Start 'Em, Sit 'Em: Week 3

9/21/09 - Dear Diary,

For our game reviews this week, I was assigned the Oakland-Kansas City game. Unfortunately, this meant I had to watch it. I kept checking the guide on my TV, since it appeared that I was watching a JV game on local access. JaMarcus Russell was a trainwreck; I haven't seen that level of inaccuracy since I scored Vince Young's Wonderlic test. Anyway, here's who I like this week...

Eli Manning -- At this point, I'm recommending any quarterback (except Russell) versus the Tampa Bay secondary. Even Bucs coach Raheem Morris said it's "already out of hand." Eli picked apart the Cowboys, and his competition in the Double Stuf Racing League is more challenging than the Bucs defense. Diary, do you think Serena Williams threatened to shove an Oreo down his f*&%^#$ throat during their commercial shoot? Probably. She seems mean.

Matt Ryan -- I pegged Ryan as this year's breakout fantasy quarterback before the season, and so far he's holding up his end of the bargain with five touchdowns and a 68.3 percent completion rate. This week he faces a suspect Patriots defense, and with opponents loading up to stop Michael Turner, Ryan is making them pay.

Ronnie Brown -- The Dolphins' running game dominated the Colts defense Monday night, controlling the clock and keeping Indy's potent offense on the sidelines. Thanks to conservative play-calling and the worst 2-minute drill this side of Ohio State, it wasn't enough. Still, expect more of the same against Philip Rivers and the Chargers, whose defensive line looks weak and depleted without Jamal Williams

Felix Jones --Marion Barber's injury is not as serious as the Cowboys initially feared, but his participation in Monday's game will be limited at best. That means increased snaps for the speedy Jones who ripped off a 56-yard run and also showed some power on his TD run. The Panthers are vulnerable on the ground, and running will keep Tony Romo from throwing picks. Speaking of Romo, how does a guy who's dating celebrities land his best endorsement deal with Starter? Was Zubaz unavailable? Is it 1991 again, diary?

Willis McGahee -- Diary, I hate this guy. I drafted him last year only to have his sporadic production lead to a weekly game of lineup Russian Roulette. Every time I started him he would barely play, and every time I didn't he would score. This year I picked Ray Rice, and now McGahee is vulturing TDs and had nearly twice as many carries last week. Against the woeful Browns, this jerk should find paydirt again.

Kevin Smith -- Consider me impressed after Smith racked up 83 yards against the stout Minnesota front. This week he faces a Washington D that surrendered 126 rushing yards to the lowly Rams. Albert Haynesworth is quickly moving up the list of Daniel Snyder free-agent buffoonery, although he's not in the Adam ArchuletaBrandon LloydJeff George tier yet. Smith continues to get virtually all the carries for Detroit while remaining involved in the passing game.

Vincent Jackson -- He's quickly becoming a lineup lock after his six-catch, 141-yard outburst versus the Ravens. With the Chargers struggling to establish a running game, Rivers will be chucking it early and often with Jackson the primary beneficiary. He'll also be facing Miami's two rookie corners who have to travel cross-country with a short week of preparation.

Mario Manningham -- Diary, maybe the Giants don't have a true No. 1 receiver; maybe they have two. Both Manningham and Steve Smith caught 10 passes against the Cowboys on Sunday night, with Manningham scoring a TD for the second straight week. Based on Tampa Bay's secondary, a third seems likely.