Its been a busy week on the fantasy football waiver wire -- especially at running back -- as many notable players went down with injuries and owners scrambled for their replacements.Some fantasy players may feel quite undermanned heading into Week 3, but there are no bye week issues yet and hopefully good depth and/or a fruitful excursion to the free agent list has you ready for this weeks full slate of games.---BATTLE OF THE BACKUPSThe Panthers host the Vikings in a featured matchup of teams that are relying on reserve running backs to step forward for injured starters. Jerick McKinnon takes over for the shelved Adrian Peterson, with Matt Asiata also playing a role as a short-yardage vulture. The Panthers have allowed 106.5 rushing yards per game so far, so plug in the nifty McKinnon right away if you lost Peterson, and consider him as a flex play if you simply landed him off waivers. Asiata scored nine TDs when Peterson was suspended in 2014, but is better used when byes roll around. Cameron Artis-Payne and Fozzy Whittaker may share some work in place of Jonathan Stewart. The stingy Vikings defense is sixth against the run so far and Artis-Payne might only post mediocre totals, while Whittaker can give you some point-per-reception respectability because of his pass-catching abilities.---DOWNTRODDEN BROWNSCleveland has already lost their top two quarterbacks, and have to go with untested rookie Cody Kessler at Miami, which should be hungry to win after losing at Seattle and New England. Promising rookie Corey Coleman broke his hand in practice this week, and even suspended wideout Josh Gordon battled more off-field issues as Cleveland continues to spiral downward. Isaiah Crowell may have to face stacked fronts and Gary Barnidges appeal has fallen again. Meanwhile, Ryan Tannehill has a very appealing matchup and an emerging DeVante Parker is looking like a viable starter on the rise.---RISE OF THE ROOKIE STAREzekiel Elliott was a first-round pick in many leagues, but has yet to break out with 134 rushing yards in two games. He does have two rushing TDs, but only 5 receiving yards and there were public whispers about his conditioning and focus this week. Elliott would quiet doubters and please those who invested a high pick in him (including the Cowboys) with a strong performance against the Bears. Chicago has allowed 114.5 rushing yards per game and lost three key members of its defensive front to injuries this week. This is the game for Elliott and an underperforming Dallas offensive line to truly get on track.---STILL CHARGINGSan Diego lost Danny Woodhead this past week, Keenan Allen is already gone, and Antonio Gates is trying to work through a hamstring problem. Fortunately for San Diego, they draw what appears to be the AFCs worst defense as they travel to Indianapolis. The resurgent Melvin Gordon already has three rushing scores after not registering any in his rookie year and is a prime start this week with a larger role awaiting with Woodhead out. Gordon is a terrific daily fantasy play, as the Colts have allowed 125 rushing yards per game so far. Newly signed Dexter McCluster should be added as a free agent for point-per-reception depth if still available, and WRs Travis Benjamin and Tyrell Williams are good starts against a pass defense that has already surrendered nearly 600 passing yards.---SEATTLE SLUMPThe Seahawks offense has scored only one TD through its first two games. Russell Wilson has not been himself because of an ankle injury that has limited his mobility and sometimes affected his passing. A home date vs. the 49ers may appear to cure some ills, but divisional games are never easy. Keep Wilson reserved until he shows signs of improving. Christine Michael is a good flex option this week. Thomas Rawls is now doubtful with a shin injury. Doug Baldwin and Tyler Lockett still have potential to be playmakers even if their game is lower scoring. Also add Jimmy Graham if he is still a free agent, as he is gradually starting to get closer to being a more frequent contributor.---TALE OF TWO TAMPASJameis Winston will try to put a terrible Week 2 behind him and regroup against the Rams. Charles Sims takes over for the injured Doug Martin and should get strong starting consideration because of his versatility and expanded role. Winston is too erratic to be trusted yet, but Mike Evans is already flourishing in a lot of leagues and slot receiver Adam Humphries is looking like an interesting add in leagues with 14 teams or more, or even very competitive 12-teamers. This could be the week when Rams RB Todd Gurley shows his 2015 form.---ERRATIC PACKThe Green Bay offense has continued to disappoint, as Aaron Rodgers has been the ninth-best QB in fantasy so far. The Lions have allowed 592 yards and six TDs to opposing passers, so there is hope for an upturn this week. Expect Jordy Nelson to score and Randall Cobb to display his better form again. Eddie Lacy should get a chance to finish off a scoring drive or two with a TD run. Matthew Stafford will keep pace and you can start Marvin Jones and Eric Ebron with confidence. The Packers defense has been very good against the run so far, but Theo Riddick should play an expanded role this week with Ameer Abdullah out.---MONDAY NIGHT FIREWORKSThe Monday night matchup between the Falcons and Saints looks like a shootout. This is a week to consider rolling out even secondary fantasy types on both teams, such as Mohamed Sanu and Michael Thomas at WR.---This column was provided to The Associated Press by the Fantasy Sports Network, http://FNTSY.com . Wholesale Astros Jerseys . It was the kind of score that might make everyone else wonder which course he was playing. Except that Graeme McDowell saw the whole thing. Crouched behind the 10th green at Sheshan International, McDowell looked over at the powerful American and said, "Ive probably seen 18 of the best drives Ive seen all year in the last two days. Brad Lidge Astros Jersey .com) - The Pittsburgh Penguins placed forward James Neal on injured reserve Tuesday. https://www.cheapastros.com/1133o-cesar-geronimo-jersey-astros.html . "It doesnt get any better than that," Giambi said. "Im speechless." The Indians are roaring toward October. Giambi belted a two-run, pinch-hit homer with two outs in the ninth inning to give Cleveland a shocking 5-4 win over the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday night, keeping the Indians up with the lead pack in the AL wild-card race. Larry Dierker Jersey . - The Washington Redskins have cut defensive lineman Adam Carriker and punter Sav Rocca. Darryl Kile Jersey .com) - Christian Ponder will get another chance to prove himself for the Minnesota Vikings, with head coach Leslie Frazier announcing Wednesday that the struggling quarterback will start this weekends game against the Green Bay Packers. SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Gulfstream Park in Florida will hold a $400,000 race on Jan. 28 on the undercard of the $12 million Pegasus World Cup and allow stakeholders to pre-enter two horses in the Pegasus, officials of The Stronach Group, which owns Gulfstream, said on Monday night. One horse would be allowed to run in the Pegasus and the other in the secondary stakes, the Poseidon Stakes.The Poseidon Stakes will be run with identical conditions to the Pegasus, at 1-1/8 miles on the dirt for horses 4 years old and up, according to Mike Rogers, an executive with The Stronach Group who is spearheading the planning for the Pegasus and its undercard. The field will be restricted to the horses that stakeholders have entered but are not running in the Pegasus.The Stronach Group, which is owned by a family trust controlled by the billionaire racing titan Frank Stronach, has sold 12 berths in the Pegasus to individuals or partnerships who have committed to pay $1 million each for a slot in the starting gate and a share of the revenue from the race. That money is being used to fund the entire purse, which will be the largest in the world. The stakeholders will be allowed to sell their slots or strike other deals to secure a horse for the race.Under new rules for the race hashed out with the stakeholders during a meeting on Monday in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., each stakeholder will be allowed to enter an A horse and a B horse in the Pegasus when entries are taken on the Monday prior to the Pegasus, Rogers said. In the event of a scratch of the A horse, the B horse can be entered in the Pegasus. If the A horse stays in the Pegasus, the B horse will be allowed to run in the Poseidon, Rogers said, provided the stakeholders pay a $20,000 entry fee.While The Stronach Group was able to sell all 12 spots in the race relatively quickly after announcing plans for the race in mid-May, many of the details about the running of the race, including scratch rules, had not yet been set. The meeting Monday was called to discuss unresolved details with the stakeholders, Rogers said.Under the rules communicated Monday, any stakeholder whose horse is scratched on race day from the Pegasus for a certified veterinary reason will be eligible to receive the last-place portion of the races purse and still share in the net revenue from the race, Rogers said. If the horse is scratched by the owner or trainer after the 8 a.m. scratch time on the Saturday of the race, then the stakeholders share of both purse and revenue will be forfeit, said Rogers.Were looking at it this way becauuse its to everyones benefit to have 12 horses in the race, Rogers said.dddddddddddd Its important to have all 12 horses.Rogers also said that the stakeholders discussed a redistribution of the purse in the race, but unlike the scratch rules, the redistribution will need to be approved by all 12 stakeholder groups because the current distribution was explicitly outlined in an agreement the stakeholders signed when they provided their initial $200,000 deposit in late May. Rogers said he intends to send a letter out this week asking the stakeholders to formally approve the redistribution.Under the redistribution proposal, the purse for the top-three positions will remain the same at $7 million, $1.75 million, and $1 million, respectively, but a small portion of the purses for the fourth through 12th spots will be redistributed to the fourth and fifth spots. Any horse finishing out of the top three in the Pegasus had been guaranteed $250,000, but the proposal will reduce that to $200,000 for the sixth through 12th places to redistribute the additional money to the fourth and fifth positions, Rogers said.Rogers said the intent of redistributing the portion upward is to incentivize finishing fourth or fifth because The Stronach Group wants to offer a superfecta and super high five on the race. Racing regulators generally support larger purse awards for fourth and fifth place in races with wagers tied to those positions so that riders continue to encourage their mounts to the finish line.The meeting on Monday was led by Frank Stronach, Rogers said, while his daughter Belinda, who was recently made chairman and president of the family company, was also present. All of the stakeholders but Paul Reddam were present for the race, which is why the purse redistribution was not immediately approved, Rogers said, requiring the formal letter.Were not going to make any changes that dont get 100 percent, unanimous consent, Rogers said.Rogers also said that the stakeholders at the meeting asked The Stronach Group to provide them with the names of other individuals who contacted the company about securing a berth in the race, to supply the stakeholders with contacts to target if they intend to sell their berth in the Pegasus. Seven stakeholders do not own a horse that would be competitive in the race, and Stronach Group officials said recently that they had significantly more interest in the race than the 12 announced stakeholders. ' ' '