Fantasy Football: Week 3 Studs and Duds

OK, so many of you would like to start with Monday's officiating committee as the biggest fantasy duds of the week. That is, unless you're a Seahawks fan, which would make that officiating crew fantasy studs! Let's take a look at three players who shined last week and another three that are just frustrating their fantasy football owners.

Studs

Ben Roethlisberger QB Pittsburgh Steelers
Big Ben might not always light up the stat sheet every week, but he usually is a cinch to finish in the top 10 in fantasy quarterbacks. All Roethlisberger did last week against the Raiders was complete 36 of 49 passes for 384 yards and 4 touchdowns. As great as his performance was, the Steelers still lost the game 34-31. I heard all the preseason talk that Pittsburgh’s offensive line was weakened and the passing game would struggle. Really? Don’t tell that to Ben Roethlisberger, fantasy football stud!

Jamaal Charles – RB Kansas City Chiefs
Are the Kansas City Chiefs a crappy football team? Yes, they are. However, the New Orleans Saints are even worse. Case in point, last week’s game in the Big easy when Charles erupted for 233 yards and a touchdown. I know he didn’t run for much the first two weeks, but Charles is a solid fantasy running back. You might just want to temper your enthusiasm this week since their opponents, the San Diego Chargers have not allowed more than 80 rushing yards this season.

A.J. Green – WR Cincinnati Bengals
I like A.J. Green a lot. Like Julio Jones, the guy has big play ability written all over him. Green showed that last weekend, when he was targeted 11 times by Andy Dalton against the Washington Redskins. He didn’t disappoint fantasy owners either, when he pulled in 9 catches for 183 yards and a touchdown on a 73-yard pass from wide receiver Mohamed Sanu on the first play of the game. Here’s another reason to get excited about Green; the Bengals are playing Jacksonville on Sunday.

Duds

Phillip Rivers – QB San Diego Chargers
What the heck happened to this guy? Two seasons ago, he was one of the top passers in the game. Who cared that Rivers was perceived by some to be a head case? That was just his fire and competitiveness. Well, what do those Rivers lovers say about him now? The guy has thrown for 688 yards in 3 weeks with 4 touchdowns and 3 interceptions. At 31 years of age, maybe his best years are a thing of the past. One thing to note about this week’s game against Kansas City: Rivers has had some of worst ever games against the Chiefs. Ouch!

Shonn Greene – RB New York Jets
When the Jets drafted Greene with their first round pick in 2009, expectations were high for their former Hawkeye. After rushing for 1,000 yards and 6 touchdowns last season, many felt that Greene was ready to take the next step. Not so fast. Greene is averaging just 2.8 yards per carry this season and there are rumblings that his days as the Jets’ lead running back could soon be over. Keep an eye on Bilal Powell, who might continue to take carries away from #23 if he continues to be fantasy crud.

Marques Colston – WR New Orleans Saints
OK, the Saints are 0-3 but Drew Brees is still among the top 5 quarterbacks in fantasy football. So where is Marques Colston? That is a great question, since his lack of fantasy production is not due to injury like in years past. Colston is yet to find the end zone, but has lost a fumble in his first three games. Unlike Rivera and Greene, I’m not too concerned with the former Hofstra great. Colston seems to be a slow starter and his fantasy success is not too far away.