Fantasy Football Roundup: Week Four

Story posted September 27, 2013 in CommRadio, Sports by Connor DeKranis

Fantasy Football Week 4

As another week rolls by, it’s time, yet again, to study the waiver wire, and accrue the best fantasy team you can. This is going to be the first true test of a week in fantasy football, as it’s the first week of byes. The first two teams to have bye weeks this year are Green Bay and Carolina. So, if you’ve been relying on Aaron Rodgers the past three weeks, it is finally time to check out the waiver wire, and pick up a free agent for the week ahead.

QB: Who Do I Start?

Phillip Rivers (SD): Rivers may have caught some fantasy owners off guard the first two weeks of the season posting 22 and 29 points in weeks one and two respectively. However, Rivers play tapered off week three against the Titans, as he only managed to put up 11 points. Look for Rivers to potentially take more risks downfield, and return to the quarterback he was to the start the season. For further motivation, his Chargers are facing the 26th ranked pass defense in the league in the Dallas Cowboys. Again, with this being the first bye week, if you need a QB to start in place of Rodgers or Newton, look into Phillip Rivers as he is only owned in 68.2% of leagues.

RB: Who Do I Start?

Bilal Powell (NYJ): Powell is by no means an obvious choice to occupy one of your precious running back slots this week. However, he has shown considerable improvement rushing the ball for the Jets over the past three weeks. There is a strong possibility he is going to be getting the majority of the carries in weeks to come, so there is only really room for even further improvement. The Jets are heading to Tennessee to face a team who has given up more than 100 yards and a touchdown to the opposing team, on the ground, the past two weeks. That alone should be enough reason to give Powell the call. Especially, if your league has a FLEX position you are currently scratching your head to fill.  

WR: Who Do I Start?

Anyone on the Broncos: Peyton Manning is showing he can still sling the ball with the best of them, in recent weeks. He has a league leading 12 touchdowns in the first three weeks of the season, and shows no signs of slowing down. With the weapons surrounding Peyton, he has absolutely no reason to recede in the least bit. Therefore, if you have Demaryius Thomas, Eric Decker, Wes Welker, or Julius Thomas anywhere on your team… START THEM! You can’t go wrong with any of these receivers when you have future Hall-of-Famer Peyton Manning throwing to them.

Disclaimer: If somehow the fantasy Gods were looking kindly upon you, and you ended up with three or more of these receivers, only start one or two. This is fairly obvious, but just saving myself from the angry fantasy owner who starts all four to find two of them putting up single digit weeks.

D/ST: Who Do I Start?

Chiefs: The Chiefs have (according to ESPN standard scoring) the best D/ST this year. They have put up more than 20 points in two of the first three weeks, and should have no problem playing at least close to the same against the utterly foolish New York Giants. Even if the Giants decide to stop playing like a prepubescent middle school team, expect the Chiefs to at least meet their projection of nine points.

Connor DeKranis is a freshman majoring in communications. To contact him, email cdekranis@gmail.com.