Who to Start? Week Four
by Josh Gaier
Your fantasy team can still be salvaged, the season is still young. Come see who you should be starting this week.
As week four of the fantasy football season approaches, many of us are starting to work out the kinks of our teams and find that missing player through trading or waiver wires. Some of us got off to hot starts, but, for those of us who didn’t, the season is still young. Your comeback can start this week. Below is a list of players you might not have though of starting but who can quickly get your team headed in the right direction.
Quarterback: J.T. O’Sullivan, San Francisco 49ers
Like many quarterbacks before him in a Mike Martz system, O’Sullivan has turned his mediocre talent into fantastic play. Although O’Sullivan hasn’t thrown many touchdowns, he has an impressive rating of 104.6 and threw two touchdowns his last game. This week O’Sullivan and the Martz controlled offense square up against New Orleans Saints, who rank 29th against the pass and have been atrocious in that aspect in the young season. Coming off his hot performance against the Detroit Lions, O’Sullivan looks to carry his momentum, along with the 49ers two-game win streak, into New Orleans.
Runner-Up: Carson Palmer, Cincinnati Bengals
Running Back: Jamal Lewis, Cleveland Browns
Lewis and the Browns offense as a unit has gotten off to the lackluster start, but they should be able to get back on track when they take on a struggling Cincinnati Bengals defense. This year, Lewis has posted games of 62, 38, and 56 rushing yards but has failed to reach the end zone. The Bengals rank 28th against the run and have given up the seventh most rushing touchdowns in the NFL. This week, expect a bruising back like Lewis to pound the ball against the Bengals as the Browns will try to control the clock and keep the Bengals offense off the field. Lewis should finally reach the end zone, and the Browns should be able to record their first win.
Runner-Up: Jonathan Steward, Carolina Panthers
Wide Receiver: Roddy White, Atlanta Falcons
Despite the Falcons not having one of the sexier offenses in the NFL, Roddy White is quietly having a great year. Wide receivers are always a hard position to predict, but you should give White the chance because of the great season he is having. White is coming off of a one-touchdown, 119-yard receiving game against the Chiefs and should perform well Sunday against the Carolina Panthers. White might not be the best option in smaller leagues over perennial Pro Bowl receivers, but you should give him the chance as your third receiver in the bigger leagues. Ryan’s development will also help White.
Runner-Up: Eddie Royal, Denver Broncos
Tight End: Chris Cooley, Washington Redskins
Cooley has gotten off to a slow start this year, and facing the Cowboys’ defense is never an easy task for any player in the NFL, but you should start him this week. Cooley is the safety blanket for Jason Campbell, and in an offense that relies on controlling the ball through the short-intermediate passing game, it’s just a matter of time before Cooley explodes. The Cowboys stiffened up their defense Sunday against the Packers, but their secondary is still a question mark, as the Eagles showed on Sept. 8. Cooley isn’t a sure-fire starter, as no tight end ever is, but he should be able to crack the end zone for the first time this season.
Runner-Up: Vernon Davis, San Francisco 49ers
Defense: Philadelphia Eagles
If the Eagles aren’t in your starting lineup yet, they should definitely be in your lineup this week. The Eagles defense has been vicious with its blitzing scheme, which leaves quarterbacks perplexed when trying to unscramble the defense. This week, the Eagles face the Chicago Bears, a team that doesn’t have an explosive offense, but instead relies on the timing between Kyle Orton and his receivers. The Eagles love to bring pressure, and that shouldn’t change one bit this week: they’ll want Orton to beat them with his arm opposed to Forte with his legs. Look for the Eagles to put up a high-scoring, ball-controlling offense while maintaining the Bears offense and forcing a couple turnovers.
In addition, to the sleepers mentioned above, here are the top five players to start this week at each position:
Quarterback
1. Tony Romo, Dallas Cowboys
2. Jay Cutler, Denver Broncos
3. Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints
4. Donovan McNabb, Philadelphia Eagles
5. Kurt Warner, Arizona Cardinals
Running Backs
1. LaDanian Tomlinson, San Deigo Chargers
2. Marion Barber, Dallas Cowboys
3. Marshawn Lynch, Buffalo Bills
4. Frank Gore, San Francisco 49ers
5. Adrian Peterson, Minnesota Vikings
Wide Receivers
1. Brandon Marshall, Denver Broncos
2. Larry Fitzgerald, Arizona Cardinals
3. Steve Smith, Carolina Panthers
4. Terrell Owens, Dallas Cowboys
5. Anquan Boldin, Arizona Cardinals
Tight Ends
1. Jason Witten, Dallas Cowboys
2. Kellen Winslow, Cleveland Browns
3. Tony Scheffler, Denver Broncos
4. Antonio Gates, San Diego Chargers
5. Chris Cooley, Washington Redskins
Defense
1. Buffalo Bills
2. Tennessee Titans
3. Pittsburgh Steelers
4. Jacksonville Jaguars
5. Baltimore Ravens