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Fantasy football picks for Week 4
01:40 PM CDT on Friday, September 26, 2008
You don't need me advising you to start Frank Gore and Brandon Marshall, or to steer clear of Joe Flacco and Ernest Wilford. So I'll spare you the obvious recommendations, focusing instead on the players typically on the bubble of most fantasy rosters. Here are my picks to roll, and get rolled, in Week 4.
Brian Griese, QB, Buccaneers vs. Packers. No way he throws 67 passes again this week, but he'll surely pass frequently against the depleted Green Bay secondary. The Packers should put up plenty of points, forcing Tampa Bay to abandon the run early (again) and lean on Griese to pull off the upset. He's a Top 10 fantasy quarterback after just two games, and a great bye-week fill-in.
Chris Perry, RB, Bengals vs. Browns. Cincinnati's new workhorse has scored in each of his past two games, despite facing tough opposition. Look for him to bust out for the first 100-yard performance of his career against a defense that gave up 151 yards and three scores to Ravens rushers last week. And Perry doesn't have to share the carries!
Jamal Lewis, RB, Browns at Bengals. Everyone remembers Derek Anderson's five-touchdown breakout game against Cincinnati in early 2007. Lost amid the passing duel was Lewis' 216-yard, 1-TD effort. Though he has yet to top 100 yards in a game this season, that should change as a shaky Anderson desperately clings to his starting job.
Chris Chambers, WR, Chargers at Raiders. The saying goes that all future Hall of Famer Cris Carter did was catch touchdowns. Move over Carter; another Chris is stealing your shtick. Chambers has caught just six balls all season, but only Anquan Boldin has as many scoring receptions (four). Flukish, to be sure, since he's been targeted more than any other receiver in San Diego's pass-happy offense. Look for more catches, and end-zone visits, against the mediocre Raiders defense.
Robert Meachem, WR, Saints. David Patten is expected to sit out Week 4 due to a strained groin. With both Jeremy Shockey (hernia) and Marques Colston (thumb) sidelined, Lance Moore could start opposite Devery Henderson. So why Meachem? Despite hauling in just three passes in two games, he's made the most of them (105 yards, 1 TD). Aside from Reggie Bush, who might as well be listed as a WR, Meachem is the Saints' best bet to soar against the 49ers.
Ben Roethlisberger, QB, Steelers vs. Ravens. Big Ben is feeling the effects of the 13 sacks he has taken so far, and his play is suffering. He's nursing a sore shoulder and hand, and must now face a rugged Ravens squad. Though he toasted them with five scoring passes in Week 9 last season, don't expect an encore Monday night. Both teams will be fortunate to put double digits on the scoreboard.
Chris Johnson, RB, Titans vs. Vikings. I'm on record predicting Rookie of the Year honors for the speedy tailback, but he won't earn many votes from this week's contest. Not only must he yield to LenDale White at the goal-line, but Minnesota won't give him much room to roam between the twenties either.
Rashard Mendenhall, RB, Steelers vs. Ravens. I hate to pick on two Steelers in the same week, but Willie Parker's sprained knee has put the fumble-prone rookie back in the fantasy spotlight. Unfortunately, he's facing a Baltimore defense that has a long track record of bottling up Parker, and has not surrendered a rushing score since 2007.
Brandon Lloyd, WR, Bears vs. Eagles. Lloyd was a popular waiver-wire pickup this week, following his 124-yard, one-touchdown outing against Tampa Bay. But he has a well-earned reputation for inconsistency. Sunday's game marked his first score and 100-yard effort since the 2005 season. Philadelphia should have little trouble keeping him in his place.
Kevin Curtis, WR, Eagles at Bears. I warned you to keep Reggie Brown on your bench last week in his 2008 debut against Pittsburgh, and he subsequently failed to catch any of the three balls thrown his way. Ditto for Curtis, who appears to be on track for his first game action Sunday night. It doesn't help that Donovan McNabb (chest) hasn't thrown a pass all week, and DeSean Jackson has emerged as a reliable deep threat in Curtis' absence.
There's a big difference between being a solid NFL quarterback and a reliable fantasy passer. (See Manning, Eli.) Trent Edwards has led the Bills to a 3-0 record, but is averaging a pedestrian 244 yards and one touchdown per game. Along come the Rams and their league-worst defense (nearly 39 points surrendered per game), and Edwards is handed a golden opportunity to establish some fantasy cred. He's a bye-week gem.
Waits till the last minute to check your lineup, as one of my Week 4 rivals appears to be doing (shhh!). By the time he wakes up to find his entire starting receiver corps and tight end on a bye, it will be too late to find adequate substitutes in the free-agent pool.
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