Week 3 is upon us and the IDP landscape is still in an uncertain state. The defensive line position is a topsy-turvy mess, as some very big name players have yet to appear on the fantasy landscape. For example, Nick Fairley has more sacks right now, than Jared Allen and Mario Williams COMBINED. That's all we need to say about that. Injured and suspended players will begin to make their way back on to the field in the coming weeks, further muddling the situation, but we'll keep rolling out the hot sleepers each week. Week 3 brings some very nice matchups in which our lower ranked gems will shine. So, without further ado... DEFENSIVE LINEMEN Andre Branch, DE, JACKSONVILLE, at INDIANAPOLIS: The rookie has yet to record a sack and has amassed five total tackles through the first two weeks of the season. The Jaguars head to Indianapolis in week three and Branch is due to break the ice on getting to the quarterback. Look for Branch to have a solid fantasy outing in week three as he has shown better push to the quarterback week-by-week and it pays off against the Colts. Shea McClellin, DE, CHICAGO, vs. ST LOUIS: After swinging and missing with McClellin as a week one sleeper, when he managed only a couple of quarterback hurries, we return the rookie to the list. In week two against the Packers he managed to post 1½ sacks and four total tackles. Week three brings the Rams and their shaky offensive line to the Windy City. The rookie looks have adjusted to the speed of the NFL and will be chasing down Sam Bradford all day. Frostee Rucker, DE, CLEVELAND, vs. BUFFALO: Rucker has posted seven overall tackles in the first two weeks of the season and is a solid run defender. Against the Bengals in week two he added a sack and that is what the Browns were looking for when they signed him this off-season. The week three match up with Buffalo should see Rucker post solid tackle numbers, as well as have the chance to get to Ryan Fitzpatrick. Tommy Kelly, DT, OAKLAND, vs. PITTSBURGH: Kelly is solid against the run and the Steelers will show a commitment to pounding the rock in week three. To date in 2012, Kelly has put up six solo tackles and will be a sure bet to add to that total this week. Pittsburgh has allowed eight sacks of Ben Roethlisberger in two games, the offensive line is struggling and that will give Kelly the chance to garner his first sack of 2012. Jonathan Babineaux, DT, ATLANTA, at SAN DIEGO: ‘Babs' has already notched two sacks in 2012 but is lacking a bit in the tackle totals, with only two solo stops to date. With the banged up state of the Falcons secondary, look for teams to attack Atlanta through the air and for Babineaux to bring plenty of pressure from the middle. He's extremely strong and has a quick first step to keep offensive linemen off balance. Should Ryan Mathews return in week three, Babineaux could also notch a couple stops as San Diego feeds the ball to their No. 1 back. Randy Starks, DT, MIAMI, vs. NEW YORK JETS: While Starks failed to put up a sack in week two, after notching two in week one for the Dolphins, he was credited with three QB hits and two QB hurries. He is anchoring the middle of a very stout Miami run defense, totaling eight tackles to date this season. The Jets have only allowed Mark Sanchez to be sacked twice; Starks will use his strength and experience to get after Sanchez all day and I see him adding to that sack total. John Hughes, DT, CLEVELAND, vs. BUFFALO: Hughes has seen an uptick in his playing time, first due to the injury to Phil Taylor (pectoral) and then Juqua Parker suffering a sprained foot against the Bengals. Hughes put up six total stops and added a sack in week two and could represent sneaky good fantasy production, thanks to the increase in playing time. The Browns offense is still finding itself and that makes every member of their defense a bit more valuable in terms of fantasy, as they see plenty of action. Monitor the health status of Juqua Parker before pulling the trigger on starting Hughes. Jarvis Jenkins, DE, WASHINGTON, vs. CINCINNATI: This is more of a statement about opportunity, than it is about earning the spot with an impressive season-to-date performance. The Redskins lost both Adam Carriker and Brian Orakpo for the season, during their week two loss in St Louis. Jenkins will get one of the first cracks at filling in for Carriker and the Bengals have allowed 10 sacks in two games. Jenkins has struggled to regain the form he flashed before an ACL injury but necessity will dictate that he gets a chance to contribute for the Redskins and fantasy owners. Marcell Dareus, DT, BUFFALO, at CLEVELAND: Dareus has started slowly in 2012 and is now playing with a heavy heart after the tragic death of his brother. He notched his first sack last week and added two solos and is too talented to be kept in check by the Browns. With Richardson pounding the ball in week three, Dareus will get his share of tackles, while continuing to bring solid pressure from the middle of the Buffalo defense. Tyson Alualu, DT, JACKSONVILLE, at INDIANAPOLIS: Alualu had six solo tackles in week two as the Texans ran all over the Jaguars. He now has 10 total tackles on the season to go along with a sack. He is a bright spot on a floundering Jacksonville defense and will continue to man the middle of the line. The Colts don't run the ball well but the smart money says they will try to pound the rock a little bit in week three, allowing Luck to take some play-action shots down the field. DEFENSIVE BACKS Tim Jennings, CB, CHICAGO, vs. ST LOUIS: Jennings has been lights out early this season, already amassing three interceptions, six passes defended and nine total tackles. He has proven to be the perfect compliment to Charles Tillman in the Chicago secondary, he's a fearless tackler and very reliable in coverage. The Rams may not throw the ball enough times for Jennings to snag another interception, but his support in stopping the run will help him to another relevant fantasy game. Tramon Williams, CB, GREEN BAY, at SEATTLE: Williams looks completely recovered from the shoulder problem that plagued him last season and picked off two Jay Cutler passes in the Packers week two victory over the Bears. Look for Williams to be called on to blanket Sidney Rice this week and possibly add to his interception total. He is rounding back into the form he showed in 2010 and that makes him an excellent fantasy option in week three. Patrick Peterson, CB, ARIZONA, vs. PHILADELPHIA: The Eagles represent an above average matchup for cornerbacks and the talented Peterson will reap the benefits. Peterson has only managed five tackles thus far in 2012, conversely, the Eagles have allowed five opposing secondary players to put up five or more tackles through two games and that bodes well for Peterson. Combine that with the rate at which Philadelphia is turning the ball over and Peterson is a great fantasy option this week. DeJon Gomes, S, WASHINGTON, vs. CINCINNATI: Gomes will represent fantasy value until Brandon Meriweather returns, as he showcased last week with seven solo tackles. The Bengals come to town and it is a nice fantasy matchup for the entire Redskins secondary, look for Gomes to have solid tackle production and a sneaky, nice fantasy week. Stephon Gilmore, CB, BUFFALO, at CLEVELAND: Gilmore is off to a decent rookie season, with 12 total tackles and three passes defended. He has yet to post his first career interception and may just have the chance to rectify that in a meeting with the Browns. Brandon Weeden looked better in week two but is still adjusting to the NFL and will undoubtedly look to test his fellow rookie cornerback. Gilmore is stout in run support, likely to be tested in coverage and that will lead to a nice week three fantasy-wise for the rook. Jerraud Powers, CB, INDIANAPOLIS, vs. JACKSONVILLE: Powers has amassed 15 total tackles in the Colts' first two games and added four passes defended. Those are pretty good numbers, especially considering the number of times he drew the coverage on Percy Harvin last week. He's a solid run-stopping cornerback, who will help corral the Jaguars' running game, while also looking to contain rookie Justin Blackmon. Corey White, CB, NEW ORLEANS, vs. KANSAS CITY: Deep sleeper alert! The Saints defense has been torched to the tune of 463 yards allowed per game in the first two weeks. Inside of those numbers, the rookie out of Samford has been very busy. He has totaled 10 tackles and has averaged 68 snaps a game. Look for the Chiefs to try and get healthy offensively against the struggling New Orleans defense. White will be active again in containing Charles and Hillis, while also assisting in limiting Dwayne Bowe's production. Chris Houston, CB, DETROIT, at TENNESSEE: This is completely contingent on Houston finally getting on the field for the Lions defense. If he does, look for him and the entire Detroit defensive backfield to continue to be tested by the Titans. Drayton Florence has now been lost to injury and Houston will be called upon to anchor the cornerback position for Detroit. He has the chance to post big fantasy stats as Kenny Britt, Kendall Wright and Nate Washington spread the field vertically. Houston is on track to start his 2012 season in Tennessee this week, get him in your fantasy line up. Brandon Flowers, CB, KANSAS CITY, at NEW ORLEANS: Flowers had a very quiet season debut in week two, posting a single tackle and defending one pass. That will all change in week three as the Chiefs head to New Orleans. Drew Brees and company are a dream fantasy match up for cornerbacks. There have been 19 passes defended against the Saints through the first two weeks and Brees has tossed four interceptions. Look for Flowers to get on track in this week three, track meet with the Saints. Buster Skrine, CB, CLEVELAND, vs. BUFFALO: Skrine has posted seven solo tackles in both week one and week two for the Browns, with a pass defended....