Running Backs for Week 4
Though he is getting very pricey, I think LeSean McCoy/$14617/PHI is still worth starting. McCoy remains the centerpiece of the Eagles offense and will be relied on the keep Philadelphia in the game in Denver. The Bucs will rely heavily on Doug Martin/$11649/TBB against Arizona as they seek to take the pressure off new quarterback Mike Glennon/(no price)/TBB.
The Chiefs are going for their fourth straight win as they host the reeling Giants. Expect Jamaal Charles/$15556/KCC to be the focus of the running and passing game to take the heat off Alex Smith/$11655/KCC. Adrian Peterson/$14485/MIN will get his regular workload, but the Vikings will find it hard to move the ball against the Steelers – my recommendation is to skip him this week. Marshawn Lynch/$11542/SEA let us down in week 3, but I think he’ll have a bounce back week despite the Texans’ excellent rushing defense: he’s a bit risky, but under-priced.
Among cheaper backs, Jacquizz Rodgers/$6444/ATL may surprise against the Patriots as the Falcons seek more balance. Ryan Mathews/$5343/SDC hasn’t been used much this year and the Chargers might surprise the Cowboys by working him heavily out of the backfield.
All indications are that Reggie Bush/$11073/DET will play against the Bears but is not quite worth the cost. I look for a Joique Bell/$8986/DET/Reggie Bush tandem with the Lions running the ball more than usual due to WR Nate Burleson’s/DET injury. Trent Richardson/$10824/IND is the most intriguing “sleeper” at RB. We don’t know if he is ready to handle a full load in an unfamiliar offensive system, or whether he will continue to split time with Ahmad Bradshaw/$8086/IND. Either way, I’m confident the Colts will run be a run-first team against the Jaguars.
Wide Receivers for Week 4
If you have read my opinion on Peyton Manning/DEN, you have an idea about what I think about his three primary wide receivers. Eric Decker/$10045/DEN, Wes Welker/$11755/DEN, and Demaryius Thomas/$12277/DEN are all excellent plays this week, mainly because choosing from among them is a difficult task. Peyton is comfortable throwing to any and all of them.
Calvin Johnson/$14705/DET is the most expensive wide receiver this week, but has struggled is recent games against the Bears. I will grudgingly pass on him this week and look for value elsewhere. Among those priced a little lower are two reliable possession receivers I like: Reggie Wayne/$10258/IND and Pierre Garcon/$11800/WAS. Garcon has more breakaway speed and therefore has more big play potential, but Wayne has a knack of finding the holes in defenses as few others do.
If you need cheap wide outs, my top recommendation is the soon-to-return-to-health Roddy White/$5290/ATL. I can’t see a team as smart as the Patriots allowing Julio Jones/$14161/ATL to get loose, so Matt Ryan/ATL will be forced to go to other options, White among them. Here are some other interesting cheap plays at wide receiver: Robert Woods/$4680/BUF, Aaron Dobson/$5567/NEP, Earl Bennett/$2409/CHI, Dwayne Bowe/$6504/KCC, Golden Tate/$6096/SEA, Darrius Heyward-Bey/$3489/IND, Greg Jennings/$4788/MIN and Josh Morgan/$2771/WAS.
