Terrance Williams getting substantial play with Dez Bryant out

DALLAS WILL BE without Dez Bryant for possibly two months as he recovers from a broken bone in his right foot. The statistics say that the Cowboys are missing the NFL's leading touchdown scorer among wide receivers from a year ago.

Quarterback Tony Romo sees it as something much deeper.

"He's the heartbeat of our team emotionally," Romo said. "He brings energy every day. We're gonna miss that. We have to pick it up around him."

Bryant's injury is the primary reason Terrance Williams has been one of the most popular waiver wire pickups of the fantasy week.

Williams, a third-round pick in 2013, played two years with Robert Griffin III at Baylor and led the nation in receiving yards in his senior season. Dallas head coach Jason Garrett described Williams as a student of the game, who is "intense in meetings."

Williams is now rostered in 75 percent of ESPN's fantasy leagues, up 31 percent from this time last week.

Including the postseason, Williams had just 41 catches last year, but 11 went for touchdowns.

Slot receiver Cole Beasley also gets a fantasy bump, especially in PPR leagues. Devin Street, Brice Butler and Lucky Whitehead, who leads all NFL players in most awesome name, are the other wide receivers on the Dallas roster.

But, for now, it's all about Williams. The Daily News lists him this week as a WR2 against an Eagles' secondary that was scorched by Atlanta.

"He's evolved as a route-runner," Garrett said. "His run after catch and his ability to make plays down the field, has really helped our football team."

There was so much speculation of how heavy DeMarco Murray's workload was going to be that we decided to give away a fantasy football T-shirt to the reader who came closest to guessing the number of carries Murray would get against Atlanta.

Chip Kelly, as he's been known to do, tripped us all up by running the ball with Murray just eight times.

It was Murray's fewest rushing attempts for a full game in four years.

Andrea DiFiore, of Mount Laurel, N.J., came impressively close with her guess of nine carries for Murray.

LeSean McCoy landed on the injury report with a hamstring injury and his availability for Sunday's game against New England is in jeopardy. Karlos Williams should be added in leagues of 10 or more because there really are no running backs around.

There is no benching Aaron Rodgers, but the matchup at home against Seattle wouldn't seem to be very appealing. Except for the "at home" part.

Check these numbers out.

In his last 17 games at home, including postseason, Rodgers has 41 touchdowns and no picks. His last interception at home was on Dec. 2, 2012. Andy Reid was still the Eagles coach. This will be Seattle's first visit to Lambeau Field in the Pete Carroll era.

Quarterbacks: A number of the top QBs have unfavorable matchups this week, which is giving one-week fantasy players quite a headache. Andrew Luck is playing the improved Jets. Tom Brady is at Buffalo. Aaron Rodgers hosts Seattle. Ben Roethisberger gets a visit from the 49ers. As a result, Drew Brees is No. 1 in this week's rankings . . . In 14 starts against the Jets when Rex Ryan was coach, Brady had a pedestrian 21 touchdown passes. Ryan, of course, now coaches Buffalo, which has a strong defensive line.

Running backs: So much for the Arian Foster optimism from a week ago. Foster (groin) still looks a few weeks away . . . Mark Ingram had career highs of eight receptions, nine targets and 98 receiving yards last week. His previous high for reception yards was 39. Something to monitor for PPR leagues . . . The Chargers used Danny Woodhead more often in the red zone in Week 1 than rookie Melvin Gordon, who was benched after a fumble. Woodhead is OK to use as a flex, but Gordon is unreliable at the moment.

Wide receivers: Minnesota's Mike Wallace deserves a look as a flex in PPR leagues. Wallace was about the only offensive bright spot on Monday night with six catches on seven targets (for 63 yards). He's going up against a Detroit defense that just gave up 15 catches to Keenan Allen and could again be without star linebacker DeAndre Levy (hip) . . . Sleeper alert: New Orleans' rookie Brandon Coleman.

QUARTERBACKS

1. Drew Brees, Saints: vs. TB

2. Tony Romo, Cowboys: at Phi.

3. Andrew Luck, Colts: vs. NYJ

4. Aaron Rodgers, Packers: vs. Sea

5. Tom Brady, Patriots: at Buf.

6. Ben Roethlisberger, Steelers: vs. SF

7. Matt Ryan, Falcons: at NYG

8. Ryan Tannehill, Dolphins: at Jac.

9. Sam Bradford, Eagles: vs. Dal.

10. Carson Palmer, Cardinals: at Chi.

11. Peyton Manning, Broncos: at KC

12. Russell Wilson, Seahawks: at GB

RUNNING BACKS

1. Marshawn Lynch, Seahawks: at GB

2. Jamaal Charles, Chiefs: vs. Den.

3. Adrian Peterson, Vikings: vs. Det.

4. Justin Forsett, Ravens: at Oak.

5. Eddie Lacy, Packers: vs. Sea.

6. DeMarco Murray, Eagles: vs. Dal.

7. Carlos Hyde, 49ers: at Pit.

8. Matt Forte, Bears: vs. Ari.

9. Jeremy Hill, Bengals: vs. SD

10. Lamar Miller, Dolphins: at Jac.

11. Mark Ingram, Saints: vs. TB

12. Joseph Randle, Cowboys: at Phi.

13. DeAngelo Williams, Steelers: vs. SF

14. L. McCoy/K. Williams, Bills: vs. NE

15. Chris Ivory, Jets: at Ind.

16. LeGarrette Blount, Patriots: at Buf.

17. Frank Gore, Colts: vs. NYJ

18. Ameer Abdullah, Lions: at Min.

19. Tevin Coleman, Falcons: at NYG

20. Chris Johnson, Cardinals: at Chi.

21. Alfred Morris, Redskins: vs. Stl

22. Ronnie Hillman, Broncos: at KC

23. T.J. Yeldon, Jaguars: vs. Mia.

24. Doug Martin, Buccaneers: at NO

25. Jonathan Stewart, Panthers: vs. Hou.

WIDE RECEIVERS

1. Antonio Brown, Steelers: vs. SF

2. Julio Jones, Falcons: at NYG

3. Odell Beckham, Jr., Giants: vs. Atl.

4. Demaryius Thomas, Broncos: at KC

5. Randall Cobb, Packers: vs. Sea.

6. Calvin Johnson, Lions: at Min.

7. A.J. Green, Bengals: vs. SD

8. DeAndre Hopkins, Texans: at Car.

9. Brandin Cooks, Saints: vs. TB

10. Jordan Matthews, Eagles: vs. Dal.

11. Jarvis Landry, Dolphins: at Jac.

12. Julian Edelman, Patriots: at Buf.

13. Terrance Williams, Cowboys: at Phi.

14. Andre Johnson, Colts: vs. NYJ

15. Mike Evans, Buccaneers - inj: at NO

16. Alshon Jeffery, Bears: vs. Ariz.

17. James Jones, Packers: vs. Sea.

18. Emmanuel Sanders, Broncos: at KC

19. Mike Wallace, Vikings: vs. Det.

20. Brandon Marshall, Jets: at Ind.

21. Keenan Allen, Chargers: at Cin.

22. Jeremy Maclin, Chiefs: vs. Den.

23. Pierre Garcon, Redskins: vs. Stl

24. John Brown, Cardinals: at Chi.

25. Amari Cooper, Raiders: vs. Bal.

TIGHT ENDS

1. Rob Gronkowski, Patriots: at Buf.

2. Travis Kelce, Chiefs: vs. Den.

3. Tyler Eifert, Bengals: vs. SD

4. Jimmy Graham, Seahawks: at GB

5. Martellus Bennett, Bears: vs. Ari.

6. Austin Seferian-Jenkins, Bucs: at NO

7. Jason Witten, Cowboys: at Phi.

8. Zach Ertz, Eagles: vs. Dal.

9. Greg Olsen, Panthers: vs. Hou.

10. Jordan Cameron, Dolphins: at Jac.

11. Delanie Walker, Titans: at Cle.

12. Kyle Rudolph, Vikings: vs. Det.