Week 3

Matt Hasselbeck (Seattle) – The veteran quarterback has yet to have a big game this season, but at least he found WR Deion Branch seven times for 122 yards in Week 2.  This Sunday, the Seahawks will host the Bengals in what should be a shootout.  Cincinnati ranks 27th against the pass, allowing 268 yards per game.  More importantly, the Cincy secondary looked horrible in Week 2, allowing five TD passes to Cleveland QB Derek Anderson, who was making just his fourth NFL start. 

Jason Campbell (Washington) – Campbell’s accuracy has been erratic this season, but you have to like his chances against the Giants’ last-ranked pass defense.  New York is allowing 311 passing yards per game, and opposing QBs have combined to post a passer rating of 127.8.  In his lone start vs. the Giants last season, Campbell had a respectable day, completing 21-of-31 for 220 yards, with two TDs and one INT.   
 

Vince Young (Tennessee) – Young had a nice game vs. the Colts, passing for 184 yards and rushing for another 53.  He also threw for his first score of the season in the contest.  His momentum from Week 2 should carry over into Monday night’s matchup with the defenseless Saints, who are allowing 266 passing yards per game.  New Orleans has been especially susceptible to the deep ball, allowing five long TD passes and 11 completions of 24 yards or more in two games.  The Saint defense will likely be more concerned about Young’s running ability, meaning that the second-year QB should have some open receivers down the field.     

Jay Cutler (Denver) – Cutler is averaging 287 passing yards per game, with two TDs and three INTs in two games.  This week, the young QB will likely struggle against a Jacksonville defense that regained its swagger in Week 2.  The Jags are allowing just 117 passing yards per game, and they have yet to give up a TD pass this season.   

LaMont Jordan (Oakland) – Jordan is leading the Raiders in carries with 40 and is second in receptions with 9.  That averages out to 25 touches per game, and he’s gaining 6.5 yards per touch.  Not only is Jordan getting the rock a lot, but he also has an excellent matchup this week vs. Cleveland.  The Browns rank dead last in the league in total defense, allowing 448 yards per game, and they are also last in the AFC in scoring defense, allowing a whopping 39.5 points per game.   

Laurence Maroney (New England) – With no 100-yard games and zero touchdowns, Maroney has been a bit of disappointment so far this season.  It has been especially frustrating for his owners because backup RB Sammy Morris and FB Heath Evans have rushed for TDs.  On the plus side, Maroney is averaging a respectable 75 rushing yards per game and 4.3 per carry.  Better yet, this Sunday he’ll face a banged-up Buffalo defense that ranks 30th against the run.  The Bills are allowing 178 rushing yards per game and a dreadful 5.5 yards per carry.   

Marshawn Lynch (Buffalo) – The rookie is off to a nice start, but this week, he’ll run into a wall.  The Patriots top the league in run defense, allowing just 56 yards per game.  Even more foreboding is that opposing running backs, including LaDainian Tomlinson, are averaging just 2.9 yards per carry against New England this season.  
 

Brandon Jackson (Green Bay) – Jackson is in danger of losing his starting job to fellow rookie DeShawn Wynn, who was impressive in last week’s win over the Giants.  Neither back is an attractive option this week against an angry San Diego defense that usually excels against the run. 

Joey Galloway (Tampa Bay) – Last Sunday, Galloway burned the Saints for 135 yards and two scores.  This week, he’ll take on a St. Louis secondary that is missing both of its starting cornerbacks.   
 

Chris Cooley (Washington) – Tight ends have been giving the Giants’ defense fits this season.  In two games, Dallas’ Jason Witten and Green Bay’s Donald Lee and Bubba Franks combined to catch 14 balls for 171 yards and three TDs against the G-men.  This bodes very well for Cooley, who scored his first TD of the season on Monday night.   

Jerry Porter (Oakland) – Porter caught just one pass last week, but he turned it into a 46-yard touchdown.  The veteran wide receiver should have had at least one more score, but QB Josh McCown badly overthrew him in the fourth quarter when Porter had beaten Denver CB Dre’ Bly.  This Sunday, Porter will face a Cleveland secondary that has surrendered 10 TD passes in just two games.   
 

Owen Daniels and Jacoby Jones (Houston) – You know that the Texans will have to score a fair amount of points to beat the Colts, and one or both of these guys will have to pick up the slack for injured Pro Bowl WR Andre Johnson, who will miss at least one game due to a sprained knee.   

Darrell Jackson (San Francisco) – The 49ers’ pass offense has been anemic, averaging an NFC-low 99.5 yards per game.  Jackson, who is averaging 3.5 catches and 49 receiving yards per game, is not likely to break out against a Pittsburgh defense that is allowing just 148 passing yards per game (3rd in the NFL). 

Matt Stover (Baltimore) – It appears that Steve McNair (groin) will be back at quarterback for the Ravens this Sunday, and that is not necessarily a good thing.  Look for the Ravens to dink and dunk their way down the field and struggle in the red zone.  This is good news for Stover, who be facing an Arizona defense that has allowed 35 field goals in its last 18 games.   
 

Carolina Defense – The Joey Harrington era is nearing an end in Atlanta, but the Panthers will beef up their defensive stats before it does.  The Falcons have scored just 10 points in two games, and in the process, they have allowed a league-high 13 sacks.   

Kansas City Defense – The Chiefs’ home opener will be against the Vikings, who have significant issues at quarterback.  Starter Tarvaris Jackson is nursing a groin strain and is coming off a four-interception performance.  The other options are the recently-acquired Kelly Holcomb, who didn’t even play in the preseason, or former Jet Brooks Bollinger.  Enough said.   

Nick Folk (Dallas) – The rookie kicker is off to a fine start, but his opportunities could be limited on Sunday against the Bears’ vaunted defense that is allowing just 12 points per game.   
 

Seattle Defense – Carson Palmer and company should eat up a Seattle defense that has just one INT on the season and didn’t register a sack last week vs. Arizona.