We’ve just got the Niners and Raiders for day games and to make it worse the Niners are stuck with the Lions, who have been a fantasy wasteland since Barry Sanders retired.  The Bills are interesting, though.  They’re looking more and more like a contender every week.

10 a.m. Sept. 21: Raiders at Bills, CBS
1 p.m. Sept. 21: Lions at 49ers, Fox
5:15 p.m. Sept. 21: Cowboys at Packers, NBC
5:30 p.m. Sept. 22: Jets at Chargers, ESPN

CBS, 10 a.m.

Oakland Raiders

Fantasy Star

RB Darren McFadden: He had a breakout game last week and Justin Fargas is hurt so he’s starting.  He won’t reach Week 2 levels against the Bills but he’s got incredible upside.

Player to Watch

RB Michael Bush: With Fargas out Bush takes over as #2, and he showed flashes of brilliance against the Chiefs.  It was the Chiefs so don’t get your expectations too high but if he puts up decent points against the Bills he may be worth a spot on your bench until Fargas comes back.

Buffalo Bills

Fantasy Star

RB Marshawn Lynch: The former Cal star is the lynchpin (sorry, had to) of a suddenly formidable Buffalo offense.  He’s quickly making a case to be a respectable every week #1 fantasy back and the Raiders probably won’t be the team to slow him down.

Player to Watch

QB Trent Edwards: The former Stanford star (Buffalo is apparently Bay Area East) has gone from the injury-prone leader of an abysmal team in college to a solid pro who doesn’t make a whole lot of mistakes and makes those around him better.  His numbers so far (70.9% completions, 454 yards, two TDs, no INTs) aren’t earth-shattering but they’re enough to put him on your radar.

Fox, 1 p.m.

Detroit Lions

There still shouldn’t be any Lions on your roster.

San Francisco 49ers

Fantasy Star

RB Frank Gore: Week 1 the Lions gave up 320 yards rushing to the lowly Falcons.  The 49ers have a better line than Atlanta and Gore is a better running back than Michael Turner.  And, as if there needed to be more reason to like Gore this week, Martz was recently fired from the Lions for not running the ball enough.  If you have Gore start him and expect a win for your team.

Players to Watch

WRs Isaac Bruce and Bryant Johnson: While O’Sullivan is still too mistake-prone to be a viable option, Bruce and Johnson have been putting up substantial points.  Bruce had 153 yards last week while Johnson went for 78 and a TD.  They’re both worth keeping an eye on.

NBC, 5:15 p.m.

Dallas Cowboys

Fantasy Stars

QB Tony Romo: Romo passed his first real test of the year breaking 300 yards against the formidable Eagles secondary, so if there was ever any doubt he’s an every week starter it should be gone now.

WR Terrell Owens: He remains hated by the Bay Area and eastern Pennsylvania but remains a solid fantasy option despite his increasing age.

RB Marion Barber: Felix Jones is earning the right to get more and more carries but that’s no reason to downgrade Barber.  If anything the decreased load will keep him fresh deeper into the season, he remains one of the best power backs in the league.

Player to Watch

RB Felix Jones: While Barber is still a solid play, the Cowboys have said they want to get Jones more touches in the offense.  He’s a breakaway threat every time he gets the ball and coming off the bench to replace a power back only helps him catch defenses off-guard.  If he’s still available in your league grab him and leave him on your bench.

Green Bay Packers

Fantasy Stars

QB Aaron Rodgers: Brett who?  Rodgers has put up amazing numbers in his first two starts, totally erasing memory of…that other guy.  What’s his name.  You know the one, the old guy, couldn’t make up his mind, threw a lot of interceptions.

RB Ryan Grant: He only put up 20 yards against the Lions.  On 15 carries at that.  Four feet per carry against the Detroit Lions.  Let that sink in for a minute.  If he doesn’t manage to at least break 2 YPC against Dallas it’s time to panic.

Player to Watch

RB Brandon Jackson: Whatever Grant’s problem is that held him to an embarrassing 1.33 yards per carry against the Detroit freaking Lions of all teams could benefit Jackson if it continues.  They aren’t going to beat many teams that aren’t from Michigan with a ground game that inept.

ESPN, 5:30 p.m. Sept. 22

New York Jets

Fantasy Star

QB Brett Favre: Well, he used to be a fantasy star at least.  Now he’s an average play on a below-average team.  He’s yet to break 200 yards in a game as a Jet but he has at least one touchdown in each of the first two games.

Player to Watch

RB Thomas Jones: He’s not a top back by any stretch, but he does have more than four yards per carry in both games so far this year.  Teams are playing to stop Favre - because of reputation I assume - and that’s leaving quite a bit of room for Jones to run.

San Diego Chargers

Fantasy Stars

RB LaDainian Tomlinson: Oh how the mighty have fallen.  Remember taking LT first overall?  How’s that going for you?  He’s almost 30 and he has turf toe, two things that bring bright careers to an end.  He’s still an every-week start but don’t expect the numbers he’s put up the past few years.

QB Phillip Rivers: Meanwhile, LT’s decreased production is doing wonders for Rivers’ stats.  Now the focal point of the offense he’s developed into an every-week starter.

WR Chris Chambers: The other person benefitting stat-wise from LT’s slow demise is Chambers, who had 83 yards and two touchdowns last week against Denver’s top-five secondary.

Player to Watch

RB Darren Sproles: He’s five and a half feet of fury.  (Seriously, the man is 5′6″.  And he’s an NFL player.)  If LT decides to throw in the towel on the season and heal up for next year Sproles would become the man, and he’s already getting an increasing share of carries.  If he’s on the waiver wire pick him up now before someone else reads this.