Also note that the matchups reflect how we think the team will do. There are a couple of "Good Matchups" that feature teams like the Lions and 49'ers who have more than one RB carrying the load. So make sure to understand that even though the 49'ers have a "Good Matchup" for rushing the ball, you have to factor in the fact that they'll likely spread the ball between Hearst and Barlow.

Bottom line, the cheatsheets are the final word.

Let's jump to it.

Joe

*******************
Joe Bryant
Owner www.footballguys.com

Bye Weeks Start Week 3:

Chicago is off - RB Anthony Thomas sits out this week.
Dallas is off - RB's Troy Hambrick / Aveion Cason sit out this week.
Philadelphia is off - RB's Duce Staley / Correll Buckhalter / Brian Westbrook sit out this week.
Carolina is off - RB Stephen Davis sits out this week.

Baltimore's Jamal Lewis vs. The San Diego Defense (Great Matchup)

San Diego: the team that can't catch a break. Week 1: Priest Holmes. Week 2: Clinton Portis. Week 3: Jamal Lewis - the back who just broke the NFL single game rushing record, averaging nearly 10 yards per carry while he utterly humiliated the Browns' defense with his awesome 30/295/2 performance - the TD's came on runs of 82 yards and 63 yards.

The Ravens jammed the ball down Cleveland's throat for a grand total of 343 yards as a team (Alan Ricard was the #2 rusher on the day, with 2/36/0, with a long of 30). For the season, the Ravens lead the NFL with 64 rushes for 431 yards (a 6.7 ypc average).

San Diego is reeling after being trampled by Holmes, Portis and company to the tune of an average 164 yards per game - 29th in the NFL (3 rushing TD's allowed). They gave up 197 yards to the Broncos last week - and Portis only played for one half, gaining 129 yards on 12 rushes. That calculates to over 10 yards per carry (10.8, actually).

One problem for the Ravens' juggernaut is that starting LG Edwin Mulitalo injured his right knee and ankle last week, and may not be able to play through the sprained MCL (doubtful). However, Mulitalo's injury is more than balanced by the Charger's problems: starting DE Marcellus Wiley is nursing a sore hamstring (questionable); starting LB Donnie Edwards injured his groin (questionable); and backup DL Dequincy Scott injured an ankle (probable) in the game vs. Denver. The injury factor definitely helps tilt the tables toward the visitors.

The weather at Qualcomm Stadium is expected to be sunny in the afternoon, with of 79F and a low of 67F, and a 10% chance of precipitation. That is just about ideal weather for a football game.

The top rusher in the NFL faces a ultra-soft rush defense that surrendered 10+ yards per carry to another top back just one week ago. Lewis' record may not stand long - he stands a chance to better it in week 3.

Kansas City's Priest Holmes vs. The Houston Defense (Great Matchup)

Kansas City's rushing attack is currently 6th in the NFL, having put up 289 yards in 2 weeks on 67 carries (a robust 4.3 ypc average). Priest Holmes has accounted for the lions' share of those yards, and has scored 5 touchdowns in 2 games - he went 26/122/3 rushing last week, with a long of 31 yards, and added 2 receptions for 6 yards. Given that Holmes is option 1A, 1B and 1C in the red-zone, he remains among the elite fantasy backs of 2003.

Houston came crashing back to earth last week vs. the Saints, and allowed 110 yards rushing in the game. Deuce McAllister pounded a steady diet of pigskin down the Texans' throats, and finished 20/96/1 rushing with a long of 31yards, and added 4/16/0 receiving. After two weeks, the Texans rank 15th in the league, allowing an average of 98 yards rushing per game (only 1 rushing score surrendered, though).

Houston's defense absorbed a huge hit after the game Sunday when they discovered that starting DT Seth Payne is gone for the season with a torn ACL. Starting DE Gary Walker (perhaps their best run defender) is still struggling to get his injured shoulder healthy and may not play again this weekend (questionable). Backup LB Troy Evans (groin - probable) and LB Antwan Peek (knee - questionable) are probably not up to full speed. The Chiefs are relatively healthy, with only Priest Holmes showing up on the injury report due to a sore calf (questionable). Obviously, the Texans are at a disadvantage due to their injury problems - but Holmes owners should monitor his status closely as the game approaches.

Reliant Stadium expects partly sunny conditions at game time, with a high of 84F and a low of 63F, with a 10% chance of rain. Weather shouldn't be a factor in the game (and if it were going to be, the Texans would close their retractable-roof).

Kansas City has an elite unit, while the Texans are mediocre and injury-plagued. A big advantage flows to the visitors in this game.

Minnesota's Moe Williams / Onterrio Smith vs. The Detroit Defense (Great Matchup)

Moe Williams was the fantasy star of the Viking's stable last week (21/108/1 rushing and 4/50/0 receiving) - however, rookie RB Onterrio Smith made his NFL debut with a solid effort (9/47/0 rushing and 1/9/0 receiving), and looks ready to contribute to the team's rushing game. Will a RBBC emerge week 3 vs. the Lions? It seems likely that Smith will get some more work against the soft Lions, but he is still not involved in the red-zone packages, so Williams should have the most fantasy value (especially in basic/scoring leagues). As a team, the Vikings are 3rd in the league after two weeks, with 356 yards on 75 attempts for a solid 4.7 yards per carry average - the big guys up front are definitely getting the job done, no matter who the ball carrier is on any given play.

Detroit's defense has been pathetic through two games, surrendering 3 TD's to the green-as-grass Cardinal's pass attack week one and then allowing Green Bay to pile up 31 points week two. Through 2 games Detroit is 26th in the league in rushing yards allowed per game, at 147.5, with one rushing score allowed. In the game vs. Green Bay, poor tackling allowed Ahman Green to rack up some really big runs in the first half.

Minnesota has done without Doug Chapman the first two weeks of the season, due to his bad ankle (he was probable heading into week 2, though). Detroit is lacking backup DL Cory Redding (knee, questionable) and backup LB James Davis (severely bruised ribs, questionable). Since Minnesota has ample depth at RB, the Lions are the team most impacted by their injuries.

This game is being played in Ford Field, a Dome, so weather is not a factor.

Minnesota has one of the top 5 rushing attacks in the league, and Detroit is perennially a bottom-feeder at defending the run. Look for Minnesota to enjoy a big day vs. the toothless Lions' defense.

San Francisco's Garrison Hearst / Kevan Barlow vs. The Cleveland "Defense" (Great Matchup)

As a team, the 49ers have an awesome rushing attack. They are currently 4th in the NFL, with 310 yards rushing in two games, on 68 carries (a 4.5 ypc average). Last week, Kevan Barlow punched in the score (11/45/1 with 3/35/0 receiving), while Garrison Hearst gained the most yardage (11/89/0 with 1/15/0 receiving). As usual in this RBBC, if either one were the featured player, he'd have been an awesome fantasy back. As things stand, the 49ers backs are mediocre when they must share time.

Cleveland's defensive players were shamed last week. Even after Jamal Lewis warned them what was coming, they gave up a single-game record 295 yards rushing (and 2 TD's) to Lewis and surrendered a total of 343 yards on the ground. The Ravens hardly bothered to pass at all (50 yards,
total) - why would they against this welcome-mat unit? No surprise here, the Browns are dead last after 2 weeks of play, allowing an average of 205 yards rushing per game (with 2 rushing TD's allowed so far).

Cleveland didn't even have the bad excuse of injury problems to account for the fiasco - they are almost totally healthy along the defensive front. San Francisco's starting RG Ron Stone (ankle), starting C Jeremy Newberry (ankle) and starting LG Dwayne Ledford (shoulder) are all probable to play vs. the Browns. T Derrick Deese is questionable with an ankle problem.

The weather at 3Com Park is expected to be sunny in the afternoon, with of 82F and a low of 58F, and a 10% chance of precipitation. That is just about ideal weather for a football game.

A top attack faces a humbled and stumbling unit in this matchup. A huge edge goes to the 49ers.

Seattle's Shaun Alexander vs. The St. Louis Defense (Great Matchup)

Shaun Alexander had a quiet day during Seattle's laugher over the Cardinals (13/51/1 with 2/11/0 receiving), but he only played for part of the game and then gave way to backup Maurice Morris (11/67/0 with no receptions). Alexander heading to the bench was due to a combination of the brutal desert heat and the huge margin of victory during the game (the score was 24-0 at the half and 31-0 after the 3rd quarter). Over the first two weeks of the season, the Seahawks are 8th in the league with 281 yards rushing on 63 carries (4.5 ypc average), so the OL is doing it's job for the team.

St. Louis got torched by Tiki Barber two weeks ago, and allowed 148 yards to the 49ers last weekend - they aren't playing very good run defense in 2003. As a matter of fact, the Rams are 27th in the NFL, allowing 148.5 rushing yards per game on average (5.6 yards per carry, on average), and have surrendered 2 rushing scores in the last two games. In their narrow victory last Sunday, MLB Robert Thomas led the team with 8 solo tackles and 2 assists.

St. Louis backup DL Jimmy Kennedy missed last week's game due to his injured elbow, but is not on the initial injury report. Seattle lists T Floyd Womack as questionable with a toe injury.

Seattle's Seahawk Stadium expects partly cloudy weather with a high of 72F and a low of 52F, with a 10% chance of rain. Sounds like perfect football weather.

Shaun Alexander and the Seahawks are running the ball very well, while the Rams are very generous in this phase of the game. Sounds like a recipe for success on Alexander's part - advantage, Seahawks.

Cincinnati's Corey Dillon vs. The Pittsburgh Defense (Good Matchup)

Corey Dillon suffered a hyper-extended right knee in the loss last week, and may miss some practice time this week, but is expected to play as usual on Sunday. Before injuring his leg, Dillon had amassed 73 yards on 16 carries (4.56 ypc average), and ended the day going 19/84/1 rushing with 1/6/0 receiving - pretty productive for a guy who only played about half the game. Over the first two games, the Bengals as a team rank 20th in the league with 180 yards on 61 carries (a sub-par 3.0 ypc average).

Pittsburgh's defense got dismantled by the Chiefs on Sunday, when Priest Holmes and company rushed the football into the end-zone 3 times en route to a 158 yard rushing day. Holmes was 26/122/3 with 2 receptions for 6 yards. Over the first two weeks, the Steelers are a lowly 23rd in the NFL, allowing 123 rushing yards per game (and 4 rushing TD's). LB Clark Haggans led the defensive front seven with 6 solo tackles (CB Dewayne Washington led the team with 9 solo tackles and 1 assist).

Pittsburgh is still waiting on LB Joey Porter to recover from his gunshot wounds. Aside from Dillon's knee, the Bengals report no significant new injuries heading into this game.

Paul Brown Stadium expects partly sunny conditions at game time, with a high of 72F and a low of 55F, with a 10% chance of rain. Weather shouldn't be a factor in the game.

Dillon and company can move the ball when they get some sort of passing game from Kitna and the receivers. That happened last week, so against the soft Steelers' run D, Dillon has a good shot at a decent game (if his knee holds up).

Denver's Clinton Portis vs. The Oakland Defense (Good Matchup)

Clinton Portis has 36/249/2 rushing and 5/39/0 receiving so far in 2003 - he is one of the elite fantasy backs this season. His numbers would be much more impressive if a deep sternum bruise hadn't knocked him out of the second half this past Sunday - all he did before halftime was rack up 129 yards on 12 carries. The Broncos as a team are 2nd in the NFL through 2 weeks with 381 yards rushing on 73 carries for an average gain of 5.2 yards per carry. The incredibly high level of production continues in Denver this season.

Oakland has not played the run particularly tough this year, allowing 129 yards to the Bengals week 2 (and Corey Dillon was hobbled by a knee injury in the second half, or that total would have probably been higher - Dillon averaged 4.56 ypc on 16/73 work before the injury). Over the first two weeks, Oakland is 19th in the NFL, allowing an average of 102.5 yards per game on the ground, with 1 rushing score surrendered so far.

Oakland is waiting on backup DL Sam Williams to get his knee back into game shape (questionable), and DT Dana Stubblefield has a sore ankle (questionable) but otherwise the defensive front is healthy. Denver believes that Portis will be ready to play on Monday despite the deep sternum bruise - their OL is finally healthy.

Portis and the Broncos comprise a top rushing attack, and the Raiders are only mediocre at defending the run. Advantage, Broncos.

Green Bay's Ahman Green vs. The Arizona Defense (Good Matchup)

Ahman Green enjoyed a fine performance vs. the toothless Lions' defense, 23/160/1 rushing on the day (a 6.9 ypc average). Green had a long TD run of 65 yards, and generally moved the ball at will all day long. On the season, Green Bay has rung up 262 yards on 54 carries (a stellar 4.9 ypc average) as a team. The Packers got it going week 2.

Arizona, on the other hand, got blown out at home 38-0. Seattle walked all over their turnstile defense, gaining 130 yards on the day, while Shaun Alexander (13/51/1) and Maurice Morris (11/67/0) split the ball carrying duties. For the year, the Cardinals have allowed an average of 98 rushing yards per game (and 2 rushing scores), tied for 15th in the league.

Two key players on the Arizona run defense suffered concussions last week - DE Fred Wakefield (he was actually knocked unconscious -- questionable) and LB Raynoch Thompson (Not listed). Backup DL Marcus Bell continues to struggle with an injured knee.

Green Bay's starting FB William Henderson suffered a hip contusion on Sunday (not listed on initial injury report), and backup FB Nicholas Luchey could not play due to his injured calf (questionable). On balance, if either Wakefield or Thompson can't play this week, the Cardinals are at a disadvantage due to the injuries they have sustained.

Sun Devil Stadium expects sunny skies, with a high of 103F and a low of 78F, and a 10% chance of evening showers. This game kicks off at 4:05 PM ET (1:05 Local Time), so this game will be played out in the full blast-furnace heat of the desert. Conditioning and hydration will be a major issue for both teams in those conditions.

Green and Green Bay are among the league's elite offenses, while the Cardinals sport a mediocre rush defense that may miss key parts of its puzzle on Sunday. Advantage, Green Bay.

Indianapolis' Edgerrin James vs. The Jacksonville Defense (Good Matchup)

Edgerrin James played a vintage game last week vs. Tennessee, plowing through their tough defensive front for 120 yards on 30 carries (4.0 ypc average) and 1 TD, and added 2/9/0 through the air. The Colt's 2 TE set started working it's magic last week (rookie TE Dallas Clark had 4/63/0, while Pollard went 2/12/0), and that is good news for James, who enjoyed his best years as a Colt when often working from the 2 TE set. As a team, the Colts have slapped down 194 yards on 49 carries this season, for a consistent 4.0 ypc average - so far, the OL is making opportunities appear for James.

Jacksonville's rush defense had an odd outing against the Bills, as they frustrated Travis Henry much of the day (21 rushes for 26 yards (1.2 ypc average) and 1 reception for 2 yards) - but the Jags surrendered 3 rushing scores to Henry (on runs of 1, 6 and 4 yards). Through 2 weeks, the Jags' rush defense is 13th in the NFL averaging 82.5 yards allowed per game on the ground (they have allowed 3 rushing
scores, so far).

The Jaguars' starting SLB Keith Mitchell suffered a scary neck injury last week, but all tests for permanent neurological damage were negative and his long-term prognosis looks good. His availability for this week's game is out. Backup DL Brandon Green missed last week's game due to his quadriceps problem, but is not on the injury report. LB Eric Westmoreland is questionable due to a tweaked knee. Indianapolis should be without backup RB Dominic Rhodes, who is still struggling to get healthy.

This game is being played in the RCA dome, so weather is not a factor.

James and the Colts look like they have their rushing offense going in 2003, while Jacksonville has been inconsistent at rush defense in the early going. With starting LB Keith Mitchell possibly out of the game and home-field advantage flowing to the Colts, this looks like an attractive matchup for James.

Miami's Ricky Williams vs. The Buffalo Defense (Neutral Matchup)

Ricky Williams shook off the week 1 doldrums and abused the Jets for 125 yards on 35 carries with 1 score, with 4 catches for 37 yards in week 2. He had a nice gainer on a 22 yard romp. As a team, the Dolphins are the 9th ranked rushers in the NFL, with 273 yards on 66 carries for a respectable 4.1 yards-per-carry average. The OL is doing an adequate job in this phase at this point.

Buffalo has been tough against the run in the early going, and last week was no exception. Fred Taylor was only modestly successful against their scheme, and the Jags ended up with 95 yards rushing as a team (1 rushing score, on a Brunell plunge). The Bills currently rank 18th in the NFL allowing 100 rushing yards per game on average, with only 1 rushing TD surrendered so far. Newcomer Takeo Spikes continues to be the sparkplug for Buffalo, and led the team last week with 7 solo tackles, 2 assists and 1 sack for 7 yards.

Miami is still waiting on LT Mark Dixon to get back into the lineup (ankle injury -- doubtful). C Tim Ruddy has a sore knee (probable). Buffalo's D enjoys good health, with no major complaints heading into the game.

The weather at Pro Player Stadium is expected to be cloudy in the afternoon, with a high of 86F and a low of 76F, and a 50% chance of precipitation - sounds like the field could be sloppy and slow on Sunday.

Williams and company vs. Spikes and company equals a toss up.

New England's Kevin Faulk / Antowain Smith vs. The New York Jets Defense (Good Matchup)

Kevin Faulk is the most productive of the Patriot's backs - he is able to get something done in the passing game. In the rushing phase, not much is going right for the Patriots, who have put up 167 yards on 51 carries thus far in 2003 (a 3.3 ypc average). That's not going to get the job done. Last week, Faulk was 7/23/0 rushing with 4/59/0 receiving, while his lumbering counterpart Antowain Smith "cranked out" 25 yards on 12 carries (for an embarrassing 2.0 ypc average) while adding 2 receptions for 2 yards. There is not much for fantasy owners to get excited about in this RBBC, so far.

The Jets' rush defense, meanwhile, is embarrassing itself. Last week, Miami plastered them for 187 rushing yards as a team, and over the last two weeks, the Jets rank 30th in the NFL allowing a whopping 173.5 rushing yards per game on average (surrendering 2 rushing scores, so far). From an IDP perspective, LB's Sam Cowart (12 solo tackles, 1 assist last week) and Marvin Jones (5 solo tackles, 6 assists last week) are hot properties, but the team D is a shambles, basically.

New England's starting C Damien Woody missed last week's game with a chest injury, and is expected to play this week. The Jets' defensive front is in relatively good health, except for their ears (collectively burning with shame).

The forecast for Gillette Stadium calls for a high of 71F and a low of 51F, under sunny skies with a 10% chance for precipitation. Just about perfect football weather, in other words.

If Faulk and Smith are going to get a chance at a productive fantasy outing rushing the ball Sunday - this is one of their best shots to shine vs. an impotent Jets' defense. Advantage, Patriots.

New Orleans' Deuce McAllister vs. The Tennessee Defense (Neutral Matchup)

Deuce McAllister was the 8th best fantasy back in week 2, with 20/96/1 rushing and 4/16/0 receiving on the day. Over the course of this young season, the Saints have piled up 213 yards on 52 carries (13th in the NFL) yielding a 4.1 yards-per-carry average - the big guys up front are doing an adequate job of opening holes for McAllister to run through, so far.

Tennessee is one of the league's toughest rush defenses in 2002, but was humbled last week by Edgerrin James (30/120/1) and the Colts. On the day they allowed 127 rushing yards to the Colts. This year, the defense ranks 12th in the league, allowing 80.5 yards on the ground per game so far. In the losing effort, ROLB Keith Bulluck led the Titans with 9 tackles and 2 assists, but the Titans couldn't find a way to contain James despite his hard work.

New Orleans' starting RT Victor Riley sprained a hip in the game last week. Tennessee lost starting DE Albert Haynesworth to a sprained/dislocated elbow in the Indianapolis game, and have gone without backup LB Rocky Calmus over the past two weeks due to his bad hamstring. Both teams are hurting coming into this matchup, as you can see.

The forecast for The Coliseum calls for a high of 80F and a low of 56F with a 10% chance of rain. It should be a beautiful day to play football.

New Orleans has a solid rushing offense, while the Titans, who usually play tough in this phase, were manhandled by the Colts last week. The home-field advantage lies with the Titans, which helps out the D and levels the field in this matchup.

Pittsburgh's Amos Zereoue / Jerome Bettis vs. The Cincinnati Defense (Neutral Matchup)

Pittsburgh had a tough time moving the ball vs. Kansas City last week, gaining only 60 yards on 16 carries with 0 touchdowns for the day. Amos Zereoue's statistics look OK (11/48/0 rushing with 2/17/0 receiving), but he was ineffective in the first half (and was pulled in favor of equally-inept Jerome Bettis, who put up 4/7/0 rushing) and gained most of his yardage in garbage time at the end of the game. Over the first two weeks of the season, the Steelers rank 27th in the league with 148 yards rushing on 50 carries (a 3.0 ypc average) - they aren't getting much help from their OL, obviously.

Cincinnati was shredded for 134 yards on 20 carries with 1 TD by the Raiders, who averaged 6.7 yards per carry last week (starter Charlie Garner was 13/63/0, a 4.8 ypc average). They currently rank 28th in the NFL allowing 159 yards rushing per game on average (3 rushing scores surrendered so far). MLB Kevin Hardy led the Bengals' effort with 4 solo tackles and 3 assists.

Cincinnati's backup LB Riall Johnson strained a calf in the loss to Oakland. Pittsburgh escaped their thrashing without any significant new injuries, although C Jeff Hartings continues to struggle with his chronically sore knee/ankle (questionable).

Paul Brown Stadium expects partly sunny conditions at game time, with a high of 72F and a low of 55F, with a 10% chance of rain. Weather shouldn't be a factor in the game.

Two struggling units lock horns in this matchup, and neither looks measurably better than the other.

Tampa Bay's Michael Pittman / Thomas Jones / Mike Alstott vs. The Atlanta Defense (Neutral Matchup)

Tampa Bay is having trouble getting quality production in the running game. True, they did play one of the top DLs in the NFL last week with Carolina. That helps explain why the team's top rusher was Michael Pittman, with 10/38/0 last week (22/60/0 as a team). But, over the first 2 games of the season, the Bucs have only gained 150 yards on 53 carries (a 2.8 ypc average), including their opener vs. injury-devastated Philadelphia. The Buccaneer's rushers just aren't getting much room to work from their OL.

Atlanta's rush defense is playing fairly soft in the early going this season, allowing 125 yards on the ground to Washington last week, and averaging 137 rushing yards allowed per game over the first two games (3 rushing scores surrendered so far). Trung Canidate was especially effective last week, gaining 89 yards on 15 carries (5.9 ypc), with a long of 22.LILB Chris Draft led the team in the loss vs. Washington with 10 total tackles and 1 assist.

Atlanta suffered a variety of dings last week, including a neck stinger to LB Keith Brooking and a shoulder strain suffered by Draft. Neither is considered to be a serious injury, though. Tampa's unit comes into the game relatively healthy.

This game is being played in the Georgia Dome, so weather isn't a factor.

Neither of these teams is playing very well in this phase - this seems like an even contest to us.

Tennessee's Eddie George vs. The New Orleans Defense (Neutral Matchup)

2003 has begun inauspiciously for Eddie George - last week, he managed to eke out 15/46/0 vs. the Colts which was the 43rd ranked fantasy performance for the week. As a team, the Titans have garnered 129 yards rushing in two weeks, on 47 carries, for an embarrassing 2.7 yards-per-carry average. The OL isn't doing it's part to spring the Titans' runners, obviously.

New Orleans smothered Stacey Mack and the Texans last week, allowing 13/31/0 (a 2.4 average) to Mack as the team rushed for 24/75 (3.1 yards-per-carry) with a TD plunge by QB David Carr. Through two games, New Orleans ranks 22nd in the league allowing 113 rushing yards per game on average (2 rushing scores allowed so far). The defense is on a mini-roll in this phase of the game, then, but has shown vulnerability to the rush week 1 vs. Shaun Alexander and the Seahawks. SS Jay Bellamy led the D last week with 11 solo tackles - not usually a good sign.

New Orleans has lost a lot of good players from their defense over the past few weeks, with starting DE Darren Howard going down with a broken/dislocated wrist week 1. This week, starting OLB Sedrick Hodge fractured his right knee and is out for 10-12 weeks. Starting LDT Jonathan Sullivan tore cartilage in his left knee, which was surgically repaired this week (he's out 1-2 weeks as a result). Starting CB Dale Carter fractured the bone around his right eye, which required surgery to repair - he's out for a month.

Tennessee's starting OG Benji Olsen has damage to his right knee and may be out for awhile. Also, starting QB Steve McNair dislocated the ring finger on his throwing hand - if that isn't better this week, the passing game could be anemic - allowing the Saints to load up vs. George. On balance, the Saints are the team more heavily impacted by injuries at this point, but not by much - if McNair can't play effectively, then Tennessee will be in big trouble.

The forecast for The Coliseum calls for a high of 80F and a low of 56F with a 10% chance of rain. It should be a beautiful day to play football.

Two banged-up units clash in this one - but the Tennessee attack has been so anemic through 2 games that their weakness in this phase of the game offsets the epidemic of injuries suffered by the Saints. This one looks even to us.

Washington's Trung Canidate / LaDell Betts vs. The New York Giants' Defense (Neutral Matchup)

Trung Canidate did a nice job for the Redskins last week. He was 15/89/0 (a 5.9 ypc average) and generally looked very shifty and explosive in his outing against the Falcons. The Redskins have 285 yards on 64 carries (a robust 4.4 yards-per-carry average) as a team this season. Ladell Betts went 11/34/1 rushing with 2/18/0 receiving in his chances on Sunday. Besides his 13 yard TD jaunt, Betts gained a mere 21 yards on his other 10 carries, so Canidate definitely looked more explosive.

FB Rock Cartwright was given 3 goal-line chances to stuff in the team's other rushing TD. It's a little distressing that neither Betts nor Canidate got the call in that situation. Chalk it up to one of those mysteries whose solution is only known by Coach Spurrier.

New York lost a stunner to Dallas Monday night, but their rush defense did their part, holding Dallas to 107 yards on 36 carries, a 3.0 ypc average. They did surrender an easy rushing TD to Quincy Carter. On the season, the Giants are 5th in the league allowing 73.5 rushing yards per game on average, and have given up only 1 rushing TD so far. Michael Barrow was an IDP-leaguers' dream on Monday night, with 17 solo tackles and 2 assists in the losing effort.

Both teams escaped their previous contests without injuries of note to these units, although Betts (hip) and Canidate (ankle) have some minor aches - both are probable to play.

Washington's Fed-Ex Field expects partly cloudy weather with a high of 76F and a low of 61F, with a 10% chance of rain. Sounds like perfect football weather.

The Giants are pretty stout against the run, but the Redskin's RBBC is having good results in this phase of the game. Neither unit looks like it is a position to dominate the other heading into this game.

Arizona's Emmitt Smith/Marcel Shipp vs. The Green Bay Defense (Tough Matchup)

Emmitt Smith had limited opportunities on Sunday, due to the blowout score and Jeff Blake's injury, but he managed respectable numbers (14/54/0 rushing, no receptions). He was not as explosive as in his heyday, and failed to break off any long runs when holes were provided by the line (his long for the day was a 15 yard jaunt). Marcel Shipp went 4/6 in limited duty. Over the first two weeks, the Cardinals are 44/184 as a team (with a strong 4.4 ypc average), so the OL is doing its job at run-blocking.

Green Bay squashed Olandis Gary and Shawn Bryson on Sunday, allowing only 56 yards rushing to the Lions as a team. However, combined with their week 1 drubbing at the hands of the Vikings, the Pack ranks as the 21st rush defense in the league in terms of yards allowed per game (105) - they have yet to allow a rushing score. In the big win over Detroit, Nick Barnett led the defensive front with 12 solo tackles and 2 assists.

Starting Packer linebackers Na'il Diggs (sprained left knee) and Nick Barnett (hip contusion) were dinged up in the Lions' game, along with backup LB Paris Lenon (bruised knee) - all three injuries are considered minor. Diggs is probable to play, the other two aren't listed on the injury report. Arizona's OL and RB's are good to go.

Sun Devil Stadium expects sunny skies, with a high of 103F and a low of 78F, and a 10% chance of evening showers. This game kicks off at 4:05 PM ET (1:05 Local Time), so this game will be played out in the full blast-furnace heat of the desert. Conditioning and hydration will be a major issue for both teams in those conditions.

The Packers are back on track, while the Cardinals are drifting listlessly in the wake of another 0-2 start to their season. Expect the Cardinals to find running the ball a challenge on Sunday.

Atlanta's Warrick Dunn / T.J. Duckett vs. The Tampa Bay Defense (Tough Matchup)

Atlanta's starting RB continues to be Warrick Dunn, but T.J. Duckett saw extensive goal-line action last week and punched in 2 TD's on limited work (7/35/2). Dunn was no slouch, either, with 13/62/0 (4.7 ypc average) rushing and 5/24/0 receiving. Over the first two weeks of the season, the Falcons have 197 yards on 52 carries for a 3.8 yards-per-carry average - a slightly lower average than you'd like to see, but adequate.

Tampa Bay's defense, on the other hand, remains stout in the red-zone, having surrendered 0 touchdowns this season. However, Stephen Davis and the Panthers proved that you can run the ball up and down the field on the Buccaneers - Davis averaged 4.3 yards per carry during his 33/142/0 performance. Over the first two games, the Buccaneers are a surprising 25th in the NFL allowing an average of 146 rushing yards per game (they did stuff the Eagle's backs week one, but McNabb and James Thrash had some nice gainers against them). SS John Lynch (7 solo tackles, 4 assists) led the Buccaneers in tackles last week, a symptom of Davis penetrating past the line of scrimmage with regularity.

Atlanta's starting RG Kynan Forney injured his elbow last week, and RT Todd Weiner injured his back - the Falcon's OL is banged up a little coming into this game (neither injury is considered serious as of this writing). Tampa came out of their clash with the Panthers intact along the starting defensive front.

This game is being played in the Georgia Dome, so weather is not a factor.

If you have Dunn or Duckett in a basic/scoring league, this is probably a week to look elsewhere for your starters. However, the Buccaneers have proven soft enough against the run in the early weeks that we rate this matchup as merely "tough" for Dunn and Duckett, rather than "bad".

Buffalo's Travis Henry vs. The Miami Defense (Tough Matchup)

Travis Henry was frustrated much of the day last week (21 rushes for 26 yards (1.2 ypc average) and 1 reception for 2 yards) - but the Jags surrendered 3 rushing scores to him (on runs of 1, 6 and 4 yards) - so Henry was a productive fantasy back due to the scores. However, a 1.2 ypc average does not inspire a lot of optimism about the teams' proficiency running the ball. On the season, the Bills look a little better - 65/150 yards as a team (a 2.3 ypc average) - but not much.

Miami's D was in an ugly mood after dropping a gimme to the Texans, and took out their frustrations on the hapless Jets - Miami allowed 21 yards rushing to the Jets last week. The situation was so bad that HC Edwards ordered his OC Hackett to abandon the run in the second half of the game. Over 2 weeks, the Dolphins have allowed an average of 74 yards rushing and 0 rushing TD's. Zach Thomas was the linchpin vs. the Jets, making 7 solo tackles and 4 assists on the day.

Buffalo's line is healthy. DE Jason Taylor twisted an ankle in last week's game, but returned to action and is fine for this game. LB Zach Thomas has sore ribs (probable).

The weather at Pro Player Stadium is expected to be cloudy in the afternoon, with a high of 86F and a low of 76F, and a 50% chance of precipitation - sounds like the field could be sloppy and slow on Sunday.

Buffalo's running game is inconsistent so far this season; Miami's run defense has been solid so far. Given home-field advantage and bad weather, the edge goes to the home-team Dolphins.

Jacksonville's Fred Taylor vs. The Indianapolis Defense (Tough Matchup)

Fred Taylor has been as productive as circumstances have allowed in the first two weeks of the season. Last week, the Bills got on top of the Jags early in a big way, limiting how many touches Taylor received. He still managed to scrape up 71 yards rushing on only 14 carries (5.0 ypc average), and caught 5 balls for 10 yards when the team split him out into the passing game during the second half. It wasn't a fantasy bonanza, but it wasn't a total collapse, either (28th - ranked fantasy back on Sunday). As a team, the Jaguars have put up 170 yards on 50 carries so far this season (a bothersome 3.4 yards-per-carry average, though), 21st in the NFL through 2.

Indianapolis stuffed Eddie George and the Titans last week, allowing only 53 rushing yards on the day. For the young season, they rank 8th in the league averaging 75.5 rushing yards per contest, and haven't surrendered a rushing TD yet. ROLB David Thornton had a monster game vs. Tennessee, with 10 solo tackles and 3 assists.

Both units escaped week 2 without significant new injuries, but DE Dwight Freeney is doubtful to play thanks to a lingering ankle problem (and a new abdomen strain).

This game is being played in the RCA Dome, so weather is not a factor.

Taylor is one of the top backs in the game, but he isn't getting much support from the Jaguar's other offensive players right now. Tennessee is playing solid run defense and comes into the game hot. It looks like a tough matchup for Taylor from where we sit.

New York Giants' Tiki Barber vs. The Washington Defense (Tough Matchup)

Tiki Barber had a rough game vs. the Cowboys, with 15/41/0 rushing and 2/7/0 receiving on the day. His young linemen looked overmatched by the Cowboy's defensive front, and there just wasn't much running room to be had all evening. None of the Giants gained much ground, as the team ended the night with 53 yards on 17 carries (3.1 yards per rush). So far this year, the Giants are averaging 4.6 yards per rush on 44 carries (202 yards total), so the game was very poor in comparison to the effort in week 1.

Washington beat the Falcons last week, and the held the team to 99 yards rushing on the way to their 33-31 victory. Over the last two weeks, the team has allowed only 78 rushing yards per game on average, but has surrendered 3 rushing scores in that span. LB Lavar Arrington keyed the defensive front, with 7 solo tackles.

Neither team suffered significant injuries in last week's games and the Giants are hoping to have OT Luke Petitgout back in the lineup this week to bring some much needed experience. The Giants started three rookies on the offensive line Monday night and that hasn't been done in years by any team.

Washington's Fed-Ex Field expects partly cloudy weather with a high of 76F and a low of 61F, with a 10% chance of rain. Sounds like perfect football weather.

Washington is tough to run on, and the Giants sputtered in this phase last week. With home field advantage on their side, the Redskins have the upper hand against their division rivals.

New York Jets' Curtis Martin vs. The New England Defense (Tough Matchup)

The Jets' rushing game is off to a miserable start again in 2003. As a team, they have 78 rushing yards on 33 carries for a pathetic 2.4 ypc average - in 2 games. Curtis Martin was 10/32/0 and 2/-2/0 in the loss to division rival Miami. After that game HC Herman Edwards said that he told OC Paul Hackett to quit trying to run the ball in the second half because the team was so horrible at it. Right now, the unit that Edwards hoped to lean on in the wake of the Pennington injury is a total failure.

New England's defense, on the other hand, recovered from their thrashing at the hands of the Bills to post a respectable effort vs. Philadelphia in week 2. They held McNabb and the RBBC to 99 yards rushing, and no Eagle back rushed for a gain longer than 9 yards during the contest. Through 2 weeks, the Patriots are 20th in the league allowing 103 rushing yards per game on average (they have surrendered 3 rushing scores in 2 weeks). LB Tedy Bruschi led the rush defense with 5 solo tackles (and 1 sack).

New England suffered an injury last week that could have big ramifications in the form of a hip injury to LOLB Roosevelt Colvin, a free agent addition from Chicago - he' s out indefinitely, and will definitely miss this week. Also, former starting LB Ted Johnson is indefinitely with a broken foot. The Jets' starting unit isn't suffering from any injuries of note.

The forecast for Gillette Stadium calls for a high of 71F and a low of 51F, under sunny skies with a 10% chance for precipitation. Just about perfect football weather, in other words.

Until the Jets prove they've got their rushing game going, we'd stay away from Curtis Martin. The Patriots are only mediocre at rush defense, but they are a better unit than the stumbling Jets.

Oakland's Charlie Garner vs. The Denver Defense (Tough Matchup)

Charlie Garner has 20 rushes for 85 yards and 13 receptions for 151 yards and 1 score thus far in 2003. Last week, he compiled 63 yards on 13 rushes (4.8 ypc average) and 39 yards on 5 receptions as the Raiders squeaked by the Bengals 23-20. The Raiders as a team are the 22nd ranked rushing team in the NFL right now, with 168 yards rushing in 2 games - but they averaged 5.6 yards per rush on 30 carries, so the backs are finding plenty of running room when the Raiders do choose to run.

Denver stifled Corey Dillon in week 1, and contained LaDainian Tomlinson in week 2. This year, they are the 14th best run defense in the league, allowing 86 yards rushing per game with 0 rushing scores to date. As usual, a LB led the way week 2 - this week it was Al Wilson, with 7 solo tackles and 1 assist. The trio of Wilson, Ian Gold and Lenny Walls is definitely getting the job done in 2003.

Both units enjoy good health heading into this matchup, with no new injuries of note - Denver is still waiting on DT Daryl Gardener (wrist surgery - questionable).

The weather at Mile High Stadium is expected to be sunny all day, with a high of 76F and a low of 50F, and a 10% chance of precipitation. It should be a very fine evening to play a game of football.

Denver is always tough at home, and the Raiders offense in general is not at the top of its game coming into the matchup. Advantage, Denver.

St. Louis' Marshall Faulk vs. The Seattle Defense (Tough Matchup)

Marshall Faulk was limited in the San Francisco game, partly due to a poked left eye suffered during the game. It appears that the injury was only minor, and won't affect his availability this week. On the bright side, Mike Martz seemed to remember that Faulk was on the Rams' roster, and Faulk had 18 carries for 57 yards and 1 score on the ground, with 4/33/0 through the air in limited work. Not outstanding, but not pathetic, either. On the season, the Rams are 30th in the NFL with 128 yards rushing on 37 carries (a troublesome 3.5 ypc average).

Seattle has come out of the blocks fast in 2003, and part of their success is due to an improving rush defense. They are 15th in the NFL through 2 games, allowing an average of 98 rushing yards per game - more importantly, they have allowed 0 rushing scores to date. Last week, the Cardinals couldn't get much going against them, with only 93 rushing yards as a team. Raynoch Thompson led the front seven (and the team) with 7 solo tackles and 1 assist.

St. Louis will be without backup OL David Loverne (elbow) this week. Starting LDT Norman Hand injured his toe (questionable) last week in the Seahawk's win, backup LB Tracy White injured his ankle (questionable), while reserve LB Isaiah Kacyvenski missed the game due to his injured ankle, but is not on the injury report. LB Anthony Simmons has a sore toe (probable).

Seattle's Seahawk Stadium expects partly cloudy weather with a high of 72F and a low of 52F, with a 10% chance of rain. Sounds like perfect football weather.

The Rams have been inconsistent rushing the ball and not too impressive in the bargain, while Seattle's rush defense looks vastly improved. Home-field advantage means that the Seahawks have the edge in this matchup.

Cleveland's William Green vs. The San Francisco Defense (Bad Matchup)

Cleveland's William Green is the 26th ranked fantasy back after two weeks of play, with 140 yards rushing on 38 attempts (3.6 ypc average), with 4 receptions for 26 yards - 0 touchdowns. His team is 24th in the league, with 158 yards on 46 attempts (a 3.4 ypc average). Green's long run last week vs. Baltimore was 8 yards. The Browns' runners are going nowhere fast.

San Francisco, on the other hand, held St. Louis to 88 yards rushing last week, and averages 71.5 rushing yards per game allowed over the first two weeks of the season (1 rushing TD allowed so far) - good for 4th in the league vs. the rush. Against the Rams, LOLB Julian Peterson led the defense with 7 solo tackles, 1 assist, and 1 sack for 13 yards.

Both units enjoy relatively good health going into this matchup. LB Julian Peterson has a sore groin (probable). Starting LT Barry Stokes is probable to play despite a tweaked ankle.

The weather at 3Com Park is expected to be sunny in the afternoon, with of 82F and a low of 58F, and a 10% chance of precipitation. That is just about ideal weather for a football game.

A bad rushing attack vs. a good rush defense equals a bad matchup in our book.

Detroit's Olandis Gary / Shawn Bryson vs. The Minnesota Defense (Bad Matchup)

Olandis Gary got the start vs. Green Bay, and was totally ineffective (9/8/0 rushing, with 2/7/0 receiving). He was finally yanked for Shawn Bryson, who managed to do something with the ball (7/43/0 rushing and 5/48/0 receiving), but much of Bryson's production came late in the game after Green Bay was allowing more cushion at the line of scrimmage. After two weeks, the Lions are the 31st team in the NFL in terms of rushing the football, with 122 yards on 40 attempts (a 3.1 yards-per-carry average). The Lions' backs quite clearly aren't getting a good surge off the ball from their OL, which limits what they can do in this phase of the game.

Minnesota, on the other hand, has been very stout vs. the rush so far this season, allowing 71 yards per game on average (and 2 rushing scores). In last week's game vs. Chicago, the D allowed only 80 net yards to the Bears, and only two plays gained more than 7 yards against them (Thomas for 34 yards, and Stewart for 25). MLB Greg Biekert led the way with 6 solo tackles (and 1 sack) for the Vikings.

Minnesota's starting defensive front is very healthy, as are the Lions' OL personnel. Injuries aren't a factor in this matchup.

This game is being played in a dome, so weather is not a factor.

An ineffective rushing attack faces a top 5 run defense in this matchup. Look for the Lions' RBBC to struggle on Sunday.

Houston's Stacey Mack vs. The Kansas City Defense (Bad Matchup)

Stacey Mack had a rough outing vs. the Saints last week (13/31/0 rushing, 1/0/0 receiving), and the OL in general took a big step back from week one as David Carr was sacked 5 times and pressured almost continuously last Sunday. When Carr is running for his life, it is difficult for him to generate a credible passing game, which allows teams to key on Mack. Domanick Davis was the third down back, and came in on obvious passing situations, often running out of a single-back set in shotgun formation. He managed 6/23/0 rushing and 2/26/0 receiving in limited work.

Kansas City dominated the Pittsburgh attack last week, limiting the Steelers to 60 yards rushing and sacked Tommy Maddox 4 times. They were relentless in their pressure, and DT Ryan Sims was responsible for really clamping a vice onto the Pittsburgh backs (he finished with 4 solo tackles, and was very disruptive in the trenches). Over the first two weeks, the Chiefs rank 1st in the league with 62 rushing yards allowed per game on average, and have surrendered 0 rushing scores.

Kansas City's defensive front got dinged up in the game - DE Vonnie Holliday has a rib contusion (probable), DT John Browning (probable) sprained his big toe, and backup LB Kawika Mitchell injured his left hamstring (questionable) during the 60-minute brawl. DE Eddie Freeman has an elbow injury (questionable) Houston escaped their loss essentially intact, with only starting LG Milford Brown on the injury report (knee, questionable).

Reliant Stadium expects partly sunny conditions at game time, with a high of 84F and a low of 63F, with a 10% chance of rain. Weather shouldn't be a factor in the game (and if it were going to be, the Texans would close their retractable-roof).

Houston's offense is still a work in progress, whereas the Chiefs look very ready to play quality football right now. It's going to be another tough day for Stacey Mack and company.

San Diego's LaDainian Tomlinson vs. The Baltimore Defense (Bad Matchup)

San Diego is struggling, which limits the scoring opportunities for LaDainian Tomlinson. Last week, he put in an impressive 16/93/0 rushing (a 5.8 ypc average) with 5/27/0 receiving - and his rushing totals could have been much better, because some long runs were called back due to penalties. Tomlinson is not the problem in San Diego. Through 2 weeks, the Chargers have put up 185 yards rushing on only 36 carries, for an average of 5.1 yards per rush - the OL is doing its job for Tomlinson.

Baltimore's defense rebounded from the opening game loss to Pittsburgh by drilling the Browns' backs - Cleveland as a team managed 60 yards rushing on the day, with a long of 8 yards (William Green was 17/54/0, a 3.2 ypc average). They rank 6th in the NFL over the first two weeks in average rushing yards allowed per game, at 74, and have coughed up only 1 rushing score. LB Ray Lewis led the charge against Cleveland with 9 solo tackles.

San Diego's starting LG Kelvin Garmon injured his elbow in the loss vs. Denver (not listed on initial injury report). Also, #2 WR Reche Caldwell is out with a dislocated left wrist, and #1 WR David Boston's heel is injured - he seems about the same this week as he did last week, when he sat out due to the injury. That leaves 2nd year man Eric Parker and Tim Dwight as the probable starting WR's - the passing game isn't likely to help take pressure off Tomlinson this week. Baltimore's front seven is relatively healthy with no new injuries to report.

The weather at Qualcomm Stadium is expected to be sunny in the afternoon, with of 79F and a low of 67F, and a 10% chance of precipitation. That is just about ideal weather for a football game.

Baltimore's defense is quite good, and the Chargers aren't a solid offensive squad right now. The injury concerns at WR make a bad situation worse - look for Tomlinson to struggle vs. the Ravens.