Newton compared his ability to run to the roar of a lion. Ever seen a lion after a tonsillectomy? That's what's happening in Charlotte with Ron Rivera admitting that Newton is running less by design this season. It was always a concern after Newton's litany of injuries last season as well as the additions of Christian McCaffrey and Curtis Samuel to the offense. But to hear it articulated by the head coach adds a new level of realness. Now you're looking at an inaccurate quarterback lacking solid outside receivers with a diminished ability to score points with his legs. But beyond that, it's all good.

Discussions about the Seahawks backfield have been an interpretive dance of hopefulness and unrequited love. The tepid fantasy love for Eddie Lacy has been extinguished on the Seattle sidelines. Thomas Rawls has played hard to get with fake football admirers and now C.J. Prosise has wounded us with his wounded ankle. So far this season, Chris Carson has accepted your goodwill and returned it with fantasy football largesse. Carson's generosity should see few obstacles this week against the Colts with no one to share the load.

Webster's Dictionary defines hopeless situations as "of or having the quality of the New York Giants' fantasy backfield." That's not actually true ... but I didn't hear anyone out there willing to disagree. If there's a slight glint of silver in the dark cloud that is Big Blue's backs, it's that Paul Perkins might be the team's RB1 by default this week. With Shane Vereen and Orleans Darkwa missing multiple practices this week, the ball of confusion has partially unraveled. I still wouldn't advocate starting him, though.

Listen Willie Snead, we have some good news and some bad news. The good news is that you're back this week after serving a three-game suspension for a DUI. As a player who's averaged 70 catches for 940 yards in your first two seasons, we're excited to see you return to such a pass-happy offense -- especially this week against the Dolphins. The bad news is that head coach Sean Payton hasn't really defined a role for you in this year's pass attack so it makes it hard for us to start you in Week 4. Fortunately we're confident that we'll all be one big happy fantasy family again soon.

The Patriots skill position players are like followers of the Many-Faced God. A wide receiver has no name. A running back has no face. Rex Burkhead's ribs might not accomodate his ability to play football this week. As such, New England's resident Jaqen H'ghar (aka Bill Belichick) is likely to turn to one of his other nameless, faceless, football assassins in an effort to deliver justice. Though those players actually do have names ... like James White.

Once upon a time, an exotic smashmouth offense added a dynamic wide receiver who would blow the lid off of defenses and exalt his quarterback to the upper echelons of fantasy football stardom. But a wicked gnome put a curse on this speedy receivers lower extremities -- a curse which will keep him out of Sunday's contest. For the rest of the Titans, the battle will be joined this week against a horde from Houston. Yet for our valiant pass-catcher, the games will have to wait.

Another Titan has found his position diminished upon fantasy Mount Olympus. Where it once seemed as though Derrick Henry was ready to usurp the running back throne in Music City, DeMarco Murray has found his strength (and an apparently healthy hamstring) to fight off the young player and retain his throne. Yet heavy is the head that wears the crown in Tennessee and Henry might mount another challenge ... but it shall not be this week.

I've been pretty strident in my #NeverJets mantra early in the season. But I am willing to admit when I might be in error. In this case, Bilal Powell has a chance to become the late-round running back salve that many of us believed he could be during the offseason. With Matt Forte not expected to play, the Jets coaching staff says the team will lean heavily on Powell this week. Most times, it's fair to take coaches' statements with multiple grains of sodium chloride. In this case, I choose to believe this is the truth.

Michael Crabtree is the best fantasy receiver in Oakland. Point blank period. Do not @ me. Michael Crabtree has a chest injury that has kept him limited in practice. It doesn't look likely to keep him out of the game. But I'm sure we'd all feel a lot more confident knowing he wasn't having problems in the chestal region before lining up against the Denver Broncos secondary this weekend. Hold your breath ... even if Crabtree might not be able to hold his for long.

Getting to know Will. Getting to know all about him. Getting to like Will, even if he hasn't seen the field. Getting to know Will, hoping Deshaun will target him. He's back in action, after a summer injury. Not gonna start Will until we know what his role is. But you should add Will just to get depth on your team.