I'm hanging on just outside the top 10 in this thing, but just one bad week can ruin a season. Look at the Steelers and Saints last week. So it's important to take each pick and each lineup spot seriously.
In this competition, you pick your best 2 quarterbacks and running backs, best 3 wide receivers, and best 2 tight ends, kickers and defenses. Superstars like Patrick Mahomes are blacked out, more often than not. Here's my Week 3 lineup.
Quarterbacks: Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson. Never in a million years would I have expected to pick these two guys as my starters, but here we are. I drafted Allen in a few spots as my backup to Matt Ryan, and he's been starting for me. Jackson I don't have anywhere because I figured the guy would suck. Schedule has been friendly, but it is this week too (Kansas City). Allen faces the Bengals.
Running backs: Derrick Henry and Dalvin Cook. Interesting week, with Christian McCaffrey and Saquon Barkley both available. I suppose I should just start those guys, and many will, and many will be rewarded. But Henry rushed for over 200 yards and 4 TDs the last time he faced this week's opponent, Jacksonville. And I said last week I'd keep starting Cook (who faces Oakland) until I couldn't anymore. If I chicken out, I guess it will be Barkley who makes it in over Henry. The Carolina offense has me very concerned with Newton hurting.
Wide receivers: Julio Jones, Odell Beckham, DeAndre Hopkins. Jones is on a tear and should be fine against the Colts. Beckham is also on fire, and the Rams secondary should have its hands full. Hopkins against the Chargers, I'll be honest, I'm not really feeling it. But he's the place holder I'm sticking in for now and maybe I'll revisit later in the week.
Tight ends: Mark Andrews and Delanie Walker. All the big names are blacked out this week, so we've got to get creative. Andrews faces a suspect Kansas City defense. Walker is the Titans' de facto No. 1 receiver, especially against a Jacksonville defense that take away wideout. If I pivot off Walker, Austin Hooper and even Jason Witten (against Miami) is a possibility.
Kickers: Jake Elliott and Robbie Gould. Lot of top guys are blacked out. I'm going with guys from home teams that are favored in good offenses, as I generally do.
Defenses: Green Bay and Tennessee. Hard to like what the Broncos offense has neglected to do the first two weeks. Green Bay is 2-0 and riding high at home; there should be some converging on Joe Flacco. The Titans get Gardner Minshew, who might be a heckuva guy but he looked like a sixth-rounder making his first NFL start most of last week.
Good luck to the rest of you.