Week 3 Rankings

Trent Edwards became a franchise quarterback Sunday. On a third-and-six from the Jaguars 44, the Bills called for a max protection and a long double move by Lee Evans. Edwards' protection mostly held up, but Jaguars end Derrick Harvey got pressure from the right side. Edwards calmly stepped up in the pocket, avoided the hit, and delivered a gorgeous 37-yard strike that led Evans out of bounds. This was supposed to be an offense that couldn't make big plays.

On the next snap, Edwards showed his excellent touch with a teardrop 7-yard scoring toss to a leaping James Hardy. Two plays, 44 yards, and notice to the rest of the AFC that the Bills has a passing game.

The exciting part is that this offense has a lot of improving to do. Marshawn Lynch is one of the ten best backs in the NFL, but he hasn't got rolling just yet. Look for that to change with Oakland and St. Louis coming up, not to mention a 4-0 start for the year. Left tackle Jason Peters, who gave up a strip sack on Sunday, is still rounding into form. And there should be more big plays coming, as the Bills continue to expand their offense.

There are bigger fantasy stories out there at quarterback (The post-surgery Philip Rivers is better than pre-surgery), but Edwards' emergence has an impact. Lee Evans will be the guy we thought he was going to be last year. Marshawn Lynch can fulfill his top-five upside on an improving offense. Even fast Freddie Jackson is turning into Reggie Bush-lite. It sounds like heresy, but the Bills could wind up with the most effective quarterback in the AFC East.

Head to Season Pass for exclusive projections for every ranked player. Enter your roster and scoring system and let the Rotoworld Oracle choose your lineup.

Week 3 Quarterbacks

Rank	Player Name	Opponent	Notes
1	Tony Romo	at GB	-
2	Jay Cutler	vs. NO
3	Peyton Manning	vs. JAC	-
4	Donovan McNabb	vs. PIT	-
5	Drew Brees	at DEN	No Colston hurt
6	Ben Roethlisberger	at PHI	Not worried about shoulder
7	Kurt Warner	at WAS	-
8	Eli Manning	vs. CIN	-
9	Aaron Rodgers	vs. DAL	Matchup proof?
10	Philip Rivers	vs. NYJ	Surprise of the year
11	J.T. O'Sullivan	vs. DET	JTO Fever
12	Carson Palmer	at NYG	Nightmare schedule continues
13	Matt Hasselbeck	vs. STL	-
14	Matt Schaub	at TEN	-
15	Brett Favre	at SD	-
16	Matt Cassel	vs. MIA	-
17	Derek Anderson	at BAL	-
18	Jon Kitna	at SF	-
19	David Garrard	at IND	-
20	Trent Edwards	vs. OAK	-
21	Jake Delhomme	at MIN	-
22	Marc Bulger	at SEA	Seahawks have given up big plays
23	Jason Campbell	vs. ARZ	Let's see it again
24	Kerry Collins	vs. HOU	-
25	Brian Griese	at CHI	-
26	Gus Frerotte	vs. CAR	The savior?
27	Chad Pennington	at NE	-
28	Kyle Orton	vs. TB	Can't go deep
29	Matt Ryan	vs. KC	-
30	Joe Flacco	vs. CLE	-
31	JaMarcus Russell	at BUF	-
32	Damon Huard	at ATL	Won't start
33	Tyler Thigpen	at ATL	Bet he won't finish

Notes: We're going to change some things up this week with Goal Line Stand. Instead of the usual player notes Thursday under the rankings, I'm going to post matchup preview notes for each game on Friday. This schedule could last one week, it could last the season. I know this is changing up the routine from the last five years, but give it a chance and let me know what you think after Friday. We'll still post the updated Goal Line Rankings here on Friday evening.

Week 3 Running Backs

Rank	Player Name	Opponent	Notes
1	Adrian Peterson	vs. CAR	Watch practice reports
2	Frank Gore	vs. DET	-
3	Brian Westbrook	vs. PIT	-
4	Marshawn Lynch	vs. OAK	-
5	Marion Barber	at GB	-
6	LaDainian Tomlinson	vs. NYJ	Expected to start
7	Steven Jackson	at SEA	-
8	Joseph Addai	vs. JAC	-
9	Clinton Portis	vs. ARZ	-
10	Brandon Jacobs	vs. CIN	-
11	Ryan Grant	vs. DAL
12	Willie Parker	at PHI	-
13	Michael Turner	vs. KC	-
14	Darren McFadden	at BUF	Keep eye on toe injury
15	Matt Forte	vs. TB
16	Reggie Bush	at DEN	-
17	Chris Johnson	vs. HOU	-
18	Maurice Jones-Drew	at IND	If they can't do it now.
19	Earnest Graham	at CHI	-
20	Thomas Jones	at SD	-
21	Larry Johnson	at SD	Matchup is right
22	Jamal Lewis	at BAL
23	Julius Jones	vs. STL	-
24	LenDale White	vs. HOU	-
25	Jonathan Stewart	at MIN	Taking over
26	Chris Perry	at NYG	-
27	Kevin Smith	at SF	49ers have been soft
28	Selvin Young	vs. NO	-
29	Willis McGahee	vs. CLE	RBBC?
30	Laurence Maroney	vs. MIA	Questionable(shoulder)
31	Fred Taylor	at IND
32	Edgerrin James	at WAS	-
33	Steve Slaton	at TEN	-
34	DeAngelo Williams	at MIN	-
35	Ronnie Brown	at NE	-
36	Ray Rice	vs. CLE	-
37	Pierre Thomas	at DEN	-
38	Ricky Williams	at NE	-
39	Darren Sproles	vs. NYJ	-
40	Fred Jackson	vs. OAK	-
41	Michael Bush	at BUF	-
42	Felix Jones	at GB	-
43	Andre Hall	vs. NO	-
44	Ahmad Bradshaw	vs. CIN	-
45	Sammy Morris	vs. MIA	Move up if Maroney is out
46	Jerious Norwood	vs. KC	-
47	Chester Taylor	vs. CAR	-
48	Warrick Dunn	at CHI	-
49	Tim Hightower	at WAS	-
50	Brandon Jackson	vs. DAL	-
51	Chris Taylor	at TEN	-
52	Leon Washington	at SD	-
53	LaMont Jordan	vs. MIA	Keep eye on status
54	LeRon McClain	vs. CLE
55	Ladell Betts	vs. ARZ	-
56	Kenny Watson	at NYG	-
57	Rashard Mendenhall	at PHI	-
58	Jamaal Charles	at ATL	-
59	Kevin Jones	vs. TB	-
60	Rudi Johnson	at SF	-

Week 3 Wide Receivers

Rank	Player Name	Opponent	Notes
1	Brandon Marshall	vs. NO	-
2	Terrell Owens	at GB	-
3	Larry Fitzgerald	at WAS	-
4	Reggie Wayne	vs. JAC	-
5	Steve Smith	at MIN
6	Randy Moss	vs. MIA	-
7	Andre Johnson	at TEN	-
8	Plaxico Burress	vs. CIN	-
9	Anquan Boldin	at WAS	-
10	Calvin Johnson	at SF	-
11	Braylon Edwards	at BAL
12	Santonio Holmes	at PHI	-
13	Chad Ocho Cinco	at NYG	-
14	Jerricho Cotchery	at SD	-
15	Greg Jennings	vs. DAL	-
16	T.J. Houshmandzadeh	at NYG	-
17	Wes Welker	vs. MIA	-
18	Roy Williams	at SF	-
19	Torry Holt	at SEA	Lucky TD, but Seahawks CBs are struggling
20	Dwayne Bowe	at ATL	-
21	Marvin Harrison	vs. JAC	-
22	Hines Ward	at PHI	-
23	Santana Moss	vs. ARZ	-
24	Lee Evans	vs. OAK	-
25	DeSean Jackson	vs. PIT	-
26	Eddie Royal	vs. NO
27	Laveranues Coles	at SD
28	Donald Driver	vs. DAL	-
29	Anthony Gonzalez	vs. JAC	Clark's return won't help
30	Roddy White	vs. KC	-
31	Chris Chambers	vs. NYJ	-
32	Patrick Crayton	at GB	-
33	Bryant Johnson	vs. DET	Mike Martz's revenge
34	Isaac Bruce	vs. DET	-
35	Vincent Jackson	vs. NYJ	-
36	Antonio Bryant	at CHI	-
37	David Patten	at DEN	-
38	Amani Toomer	vs. CIN	-
39	Matt Jones	at IND	Seems locked in as starter
40	Jerry Porter	at IND	-
41	Bernard Berrian	vs. CAR	Probable(foot)
42	Justin Gage	vs. HOU	Watch status
43	Antwaan Randle El	vs. ARZ	-
44	James Jones	vs. DAL
45	Kevin Walter	at TEN	-
46	Ronald Curry	at BUF	-
47	Arnaz Battle	vs. DET	-
48	Courtney Taylor	vs. STL	-
49	D.J. Hackett	at MIN	-
50	Mark Clayton	vs. CLE	-
51	Brandon Lloyd	vs. TB	-
52	Derrick Mason	vs. CLE	-
53	Muhsin Muhammad	at MIN	-
54	Sidney Rice	vs. CAR	Questionable(knee)
55	Koren Robinson	vs. STL	-
56	Hank Baskett	vs. PIT	-
57	Greg Camarillo	at NE	-
58	Ted Ginn Jr.	at NE	-
59	Michael Clayton	at CHI	-

Week 3 Tight Ends

Rank	Player Name	Opponent	Notes
1	Jason Witten	at GB
2	Antonio Gates	vs. NYJ	-
3	Kellen Winslow	at BAL	-
4	Tony Gonzalez	at ATL	-
5	Jeremy Shockey	at DEN	-
6	Tony Scheffler	vs. NO	-
7	Chris Cooley	vs. ARZ
8	Todd Heap	vs. CLE
9	Vernon Davis	vs. DET	-
10	John Carlson	vs. STL	-
11	Owen Daniels	at TEN	-
12	Dallas Clark	vs. JAC	Expected to return
13	L.J. Smith	vs. PIT	-
14	Heath Miller	at PHI	-
15	Greg Olsen	vs. TB	-
16	Zach Miller	at BUF	-
17	Randy McMichael	at SEA	-
18	Dante Rosario	at MIN
19	Marcedes Lewis	at IND	-
20	Alge Crumpler	vs. HOU	-
21	Donald Lee	vs. DAL	-
22	Desmond Clark	vs. TB	-
23	Anthony Fasano	at NE	-
24	Bo Scaife	vs. HOU	-
25	David Martin	at NE	-
26	Kevin Boss	vs. CIN	-

Week 3 Team Defense

Rank	Player Name	Opponent	Notes
1	Patriots Def/Spec Team	vs. MIA	-
2	Bears Def/Spec Team	vs. TB	-
3	Titans Def/Spec Team	vs. HOU	-
4	Bills Def/Spec Team	vs. OAK	-
5	Buccaneers Def/Spec Team	at CHI	-
6	Giants Def/Spec Team	vs. CIN	-
7	Seahawks Def/Spec Team	vs. STL	-
8	Ravens Def/Spec Team	vs. CLE	-
9	Colts Def/Spec Team	vs. JAC	-
10	Steelers Def/Spec Team	at PHI	-
11	Vikings Def/Spec Team	vs. CAR	-
12	Browns Def/Spec Team	at BAL	-
13	Texans Def/Spec Team	at TEN	-
14	Panthers Def/Spec Team	at MIN	-
15	Cowboys Def/Spec Team	at GB	-
16	Eagles Def/Spec Team	vs. PIT	-
17	Packers Def/Spec Team	vs. DAL	-
18	Chargers Def/Spec Team	vs. NYJ	-
19	Chiefs Def/Spec Team	at ATL	-
20	Broncos Def/Spec Team	vs. NO	-
21	Fortyniners Def/Spec Team	vs. DET	-
22	Falcons Def/Spec Team	vs. KC	-
23	Cardinals Def/Spec Team	at WAS	-
24	Jaguars Def/Spec Team	at IND	-
25	Jets Def/Spec Team	at SD	-
26	Lions Def/Spec Team	at SF	-
27	Redskins Def/Spec Team	vs. ARZ	-
28	Bengals Def/Spec Team	at NYG	-
29	Raiders Def/Spec Team	at BUF	-
30	Dolphins Def/Spec Team	at NE	-
31	Saints Def/Spec Team	at DEN	-
32	Rams Def/Spec Team	at SEA	-

Week 3 Kickers

Rank	Player Name	Opponent	Notes
1	Nick Folk	at GB	-
2	Stephen Gostkowski	vs. MIA	-
3	Mason Crosby	vs. DAL	-
4	Josh Brown	at SEA	-
5	Nate Kaeding	vs. NYJ	-
6	Ryan Longwell	vs. CAR	-
7	Rob Bironas	vs. HOU	-
8	Josh Scobee	at IND	-
9	Robbie Gould	vs. TB	-
10	Joe Nedney	vs. DET	-
11	Martin Gramatica	at DEN	-
12	Shayne Graham	at NYG	-
13	Adam Vinatieri	vs. JAC	-
14	Matt Prater	vs. NO	-
15	Sebastian Janikowski	at BUF	-
16	Jeff Reed	at PHI	-
17	John Kasay	at MIN	-
18	Olindo Mare	vs. STL	-
19	David Akers	vs. PIT	-
20	Neil Rackers	at WAS	-
21	Jason Hanson	at SF	-
22	Phil Dawson	at BAL	-
23	John Carney	vs. CIN	-
24	Matt Bryant	at CHI	-
25	Rian Lindell	vs. OAK	-
26	Jason Elam	vs. KC	Questionable(hip)
27	Matt Stover	vs. CLE	-
28	Jay Feely	at SD	-
29	Kris Brown	at TEN	-
30	Shaun Suisham	vs. ARZ	-
31	Dan Carpenter	at NE	-
32	Nick Novak	at ATL	-