Well as we get closer and closer to week 4 and almost 1/3rd of our fantasy regular season complete, there are some names that have to be mentioned.

On the Dud side some are too obvious and probably sending many fantasy owners into fits of crying in the fetal position.  Owners of Larry Johnson, Tomlinson and Steven Jackson please stand.  The consensus big three have been average or below average, and in the case of Jackson now injured for multiple weeks.  As excited as you were to get the first pick in your draft and the chance to draft LT, you are now just equally upset as you scan the fantasy boxscores Sunday night.  For those three guys though, you know they will turn it around (when Jackson returns) and in the case of LT his fantasy points actualy have not been that bad, just not at LT standards.  There are many other DUDs though that have to be called out, studs that have to be recognized or tweeners that need to be watched:

Tweener - Reggie Bush - the super sophmore was on the verge of DUD until he went for two touchdowns in week 3.  Given he had no yardage to go with those touchdowns, it is actually the season ending injury to Deuce which keeps Bush as a tweener.  Bush should get even more carries and all the redzone work now, and should start to provide some serious fantasy points.  So far though, for the model player for point per reception leagues, he has been a big disappointment.

Tweener - Cedric Benson - Some are calling Benson a dud so far, but he was not projected that high and has already put in a 100 yard rushing effort in the first three weeks.  If Chicago could do anything through the air (and Griese has just been named the new starter), then the ground game would open up more for him.  He is a good buy low candidate right now.

Tweener - Laurence Maroney - I will say it right now - noone has been more the victim of the connection between Brady and Moss than Maroney.  Maroney is averaging 4.5 ypc, and has put in some highlight reel runs, but when the team can go to the air at will and are blowing out teams by 20+ points, there is little reason to run your star young RB heavily this early in the season.  The only group affected by this are us fantasy freaks.  The main issue is if the Patriots continue to score like this, will Maroney get a heavy workoad anytime soon?  I think he is in for some big weeks as defenses adapt to trying to stop Brady from throwing, so do not sell Maroney while his value us low.

Tweener - Chris Chambers - Chambers has all the talent but has not been able to keep it up over multiple seasons.  This year it is not him I am down on, it is the Miami offense in general.  At anytime I think it can dry up and take all viable Miami fantasy players with it.  Ride the hot streak Chambers is on right now, but be weary of what Miami might be doing closer to the end of the year when you need Chambers to perform. 

DUD - Matt Leinhart - He could easily turn it around, but his production so far has been horrible given the case around him.  With Boldin and Fitz to throw to, and Edge in the backfield, Leinhart should have no problem putting up consistent 300 yard multiple TD efforts and he simply is not.  Though he will probably improve, I would trade him to anyone who still goes by his name and you can sell them on his receivers, before his benchings in favor of Warner become more consistent.

DUD - Lee Evans - I am glad I called this one in the preseason.  Many were projecting Evans to be a top 10 receiver.  Though I think Evans is a talent, without a consistent QB throwing the ball, there was no way for Evans to make that leap.  He put in a few solid games at the end of last season and was suddenly a weekly threat.  I don’t think so, and now that Losman is out hurt, I don’t think Evans has any trade value at all.

DUD - Drew Brees - I called this one too.  Brees has actually put in multiple good fantasy years, but the New Orleans bandwagon was way to popular given the talent on the field and I did not feel Brees deserved his top5 ranking at all with such young receivers in Colston and Henderson and Bush as the talent cast.   The Saints are a great team, but not a team that has established itself yet like the Colts behind veteran play. So as good as they can be can look, just as quickly they can turn bad as we have seen this year.   If Brees had been projected at about 10, then this is not a dud label but just disappointment.

DUD - Vernon Davis - Regradless if Davis returns in the second half and tears it up like he did in the final weeks last season, he has given nothing for the first half of the season (now that he is out 2-4 weeks hurt).  Davis was expected to challenge as a top TE behind Gates.  In preseason he ran over everyone and talked the game just as well, and the 49′ers appeared ready to put an offense together, but that all has resulted in almost zero production in the regular season. 

DUD - Jacoby Jones - Jones was not expected to blow up the scene in Houston, but after an excellent preseason, most owners who took the super sleeper, were execting more than this.  After faltering his first two games, he had a chance to shine in week 3 starting in front of Andre Johnson (who was hurt) but after a 74 yard kick return he went down to a shoulder injury and they may spell the end of his chances to contribute this season.

DUD - Tatum Bell - Bell once again had a great chance to earn a starting role, as he walked into Detroit with Kevin Jones on the shelf for multiple weeks.  After a decent week 1 showing (well at least the final quater) Bell was unable to do anything since and now will be back on the bench.  Do not continue to hold onto Tatum expecting him to give you anything more than a couple big weeks here and there when he happens to break a 40+ yard run.

Surprise Stud - Randy Moss - You have to give a shout out to Moss.  He could not have clicked any better with Brady, and at his current production he will be a top 5 fantasy receiver this season, though he was projected normally around 15 going into the season. 

Surprise Stud - Braylon Edwards - Cleveland has already changed quarterbacks once, which normally is a sign for trouble with wide receivers, but it has been a blessing for Braylon.  He is much more in synch with Derek Anderson than Charlie Frye.  But Braylon has been doing much of this damage on his own and that is why he makes this stud list.  He has made a number of highlight catches resulting in big fantasy points, that would normally have been dropped, and those are the difference makers.  Given he was ranked no higher than 25 for receivers, he is playing like he was top 10 and showing no sign of slowing down.

Surprise Stud - Brandon Marshall - When a guy who was not ranked above 50 for receivers has equal stats to Reggie Wayne after three weeks, he deserves a mention.  Brandon has firmly entrenched himself as the starter in Denver and is a great compliment to Javon Walker.  While Walker takes away many of the double teams, Marshall is making the most of this coverage with high receptions and yards. 

Surprise Stud - Adrian Peterson (MIN) - The rookie has shown up exactly as advertised.  Though it may have taken an injury to Chester Taylor in week 1, to get AP in the game early, he has shown his versatile skills catching and rushing and getting in the endzone which is a fantasy trifecta.  I expect he has carried many teams to wins on his own in these first three weeks, as most teams took a flyer on him more for end of the year production than now but are reaping the benefits. 

Surprise Stud - Matt Shaub - Shaub has only played above average, but he has played well enough to be a QB1 on most fantasy teams, not just for the backup role he was drafted.  That is what he is being recognized for.  Brady has played un-real, but you expecetd him to.  Noone expected Shaub to be ahead of Palmer, McNabb and others in QB rating even if it is only week 4.  Even without Andre Johnson this past weekend, Shaub took on the Colts and put up 24 points.  If they can stay healthy, the Texans should only continue to get better as they grow as a team and that means Shaub will improve his fantasy stats.