Stars of Week 4 

QB: Peyton Manning: 28-34, 327 yards, 4 TDs

RB: Adrian Peterson: 23 carries, 140 yards, 2 TDs

WR: Victor Cruz: 10 catches, 164 yards, 1 TD

TE: Tony Gonzalez: 12 catches, 149 yards, 2 TDs 

If you play fantasy football even on a casual basis, you’re familiar with the four names above. Manning finds his way on here again despite being sloppy with those six incompletions. j/k Those managers who own Manning should enjoy what’s looking to be a very special season.

Week 4 Takeaways – A Closer Look

Each week we’ll take a closer look at a handful of performances and sort out what such performances mean going forward.

- Brian Hoyer: 25-38, 269 yards, 2 TDs

Analysis: The Browns trade away Trent Richardson, get accused of “tanking” and now have won their past two games. At the center of this two game winning streak is Brian Hoyer, a journeyman QB, but not one without talent. What to make of Hoyer? Well, he’s got three solid receiving targets in Josh Gordon, Greg Little and Jordan Cameron, and it would be no surprise if Hoyer continues to put up some numbers. So, Hoyer slots in now as a solid QB2 and bye week fill-in. Viewing him as more than that would be excessive, but he does have value in all but the shallowest of leagues. Also, those rostering Brandon Weeden may safely drop him now.

- Joe Flacco: 25-50, 347 yards, 2 TDs, 5 INTs

Analysis: Flacco was pegged on this site as a QB2 at draft time, and he remains at this level for the foreseeable future. What Flacco has established though is that he’s extremely unlikely to push higher from this status. The loss of Boldin and Pitta has predictably posed problems for Flacco, and while we shouldn’t see 5 INTs from Flacco in a game again, for fantasy purposes you should expect up and down performances. So, we’re talking QB2, and not higher.

- Fred Jackson:  16 carries, 87 yards, 1 TD

Analysis: Many owners left Fred Jackson for dead once CJ Spiller exploded onto the scene last season. Jackson, reminding us once again that he’s still got game, took advantage of Spiller’s injury and had a very solid performance against the Ravens on Sunday. Even with a healthy Spiller, you can count on Jackson to provide RB3/flex value, and in the event that Spiller misses any games down the road, bump Jackson up to RB2 status. He can still play.

- Maurice Jones-Drew: 13 carries, 23 yards, 0 TDs

Analysis: Following suit with the entire Jaguars’ team, Jones-Drew had a rough game against the Colts. For those who drafted Jones-Drew hoping for RB2 numbers, it’s time to revise the expectations. This team is hopeless, and while Jones-Drew remains a solid player, the Jags will be trailing early in most of their games, necessitating Gabbert/Henne to air it out. So MJD should be viewed as an RB2 in favorable matchups, and RB3/flex in others. Expect more of the latter than the former.

- Kembrell Thompkins: 6 catches, 127 yards, 1 TD

Analysis: A draft-day sleeper, Thompkins has showed a great deal of promise in the first quarter of the season. If he’s available in your league, change that, as Thompkins has staying power. Similar to Peyton Manning and [insert pass-catcher name here], if Brady likes you, you’re fantasy relevant. Thompkins should be considered a WR3/flex player, and should retain most of that value even with the return of Gronkowski and Amendola.

- Alshon Jeffery: 5 catches, 107 yards, 1 TD

Analysis: Jeffery is another ascending young receiver, and he appears to be increasing his chemistry with Jay Cutler as each game goes on. With Brandon Marshall often attracting double coverage, the table is set for Jeffery to put up some solid numbers. Jeffery’s increase in production is no fluke, and expect to see him continue to put up solid numbers. He also should be viewed as a solid WR3/flex player going forward.

- Kellen Winslow: 6 catches, 73 yards, 0 TDs

A familiar name from the not too distant past, Winslow had a solid game against the Titans. So, that makes two solid games for Winslow, and two in which he was virtually non-existent. Winslow is not a player to get excited about, but if you need a backup TE, he is worth a look.

Rapid Fire Pickups 

One suggested free agent pickup at each position (in each case a player available in most leagues):

QB: Brian Hoyer

RB: Fred Jackson

WR: Robert Woods

TE: Charles Clay

Buy Low 

A new segment where we take a look at a couple buy-low candidates that can be acquired via trade with another manager.

Colin Kaepernick: 856 yards passing, 5 TDs, 4 INTs (140 yards rushing, 0 TDs)

As a young QB, it should not be a complete shock that Kaepernick has run into a bit of adversity. Don’t overreact to the bump in the road – Kaep will figure things back out and will put up top 10 QB numbers. Stay patient if you own him, and if his owner wants to sell, check to see the price. 

CJ Spiller: 230 yards rushing, 0 TDs

While Spiller has started the season off slow, don’t write him off as a top RB. While there are a few warning signs that Spiller may not repeat last year’s level of success, he will perform much better than he has so far. If you’re looking to buy low on an RB, check with Spiller’s owner to see what it will take to obtain him. If you own Spiller, hold onto him, as better times are coming. 

Week 5 Rankings

Quarterbacks

1. Peyton Manning, Broncos (at DAL)

2. Drew Brees, Saints (at CHI)

3. Aaron Rodgers, Packers (DET)

4. Michael Vick, Eagles (at NYG)

5. Matthew Stafford, Lions (at GB)

6. Cam Newton, Panthers (at ARI)

7. Matt Ryan, Falcons (NYJ)

8. Tom Brady, Patriots (at CIN)

9. Tony Romo, Cowboys (DEN)

10. Terrelle Pryor, Raiders (SD)

11. Colin Kaepernick, 49ers (HOU)

12. Philip Rivers, Chargers (at OAK)

13. Russell Wilson, Seahawks (at IND)

14. Eli Manning, Giants (PHI)

15. Sam Bradford, Rams (JAC)

16. Andrew Luck, Colts (SEA)

17. Brian Hoyer, Browns (BUF)

18. Jay Cutler, Bears (NO)

19. Alex Smith, Chiefs (at TEN)

20. Andy Dalton, Bengals (NE)

Running Backs

1. LeSean McCoy, Eagles (at NYG)

2. Marshawn Lynch, Seahawks (at IND)

3. Jamaal Charles, Chiefs (at TEN)

4. Reggie Bush, Lions (at GB)

5. Matt Forte, Bears (NO)

6. Frank Gore, 49ers (HOU)

7. Arian Foster, Texans (at SF)

8. Trent Richardson, Colts (SEA)

9. DeMarco Murray, Cowboys (DEN)

10. Knowshon Moreno, Broncos (at DAL)

11. Ray Rice, Ravens (at MIA)

12. Lamar Miller, Dolphins (BAL)

13. Eddie Lacy, Pacers (DET)

14. Darren Sproles, Saints (at CHI)

15. Maurice Jones-Drew, Jaguars (at STL)

16. Chris Johnson, Titans (KC)

17. Bilal Powell, Jets (at ATL)

18. Giovani Bernard, Bengals (NE)

19. Stevan Ridley, Patriots (at CIN)

20. David Wilson, Giants (PHI)

21. DeAngelo Williams, Panthers (at ARI)

22. Fred Jackson, Bills (at CLE)

23. Ryan Mathews, Chargers (at OAK)

24. Willis McGahee, Browns (BUF)

25. Rashad Jennings, Raiders (SD)

26. Rashard Menenhall, Cardinals (CAR)

27. Ben Tate, Texans (at SF)

28. Danny Woodhead, Chargers (at OAK)

29. Jacquizz Rodgers, Falcons (NYJ)

30. Joique Bell, Lions (at GB)

Wide Receivers

1. Calvin Johnson, Lions (at GB)

2. Demaryius Thomas, Broncos (at DAL)

3. Victor Cruz, Giants (PHI)

4. Dez Bryant, Cowboys (DEN)

5. Wes Welker, Broncos (at DAL)

6. Julio Jones, Falcons (NYJ)

7. Brandon Marshall, Bears (NO)

8. A.J. Green, Bengals (NE)

9. Randall Cobb, Packers (DET)

10. DeSean Jackson, Eagles (at NYG)

11. Larry Fitzgerald, Cardinals (CAR)

12. Jordy Nelson, Packers (DET)

13. Marques Colston, Saints (at CHI)

14. Andre Johnson, Texans (at SF)

15. Eric Decker, Broncos (at DAL)

16. Josh Gordon, Browns (BUF)

17. Anquan Boldin, 49ers (HOU)

18. Torrey Smith, Ravens (at MIA)

19. James Jones, Packers (DET)

20. Danny Amendola, Patriots (at CIN)

21. Steve Smith, Panthers (at ARI)

22. Cecil Shorts, Jaguars (at STL)

23. Kenbrell Thompkins, Patriots (at CIN)

24. Mike Wallace, Dolphins (BAL)

25. Hakeem Nicks, Giants (PHI)

26. Dwayne Bowe, Chiefs (at TEN)

27. Denarius Moore, Raiders (SD)

28. Reggie Wayne, Colts (SEA)

29. T.Y. Hilton, Colts (SEA)

30. Steve Johnson, Bills (at CLE)

Tight Ends

1. Jimmy Graham, Saints (at CHI)

2. Jordan Cameron, Browns (BUF)

3. Tony Gonzalez, Falcons (NYJ)

4. Julius Thomas, Broncos (at DAL)

5. Antonio Gates, Chargers (at OAK)

6. Martellus Bennett, Bears (NO)

7. Jason Witten, Cowboys (DEN)

8. Jared Cook, Rams (JAC)

9. Coby Fleener, Colts (SEA)

10. Greg Olsen, Panthers (at ARI)

11. Charles Clay, Dolphins (BAL)

12. Brent Celek, Eagles (at NYG)

13. Owen Daniels, Texans (at SF)

14. Brandon Myers, Giants (PHI)

15. Brandon Pettigrew, Lions (at GB)

Neema Hodjat is the fantasy sports writer for RealGM.  He can be reached via email at nhodjat@gmail.com and followed on Twitter at @NeemaHodjat.