The House of Crouse 9.20.08: Week 3 Edition
Posted by Mark Crouse on 09.20.2008
Heading into Week 3, Mark checks in on the M*A*S*H unit and ranks the major positions to help you succeed.
Welcome to the Week 3 edition of The House of Crouse. We've seen every team twice (except Houston and Baltimore), and your fantasy team's personality is forming right in front of you. This week I'll pass along some advice regarding injuries that can affect your roster, and then I'll give my top picks at each position for this week.
On a non-sports note, Rock Band 2 came out Sunday, and I played it basically all day and checked the internet after every song to get updates. With my Ravens on an unexpected bye, I had to dig in to the game I'd been waiting months to play, and it didn't disappoint. I judge a game like RB2 by the degree it can make a guy who has absolutely no musical talent feel like a rock star, and in that category, it is a perfect 10. If you own the original, you must buy the sequel, as it improves on song selection, graphics, difficulty, and features. But you probably already know all this since it's been out for a week at this point.
On to the fantasy. As always, some big names are banged up, and will affect your decision making. Let's examine some of these gimpy stars:
-No player is bigger than the consensus #1 pick, LaDanian Tomlinson, who is suffering from a toe injury that forced him out of last week's game. He did not practice Wednesday or Thursday, and it seems unlikely that he will play Sunday. If you own LDT, you need Darren Sproles, who showed off impressive versatility and speed against Denver. Sproles can hold down a starting spot if Tomlinson is listed as out on Monday night. The problem is that you won't know if he's playing when you have to make a decision Sunday. If you are forced to decide, bet on him not playing, since toe injuries are notoriously painful, and he may have to leave the game again if he does play.
-Vikings second-year sensation Adrian Peterson is nursing a hamstring injury that kept him out of practice Thursday. All indications are that if Peterson does play, he won't be 100%. Since the Vikes have the luxury of Chester Taylor backing up Peterson, the former Sooner probably won't be putting up huge points for your squad against Carolina. The only factor working in favor of Peterson playing is that the game is as close to a must-win as you can get in Week 3. Check the injury reports on Sunday, but plan on playing Taylor if you were savvy enough to handcuff him to Peterson.
-Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger has a sore shoulder which is believed to be caused by a separation of his AC joint in his throwing arm. He has been fully practicing, and can always use a cortizone shot if necessary. Play him against the Eagles, and expect pretty good numbers, since Philly is coming off a short week and showed themselves to be defensively vulnerable against Dallas. Start Big Ben without reservation.
-Jags RB Mauice Jones-Drew participated in practice on a limitd bases, due to an ankle injury. The fact that he is at practice at all and that his team's back is squarely against the wall at 0-2 makes me think he'll play against the Colts. Jones-Drew's high-scoring history against Indy outweighs the fact that he is injured. As always, check the reports on Sunday, but look for MJD to play.
And now, for the first time, I'll break down who I think is in for a big game the week. As always, these lists are for entertainment only.
Quarterback:
1.Jay Cutler (DEN) vs. NO
2.Tony Romo (DAL) @GB
3.Eli Manning (NYG) vs. CIN
4.Kurt Warner (ARI) @ WAS
5.Ben Roethlisberger (PIT) @ PHI
6.Drew Brees (NO) @ DEN
7.Donovan McNabb (PHI) vs. PIT
8.Peyton Manning (IND) vs. JAC
9.Aaron Rodgers (GB) vs. DAL
10.Jon Kitna (DET) @ SF
11.Jason Campbell (WAS) vs. ARI
12.Brett Favre (NYJ) @ SD
Running Backs:
1.Frank Gore (SF) vs. DET
2.Brian Westbrook (PHI) vs. PIT
3.Michael Turner (ATL) vs. KC
4.Marion Barber (DAL) @ GB
5.Marshawn Lynch (BUF) vs. OAK
6.Ryan Grant (GB) vs. DAL
7.Clinton Portis (WAS) vs. ARI
8.Brandon Jacobs (NYG) vs. CIN
9.Darren McFadden (OAK) @ BUF
10.Joseph Addai (IND) vs. JAC
11.Willie Parker (PIT) @ PHI
12.Steven Jackson (STL) @ SEA
13.Maurice Jones-Drew (JAC) @ IND
14.Reggie Bush (NO) @ DEN
15.Chris Johnson (TEN) vs. HOU
16.Earnest Graham (TB) @ CHI
17.Julius Jones (SEA) vs. STL
18.Thomas Jones (NYJ) @ SD
19.La Danian Tomlinson (SD) vs. NYJ
20.Chester Taylor (MIN) vs. CAR
21.Jonathan Stewart (CAR) @ MIN
22.Matt Forte (CHI) vs. TB
23.Jamal Lewis (CLE) @ BAL
24.Larry Johnson (KC) @ ATL
Wide Receivers:
1.Terrell Owens (DAL) @ GB
2.Brandon Marshall (DEN) vs. NO
3.Calvin Johnson (DET) @ SF
4.Plaxico Burress (NYG) vs. CIN
5.Anquan Boldin (ARI) @ WAS
6.Randy Moss (NE) vs. MIA
7.Reggie Wayne (IND) vs. JAC
8.Greg Jennings (GB) vs. DAL
9.Larry Fitzgerald (ARI) @ WAS
10.Torry Holt (STL) @ SEA
11.Hines Ward (PIT) @ PHI
12.Jerricho Cotchery (NYJ) @ SD
13.Andre Johnson (HOU) @ TEN
14.Santonio Holmes (PIT) @ PHI
15.Santana Moss (WAS) vs. ARI
16.Roy Williams (DET) @ SF
17.Braylon Edwards (CLE) @ BAL
18.Steve Smith (CAR) @ MIN
19.T.J. Houshmandzadeh (CIN) @ NYG
20.Wes Welker (NE) vs. MIA
21.Dwayne Bowe (KC) @ ATL
22.Donald Driver (GB) vs. DAL
23.Chad Johnson (CIN) @ NYG
24.DeSean Jackson (PHI) vs. PIT
Tight Ends:
1.Jason Witten (DAL) @ GB
2.Tony Scheffler (DEN) vs. NO
3.Kellen Winslow (CLE) @ BAL
4.Antonio Gates (SD) vs. NYJ
5.Jeremy Shockey (NO) @ DEN
6.Heath Miller (PIT) @ PHI
7.Chris Cooley (WAS) vs. ARI
8.Tony Gonzalez (KC) @ ATL
9.Vernon Davis (SF) vs. DET
10.Robert Royal (BUF) vs. OAK
11.Zach Miller (OAK) @ BUF
12.Dallas Clark (IND) vs. JAC
Well, I hope those rankings help you make some hard calls on Sunday. Enjoy Week 3, and as always, any comments, questions, or inspirational messages to mark_crouse@hotmail.com. Godspeed!
