Martin could nail down the starting gig Friday versus New England (USP)

Week 3 of the preseason is the universally known as the "dress rehearsal." For coaches tweaking schemes and evaluating first-teamers' performance, starters typically play upwards of three quarters, a true taste of meaningful football.

On this week's engrossing episode, Brad Evans and Brandon Funston gave instant reaction to Fright night's exhibition games. Additional takes on Maurice Jones-Drew, Adrian Peterson, Cedric Benson, Michael Vick, Miles Austin and Justin Blackmon were also discussed. And is Antonio Gates overrated or underrated? We unveiled out answers. Finally, our gurus lent insight into Doug Martin. Is the Bucs rusher top-15 material?

Too busy burning your Lance Armstrong memorabilia? No sweat. Listen to the replays below or download the show on iTunes, once live, here:

LISTEN TO HOUR 1 HERE (NFL)

LISTEN TO HOUR 2 HERE (NFL)

Evans believes owners should lick their chops at the prospects of landing Stafford in Round 2 (USP)

Once the big three — Aaron Rodgers, Tom Brady and Drew Brees — are crossed off your cheat-sheet, owners seeking a QB will be faced with a tough decision: Matthew Stafford or Cam Newton? In this episode of The Docs, Brad Evans and Dalton Del Don decide which passer has the best odds of leading you to the winner's circle. Read. Ponder. React.

The Noise drives the Stafford love-train — There is little chance at their stages on the career arc Stafford and Newton will suddenly fall off into an abyss. The former No. 1 picks are young, insanely talented and the centerpieces of their respective offenses.

However, for the sake of this exercise, the Lion is the king of the jungle.

Detroit's domed environment and team structure is engineered perfectly for Stafford. He has the league's deadliest vertical weapon, Calvin Johnson, and a bevy of other above average targets, including buzzy Titus Young, Nate Burleson and Brandon Pettigrew. Without Jahvid Best potentially for the first several weeks of the regular season and due to Mike Leshoure's inability to stave off injury and his affinity for the wacky tobacky, the ground game remains in flux. Kevin Smith is suitable, but without a consistent, ultra-reliable rushing attack, Jim Schwartz will again lean on Stafford's arm. Detroit's suspect secondary, one of the NFL's worst last year, also lends credence to another 600-plus passing attempts. And don't play the "fragile" card. He emerged from 2011 unscathed. His shoulder problems are in the past.

Overall, it's clear the Lions will be a pass-first, pass-often club this year. Severe regression isn't likely for Stafford. Assuming his YPA hovers around 7.5 again this season, he should come close to matching the historic production he notched in 2011. Recall his 5,016 passing (41 TDs) yards was the fifth-most prolific passing season in NFL history. You're stealing him in Round 2 (12.4 ADP, QB4).

Newton was absolutely fabulous in his rookie season. His draws at the goal-line were unstoppable, even when defenses knew it was coming. Of course, it's probable he won't replicate the 14 ground scores achieved a season ago, but his value won't fall off the cliff. Still, Stafford's arsenal, pocket polish and pass-happy system give him the slight edge.

After the turn, hand the keys to the Motor City's newest madman.

Triple-D feels Johnson has his swagger back. (USP)

The vast majority of drafts where passing touchdowns aren't moronically weighted the same as rushing/receiving scores, the top three picks will almost certainly be some order of the following: Arian Foster, Ray Rice and LeSean McCoy. However, after that mark, uncertainties galore populate the running position. Risk-reward is unavoidable. In this episode of Fantasy Hospital, dashing docs Dalton Del Don and Brad Evans offer their opinions on which back, Chris Johnson or Darren McFadden, should be next in the RB hierarchy. Read. Consume. React.

3-D foresees a major rebound for CJ2K: There's no question Johnson was one of the biggest disappointments last season, when he scored just four touchdowns after totaling 28 over the previous two years. His 2.1 YPC after contact tied for 58th among running backs. Still, he managed to total 1,463 yards from scrimmage, and him showing up out of shape after holding out before the season was likely the reason behind his down year; over the first seven games, Johnson got 2.8 YPC while over the final nine contests he got 4.8. Moreover, the big drop in touchdowns was mostly not his fault, as he was given just six goal-line carries. Johnson converted half of those for scores, and it's safe to expect the opportunities to normalize in 2012, as he was given 31 GL attempts over the previous two years.

The Titans don't have a great offensive line, but they added Steve Hutchinson this offseason, and a young offense with some intriguing playmakers will be moving to a version of the run-and-shoot, which should lead to plenty of open running lanes. While the preseason matters little in most cases, Johnson had two 14-yard touchdown runs last week and impressed while doing so. He looked much more like his previous explosive self rather than last year's version, an encouraging sign after Johnson participated in the team's offseason program for the first time since his 2,006-yard campaign.

Johnson hasn't missed a single game due to injury throughout his NFL career, whereas McFadden has never played more than 13 games during any of his four seasons in the league, averaging 4.8 DNPs each year. Johnson is still just 26 years and motivated after a down year, so the pick here is the back who's accrued more yards over his first four seasons in the league than any RB in NFL history.

In remembrance of MJD's fantasy value...a moment of silence. (USP)

Over the past several weeks the fantasy community has waited on pins and needles for the return of its rush king.

Sadly, it doesn't appear he will emerge from his self-imposed exile anytime soon.

In a stunning turn of events, Maurice Jones-Drew, who's prolonged holdout was thought to be ending soon, openly expressed his displeasure regarding comments Shad Kahn made recently about his All-Pro's monetary demands. In a bold move, plucked from the pages of the Prima Dona Handbook, the rusher voiced his desire to get out of Jacksonville...immediately. From the AP:

Jones-Drew's agent, Adisa Bakari, told The Associated Press on Tuesday that the Jacksonville Jaguars running back is upset with owner Shad Khan's recent public comments about his client's 27-day holdout.

''Maurice wants to play for an organization that wants him and for an owner who respects him and values what he brings to a team - on the field, in the locker room and in the community,'' Bakari said.

[…]

''Train's leaving the station. Run, get on it,'' Khan said.

Bakari made it clear that those statements don't sit well with Jacksonville's biggest star.

''Obviously, he's not happy that what started as a very cordial and private conversation is now public and contentious,'' Bakari said.

In Fantasyland, the ripple effects of his comments are far-reaching.

[Related: Jaguars, agent trade barbs in Maurice Jones-Drew holdout]

Mile High numbers aren't in the forecast for elder Manning (USP)

The plague, lima beans, law enforcement, dustups with Chuck Norris … everyday we all purposely try to dodge the perils of life.

Fantasyland's good citizens are no different.

In a violent sport where injury and ineptitude lurk around every corner, gamers constantly strive to reduce risk in the hope it will propel them to the winner's circle.

Entrust Peyton Manning as your QB1, and your odds of racing past a checkered flag could be minimized.

Once the king of consistency, Manning, for the first time ever in his Hall of Fame career, is smothered in doubt. Multiple neck surgeries, unfamiliar surroundings, throwing limitations and a different system have many people, including the Noise, second guessing whether or not No. 18 can regain his pre-injury form.

To be fair, preseason reviews on elder Manning have been largely positive. In the short-field, he's delivered passes with vintage crispness and precision. Outside three interceptions, the four-time MVP has shown glimpses of his old self. Through two games, he's 20-for-30 for 221 yards averaging a solid 7.4 yards per attempt.

The once timid Brown looks like a completely different back thus far (USP)

By nature fanatics are a stubborn species. Creatures of habit, they typically form hasty opinions about players, especially those that burn them, refusing to budge off their original conclusions. No matter how good someone looks, bitter comments, usually qualified with explicit language, are muttered to describe said commodity.

"(Expletive) that dude, I sunk an early round pick in him and he completely screwed me. Never again …"

It's a classic case of once bitten, twice shy.

The Noise is guilty as charged.

When the Colts selected Donald Brown in the first round of the 2009 NFL Draft he was immediately fawned over by several industry prognosticators, me included. Indy GM Bill Polian compared him to a young Thurman Thomas. Though not extraordinary in any single category, his well-rounded talents and friendly fantasy environment were quite alluring. Peyton Manning oversaw one of the league's best-oiled offensive machines, routinely stretching defenses with Dallas Clark and Reggie Wayne. And, most importantly for Brown, Joseph Addai was on the downside of his career. All in all, it was a prime opportunity for the then rookie to step in and strike instant fantasy riches.

Then he stepped on the field.

Forget 'Ice,' Matty is all 'Fire' in the early going (USP)

Throughout Fantasyland emergency rooms are overrun with patients. Dislocated shoulders and snapped tendons are epidemic. Drafters, seduced by extraordinary preseason performances, are outstretching arms to acquire commodities seemingly destined for greatness.

So is the case with Atlanta's Matt Ryan.

Peering through rose-colored glasses, the fifth-year passer is on the precipice of joining the game's elite. Through two exhibition games, he's bombarded opponents with an onslaught of completions, going 27 of 34 for 329 yards, two touchdowns and a pick. Very comfortable and composed within Dirk Koetter's retooled no-huddle, three-wide offense, he's looked nothing short of spectacular. As a result, owners are sacrificing first borns to secure his services. Take a look at his ADP trend below (From Fantasy Football Calculator):

Over the past week, Ryan has graduated from mid-round sleeper to early draft must-own triggering wild, dangerous predictions by industry "experts" — 4,500 yards, 35 … 37 … 40 touchdowns.

Jump to Conclusions mats are in short supply.