Once in a while (OK, a lot), real life gets in the way of our fantasy lives as wanna-be general managers.

For that reason, we are getting to the usual quick takes from the week that was -- two days later than usual.

Let's take stock of what we've seen thus far ...

Stock up

-- Nate Burleson, WR, Lions: Yes, Matthew Stafford is out, but Stafford has been out for all but two games this season. Burleson has 20 receptions and two TDs in his last three games, and 14 catches for 160 yards in his last two. In four games since returning from injury, he has 24 catches for 266 yards and three scores.

-- Brandon Marshall, WR, Dolphins: Chad Pennington replacing Chad Henne at quarterback certainly can't hurt. Marshall has one TD all season, and it was in Week 3. In his last three games, he has 15 catches for 151 yards.

-- Bernard Berrian, WR, Vikings: At least until Sidney Rice returns and Berrian moves to third on the depth chart. Berrian had nine receptions for 89 yards last week -- the Vikings' first game post-Moss Take II. If you need a third receiver, he's a decent play as long as Rice is on the PUP list.

-- Dwyane Bowe, WR, Chiefs: That's now six TDs in his last four games after he had nine receptions and one TD in his first four.

Stock down

-- Ricky Williams, RB, Dolphins: You probably weren't playing him anyway, but you might have held on to him, figuring Ronnie Brown would go down with an injury at some point. Instead, Brown had a productive Week 9, against the Ravens of all defenses (while he lingered on many of our benches), and Williams had all of one carry. What do with Brown from here on out is a mystery, but I'm inclined to play him, since he had 14 touches to Williams' one last week, and he had 99 total yards with the TD.

-- Miles Austin, WR, Cowboys: He hasn't scored in his last four games, he has 38 receiving yards or fewer in three of his last four, and Jon Kitna is his quarterback. Kitna has thrown for 562 yards in two starts in place of Tony Romo, but he's been picked off six times and thrown only two TD passes.

Two-point conversion

-- Seyi Ajirotutu is a great name, and the Chargers receiver had a great game in Week 9 (four receptions for 111 yards and two TDs), but it was against Houston. The Texans are allowing a league-worst 298 passing yards per game, and the opposition has thrown for 20 touchdowns, with only five interceptions. There's also the fact that when Vincent Jackson returns from his suspension (Week 12) and Malcom Floyd returns from injury (possibly Week 11), Ajirotutu will be San Diego's No. 4 receiver, behind Jackson, Floyd and Patrick Crayton.

-- We'll be back Thursday with a start-and-sit list for the game between the Ravens and Falcons.

While the Brett Favre circus takes on an even wilder life of its own (hint: Google "Brett Favre Deadspin"), the less-talked-about aspect isn't poor Tarvaris Jackson (Favre's backup, who may or may not be a starter in September), Brad Childress or anyone else left twisting in the diva-induced wind.

What about us -- the ones who have a fantasy football draft in the next two or three weeks and don't know if we're drafting the Sidney Rice of 2009 or the Sidney Rice who is battling a bad hip and might be playing in an offense that gets a lot more run-heavy?

Let's take a quick look at the potential impact of Favre not playing in 2010 on five key Vikings, none of whom is named Tarvaris Jackson, who is no more than a lower-level backup in a 12-team league.

-- Adrian Peterson, RB: He scored a career-high 18 touchdowns and caught a career-best 43 passes for 436 yards last season. However, the consensus 2009 No. 1 overall pick had his rushing yards drop from 1,760 in 2008 to 1,383 and he lost a career-worst five fumbles, giving him 12 in three years.

In point-per-reception leagues, Peterson could drop as low as No. 4 overall, behind Chris Johnson, Ray Rice and Maurice Jones-Drew. I wouldn't let Peterson get past me at No. 2, with or without the indecisive one.

-- Sidney Rice, WR: He had 83 receptions for 1,312 yards and eight TDs last year, after totaling 46 catches and eight scores in his first two NFL seasons. Rice isn't practicing because of the hip issue, but he says he'll ready for the regular-season opener.

Combine the injury with the possibility of Favre not playing, and Rice likely drops out of the top 20 at wide receiver. If he's healthy and Favre is as effective as he was last season, Rice is an ideal No. 2 wideout in fantasy.

-- Percy Harvin, WR: He had 60 receptions and six TDs as a rookie, and he should reach 1,000 yards and eight scores in Year 2. Draft Harvin as a No. 3 receiver in 12-team leagues and hope No. 4 is the one slinging passes in September.

-- Bernard Berrian, WR: If Rice is healthy, Berrian is a low-level No. 4 receiver in fantasy. If Favre retires, he's no better than a No. 5. However, should Favre play and Rice sit at the beginning of the season, Berrian -- who had a career-high 964 yards receiving and seven TDs in 2008 -- could be a late-round bargain.

-- Visanthe Shiancoe, TE: The notable difference between the 2008 Shiancoe and the 2009 version with Favre at QB was the tight end scored 11 TDs (Add short TD catches by the tight ends to training camp indecision, running down the sideline like a little kid and Rachel Nichols reporting live from Mississippi as Favre traditions).

Shiancoe was productive in 2008 (42 receptions, 596 yards and seven TDs), but with Jackson at QB, he is an upper-level backup in 10- and 12-team leagues.

For more fantasy updates, follow Kevin Kleps on Twitter.

The Saturday injury roundup has become a weekly tradition -- think somewhere below "The Office" and "Modern Family" and a notch or two above the Derek Anderson sub-50 passer rating. Let's get to it:

-- Eagles running back Brian Westbrook, who is recovering from a concussion, is expected to be a game-time decision. The guess here is he'll sit, making rookie LeSean McCoy a decent No. 2 running back Sunday against the Giants, who have allowed 10 rushing touchdowns.

-- Another rookie runner, the Colts' Donald Brown, is doubtful with a shoulder injury. That should lead to more work for starter Joseph Addai. Chad Simpson is expected to serve as Addai's backup, but shouldn't be much of a fantasy factor.

-- Two of the game's best receivers, the Texans' Andre Johnson (lung contusion) and the Colts' Reggie Wayne (groin injury), are expected to play. Both practiced Friday.

-- The news isn't as promising for Lions wideout Calvin Johnson, who has battled a knee injury for the last few weeks. Coach Jim Schwartz told reporters he expected Johnson to play, but the receiver didn't sound so optimistic. It's expected to be a game-time decision, and if Johnson sits, Dennis Northcutt should be considered a low-end No. 3 receiver, especially in PPR leagues.

-- Cardinals wideout Anquan Boldin (ankle injury) and Jets receiver Jerricho Cotchery (hamstring) are both listed as questionable, and both are expected to play.

-- Vikings receiver Bernard Berrian (hamstring) should be a game-time decision. If Berrian sits against the Packers, Percy Harvin's value as a No. 3 wideout increases.

Five to start

This week’s look at part-time starters and fantasy backups who should benefit from a favorable matchup:

-- David Garrard, QB, Jaguars, at Titans: He’s on pace to throw for 3,904 yards and run for 373, but he isn’t a regular starter because of his poor TD total (five). Garrard should reach the end zone a couple times against the league’s worst pass defense. The Titans have yielded a league-high 19 TD tosses.

-- Matt Forte, RB, Bears, vs. Browns: He’s been one of fantasy’s biggest busts this season, one who can no longer be counted on every week. But you have to play Forte, who has rushed for only 318 yards with a norm of 3.5 yards per carry, against the Browns’ No. 31 run defense.

-- LaDainian Tomlinson, RB, Chargers, vs. Raiders: Speaking of busts, L.T. has 41 carries for 141 yards (3.4) in two games since the Chargers’ bye. I’d expect him to show some flashes of his old self (not his current old self) against the Raiders, who rank 30th vs. the run and have allowed 11 rushing TDs.

-- Torry Holt, WR, Jaguars, at Titans: He has 12 catches for 196 yards in his last two games, and he might even score for the first time all year vs. the aforementioned Titans pass defense.

-- Devin Hester, WR, Bears, vs. Browns: He has 14 receptions for 184 yards and a TD in his last two games, and the Browns rank 24th vs. the pass.

More matchups I like:

Marshawn Lynch, RB, Bills, vs. Panthers; LeSean McCoy, RB, Eagles, vs. Giants; Ricky Williams, RB, Dolphins, at Jets; Beanie Wells, RB, Cardinals, vs. Panthers; Pierre Thomas and Mike Bell, RBs, Saints, vs. Falcons; Sidney Rice, WR, Vikings, at Packers; Austin Collie, WR, Colts, vs. 49ers; Donnie Avery, WR, Rams, at Lions; Lee Evans, WR, Bills, vs. Texans

Three to sit

If you have a decent backup, these starters should take a seat for a week:

-- Joe Flacco, QB, Ravens, vs. Broncos: He’s thrown for 1,674 yards and 11 touchdowns while developing into a top-10 fantasy quarterback, but if you have a productive No. 2 QB, you should play him. The Broncos have twice as many interceptions (six) as touchdown passes allowed (three), and they’ve sacked the opposing passer 21 times.

-- Donovan McNabb, QB, Eagles, vs. Giants: He’s thrown only one TD pass in his last two games, and the Giants’ No. 2 pass defense is giving up just 165 yards through the air per contest.

-- Ahmad Bradshaw, RB, Giants, at Eagles: He has been playing with a cracked bone on the outside of his right foot, and it’s been evident in the last two games, during which Bradshaw has only 75 total yards. The Eagles are the league’s 11th-best run defense.

More matchups I don’t like:

Brett Favre, QB, Vikings, at Packers; Julius Jones, RB, Seahawks, at Cowboys; Jamal Lewis, RB, Browns, at Bears

Last week

All five members of the start list had at least one touchdown, led by surprising stud Miles Austin (six catches for 171 yards and two scores). Austin Collie (four receptions for 36 yards and a TD), Laurence Maroney (43 yards rushing, one TD) and Marshawn Lynch (40 yards rushing, one TD, one catch) were decent starts. Eli Manning (243 yards passing, one TD and three interceptions) was not.

The sit list had one miss in Brandon Jacobs (76 yards rushing, one TD and two catches for 11 yards) and two hits in Brett Favre (334 yards passing, but zero TDs and one pick) and Cadillac Williams (29 yards rushing and two catches for 28 yards).

Playlist

QUARTERBACKS
1. Drew Brees, Saints, vs. Falcons (No. 26 vs. the pass)
2. Peyton Manning, Colts, vs. 49ers (No. 21)
3. Jay Cutler, Bears, vs. Browns (No. 24)
4. Aaron Rodgers, Packers, vs. Vikings (No. 20)
5. Tony Romo, Cowboys, vs. Seahawks (tied for No. 16)
6. Philip Rivers, Chargers, vs. Raiders (No. 12)
7. Kurt Warner, Cardinals, vs. Panthers (No. 1)
8. Matt Schaub, Texans, at Bills (No. 10)
9. Matt Ryan, Falcons, at Saints (No. 14)
10. Kyle Orton, Broncos, at Ravens (No. 23)
11. Eli Manning, Giants, at Eagles (No. 9)
12. Donovan McNabb, Eagles, vs. Giants (No. 2)
13. David Garrard, Jaguars, at Texans (No. 32)
14. Matt Hasselbeck, Seahawks, at Cowboys (No. 22)
15. Joe Flacco, Ravens, vs. Broncos (No. 8)
16. Brett Favre, Vikings, at Packers (No. 4)
17. Mark Sanchez, Jets, vs. Dolphins (No. 19)
18. Marc Bulger, Rams, at Lions (No. 30)
19. Matthew Stafford, Lions, vs. Rams (No. 25)
20. Chad Henne, Dolphins, at Jets (No. 7)

RUNNING BACKS
1. Adrian Peterson, Vikings, at Packers (No. 12 vs. the run)
2. Maurice Jones-Drew, Jaguars, at Titans (No. 9)
3. Steven Jackson, Rams, at Lions (No. 20)
4. Joseph Addai, Colts, vs. 49ers (No. 6)
5. Michael Turner, Falcons, at Saints (No. 8)
6. Matt Forte, Bears, vs. Browns (No. 31)
7. Kevin Smith, Lions, vs. Rams (No. 27)
8. DeAngelo Williams, Panthers, at Cardinals (No. 1)
9. Frank Gore, 49ers, at Colts (No. 19)
10. Thomas Jones, Jets, vs. Dolphins (No. 4)
11. Ronnie Brown, Dolphins, at Jets (No. 22)
12. Steve Slaton, Texans, at Bills (No. 32)
13. Ray Rice, Ravens, vs. Broncos (No. 3)
14. Chris Johnson, Titans, vs. Jaguars (No. 13)
15. Ryan Grant, Packers, vs. Vikings (No. 10)
16. LaDainian Tomlinson, Chargers, vs. Raiders (No. 30)
17. Marion Barber, Cowboys, vs. Seahawks (No. 14)
18. Marshawn Lynch, Bills, vs. Texans (No. 21)
19. Brandon Jacobs, Giants, at Eagles (No. 11)
20. Knowshon Moreno, Broncos, at Ravens (No. 7)
21. LeSean McCoy, Eagles, vs. Giants (No. 15)
22. Ricky Williams, Dolphins, at Jets (No. 22)
23. Pierre Thomas, Saints, vs. Falcons (No. 23)
24. Beanie Wells, Cardinals, vs. Panthers (No. 26)

WIDE RECEIVERS
1. Larry Fitzgerald, Cardinals, vs. Panthers (No. 1 vs. the pass)
2. Marques Colston, Saints, vs. Falcons (No. 26)
3. Brandon Marshall, Broncos, at Ravens (No. 23)
4. Vincent Jackson, Chargers, vs. Raiders (No. 12)
5. Miles Austin, Cowboys, vs. Seahawks (tied for No. 16)
6. Roddy White, Falcons, at Saints (No. 14)
7. Andre Johnson, Texans, at Bills (No. 10)
8. Donald Driver, Packers, vs. Vikings (No. 20)
9. Steve Smith, Panthers, at Cardinals (No. 29)
10. Mike Sims-Walker, Jaguars, at Titans (No. 32)
11. x-Reggie Wayne, Colts, vs. 49ers (No. 21)
12. DeSean Jackson, Eagles, vs. Giants (No. 2)
13. Greg Jennings, Packers, vs. Vikings (No. 20)
14. Steve Smith, Giants, at Eagles (No. 9)
15. T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Seahawks, at Cowboys (No. 22)
16. x-Calvin Johnson, Lions, vs. Rams (No. 25)
17. x-Anquan Boldin, Cardinals, vs. Panthers (No. 1)
18. Derrick Mason, Ravens, vs. Broncos (No. 8)
19. Devin Hester, Bears, vs. Browns (No. 24)
20. Nate Burleson, Seahawks, at Cowboys (No. 22)
21. Torry Holt, Jaguars, at Titans (No. 32)
22. Sidney Rice, Vikings, at Packers (No. 4)
23. Austin Collie, Colts, vs. 49ers (No. 21)
24. Eddie Royal, Broncos, at Ravens (No. 23)
25. Mario Manningham, Giants, at Eagles (No. 9)
26. Terrell Owens, Bills, vs. Texans (No. 18)
27. Braylon Edwards, Jets, vs. Dolphins (No. 19)
28. Michael Crabtree, 49ers, at Colts (No. 6)
29. Hakeem Nicks, at Eagles (No. 9)
30. Lance Moore, Saints, at Falcons (No. 26)
31. Donnie Avery, Rams, at Lions (No. 30)
32. Lee Evans, Bills, vs. Texans (No. 18)
33. Steve Breaston, Cardinals, vs. Panthers (No. 1)
34. Percy Harvin, Vikings, at Packers (No. 4)
35. Jeremy Maclin, Eagles, vs. Giants (No. 2)
36. x-Jerricho Cotchery, Jets, vs. Dolphins (No. 19)
x-Make sure Wayne, Calvin Johnson, Boldin and Cotchery are active prior to kickoff.

MORE FANTASY FOOTBALL: For a breakdown of the fantasy values of running backs Shonn Greene and Jamaal Charles, click here. The link also includes our weekly audiocast.