To all you Aaron Hernandez owners out there: I feel your pain.

His injury cost me a win last week in a league I care about. Losing a guy always stinks, but losing him before he has time to register a stat stinks even more. That being said, there is good news. The tight end position is the deepest outside of quarterback and I’ve listed some extra options this week figuring that we might just have some Hernandez owners at WEEI.com.

Call me crazy. If you need even more options, as always, we invite you to drop by Rotobahn.com for a visit.

For those new to fantasy football, we mention the term handcuff often and just so you understand, it has nothing to do with any illegalities. Rather, we use the term to identify backup players who would offer solid fantasy production if the starter were to go down. Handcuffs are most often used at the running back position, but they can be used at others. For example, in my keeper league, I have Ryan Mallett rostered as a handcuff for Brady, who is my starter. With that out of the way, let’s look at some of this week’s options:

Quarterbacks

Alex Smith, 49ers

He was here last week, but he’s still available in 50 percent of Yahoo! Sports leagues and with the weaponry at his disposal, we think he needs to be owned. Yes, they run a very conservative offense, but he is becoming a consistent option in spite of the system’s limitations. Smith should be owned in all leagues as a backup or spot starter.

Christian Ponder, Vikings

This kid can play the position. The key for him will be staying healthy. For fantasy purposes, we like him as a backup in any format and he may even evolve into more once his team is all there. Jerome Simpson is still two weeks away and Adrian Peterson is still not 100 percent though he is effective. Ponder should be rostered in all leagues. He can play for you if you need him and the matchup is right.

Carson Palmer, Raiders

He’s putting up numbers and he is available in half of Yahoo! Sports leagues. If his receivers can get healthy, he could be a starter for you at some point. He should be rostered in all leagues.

Andy Dalton, Bengals

He is getting close. If he can settle in just a bit more, he has the weapons to be a dangerous fantasy option. BJGE has given them a solid ground game and AJ Green tilts the field for him. This makes the secondary options, like Brandon Tate and Andrew Hawkins more dangerous and effective. He’s also got a quality tight end in Jermaine Gresham. Dalton is a backup right now, but he’s closing in on being a fringe starter, so make sure he is rostered in all formats.

Josh Freeman, Bucs

He has some real weapons now and the support of a solid ground game. We think he makes for a very solid backup if you are in need.

Running Backs

Cedric Benson, Packers

He’s available in 28 percent of Yahoo! Sports leagues. Roster him if you can for obvious reasons. He can start for you on a lot of weeks and is a strong RB3 to have in reserve.

Mikel Leshoure, Lions

He is owned in a lot of leagues, but just in case he was dropped or what have you, we like the upside he has as a potential starter for a high-powered offense. Leshoure should be owned in all formats.

Andre Brown, Giants

Even we sleep on some guys, and we admit that we did not not see this one coming. Obviously Davis Wilson is the guy to own long term, but HC Tom Coughlin trusts Brown right now and they want Wilson to take ball security seriously. I bet watching Brown dominate out there sent a strong message. With Bradshaw banged up and a short week for Big Blue, Brown could end up having solid RB2 value this week.

David Wilson, Giants

In smaller leagues, even with Brown’s outburst, Wilson has too much upside to ignore. Stash him or flex him if Bradshaw is down for week three, but this kid is worth a roster spot in almost all formats.

Daryl Richardson, Rams

Here’s a player we told you about this summer when Isiaiah Pead was all the rage.  While we like Pead as well, Richardson is clearly the best option right now.  And, with Steven Jackson (groin) no lock to be available in week two, Richardson could be a nice pickup for anyone in need of a back.  Obviously, it’s even more important for owners of Jackson. Richardson’s the handcuff option for now at least.

Robert Turbin, Seahawks

He looked very good and if he is available, we strongly recommend that Marshawn Lynch owners roster him as a handcuff. Turbin is capable of posting RB1 numbers in a full time role.

Mike Goodson, Raiders

He’s the clear handcuff option for McFadden at this point, so get him rostered if you have the extra space in a medium to large format. Goodson has passed Taiwan Jones for now and is a very capable fantasy option when he is getting sufficient touches.

Lamar Miller, Dolphins

He is playing behind a smoking hot Reggie Bush, but Miller had a solid ten carries and looked very good as he turned them into 65 yards and a score. We expect him to be the best handcuff option for Bush owners, and with the way they are feeding Reggie the ball, you really want that handcuff.

Bilal Powell, Jets

Shonn Greene was visibly shaken after a blow to the head. Though he did return, we would not be shocked if he ended up on the injury report this week. Greene is nothing special as it is and we strongly recommend adding Powell as a handcuff for Greene. He’s looking pretty good in our view.  He’d be a very solid play if he was getting starter’s reps. The Jets are going to keep running no matter what. They have to.

Wide Receivers

Danny Amendola, Rams

We used to call him a poor man’s Welker, but that may need to be reversed in light of recent events in both New England and St. Louis. The Little Receiver That Could is somehow available in over half of Yahoo! Sports leagues and he needs to be rostered in all leagues for the time being at least. You just can’t argue with his kind of production. Bradford seems to look for him on every snap and that is not a new trend as he was Bradford’s favorite target before Amendola went on IR last year.

Greg Little, Browns

Now that QB Brandon Weeden seems to have worked through his butterflies, Little appears to be back on track with five grabs and a score. Little has a ton of upside in this offense and Trent Richardson’s presence will keep the safeties honest. He is available in many leagues after his week one dud, so grab him in all formats.

Julian Edelman, Patriots

We’ve always been a fan of Edelman’s and he has produced in the past when given the chance. He’s a very versatile player who is Welker-ish in his own right. He has big potential in PPR formats and good value standard formats too. Yes, this is Belichick’s offense and you just never know what’s going to happen, but with Aaron Hernandez now out for the foreseeable future, Edelman’s role seems likely to continue in one form or another. We’d pick him up if you have a need in any format, but especially PPR. If you own Welker, then we would go after him even harder.

Brian Hartline, Dolphins

We don’t love his game, but he is the best option in Miami and he is healthy for now. Grab him as he is available in a great many leagues (96 percent of Yahoo!) and can be a WR3 for you in any format for the time being.

Robert Meachem, Chargers

He’s available in two of my Yahoo leagues, and he shouldn’t be. If he happens to be available in yours, snatch him up. He needs to be rostered in all formats and he may just be dumped in some after falling victim to the Dante Rosario Show and a big lead. Philip Rivers looks good and Meachem has a solid role for the time being.

Jon Baldwin, Chiefs

In all but smaller formats, we are rostering Baldwin if we can. He is a superior talent and has upside despite the limitations of playing with Matt Cassel. Baldwin came to life a bit last week, so get him now.

Golden Tate, Seahawks

He started and didn’t do a ton, but starting is a start. Golden has upside due to his after-the-catch potential and we like what we are seeing in Seattle, so he may have a good platform to work from. Tate could emerge as the top option in Seattle at some point.  Don’t forget how injury-prone Sidney Rice has been over the years. Pick him up in medium to large formats if he is available.

Donnie Avery, Colts

He’s more of a short term lightening in a bottle kind of move. He never stays healthy and there are other players to worry about in Indy, but for now, Avery is a source of points and can be used in any format if you have a need. Just be prepared to replace him at a moment’s notice.

Andre Roberts, Cardinals

He has some value in larger formats, so roster him if he is available. He’s serviceable in smaller leagues too, but his shelf life may be shorter as there are other options there such as Michael Floyd and you never know how that will shake out.

Randy Moss, 49ers

He’ll be dropped in some leagues for understandable reasons, but the 49ers did a lot of max protection yesterday due to the Lions’ strength up front. Moss could still emerge and he was still a factor drawing a PI in the end zone and catching his only other target. We are still intrigued and we’re rostering him in large leagues as a stash with upside.

Alshon Jefferey, Bears

He will be dumped in many leagues and we strongly encourage you to scoop him up for free if that happens. He is going to be a big part of what the Bears do from here on out and we expect him to be a startable commodity before long. The Bears, as bad as they are in pass protection, will not give up seven sacks every week. Better days are ahead.

Andrew Hawkins, Bengals

He’s been a very effective option for Andy Dalton for two straight weeks. He’s better suited for deep leagues as he won’t be consistent week to week with both Brandon Tate and Armon Binns both playing well too. Hawkins is clearly a useful guy to have on your bench. He’s worth a bit more in PPR formats and again, he’s a guy to roster in large formats.

Tight Ends

Brent Celek, Eagles

You don’t need us to tell you about him at this point, but he is available in too many leagues, so go get him if you can. There are injuries all over Philly, so he will continue to be a big factor.

Kyle Rudolph, Vikings

He is a very talented player and we told you last week about his athleticism. He found the zone in week two and we don’t think it’s an anomaly. Roster him as a starter in any format and you should do well.

Dennis Pitta, Ravens

As we said last week and at the end of last year, Pitta seems to be favored by Joe Flacco and is a big part of what the Ravens are doing on offense. He runs good routes and is used as a possession guy between the 20s, but he’s also a red zone option.  Pitta can be your starter but is a bit more of a TE2 for now.

Martellus Bennett, Giants

He is very much available in Yahoo leagues and he is worth an add in most formats as they are making him a big part of the offense it seems. Now, the guy has dropped more end zone targets than he’s caught, so it’s not all smooth sailing here, but Manning works to the tight end very well and there is some legit upside here if Bennett can put it all together. We’d be adding him in all leagues if we had the need and or roster space.

Owen Daniels, Texans

Yet another high quality option from a dependable offense. Daniels has looked very good so far and he can be your TE in any format if you have a need.

Scott Chandler, Bills

He’s scored in both games so far, but the key thing is that he is otherwise involved, so he will get you something on most weeks even if they don’t get him into the end zone. He can play for you if you are desperate in any format.

Kellen Davis, Bears

In deeper leagues, a guy like Davis might be your only option. They will be looking for outlet options with Matt Forte injured, so Davis is worth owning right now. He can help you if you are desperate in a big league. He was heavily targeted by Cutler in week two, but had a few drops. We think he can clean that up.

Rob Housler, Cardinals

It’s speculation at this point as we don’t know the lasting effects of Todd Heap’s injury, but Housler has some solid upside as team’s throw the kitchen sink at Fitzgerald on a weekly basis, leaving tons of opportunity for others. Housler is a player who can make yards after the catch with his speed. We like him in very large leagues and long term formats.