The Cowboys might be 2-0, but this has been a disastrous start to the season. They lost Dez Bryant in Week 1 to a broken foot, and now Tony Romo could be out for an extended period of time with a broken left clavicle suffered in Week 2 at Philadelphia.
Romo was hurt in the second half against the Eagles, and initial reports indicate he could miss 6-8 weeks. He's not going to be helping Fantasy owners any time soon, and you should plan to drop him in most standard 12-team leagues if the reports are confirmed.
Romo's Fantasy value was already expected to decline with Bryant out, and Bryant will miss at least another six weeks with his injury. It's going to be hard to trust a lot of the Cowboys moving forward, especially with Brandon Weeden now the starter at quarterback.
Terrance Williams will be a borderline No. 2/3 receiver in the majority of leagues, and he caught a 42-yard touchdown from Weeden in the fourth quarter, which is encouraging. He finished with four catches for 84 yards and the score on seven targets against the Eagles.
Jason Witten will be a low-end starter at tight end, and he had seven catches for 56 yards on eight targets against the Eagles. And Cole Beasley could still be a No. 4 receiver in PPR leagues, but he had just four catches for 14 yards on five targets Sunday.
As for the running game, it's still a work in progress, and teams could stack the line of scrimmage now because of Weeden. On Sunday, Joseph Randle had 18 carries for 51 yards and one catch for 14 yards, and Darren McFadden had 10 carries for 31 yards and two catches for 21 yards. Lance Dunbar also added one carry for 8 yards and three catches for 45 yards. Randle remains the only trustworthy option, but he's just a No. 2 running back at best.
The Cowboys play host to the Falcons in Week 3, and we'll see how they attack the Atlanta defense following the loss of their two offensive stars. Without Romo and Bryant this could be a long year in Dallas.
Quarterbacks
Player on the rise
Carson Palmer just continues to roll along as a standout Fantasy quarterback every time he's on the field for the Cardinals since the start of last season. Since 2013, Palmer has finished only seven games because of injury, but in those seven games he's scored at least 20 Fantasy points, including Sunday at Chicago with 29. He completed 17-of-24 passes for 185 yards, four touchdowns and one interception. Palmer is becoming a must-start quarterback in all leagues and should keep it going in Week 3 against the 49ers. He could be a great trade option for the owners who lost Romo since Palmer was likely drafted as a backup in the majority of leagues.
Player on the decline
I went all in on Sam Bradford in a lot of my leagues this year, and right now I couldn't be more disappointed. He struggled in Week 1 at Atlanta, but he was miserable in Week 2 against Dallas with just eight Fantasy points, including a late fourth-quarter touchdown to save his total. Bradford isn't getting help from his receivers as one of his two interceptions came off the hands of Zach Ertz, but he has to play better. He completed just 23-of-37 passes for 224 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions with a lost fumble, and he'll be tough to trust in Week 3 at the Jets.
Quarterback injuries: Tony Romo (clavicle), Jay Cutler (hamstring) and Matthew Stafford (ribs)
Quarterback waivers: Colin Kaepernick (70 percent ownership), Teddy Bridgewater (68 percent), Marcus Mariota (68 percent), Andy Dalton (57 percent), Jameis Winston (41 percent), Tyrod Taylor (34 percent), Derek Carr (27 percent) and Brandon Weeden (1 percent)
Of note: Drew Brees is lucky Romo got hurt and Bradford was inept because it takes the spotlight off him a little bit, but Brees hurt plenty of Fantasy owners in Week 2 in seasonal and daily leagues. He had just 14 Fantasy points against the Buccaneers at home, which was a tremendous disappointment. He needs a huge bounce-back game in Week 3 at Carolina, and that's a difficult matchup. ... If Dalton is still available in any leagues then Romo owners should race to add him because he's definitely proven himself to be a capable starter with his performance through the first two weeks of the season, including 27 Fantasy points against the Chargers on Sunday. ... Ben Roethlisberger lit up the 49ers for 36 Fantasy points at home, and he's in line for a huge season once Martavis Bryant (suspension) comes back after Week 4. ... If deflategate is going to motivate Tom Brady then we're going to witness a huge season. Brady attempted 59 passes against the Bills and racked up 36 Fantasy points, proving that Rex Ryan's defense can't slow him down. ... Cam Newton took the Panthers offense into his hands with three total touchdowns (one rushing) against the Texans and scored 30 Fantasy points. That's a good sign for owners who were nervous about him after a quiet Week 1 at Jacksonville. ... The 49ers didn't look good at Pittsburgh, but Colin Kaepernick had a great Fantasy day with 30 points. If San Francisco's defense continues to look as bad as it did in Week 2 then Kaepernick might have more days like this ahead. ... Raise your hand if you expected Carr to score 32 Fantasy points against the Ravens? He played great and got over 100 yards and a touchdown from Amari Cooper and Michael Crabtree. Carr is worth a look in deeper leagues. ... Ryan Tannehill (27 Fantasy points) and Eli Manning (23 points) should make owners feel better with their performance in Week 2. Both should remain serviceable starters in the majority of leagues moving forward.
Running backs
Player on the rise
Dion Lewis was great in Week 1 against the Steelers with 120 total yards, but he did even better in Week 2 at Buffalo with seven carries for 40 yards and a touchdown and six catches for 98 yards. He did lose a fumble, which could haunt him since he plays for Bill Belichick, but LeGarrette Blount had just two carries for 4 yards in his first game back from suspension. The Patriots made no effort to really run the ball against the Bills with 15 total carries, including three rush attempts by Brady, so keep that in mind. But it's clear Lewis will work on passing downs and has plenty of Fantasy appeal. He should be added in all leagues where available.
Player on the decline
DeMarco Murray needed two touchdowns in Week 1 at Atlanta to save his Fantasy production, but we thought he would bounce back in Week 2 against his former team at home. Instead, Murray was worse with just 13 carries for 2 yards and five catches for 53 yards against the Cowboys. Murray now has 21 carries for 11 yards on the season, and his only saving grace is nine catches for 64 yards through two games. We expect the Eagles offense to get things ironed out, but Murray must be missing the Cowboys offensive line now since Philadelphia is failing to open many holes for him. Playcalling and game flow have also been an issue for the Eagles, but Murray needs to start looking better or else Fantasy owners will only become more frustrated.
Running back injuries: Carlos Hyde (head), Tevin Coleman (ribs), Lamar Miller (ankle) and Eddie Lacy (ankle)
Running back waivers: Devonta Freeman (69 percent ownership), David Johnson (52 ownership), Matt Jones (51 percent), Karlos Williams (45 percent), Dion Lewis (42 percent), James Starks (29 percent), Lorenzo Taliaferro (11 percent), Damien Williams (9 percent) and Dexter McCluster (3 percent)
Of note: Lacy left Sunday night's game against Seattle with an injured ankle and didn't return. X-rays were negative, but he could be dealing with a severe sprain, which could force him to miss some time. In his absence James Starks played well against the Seahawks with 20 carries for 95 yards and four catches for 11 yards. Starks will likely be the most-added free agent pickup this week. ... Hyde injured his head in the second half of Sunday's loss at the Steelers, and coach Jim Tomsula said he was held out as a precaution. We expect him to play in Week 3 at Arizona. ... Coleman was carted off the field in the second quarter at the Giants and never returned, but he finished with a decent stat line of nine carries for 32 yards and a touchdown. We'll have to wait and see what his status is for Week 3 at Dallas, and if he's out then Freeman will get a bigger role. Freeman had 11 Fantasy points against the Giants. ... Miller expects to be OK after hurting his ankle against the Jaguars, and he had a miserable game with 10 carries for 14 yards. He now has just 23 carries for 67 yards on the season, and he needs to have a breakout game against the Bills in Week 3 to make Fantasy owners feel good. If Miller is out then Damien Williams would get the start, and he scored seven Fantasy points against Jacksonville. ... Jeremy Hill had a terrible game against the Chargers. He hurt his knee and also fumbled twice, and the Bengals benched him after his second fumble. He finished with 10 carries for 39 yards and watched Giovani Bernard go nuts against San Diego with 20 carries for 123 yards and three catches for 16 yards. Hill will likely remain the starter heading into Week 3 at Baltimore, but Bernard definitely deserves more work moving forward. ... DeAngelo Williams might never start another game this year with Le'Veon Bell eligible to play in Week 3 now that his suspension is over, but Williams went out with a bang as the starter against the 49ers. He had 20 carries for 77 yards and three touchdowns and four catches for 15 yards, and every Bell owner should hold onto Williams as a handcuff option. ... We knew Matt Jones was going to be a factor in the Redskins backfield this season, but we didn't expect it to happen in Week 2 against the Rams, especially since Alfred Morris had 25 carries for 121 yards in Week 1 against Miami. But Jones had 19 carries to 18 for Morris against St. Louis and 123 rushing yards and a touchdown to 59 for Morris. Morris should remain the best running back in Washington for now, but Jones is going to continue to get work and make this a tandem. ... Ameer Abdullah was a bust as the Start of the Week against the Vikings with six carries for 9 yards and one catch for 9 yards. I still don't understand why the Lions don't give him more work to see what he can do with increased touches, but he should remain at least a flex option in Week 3 against Denver. ... The Cardinals were without Andre Ellington (knee) at Chicago, and Chris Johnson and David Johnson shared the workload in his place. Chris Johnson got the majority of work with 20 carries for 72 yards, but David Johnson was more impactful with five carries for 42 yards and a touchdown and one catch for 3 yards. Both could be considered flex options in Week 3 against San Francisco since Ellington is expected to remain out. ... Does everyone feel better about Adrian Peterson now? He had 29 carries for 134 yards and two catches for 58 yards in Week 2 against Detroit after his dud in Week 1 at San Francisco. ... McCluster (10 carries for 98 yards and four catches for 26 yards) and not Bishop Sankey (12 carries for 42 yards) was the best running back against the Browns in Week 2 for the Titans. This is a backfield to avoid if possible, but McCluster could be an option in deep PPR leagues moving forward. ... Justin Forsett is starting to make a lot of Fantasy owners upset with his second mediocre performance in two games, especially a poor outing against the Raiders in Week 2. He had just 15 carries for 68 yards and four catches for 12 yards, and the Marc Trestman effect has not been evident yet. Also, Taliaferro stole a touchdown and had seven carries for 34 yards. Forsett needs a big game in Week 3 against the Bengals.
Wide receivers
Player on the rise
Larry Fitzgerald is turning back the clock with his performance to start this season. Overshadowed by John Brown and pre-hand injury Michael Floyd, Fitzgerald has started 2015 with two solid outings, including a tremendous game in Week 2 at Chicago with eight catches for 112 yards and three touchdowns on nine targets. He's always been good with a capable quarterback, and he even posted respectable stats in 2014 when Palmer was healthy. Through two games, Fitzgerald has 14 catches for 199 yards and three touchdowns, and he could end up as one of the best bargains on Draft Day in every league.
Player on the decline
Brandin Cooks was supposed to rebound from his Week 1 dud at Arizona with a monster game against Tampa Bay at home in Week 2. I don't know about you, but five catches for 62 yards on seven targets is far from a big outing in my book. He now has just nine catches for 111 yards and no touchdowns on the season, and hopefully he can snap out of this funk in Week 3 at Carolina, which won't be easy. There's still a lot to like about Cooks, but we need to see more to justify his draft value. And right now the Saints offense looks out of sorts when it comes to Brees and his receivers.
Wide receiver injuries: Nothing notable
Wide receiver waivers: Steve Johnson (69 percent ownership), Torrey Smith (56 percent), Malcom Floyd (42 percent), Michael Crabtree (38 percent), Marvin Jones (24 percent), Kenny Britt (17 percent), Travis Benjamin (10 percent), Leonard Hankerson (9 percent), Robert Woods (9 percent), Corey Brown (5 percent), Ted Ginn (4 percent) and Rishard Matthews (1 percent)
Of note: Fantasy owners were ready to drop Allen Robinson after his dud in Week 1 against the Panthers when he had just one catch for 27 yards on six targets, but he rebounded in a big way in Week 2 against Miami with six catches for 155 yards and two touchdowns on 12 targets. Hopefully you didn't panic, and Robinson showed you his upside against the Dolphins. ... The Browns haven't decided if Josh McCown (concussion) or Johnny Manziel will start in Week 3 against Oakland, but if you want to buy into Benjamin then hope for Manziel. In two games, Manziel and Benjamin have connected for three 50-plus yard touchdowns. ... The 49ers were forced to throw against the Steelers, which helped Torrey Smith and Anquan Boldin. Smith had six catches for 120 yards and a touchdown on seven targets and Boldin had six catches for 60 yards and a touchdown on 10 targets. I'd be hesitant to use Smith in Week 3 at Arizona, but Boldin should still be a No. 3 Fantasy receiver based on his target volume. ... The Raiders also had two receivers with big games against the Ravens with Crabtree (17 Fantasy points) and Cooper (16 points) dominating Baltimore's secondary. I'm excited to see Cooper look like the receiver we expected, and Crabtree can be worth a look in deeper leagues. Both have the chance to play well in Week 3 at Cleveland ... Steve Smith rebounded from his dud in Week 1 at Denver with 10 catches for 150 yards on 16 targets at Oakland. He'll have a tougher matchup in Week 3 against Cincinnati, but this should make Fantasy owners happy who trusted him in Week 2. ... Odell Beckham, Calvin Johnson and A.J. Green all made Fantasy owners calm down with touchdowns in Week 2. Green had the worst game of the trio but still finished with 10 Fantasy points in a standard league. Beckham had 20 points, and Johnson scored 14. ... The Bills receivers played well against the Patriots with Sammy Watkins catching six passes for 60 yards and a touchdown on eight targets, and Woods had three catches for 60 yards and a touchdown on three targets. Woods is only worth a look in deeper leagues, but we hope this is a game Waktins can build off. ... The Dolphins had two receivers gain over 100 yards with Matthews (six for 115 on seven targets) and Jarvis Landry (eight for 110 on 10 targets). Landry is a must-start guy, but Matthews is worth looking at in deeper formats after he also scored in Week 1 at Washington. ... Vincent Jackson had the best Fantasy day for Tampa Bay's receivers at New Orleans with three catches for 54 yards and a touchdown on five targets, but Mike Evans was invisible in his season debut. After missing Week 1 with a hamstring injury, Evans was active in Week 2 against the Saints but had no catches on just three targets. He'll have plenty of big games moving forward, but many Fantasy owners started Evans when he was ruled active, including me. Let's hope he's more involved in Week 3 at Houston. ... All James Jones does is catch touchdowns. He had one catch for 29 yards, but he scored against the Seahawks. He now has three touchdowns on the season.
Tight ends
Player on the rise
Eric Ebron has definitely stepped up at the start of his second year. Ebron played well in Week 2 at Minnesota with five catches for 43 yards and a touchdown on 10 targets, and he's now scored in consecutive weeks. He has a tough matchup in Week 3 against Denver, but he's clearly the No. 3 option in this passing game behind Calvin Johnson and Golden Tate. Ebron is on his way to becoming a second-year breakout tight end.
Player on the decline
Zach Ertz is owned in 68 percent of leagues on CBS Sports, and he's someone to drop moving into Week 3. He hasn't played well through two games and doesn't appear to have much upside. He finished Week 2 against Dallas with three catches for 17 yards on seven targets, and he dropped a pass that led to a Bradford interception. He only has six catches for 63 yards through two games and is too inconsistent to trust in most formats.
Tight end injuries: Nothing notable
Tight end waivers: Kyle Rudolph (72 percent), Jordan Reed (56 percent), Larry Donnell (32 percent), Charles Clay (26 percent), Eric Ebron (24 percent), Crockett Gillmore (3 percent) and Anthony Fasano (0 percent)
Of note: My colleague Dave Richard was touting Crockett Gillmore in the preseason, and he liked his matchup for Week 2 at Oakland. We all should have listened more. Gillmore had five catches for 88 yards and two touchdowns on six targets and is worth a look in deeper leagues. He has a tough matchup in Week 3 against the Bengals, but Gillmore is clearly a weapon for Joe Flacco moving forward. ... Rudolph turned in his second good game in a row with five catches for 30 yards and a touchdown on seven targets against the Lions. He now has 10 catches for 83 yards and a touchdown through two games and has Top 10 potential the rest of the season. ... The same goes for Jordan Reed, who had six catches for 82 yards on six targets against the Rams and now has 13 catches for 145 yards and a touchdown to start the season. He has a solid matchup in Week 3 against the Giants and will continue to be heavily involved until DeSean Jackson (hamstring) returns. ... Greg Olsen rebounded from his Week 1 dud at Jacksonville with six catches for 70 yards on 14 targets against Houston. Anyone who panicked about Olsen after his one Fantasy points in Week 1 should hopefully feel better this week.
