Stevie Johnson finds himself going from the number one receiver in Buffalo to the number three receiver in San Francisco. Last season, the Niners clearly lacked depth at WR but there sure are a lot of mouths to feed. Jason LaFrance breaks down the signing.

We all have tried and sometimes failed, and sometimes succeeded, in using the handcuff strategy on running backs. Recently, people have been drafting Arian Foster and making sure they get Andre Brown, but the old days of getting a stud running back and getting a viable replacement to back him up are almost over. Lately it has been a problem to find good handcuffs at running back. There are too many split backfields in the NFL these days. The use of split backfields is making it harder to handcuff running backs. For example, to handcuff Reggie Bush you need to get Joique Bell, which will cost you a fifth- or sixth-round pick. This is an example of a split at the starter level. To handcuff Marshawn Lynch you may have to get Christine Michael and Robert Turbin. This is an example of a split on the backup level. Trying to handcuff running backs is getting harder and harder due to the evolution of the way teams approach the running back position. So what about trying a new strategy and draft wide receivers early and handcuff them? Now that teams are passing more and more the strategy of handcuffing wide receivers is a more viable solution. The best way to do this is by getting the third wide receiver on a team where you have the No. 1 wide receiver. Not only are third string wide receivers easier to identify, they also get more playing time and score more points than backup running backs when there are no injuries in the picture. This is due to more and more teams using three wide receiver sets. The teams that currently use three wide receiver sets on a consistent basis include Green Bay and Denver. The personnel would suggest that other teams may switch to this philosophy. Atlanta does not have Tony Gonzalez anymore, and Harry Douglas had a breakout season last year with Julio Jones being out. San Francisco acquired Stevie Johnson to add to their already successful combination of Michael Crabtree and Anquan Boldin. Look for them to use Boldin in the slot, and Crabtree and Johnson on the outside in many of their offensive sets. So what handcuff strategies could work this upcoming NFL season? Julio Jones is a giant stud if he comes back healthy, and, as stated earlier, Harry Douglas had a breakout season with him hurt. Douglas is an already proven commodity from his 85-catch season last year and you can get him in the later part of the draft. Randall Cobb and Jordy Nelson have been going in the first three rounds of most drafts while Jarrett Boykin has...

Ahmad Bradshaw , Indianapolis -- Recovering from a neck injury, but the clear No. 2 back behind Trent Richardson . In limited action last season Bradshaw had a couple of touchdowns and averaged 4.5 yards per carry. If Richardson has a problem in the Colts offense and averages 3.0 yards per carry, Bradshaw could carry a bigger load. Current average draft position of 154. Bryce Brown, Buffalo -- The former Philadelphia Eagle rushed for 347 yards and four touchdowns in his first two NFL starts (in 2012, replacing an injured LeSean McCoy ). He has C.J. Spiller with an injury history and Fred Jackson (33 years old) ahead of him on the depth chart and the Bills are committed to running the ball. They led the league with 546 rushing attempts last season. Generally going undrafted in mocks. Donald Brown , San Diego -- He ended up being the odd man out in Indianapolis, and now is the primary backup (and handcuff) to Ryan Mathews (another player with an injury history). Last season Brown had a career-high in rushing touchdowns (six), receiving touchdowns (two), receptions (27), and averaged 5.3 yards per carry. If Mathews gets dinged up Brown could be more than serviceable. Current average draft position of 159. Andrew Hawkins , Cleveland -- The former Cincinnati Bengal was signed to add depth in Cleveland. He is ideally a slot receiver, and with the Josh Gordon suspension looming, Hawkins could lead the Browns in receptions this year. Potential points per reception gold. Current average draft position of 152. Stevie Johnson , San Francisco -- Johnson has had NFL success, a three-time 1,000-plus yard receiver. But going from top dog in Buffalo to one of the many weapons in the 49ers offense is a big question mark. Are you willing to take a gamble? Current average draft position 161. Ben Roethlisberger , Pittsburgh -- Over the final five games of last season, Roethlisberger was a top-10 fantasy quarterback as the Steelers implemented a no-huddle offense. Word out of the Steelers camp is that the team will incorporate more of the no-huddle into their game-planning. Current average draft position of 125. Robert Woods, Buffalo -- He runs routes well, has good hands, and, with Stevie Johnson traded to San Francisco, he looks like the receiver lining up opposite rookie Sammy Watkins . He clearly won't post superstar stats, but could have an impact in points per reception leagues. Current average draft position of 160.

We analyze the trade of Stevie Johnson to San Francisco.

Sammy Watkins may push Stevie Johnson out the door. Who else was impacted by day one?

We cover all the news of the week, including rumors swirling around Stevie Johnson.

Every week I will pick and choose certain players that will produce above (feast) or below (famine) our Fantasy Sharks Player Projections. A couple guys every week may be obvious, but some might surprise you. Feast Marshawn Lynch, RB, Seattle Fantasy Sharks Projection: 14 Points Lynch has had a lot of success against San Francisco in recent years. Success to the tune of 128 total yards and 1½ touchdowns per game over the last four matchups. San Francisco doesn't scare me or Lynch. *********************************************************** Darren Sproles, RB, New Orleans Fantasy Sharks Projection: 5 Points New Orleans will have to get creative with its running backs since Carolina has one of the best rush defenses in the league. Sproles is the versatile back that can mix things up. *********************************************************** Robert Woods, WR, Buffalo Fantasy Sharks Projection: 4 Points No. 2 and No. 3 wide receivers light up the Tampa Bay defense. The door will be open since Darrelle Revis will be on Stevie Johnson all game. *********************************************************** Marquise Goodwin, WR, Buffalo Fantasy Sharks Projection: 2 Points See Robert Woods. *********************************************************** Famine Alex Smith, QB, Kansas City Fantasy Sharks Projection: 24 Points Seems like a great matchup, right? Washington has one of the worst pass defenses. Smith has been pretty good in games where the Kansas City Chiefs needed to keep up with a high-powered offense. Newsflash: Washington is not even close to a high-powered offense. *********************************************************** Ryan Fitzpatrick, QB, Tennessee Fantasy Sharks Projection: 23 Points The honeymoon is over in Tennessee. It doesn't look good playing in Denver against that revived defense.

I was getting ready to write my column this week and I told my 2-year old son that we had to get ready to put him to bed because I had to begin writing The Fire Sale. He replied, "The Fire Sale? No! Don't write The Fire Sale. The Fire Sale stinks." After 14 years it took a 2-year old to sum it up perfectly. Now, on with The Fire Sale... Going Up E.J. Manuel, QB Buffalo -- I was critical of the Bills drafting Manuel in Round 1 because I thought he had a long ways to go based on what I saw from him in college but I couldn't be more impressed by what he and Doug Marrone have done in Buffalo this year. Last week, Manuel was without starting receivers Stevie Johnson and Robert Woods . Playing with Marquise Goodwin and T.J. Graham , Manuel still threw for 245 yards and two touchdowns against a tough Jets defense. Since the preseason, Manuel has displayed a calm demeanor in the pocket and control of the offense. Manuel has been a solid QB2 for most of the year but I really like him in Buffalo's emerging offense for next season. The Bills have a couple of young, promising receivers in Woods and Goodwin. They should also add a couple of more pieces this offseason to help Manuel. I'm also a big fan of Marrone. After reviving a morbid Syracuse program, Marrone deserves a ton of credit for the job he's done in his first season with the Bills. Despite starting 10 different quarterbacks, losing both starting receivers, having his top two running backs hurt, the Bills have been in virtually every game this year. Whenever a team is poorly coached you always hear the injury excuse, but Marrone and Buffalo are a great example of how a good coach can overcome injuries and still field a competitive team every week. I like both Manuel and this Bills' offense a lot for 2014. Donald Brown , RB Indianapolis -- It turns out the Colts' coaching staff has something Trent Richardson doesn't: vision. While Chuck Pagano and Pep Hamilton continue to publicly make excuses for Richardson constantly running up the backs of his offensive linemen, Brown finally got more touches last week and responded with 94 total yards and two touchdowns. Brown averaged 5.7 yards per carry, while Richardson averaged 2.8 yards per carry. Although to be fair, that's actually a good game for Richardson. People think Richardson is having a bad season. I disagree. I just think he stinks. Richardson has now played in 25 NFL games. He's gone over 60 yards rushing seven ...

Unbelievable Numbers? Many fantasy owners were surprised to see Marques Colston eclipse 100 yards for the first time this season while hauling in a first half touchdown on Sunday night against Dallas. Not me ... but not because I possess some keen fantasy insight that allows me to dominate every league I play in. That's another story. I knew Colston would bust out as retribution towards me because I traded him away this week. Yeah, I heard it from everyone in my league Monday morning, particularly after trading for Stevie Johnson, who failed to click with E.J. Manuel before leaving the game with an injury, but that doesn't change the fact that I don't buy Colston's performance as a sign of things to come. The Saints spread the ball around and decimated a hobbled Cowboys defense to the tune of 49 points. Jimmy Graham was limited on the day and saw his snap count slashed a week after finding the end zone twice, opening the door for Colston. Kenny Stills and Lance Moore who will continue to be in the mix and steal looks from Colston down the stretch. With upcoming games against Seattle, San Francisco and Carolina twice, Drew Brees figures to be under constant pressure to get the ball off. The bottom line for me is that while I expect another solid week or two from Colston somewhere down the stretch I would trade him away again this week if I had the chance. Tavon Austin showed the joystick moves that made him a first round pick on a 98-yard punt return as St. Louis topped Indianapolis. Austin also found the end zone twice as a receiver on catches of 81 and 57 yards. Before you rush out and stick your flag in the ground on Austin, I caution you to look a little deeper in to the Rams' wideout and his production. Sure, Austin had two long touchdown catches, but that was his only two catches of the day on a meager three targets. To be fair, the Rams only attempted 16 passes, but then again that kind of supports my argument against adding Austin. Austin was only on the field for 15 offensive snaps and will have a hard time being relevant with such limited opportunities. The Rams success hinges on their running game and they seem to have found a capable duo in Zac Stacy and Benny Cunningham. Austin's success relies on his ability to make big plays, and while he is certainly capable of popping off the long play on occasion, his inconsistency will drive fantasy owners crazy. Let someone else make that dreaded decision each week. They tell us that "numbers...

In an ideal world, every lineup decision would be a stone cold lock. Easy enough my mother-in-law could pick our players. Peyton Manning, check. Adrian Peterson, of course. Dez Bryant, yep. Antonio Games, why not. In reality, injuries are mounting, position battles wage on, defenses are being defined as weather is constant thorn in our ass. Friday's Injury Report As we know many of our lineup decisions revolve around the Friday Injury Report. Each week we scour this memo searching for any last minute info to help sway our decision. As always we have three categories we are examining. The first is "Probable / full participation in practice." These are the players dealing with the everyday aches and pains of being a professional football player, but almost certain to take the field. Examining Friday's Injury Report we find; Zac Stacy, Greg Olsen, Willis McGahee, Arian Foster, Andre Johnson (we'll come back to this), Bilal Powell, Stevie Johnson, C.J. Spiller, Vernon Davis, Wes Welker and Eric Decker. Each should be downgraded slightly, and started as needed. The second category is Out, and Doubtful. These are players standing on the sidelines in street clothes collecting zero fantasy points. Players we must bench week seven includes; James Starks, Santonio Holmes, DeMarco Murray, David Wilson and Roddy White. Man was I wrong about Steven Jackson. I saw the second coming of Michael Turner plus receiving skills. But S-Jax is just a repeat of the 30-year-old version. He sits yet again with the never ending hamstring injury. The third and final category is "Questionable," and or "limited in practice" (dun, dun, daaaahhhh). Questionable is the silent killer synonymous with the dreaded Game Time Decision (GTD). Reading the tea leaves, here is my interpretation of what to expect with the Week 7's GTD. Mike Williams found himself listed as questionable, but oddly was full participation in practice. All systems appear go as a mid/lower WR3 in matchup facing the leaky Falcons secondary........... Calvin Johnson is a GTD after being limited in Friday's practice, but repping the Probable tag. Having practiced every day this week, he's a lineup lock. Although, he could be on a "limited snap count," Calvin does more with less than any other WR in the league............ The Packers are just playing games calling James Jones Questionable. He's not playing......... Jags WR Justin Blackmon has been dealing with a hamstring injury. He is a bit scary after not ...