24 Hours 'Til Sunday — Andy Richardson

After two weeks, we have a clearer picture of who the good teams are and who the bad teams are, as well as which fantasy players should have been drafted (Drew Brees) and which shouldn't have been (Not Drew Brees). At the same time, it's only been two weeks -- the final word hasn't been written on these guys. Last season DeAngelo Williams averaged just 50 rushing yards and didn't score in the first four games of the season! He finished with 20 TDs. So you never know.

Don't throw in the towel on those 0-2 teams. Dust yourself off, make a trade if you can (not players whose stock is low, but ones whose stock is high that you think might get lower, for a player or players headed in the other direction), and remember: Lots of football left to play. On to the games:

Browns at Ravens: Jamal Lewis is doubtful for this game. I can't believe anyone would have had to actually start him in this hopeless matchup, but I guess some leagues are pretty large. (Not so large that I should respond favorably to somebody offering me Lewis for Marshawn Lynch last week -- good grief.) Anyway, it sounds like Jerome Harrison would start in his place, but James Davis will also play a role; a committee dividing up Cleveland's 70ish rushing yards seems likely. I like Braylon Edwards here. Both Willis McGahee and Ray Rice are viable for Baltimore. And Suicide Pool #2 -- featuring the 20 people who got bounced from Suicide Pool #1 last week, including me -- have made the Ravens the most popular pick of the week.

Titans at Jets: Mark Sanchez has a sore knee. It becomes a major story here in New York, where people are already calling radio shows talking about an all New York Super Bowl with both teams 2-0. Good grief. Anyway, Sanchez is fine, and there won't be much running in this game, but who has the guts (or whatever) to bench Chris Johnson off of last week's game? Not me that's for sure. Fantasy-wise, though, the passing games should be better than the running ones this week.

Steelers at Bengals: I don't think either team will run very well in this game, either, so there could be decent passing production. I'd start either quarterback or top wideouts (although in Cincinnati, there's only one of them). Love the Bengals D as a one-week play, too. Cedric Benson and Chris Henry are fine, albeit not great plays.

Washington at Lions: Maybe the Lions will finally win a game. Washington's offense isn't playing well enough to take full advantage of Detroit's sorry defense. Maybe Calvin Johnson or Kevin Smith can break a big play or two. It could happen. Or Detroit could just keep losing. Am I the only one who finds it odd that Matt Millen is in a studio gig? I realize he had one before taking the Lions job, but given how badly that turned out, it just seem like he should keep a low profile for a year or two. By which I mean, not being on TV each week offering football analysis. But I guess the guy has to live his life. Clinton Portis is questionable; that's worrisome. He's expected to be fine, but apparently his ankles are bothering him. Given the matchup, he's a great play, but watch those inactives Sunday morning just in case.

Jaguars at Texans: Loving Maurice Jones-Drew this week. And most offensive players on these teams, actually. I guess Kevin Walter is officially questionable. Can't safely be used. But if he's been dropped in your league, he's worth picking up -- eventually he'll be a very good No. 2 in this offense. Oh yeah, Mike Sims-Walker is a nice start this week.

49ers at Vikings: A battle of running backs, but both defenses are better against the run than the pass. Should be a fun game, and I'm one who believes the 49ers can win the NFC West -- even though I believe that Shaun Hill is definitely one of the worst five quarterbacks in the NFL. Minor aches and pains for Peterson and Gore, but they'll play barring a setback. San Francisco's wideouts may have to catch a pass. I sort of like Brett Favre and Minnesota's wideouts here. Make sure Percy Harvin is active; he should be, but he was sidelined due to illness at practice this week.

Falcons at Patriots: It's a shame that Matt Ryan isn't actually from the Boston area, so there could be a lot of divided loyalties for this game. I guess him starring at Boston College will have to do. I'm not one of those people who believes the Patriots are over and done with, but I do believe the Falcons can win this game -- I think they're really good. The major injury issue is Wes Welker, and anyone who says they know what to do is just guessing. I've got Welker on a team, and I'm not putting him in the lineup until he's definitely active on Sunday morning. Sounds like Julian Edelman is also uncertain with an ankle injury, so with him, too, you kind of need to wait for Sunday morning (obviously he only has value if Welker is inactive). Randy Moss is also questionable with a sore back. I don't think there's much doubt he'll play, but I guess his status needs to be confirmed Sunday, too.

Kansas City at Eagles: Talk about a mess. Donovan McNabb won't play; Kevin Kolb will (but Michael Vick will be active). Then your guess is as good as anyone's whether Brian Westbrook and DeSean Jackson will play. The Eagles have a week 4 bye, which could influence their decision whether to play those guys or get them healthy for week 5 by letting them rest. I think it's another of those gametime decision concerns. Thus far I've benched Jackson. If I had Westbrook anywhere, which I do not, I'd play him if he was definitely active come Sunday. Both guys are iffy. And so is Dwayne Bowe, although really, I wouldn't want to use any Kansas City players anyway. I think the Eagles defense that was dominant at Carolina is a more accurate picture than the one that was steamrolled by the Saints last week. My bottom line with injured players is that if I've got comparable options -- like for DeSean Jackson -- I'll use them instead. If I don't (like with Westbrook) I'll gamble on them if they're active. Kevin Curtis is unlikely to play, which makes Jason Avant a possible option, especially if Jackson is ruled out.

Packers at Rams: Well the Packers got me bounced from my suicide pool, which is fitting. I deserted them a year ago, they deserted me last week. I actually think the Rams will give them a game this week. Something like 24-17 or something. St. Louis' defense showed promise at Washington, and I think Steven Jackson will be good this week. I'm even interested in Donnie Avery and particularly Laurent Robinson. For Green Bay, heck, start Rodgers and the top wideouts and hope the line keep Rodgers from getting broken. I'm down on Ryan Grant, however.

Giants at Buccaneers: Bucs wideouts Antonio Bryant and Maurice Stovall are banged up, plus they play for the Bucs. Cadillac Williams is questionable with knee soreness, although he'll probalby play. Still, looks like a nice spot to play Derrick Ward against his former team; the Giants struggled against the run at Dallas. As for the Giants, no Hixon (probably) or Nicks (definitely). For those who think preseason games don't matter, Mario Manningham looked like the Giants' best wideout in those games (along with Nicks), and that appears to be how things have played out. Although Steve Smith has stepped his game up, too.

Saints at Bills: No Lance Moore. Good news for everyone holding other Saints wideouts. Evidently there's a weather concern with this game -- wind, rain, perhaps. Needless to say, I advise against worrying about it. Go ahead and start Brees, Colston, and probably your Bills starters too, in what might be a day of playing catchup for them. Oh yeah, Saints running backs. Mike Bell is out. Pierre Thomas will play, but it sounds like a committee with Bush and possibly Lynell Hamilton. I want no part of Thomas this week; want to see him play a full game, first.

Bears at Seahawks: Matt Hasselbeck probably isn't going to play. Deion Branch, eh, who cares if he plays or not. I like Jay Cutler this week (most weeks), but the wide receiver situation is a little unsettled right now. Johnny Knox looks like the #2, but I'd wait before starting him -- although this is a bad Seattle defense. I don't like any Seattle runners, but do think Matt Forte will be OK. Starting tight ends should be productive, too.

Broncos at Raiders: Imagine if the Raiders had drafted Calvin Johnson instead of JaMarcus Russell. Why didn't they? I mean, we know Al Davis loves top wide receivers, and that's Calvin all over. Instead they took Russell, who I think we can honestly say at this point is no good and never will be any good. I mean, yeah, you don't want to write him off too quick, and his receivers and line are poor, and blah blah blah. But if you actually have the misfortune to watch an entire Raiders game, you see that the guy just can't play. Anyway, no Chaz Schilens. I think there will be a lot of running in this one, but since both teams are using committees, it's tough to get too excited about any of the options. I think both are 6-10 teams. Knowshon Moreno and Brandon Stokley are both questionable and didn't practice Friday. I guess if both guys are out the remaining players will have more value, but I have faith in Josh McDaniels find a way to suck the fantasy value out of them anyway.

Dolphins at Chargers: No LaDainian, which makes Darren Sproles viable, even though he won't do much running the ball, unless he breaks a long run. Better in a PPR format. Both quarterbacks should be productive; Chargers defense has major injury problems and Miami's defense is much better against the run than the pass. Hey, Chris Chambers facing his former team! Too bad he can't play anymore.

Colts at Cardinals: Peyton Manning against Kurt Warner! And one running back committee against a good run defense (Addai and Brown against Arizona) and another against a bad one (Hightower and Wells against the Colts). I considered starting Wells this week. I actually think he could be good. But, I'm not a big fan of risk. And hey, Arizona's a passing team, it's just how it is. Steve Breaston is officially questionable. Anquan Boldin is probable. Should be a fun game, kicked off by that ridiculously overcrowded NBC studio.

Panthers at Cowboys: Not to talk gambling here, but I was stunned to see the Cowboys favored by 9 points. NINE POINTS! Why? I mean, the Panthers aren't good, but are the Cowboys? No wide receivers to speak of. Marion Barber may not play, although that would be good news for those of us with Felix Jones or Tashard Choice -- although since this is a Monday game, most of us also need to make lineup decisions earlier unless we have all the backs. A problem. Anyhoo, the Barber injury is the major one. And I think Steve Smith is going to be huge. And the Panthers won't lose by 9 or more points. And the game will end way too late for those of us with little kids who wake up too early. But that's another story.

Enjoy the games.

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