Let's take a look at some of the biggest movers in free agency from a fantasy football perspective:

DONE DEALS
RB Reggie Bush (Lions) – Detroit is the perfect landing spot for Bush and his fantasy owners alike. The team promised him the “full-time” gig which means he’s likely to be the guy on all three downs. That doesn’t bode well for Mikel Leshoure, who along with his 3.7 ypc will now likely be reduced to short-yardage and goal line work. Bush’s arrival should only help Matthew Stafford produce even bigger numbers at the quarterback position and also help to free up Calvin Johnson a bit in the offense.

RB Rashard Mendenhall (Cardinals) – Mendenhall reunites with Bruce Arians, who was the Steelers’ offensive coordinator during Mendenhall’s most productive seasons. At 25 and year fully removed from ACL surgery Mendenhall surely has room to return as a feature back. The Cardinals parted ways with Beanie Wells earlier so that leaves Mendenhall and former first-round pick Ryan Williams as the team’s top two options out of the backfield. Arians prefers a workhorse running back so expect one to emerge for the bulk of carries. Early on that bet is Mendenhall.

RB Shonn Greene (Titans) – The Titans struggled badly at the goal line a year ago and they’re hoping Greene can serve as a nice compliment to Chris Johnson. Greene is a sure bet to vulture TD’s from Johnson, who struggled to find the end zone as is. Hopefully it will also motivate Johnson and help him avoid the early-season struggles he’s become accustomed to.  Regardless of who is running the ball for Tennessee, the Titans will need better play. Johnson remains inside our top 15 (unchanged) at running back to whereas Greene will be a RB4 or RB5 at best.

WR Wes Welker (Broncos) – In one of the most surprising moves thus far Welker winds up in Denver with Peyton Manning. While I initially was prepared to drop Welker (currently No. 15 in wide receiver rankings) if he were unable to stick with the Patriots, this move makes me rethink the action. The Broncos already boast two stud wideouts on the outside, Demaryius Thomas and Eric Decker, and will now slide Welker into the slot to replace Brandon Stokley. The targets are likely to drop, but in the end Welker should wind up a solid WR2 with added value in PPR formats.

WR Danny Amendola (Patriots) – New England wasted no time in announcing Amendola as Welker’s replacement. Five years younger, Amendola has often been referred to in fantasy circles as a poor man’s Wes Welker. Patriots’ offensive coordinator Josh McDaniel is familiar with Amendola from his days in St. Louis. It will be hard to imagine Amendola matching Welker’s production right out of the gate. The bigger concern for owners is his durability. Amendola has missed 22 games over the past four seasons, including 15 contests during the 2011 season and five a year ago. Consider him a WR3 worthy a mid-round pick in upcoming fantasy drafts.

WR Donnie Avery (Chiefs) – Avery is coming off his career-best season after catching 60 balls for 781 yards a year ago for the Colts. The problem is his catch efficiency.  To get to those 60 receptions it took 124 targets. The speedster has been criticized at times for his fundamentals, but he will help aid in the Chiefs’ offense as a deep threat. With Dwyane Bowe in the fold and Dexter McCluster and his versatility also in the mix, Andy Reid is going to have options for Alex Smith. Avery’s departure from Indy only enhances the value of young receiver TY Hilton.

PLAYERS TO WATCH
RB Steven Jackson – Reports continue to suggest that the Packers and Jackson are nearing a deal, but each day that goes on it seems less likely. The Packers would be a great fit and Jackson would help Green Bay in both the running and passing game. The Falcons were originally expected to be hot and heavy on Jackson, but the news on Tony Gonzalez returning and his $7 million price tag likely hampered their chances.

RB Mike Goodson – Goodson visited the Bengals on Wednesday, but left town without a deal. He’s now reportedly on his way to New York to meet with the Jets. Goodson would be a nice compliment with BenJarvus Green-Ellis in Cincinnati and would split time with Bilal Powell in New York. In either case he would be worth a later pick in draft as a decent reserve option. He’s unlikely to get a gig where he would be the team’s primary ball carrier.

WR Greg Jennings – The high price tag Jennings is requesting as slowed interest in him. The Packers had a $10 million/per year deal on the table, but the veteran was holding out hope for an even bigger payday and now is likely going to get less with the receiver market defining itself better with each passing day. He has a visit scheduled to Minnesota, who is one of the league’s thinnest teams at the position.  Jennings is on the decline and a move from Aaron Rodgers to Christian Ponder would not help his fantasy value.

WR Brandon Gibson – Gibson has several teams interested in his services. The Jets, Dolphins and Titans appear to be the teams competing for his services. Landing in Miami would likely be the best for his fantasy value. Regardless, Gibson is bench fodder at best.

QB Matt Cassel – While he’s still a member of the Chiefs it’s only a matter of time before Cassel is cut. In the weak quarterback market there will be suitors for Cassel. The Vikings make a ton of sense to ensure themselves with Ponder. Arizona and Buffalo also have a need.

Fantasy Football, NFL fantasy advice, 2013 nfl offseason, free agency, reggie bush, rashard mendenhall, shonn greene, wes welker, danny amendola, donnie avery

Week Two showed us just how unpredictable the NFL is, and just how inconsistent performances can be. For this reason, bench depth is vital, and making moves is even more vital. Don't sit on your hands and miss out on that key player, who can help you down the stretch. Some may have an impact, and some may not, but engage, and get to that waiver wire. With that said, here are some key players that may reside on your waiver wire:

QB
Matt Cassel, KC - He went undrafted in many leagues, including a fair amount of 12-team leagues. But his matchup this week is too good to pass up going against the New Orleans defense which coughs up points to everyone.

Kevin Kolb, ARI - Much like Cassel, Kolb went mostly undrafted but now finds himself under center for one of 6 undefeated teams in the NFL. His stats are less than stellar with only 2 passing TDs (and one rushing TD), but for depth, he's still better than a Brandon Weeden-type of QB3.

RB
Andre Brown, NYG - Ahmad Bradshaw got hurt and Brown stepped in and put up good fantasy numbers. Bradshaw is questionable for Week 3, and if he doesn't play I like Brown as a fringe starter/flex.

Mikel Leshoure, DET - The team welcomed him back from his two-week suspension on Monday. While Leshoure doesn’t help much in the passing game, many expect him to have a big role right out of the gate for the Lions. It’s worth grabbing to see how things unfold, but it may be risky putting him your lineup right out of the gate.

WR
Mohammed Massaquoi, CLE - Massaquoi, not Greg Little is proving to be the go to receiver in Cleveland. That's still not a juggernaut position from a fantasy perspective but he does 15 targets over the first two weeks. I like Massaquoi the most amongst the Cleveland receivers at this point although he's still not a starter, until I see more from Brandon Weeden against actual defenses, instead of the Bengals.

Donnie Avery, IND - With Austin Collie out, Andrew Luck has targeted Avery 18 times thus far. He's a sneaky type of player in fantasy, and always has been. In deep leagues, you could do worse at WR3 or flex than Avery, but don't expect him to carry you to victory.

TE
Dante Rosario, SD - I'm putting Rosario on this list out of obligation only. He had 3 touchdowns last week and that can't be overlooked. But, if you expect anything close to that type of performance again from Rosario, you're setting yourself up for disappointment.

Kellen Winslow, NE - Aaron Hernandez is out for several weeks with an ankle injury and the Patriots have signed Winslow to fill their need in their 2-TE set. That will move all the focus to Gronk, and leave Winslow forgotten. I'd take a wait and see approach on Winslow at this point, but with his receiving abilities, he could be a great grab for fantasy owners in this offense. Do it now, before he goes off, especially if you have endless waiver moves.

Honorable mention (put on your watch list, but don't grab yet): Curtis Brinkley, RB SD

Fantasy Football fantasy advice, waiver wire, week 3, matt cassel, kevin kolb, andre brown, mikel leshoure, donnie avery, dante rosario, kellen winslow

INSIDE THE NUMBERS
Playing without a true quarterback in 2011 Colts’ wide receiver Reggie Wayne only mustered 75 receptions for 960 yards, his lowest output since 2003.  It broke a span of five straight seasons in which Wayne has tallied at least 1,145 yards receiving. The most impressive number he’s produced though may be the fact he’s started in all 16 games for Indy in each of the last nine seasons.

SCHEDULE
Indianapolis ranks dead in the middle on strength of schedule, but for a young team there are no easy opponents. Opening at Chicago isn’t a great scenario, but home matchups against Minnesota and Jacksonville followed by a bye week is a nice way for Luck and company to ease into things. Going against the Texans twice, the AFC East, and NFC North wasn’t the best of draws though.

STUD
The Colts lack a true fantasy stud, but Donald Brown has the best chance of anybody to come close to that this season. The multi-talented running back is capable of hitting the holes and breaking long plays and is a threat catching the ball out of the backfield. After showing doses of brilliance in 2011, he’s going to get most of the looks with Joseph Addai out of the mix and is providing great RB2 value in the middle rounds of drafts.

DUD
Had I written this preview a month ago I would have had Austin Collie under my sleeper category for sure as he was really developing nicely in the Colts’ new offense, but then the preseason concussion came. It is his fourth one. Though he’s insisting that he’s going to make back onto the football field soon, I’m not holding my breath. Avoid him altogether.

SLEEPER
Though I can’t endorse rookie Coby Fleener as reliable TE1 option right out of the gate, I am a bit enamored by his upside. He possesses great skill sets to be successful in this league and you can’t replace the time he’s had and the chemistry he has developed playing with Andrew Luck, his former teammate at Stanford.

NEW ADDITION
After an amazing decade plus run the Colts had with Peyton Manning, they now have the good fortune to replace him Andrew Luck as their starting quarterback. He may be the best QB to come out of college since Manning. Luck is ready to produce right now and he is going to fare better than most on banking on out of the gate. Look for plenty of garbage time points and near QB1 numbers in 2012.

POSITION BATTLE
Though I expect Brown to see the bulk of the workload it’s going to be interesting to see how Vick Ballard, Mewelde Moore and Delone Carter work into the mix. Expect Ballard to be used in short-yardage and perhaps goalline situations where Moore will be utilized more as a change-of-pace, third-down type of runner.

BENCH BUILDER
Donnie Avery isn’t a great talent, but Collie’s concussions flaring up and the team so thin at the position he could sneak into a WR2 role to start the season. He isn’t worth drafting in most leagues, but in deeper formats where a fifth or sixth receiver and beyond are placed on your roster he has some upside.

Fantasy Football, NFL 2012 nfl preview, indianapolis colts, reggie wayne, donald brown, austin collie, coby fleener, andrew luck, donnie avery

Here is our Line-Up Locks for Week 12. Thursday's night match up will not be included. Here's a quick look at those who has favorable matchups (LOCK IN) and those who deserve a spot on your bench this week (LOCK OUT):

QUARTERBACKS
Lock In:
--Matt Cassel @ Mia
My take: 400+ yards last week. You probably had him on your bench. Don't make that mistake this week in a great match up.

--Aaron Rodgers @ NO
My take: This is a very sexy match up for the Packers QB who has been very consistent of late.

--Tony Romo vs. SF
My take: He looked a little rusty last week, but the Cowboys were playing a much better opponent last week. This week Romo and the Boys get healthy quickly versus a vulnerable 49ers defense.

Fantasy Football matt cassel, aaron rodgers, tony romo, jake delhomme, brett favre, chad pennington, steve slaton, warrick dunn, marshawn lynch, thomas jones, maurice jones-drew, tim hightower, dwayne bowe, bernard berrian, donald driver, desean jackson, donnie avery, laveranues coles, owen daniels, chris cooley, greg olsen, lj smith, todd heap, anthony fasano

Here is an early edition of Line-Up Locks for Week 10. Remember, there's a game tonight between the Browns and the Broncos, so set your lineups early, if necessary. Here's a quick look at those who have favorable matchups (LOCK IN) and those who deserve a spot on your bench this week (LOCK OUT):
 
QUARTERBACKS
Lock In:
--Phillip Rivers vs. KC
My take: Rivers is quietly one of the most consistent QBs in all of fantasy football. This week he gets a nice match up and could exploit the Chiefs defense for a couple of scores.

--Matt Ryan vs. NO
My take: The NFL's clear-cut favorite to win Rookie of the Year is Matt Ryan, and deservedly so. Ryan has looked like a savvy veteran and will get a chance to show off his skills at home against a bad New Orleans defense. Ryan is a much better QB at home than on the road. This is the week to use him if you have him.

--Jake Delhomme @ Oak
My take: This is usually the time of the year when Delhomme and Steve Smith get hot and that's exactly what's happening. Look for a couple scores from Jake this week, especially because, inexplicably Al Davis cut Deangelo Hall this week, further weakening the Raiders defense.

Lock Out:
--Donovan McNabb vs. NYG
My take: McNabb has put up very nice numbers all year, so why is he on this part of the list? Well, the Giants defense is ferocious and even a scrambler like McNabb will face intense pressure. This will lead to less production and more turnovers from him. He might still be your best QB, but if you have someone like Matt Ryan behind him, then move him to the bench for this week.

--Sage Rosenfels vs. Bal
My take: The waiver wire du jour should not be played this week. I know that the Texans passing game has impressed, but I just think they run better with Scaub under center and will face a Ravens defense that is still very tough.

--Brady Quinn vs. Den
My take: It's very tempting to put Quinn in this week, I know. The match up is ideal (Denver's defense is easy to score on). But, Quinn has had little to no time in practice to work with the first team. Since this is a Thursday game, he's had two days in fact. That's what scares me. Take a wait and see approach with Quinn.


RUNNING BACKS
Lock In:
--Jamaal Charles @ SD
My take: Charles showed who's really in charge in the Chiefs backfield now. With LJ not playing again this week, expect a repeat performance of 100+ yards and a score from Charles this week.

--Maurice Jones-Drew @ Det
My take: MJD was in this same spot last week and disappointed against the Bengals of all teams. I'll chalk that up to a fluke, but if he can't put up good stats versus the Lions, then it's officially time to worry about him.

--Jamal Lewis vs. Den
My take: Get Lewis in your lineup for tonight's game. The Broncos defense is terrible and Romeo Crennel will try to run the ball a lot to take some pressure off Brady Quinn.

Lock Out:
--Stephen Jackson @ NYJ
My take: S-Jax didn't practice yesterday and Coach Haslett said that if Jackson can't practice fully, he won't play this week. Plus, I'm putting Jackson on this list out of spite becaus those of us who own him are probably coming off losses thanks to the egg he laid last week. Until he shows he's healthy, I'm benching him.

--Ryan Grant @ Min
My take: Grant has been a huge disappointment this season. He's yet to produce big, consistent numbers and has a tough match up this week.

--Joseph Addai @ Pit
My take: Addai can also be considered a huge disappointment this year and like Grant, faces a tough match up this week.


WIDE RECEIVERS
Lock In:
--Brandon Marshall @ Cle
My take: The Broncos could really light up the scoreboard tonight and Marshall should see plenty of catches and scoring chances against a very bad Browns secondary.

--Steve Smith @ Oak
My take: As mentioned, this is usually when Smith starts to find his groove and he's coming off a two TD performance last week. No Deangelo Hall on him means plenty of open routes for Smith.

--Marques Colston @ Atl
My take: The Saints miss Reggie Bush. As a result, they have to throw it a lot more and Colston will benefit from what could be a shootout.

Lock Out:
--Desean Jackson vs. NYG
My take: As rookies tend to do, Jackson has faded as the season has worn on. This week will be no exception, keep him out until he shows flashes like he did early in the year.

--Devin Hester vs. Ten
My take: I have never been sold on Hester as a viable fantasy WR (yet). Many seem to still start him. With potentially a new QB under center and going against the NFL's best defense, why would you start him this week?

--Donnie Avery @ NYJ
My take: I go and put this guy in as a lock-in last week saying he's finally convinced me and what does he do but lay an egg? So, I am back to believing that if you can't score versus the Cardinals on your own home turf, then you don't deserve a start this week on the road against the Jets.


TIGHT ENDS
Lock In:
--Antonio Gates vs. KC
My take:  Not that you were going to bench him anyway, but this could be a huge week for Gates.

--Owen Daniels vs. Bal
My take: It's a tough match up, yes, but Daniels has proven that he's an every week starter regardless

--Kellen Winslow vs. Den
My take: Winslow loves the national spotlight and will get some soft coverage to exploit tonight. He allegdly liked the move to Brady Quinn, so let's see if that increases his targets.

Lock Out:
--Kevin Boss @ Phi
My take: This guy is too inconsistent to be counted on as a fantasy starter. This week it's a bad match up, too.

--Tony Scheffler @ Cle
My take: Again, until he proves he's back and can produce numbers for you, don't risk starting him.

--Zach Miller vs. Car
My take: He is in the top 5 of receiving yards for tight ends, but he has only one TD. I would expect no scores and limited yardage this week.


TEAM DEFENSE/ST
Lock In:
--Carolina @ Oak
--Miami vs. Sea
--Jacksonville @ Det

Lock Out:
--San Francisco @ Ariz

--Atlanta vs. NO
--New England vs. Buf

Fantasy Football phillip rivers, matt ryan, jake delhomme, donovan mcnabb, sage rosenfels, brady quinn, jamaal charles, maurice jones-drew, jamal lewis, stephen jackson, ryan grant, joseph addai, brandon marshall, steve smith, marques colston, desean jackson, devin hester, donnie avery, antonio gates, owen daniels, kellen winslow, kevin boss, tony scheffler, zach miller

Here are a few trends to think about before tuning into the games on Sunday:

After getting off to a slow start, Jamal Lewis has been a pretty good running back as of late. In the last four games he is averaging 82 yards and scored three times. But that trend may end on Sunday against his former team, the Ravens. In two games last season Lewis ran pretty well against Baltimore with 64 yards in one game and 92 in the other, and scoring in each. But earlier this year the improved Ravens D held him to just 56 yards and it is doubtful he'll do much better this time around. The Ravens give up just 64 yards on the ground per game and have allowed just one rushing touchdown this season.

While the Bills' success has been a pleasant surprise for many this season, the same can't be said for the play of their stud running back Marshawn Lynch. In his rookie season last year, Lynch averaged 21.5 carries per game and was given the ball at least 18 times in each start. This year he is averaging just 17.6 carries and just 64.1 yards per game. Sure, his touchdowns are way up - six so far this year compared to seven all of last year. But touchdowns can be hit or miss and the fact is, Lynch is not gettting the same opportunities. In the last two games Fred Jackson has gotten the ball 19 times. There may not be a battle for running back in Buffalo but it seems as if Jackson will continue to take carries away from Lynch. Regardless, the Bills could have a tough time running the ball against a Jets D that allows just 82.6 yards per game.

The Rams are back. Okay, they aren't the Greatest Show on Turf anymore, but they are playing competitive football, especailly on offense. One of the guys that has stepped it up has been rookie wide receiver Donnie Avery. In the last three games Avery has 14 catches for 291 yards and two touchdowns. In that same span Torry Holt had just 11 catches for 102 yards and did not score. It would appear that teams are doubling up on the veteran and the rookie is taking advantage of it. Expect both to do well against an Arizona defense that has allowed 14 receiving touchdowns this season - the most in the NFL.

The Dolphins have been another surprise team this season. They have a solid defense and two veteran backs leading the charge. But lately it has been the arm of Chad Pennington leading the team. In the last three weeks he has had games of 284, 295 and 314 yards. He has not thrown for 300 yards in back-to-back games since the beginning of the 2006 season but he should be able to match that feat this week against a Broncos team that is ranked 28th against the pass.

Quick Hits:
Jason Campbell has not thrown an interception this year. The Steelers have not intercepted a pass in thier last four games.
Joey Porter leads the league with 10.5 sacks. Jay Cutler has only been sacked four times this season.
Terrell Owens scored five times in three games against the Giants last year. He has found the endzone in six of his last seven games against New York.

Fantasy Football, NFL jamal lewis, marshawn lynch, fred jackson, donnie avery, torry holt, chad pennington, jason campbell, joey porter, jay cutler, terrell owens

Here is our Week 9 edition of Line-Up Locks. Here's a quick look at those who have favorable matchups (LOCK IN) and those who deserve a spot on your bench this week (LOCK OUT):
 
QUARTERBACKS
Lock In:
--Kurt Warner @ StL
My take: This game could be a real shootout. Warner should be one of the top performing quarterbacks of the week.

--Chad Pennington @ Den
My take: The Broncos allow the second highest amount of points in the NFL AND they will be without Champ Bailey. Pennington will light up the Broncos this week.

--David Garrard @ Cin
My take: Garrard has really turned up his play of late and that trend will continue against a Bengals defense that is injury-depleted.

Lock Out:
--Derek Anderson vs. Bal
My take: Expect a low-scoring effort from everyone in this game. Anderson might get a TD, but he will be pressured and confused which will lead to low yardage totals and turnovers.

--Jason Campbell vs. Pitt
My take: Campbell will be tested in this game. With their confusing schemes and blitz packages, the Steelers will keep Campbell’s production to a minimum.

--Brett Favre @ Buf
My take: This could be one of the best games of the week. Buffalo is stinging from their first conference loss and will look for revenge against the Jets. Favre has not looked like himself lately, which is reason for concern if you’re a Favre owner.


RUNNING BACKS
Lock In:
--Earnest Graham @ KC
My take: Warrick Dunn is injured which means Graham will get almost all the carries against the league’s worst run defense. Graham will go off this week.

--Maurice Jones-Drew @ Cin
My take: You invested in an early pick for MJD and this will be the week you’ll be glad you did. Jones-Drew will exploit a porous Bengals defense.

--Matt Forte vs. Det
My take: Forte is pretty much an every week starter as it is, but if somehow you play matchups with him, the match up doesn’t get any better for this rookie stud.

Lock Out:
--Cedric Benson vs. Jax
My take: Benson has looked better than Chris Perry, but he’s still not worth a start, especially this week.

--Steve Slaton @ Min
My take: Slaton will face the toughest match up of his NFL career this week and likely will be unproductive.

--Edgerrin James @ StL
My take: It’s a nice match up for James, but he’s been losing carries and TDs to rookie Tim Hightower. James is not really a viable fantasy starter any more.


WIDE RECEIVERS
Lock In:
--Roddy White @ Oak
My take: If you haven’t been paying attention, Matt Ryan and Roddy White have become quite a duo. White has to be an every week starter at this point. Get him in your lineup.

--Donnie Avery vs. Ari
My take: Last week I mentioned that I still wasn’t sold on Avery. I am now ready to say that he has convinced me that he’s worth starting; this week especially in what could be a shootout.

--Anquan Boldin @ StL
My take: Along with Larry Fitzgerald, a healthy Anquan Boldin must be in your lineup and in a potential shootout, expect lots of looks and lots of potential TDs.

Lock Out:
--Terrell Owens @ NYG
My take: (This is the same thing I said last week, but it says it all, so I’ll copy and paste it) Did you see how bad the Cowboys offense looked without Tony Romo? They will be without him again this week, and that means, it's time to put TO on your bench. He'll probably whine about it, but do it anyway.

--Santana Moss vs. Pit
My take: Usually Moss is a worthy starter, but this week, play the match up and move him to your bench as Pittsburgh’s defense should keep the scoring low.

--TJ Houshmandzadeh vs. Jax
My take: In a PPR league, Housh still has value, but otherwise, it might be time to consider trading him or benching him, especially this week.


TIGHT ENDS
Lock In:
--Greg Olsen vs. Det
My take:  The Bears, all Bears, have a great match up. Olsen makes for a fantastic this week.

--Anthony Fasano @ Den
My take: As mentioned earlier, the Broncos defense is susceptible and Pennington will have time to throw the ball and Fasano could benefit from that.

--Kellen Winslow vs. Bal
My take: Winslow has stunk as a fantasy option this year, but expect him to step up his performance. While it’s a tough, low-scoring match up, Winslow could find the end zone.

Lock Out:
--Heath Miller @ Was
My take: The Redskins will keep Roethlisberger from having time and Miller will not be a factor in this game.

--Tony Gonzalez vs. TB
My take: The Bucs defense is very undervalued. They are stout and face Tyler Thigpen. As a result, I just don’t see any Chiefs receiver being worth a start.

--Chris Cooley vs. Pit
My take: Cooley might still be your best option, but keep your expectations to a minimum for him this week.


TEAM DEFENSE/ST
Lock In:
--Minnesota vs. Hou
--Jacksonville @ Cin
--Tampa Bay @ KC

Lock Out:
--Miami @ Den
--Arizona @ SL
--St. Louis vs. Ari

Fantasy Football line-up locks, kurt warner, chad pennington, david garrard, derek anderson, jason campbell, brett favre, earnest graham, warrick dunn, maurice jones-drew, matt forte, cedric benson, steve slaton, edgerrin james, roddy white, donnie avery, anquan boldin, terrell owens, santana moss, tj houshmandzadeh, greg olsen, anthony fasano, kellen winslow, heath miller, tony gonzalez, chris cooley

Let's take a look at the top fantasy performers from Sunday's action: 

DREW BREES (30/41 for 329 PaY, 3 PaTD vs. SD) - The Saints' quarterback didn't miss Reggie Bush in the passing game as he had a huge day at Wimbley Stadium. As always, Brees spread the ball around well and delivered for fantasy owners.

MATT SCHAUB (24/28 for 280 PaYd, 3 PaTD vs. Cin) - Playing against the Bengals is always a good thing for a fantasy quarterback, but Schaub made it look to easy and lived up to his No. 4 billing on this week's GSI Cheat Sheet.

PHILLIP RIVERS (25/40 for 341 PaYd, 3 PaTD, 1 INT vs. NO) - The Chargers may have fell to 3-5 on Sunday, but chances are Phillip Rivers' fantasy owners aren't looking at such dire straits. Rivers continued to deliver big numbers and now has me believing he is for real.

BRIAN WESTBROOK (22 carries-167 RuYd, 2 RuTD; 6 rec for 42 ReYd vs Atl) - Welcome back Westbrook!!! The Eagles' running back rewarded fantasy owners who had to go without him the past couple of weeks by lighting up the Falcons 

LADAINIAN TOMLINSON (19 carries-105 RuYd; 5 rec for 65 ReYd, ReTD vs. NO) - LT broke his three-week scoring draught and eclipsed the 100-yard mark for just the second time this season. With a bye next week and an extremely favorable schedule down the stretch expect the trend to continue.

STEVE SMITH (5 rec for 117 ReYd, 2 TD vs. Ari) - He was No. 1 on this week's Cheat Sheet for a reason. Smith is an explosive playmaker and is capable of putting up efforts like this on a weekly basis. Consider yourself lucky if you have him.

RODDY WHITE (8 rec for 113 ReYd, 2 TD vs. Phi) - White has emerged as a weekly starting fantasy option this year and proved it once again on Sunday in Philadelphia. Matt Ryan's emergence has helped get the wideout's game up to this level.

DONNIE AVERY (6 rec for 163 ReYd, TD) - I gave you the green light earlier to pick him up and had him declared his prodcution a trend this week on the radio. Avery backed it up for me. I picked him in both of my big money leagues this week and had in the lineup in one of them...still kicking myself at that one.

 
Game-Used Sock Award
J.T. O'SULLIVAN (12/21 for 131 PaYD, 0 TD, 1 INT, 2 fumbles vs. Sea) - Not only did O'Sullivan turn in the biggest dud performance of the week, he likely lost his job in the process as the Niners are on a bye next week giving the team plenty of time to transition. O'Sullivan had 3 turnovers in the first quarter and leads in the NFL in giving the ball away. His fantasy value has plummetted in recent weeks and may have hit rock bottom Sunday.

Fantasy Football game balls, week 8, drew brees, matt schaub, phillip rivers, brian westbrook, ladainian tomlinson, steve smith, roddy white, donnie avery, jt o'sullivan

Here is our Week 8 edition of Line-Up Locks. Here's a quick look at those who have favorable matchups (LOCK IN) and those who deserve a spot on your bench this week (LOCK OUT):
 
QUARTERBACKS
Lock In:
--Matt Schaub vs. Cin
My take: Schaub has been on a roll (his third appearance in a row on LL too). He's definitely gotta be considered one of the top 10 QBs to start this week against a woeful Bengals defense that is without its top LB in Keith Rivers now.

--Matt Cassel vs StL
My take: Reports of the Patriots demise were greatly exaggerated. I expect at least a pair of TDs and over 200 yards from Cassel again this week.

--Jason Campbell @ Det
My take: The Lions are a better team at home, granted, but that makes them lousy instead of awful. Campbell will throw two TDs this week.

Lock Out:
--Derek Anderson @ Jax
My take: A very tough road game for all the Browns in general. With no Kellen Winslow (who is suspsended), that's one less safety valve for the mistake-prone Anderson to turn to. This one could get ugly.

--Ben Roethlisberger vs. NYG
My take: Big Ben has been one of the most sacked QBs in the NFL this year and he faces the team with the most sacks. That spells trouble.

--Kurt Warner @ Car
My take: The Panthers don't get the respect they deserve on defense. Their pass defense, especially, is very good, and with this being a road game, I think Warner could struggle, even with Anquan Boldin returning.


RUNNING BACKS
Lock In:
--Steve Slaton vs. Cin
My take: See what I said about Schaube above and the same applies to Slaton, but perhaps even more. The Bengals do not stop the run and Slaton will exploit that. I would even perhaps condone picking up Ahman Green if you needed a quick fix this week, as even he could have value this week.

--Maurice Jones-Drew vs. Cle
My take: I like all of the Jacksonville's offense in this game, but because they will likely run and run and run some more, I did not include David Garrard on this list. Jones-Drew and even Fred Taylor have to be considered as must starts this week.

--Thomas Jones vs. KC
My take: There's something about the Jones' brothers that drives fantasy owners nuts. Thomas and Julius are inconsistent. But this week, Thomas should put up strong numbers against a bad Chiefs team.

Lock Out:
--Jamal Lewis @ Jax
My take: Lewis has a tough task ahead of him, trying to get yards against a Jacksonville defense that is stout in its own stadium. Expect less than 75 yards from Lewis and no score.

--Darren McFadden/Justin Fargas @ Bal
My take: This running duo has been fairly effecient, but not spectacular. This week, the effeciency ends. Both Fargas and McFadden are not good options this week. If you had to start one of them, Fargas would be the better choice.

--Dominic Rhodes @ Ten
My take: I predicted a nice performance from him last week and I was right. This week, listen to me again because Rhodes will face a defense that is very difficult to run on, on the road. Plus, watch for Addai's status as there's a chance he could return this week, although, I expect Rhodes to get most of the carries.


WIDE RECEIVERS
Lock In:
--Calvin Johnson vs. Was
My take: I saw everything I needed to see from Johnson last week on his 96-yard TD catch. Plus, Johnson was targeted 10 times last week. In a PPR league, Johnson is a sure fire starter, in most leagues, he makes a nice start this week.

--TJ Houshmandzadeh @ Hou
My take: Despite not having Carson Palmer throwing the ball to him, Houshmandzadeh has been consistently good. It would be nice if he scored more TDs, but in PPR leagues, he's fantastic and in straight yardage leagues, he's a good start too. He might even find the end zone this week.

--Santana Moss @ Det
My take: Moss is quickly becoming the more consistent WR named Moss this year. And this week, he will be the better Moss to start.

Lock Out:
--Terrell Owens vs. TB
My take: Did you see how bad the Cowboys offense looked without Tony Romo? They will be without him again this week, and that means, it's time to put TO on your bench. He'll probably whine about it, but do it anyway.

--Donnie Avery @ NE
My take: He's had a nice couple of weeks and might still be on your waiver wire, but I'm not sold on him as a reliable fantasy starter, especially this week facing a rejuvenated Patriots defense.

--Dwayne Bowe vs. NYJ
My take: Bowe is ridiculously talented in a keeper leagues should be held onto no matter what. But this year, with god-knows-who at QB, Bowe's value continues to plummet. Tyler Thigpen, or Bobby Thigpen or Steve DeBerg might be throwing to him this week. Who knows? And it doesn't matter.


TIGHT ENDS
Lock In:
--Owen Daniels vs. Cin
My take:  He scored last week and he'll score again this week as the Bengals have historically struggled to cover tight ends.

--Chris Cooley vs. Cle
My take: As Campbell and Moss will find each other regularly, so will Cooley and Campbell.

--Anthony Fasano vs. Buf
My take: This is a sneaky play in fantasy this week, but I think the Dolphins are starting to be more dimensional and as the Bills will give Ronnie Brown more attention, this will open up the field for Fasano.

Lock Out:
--Heath Miller vs. NYG
My take: Not this week.

--Kellen Winslow @ Jax
My take: Winslow is suspended this week, so he must be moved to your bench and would've made a bad start in this matchup anyway.

--Zach Miller @ Bal
My take: I generally like Miller as a fringe every-week starter, but not this week in this matchup which will be a low-scoring affair.


TEAM DEFENSE/ST
Lock In:
--Baltimore vs. Oak
--Jacksonville vs. Cle
--Washington @ Det

Lock Out:
--Miami @ Buf
--Arizona @ Car
--San Diego @ NO

Fantasy Football lineup locks, matt schaub, matt cassel, jason campbell, derek anderson, ben roethlisberger, kurt warner, steve slaton, maurice jones-drew, thomas jones, jamal lewis, darren mcfadden, justin fargas, dominic rhodes, calvin johnson, tj houshmandzadeh, santana moss, terrell owens, donnie avery, dwayne bowe, owen daniels, chris cooley, anthony fasano, heath miller, kellen winslow, zach miller, ravens def, redksins def, miami def, arizona def, san diego def

Green Light, Yellow Light, Red Light – STOP!!! There are some appealing names each week on the waiver wire, I supply my weekly take on whether these players should be considered or not.

QUARTERBACK
Shaun Hill (SF) – With the plug being pulled on head coach Mike Nolan it’s only a matter of time before J.T. O’Sullivan suffers the same fate. Hill was decent in short work at the end of last year and could be productive in a Mike Martz lineup. Keep your eyes on this situation and if you need help at QB be ready to make the move if the Niners decide they are going to put him in.

RUNNING BACKS
Ahman Green (HOU) – The oft-injured Ahman Green received a season-high 14 carries against the Lions and it appears as if Gary Kubiak would like to see him worked in with rookie Steve Slaton. Durability is always a concern, but Green makes for a nice bye-week filler as Houston is set to host the Bengals and their poor rushing defense. A worthy pickup in deeper leagues.

Pierre Thomas (NO) – With Reggie Bush out 2-4 weeks there is going to be an opportunity for some more touches out of the Saints’ backfield. Thomas had some early-season success when Deuce McAllister was out, but he is pretty much a younger version of Deuce. It remains to be seen if he will have an increase in value. The kid has a ton of talent, but needs to get touches before I can recommend him.

Aaron Stecker (NO) – If you are looking for the short-term fit to replace Bush in the offense, Stecker is going to be the better option. He is at his best on passing downs and will likely step into that role with Bush out. Stecker is a nice play in PPR leagues, but McAllister’s value goes up the most out of all the Saints' running backs following the injury to Bush.

WIDE RECEIVERS
Donnie Avery (STL) – After getting a red light in the 9/30 edition of the Traffic Light, Avery has been given the green light here. He has caught 3 or more passes in four straight games and 5 receptions for 65 yards and a TD this week against Dallas. Don’t get too carried away he’s worth a play when the match-up is right, but not a weekly option for your line-up.
 
Greg Camarillo (MIA) – Even if Chad Pennington continues to struggle, Camarillo is proving he can be valuable. I was hesitant in recommending in anything outside of PPR leagues a few weeks ago (although I picked him up in every league at that time), but he’s now a safe bet for your roster in any format and a nice FLEX option in larger PPR leagues.

Javon Walker (OAK) – The veteran surfaced in Week 7 as a legitimate option in an improving Raiders’ passing offense when he was targeted nine times against the Jets. Walker took advantage of the action and finished the day with 5 catches for 75 yards and a TD. Take a chance as he’s available in most leagues, but don't bet the house on him doing again this week.

DEFENSE
Cardinals (ARI) – Fresh off a bye the Cards’ D is worth a look. Not only have they produced great numbers – over 3 sacks per game over last 4 – but now the scheduling gods are shining down upon them. After they get Carolina this week they have three straight against the Rams, 49ers, and Seahawks.

Fantasy Football shaun hill, ahman green, pierre thomas, aaron stecker, donnie avery, greg camarillo, javon walker, cardinals def