Jay Cutler, Quarterback, Chicago Bears
Status: Out (Hamstring)
Week 3 Impact: With Cutler out this week, Jimmy Clausen will get the start against an angry Seahawks defense in Seattle. Needless to say, that's a less-than-ideal scenario for the winless Bears. More than the fantasy impact this has on the quarterback position (please tell me you aren't considering Clausen), Matt Forte becomes an over-valued play. He's going to have a hard time running the ball against a stacked box that Seattle will bring come game time.
Tony Romo, Quarterback, Dallas Cowboys
Status: Out (Collarbone)
Week 3 Impact: With Romo now on short-term injured reserve, Brandon Weeden will be under center for the foreseeable future. Without Dez Bryant to rely on, Weeden will likely struggle big time in the passing game. Though, this means that the Cowboys will focus more on a ground game, led by Joseph Randle and Darren McFadden. Randle has put up 116 yards on 34 attempts, while McFadden has been held to 47 yards on 16 attempts through two games. On the other hand, Lance Dunbar has caught 11 of the 12 passes thrown in his direction for 115 yards.
Drew Brees, Quarterback, New Orleans Saints
Status: Out (Shoulder)
Week 3 Impact: Brees will miss his first start to injury since he joined the Saints back in 2006. And in reality, there's no telling when Brees will be back on the field. He's dealing with a bruised rotator cuff and will only return to the field when he can throw the football at the level he's been accustomed to. With Brees out, Luke McCown will make his first NFL start since 2011. Needless to say, the entire Saints offense is going to take a step back in a big Week 3 game against the Carolina Panthers.
Andre Ellington, Running Back, Arizona Cardinals
Status: Doubtful (Knee)
Week 3 Impact: With Ellington highly unlikely to play against the San Francisco 49ers, Chris Johnson will get the start with rookie third-round pick David Johnson playing a larger role. With Ellington out last week against the Chicago Bears, the Johnsons combined for 114 yards on 25 rush attempts. Chris Johnson played 34 snaps compared to 16 for his younger namesake. Though, indications from Arizona are that the latter will see more action on Sunday.
Tevin Coleman, Running Back, Atlanta Falcons
Status: Out (Ribs)
Week 3 Impact: Coleman, a rookie from Indiana, looked sharp last week against the New York Giants before injuring his ribs. With him out of action, Devonta Freeman will get the start against a Dallas Cowboys team that has allowed 106 rushing yards in two games. Freeman, a second-year player from Clemson, put up just 25 yards on 12 attempts while adding four receptions against the Giants last week.
Jonathan Stewart, Running Back, Carolina Panthers
Status: Questionable (Knee)
Week 3 Impact: Stewart is officially listed as questionable, but he's expected to play against the New Orleans Saints on Sunday. The concern here has to be a lack of early-season success for the injury-plagued veteran. Through two games, Stewart is averaging just 3.4 yards on 35 rush attempts. Though, he will be going up against a Saints defense that ranks in the bottom 10 against fantasy running backs this season. He's a sneaky value play.
Eddie Lacy, Running Back, Green Bay Packers
Status: Questionable (Ankle)
Week 3 Impact: The Packers really dodged a bullet here. Lacy's injury looked pretty bad when he suffered it against the Seattle Seahawks last week. Head coach Mike McCarthy indicated Friday that the star running back is making solid progress, which means he's likely going to play against the Kansas City Chiefs on Monday Night Football. Though, it's difficult to rely on him in daily contests considering that's the last game of the Week 3 slate. Ankle injuries are tricky. Lacy could show up to Lambeau Field on Monday night not feeling the best — something that would limit him against a Chiefs defense that ranks second in the NFL against fantasy running backs through two weeks.
Arian Foster, Running Back, Houston Texans
Status: Out (Groin)
Week 3 Impact: This is no surprise. While Foster is recovering at a rapid pace from an ugly preseason injury, the Texans are in no hurry to rush him back on to the field. There's no timetable for Foster's return, but it wouldn't be a surprise to see him go next week. Chris Polk (60 yards) is the Texans leading rusher through two games. He's joined by Alfred Blue (48 yards) and Jonathan Grimes (34 yards) in the running back by committee approach. None are viable fantasy plays.
Lamar Miller, Running Back, Miami Dolphins
Status: Questionable (Ankle)
Week 3 Impact: Miller practiced late in the week, so he should be good to go against the Buffalo Bills. The only question here is whether he will be limited at all. Even with the question mark here, Miller is a decent play. If he's anywhere near 100 percent, Miller should see some decent touches. After all, he's carried the ball on 23 of the Dolphins 26 rush attempts from that position in two weeks.
Chris Ivory, Running Back, New York Jets
Status: Questionable (Quads)
Week 3 Impact: Ivory indicated on Saturday that he will be able to go, but the decision will be made by the team's medical staff and coaches prior to being given the go ahead to suit up. Being a game-time decision for a 1:00 p.m. ET game means that you will have to be up to date on your inactives prior to the start of the early games. If Ivory is a go, he's a must start in year-long leagues and daily contests against an injury plagued and weaker Eagles front seven.
DeMarco Murray, Running Back, Philadelphia Eagles
Status: Questionable (Hamstring)
Week 3 Impact: Murray left practice early on Wednesday with a hamstring injury and was ordered for an MRI. Fortunately, it appears that the struggling running back will be able to go. Unfortunately, he's nowhere near a decent play against a stout Jets defense. Murray, running behind an atrocious offensive line, has put up a total of 11 yards on 21 attempts. The only thing this really means is that if you have Murray in year-long leagues, you have to start him. Oh, and Ryan Mathews becomes fantasy irrelevant.
Marshawn Lynch, Running Back, Seattle Seahawks
Status: Questionable (Calf)
Week 3 Impact: It does appear that Lynch will be ready to go Sunday afternoon against the Chicago Bears. So those of you intrigued by Fred Jackson as a value play against a bad Chicago Bears defense should probably put that notion to bed. Though, it will be interesting to see how much Lynch actually does play, especially if this game turns into a blowout early on — something that most of us expect. In DFS contests, I would be a bit concerned about paying top money for a player dealing with an injury in a game his team should win without much of an issue. The opportunities just might not be here for a huge day.
Reggie Bush, Running Back, San Francisco 49ers
Status: Out (Calf)
Week 3 Impact: San Francisco confirmed on Saturday that Bush will miss the team's game against the Arizona Cardinals. With Mike Davis getting a vast majority of the touches as Carlos Hyde was held out for precautionary reasons last week, it's readily apparent that Hyde himself will play a huge role for the 49ers offense in Arizona. With an improved set of skill-position players and an improved offense in San Francisco, Arizona won't be able to stack the box against Hyde. Considering he's likely going to get between 20-25 touches, the second-year running back becomes a high-end play this week.
Jerricho Cotchery, Wide Receiver, Carolina Panthers
Status: Out (Ankle)
Week 3 Impact: None of the Panthers receivers have been fantasy relevant this season, so Cotchery missing action isn't necessarily a big deal. Though, this means that rookie second-round pick Devin Funchess is expected to see a lot more action. The big-bodied receiver has caught just two of the six passes thrown in his direction in two games. If you're looking for an extremely low-end WR3 in FanDuel leagues, he could be an under-the-radar play against the New Orleans Saints.
Dez Bryant, Wide Receiver, Dallas Cowboys
Status: Out (Foot)
Week 3 Impact: With Bryant out of action last week, Terrance Williams picked up the slack, going for 87 yards and a touchdown on four receptions. He seems to have a solid relationship with Brandon Weeden, which could mature over the next couple weeks. Though, it's hard to rely on any Cowboys receiver with the below-average quarterback under center. For his part, Cole Beasley failed to break out with Bryant sidelined. He tallied just four receptions for 14 yards against a bad Philadelphia Eagles secondary. Gavin Escobar becomes a decent play here, especially if Jason Witten — as expected — is limited.
Davante Adams, Wide Receiver, Green Bay Packers
Status: Questionable (Ankle)
Week 3 Impact: Adams should be good to go against the Chiefs on Monday Night Football. It just remains to be seen how effective he will be. With the likes of Jamell Fleming and Phillip Gaines struggling at corner for the Chiefs, anyone not going up against a solid rookie in Marcus Peters should be considered a solid play. Though, it appears that James Jones has overtaken Adams on the fantasy latter in Green Bay. This injury won't help the second-year player change that.
DeAndre Hopkins, Wide Receiver, Houston Texans
Status: Probable (Concussion)
Week 3 Impact: It sure looks like Hopkins will play for Houston against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. If that's the case, he becomes a top-end fantasy play. Through two weeks, Hopkins has put up 14 receptions for 151 yards and two scores.
Eric Decker, Wide Receiver, New York Jets
Status: Questionable (Knee)
Week 3 Status: It's pretty clear that Decker will not be able to go this week against the Eagles. If that's the case, Brandon Marshall will continue to be a fantasy force after a stellar outing against the Colts last Monday. That's only magnified by the fact that he's going up against a corner in Byron Maxwell who has been among the worst players at his position in the NFL through Week 2. Even with Decker out, no one behind Marshall is a viable fantasy option.
Josh Huff, Wide Receiver, Philadelphia Eagles
Status: Questionable (Hamstring)
Week 3 Status: There's not a single Eagles player that I would recommend starting this week against the New York Jets. Even if Huff were able to play, he wouldn't become a viable fantasy option. He's put up just four receptions in two games. The bad news for the two of you that actually have Huff as a play this week, he's unlikely to play for Philadelphia. That will give Riley Cooper more opportunities.
Dwayne Allen, Tight End, Indianapolis Colts
Status: Out (Ankle)
Week 3 Impact: With Allen sidelined this week, Coby Fleener should see more targets in what has been a struggling Colts offense. Unfortunately for those looking to buy into Fleener, he has put up just one catch for five yards in two games. Those aren't numbers that should give you confidence in him being a viable fantasy performer, even with Allen sidelined.
Jordan Cameron, Tight End, Miami Dolphins
Status: Questionable (Groin)
Week 3 Impact: Miami didn't go out there and add another tight end this week, which is a clear indication that Cameron will be ready to go after playing limited snaps last week against the Jacksonville Jaguars due to a groin injury. With Aaron Williams sidelined, the tight end position becomes a decent play for Miami. Through two games, Cameron has caught seven passes for 135 yards. He's a clear TE1 option this week.
Ladarius Green, Tight End, San Diego Chargers
Status: Questionable (Concussion)
Week 3 Impact: It's hard to imagine that Green will be able to suit up after suffering his second concussion in an 11-day span and his third since the preseason. Heck, the tight end would be foolish to be driving in a car, let alone playing football. With Antonio Gates still serving his four-game suspension, Green's absence could loom large against the Minnesota Vikings. After all, he's a top-eight fantasy tight end after two weeks. This means that Stevie Johnson will likely play a larger role in San Diego's offense, especially with Keenan Allen forced to go up against a stellar corner in Xavier Rhodes.