TE Greg Olsen (Carolina)

Percent owned (ESPN): 16.5%

I was surprised to see the Olsen was owned in less than 25% of all leagues. Through 4 games, he has 20 catches for 256 yards and a score and has surpassed 5 fantasy points (standard) in 3 of 4 games, including 23 total in his last 2. You can do a lot worse with a low end TE1 or a bye week filler.

WR James Jones (Green Bay)

Percent owned (ESPN): 21.6%

Greg Jennings is hurt again. With the exception of that ugly week 2 game against Chicago, in which neither team was prepared for a Thursday Night game, Jones has had at least 5 fantasy points every week and he’s going to be a starting receiver on one of the league’s most explosive offenses as long as Jennings is out. On the year, he’s caught 16 passes for 191 yards and 3 scores.

RB Brandon Bolden (New England)

Percent owned (ESPN): 0.3%

Bill Belichick can be inconsistent with his running backs, but Brandon Bolden looked awfully good last week, rushing for 137 yards and a score on 16 carries. Don’t start him yet or anything, but he’s worth a bench stash.

RB Jackie Battle (San Diego)

Percent owned (ESPN): 8.4%

Apparently Ryan Mathews’ is in Norv Turner’s doghouse because of fumble problems. Battle got the start and the goal line carries last week, rushing for 39 yards and a score on 15 carries and adding another 42 yards on 4 catches. Mathews is the much more talented back and it’s very possible Mathews will be back as the feature back next week, but Battle is worth a bench stash, especially for Mathews’ owners.

RB Bilal Powell (NY Jets)

Percent owned (ESPN): 5.2%

Bilal Powell didn’t do much against San Francisco, but what’s important is that Shonn Greene is continuing to struggle as the starter. If he keeps it up, eventually Powell will be given the chance to start. He’s worth a bench stash in deeper leagues and in regular leagues for Greene’s owners.

RB Ronnie Hillman (Denver)

Percent owned (ESPN): 0.4%

Some saw Hillman as someone who could be a fantasy factor this year if Willis McGahee, who is in his age 31 season, slips up. Hillman began the year as the 4^th string back because John Fox hates rookies, but it appears he’s moved up to 2^nd string and got 31 yards on 10 carries this past weekend. McGahee is still in his age 31 season and Hillman is still a much better fit for the offense because of his pass catching abilities, so don’t be surprised if he eventually starts to eat into the veteran’s playing time.

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RB Tashard Choice (Buffalo)

Percent owned (ESPN): 0.3%

Fred Jackson is hurt and now so is CJ Spiller. Tashard Choice looked good in their absence this week, rushing for 91 yards on 20 carries. He should continue to get the bulk of the carries until one of them returns. He should be owned in all formats because he could be starting this week against New England.

QB Jake Locker (Tennessee)

Percent owned (ESPN): 7.1%

Locker is 67 of 104 (64.4%) for 781 yards (7.5 YPA), 4 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions in 3 games. That’s not too shabby. He looked much more comfortable in his 3^rd career start last week with his top two receivers back healthy, completing 29 of 42 for 378 yards, 2 touchdowns, and no interceptions. He also adds a little bit on the ground with 67 yards on 8 carries (sadly more than Chris Johnson has all year). Pick him up because he’s startable as a bye week filler or a low end QB1 in deep leagues (he’s been my starting QB in a 14 team league all year).

QB Christian Ponder (Minnesota)

Percent owned (ESPN): 5.2%

Christian Ponder is the most improved of the five 2^nd year quarterbacks. Percy Harvin has emerged as a legitimate #1 receiver now than the coaching staff is using him properly. Kyle Rudolph has stepped up in his 2^nd season and his offensive line is doing a much better job. He’s completed 68 of 97 for 713 yards, 4 touchdowns, and no interceptions through 3 games and going 21 of 35 for 198 yards and 2 touchdowns against the 49ers proves he can do it against tough competition. He’s also rushed for 41 yards and a score. Pick him up because he’s startable as a bye week filler.

TE Kyle Rudolph (Minnesota)

Percent owned (ESPN): 12.6%

Through 3 games, Rudolph has been Ponder’s 2^nd favorite target, catching 13 passes for 138 yards and 3 touchdowns. He’s a low end starting tight end and a great bye week filler.

RB Bilal Powell (NY Jets)

Percent owned (ESPN): 1.0%

For the 2^nd straight week, Bilal Powell has stolen some of Shonn Greene’s carries and looked better running the football than he has. He could continue to eat into Greene’s carries and eventually could be the starter. Greene just isn’t very good. He’s worth a bench stash.

RB Jacquizz Rodgers (Atlanta)

Percent owned (ESPN): 9.0%

Michael Turner struggled in the first 2 games and as a result, the Falcons decided to get Jacquizz Rodgers more involved in the offense this week. Rodgers had almost as many touches (15) as Turner (16). Though Turner ran better than he had in the first 2 games, (Turner did outgain Rodgers 81 to 67, both scored a touchdown), but this could still be a sign of things to come. Turner is an aging back and who has only run well in 1 of 3 starts and Rodgers is a better fit for their pass heavier offense. He’s worth a bench stash.

TE Brandon Myers (Oakland)

Percent owned (ESPN): 1.1%

If you need a bye week filler tight end over the next few weeks, give this guy a look. He’s not flashy, but he’s consistent and he’s caught 15 passes for 206 yards in the first 3 games, though he has yet to score. You can do better than him, but you can do a lot worse.

WR Julian Edelman (New England)

Percent owned (ESPN): 0.6%

Just as I expected, Edelman was a big part of the offense with Aaron Hernandez out as he was targeted a team leading 7 times in the first half. Unfortunately, his production wasn’t great as he left with a hand injury, so he caught just 4 passes for 28 yards and a touchdown, but he should be back next week and he should be equally involved in the offense. He’s worth a bench stash at the very least.

To see who to drop, click here.

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WR Danny Amendola (St. Louis)

Percent owned (ESPN): 15.7%

Danny Amendola is by far Sam Bradford’s favorite target and with Bradford looking improved early in the season, expect Amendola to put up good numbers the rest of the way, until further notice. In 2 games, he’s caught 20 passes for 230 yards and a score and half been the recipient on close to half of the Rams’ receiving yards.

RB Daryl Richardson (St. Louis)

Percent owned (ESPN): 0.4%

Steven Jackson left the game and didn’t return. It was originally speculated that Jackson was benched following a penalty, but Jeff Fisher claimed it was a groin injury. Either way, Daryl Richardson looked great in his absence, rushing for 83 yards on 15 carries. Jackson had been looking pretty washed up this season before getting benched, with 111 yards on 30 carries, which makes sense because of his age and his career usage, and now could miss time, for whatever reason. Richardson could continue to start going forward, so he should be picked up in all leagues. Monitor the situation.

RB Andre Brown (NY Giants)

Percent owned (ESPN): 0.1%

Ahmad Bradshaw could miss a significant period of time with injury and Tom Coughlin still doesn’t seem to trust rookie David Wilson, giving him just 3 carries. The veteran Brown got 13 carries and rushed for 71 yards and a touchdown. He also added 2 catches for 19 yards. Wilson could see a bigger role next week, but as long as Bradshaw is out, consider Wilson the backup and Brown the starter, which makes him worth a waiver claim in all leagues.

WR Brandon LaFell (Carolina)

Percent owned (ESPN): 24.3%

After Steve Smith, there’s no one Cam Newton likes throwing to more than 3^rd year receiver Brandon LaFell. LaFell has 9 catches for 155 yards and a touchdown in 2 games and is 2^nd on one of the league’s better passing offenses in targets.

WR Brian Hartline (Miami)

Percent owned (ESPN): 0.1%

It’s clear that Brian Hartline is Ryan Tannehill’s favorite target. What’s not clear is if Tannehill will be consistent enough for any of his wide receivers to be fantasy startable, but Hartline is worth a stash on your bench for now. He’s caught 12 passes for 161 yards in 2 games.

TE Dennis Pitta (Baltimore)

Percent owned (ESPN): 22.7%

Unlike previous years, where Flacco threw to both of his tight ends equally, Flacco seems to really favor Dennis Pitta this year. In 2 games, Pitta has 13 catches for 138 yards and a touchdown, while Dickson has just 3 catches for 45 yards. If you need a tight end, Pitta is your man this week.

WR Julian Edelman (New England)

Percent owned (ESPN): 0.4%

Edelman got the surprise start over Wes Welker against Arizona and played more snaps than him. Normally I’d question whether or not that would be the case going forward, but Aaron Hernandez is out for about 6 weeks so the Patriots won’t have any choice but to go to more 3-wide receiver sets, with Brandon Lloyd, Wes Welker, and Julian Edelman. Edelman, who caught 5 passes for 50 yards this week despite a relatively weak showing by the Patriots’ passing offense, will have a prominent role in one of the league’s best passing offenses going forward.

QB Christian Ponder (Minnesota)

Percent owned (ESPN): 4.6%

Of the five 2^nd year quarterbacks, Ponder seems to be the only one improved over his rookie year. He’s completed 47 of 62 for 515 yards and 2 touchdowns in 2 games. He has a tough matchup this week against San Francisco, but he’s worth a pickup as a QB2 and bye week filler going forward.

WR Donnie Avery (Indianapolis)

Percent owned (ESPN): 0.4%

Donnie Avery has started each of the first 2 games with Austin Collie out and will continue to do so until Collie returns. He hasn’t looked bad, catching 12 passes for 148 yards and a touchdown. Collie is out indefinitely. He could be back this week, but that’s been the case in each of the last 2 weeks and he hasn’t played. Concussions are tricky to put a timetable on, especially with someone who has a history of them like Collie. Avery might be worth a bench stash.

RB Bilal Powell (NY Jets)

Percent owned (ESPN): 0.5%

Shonn Greene hasn’t looked good in the first 2 games, with 117 yards and a score on 38 carries and Bilal Powell, the Jets’ #2 back, started taking touches away from Greene this week, carrying it 9 times to Greene’s 11. Some of that had to do with Greene missing some time with injury, but Powell continued to see the field some even after Greene returned and he looked like the better back. If Greene continues to struggle, expect Powell, the better pass catcher as well, to continue eating into his touches. He’s worth a stash in deep leagues.

TE Brandon Myers (Oakland)

Percent owned (ESPN): 0.2%

He doesn’t have much of a track record, but it’s worth noting that Myers has caught 11 passes for 151 yards in 2 games. In deep leagues, he’s worth a look if you need a tight end, but there’s a reason he’s towards the bottom of this list.

TE Scott Chandler (Buffalo)

Percent owned (ESPN): 16.1%

Just like last year, Ryan Fitzpatrick loves throwing to him on the goal line. Last year he had 6 touchdowns and this year he has 2 in as many games, to go with 6 catches for 91 yards in 2 games. He’s at the bottom of this list for a reason, but he’s worth a look in deep leagues and touchdown leagues.

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QB Jake Locker (Tennessee)

Percent owned (ESPN): 18.0%

Locker left with injury, but it sounds like he’ll be fine for week 2. I was really high on Locker and the Tennessee offense before the season started, particularly in fantasy, and Locker certainly didn’t do anything to prove me wrong, completing 23 of 32 for 229 yards, a touchdown, and a pick. He should certainly be owned as QB2.

RB Alfred Morris (Washington)

Percent owned (ESPN): 10.0%

I had a suspicions throughout the week that Morris would get the start over Roy Helu and Evan Royster and I was proven right. Morris carried the load, carrying it 28 times for 96 yards and a pair of rushing touchdowns. Helu and Royster were limited to 7 combined touches. Of course, Mike Shanahan is inconsistent with his backs on a weekly basis so while Morris didn’t do anything to lose the job, he’s no lock to start next week. Still, he’s worth a waiver claim if you can get him and he’ll probably lead the team in rushing this season. You’ll just have to monitor his status before the game if you own him.

WR Kevin Ogletree (Dallas)

Percent owned (ESPN): 0.5%

Ogletree had a breakout game with 8 catches for 114 yards and 2 touchdowns in the opener against Dallas. He fit the Laurent Robinson role (54/858/11) like a glove. The issue is that Robinson, and Ogletree last night, only had that kind of production because of injuries to other guys. Robinson stepped up in the absence of Miles Austin last year and Ogletree stepped up with Austin and Jason Witten both playing hurt last night. Once all 3 of the Cowboys’ top receivers, Bryant, Austin, and Witten are healthy, which could be as soon as next week, there simply won’t be enough targets to go around for Ogletree to be a consistent fantasy starter on a week to week basis. However, he’s definitely worth a waiver claim and if you get him, you can trade him high and pick up a more consistent performer (we don’t use waivers in one of my leagues, so I picked him up right after the game and traded him for Ronnie Brown, who I desperately needed because my top 2 backs, Ryan Mathews and Jonathan Stewart, were hurt).

TE Kyle Rudolph (Minnesota)

Percent owned (ESPN): 14.2%

Lacking a true #2 wide receiver, Christian Ponder threw to Kyle Rudolph early and often this week, as the tight end caught 5 passes for 67 yards on 7 targets against the Jaguars. Ponder loved throwing to his tight ends last year, but Rudolph is now the lead guy at that position and in his 2^nd year in the league, he should post low end TE1 numbers throughout the season.

WR Stephen Hill (NY Jets)

Percent owned (ESPN): 2.9%

Hill may be a raw 2^nd round rookie, but he looked like their best receiver in the preseason and that continued in the opener as he caught 5 passes for 89 yards and, like Plaxico Burress and Braylon Edwards before him, was a popular target in the end zone, hauling in two touchdowns. The Jets had a great day offensively and while I’m not convinced that will continue all year, their receiving corps is no longer “off limits” in fantasy.

WR Alshon Jeffery (Chicago)

Percent owned (ESPN): 15.0%

Jeffery looked very good against the Colts, catching 3 passes for 80 yards and a touchdown. He only had 5 targets, which is somewhat concerning, but the rookie will see more snaps and be more frequently targeted as the season goes on and he earns the respect of the coaching staff and his quarterback. He might have already done that. The Bears’ passing offense is good enough to support two wide receivers in fantasy, if one can establish himself as a #2 receiver, since they don’t throw to the tight end much, so Jeffery has plenty of upside.

WR Danny Amendola (St. Louis)

Percent owned (ESPN): 18.2%

St. Louis’ passing offense isn’t very good, but Amendola is the St. Louis receiver to own. He was targeted 9 times this week, catching 5 of them for 70 yards. He’ll get a lot of volume yardage and lead this team in receiving. If he stays healthy, he might be able to approach 1000 yards now that he’s a starter and not just a slot receiver.

WR Randall Cobb (Green Bay)

Percent owned (ESPN): 13.9%

Cobb actually led the Packers in receiving and targets against the 49ers, hauling in 9 catches for 77 yards. Ordinarily I wouldn’t list him here because Green Bay has so many weapons it’s going to be tough for anyone other than Greg Jennings and Jordy Nelson to be consistent on a weekly basis, but Jennings is hurt and it doesn’t look like he’ll be able to go on a short week against Chicago on Thursday Night Football.

RB Kendall Hunter (San Francisco)

Percent owned (ESPN): 12.7%

So much for LaMichael James and Brandon Jacobs. Hunter was Frank Gore’s primary backup against Green Bay, rushing for 41 yards on 9 carries. Why is this important? Well, the 49ers will run a lot so he’ll get carries even as a backup. On top of that, Gore is an injury prone, 29 year old running back, who averaged just 3.5 YPC in the 2^nd half of last season. If/when Gore struggles or gets hurt, Hunter, a talented back, will be the primary beneficiary.

RB Jonathan Dwyer (Pittsburgh)

Jonathan Dwyer got just 11 touches to Isaac Redman’s 13, but he had 54 yards on his, while Redman had just 27. It seemed like Dwyer became more involved as the game went on and next week, he could be the starter. He’s worth picking up because Rashard Mendenhall probably won’t play until after the week 4 bye and even when he returns, he could split carries because Todd Haley runs a two back system. Dwyer, the more talented of the two backs, would be most likely to be that 2^nd back and would be the beneficiary of any further Mendenhall injury.

WR Aldrick Robinson (Washington)

Percent owned (ESPN): 0.0%

Pierre Garcon tore up the Saints’ secondary with 4 catches for 109 yards and a touchdown on just 8 snaps before leaving with his injury. Robinson, a similar style player, came in and picked up where Garcon left off, leading the team in targets and catching 4 passes for 52 yards and a touchdown. Robinson is the type of receiver that Griffin loves, dating back to his days at Baylor (think Kendall Wright) and Garcon might not be able to go this week. If he can’t, Robinson might be a nice flex option. He’s worth a pickup for Garcon owners.

TE Heath Miller (Pittsburgh)

Percent owned (ESPN): 6.3%

Heath Miller is one of the most underrated players in the league. Miller was 3^rd on the team with 7 targets against the Broncos, catching 4 passes for 50 yards. It’s not exciting production, but the Steelers mentioned getting Miller more involved in the offense in the offseason and he’s always been a nice bet for consistent low end tight end production throughout his career.

TE Martellus Bennett (NY Giants)

Percent owned (ESPN): 22.4%

Eli Manning has always loved throwing to his tight ends and that was once again the case with Bennett in the opener. Bennett was targeted 6 times, 2^nd highest on the team, and though he only came away with 4 catches for 40 yards, he was thrown to on the goal line and caught a touchdown and if Eli and the Giants’ passing offense had a better game, which they’re certainly capable of, he would have had a very solid night. He’s a TE2 with TE1 upside in deeper leagues depending on the matchup.

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