Top NFL Players - Week 3

Every Monday, I shall show the top players at each offensive skill position - fantasy-style, with the percentage owned and started in parenthesis. All data is from espn.com

Let's begin:

Quarterback:
Michael Vick (50.5%/98.3%)
17/31, 291 yards passing and 3 TD's, 4 rushes for 30 yards and 1 Rushing TD
32 Fantasy Points

The Philadelphia Eagles are on a roll with Vick at the helm. His team thoroughly dominated the Jacksonville Jaguars, and I think we all are witnessing the ole' 2006 Michael Vick now. He accounted for all 4 of the Eagles' TD's, throwing 2 to Jeremy Maclin and one to speedy Pro-Bowler DeSean Jackson. Up next, my team, the Washington Redskins. I think he'll be pumped and play a SPECTACULAR game - a..k.a. a MUST-START against my Redskins. 

 

Running Back:
Adrian Peterson (100/100)
23 Carries, 160 rushing yards and 2 TD's; 0 fumbles; 5 catches for 30 yards
31 Fantasy Points

Peterson is a STUD. He was out for a monster game against the slowly-improving Detroit Lions, and it showed. He displayed his power, agility AND quickness all in one play - his career-long 80-yard scamper in the third quarter. "All Day" has a bye next week, so you would definitely want to bench him. 

Running Back:
Chris Johnson (100/100)
32 Carries, 125 rushing yards and 2 TD's
24 Fantasy Points

Like AP (Adrian Peterson), CJ also had a huge game - this time against the disappointing New York Giants. He had a season-high 32 carries, since his quarterback, Vince Young, only passed 16 times (completing 10 passes) for a meager 118 yards. He is obviously a must-start against the average Denver Broncos.

Honorable Mention:
Peyton Hillis (32.5/70.5)
22 Carries, 144 rushing yards and 1 TD; 7 Catches for 36 yards; 0 Fumbles
23 Fantasy Points

I doubt Cleveland Browns' fullback/running back surprised many people, since 1/2 the owners started him against the vaunted Baltimore Ravens' run defense. I was REALLY surprised by his performance, since the last Browns' running back to eclipse the triple-digit mark was ex-Raven Jamal Lewis. I had gotten him off the waiver-wire last week, but benched him, since the Browns were facing the Ravens. He has had fantasy points of: 10, 11 and 23, and faces a Bengals team that allowed 11 points to Ray Rice; 6 points to DeAngleo Williams; and 7 to Fred Taylor. So, Start Hillis at your own risk against the Bengals.


Wide Receiver/Running Back (Flex):
Lance Moore (0.3/2.3) NOT A TYPO!
6 catches for 149 yards and 2 TD's
26 Fantasy Points

Like Norwood's performance last week, no one expected this to occur against the high-flying Atlanta Falcons. Reggie-WHO? Lance had a 72-yard punt return (not for a TD) and an 80-yard TD catch. Boy, with this Saints' offense, no one knows which player will have a breakout game. Maybe seldom-used Robert Meachem will lead the team in receiving yards next week against the Carolina Panthers.

Wide Receiver:
Anquan Boldin (82.6/100)
8 Catches for 142 receiving yards and 3 TD's
32 Fantasy Points

Last week, it was the running backs' time to shine. This week, the breakout performers were the wide receivers, especially ex-Cardinal Anquan Boldin. I had benched him (regrettably), thinking that Ravens' quarterback Joe Flacco's struggles will continue - but I guess the Browns' pass-defense was just what the doctor ordered. Flacco's favorite target had over 140 receiving yards, and not one, not two, but THREE touchdowns against the woeful Cleveland Browns. Boldin should be a must-start, even if his team is facing the BEST defense in the NFL in the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Wide Receiver:
Austin Collie (31.3/99)
12 Catches for 171 receiving yards and 2 TD's
29 Fantasy Points

With the focus on Peyton Manning and Reggie Wayne, the Denver Broncos forgot about Manning's new favorite wide receiver in Austin Collie. Manning's favorite targets have changed over the years: first, Marvin Harrison; then Brandon Stokley; then Reggie Wayne; then Pierre Garcon; Now, Austin Collie. He had a career-high 171 receiving yards and helped lead the team over the Broncos. With fantasy points of 20, 8 and now 29, I suggest that his starting percentage (31.3) will skyrocket when his team faces off against the woeful Jaguars next week.

Tight End

Dustin Keller (3.9/16.4)
6 Catches for 98 yards and 2 TD's
21 Fantasy Points

Looks like we have a new QB-TE combo this season in Mark Sanchez and Dustin Keller. Back-to-back weeks of 17 and 21 fantasy points - against TWO AFC East foes in the Patriots and the Dolphins - mean he is a must-grab off the waiver wire and a MUST-START against the terrible, terrible Buffalo Bills.

Kicker
Dan Carpenter (4.2/6.3)
3 for 3 on Field Goals; 2 for 2 on Extra-Points
14 Fantasy Points

Carpenter was used a lot against the vaunted Jets' defense. Like the Ravens' defense, the Jets also do not allow many touchdowns - causing opposing teams to kick field goals early and often - which is why Carpenter was used so often. He should be left on the waiver-wire - other field-goal kickers will outperform him throughout the season.

Defense/Special Teams
Seattle Seahawks (3.8/8.3)
2 Kickoff TD's; 2 Ints; 3 Fumbles Recovered; 20 Points Allowed
26 Fantasy Points

Surprisingly, the Seahawks, led by ex-Jet Leon Washington, had the most fantasy points out of all team defense/special teams. Washington not only had one, but TWO kickoff returns for touchdowns (in the SAME half!) - in addition to the last-minute interception of San Diego Chargers' quarterback Philip Rivers - to aid the 'Hawks - despite allowing Rivers to throw for over 450 yards in the air.

TOTAL Fantasy Points: 235 (Honorable Mention = 234)