Monday Reality Check: DeSean Jackson Soars for Eagles

Each Monday of the fantasy football season, we'll cut through the fantasy numbers put up by individuals and tell you what they really mean.

Heading into the season, we liked DeSean Jackson's chances to move into low-end WR2 range. After three weeks -- two of which were with a backup quarterback -- we're ready to say he's easily a WR2, with the chance to move into WR1 range. In the past two games, Jackson has caught 10 passes for 250 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Adding in a punt return touchdown in Week 1, Jackson has scored in all three Eagles games this season.

Now, I'm sure there are those who will point to Jackson's output with Kevin Kolb at the helm and try to persuade you the return of Donovan McNabb will hurt Jackson's value. If you hear that argument from someone who owns Jackson in one of your leagues, please trade for the young stud.

Jackson grew greatly in his rookie season with McNabb and the veteran quarterback knows the offense too well to ignore the playmaking abilities of Jackson. Do not expect the second-year wideout from Cal to miss a beat when McNabb returns. In fact, it's good to know Jackson can put up numbers with Kolb in the game -- not to mention the emergence of Brent Celek and LeSean McCoy means Jackson isn't getting double-teamed anytime soon.

Leave Jackson on your bench this week, as the Eagles have a bye, but plan on him playing every single week the rest of the way this season. He's a star in the making.

Other Reality Checks

• Contrary to what Lovie Smith wants you to believe, the Bears are a passing team. Last week, I said Matt Forte's time was coming. For the time being, I was wrong (it happens from time to time ... not often, but it does happen). Forte simply had no running room against a Seahawks defense that was gashed last week by Frank Gore for over 200 yards. Meanwhile, Jay Cutler has thrown for 760 yards and six touchdown passes this season. He's improved each game, as have his receivers -- who collectively played really well Sunday afternoon. The ball is also being spread around. At this point, Devin Hester is a WR2, Greg Olsen is a TE1 and Earl Bennett and Johnny Knox should be bench depth in most fantasy leagues. Have you seen the upcoming schedule? Their next six games are against (pass defense rank in parentheses): Detroit (29), Atlanta (23), Cincinnati (19), Cleveland (16, but they are worse than that), Arizona (30) and San Francisco (24). Prepare for Air Bear, and Cutler is a QB1 with that slate.

• Pierre Garcon is clearly Peyton Manning's third option through the air -- after Reggie Wayne and Dallas Clark, obviously -- and Sunday night he proved an able deep threat. He's definitely worth an add in all leagues while Anthony Gonzalez nurses an injured knee.

• The Cardinals' rushing attack should be embarrassed. The Colts have been shredded via the ground game early this season, and the Cardinals mounted just 24 yards on 12 carries. Tim Hightower is more valuable at this point due to his presence in the passing game, but eventually, they'll have to look at establishing a real run game with Beanie Wells between the tackles. I'd stash him if you have roster space.

• Joe Flacco appears to be emerging as a QB1 in front of our eyes. Of course, he got fat against the hapless Chiefs and Browns. In the other game, he threw for just 190 yards against the Chargers. In the next three weeks, we'll see what he has against the Patriots, Bengals and Vikings before anointing him anything special. Until then, let's not get ahead of ourselves.

• Look past the embarrassing team loss and check out the numbers of Jason Campbell and Santana Moss. Campbell hit Moss 10 times for 178 yards and a touchdown, while throwing for 340 and two touchdowns total. Campbell also ran for half the yards Clinton Portis did on a single carry (compared to 12 for Portis). I've seen some people saying Campbell only racked up the yardage because the 'Skins were playing from behind and facing a prevent defense. OK, well, that was against the Lions. As things stand, it would appear the Redskins will be playing from behind quite often. And, for what it's worth, the Redskins' next three opponents currently have an 0-8 record. Campbell's a quality bye-week replacement while Moss should be back in lineups across the board.

• Steve Slaton averaged 6.3 yards per carry and ran the ball well. The problem is that he was only handed the ball 12 times. This is due to the fact that the Texans were involved in their second consecutive shootout and needed to throw the football in order to stay in the game. The problem isn't going to go away, either, considering the Jags hardly have a high-octane offense. Give him one more week -- against the Raiders at home -- and then I'd consider dealing him (if he doesn't have a big game).

• Finally, there aren't many players you can use against the Jets' mighty defense. We've seen them shut down Andre Johnson, Matt Schaub, Tom Brady, Randy Moss and now somewhat limit Chris Johnson -- who is one of the most talented players in the league. Johnson did have 105 total yards, but that's a testament to how good he is. This underlines the point that the only players you should be using against the Jets are guys you should never, ever sit. That means when they visit the Saints this coming week, you need to play Drew Brees and be wary of pretty much everyone else (though I'd find it difficult to sit Pierre Thomas).