As we head into Week 3 of fantasy football, teams are being turned upside down by trades and injuries. I’m sure your first picks went to many big names such as Mike Vick, Arian Foster, Peyton Manning, and Jamaal Charles. Mike Vick is awaiting approval from doctors to play after a concussion he suffered during Sunday night’s loss to the Falcons, Vick’s former team (pre-incarceration). Arian Foster is listed as questionable for week 3 while still nursing a hamstring that has been reinjured. Peyton Manning is somewhere in Europe getting unapproved experimental stem cell surgery. And Jamaal Charles has been placed on IR due to a knee injury he sustained in week 2.

With all the many injuries that have occurred in just the first two weeks of play, I hope you stacked a pretty good bench because it’s time for those players to show what they’re made of.

At the quarterback position, not having Vick will be a devastating loss for any fantasy owner. Keep an eye on updates because we will soon be hearing whether or not Vick will be able to play against the division rival New York Giants in Week 3.

In case you do need to replace Vick and need a quick free agent pick-up, check out Kevin Kolb of the Cardinals. The team is 1-1, but Kolb has showed great talent, scoring a pretty decent amount of points on ESPN’s fantasy tracker. This week the Cardinals play at Seattle, which should give Kolb some time to prove he has what it takes to start on your team.

With Arian Foster questionable, keep Ben Tate of Houston in mind. In the first two weeks he was just shy of scoring fantasy owners 50 points, and even if Foster is able to start in Week 3 it is unlikely he will play the entire game. Houston will be handing off most of the rushing plays to Tate.

If Tate has already been swiped up, then check out Darren Sproles of New Orleans. Sproles has had two decent weeks, but he can also be hit or miss. This week, New Orleans is at home against Houston, so the Saints have the advantage of the Superdome. However, given a choce between the two, stick with Ben Tate because Houston has proven time and time again that they can have a good running game no matter who has the ball in their hands.

As Peyton Manning is off taking trips overseas and Tom Brady is crushing every defense he comes in contact with, keep watch of some teams flying below most owners’ radars. Even though the Carolina Panthers are 0-2, in the first two professional starts of his career Cam Newton has had over 400 yards. This kid is there to show that he can play in the league and deserved to be the first pick in the 2011 draft.

Also, the Dallas Cowboys had seemed to be laying low until Sunday’s game against the San Francisco 49ers. Even though Tony Romo had to leave the game early due to a broken rib, he still had 345 yards with 2 touchdowns. These two teams are important for any owner to watch because when they start flagging people’s attention, the available players are going to get snatched right up. Keep these players and teams on your fantasy watch and you’re sure to fight past all the injuries and come out with a victory.