get a dose of Patrick Peterson -- but the targets he had last week should reappear since it's expected the 49ers chase points.
Larry Fitzgerald (8.4): Three touchdowns? OK, that was a fluke. But Fitzgerald's 17 targets and 14 catches to start the season is no fluke. He stunk last year against the Niners but played both games without Carson Palmer. His last two against the Niners with Palmer? At least six catches and 110 yards in each with one touchdown. Start him.
John Brown (7.5): The Niners allowed five deep completions for at least 35 yards each at Pittsburgh. Don't think Bruce Arians hasn't noticed. Brown's potential keeps him on the Fantasy radar.
Tight ends
Vernon Davis (3.7): Davis is getting targets and in PPR formats is a safe bet for at least 10 points per week. It's getting over the 15-point hump that we're waiting on. To do that, he'll have to score (which he's done in two of his past three against the Cards). Arizona's pass defense has started to put it together against tight ends.
Defense/Special teams
49ers (3.3): The Cardinals have scored 79 points in two games! You'd have to be out of your mind to try the Niners defense against them on the road.
Cardinals (7.9): The biggest concern is that the 49ers find ways to put up points -- they put up 20 and 23 points against the BirdGang in two games last year. They could get there again, but the Cardinals should force some turnovers along the way.
Bills at Dolphins, Sun., 4:25 p.m. ET
Quarterbacks
Tyrod Taylor (4.9): By now the Dolphins have two games of film to study on Taylor. Typically, Miami has done a nice job containing mobile quarterbacks, but their secondary has to step up to keep the Bills from attacking deep as they've done in consecutive weeks. The hunch is they'll do exactly that, making Taylor a risky pick.
Ryan Tannehill (6.0): Rex Ryan has almost always shut down Tannehill, but that was back when he was a Jet. The Bills have allowed multiple passing touchdowns to two consecutive quarterbacks and Tannehill should be in prime position to make it three in a row, especially since the Dolphins run game is slowed.
Running backs
LeSean McCoy (8.9): If Buffalo is smart it'll test the Dolphins run defense just as the Redskins and Jaguars did. McCoy is a safe pick for over 100 total yards.
Karlos Williams (5.7): Williams is a very risky start considering he's had just six carries in each game so far. Asking him to extend his scoring streak to three is too much.
Lamar Miller (6.9): Miller is banged up, his offensive line is banged up and his coaches are putting more on other people's plates than his. This isn't a good matchup for Miller.
Wide receivers
Sammy Watkins (7.3): Sammy had mixed results against the Fins last year but has a shot to make some plays because of Taylor throwing to him. He did well with the stronger-armed passer against Miami last season. He's in the No. 2 receiver mix.
Jarvis Landry (7.8): Landry has eight catches in each of his first two games and is about due for a touchdown. After Julian Edelman ripped apart the Bills from out of the slot in Week 2, Landry's score could come in Week 3 with at least 10 targets to boot.
Rishard Matthews (5.5): Matthews has been productive for the Dolphins, making plays in each game and delivering at least 9 Fantasy points per in standard and 15 in PPR. Because Miami doesn't figure to run the ball well versus Buffalo, expect more from Matthews.
Tight ends
Charles Clay (4.3): Don't expect a big "revenge" game from Clay, who has no more than seven Fantasy points in a game so far this season.
Jordan Cameron (6.3): Cameron remains an appealing start if he plays. The Bills have allowed a touchdown to a tight end in consecutive games, and Cameron is getting closer and closer to finding pay dirt. Week 3 should be it.
Defense/Special teams
Bills (7.1): It seems unlikely that Miami will put up a lot of points -- they've averaged 18.5 points per game so far. Maybe they score a few more than that, getting up to the 21-point mark. The Bills should otherwise hold them back and pick up some sacks along the way.
Dolphins (6.9): It was stunning to see the Jaguars put 23 points on the Dolphins in Week 2. Their defense just hasn't been what was expected. Their run defense especially needs to buckle down, and it will get tested against the Bills. In what should amount to a low-scoring game, the Dolphins DST is still worth starting.
Bears at Seahawks, Sun., 4:25 p.m. ET
Quarterbacks
Jimmy Clausen (1.0): Yeah right.
Russell Wilson (8.5): Wilson should have at least an efficient start against a Bears pass defense that has been ... how can I put this professionally ... super stinky.
Running backs
Matt Forte (8.5): You'll start him, but the Seahawks run defense should be better at home with Kam Chancellor back on the field. They were already pretty good without him.
Marshawn Lynch (9.5): Obvious must-start.
Wide receivers
Eddie Royal (3.4): Royal might be a decent low-end receiver in PPR formats. That's about it.
Doug Baldwin (4.8): Baldwin is the leader in the clubhouse for the Seahawks in targets, catches and yards. He's probably the safest bet of the Seahawks receivers.
Tight ends
Martellus Bennett (5.9): If you get points for targets, Bennett should be great. Catches and yards? Maybe garbage time will be good to Martellus.
Jimmy Graham (9.5): Obvious must-start and a candidate for two touchdowns given the state of the Bears secondary in the red zone. If you saw Larry Fitzgerald push around the Bears corners last week, you'll know what Graham will be capable of doing. I like him a lot for FanDuel as a bounce-back player.
Defense/Special teams
Bears (2.1): The Seahawks tend to play better at home than on the road, and they've averaged 24 points per game away from Seattle. Looking for their first win, expect them to light up the Bears.
Seahawks (9.4): With no Jay Cutler and no Alshon Jeffery, and with Kam Chancellor back, the Seahawks should be dominant.
Broncos at Lions, Sun., 8:30 p.m. ET
Quarterbacks
Peyton Manning (8.1): Even though the Lions will be amped up at home, the prevailing thought all along was that the Broncos would fix many of their O-line problems by this game. After turning things around last week, Manning should be trusted again. The Lions have allowed 20 or more Fantasy points to each quarterback they've faced.
Matthew Stafford (4.8): The Broncos pass defense has done incredible things to opposing quarterbacks (four Fantasy points allowed combined?!). No one should feel good trusting Stafford knowing that the Broncos had extra time to prepare for this matchup.
Running backs
C.J. Anderson (8.3): Give Anderson one more shot against the Lions. The extra time off should have helped him rest up and the offensive line hopefully gelled during their time away. Detroit's run defense has allowed at least 16 Fantasy points to at least one back in each game this year.
Ronnie Hillman (6.1): Because he'll take some snaps from Anderson (potentially a lot) he's a decent desperation play.
Ameer Abdullah (7.0): Starting Abdullah is like taking a leap of faith after the Lions barely used him in Week 2. Theo Riddick had more touches! His potential makes him appealing but so long as he's sharing with Riddick and Joique Bell (don't ask me why), he really has a ceiling to his numbers. Oh, and the Broncos run defense is pretty tough, too.
Wide receivers
Demaryius Thomas (9.6): Obvious must-start.
Emmanuel Sanders (8.8): Obvious must-start.
Calvin Johnson (8.3): Obvious must-start.
Golden Tate (6.6): Not a great matchup for him, plus it's not like he fared well in earlier matchups. If you expect 80 yards for him, you'll probably be all right.
Tight ends
Owen Daniels (5.1): Daniels is a sneaky play based on how poor the Lions have defended against tight ends and because of how he fits into the shotgun style of offense Manning will probably start using more often.
Eric Ebron (5.5): Double-E has been solid for two straight weeks and seems to be making a push toward being a quality Fantasy option, but the Broncos linebackers and safeties will make things hard in coverage on him, plus the pass rush will hamper Stafford quite a bit too.
Defense/Special teams
Broncos (7.5): It's a good defensive unit in a dangerous matchup but it shouldn't stop them from recording some sacks and turnovers. It's allowing points that could be an issue -- the Broncos have allowed 18.5 points per game, the Lions have scored 22.0 points per game, and this is their home debut.
Lions (5.3): DSTs to play the Broncos this season have done very well, scoring a defensive touchdown as part of their success. We're counting on the Broncos offense playing better after a 10-day layoff, but there's a chance they're not. The Lions are a good option if you're in a pinch.
Chiefs at Packers, Mon., 8:30 p.m. ET
Quarterbacks
Alex Smith (5.1): There's a good chance Smith bounces back after last week's touchdownless performance. Green Bay has allowed a bunch of rushing yards to opposing passers and yielded two scores to Seattle last week. The Chiefs will have to throw a decent amount while chasing points.
Aaron Rodgers (9.6): Obvious must-start.
Running backs
Jamaal Charles (9.3): Obvious must-start.
Eddie Lacy (9.1, if he's healthy): Obvious must-start, provided he practices enough by Saturday.
James Starks (5.2): Starks will probably pick up a few extra touches to help ease Lacy back on the field after spraining his ankle last week. The only way he's start-worthy is if Lacy is out, in which case Starks would be a serviceable starting Fantasy running back.
Wide receivers
Jeremy Maclin (6.4): The Packers are allowing 14.8 yards per catch to wideouts, and the Chiefs figure to be chasing points. Maclin should surpass his season-high 57 yards with ease, but he's no better than a low-end No. 3 receiver.
Randall Cobb (8.7): Obvious must-start.
James Jones (6.7): Can't deny his nose for the end zone, nor can you deny the Chiefs' allowance of multiple touchdowns to receivers every week. Still considered risky, Jones falls in as a No. 3 receiver.
Davante Adams (6.5): Here's the deal on Adams -- he's involved plenty in the Packers offense (second-highest target, catch and yardage totals), which is a good thing. The ankle problem from Week 2 doesn't seem like a big deal. He's just overshadowed by James Jones' touchdown production. Eventually things will turn and Adams will be huge for Fantasy owners. Stay patient. Call him a No. 3 receiver this week.
Tight ends
Travis Kelce (8.1): Obvious must-start.
Richard Rodgers (3.1): Dating back to last year, the Chiefs have allowed one touchdown to the position in their last eight games. It came last week when Virgil Green scored. Even with three catches in each of his first two games, Rodgers is a dicey choice.
Defense/Special teams
Chiefs (4.3): They're a good unit, but Green Bay is where good units go to look mediocre. Just ask Seattle after last week.
Packers (6.1): Don't expect a great game from the Packers DST. The Chiefs offense has posted at least 17 points per game and over 300 yards per.
