Stars of Week 4

QB: Matt Ryan, ATL: 28-37, 503 yards, 4 TDs, 1 INT     

RB: DeMarco Murray, TEN: 25 carries, 95 yards 2 TDs                                                                

WR: Julio Jones, ATL: 12 catches, 300 yards, 1 TD

TE: Jimmy Graham, SEA: 6 catches, 113 yards, 0 TDs

We had video game performances posted by the passing battery of Matt Ryan and Julio Jones, which took place against what was considered a top level defense in the Carolina Panthers. Matt Ryan has absolutely raised his play to another level this season, and he’s making a strong push for weekly starter status. Before we go there though, let’s see how Ryan performs in his next two games – which come against the juggernaut Denver Broncos’ and Seattle Seahawks’ defenses. Julio Jones rebounded from his one catch performance the previous week to top the three hundred yard mark, obliterating the Panthers’ secondary. Jones remains a top three WR.

DeMarco Murray continues his surprisingly strong 2016 campaign, rushing for nearly one hundred yards and scoring two TDs against the Texans. With rookie Derrick Henry initially thought to be breathing down his neck, Murray has earned the right to maintain the lion’s share of the carries for the Titans. Murray remains an RB1 until further notice. As for the week’s star tight end, a familiar name wins the honors.

Jimmy Graham was a first round pick in fantasy drafts as recently as a few years ago, only to fall from fantasy grace with the trade to Seattle, compounded by his rough injury midway through the 2015 season. Graham has been a monster the last few weeks, making his patented “just throw it up and I’ll get it” catches at key moments for the Seahawks. We’ll take a closer look at Graham below. 

Week 4 Takeaways – A Closer Look

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

- Eli Manning, QB – NYG: 25-45, 261 yards, 0 TDs, 1 INT                            

Analysis: Eli Manning was ranked quite low as a QB option this past week since we was facing the new incarnation of the Purple People Eaters. The Minnesota Vikings defense may be the very best in the league, and they have shut down Aaron Rodgers and Cam Newton. So the results from Monday night were quite predictable – a bad night from Manning. Does this change Manning’s standing for the season? Not really. He remains a solid start for most weeks, but you absolutely need to have a platoon partner for him when he faces tougher matchups. With Odell, promising rookie Sterling Shepard and the rest of the receiving corps in place, Manning will post strong aggregate numbers for the season. The Vikings were just a terrible matchup for Manning, as they will be for virtually every quarterback. So don’t panic about Eli, but be smart about using a second QB in tough matchups.

- Terrance West, RB – BAL: 21 carries, 113 yards, 1 TD                                

Analysis: Terrance West dominated the Ravens' carry distribution against the Raiders, accounting for 21 of the team’s 26 carries. Also of importance, Justin Forsett had exactly zero carries and has been cut from the team. So that’s it – Terrance West will be the Ravens’ bell cow going forward, right? To borrow a line from College GameDay personality Lee Corso – not so fast my friends. Looming on the horizon is the return of talented rookie Kenneth Dixon, who could be back as early as this coming Week 5. Dixon has the most talent out of the Ravens’ group of RBs, and it’s only a matter of time before he becomes the lead back. While it’s possible that West holds onto the role for the season, I’ll bet $1 that Dixon takes over as the lead back sometime during the second half of the year. So West is a great add for short term benefits, with Dixon serving as the better pickup with later in the season and beyond in mind.   

- Jordan Howard, RB – CHI: 23 carries, 111 yards, 0 TDs          

Analysis: Popular waiver wire pickup Jordan Howard had the RB duties to himself with Jeremy Langford out, and Howard stepped up to the plate in his first start. Howard, the rookie fifth round pick from Indiana hurdled past the 100 yard mark in the win against the Lions. While not a speed back, Howard possesses tremendous power and will break tackles. This makes Howard a great fit into the Bears’ offense, and he will pick up those vaunted yards after contact. Langford will likely remain out for roughly one month, but the thought here is that Howard will retain the job even upon Langford’s return. View Howard as an RB2 going forward.

- Dontrelle Inman, WR – SD: 7 catches, 120 yards, 1 TD

Analysis: The Chargers’ have perfected their expertise in fourth quarter meltdowns, which has to tear a hole through the hearts of their fans. The loss of Keenan Allen to a torn ACL in Week 1 has certainly played a factor in the spiraling Chargers’ season. With Allen out, various WRs have had an opportunity to step up their roles, with Travis Benjamin, Tyrell Williams and now Dontrelle Inman throwing their hats in the ring. Inman had been quiet up until Week 4, where he went off for 120 yards and a TD while hauling in 7 catches. Also very promising, Inman led the team with 11 targets. What do we know of the Chargers’ WR group as of now? Travis Benjamin serves as the team’s deep threat, with Williams and Inman as the big, move-the-chains targets. The bad news here is that Rivers has always spread the ball around, and we’ll likely see that continue to the detriment of fantasy value for the WRs. Inman will vacillate between a WR3/flex value in good matchups and WR4 in tougher matchups, with a high variable of unpredictability from week to week. So Inman should be owned in deeper leagues (i.e. 12 teams and up), and he will be useful next week against the Raiders. 

- Michael Crabtree, WR - OAK: 7 catches, 88 yards, 3 TDs

Analysis: Derek Carr has taken yet another leap in this, his third season. As the saying goes, a rising tide lifts all boats, and in this case, Amari Cooper and Michael Crabtree comprise the water vessels. While Cooper already sits high on WR lists, Crabtree is showing that he belongs up there as well. Through four games, Crabtree has 26 catches for 308 yards and 4 TDs, and importantly has been targeted by Carr 37 times. As seen in both the opening week win against the Saints and last week’s win against the Ravens, Carr views Crabtree as his go-to guy in crunch time. And the Carr-Crabtree combo established roots in 2015, so the connection here has a strong foundation. Crabtree should be a weekly start as a WR2.

- Jimmy Graham, TE – SEA: 6 catches, 113 yards, 0 TDs

Analysis: Jimmy Graham suffered about as tough of an injury as you can in terms of recovery difficulty when he tore his patellar tendon. Victor Cruz suffered this same injury, and he has clearly not been the same since. As for Graham, he has not only looked like his old self over the last few weeks, but he’s looked as good as ever in a Seahawks uniform. Graham’s numbers were way down in 2015, his first year with Seattle, prior to his injury. The cause of his decline in numbers was not due to diminished skill, but rather the Seahawks learning how to use their new weapon – one that cost them a first round pick and starting center Max Unger. Over the last two games, Russell Wilson has figured out that Graham doesn’t need to be open in order to haul in a pass. Instead, just get the ball into Graham’s catch radius and he’ll pull it down. Graham’s recovery from the injury has been nothing short of remarkable, and he should be viewed as a TE1 going forward.

Rapid Fire Pickups

Each week we’ll throw out potential free agent pickups from each position for deeper leagues, in each case 1) someone who has NOT been referenced above, and 2) a player available in most leagues. 

QB:                  Joe Flacco, BAL

RB:                  Bilal Powell, NYJ

RB:                  Wendell Smallwood, PHI

WR:                 Cole Beasley, DAL

WR:                 Chris Hogan, NE

TE:                  Hunter Henry, SD

Week 5 Rankings

Quarterbacks

  1. Aaron Rodgers, GB (vs NYG)
  2. Tom Brady, NE (at CLE)
  3. Ben Roethlisberger, PIT (vs NYJ)
  4. Philip Rivers, SD (at OAK)
  5. Andrew Luck, IND (vs CHI)
  6. Derek Carr, OAK (vs SD)
  7. Eli Manning, NYG (at GB)
  8. Carson Wentz, PHI (at DET)
  9. Kirk Cousins, WAS (at BAL)
  10. Matthew Stafford, DET (vs PHI)
  11. Andy Dalton, CIN (at DAL)
  12. Joe Flacco, BAL (vs WAS)
  13. Matt Ryan, ATL (at DEN)
  14. Jameis Winston, TB (at CAR)
  15. Brian Hoyer, CHI (at IND)
  16. Derek Anderson, CAR (vs TB)
  17. Dak Prescott, DAL (vs CIN)
  18. Tyrod Taylor, BUF (at LA)
  19. Trevor Siemian, DEN (vs ATL)
  20. Ryan Tannehill, MIA (vs TEN)

Running Backs

  1. Le’Veon Bell, PIT (vs NYJ)
  2. DeMarco Murray, TEN (at MIA)
  3. Ezekiel Elliot, DAL (vs CIN)
  4. CJ Anderson, DEN (vs ATL)
  5. Melvin Gordon, SD (at OAK)
  6. LeSean McCoy, BUF (at LA)
  7. Todd Gurley, LA (vs BUF)
  8. Jordan Howard, CHI (at IND)
  9. LeGarrette Blount, NE (at CLE)
  10. Isaiah Crowell, CLE (vs NE)
  11. Jeremy Hill, CIN (at DAL)
  12. Eddie Lacy, GB (vs NYG)
  13. Lamar Miller, HOU (at MIN)
  14. Terrance West, BAL (vs WAS)
  15. Frank Gore, IND (vs CHI)
  16. Jerick McKinnon, MIN (vs HOU)
  17. Matt Forte, NYJ (at PIT)
  18. Matt Jones, WAS (at BAL)
  19. Devonta Freeman, ATL (at DEN)
  20. DeAndre Washington, OAK (vs SD)
  21. Theo Riddick, DET (vs PHI)
  22. Duke Johnson, CLE (vs NE)
  23. Giovani Bernard, CIN (at DAL)
  24. James White, NE (at CLE)
  25. Ryan Mathews, PHI (at DET)
  26. Wendell Smallwood, PHI (at DET)
  27. Tevin Coleman, ATL (at DEN)
  28. Cameron Artis-Payne, CAR (vs TB)
  29. Darren Sproles, PHI (at DET)
  30. Fozzy Whitaker, CAR (vs TB)
  31. Jalen Richard, OAK (vs SD)
  32. Bilal Powell, NYJ (at PIT)
  33. Rashad Jennings, NYG (at GB)
  34. Matt Asiata, MIN (vs HOU)
  35. Jacquizz Rodgers, TB (at CAR)
  36. DeAngelo Williams, PIT (vs NYJ)
  37. Orleans Darkwa, NYG (at GB)
  38. Derrick Henry, TEN (at MIA)
  39. Jay Ajayi, MIA (vs TEN)
  40. Kenneth Dizon, BAL (vs WAS)

Wide Receivers

  1. Antonio Brown, PIT (vs NYJ)
  2. AJ Green, CIN (at DAL)
  3. Odell Beckham Jr., NYG (at GB)
  4. Mike Evans, TB (at CAR)
  5. Jordy Nelson, GB (vs NYG)
  6. Brandon Marshall, NYJ (at PIT)
  7. Julio Jones, ATL (at DEN)
  8. TY Hilton, IND (vs CHI)
  9. Kelvin Benjamin, CAR (vs TB)
  10. Marvin Jones, DET (vs PHI)
  11. Alshon Jeffery, CHI (at IND)
  12. Jordan Matthews, PHI (at DET)
  13. Michael Crabtree, OAK (vs SD)
  14. Demaryius Thomas, DEN (vs ATL)
  15. Julian Edelman, NE (at CLE)
  16. Jarvis Landry, MIA (vs TEN)
  17. DeAndre Hopkins, HOU (at MIN)
  18. Emmanuel Sanders, DEN (vs ATL)
  19. Amari Cooper, OAK (vs SD)
  20. Steve Smith, BAL (vs WAS)
  21. Stefon Diggs, Min (vs HOU)
  22. DeSean Jackson, WAS (at BAL)
  23. Terrelle Pryor, CLE (vs NE)
  24. Travis Benjamin, SD (at OAK)
  25. Sterling Shepard, NYG (at GB)
  26. Quincy Enunwa, NYJ (at PIT)
  27. Devante Parker, MIA (vs TEN)
  28. Randall Cobb, GB (vs NYG)
  29. Philip Dorsett, IND (vs CHI)
  30. Will Fuller, HOU (at MIN)
  31. Eddie Royal, CHI (at IND)
  32. Dontrell Inman, SD (at OAK)
  33. Tyrell Williams, SD (at OAK)
  34. Chris Hogan, NE (at CLE)
  35. Mike Wallace, BAL (vs WAS)
  36. Sammie Coates, PIT (vs NYJ)
  37. Cole Beasley, DAL (vs CIN)
  38. Robert Woods, BUF (at LA)
  39. Jamison Crowder, WAS (at BAL)
  40. Tavon Austin, LA (vs BUF)

Tight Ends

  1. Jordan Reed, WAS (at BAL)
  2. Greg Olsen, CAR (vs TB)
  3. Zach Ertz, PHI (at DET)
  4. Rob Gronkowski, NE (at CLE)
  5. Delanie Walker, TEN (at MIA)
  6. Kyle Rudolph, MIN (vs HOU)
  7. Hunter Henry, SD (at OAK)
  8. Zach Miller, CHI (at IND)
  9. Dennis Pitta, BAL (vs WAS)
  10. Martellus Bennett, NE (at CLE)
  11. Eric Ebron, DET (vs PHI)
  12. Jason Witten, DAL (vs CIN)
  13. Cameron Brate, TB (at CAR)
  14. Gary Barnidge, CLE (vs NE)
  15. Dwayne Allen, IND (vs CHI)
  16. Clive Walford, OAK (vs SD)
  17. Jacob Tamme, ATL (at DEN)
  18. Jesse James, PIT (vs NYJ)
  19. Charles Clay, BUF (at LA)
  20. Richard Rodgers, GB (vs NYG)

Defense/Special Teams:

  1. Minnesota Vikings (vs HOU)
  2. New England Patriots (at CLE)
  3. Denver Broncos (vs ATL)
  4. Buffalo Bills (at LA)
  5. Philadelphia Eagles (at DET)
  6. Los Angeles Rams (vs BUF)
  7. Cincinnati Bengals (at DAL)
  8. Carolina Panthers (vs TB)
  9. Houston Texans (at MIN)
  10. Pittsburgh Steelers (vs NYJ)
  11. Green Bay Packers (vs NYG)
  12. Tennessee Titans (at MIA)
  13. Baltimore Ravens (vs WAS)
  14. Miami Dolphins (vs TEN)