The Shot Caller's Report strives to identify players that are borderline fantasy plays and clarify whether they should be started or benched. Rather than telling you to start Peyton Manning and bench Joey Harrington, the Report looks at those "stuck in the middle" guys and evaluates if they will help your team win.

Now that three NFL weeks are in the books, owners are beginning to get a realistic feel for their lineups. Steven Jackson wasn’t worth that top pick, nor was Larry Johnson. Lee Evans and Reggie Brown have killed receiving corps across the fantasy nation. Rookies Adrian Peterson and Marshawn Lynch are looking like the real deal while the Green Bay rushing morass has doomed Brandon Jackson. Add in the recent spate of injuries and owners are starting to scramble to fill their lineups with warm bodies. Oh yeah, bye weeks are starting this week, making everyone’s life just a little tougher. Let’s see if we can answer some of those start/bench questions today.

Quarterbacks

Must Start: The Top 10

Brian Griese @ DET : Now we all know why the Bears made sure they had a solid backup quarterback. Rex Grossman was able to hide behind his injuries for a couple years until his erratic play finally caught up to him. For those who think Rex will be getting his job back anytime soon, forget about it. Remember, he almost lost the starting gig last season too. The Bears are good enough to be a contender if they can solidify their QB position and Griese will help with that. There is talent surrounding him in the form of Muhammad, Berrian, and Olsen catching passes while Benson provides adequate talent at the running back position. The most important thing this week is Chicago plays the Lions, whose sieve of a defense has already allowed six receiving touchdowns this season.

Brett Favre @ MIN: The Minnesota defense is solid but Green Bay has nothing else to do but pass the ball. When you average 57 yards per game on the ground, the worst in the league, another method must be found to get the job done. In a very un-Favre-like start to the season, Brett has six touchdowns to a measly two interceptions and his trio of receivers has stepped up when they can hobble out of the medical staff’s office. Favre isn’t quite ready for the nursing home.

Ben Roethlisberger @ ARI: I keep telling owners to start Big Ben yet I still see him way down the rankings sheets each week. I guess my fine professional reputation is not yet powerful enough to influence other writers. Give it time….Roethlisberger is averaging two TDs a game and the Steeler offense is looking like an offensive juggernaut. Even with Hines Ward out, Arizona will not be able to stop them.

Jon Kitna v. CHI: Here is another team who just can’t run the ball. Maybe they don’t want to with mad scientist Mike Martz pulling the strings. He has never been known for his patience in pounding the rock. Kitna is averaging well over 300 yards and two touchdowns a game against some pretty good defenses: Oakland, Minnesota, and Philadelphia. Don’t let the Chicago defense scare you away. Kitna will end the season as a top five quarterback and two of his receivers, Williams and Johnson, will have over 1,000 yards apiece.

Chad Pennington @ BUF: Pennington is a risky play but may be available in the free agent pool for teams struggling to find a starter this week. His ankle isn’t full-strength but Pennington never made a living out of his scrambling skills. He has thrown two TDs in both games he started and is facing a bad Buffalo secondary. The Bills have a way of making opposing quarterbacks look better than they really are.

Grab A Clipboard:

Carson Palmer v. NE: Owners may not have a better option, but lower your expectations for Palmer this week. The Seahawks were able to hold him to a single touchdown and, excluding the TD fest with the Brownies, Palmer has looking ordinary. If Rudi Johnson can’t go, expect the Patriots to make Palmer’s life miserable on Monday night.

Tarvaris Jackson v. GB: When everyone is picking up Green Bay’s defense to play against your quarterback, it is time to let him ride the pine. The team says he will be starting, however his groin injury will limit him almost as much as his own lack of skill and the lack of talent among his wide outs.

Jay Cutler @ IND: Cutler is quietly putting together a pretty disappointing season thus far. He has three touchdown tosses to four interceptions and the Denver offense just isn’t clicking like many owners expected. Maybe Rod Smith was more important than people thought. Or maybe Cutler isn’t as good as advertised. Either way, the Colts are a tough match up for the young quarterback.

Matt Leinart v. PIT: Last week was a complete debacle for Leinart, getting yanked for Kurt Warner and then watching the washed up old man completely outplay him. The team has made it clear that, even though Leinart is starting, Warner will be used when necessary. As if this wasn’t bad enough, the Steelers are coming to town. The only question is in what quarter Leinart gets pulled.

Derek Anderson v. BAL: The Baltimore defense is fading but won’t be compared to the Cincinnati Bengals anytime soon. Other than Week Two’s game, Anderson has looked like a below average quarterback who is just keeping Brady Quinn’s seat warm until the rookie is ready. Quinn won’t see the field anytime soon and Anderson shouldn’t be seeing your starting lineup either.

Running Backs