Fantasy football picks for week 3

By OnMilwaukee Staff Writers Published Sep 18, 2013 at 6:12 PM

Trends are developing and injuries are mounting around the NFL. We’re back to give you a couple of players to push into your starting lineup or move to your bench, along with a sleeper and a reader pick.

Now, you’re not going to find "start Adrian Peterson" here. If you drafted a player in the first five rounds, chances are those are your go-to players, so we’ll try to give you some less-than-obvious choices to bolster your lineup every week.

On that note, here we go for Week 3:

Start 'em

DeAndre Hopkins, Houston Texans wide receiver vs. Baltimore
Hopkins caught seven passes for 117 yards and a TD while star Andre Johnson missed the end of the game with what looked like a concussion. Even if Johnson passes all the necessary protocols this week, Hopkins – who has battled concussion issues of his own – clearly earned the quick trust of Texans quarterback Matt Schaub and will see plenty of targets.

Jordan Cameron, Cleveland Browns tight end vs. Minnesota
We might toss in any tight end who plays the Vikings. Chicago’s Martellus Bennett had a huge day running around and jumping over hapless Minnesota defenders, and Cameron possesses that type of athletic ability. Plus, he doesn’t have anyone as good as Brandon Marshall on the outside to take away targets.

Sit 'em

David Wilson, New York Giants running back vs. Carolina
This isn’t the week to gamble that Wilson will return to the Giants starting lineup and reassert himself as a legit play – even though the Giants are 0-2 and have had zero output from the run game. The Panthers are more apt to give up yards through the air (587) than the ground (219).

James Starks, Green Bay Packers running back vs. Cincinnati
Starks filled in for an injured Eddie Lacy and exploded against Washington, rushing for 132 yards and a touchdown. The Bengals held Chicago’s Matt Forte to just 50 yards rushing and less than 100 yards of total offense in Week 1 and completely shut down whoever Pittsburgh tried running out there. Starks may be a starter now, but he’s not a good play.

Sleeper

Tyler Eifert, Cincinnati Bengals tight end vs. Green Bay
Andy Dalton has been so-so the first two weeks of the year, and A.J. Green remains his top target – but the Packers are vulnerable through the air with 718 yards allowed in two weeks, and a lot of that is over the middle of the field. The return of safety Morgan Burnett might alleviate some of that, but he can’t be everywhere, especially if he’s asked to help out with Green.