An unbelievable Week 3 came to an end with the most puzzling final play I have ever seen. The final play in Seattle shows the replacement refs need to go. Legendary broadcaster Al Michaels railed against the referees. Even Drew Brees had a venomous opinion about them as well. They even managed to make a key mistake in the Tennessee-Detroit game in overtime.
Hopefully your team didn’t get screwed in Week 3 like the Packers did. But if it did and you need to make some moves, here’s a list of guys to pick up and a couple to avoid. FAAB numbers are based off of a $100 budget. Availability is based on ESPN.com leagues.
Quarterbacks
Shaun Hill – Detroit ($3, 99.7%) would be a smooth pickup this week. Matthew Stafford left the game in the fourth quarter with a leg injury and a 14-point deficit. All Hill did was throw two touchdown passes including a buzzer-beating Hail Mary that Titus Young found and walked into the end zone. Detroit is also off Week 5 so it’s not far-fetched to have Hill start Week 4 against Vikings to allow Stafford more time to heal up.
Running Backs
Mikel Leshoure – Detroit. ($8, 64%) Leshoure had a great game against a rubbery Titans’ defense. Leshoure was the running back that Detroit was high on going into this season before Leshoure got a two-game suspension for eating marijuana. I’m not joking.
He’s a big ,barrellling running back and if Hill gets the start a I mentioned above, Leshoure would be a great add for the game against the Vikings. Keep in mind that, though I did list $8 as the FAAB it’s merely out of concern that backfield could get murky. I’m sure someone out there is going to believe he gets 30 touches a game and will bet the farm on him. If you’re in need at RB, you just might have to pony up and take a big swing.
Ryan Williams – Arizona ($3, 22%) Beanie Wells is potentially out with a turf toe injury. Williams brings a pulse to an otherwise limp Cardinals’ rushing attack. He will have a low ceiling this week against the tough Miami defense but think long-term. Arizona may have stability now at the quarterback position with Kevin Kolb but they will need to have a running game to supplement their elite defense. Williams is hungry as well since he missed 2011 after rupturing his patella tendon in the preseason against Green Bay.
Wide Receivers
Kendall Wright – Tennessee ($1, 87.8%) Wright could be a decent add this week. Kenny Britt suffered a minor ankle injury but isn’t expected to miss playing time. We’ve seen Nate Washington put up some monster numbers but they’ve been one home-run caliber play and then nothing else. With tight end Jared Cook possibly missing time (shoulder), Wright could get an uptick in targets.
Tight Ends
Heath Miller – Pittsburgh ($1, 72.4%) Miller had a great game against Oakland with 10 targets that led to 8 catches, 60 yards and two touchdowns. Miller’s 10 targets were one below Mike Wallace and Antonio Brown. Pittsburgh has a week 4 bye so swipe Miller while no one is thinking about the Steelers.
Martellus Bennett – NY Giants ($3, 33.9%) Bennett had a stellar game against Carolina with 6 catches for 73 yards and 1 touchdown. With opponents focusing on Hakeem Nicks and Victor Cruz, Bennett will benefit and make a nice addition to your team.
Kyle Rudolph – Minnesota ($3, 86.1%) The Vikings’ tight end had a two-touchdown game against the 49ers and now has three scores in three weeks. It’s becoming crystal clear that Christian Ponder is looking to him in the red zone and Minnesota is actually moving the ball.
DST Units
Arizona Cardinals – ($3, 81.6%) The Cardinals are 3-0. The Cardinals lead the league with just 40 points allowed in three games.The Cardinals hit Michael Vick 13 times. The Cardinals host Miami and Reggie Bush might not play. Deal yourself some Cards and enjoy the ride.
Sucker Bets
And now for the guys you know someone will add but you really shouldn’t.
Tashard Choice – BUF RB (99.6%). Tashard would be as bad of a Choice as milk was to Ron Burgundy. Fred Jackson is practicing this week and is about 75% likely to play New England. Choice would be just another platoon back and smart owners don’t go for that. Also, Spiller is only expected to miss a week or two with his shoulder injury.
Daniel Thomas/Lamar Miller – MIA RB (41.1%/97.1%) are both to be avoided. Arizona has shut down RBs this season; they held LeSean McCoy to 70 yards rushing this past week. If Shady got seventy, how many do you think these guys will get? If Bush is a no-go, neither of them is a clear-cut RB2 on the depth chart in fantasy.
Ronnie Hillman/Knowshon Moreno/Lance Ball – DEN RB (99.6%/93.5%/99.7%) All three of them are to be avoided with Willis McGahee suffering from an apparent rib injury. I don’t think Broncos head coach John Fox can figure out who the RB2 is on his team and if he can’t, you shouldn’t waste your time either.
Golden Tate –Â SEA WR (98.8%) should be avoided. The line from Monday’s game will read 3 catches for 68 yards and 2 touchdowns; In reality it should be 2-44-1. Tate’s two scores (even though one of them was of the phantom variety) will raise some eyebrows but yours shouldn’t be. He doesn’t have consistency and has a rookie quarterback throwing to him who actually plays like a rookie.
