Three and out: Hightower done for season

NFL.com Staff | Tags: Three and out, Arizona Cardinals, Beanie Wells, Darren McFadden, Oakland Raiders, Santana Moss, Tim Hightower, Washington Redskins

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Hightower has torn ACL: The Redskins got worst-case scenario news Monday when they learned RB Tim Hightower is out for the rest of the season with a torn ACL in his left knee. That gives coach Mike Shanahan one less player for his indecipherable running back rotation and should increase touches for RBs Ryan Torain and Roy Helu. The news is slightly better for WR Santana Moss, who is out 5-7 weeks after surgery on his broken left hand. Given TE Chris Cooley’s injury, TE Fred Davis once again is a valuable commodity.

Wells likely out two weeks: The Cardinals expect RB Beanie Wells to miss the next 1-2 weeks with a bone bruise in his right knee, which moves RBs Alfonso Smith and LaRod Stephens-Howling to the front of the line for carries. With the Ravens up next, neither back is a particularly attractive fantasy option. But keep an eye on which of the two gets the most touches. The Rams and their NFL-worst rushing defense are on tap in Week 9, which would make any Redbirds running back an interesting play.

McFadden expected to be OK: Raiders RB Darren McFadden left Sunday’s game early with a sprained foot and never returned. McFadden was reportedly held out as a precaution and could be back in Week 9. The Raiders running game can’t be blamed for the loss to Kansas City, given RB Michael Bush had 99 yards on 17 carries. If McFadden isn’t ready after the bye week, Bush is a quality start against the Broncos. For now, work on the assumption that Run DMC will be able to walk (or run) this way again in a couple of weeks.

– Marcas Grant

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Three and out: Palmer to start for Raiders

NFL.com Staff | Tags: Three and out, Carson Palmer, Cleveland Browns, Indianapolis Colts, Joseph Addai, Oakland Raiders, Peyton Hillis

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Palmer taking first team reps: Barely 24 hours since joining the Silver and Black, Carson Palmer has already assumed the duties of Oakland’s starting quarterback and all indications are that he will be the man under center on Sunday against Kansas City. The Chiefs have been rather generous to fantasy quarterbacks this year, allowing more than 18 points per contest. But keep in mind that Palmer hasn’t thrown a pass in anger in more than nine months, so you can expect a reasonable amount of rust.

But it’s not all bad for the Raiders’ offense. After all, there’s still Darren McFadden, who is not only one of the league’s top runners, but has proven himself to be a capable receiver out of the backfield. And you shouldn’t be afraid to throw Darrius Heyward-Bey in your lineup. Palmer undoubtedly recognizes who his playmakers are and combined with K.C.’s horrid secondary, DHB should see a number of tosses in his direction.

Hillis still uncertain vs. Seattle: The weekly status of Peyton Hillis is quickly climbing the charts as 2011's Greatest Fantasy Headaches. Pardon us if you’ve heard this song before, but coach Pat Shurmur says Hillis isn’t a sure thing for this week’s game against Seattle. The hamstring that might (or might not) have been the reason for his extended stay on the bench last week kept him off the practice field on Wednesday. If he doesn’t go, it will be another week of Montario Hardesty. Even if Hillis is available, recent weeks have shown that he’s no lock to get most of the carries. Either way, the Seahawks have been pretty stout against the run, so you might want to skip a Browns running back altogether.

Addai misses practice: The status of Joseph Addai remains up in the air after sitting out practice with a tender hamstring. With Addai out last week, Delone Carter and Donald Brown split carries. And although neither did particularly well, keep in mind that it was against the very stout Bengals defense. Then again, Indy lines up against the Saints this week and New Orleans has been even tougher on fantasy running backs. If you’re desperately in need of a bye-week replacement at running back, Carter’s worth a flex look. But overall, you are better served by looking elsewhere.

– Marcas Grant

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Three and out: Raiders show interest in Palmer, Garrard

NFL.com Staff | Tags: Three and out, Dallas Cowboys, Detroit Lions, Felix Jones, Jahvid Best, Jason Campbell, Oakland Raiders

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Raiders start QB search: After Jason Campbell left Sunday’s game with a broken collarbone, Oakland immediately went on the hunt to find a new signal-caller. The first name to emerge in the search was the apparently-retired Carson Palmer, but the perimeter has been widened to include former Jaguars QB David Garrard. The flurry of activity suggests that coach Hue Jackson is not ready to hand the reins to Kyle Boller or Terrelle Pryor – especially not with the Raiders at 4-2 and with a very real shot at the playoffs.

But for fantasy purposes, Campbell’s injury will have a very real impact on receivers Darrius Heyward-Bey, Denarius Moore and Jacoby Ford – all of whom were starting to find a nice rhythm. Until Jackson finds a quarterback he can trust to throw the ball 25 to 30 times a game, expect Oakland to lean more heavily on Darren McFadden, making any of their wideouts a dicey proposition for the foreseeable future.

Shakeup in the Dallas backfield?: In the first half of Sunday’s loss to New England, Cowboys running back Felix Jones left the game with an apparent leg injury that has since been diagnosed as the dreaded high-ankle sprain. Because such injuries are tricky to diagnose, there is no definite timetable for his return. And because the Cowboys have already had their bye, there are no more off weeks for Jones to get healthy.

Normally it would mean more touches for Tashard Choice or DeMarco Murray, but with reports that Dallas is taking offers for Choice, it could leave Murray as the main man in coach Jason Garrett’s backfield. In Week 7, the ‘Boys face the St. Louis Rams and their sieve-like run defense. Whoever ends up getting most of the carries on Sunday could be in line for a big day. It’s just a matter of figuring out who it’s going to be.

Best suffered concussion: There’s no doubt that Jahvid Best is the featured back in Detroit, but that could be on hold for the time being after the running back suffered his second concussion this season against the 49ers on Sunday. Expect his status for Sunday against Atlanta to be in doubt, with updates coming as the week progresses. Best has not only shown his worth as a running back, but as a pass-catcher out of the backfield.

Concussions have been an issue for Best dating back to his college days at Cal and adds to his growing narrative of injury issues. If he can’t go, it moves veteran Maurice Morris to the top of Detroit’s depth chart.

– Marcas Grant

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Three and out: Texans’ Johnson could “miss a few weeks”

NFL.com Staff | Tags: Three and out, Andre Johnson, Ben Tate, Houston Texans, Mario Manningham, New York Giants, Roy Helu, Ryan Torain, Tim Hightower, Washington Redskins

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Johnson to have MRI: The Houston Texans got good news on Sunday when Andre Johnson’s injury appeared to be a hamstring and not a knee. But the bad news is that his injured hamstring could put him on the shelf for a bit. Add that to Ben Tate’s groin injury and Derrick Ward’s bum ankle and the Texans might have to go without quite a bit of firepower. If Johnson is gone for any length of time, it means more snaps for Jacoby Jones and Kevin Walter. However, it likely means more targets for Owen Daniels and more dependence on the renewed Arian Foster and the running game.

Redskins to rotate running backs: Sunday turned out to be a big day for Ryan Torain and if he keeps running hard, there could be more on the way. Redskins coach Mike Shanahan unveiled his new running back strategy after yesterday’s win, telling reporters that “we’ve got three football players at the running back position. All three guys can play. All guys have a strength, and we’ll play the hot guy.” Translation: Tim Hightower, Torain and Roy Helu all become risky plays — unless you can get into the mind of Shanahan. Good luck.

Manningham demoted during game: The disappearance of Mario Manningham had a lot of fantasy owners scratching their heads on Sunday. The fourth-year receiver had just one catch for 10 yards and was reportedly dropped from the team’s two-receiver sets midway through the game. In his place, Victor Cruz did a nice job, catching six passes for 98 yards. It’s premature to banish Manningham to the waiver wire, but with a game against the woeful Seattle Seahawks next week, if Manningham finds himself behind Cruz again, it might be time to move him off your roster.

– Marcas Grant

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Three and out: Gates out until Week 7?

NFL.com Staff | Tags: Three and out, Antonio Gates, Curtis Painter, Hakeem Nicks, Indianapolis Colts, Kerry Collins, New York Giants, San Diego Chargers

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Gates to rest injured foot: It’s not looking good for Antonio Gates suiting up for Sunday’s game against Miami. And considering he’s been told that rest may be the best medicine, it’s possible that he may not return to action until after the team’s Week 6 bye. In his place last week, Randy McMichael logged four catches for 51 yards. But with San Diego’s schizophrenic early season offense (Vincent Jackson goes from three targets one week to 15 the next?!?), it’s hard to tell which Chargers pass catcher will get his number called. McMichael is the guy to start if you’re looking to replace Gates, but he won’t come close to the future Hall of Famer’s numbers.

Nicks added to injury list: Giants receiver Hakeem Nicks didn’t practice on Thursday,  something to keep an eye on for fantasy owners. Last week, Nicks wasn’t much of a contributor with just three catches for 25 yards while Victor Cruz made his starring turn against the Eagles. If Nicks is available, he should be in your lineup since he has a very favorable matchup against the Cardinals this week. But keep a close eye on the situation. If he’s out, Cruz is back in play again.

Colts yet to name starting QB: According to Colts’ owner Jim Irsay, the identity of Indy’s starting quarterback for Monday night against Tampa Bay is still unknown. If you’re deciding between starting Kerry Collins or Curtis Painter, your fantasy season probably ended before it began. But it could have an impact on whether you start Reggie Wayne or Dallas Clark. Clark’s value is dropping like a lead-covered stone while Wayne’s is merely treading water. But with a suspect quarterback against a Bucs defense in the top half of the league in fantasy points when it comes to stopping receivers, you can start Wayne at your own peril.

– Marcas Grant

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Three and out: Broncos’ McGahee to start

NFL.com Staff | Tags: Three and out, Dallas Cowboys, Daniel Thomas, Denver Broncos, Dez Bryant, Knowshon Moreno, Miami Dolphins, Willis McGahee

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McGahee, Moreno to share carries: Just like last week, Knowshon Moreno is expected to be active for the Broncos. And similarly, Moreno is expected to share carries with starter Willis McGahee. Then again, last week, McGahee got 22 carries to none for Moreno. It’s hard to imagine a repeat performance against Green Bay, but the news is enough to downgrade both backs in your lineup this week — especially against that Packers run defense. Still, if you must start one, McGahee is the way to go.

Thomas misses practice: Having gone from full participation in practice to sitting out altogether in just two days, Daniel Thomas’ hamstring is officially a concern for the Dolphins. Just when it looked like Miami had found its top running back, coach Tony Sparano may be forced to use Reggie Bush in a featured role this week. Bush’s unremarkable performance has been a major fantasy topic this season, but it’s been something of a chicken-or-egg argument. Has he underperformed because of a lack of touches? After getting 20 touches in Week 1, he’s had a combined 18 in the team’s next two games. Or is he not getting the ball because he hasn’t done much with it? He’s averaging just 3.7 yards per touch  in 2011. Whatever the reason, he’s best left on the bench against a Chargers defense that has allowed the ninth fewest fantasy points to running backs this year.

Bryant not practicing: The Cowboys wide receiver woes are still alive with Dez Bryant sitting out Friday’s practice due to a lingering thigh issue. Combine that with his limited participation on Thursday and it’s not looking good for the second-year receiver on Sunday. With Miles Austin already out of action, it puts an increased burden on Kevin Ogletree and Laurent Robinson to make plays in the passing game. Not a welcoming thought against the Lions, who have given up the sixth-fewest fantasy points to receivers this year.

– Marcas Grant

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Three and out: Gates out for an extended period?

Adam Rank | Tags: Three and out, Antonio Gates, Arian Foster, Felix Jones

With the Monday Nightmare out of the way, it is time to look forward. Here are three big stories on a Tuesday morning.

Gates could miss at least a month. (Associated Press)

Closing the Gates? Chargers TE Antonio Gates could be shutting it down, too. The pain in his foot has been persistent, and the San Diego Union-Tribune wondered if this could be the beginning of the end for the 31-year-old Gates. Gates wasn’t ready to label this the end but he will see a specialist on Tuesday. He then will be faced with the dilemma of playing through the pain, or resting for three to five weeks or longer, hoping that does the trick. One doctor, who has not seen Gates, points out that the All-Pro tight end had the entire offseason to rest and there were no mini-camps or OTAs, so all that time off did not clear up the problem. Which is something we don’t want to think about.

Hey, there’s Felix: We had a sighting of Cowboys RB Felix Jones on Monday night. One of the kids reached out to me on the Facebook on Monday and wondered if Jones was going to be able to score four points that night to seal a win for him. Well thankfully for that fantasy enthusiast, Jones scored 15 points –- but he got hurt again. The Cowboys face the Lions this week and have a bye in Week 5, so make sure Jones is handcuffed in all of your leagues because the team could shut him down for the week to get him healthy. Well, as healthy as Jones is going to be.

Foster expected back: Texans coach Gary Kubiak expects Arian Foster to return this week, and plans to give his running back a full workload, especially in the red zone. The Texans have struggled inside the 20 this season, ranking 30th in red zone scoring. Again, fantasy enthusiasts should temper expectations until Foster both returns and proves that he can carry a complete workload. If you have Ben Tate, you might want to start putting him out there in trade offers to see if you can get a nibble. But do not overact and dump him, because there is no guarantee that Foster can return.

You can receive daily fantasy advice from Rank via Twitter or via Facebook. Be sure to catch the latest on the Dave Dameshek Football Program.

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NFC Editor Russ Loede’s Week Three NFL Picks

Last week ATS: 3-11-2

Season ATS: 11-18-3

Week two Lock: 1-0 (New England)

Week two Upset: 0-1 (Miami)

Season Locks: 1-1

Season Upsets: 1-1

SUNDAY

San Francisco (+2.5) at Cincinnati - Benson’s last Sunday of football freedom until Halloween time will not be enough to offset an angry 49ers squad coming off of a heartbreaking loss in overtime to Dallas.  San Francisco 19 Cincinnati 17

New England (-7) at Buffalo – I think the world of Tom Brady.  Belichick will make sure the Bills don’t put up 38+ points for the third consecutive week.  Patriots relish shootouts; and that’s the only way Buffalo can play and win right now.  New England 48 Buffalo 21

Houston at (LOCK) New Orleans (-4) – Last week’s showing by the Saints in the Superdome was the best start to finish balanced performance of the young ’11 NFL campaign.  The Texans can’t beat a Super Bowl contender on the road without a healthy Foster.  New Orleans 35 Houston 24

(Upset) New York Giants (+8) at Philadelphia – A less explosive Vick, tough loss turnaround, and Giant pass rush will eviscerate Eagles.  Furthermore, I like Bradshaw-Jacobs to run rampant against a roughshod Philly run D.  New York Giants 23 Philadelphia 20

Miami (+2.5) at Cleveland – Two teams that can’t win at home.  When was the last time the Browns were above .500 during the regular season?  Dolphins rookie running back Daniel Thomas is the key to Miami’s first win of the season.  Miami 17 Cleveland 16

Denver (+7) at Tennessee – Titans are not a touchdown and an extra point better than the Broncos.  Although the contest is being played in Nashville, I can’t imagine a well-balanced Broncos club being handled that easily.  Tennessee 20 Denver 17

Detroit at Minnesota (+3) – I don’t feel good about this selection.  Picking a team with no aerial attack against one of the top passing units in the league.  On top of that, Jahvid Best is looking strong in the ground game.  “All Day” will have one of “those days” in the Metrodome that we will remember for a long time.  It’s the only way the Vikings win this divisional duel.  Minnesota 28 Detroit 24

Jacksonville at Carolina (-3.5) – Cam Newton resembles Tom Brady, whereas, Blaine Gabbert exhibits David Klinger meets Heath Shuler.  Sooner rather than later (like this Sunday), DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart will pound the rock en route to success.  Carolina 30 Jacksonville 17

Kansas City (+14.5) at San Diego – As you can tell, I’m a sucker for the points.  Apparently, I envision a backdoor cover, however, I clearly don’t foresee a Chiefs miracle.  Hoping the extra half-point makes the difference.  San Diego 27 Kansas City 13

New York Jets (-3) at Oakland – Jets win close games, while the Raiders lose close games.  On the other hand, I could see the Jets crushing Campbell, giving us the privilege of a Kyle Boller-sighting.  Craziest game to pick points-wise because it could be an absolute annihilation or an overtime thriller.  Let me choose the latter (push), but not for it being the Raiders’ home opener.  Can’t stand that dump of a stadium!  New York Jets 24 Oakland 21 (OT)

Baltimore (-4) at St. Louis – I would not want to be Sam Bradford going up against an upset Raven defense after last week’s thrashing in Tennessee.  Ray Rice goes exceeds the century mark in both rushing and receiving.  Baltimore 26 St. Louis 20

Arizona (-3.5) at Seattle – Nothing tops the home of the 12th Man, where the 12th Man truly makes a difference, that is, unless your starting signal caller’s first name is Tarvaris.  Give me the more talented team, with a more talented quarterback.  Arizona 27 Seattle 17

Green Bay (-4) at Chicago – Check out the Packers at Bears preview on Bears Gab.  Green Bay 26 Chicago 21

SUNDAY NIGHT

Pittsburgh (-10.5) at Indianapolis – We want Painter!  A guy named Curtis or Kerry under center doesn’t matter against a super-stifling 11-man wrecking crew.  Thinking ahead to next Sunday night’s showdown: Jets at Ravens.  Pittsburgh 26 Indianapolis 6

MONDAY NIGHT

Washington (+6.5) at Dallas – I love me an NFC East clash!  This battle has the chance to become one of the best games of this season.  Early divisional matchup that will live up to all the hype.  Looking forward to the renewing of the rivalry!  Dallas 33 Washington 30 (OT)

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Week Three NFL Picks at the lunch table

Here we go headed into battle Eagle fans. The Giants return to town still licking their wounds and recovering from a massive blow to their egos after last years debacle in The New Meadowlands. I have a feeling that D. Jackson and M.Vick have a huge target on them. Especially now since Vick went out with a concussion last week against the Falcons. Hopefully, his cobwebs are all cleared out. He gets the opportunity this week to face a depleted Giant secondary. The key to winning this game on offense will solely be on the protection Vick gets from his offensive linemen. If he gets the time, look for him to pick apart the Giants. On the other side of the ball defensive coordinator Juan Castillo made some changes at the linebacker position. He has shuffled around his young crew. Look for them to be more aggressive against the run this week. However, Brandon Jacobs is a 270-pound force to be reckoned with coming out of the backfield for the Giants. I have the Birds winning by 10 at home this week, 27-17.

On to the lunch table smack talk. It’s been a quiet few weeks for my friends. There hasn’t been a whole lot of gloating. All of us who use to walk around with our chests sticking out far have been deflated. Like I said in one of my first articles the teams represented at our lunch table are as follows:

Colts 0-2, Panthers 0-2, Vikes 0-2, Saints 1-1, Bungles 1-1, Lions 2-0, and I forgot we had a Broncos fan, 1-1. I actually forgot the Broncos were an NFL team . All that crying coming out of Denver, I just figured they were a Pop Warner team that had all the parents yelling for their kid, Timmy Tebow, to play. Then of course you have me, an Eagles fan. I am not doing that much smack talking this year. Every time Vick takes off out of the pocket I think back to 1991 when Bryce Paup of the Packers ended our season on a hit to our star quarterback Randall Cunningham. So with every exciting Vick play I keep my fingers crossed and my breath held.

Here are THIS Guys’ picks for week 3:

Panthers with their first win with C. Newton: 24-21

49ers over Bungles 28-21

Vikes can’t open 0-3: Vikes over Lions 28-24

Titans clobber the broken Broncos. 27-10

Saints fall to Texans revamped defense: Texans 24-20

Sorry Colt fans. Big Ben explodes over the Colts 31-14

Eagles over G-men 27-17

Pats hold off high powered Bills 38-31

Brownies stomp on the Dolphins 24-14.

RAIDERS (Berman voice) over the J-E-T-S 27-24

Ravens over the Rams 24-17

Bears beat the Pack 34-28

Chiefs fall to the Chargers 34-10

Kolb throws for 300 + yards and beats the Seahawks 34-24

Bucs gut the Dirty Birds 27-17

Finally, MNF I have the Skins going 3-0. They beat the Cowgirls 24-16

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Five Bold Predictions For The New York Giants vs. Philadelphia Eagles Week Three Game

LeSean McCoy #25 RB

The Philadelphia Eagles lost a heartbreaker in Atlanta to the Falcons, following an exciting comeback performance, and a nice showing from back-up quarterback Mike Kafka. The question going into Philadelphia’s week three game against New York was — Would Michael Vick be recovered from the concussion he sustained against the Falcons? Good news for Philadelphia, as Vick was cleared for practice and is expected to start against the Giants this Sunday.

New York is coming to Philadelphia following a relatively easy win on Monday Night Football against the St. Louis Rams, and are looking to capture an early lead on the division. The rivalry between the Giants and Eagles has heated up substantially in the past few seasons, and this season has been turned to a whole new degree. As last season the Eagles comeback win in the Meadowlands essentially ended the Giants playoff chances, and this game they are coming for revenge.

Here are five bold predictions for the Giants vs. Eagles week three match-up:

5. There Will Be a Number of Turnovers For Both Teams 

In the early goings of the season, both the Giants and the Eagles have struggled with turning the ball over on offense. There have been numerous miscommunications on hand-offs, routes down the field, and even poor blocking, all of which have led to a shockingly high number of turnovers. The Eagles have coughed up the ball in incredibly inconvenient situations, and have managed to give up a defensive touchdown already this season.

The Giants are in a similar situation, as Eli Manning has proven to be incredibly interception happy, and Ahmad Bradshaw has shown that he can be loose with the ball. Both the Eagles and Giants defense will be all-over, and ready to jump on any mistake made by either offense.

4. Philadelphia’s Defense Will Contain Ahmad Bradshaw 

The Eagles rushing defense is the hottest topic in Philadelphia. The Eagles seem to have every single piece together on both the offense and defense, except their linebackers have struggled containing the run. Following last weeks abismal performance from rookie Casey Matthews, he was benched in favor if Jamar Chaney, who started the latter half of last season at middle linebacker.

I feel that the Eagles defense has worked increasingly hard at containing the run, and they will prove this game that they can keep it under control. The move of Chaney back to middle will be huge to the success of the front seven, and it should have an immediate impact on Bradshaw and the Giants running game.

3. Eli Manning Will Struggle Finding Open Receivers

As stated earlier, Manning has had a rough stretch recently. He has been throwing interceptions left and right, and that has not been helped by his lack of receiver depth. There seems to be a curse in New York as every single receiver Manning is getting comfortable with, they go down with injury. The most recent being Domenik Hixon, tearing his ACL last week against the Rams, for the second straight season.

Combine that with Mario Manningham with a questionale status, and Manning is going to have a hard time. Any time a quarterback has to play the Eagles trio of corners, it is never easy, but with the current injuries in New York, it is going to be nearly impossible. Considering that the Giants are now starting Brandon Stokely, that should be some indication of how little Manning has to work with.

2. Michael Vick Won’t Finish The Game 

Last week against the Falcons, Michael Vick was forced to leave the game following a sack in which he fell into an offensive lineman and suffered a concussion. Since then, he has been cleared by team doctors, and also an independent source, and he is reportedly going to start Sunday’s game. The Eagles have had quite a few players suffer concussions, and most have not been able to bounce-back in less than one week.

I have a feeling that Vick will start the game, but he may get pulled due to residing effects of the concussion. The Giants are a physical team, and Vick can only take so many hits after an injury like this. I don’t see how Vick can start and finish a game after getting back into pads, and suffering a concussion less than a week ago.

1. The Eagles Offensive Line Will Look Terrible 

The second most discussed topic this off-season for the Eagles was the offensive line. Despite drafting heavily in offensive lineman, the Eagles still have not improved much from last season. But keep in mind the teams the Eagles have played, (Falcons, Rams), do not have anywhere near the caliber of defensive line that the Giants have. I would venture to say that the Giants have a top-three pass rushing defensive line in the NFL, and will be a true test Philadelphia’s offensive line.

I think this will also be a test that they fail. Considering how poorly the line has done protecting Vick so far this season, I don’t imagine it will turn around much in this game. I am aware that there are technically two starting rookies on the line, but that won’t change the Giants dominating pass rush. Considering the fragile state that Vick is in, with a mediocre offensive line, and an elite pass rush — The Eagles should be worried.

Conclusion: 

The Giants and Eagles always seem to have good games, regardless of who has the better season or better team. It also seems that if the game is not incredibly close and down to the last minute, it will be a blow-out. This is an early season match-up that has not received a lot of attention, but I think it will be one of the best games of the week, and one that will be determined in the fourth quarter. Giants 24 – Eagles 31

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Three and out: Foster might miss Week 3

NFL.com Staff | Tags: Three and out, Arian Foster, Dallas Cowboys, Felix Jones, Houston Texans, Mario Manningham, New York Giants, Tony Romo

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Foster unsure of return: The bad news for fantasy owners is that it looks like another week without RB Arian Foster. The good news is that there’s advance warning this time around. With RB Derrick Ward also in danger of missing Sunday’s game against the Saints, the Texans will go with a heavy dose of Ben Tate. As long as Tate continues producing, it’s hard to imagine him being relegated to second fiddle even when Foster is healthy again.

Manningham in doubt: Another day, another injury for the Giants. With WR Domenik Hixon done for the season, losing WR Mario Manningham even for a week makes Big Blue’s entire passing game a risky proposition against the ball-hawking Eagles’ secondary. While that’s bad news for WR Hakeem Nicks and QB Eli Manning, it could benefit owners of RBs Ahmad Bradshaw and Brandon Jacobs, who should see plenty of carries.

Romo, Jones held out of practice: Speaking of injury-riddled squads, keep an eye on both Tony Romo and Felix Jones in Dallas. Romo is expected to be fitted for a kevlar vest to protect his cracked ribs, while Jones is nursing a separated shoulder. While both very well could play on Monday against the Redskins, neither is an attractive start against an aggressive, rejuvenated defense.

– Marcas Grant

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Three and out: Broncos’ Lloyd expected to play

NFL.com Staff | Tags: Three and out, Blaine Gabbert, Brandon Lloyd, Buffalo Bills, C.J. Spiller, Denver Broncos, Eric Decker, Jacksonville Jaguars

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Lloyd back at practice: After he was a very late scratch in Week 2, Brandon Lloyd’s groin injury has improved enough that the Broncos are confident that the veteran wideout will be available for Sunday’s game against the Titans. His return will have some effect on current waiver wire superstar Eric Decker, but with Eddie Royal expected to miss the next the next couple of weeks, Decker will still have some value. The Titans have been one of the better teams against the pass in the first two weeks, but the Broncos also represent the best passing offense they will have seen so far this season.

Spiller to get time at WR: The Bills plan to use RB C.J. Spiller to take some of the snaps that had gone to WR Roscoe Parrish, who was placed on IR earlier this week. Since RB Fred Jackson has asserted himself as the go-to running back, Spiller’s value has diminished greatly. Since he is listed as a running back in NFL.com fantasy leagues, Spiller won’t be eligible for a WR spot. He can be used as a flex player, but it’s best to leave him on the bench until he proves his worth in this new role.

Gabbert to start for Jaguars: Jacksonville coach Jack Del Rio has finally decided on a quarterback, choosing rookie Blaine Gabbert over the struggling Luke McCown for Week 3 at Carolina. The change is most likely to affect RB Maurice Jones-Drew, who will be the focus of every opposing defense. The good news for fantasy owners is that Carolina hasn’t been great against the run, giving up nice games to Beanie Wells and James Starks. MJD is a must-start in most situations, this one being no different, but take notice of Gabbert’s performance as it could affect Jones-Drew going forward.

– Marcas Grant

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Three and out: Vick listed as questionable

NFL.com Staff | Tags: Three and out, Cincinnati Bengals, Jerome Simpson, Mario Manningham, Michael Vick, New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles

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Vick expected to play: With everyone keeping a close eye on Michael Vick, most parties around the Eagles think the quarterback will be ready to go for Sunday’s game against the Giants. As long as he’s in the Eagles lineup, he should be in yours. It also means that all of his favorite weapons — DeSean Jackson, Jeremy Maclin and LeSean McCoy – should be in your lineup as well.

Simpson “very doubtful” for Sunday: It’s looking more likely that Jerome Simpson won’t be on the field when the Bengals play the 49ers on Sunday, due to an ongoing police investigation. With Simpson out of the lineup, it will mean more targets for A.J. Green and Jermaine Gresham. It also means Andre Caldwell should see more snaps, but his value is limited.

Manningham likely out: Another day that Mario Manningham wasn’t on the practice field and it’s looking more likely that the Giants will be short a receiver for Sunday against the Eagles. Even if he played, Manningham was going to face a tough matchup against the Philly DB duo of Nnamdi Asomugha and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie. That doesn’t make his replacement, Brandon Stokley, that attractive of an option for most fantasy owners.

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Power Rankings 2011 – Week Three

Another week down, another set of Power Rankings to set your passions aflame. Did you favorite team climb the charts? Or did it sink like a stone? As always if you think you can do better, leave your own rankings in the comments below.

1. Green Bay Packers (2-0).Green Bay holds the top spot until someone knocks them off. Can the Bears claim that honor on Sunday?

2. New England Patriots (2-0).  Tom Brady is throwing up career numbers to mask the fact that there are some big issues up and down the Patriots.

3. New York Jets (2-0).  The Jets destroyed the Jaguars at home. Yeah it’s a good win, but it doesn’t impress me much.

4. Houston Texans (2-0).  First the Texans dismantle the Colts, and then they took apart Chad Henne. The good times keep on rolling.

5. New Orleans Saints (1-1). Saints rebound with a convincing win over the Bears.

6. Philadelphia Eagles (1-1). The injury to Vick has to be troubling for the Philly Faithful. That said if McCoy is healthy the team should still be set well to win.

7. Atlanta Falcons (1-1). Still not the best performance out of Matt Ryan, or his defense, but it was enough to get past the Eagles.

8. Baltimore Ravens (1-1). The Ravens follow up an impressive beat-down of Pittsburgh by laying an absolute egg against Titans. The team might as well have not even shown up.

9. Pittsburgh Steelers (1-1). Steelers got the train back on track but blowing out Seattle like they got blown out inBaltimore.

10. Chicago Bears (1-1). No shame in getting beat by the Saints. The better team simply got the job done. 30-13 has got to hurt withGreen Bay coming to town though.

11. Detroit Lions (2-0). Confidence builder against the Chiefs leave the Lions on a high note heading into the matchup against Minnesota.

12. San Diego Chargers (1-1).New England is still just flat out the better team. San Diego has to find a way to win on the east coast.

13. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-1). Bucs rebounded nicely with a win over the Vikings.

14. Dallas Cowboys (1-1). Even without broken ribs and a punctured lung, Romo was struggling to put away the 49ers.

15. Buffalo Bills (2-0). How long can Fitzpatrick ride the Bills gravy train? Showdown with Dallas looms large.

16. Washington Redskins (2-0). Efficient quarterback play and solid defense have the Redskins undefeated after two weeks. 

17. New York Giants (1-1). Giants manage to knock off the mediocre Rams. Good for them. They’re still not a very good team.

18. Oakland Raiders (1-1). Ups and downs are the Raiders signature calling card.

19. Tennessee Titans (1-1).  Hasselbeck and his Titans just provided every team in the NFL a blue print for how to beat the Baltimore Ravens. All you need to use is a Cover-2 defense and a rapid release offense.

20. Cincinnati Bengals (1-1). Fun fact: the Bengals are in 1st place atop the AFC north. Loss to the putrid Broncos doesn’t look good.

21. Arizona Cardinals (1-1). Travelling to D.C. had to have an effect on the Cardinal players, but excuses aside, the mistakes they made (and there were plenty) proved costly.

22. Cleveland Browns (1-1). Beating the Colts has to feel good, but like tripping an elderly woman, it has to come with some remorse as well.

23. St. Louis Rams (0-2). A rough early season schedule has the Rams reeling. They’re going to have to regroup quickly to knock off the stunned Ravens

24. Carolina Panthers (0-2). Cam Newton has been a revelation, but his team is still losing.

25. Jacksonville Jaguars (1-1). Follow up a win over the Titans with a humiliating loss to the Jets.

26. Indianapolis Colts (0-2).  How long until the “We Want Painter” chants begin in Indy?

27. Miami Dolphins (0-2). Remember what I said about Henne needing to be more consistent? Yeah, stick with that.

28. Minnesota Vikings (0-2). Man does this team just look bad. Having Detroit on the horizon means things probably aren’t going to get much better.

29. San Francisco 49ers (1-1). 49ers can’t beat Tony Romo even when the guy has fractured ribs and a punctured lung.

30. Denver Broncos (1-1). Well they won a game, I suppose that’s a start.

31. Kansas City Chiefs (0-2). Who is worse,Kansas City or Seattle? You flip a coin and let me know what you come up with.

32. Seattle Seahawks (0-2).  Tavaris Jackson just isn’t that good. Let’s call a spade a spade here, San Francisco is not the cream of the NFL talent, and Tavaris looked bad.

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Three and Out: Torn groins leading to opportunities

Adam Rank | Tags: Three and out, Chad Ochocinco, David Nelson, Eddie Royal, Eric Decker, Montario Hardesty, Peyton Hillis, Stevie Johnson

Let’s try to get through the top stories of the morning without tearing a groin. That seems to be going around this week.

Dancing Stevie feeling his injury. Bills receiver Stevie Johnson told reporters this week that he can feel his groin injury simply by walking, a sign that the injury could be getting worse and could lead to some missed playing time. That means there could be a big bump in playing time for Bills WR David Nelson who caught the winning pass against the Raiders in Week 2. Broncos WR Eddie Royal also has a groin injury, and the Denver Post is reporting that he could be held out until Week 7, meaning that Eric Decker is the pickup there. My suggestion would be to target Nelson first and then Decker, based on the quarterbacks and offensive system.

Reduced role for Hillis? Browns coach Pat Shurmur told reporters that he is looking to reduce the number of carries for Peyton Hillis, while getting Montario Hardesty into the mix. This is just bad news all-around — Hillis’ value takes a hit because of this, and Hardesty has no value and an increased role does nothing here. That’s just awesome.

Some more targets for Ochocinco: Well, let’s put this under the “believe it when we see it” file, but some reporters in Boston believe that Aaron Hernandez‘s injury could end up meaning more looks for Chad Ochocinco. Yeah, these same Boston reporters also feel that John Lackey can put it together for the Red Sox, too. Just kidding, nobody thinks that. Do not be in a rush to put Ochocinco back into your lineups, as he still looks to be the fourth option at best in New England right now, maybe even fifth. Take a pass.

You can receive daily fantasy advice from Rank via Twitter or via Facebook. Be sure to catch the latest on the Dave Dameshek Football Program.

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Last Three Games Already a Win For 2011 For the Redskins

In a time where players are clamoring to shorten the amount of preseason games (and money- grubbing owners itching to turn those preseason games into regular season games), the Redskins last three games of the 2010 season (last week’s loss against Dallas, this week’s win over Jacksonville, and next week’s finale against the Giants) are ironically nothing more than three extra preseason games for the 2011 season.

When you boil it all down, they’re nothing more than a few extra 2011 exhibition games that take place at the end of 2010, serving as auditions for players to keep their jobs and earn invitations to the 2011 training camp in Ashburn.

And like a late preaseason game where the coaches withheld the majority of their starters to prevent injuries heading into the regular season, the group of starters that the Redskins trotted out on Sunday looked like a rag-tag menagerie of football players thrown together and duct-taped for the purpose of finishing an NFL game.

Here’s a fact to digest: thirteen of the Redskins 22 opening-day starters did not start against the Jaguars yesterday. That includes the starting quarterback, running back, tight end, 3/5ths of the offensive line, 2/3rd of the defensive line, and half the secondary. Their starting running back on Sunday (and overall leading rusher) wasn’t even on the active roster when they played Dallas in September. Neither was their nose tackle, the lynch-pin for the much-discussed 3-4 defense. Both of the starting safeties were guys who were originally drafted as cornerbacks within the last three years, and one wasn’t even on the team as recently as Thanksgiving day. I really wound’t be surprised if the Redskins coaches made players where those “Hi, My Name Is:” stickers on their practice jersey during the week.

So like any other preseason game, the Redskins coaches undoubtedly spent Sunday sifting through the this hodge-podge of passed-over veterans and newly signed & promoted youngsters to determine if any of them can legitimately make a difference for this team next year, and who should be updating their resume(s).

Sunday was day for defensive players like nose tackle Anthony Bryant and linebacker Rob Jackson to make impressions on their coaches. Bryant has the size to be a nose tackle in the NFL, and while he isn’t the most dominant guy in the league at that position, he’s played a lot better than the disappointing Ma’ake Kemoeatu has. Jackson showed glimpses of being a very effective situational pass rusher on Sunday, just a few days after being promoted off the practice squad. His speed and hand placement on pass rushers frustrated Jaguars offensive tackles for a good part of the afternoon.

Sunday was also a day for someone like Kevin Barnes to showcase his skills. Barnes was drafted as a cornerback yet started the game at safety for the Redskins, since they had almost nobody else healthy enough to start there. And ironically, probably just as Barnes was getting comfortable in his new position, he was flippled right back to cornerback after Carlos Rogers went down with an injury. So it was a game like this where Barnes could showcase his ability to help out against the run (which he did very effectively, both as a safety and as a corner), and his coverage ability (leading to the game-deciding interception in overtime).

In the end, all the 2010 standings will tell you is that the Redskins dropped almost 5-7 slots down the first round of the 2011 draft, and simultaneously took a big dump in the punch bowl that was the Jaguars playoff aspirations.

But it in reality, it gives the Redskins players, coaches, and fans something to hold on to and discuss as this season comes to a close and we begin to spout the inevitable mantra of “we’ll get ‘em next year.”

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Chiefs Just Three Plays From a Perfect Game Last Week In Seattle

A blocked punt. A blocked field goal. A blown assignment on an 87 yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter.

OK, maybe not perfect, but pretty close.

It’s been rare that we’ve seen that kind of break down in the special teams. Maybe you have to credit the Seahawks.

The 87 yard touchdown is more of a concern, one that I’m sure they’ve talked about this week.

This was as complete a game as we’ve seen from this team in a very long time. Take away those 87 yards on that pass play and the Seahawks end up with 195 yards passing to go along with their 20 yards rushing.

The defense was dominating. The running game was fantastic, even by the high standard they’ve already set.

I’m hoping by now it has become less fashionable to criticize Matt Cassel. One of the few stats he is not one of highest ranked quarterbacks at this points in total yards passing.

That’s what “top quarterbacks” are based on. Unless of course you know something about football.

Dwayne Bowe has turned into one of the top wide receivers in the NFL. That came out of nowhere. Two months ago the guy couldn’t hold a ball thrown into his hands.

One of the most telling plays, to me, was a third a ten late in the game. Bowe went about 12 yards, curled back and Cassel delivered the ball low, right where he should. Bowe caught the ball, first down.

It is these type of plays that the Chiefs have not been making. Normally, that route would have been run eight yards and curled for a 6 yard gain. If not, Bowe would have dropped it, or it would have been too low.

If they can do that on a consistent basis, they will be very difficult to beat, home or away.

They have a tough road in front of them. We will know they have turned the corner if they can go into San Diego and win.

Regardless, in many ways they have turned that corner that we have been waiting for.

I have been excited about the way the Chiefs have been building their organization. With ten wins in three years, and a 7-4 record this year, it’s hard not to be.

Winning the Super Bowl is the goal for every team, every year. We all know, however, that’s not really the case. The Lions, Bills, Panthers and Chiefs, to name a few, probably had few expectations of actually reaching that goal this season.

If the Chiefs make the playoffs they will be a very dangerous team. I say that because in order to do that, they will have to win some big games between now and the end of the season.

If they fail to make the playoffs, this will be an off season with great optimism for next year.

Each week, this team grows, matures and improves. That does not mean we should be shocked at setbacks and bad losses. The loss to the Broncos should never happen. The loss to the Raiders is understandable, but avoidable.

This week, just take care of business. Then worry about next week.

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USF takes on another Big Three challenge

South Florida linebacker Sabbath Joseph has seen his popularity in social media soar in the past several days.

"Everybody is blowing up my Twitter and Facebook, asking me how they can get tickets," Joseph said.

The senior has a lot of requests to fill as he returns to his hometown this weekend for the Bulls' game at Miami. Joseph has already secured tickets for about 40 friends and family members and is trying to find more.

"I'm very excited about it," he said. "Getting a win would make it even better."

[+] Enlarge AP Photo/Chris O'MearaQB Jacory Harris led the Canes past the Bulls last season, throwing for two TDs with no interceptions.Beating Miami would also make up for the disappointment that South Florida felt last week. A 17-10 loss to Pittsburgh at home pushed the Bulls out of the Big East title race. The Hurricanes know that feeling well, as they fell to Virginia Tech last week and saw their chances of making the ACC title game evaporate.

It's easier to forget about those downers when there's an in-state rivalry looming the following Saturday. Joseph is one of many Bulls players who is very familiar with several Hurricanes from high school and youth football days, and USF guys grew up watching Miami dominate the Big East.

For the Bulls, this game brings another chance to prove themselves against the state's powers. They beat Florida State last year but couldn't hang with the Hurricanes at home later in the season, falling 31-10. They got their first crack at Florida this season and were competitive for more than a half before turnovers doomed them to a 38-14 loss.

"Everybody wants to be in the Big Three," Joseph said. "But in order for us to be considered the Big Four, we've got to beat them."

USF coach Skip Holtz has a slightly different take on the in-state pecking order. While Holtz says a win this week would "help our national reputation" and that the Bulls have to beat the Big Three to earn respect, he argues that the best way to be considered a state powerhouse will be to compete for the Big East title year in and year out. They haven't really done that yet, though they got close this year.

As for this week, Miami is a heavy favorite despite its disappointing 7-4 season. The Hurricanes still have elite-level athletes and a punishing defense that could make life tough on B.J. Daniels and the low-wattage South Florida offense. Daniels has been dealing with a quadriceps injury that has limited his movement and scrambling ability, a major part of his game.

At least Daniels has cut way down on his turnovers since the Florida game and other early-season calamities. The same cannot be said for Miami's quarterbacks, who have thrown more interceptions (21) than any FBS team other than Buffalo. The Bulls will likely have to hope their defense can cause some mistakes and capitalize on them.

If USF could spring the upset, it would give the team and Holtz a signature victory on the way to a bowl game. The Bulls would have a chance for an eight-win regular season. And Joseph's social-media platforms might crash from all the congratulatory messages.

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