Trent Edwards became a franchise quarterback Sunday. On a third-and-six from the Jaguars 44, the Bills called for a max protection and a long double move by Lee Evans. Edwards' protection mostly held up, but Jaguars end Derrick Harvey got pressure from the right side. Edwards calmly stepped up in the pocket, avoided the hit, and delivered a gorgeous 37-yard strike that led Evans out of bounds. This was supposed to be an offense that couldn't make big plays.
On the next snap, Edwards showed his excellent touch with a teardrop 7-yard scoring toss to a leaping James Hardy. Two plays, 44 yards, and notice to the rest of the AFC that the Bills has a passing game.
The exciting part is that this offense has a lot of improving to do. Marshawn Lynch is one of the ten best backs in the NFL, but he hasn't got rolling just yet. Look for that to change with Oakland and St. Louis coming up, not to mention a 4-0 start for the year. Left tackle Jason Peters, who gave up a strip sack on Sunday, is still rounding into form. And there should be more big plays coming, as the Bills continue to expand their offense.
There are bigger fantasy stories out there at quarterback (The post-surgery Philip Rivers is better than pre-surgery), but Edwards' emergence has an impact. Lee Evans will be the guy we thought he was going to be last year. Marshawn Lynch can fulfill his top-five upside on an improving offense. Even fast Freddie Jackson is turning into Reggie Bush-lite. It sounds like heresy, but the Bills could wind up with the most effective quarterback in the AFC East.
Head to Season Pass for exclusive projections for every ranked player. Enter your roster and scoring system and let the Rotoworld Oracle choose your lineup.
Week 3 QuarterbacksRank | Player Name | Opponent | Notes |
1 | Tony Romo | at GB | - |
2 | Jay Cutler | vs. NO | |
3 | Peyton Manning | vs. JAC | - |
4 | Donovan McNabb | vs. PIT | - |
5 | Drew Brees | at DEN | No Colston hurt |
6 | Ben Roethlisberger | at PHI | Not worried about shoulder |
7 | Kurt Warner | at WAS | - |
8 | Eli Manning | vs. CIN | - |
9 | Aaron Rodgers | vs. DAL | Matchup proof? |
10 | Philip Rivers | vs. NYJ | Surprise of the year |
11 | J.T. O'Sullivan | vs. DET | JTO Fever |
12 | Carson Palmer | at NYG | Nightmare schedule continues |
13 | Matt Hasselbeck | vs. STL | - |
14 | Matt Schaub | at TEN | - |
15 | Brett Favre | at SD | - |
16 | Matt Cassel | vs. MIA | - |
17 | Derek Anderson | at BAL | - |
18 | Jon Kitna | at SF | - |
19 | David Garrard | at IND | - |
20 | Trent Edwards | vs. OAK | - |
21 | Jake Delhomme | at MIN | - |
22 | Marc Bulger | at SEA | Seahawks have given up big plays |
23 | Jason Campbell | vs. ARZ | Let's see it again |
24 | Kerry Collins | vs. HOU | - |
25 | Brian Griese | at CHI | - |
26 | Gus Frerotte | vs. CAR | The savior? |
27 | Chad Pennington | at NE | - |
28 | Kyle Orton | vs. TB | Can't go deep |
29 | Matt Ryan | vs. KC | - |
30 | Joe Flacco | vs. CLE | - |
31 | JaMarcus Russell | at BUF | - |
32 | Damon Huard | at ATL | Won't start |
33 | Tyler Thigpen | at ATL | Bet he won't finish |
Notes: We're going to change some things up this week with Goal Line Stand. Instead of the usual player notes Thursday under the rankings, I'm going to post matchup preview notes for each game on Friday. This schedule could last one week, it could last the season. I know this is changing up the routine from the last five years, but give it a chance and let me know what you think after Friday. We'll still post the updated Goal Line Rankings here on Friday evening.
Rank | Player Name | Opponent | Notes |
1 | Adrian Peterson | vs. CAR | Watch practice reports |
2 | Frank Gore | vs. DET | - |
3 | Brian Westbrook | vs. PIT | - |
4 | Marshawn Lynch | vs. OAK | - |
5 | Marion Barber | at GB | - |
6 | LaDainian Tomlinson | vs. NYJ | Expected to start |
7 | Steven Jackson | at SEA | - |
8 | Joseph Addai | vs. JAC | - |
9 | Clinton Portis | vs. ARZ | - |
10 | Brandon Jacobs | vs. CIN | - |
11 | Ryan Grant | vs. DAL | |
12 | Willie Parker | at PHI | - |
13 | Michael Turner | vs. KC | - |
14 | Darren McFadden | at BUF | Keep eye on toe injury |
15 | Matt Forte | vs. TB | |
16 | Reggie Bush | at DEN | - |
17 | Chris Johnson | vs. HOU | - |
18 | Maurice Jones-Drew | at IND | If they can't do it now. |
19 | Earnest Graham | at CHI | - |
20 | Thomas Jones | at SD | - |
21 | Larry Johnson | at SD | Matchup is right |
22 | Jamal Lewis | at BAL | |
23 | Julius Jones | vs. STL | - |
24 | LenDale White | vs. HOU | - |
25 | Jonathan Stewart | at MIN | Taking over |
26 | Chris Perry | at NYG | - |
27 | Kevin Smith | at SF | 49ers have been soft |
28 | Selvin Young | vs. NO | - |
29 | Willis McGahee | vs. CLE | RBBC? |
30 | Laurence Maroney | vs. MIA | Questionable(shoulder) |
31 | Fred Taylor | at IND | |
32 | Edgerrin James | at WAS | - |
33 | Steve Slaton | at TEN | - |
34 | DeAngelo Williams | at MIN | - |
35 | Ronnie Brown | at NE | - |
36 | Ray Rice | vs. CLE | - |
37 | Pierre Thomas | at DEN | - |
38 | Ricky Williams | at NE | - |
39 | Darren Sproles | vs. NYJ | - |
40 | Fred Jackson | vs. OAK | - |
41 | Michael Bush | at BUF | - |
42 | Felix Jones | at GB | - |
43 | Andre Hall | vs. NO | - |
44 | Ahmad Bradshaw | vs. CIN | - |
45 | Sammy Morris | vs. MIA | Move up if Maroney is out |
46 | Jerious Norwood | vs. KC | - |
47 | Chester Taylor | vs. CAR | - |
48 | Warrick Dunn | at CHI | - |
49 | Tim Hightower | at WAS | - |
50 | Brandon Jackson | vs. DAL | - |
51 | Chris Taylor | at TEN | - |
52 | Leon Washington | at SD | - |
53 | LaMont Jordan | vs. MIA | Keep eye on status |
54 | LeRon McClain | vs. CLE | |
55 | Ladell Betts | vs. ARZ | - |
56 | Kenny Watson | at NYG | - |
57 | Rashard Mendenhall | at PHI | - |
58 | Jamaal Charles | at ATL | - |
59 | Kevin Jones | vs. TB | - |
60 | Rudi Johnson | at SF | - |
Rank | Player Name | Opponent | Notes |
1 | Brandon Marshall | vs. NO | - |
2 | Terrell Owens | at GB | - |
3 | Larry Fitzgerald | at WAS | - |
4 | Reggie Wayne | vs. JAC | - |
5 | Steve Smith | at MIN | |
6 | Randy Moss | vs. MIA | - |
7 | Andre Johnson | at TEN | - |
8 | Plaxico Burress | vs. CIN | - |
9 | Anquan Boldin | at WAS | - |
10 | Calvin Johnson | at SF | - |
11 | Braylon Edwards | at BAL | |
12 | Santonio Holmes | at PHI | - |
13 | Chad Ocho Cinco | at NYG | - |
14 | Jerricho Cotchery | at SD | - |
15 | Greg Jennings | vs. DAL | - |
16 | T.J. Houshmandzadeh | at NYG | - |
17 | Wes Welker | vs. MIA | - |
18 | Roy Williams | at SF | - |
19 | Torry Holt | at SEA | Lucky TD, but Seahawks CBs are struggling |
20 | Dwayne Bowe | at ATL | - |
21 | Marvin Harrison | vs. JAC | - |
22 | Hines Ward | at PHI | - |
23 | Santana Moss | vs. ARZ | - |
24 | Lee Evans | vs. OAK | - |
25 | DeSean Jackson | vs. PIT | - |
26 | Eddie Royal | vs. NO | |
27 | Laveranues Coles | at SD | |
28 | Donald Driver | vs. DAL | - |
29 | Anthony Gonzalez | vs. JAC | Clark's return won't help |
30 | Roddy White | vs. KC | - |
31 | Chris Chambers | vs. NYJ | - |
32 | Patrick Crayton | at GB | - |
33 | Bryant Johnson | vs. DET | Mike Martz's revenge |
34 | Isaac Bruce | vs. DET | - |
35 | Vincent Jackson | vs. NYJ | - |
36 | Antonio Bryant | at CHI | - |
37 | David Patten | at DEN | - |
38 | Amani Toomer | vs. CIN | - |
39 | Matt Jones | at IND | Seems locked in as starter |
40 | Jerry Porter | at IND | - |
41 | Bernard Berrian | vs. CAR | Probable(foot) |
42 | Justin Gage | vs. HOU | Watch status |
43 | Antwaan Randle El | vs. ARZ | - |
44 | James Jones | vs. DAL | |
45 | Kevin Walter | at TEN | - |
46 | Ronald Curry | at BUF | - |
47 | Arnaz Battle | vs. DET | - |
48 | Courtney Taylor | vs. STL | - |
49 | D.J. Hackett | at MIN | - |
50 | Mark Clayton | vs. CLE | - |
51 | Brandon Lloyd | vs. TB | - |
52 | Derrick Mason | vs. CLE | - |
53 | Muhsin Muhammad | at MIN | - |
54 | Sidney Rice | vs. CAR | Questionable(knee) |
55 | Koren Robinson | vs. STL | - |
56 | Hank Baskett | vs. PIT | - |
57 | Greg Camarillo | at NE | - |
58 | Ted Ginn Jr. | at NE | - |
59 | Michael Clayton | at CHI | - |
Rank | Player Name | Opponent | Notes |
1 | Jason Witten | at GB | |
2 | Antonio Gates | vs. NYJ | - |
3 | Kellen Winslow | at BAL | - |
4 | Tony Gonzalez | at ATL | - |
5 | Jeremy Shockey | at DEN | - |
6 | Tony Scheffler | vs. NO | - |
7 | Chris Cooley | vs. ARZ | |
8 | Todd Heap | vs. CLE | |
9 | Vernon Davis | vs. DET | - |
10 | John Carlson | vs. STL | - |
11 | Owen Daniels | at TEN | - |
12 | Dallas Clark | vs. JAC | Expected to return |
13 | L.J. Smith | vs. PIT | - |
14 | Heath Miller | at PHI | - |
15 | Greg Olsen | vs. TB | - |
16 | Zach Miller | at BUF | - |
17 | Randy McMichael | at SEA | - |
18 | Dante Rosario | at MIN | |
19 | Marcedes Lewis | at IND | - |
20 | Alge Crumpler | vs. HOU | - |
21 | Donald Lee | vs. DAL | - |
22 | Desmond Clark | vs. TB | - |
23 | Anthony Fasano | at NE | - |
24 | Bo Scaife | vs. HOU | - |
25 | David Martin | at NE | - |
26 | Kevin Boss | vs. CIN | - |
Rank | Player Name | Opponent | Notes |
1 | Nick Folk | at GB | - |
2 | Stephen Gostkowski | vs. MIA | - |
3 | Mason Crosby | vs. DAL | - |
4 | Josh Brown | at SEA | - |
5 | Nate Kaeding | vs. NYJ | - |
6 | Ryan Longwell | vs. CAR | - |
7 | Rob Bironas | vs. HOU | - |
8 | Josh Scobee | at IND | - |
9 | Robbie Gould | vs. TB | - |
10 | Joe Nedney | vs. DET | - |
11 | Martin Gramatica | at DEN | - |
12 | Shayne Graham | at NYG | - |
13 | Adam Vinatieri | vs. JAC | - |
14 | Matt Prater | vs. NO | - |
15 | Sebastian Janikowski | at BUF | - |
16 | Jeff Reed | at PHI | - |
17 | John Kasay | at MIN | - |
18 | Olindo Mare | vs. STL | - |
19 | David Akers | vs. PIT | - |
20 | Neil Rackers | at WAS | - |
21 | Jason Hanson | at SF | - |
22 | Phil Dawson | at BAL | - |
23 | John Carney | vs. CIN | - |
24 | Matt Bryant | at CHI | - |
25 | Rian Lindell | vs. OAK | - |
26 | Jason Elam | vs. KC | Questionable(hip) |
27 | Matt Stover | vs. CLE | - |
28 | Jay Feely | at SD | - |
29 | Kris Brown | at TEN | - |
30 | Shaun Suisham | vs. ARZ | - |
31 | Dan Carpenter | at NE | - |
32 | Nick Novak | at ATL | - |