Treading The Lines: Week 3

Unless you were savvy and shrewd enough to back the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 2, your survivor entry is likely by the way of the dodo bird. The game slate proved the perfect blend of Week 1 overreaction and 2014 disconnect, and any bridge linking the two was ill-founded.

Onward and upward they say.

Gone with the Brees

After Drew Brees was ruled out for Week 3, the over/under line plummeted along with the New Orleans Saints' team total. New Orleans sits at 9.5-point underdogs and 71 percent of the public action on the moneyline is backing the Carolina Panthers. This was clear to see with our Vegas total tools.

It is obviously a significant blow to the Saints offense, but along with every blow, a degree of opportunity arises. Still, hitching your daily wagon to Luke McCown is not the answer. The Black Cats boast a blood-thirsty defense, and 34-year-old McCown hasn't started since 2011.

C.J. Spiller becomes an interesting high-risk contrarian option, but otherwise, you're likely best avoiding the entire Saints offense. Mark Ingram carries too high of a salary to be anything other than a desperation GPP play, and Brandin Cooks is nursing an ankle injury and has just nine catches this season.

Nothing looks appealing from the Big Easy.

Things change for Carolina with Brees out, too, though. The viability and upside of their defense skyrockets, and with heavy chalk typically comes the game flow necessary for the running game to be leaned on. Jonathan Stewart doesn't break the bank, and he stands to be a heavily owned daily player Sunday.

Enter Cam Newton.

The Panthers have something to prove with their aerial attack, as their wideout corps has widely been dubbed as basement dwellers. However, rookie Devin Funchess and speedster Corey Brown showing off against a yardage-giving secondary isn't out of the question, either. And Greg Olsen stands as one of the safest tight ends, especially considering he has been quiet through the first two weeks.

Exposure to the Black Cats is advised in the daily racket Sunday, as this divisional outing could become ugly with Carolina eyeing a 3-0 start.

The Final Countdown?

While Vegas opened this line with the New York Jets as 2.5-point home underdogs, New York stand as 2-point favorites Sunday and receiving 58 percent of the public spread action.

Interesting …

After offensively limping through six of the first eight quarters of the season, the Philadelphia Eagles up-tempo attack has been a fantasy disaster. They sit at 0-2 and in dire need of a win. Could it even be a job-saving win for head coach Chip Kelly?

New York, on the other hand, starts 2-0 but enters on a short week after their 20-7 win over the Indianapolis Colts Monday. However, the real concern for New York is Eric Decker (knee) and Chris Ivory (quadriceps) didn't practice Friday, and shut-down-corner Darrelle Revis (groin) has been limited in practice all week.

While the New York defense looks like a beefy task for Philadelphia, Andrew Luck and the Colts turned the ball over five times, and the Jets beat up on the Cleveland Browns who brought in their backup quarterback half way through the game.

Two weeks ago, the public would have been salivating to receive points with the Eagles in this game, and it is important to remember teams aren't often as good or as bad as they look. There is a reason the line opened as it did, and there is a reason it sits where it is now.

While the fantasy impact could be limited on both sides, with the Eagles in desperation mode -- and potentially finally clicking offensively -- there is contrarian potential for daily contests. Obviously, it is a high-risk, high-reward dice roll.

On the flip side, assuming Eric Decker sits or is limited, Brandon Marshall checks out as one of the safest wideout plays. Marshall owns a second- to third-tier price and projects to be the focal of the vertical game. After all, he enters with 19 targets for the season and a score in each game. Still, you don't want too much exposure to either team in this green-on-green showdown.

Quick Hitters

Trapeze act: The New England Patriots should cruise past the Jacksonville Jaguars, and with the game sitting tied for the highest over/under total, expect the New England ownership percentages to be high. It isn't the recipe for success when aiming to separate from the pack in daily contests. Also, Bill Belichick's personnel decisions breaking fantasy owner's hearts isn't out of the question.

Yea or nay on the Colts?: The Indianapolis Colts are 3.5-point road favorites at the Tennessee Titans in Week 3, but the line opened at minus-5 Indy. After looking miserable offensively in consecutive games, the Colts attack appears poised for a breakout showing Sunday. Just note, 85 percent of the public are backing the Colts spread, yet the line has dropped. The sharps are clearly toting the Titans.

Home Dominance: Aaron Rodgers owns a career 112.7 quarterback rating at Lambeau Field with a 46-10 record. The Green Bay Packers are receiving 6.5-point chalk for their Monday tilt against the Kansas City Chiefs, in the game tied for the highest over/under total. Expect Alex Smith and the Kansas City offense to struggle keeping pace with the Packers.

Texan steam: The Houston Texans have seen their spread grow from 3.5-favorites at opening to being a 6.5-point favorite Sunday, and 72 percent of the action is backing Houston. Yet, the Texans enter with Ryan Mallet behind center and no Arian Foster. Sure, the Texans should bully the Tampa Bay Buccaneers offense, but with a full-go Mike Evans, expect Tampa to move the needle offensively.