All our week 5 content

Week 5 Upgrades, Downgrades, and Waiver Wire Wonders

Quarterback

1. QB David Garrard, JAX
2. QB Jay Cutler, CHI
3. QB Brett Favre, MIN
4. QB Shaun Hill, SF
5. QB Matthew Stafford, DET
6. QB Derek Anderson, CLE *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM ***
7. QB Peyton Manning, IND
8. QB Aaron Rodgers, GB

Downgrade

1. QB JaMarcus Russell, OAK
2. QB Trent Edwards, BUF
3. QB Tony Romo, DAL

Holding steady

1. QB Drew Brees, NO
2. QB Eli Manning, NYG
3. QB Joe Flacco, BAL
4. QB Carson Palmer, CIN
5. QB Matt Schaub, HOU
6. QB Ben Roethlisberger, PIT
7. QB Jason Campbell, WAS
8. QB Tom Brady, NE
9. QB Kyle Orton, DEN
10. QB Josh Johnson, TB
11. QB Kerry Collins, TEN

Running Back

1. RB Rashard Mendenhall, PIT
2. RB Pierre Thomas, NO
3. RB Ronnie Brown, MIA
4. RB Brandon Jacobs, NYG
5. RB Knowshon Moreno, DEN
6. RB Ray Rice, BAL
7. RB Kevin Smith, DET
8. RB Steve Slaton, HOU
9. RB Ricky Williams, MIA
10. RB Clinton Portis, WAS
11. RB Jerome Harrison, CLE *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM ***
12. RB Matt Forte, CHI
13. RB Rashad Jennings, JAX *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM ***
14. RB Ryan Moats, HOU *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM ***
15. RB Shonn Greene, NYJ *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM ***
16. RB Larry Johnson, KC
17. RB Ryan Grant, GB
18. RB Bernard Scott, CIN *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM ***
19. RB Sammy Morris, NE *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM ***
20. RB LaMont Jordan, DEN *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM ***

Downgrade

1. RB Mike Bell, NO
2. RB Darren McFadden, OAK
3. RB Michael Bush, OAK
4. RB Steven Jackson, STL
5. RB Correll Buckhalter, DEN
6. RB Marshawn Lynch, BUF
7. RB Leon Washington, NYJ
8. RB Darren Sproles, SD
9. RB Willie Parker, PIT
10. RB Reggie Bush, NO
11. RB Fred Taylor, NE
12. RB Thomas Jones, NYJ
13. RB LenDale White, TEN
14. RB Chris Brown, HOU
15. RB Mewelde Moore, PIT
16. RB Chester Taylor, MIN
17. RB LaDainian Tomlinson, SD
18. RB Julius Jones, SEA
19. RB Laurence Maroney, NE
20. RB Brandon Jackson, GB
21. RB Chris Johnson, TEN
22. RB Adrian Peterson, MIN

Holding steady

1. RB Justin Fargas, OAK
2. RB Maurice Jones-Drew, JAX
3. RB Willis McGahee, BAL
4. RB Cedric Benson, CIN
5. RB Marion Barber, DAL
6. RB Cadillac Williams, TB
7. RB Frank Gore, SF
8. RB Glen Coffee, SF
9. RB Tashard Choice, DAL
10. RB DeShawn Wynn, GB

Wide Receiver

1. WR Mike Sims-Walker, JAX
2. WR Johnny Knox, CHI *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM ***
3. WR Mohamed Massaquoi, CLE *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM ***
4. WR Kenny Britt, TEN *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM ***
5. WR Nate Washington, TEN
6. WR Steve Smith, NYG
7. WR Hakeem Nicks, NYG *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM ***
8. WR Brandon Marshall, DEN
9. WR Bernard Berrian, MIN
10. WR Derrick Mason, BAL
11. WR Josh Morgan, SF *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM ***
12. WR Antonio Bryant, TB
13. WR Chris Chambers, SD *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM ***
14. WR David Clowney, NYJ *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM ***
15. WR Sidney Rice, MIN
16. WR Kelley Washington, BAL *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM ***
17. WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh, SEA
18. WR Hines Ward, PIT
19. WR Mike Thomas, JAX *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM ***
20. WR Deion Branch, SEA *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM ***
21. WR Brad Smith, NYJ *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM ***

Downgrade

1. WR Earl Bennett, CHI
2. WR Roy Williams, DAL
3. WR Donnie Avery, STL
4. WR Ted Ginn, MIA
5. WR Justin Gage, TEN
6. WR Patrick Crayton, DAL
7. WR Eddie Royal, DEN
8. WR Greg Jennings, GB
9. WR Mario Manningham, NYG
10. WR Braylon Edwards, NYJ
11. WR Jacoby Jones, HOU
12. WR Chansi Stuckey, CLE
13. WR Mark Clayton, BAL
14. WR Josh Cribbs, CLE
15. WR Percy Harvin, MIN
16. WR Miles Austin, DAL
17. WR Darrius Heyward-Bey, OAK

Holding steady

1. WR Andre Johnson, HOU
2. WR Randy Moss, NE
3. WR Marques Colston, NO
4. WR Chad Ochocinco, CIN
5. WR Santana Moss, WAS
6. WR Devin Hester, CHI
7. WR Austin Collie, IND
8. WR Kevin Walter, HOU
9. WR Wes Welker, NE
10. WR Lance Moore, NO
11. WR Louis Murphy, OAK
12. WR Sam Hurd, DAL
13. WR Donald Driver, GB
14. WR Jordy Nelson, GB

Tight End

1. TE Vernon Davis, SF
2. TE Brandon Pettigrew, DET *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM ***
3. TE Heath Miller, PIT
4. TE Owen Daniels, HOU
5. TE Marcedes Lewis, JAX *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM ***
6. TE Jermichael Finley, GB *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM ***
7. TE Ben Watson, NE
8. TE Steve Heiden, CLE *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM ***
9. TE Dan Coats, CIN *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM ***
10. TE Chris Cooley, WAS
11. TE Antonio Gates, SD

Downgrade

1. TE Kellen Winslow, TB
2. TE Anthony Fasano, MIA
3. TE Jason Witten, DAL
4. TE Donald Lee, GB

Holding steady

1. TE Greg Olsen, CHI
2. TE Todd Heap, BAL
3. TE Zach Miller, JAX
4. TE Visanthe Shiancoe, MIN

Kicker

1. PK Garrett Hartley, NO *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM ***
2. PK Josh Scobee, JAX *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM ***
3. PK Jason Hanson, DET *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM ***

Downgrade

1. PK Nick Folk, DAL
2. PK Rian Lindell, BUF
3. PK John Carney, NO

Holding steady

Team Defense

1. TD New Orleans Saints, NO
2. TD San Francisco 49ers, SF
3. TD Denver Broncos, DEN
4. TD New York Jets, NYJ
5. TD Houston Texans, HOU *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM ***

Downgrade

1. TD Pittsburgh Steelers, PIT
2. TD Oakland Raiders, OAK
3. TD Tennessee Titans, TEN

Holding steady

Quarterback

QB Derek Anderson, CLE - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - Anderson had his usual struggles with inaccuracy and a lack of touch on short and timing routes, but he earned an extended look as the starter with his performance against the Bengals. Unlike Brady Quinn, Anderson frequently was successful getting the ball downfield, though it was Mohammed Massaquoi rather than Braylon Edwards who was the preferred target. Anderson benefitted from the short fields provided him by the returns of Josh Cribbs and moved the ball well until he got to the red zone, where he struggled. His success passing opened holes in the running game that hadn't been there earlier in the season. Anderson gets a banged up Buffalo secondary next week and should build on his solid start with Green Bay the week after. Of the quarterbacks potentially on the waiver wire, he's the most proven.

QB Jay Cutler, CHI - Jay Cutler produced once again for the Bears, finishing with yet another 100+ QB rating for Chicago in Week 4. Cutler threw for two short touchdowns and found nine different receivers, matching the Detroit offense punch for punch in the first half. Cutler mixed the pass in well enough to compliment a strong ground attack, but his highlight came on a rushing touchdown in the first quarter. Channeling his best John Elway impersonation, Cutler leaped at the goal line and helicoptered through a tackle, landing in the end zone for the score. Cutler lost his top receiver Devin Hester to a shoulder injury in the first half and he struggled to find TE Greg Olsen as the Lions blanketed him in coverage, but he used rookie Johnny Knox and was able to spearhead Chicago to their top point output of the young season. Cutler should easily remain a fantasy starting QB after the Week 5 bye.

QB Brett Favre, MIN - You had to expect that Brett Favre would have a good game. He's beaten every other team in the NFL except the Packers, and the only reason he hasn't is because he had not played them before. Favre didn't disappoint Monday night; he was in control the entire game. Calm and cool under pressure, he carved up the Packers again and again. On the TD pass to Shiancoe, he executed a beautiful play action pass, and calmly hit his open TE for the TD. On the second TD pass to Rice, he made a perfect throw on a crossing route that hit a well covered Rice for a TD. On the big TD bomb to Berrian in the 3rd quarter, Favre had just spent seven seconds in the pocket the play before, hitting Jeff Dugan for a big gain over the middle. As the Packer defense was reeling and out of position, Favre called a quick play, faked a quick pass to Bernard Berrian down the left side and hit Berrian a second later on a long TD bomb after a great double-move on Al Harris. Each time the Packers drew near, Favre trotted out and took his team back to the end zone to put them up again. If the last two weeks are any indication, Favre is a legitimate fantasy starting QB now, especially in games where Adrian Peterson is facing a tough defense and the Vikings need Favre to win the game through the air.

QB David Garrard, JAX - David Garrard put up his best game of the season against a decimated Tennessee Titan defense, ripping them for 323 yards and three touchdowns. Garrard played the entire contest despite the blowout game, finishing the Titans off with a TE seam pass to Marcedes Lewis. It was interesting to see him still in there for 60 minutes simply because he was hit often and hit hard by the front four from Tennessee. Garrard added more yardage (38) scrambling, boosting his fantasy value even further. Jacksonville travels to Seattle and then hosts the Rams; so two good games could be in store in the coming weeks before Jacksonville's Week 7 bye.

QB Shaun Hill, SF - Shaun Hill does not look good when you watch him play, but his numbers do not lie -- he can produce as an NFL quarterback. With a young team developing and growing together, Hill has a nice TE in Vernon Davis and a good potential WR in Josh Morgan to start putting up solid numbers. His defense puts him on shorter fields, and Hill's legs afford him some extra fantasy production when he scrambles. He may not throw the prettiest spiral every time, but as he showed against the Rams even some of his weaker passes can go for touchdowns. Josh Morgan dropped Hill's best pass on a play that should have been a 44-yard touchdown, but Morgan did find the end zone against a poor St. Louis team. Hill is a solid fantasy QB2 with upside and several good matchups left down the road, especially later in the year.

QB Peyton Manning, IND - We can't really upgrade a QB on our list, but Manning threw for over 300 yards on Sunday for the fourth time in four games this season. He has a remarkable ability to identify what defense his opponent is in, and to audible to the perfect play at the line of scrimmage. A great example of that was the 21-yard touchdown pass to Austin Collie at the end of the first half (capping off a 78-yard drive that took 79 seconds). Manning saw that Collie faced single man-to-man coverage, sent him streaking into the end zone, and placed the ball perfectly over his outside shoulder with just seconds left on the game clock. While Drew Brees and Tom Brady looked like sexier fantasy picks before the start of the season, Manning has outplayed both so far this year. And there is no sign that any NFL defenses have found a way to stop him; whatever they try, Manning's experience allows him to make the correct adjustments in response.

QB Aaron Rodgers, GB - Before the game, Donald Driver and Charles Woodson both commented that Aaron Rogers would be the best QB in the league if they could only protect him. It was obvious from this game because despite constant pressure all night from the Viking front four (especially Jared Allen who spent more time in the backfield than Ryan Grant), Rogers put on one hell of a show against his former mentor. Unfortunately, it just wasn't enough to get him the win. Rodgers was under pressure for most of the night, and his offensive line frequently let him down. To his credit, he bought time by rolling out and frequently turned what looked like a sure sack into a big play. He found Ryan Grant several times on a quick screen or dump off during a heavy blitz for gains of 15 yards or more. Even late in the fourth quarter, down by 10 points with no time outs left, Rodgers was leading his team, making solid throws and taking what the defense gave him to put his team in a position to win. The Vikings defense was just too tough and too aggressive for him to overcome. Even with a makeshift line, Rodgers threw for 384 yards and 2 scores, which is proof enough he's a first-tier fantasy starter.

QB Matthew Stafford, DET - Stafford and his young Lions' offense tried to keep up with a strong Bears team, and he did just that by matching Jay Cutler and Chicago to a 21-21 score at halftime in Week 4. Stafford had 221 yards in the first half on 23 attempts, moving the ball well but he could have had an even bigger day if he had been more accurate. His receivers were open on most every attempt, but it was Stafford's errant throws (often too high) that cost Detroit the completion. Late in the game, Stafford was sacked and his knee folded under him, forcing him to leave the game in favor of Daunte Culpepper. Stafford did not return to the game after the injury, but Detroit was likely just playing it safe as the game was already decided by the midpoint of the fourth quarter. With a minor subluxation of his kneecap it remains to be seen if he will be healthy enough to face Pittsburgh in Week 5, but the initial prognosis is guardedly optimistic.

Downgrade

QB Trent Edwards, BUF - While Trent Edwards did make more of an effort to get the ball to his playmaking wide receivers in this game, he was not very effective and finished the game with three interceptions, including one that was returned for a touchdown. While Edwards did not play very well throughout the game, the offensive line, playing without both starting tackles, was also to blame as they provided very little protection to Edwards, and opened up very few holes in the running game. Although the Dolphins were missing their best pass rusher in Joey Porter, it didn't seem to matter as his replacement Cameron Wake continually abused RT Kirk Chambers and finished with three sacks and two more QB hits. Edwards did connect on a three-yard touchdown pass to Josh Reed in the fourth quarter, but the game was already out of reach at that point. The Bills offense was better than expected early on thanks to some surprisingly good play from the offensive line, but the starting RT has already been placed on injured reserve and the starting LT missed this game with a groin injury. With a couple of rookies already starting at both guard spots, Edwards could be in for a difficult season if the line continues to struggle.

QB Tony Romo, DAL - Romo was sacked five times in this game, and the pressure altered his accuracy the more he got hit. His receivers were not consistently on the same page with him on routes that resulted in misfires and interceptions. He also lost the ball when he was hit on a safety blitz from the blind side that he was responsible for identifying before the snap. The Dallas QB looked really uncomfortable in the second half and only generated 61 yards of offense until the final minute where he kept a play alive to hit Sam Hurd over the middle, resulting in a 53-yard gain and four unsuccessful shots from the red area to tie the game. The Broncos did a great job of taking away Jason Witten in this game, and the lack of strong receiving talent became even more apparent. Romo is a clear downgrade except when he opponents whose secondary is clearly overmatched by even the worst passing offenses. Romo gets some relief after the bye week with the Falcons and Seahawks, but the dearth of receiving talent in Dallas makes him a prohibitive start at best.

QB JaMarcus Russell, OAK - Russell had another game where fans were left shaking their heads and asking, "huh?" Russell finished the day 12 for 33 for 128 yards. What's worse, with the exception of one poor call on an apparent Louis Murphy catch on third down, Russell did not complete a single clutch pass all day. The Raiders managed just six passing first downs and Russell was completely ineffective on most every throw that traveled more then five yards. He completed two passes of more then 15 yards, but was consistently inaccurate down the field and showed virtually no touch on his passes, preferring to throw the ball as hard as possible (a la David Carr) regardless of route and distance. The Raiders inexplicably did not take many chances down the field despite trailing in the game and being woefully ineffective in the short passing game. Of the five balls Russell passed downfield, Louis Murphy was the target on four of them and Zach Miller on the other. Only two were completed (both to Murphy on the left side of the field) and one was overturned on replay. Otherwise, Russell passed the ball between 5 and 10 yards, primarily in the middle of the field on crossing routes and slants, and as his stat line shows was very ineffective at moving the ball consistently.

Holding steady

QB Tom Brady, NE - Brady made some excellent plays in this game. He made an big throw across his body to Ben Watson on a 30-plus-yard seam route and was confident enough in his knee to break the pocket to throw on the run and even scramble for yardage. New England employed a lot of quick passes to backs and receivers on the edge of the Ravens defense and Brady ran a lot of quick snaps on running plays to keep the opponent off balance. He handled pressure reasonably well except for a blindside sack by DE Trevor Pryce that resulted in a fumble return for a score. However, Brady also got hit in the knee by pressure and his leg held up fine. Denver's defense might present a bigger challenge than expected, but with Tennessee and Tampa Bay in weeks six and seven, Brady owners have promising weeks ahead. Despite a mediocre performance on the box score against the aggressive Ravens, Brady remains a viable starter.

QB Drew Brees, NO - Drew Brees ran into the Jets defense and came out a victor, without the all of the passing yards that we have become so accustomed to seeing from him. He was pressured and blitzed often, which resulted in high throws, low throws, throws into coverage, etc. The Jets pass rush and talented corners kept him at bay most of the game. If it weren't for the miscues by Jets QB Mark Sanchez and the capitalization by the Saints defense, the game would've been a different story. Brees attempted several down field throws, but he couldn't connect. To give an idea on how good Brees can be, he made a pass to Jeremy Shockey in the third quarter that few QBs would attempt, let alone make. On 1st and 20, Brees had Pierre Thomas wide open with a middle screen with but one LB waiting six yards down field. Had he thrown it to Thomas, he would've surely gained at least 10 yards on the play, if not more. Instead of making the high percentage pass to Thomas he decided to thread the needle with a perfect pass over the outstretched LBs hands to Shockey, who was 10 yards further down field. Shockey caught the ball and was tackled, but the play went for 20 yards - erased was the holding call that backed them up. It is plays like that make Drew Brees one of the league's premier QBs. The Saints have a bye week five and continue their quest to remain undefeated against the Giants in week six. Keep in mind, the Giants, like the Jets, have given opposing QBs trouble this year, but lack the secondary play of coach Ryan's group. We still recommend starting Brees, but don't expect one of his better games stats-wise unless he and Eli Manning somehow get into a shoot-out.

QB Jason Campbell, WAS - Not many QBs win the game after being responsible for four turnovers in the game, but Campbell did exactly that. He made poor decisions on multiple occasions, however he got it together in the third quarter long enough to find Santana Moss on a deep stop and go TD pass. The pass was a perfect strike that hit Moss on the fly, and It was by far Campbell's best moment of the game. His low-lights included three interceptions to Bucs CB Aqib Talib and a fumble after a sack on the Redskins first possession. Campbell settled down in the second half and found Chris Cooley often, who nearly always found a way to get open. Cooley's awareness was the difference for Campbell. His shoddy play and decision making was saved thanks to Cooley's efforts. Despite the shortcomings, Campbell actually is not a bad fantasy option. He began week four as the 12th-ranked fantasy QB in FBG scoring system. Campbell and the Skins travel to Carolina next week, and the Panthers have issues on defense. It's not out of the question to expect a fairly productive game from Campbell once again.

QB Kerry Collins, TEN - Kerry Collins had respectable numbers despite all the post-game discussions of whether it is Collins' fault that the Titans are 0-4. Last we checked, Collins plays offense and not defense, and it was Jacksonville posting 37 points in a blowout. Collins completed 60 percent of his 48 attempts, threw a touchdown pass, ran for another, and one of his two picks were with just seconds to go before the half. Collins is a scapegoat for a Titans' team that is struggling to create space for Chris Johnson on offense and also to stop anyone on defense. Head coach Jeff Fisher is smart enough to realize all of that (and that Vince Young won't solve the issues).

QB Joe Flacco, BAL - Like fellow second-year QB Matt Ryan, Flacco has moments where he looks great, but he still has a clear weak-point in his game that appears in certain situations. The Ravens employed a lot of play action on first and second downs, including three play action passes on consecutive first downs in the opening drive, to give Flacco an opportunity to use his strong arm to make plays down field on deep outs, come backs, and other perimeter routes. Flacco's mobility served him well throughout the game, either making excellent throws across his body moving left or right or getting rid of the ball to avoid taking a sack even after losing lineman Jared Gaither in the second quarter. At the same time, he didn't see the defensive linemen or linebackers on at least four underneath throws on crossing routes and two of them should have been intercepted. Plus, he was impatient on shallow timing routes, throwing the ball too early. Flacco had a career-high, 47 passing attempts against the Patriots and his two scores were an example of his patience with his progressions and accuracy: a 3rd and 20 deep out to Derrick Mason for the score and a perfectly led seam route to Willis McGahee. Despite the Patriots limiting Flacco's access to TE Todd Heap, the Ravens QB had more answers to the New England defense than Matt Ryan the week before. With Cincinnati and Minnesota before the bye week, and Denver after, Flacco will have equally good defenses to face on the horizon and remains a good starter on a balanced offense.

QB Josh Johnson, TB - Johnson is definitely an improvement at QB for Tampa Bay, but he's not quite there yet as someone who can be a consistent threat as a game-managing QB. His speed and mobility makes a big difference to the Buccaneers offense, but he also has a few growing pains and that is something the Bucs will have to endure as he gains more experience. He had a delay of game penalty on 2nd and 9 that resulted in an ended drive, an overthrow on a five-yard touch pass, and an interception because his eyes were glued to Antonio Bryant the whole way and DeAngelo Hall read it perfectly for the pick. That play could've been the turning point for Washington in the game. After the interception, Johnson looked tentative in his decision-making. He didn't attempt to try certain throws and often ran the ball. As a result, the Bucs failed to move the ball with consistency. Johnson will put up good rushing numbers, which is an extra added benefit to his fantasy prowess, but until he becomes more comfortable throwing the ball down field, he won't be a consistent threat as a QB or fantasy start. However, he did nothing to indicate the Bucs will turn to rookie Josh Freeman and makes a reasonable desperation play even as he gets acclimated as an NFL starter because of a decent ground game and two big-play options in Kellen Winslow and Antonio Bryant.

QB Eli Manning, NYG - Eli Manning posted another big game this week thanks to his favorite target Steve Smith knifing his way through the Kansas City secondary. Manning threw for three scores, two of them to Smith and another to Hakeem Nicks, who returned to action. With the explosive Nicks back to compliment Smith's possession, over the middle style of receiving along with both Mario Manningham and TE Kevin Boss, Manning has a full stable of targets to attack any NFL defense and put up good numbers. As long as Manning's heel is okay, he should be a solid fantasy starter going forward and really more of an upgrade if the offense continues to click.

QB Kyle Orton, DEN - It's not often that we say a player got lucky, but in many respects the Broncos QB benefited from great play around him and poor play against him. He overthrew Jabar Gaffney early in this game on a deep cross that should have been a long scoring play, and under-threw Brandon Marshall on a deep post. He also made a very poor decision to throw the ball to well-covered Knowshon Moreno in the flat in the Red Zone, but DE Anthony Spencer allowed the ball to go between his hands and the pass somehow got to Moreno's hands for the score. Orton's best throws were short passes to his TEs and RBs. Fortunately he did make one nice throw that counted most at the end of the game, hitting Brandon Marshall on a fade stop at the sideline that resulted in a game-winning 51-yard catch and run. Until Marshall and Orton can get on the same page more consistently and Orton can make more downfield plays to stretch the opposing defense he's not worth an upgrade despite two scores today. I wouldn't be surprised if he's a downgrade against even better defenses than the Cowboys.

QB Carson Palmer, CIN - Palmer was again statistically decent this week, but missed a number of timing throws and had receivers go in a different direction than he threw the ball. He continues to show no after-effects from his offseason elbow rehab and moved well in the pocket. With the weapons he has, he still projects as a low-level QB1, but he'll need to be more consistent to move into the elite starter group. Baltimore presents a difficult match up, but Houston follows. Right now, he's ideal match-up play if you have a second quarterback on par with his production.

QB Ben Roethlisberger, PIT - Although Roethlisberger threw for 333 yards and 2 touchdowns on Sunday night, a strong performance against the Chargers' pass defense was expected, so it's not quite cause for an upgrade. Roethlisberger, despite taking three sacks, generally had plenty of time in the pocket, plenty of room to step up into his throws, and plenty of open receivers to choose from. The Steelers came out passing from the opening bell on Sunday night, and made it look easy. Their game plan for the next two weeks, however, may be substantially different. They face the Lions and Browns in weeks five and six, and with a newly efficient running game to lean on, Roethlisberger may not attempt 30+ passes again anytime soon. His fantasy numbers may therefore dip a bit.

QB Matt Schaub, HOU - Matt Schaub had a fairly unexciting day for fantasy owners, but much of that was due to the Texans establishing the run against the Raiders. Schaub finished the day with 11 of 22 passing for 224 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Schaub's pedestrian completion percentage was due in part to a bobbled pass by Owen Daniels, two deep incompletions to Andre Johnson, and a number of "throw aways" when Schaub found himself under pressure. His three big gains of the day came on a perfect 62-yard strike to a streaking Andre Johnson and completions of more then 40 yards to both Kevin Walter and Owen Daniels. Once the Texans had taken a 20-3 lead, the Texans continued trying to strike downfield to Daniels and Johnson but had little success. Schaub's mediocre stat line was, as much out of necessity then anything else; once the Texans seized the lead at 20-3, the passing game seemed to be used simply to set up the run for Steve Slaton and Ryan Moats, a stark contrast to the aggressive passing by Schaub in the last two weeks. We certainly expect Schaub to continue performing as one of the top fantasy quarterbacks and games where he completes only 50% of his passes should be few and far between.

Running Back

RB Ronnie Brown, MIA - After a disappointing game in the season opener, Brown has now put together three strong games in a row. With Chad Henne making his first career start, the Dolphins came out throwing early but didn't have much success moving the ball until they committed to the running game. Although Ricky Williams received 10 carries in the first half compared to just five for Brown, it was Brown who helped break the game open with a 38-yard run up the middle out of the Wildcat formation and then a 1-yard TD run on fourth down soon afterwards. With the Dolphins trying to protect a lead, their offensive focus shifted to the running game with 27 rushes and nine pass attempts in the second half. Despite facing a stacked front that was expecting a run most of the time, Brown ran hard in the second half and averaged over four yards per carry while adding another 20+ yard run and a second touchdown on a goal line play. With an inexperienced quarterback under center, Brown should remain the focal point of the Dolphins offense for the rest of this season.

RB Matt Forte, CHI - Matt Forte exploded through gaping holes in the Detroit Lion defense twice in Week 4, racking up two big gains of 61 and 37 yards respectively. Both plays were similar in that they were simple off-tackle run calls but once Forte dashed through the big hole and reached the second level, he was virtually gone. Only superior secondary speed kept him from scoring both times. Those two big plays represented most of his 121-yard day on the ground, but those two big runs will be what Forte, the Bears, and all Forte fans will hang their hat on coming out of this game. We've been patient with Forte during September and expect it to pay dividends now that Chicago is getting some easier competition on the schedule after next week's bye. Forte should be poised to put up more 100+ yard days and be a frequent visitor to the end zone.

RB Ryan Grant, GB - Grant came into this game, averaging just 3.7 yards per carry. He only ran the ball 11 times, but gained seven or more yards on almost half of them and finished with just under 5 YPC. What Grant burned he Vikings again and again was in the short screens that the Packers ran to avoid the Viking blitzes on first and second downs. When the Vikings tried to turn up the heat on Rodgers, he'd calmly dump the ball over the middle to Grant and let him work his magic. Grant turned these little dump offs into big gains against Minnesota, finishing with 50 yards receiving on just four receptions. Grant definitely deserves an upgrade for cracking 100 yards from scrimmage on only 15 touches.

RB Shonn Greene, NYJ - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - We have a Shonn Greene sighting. He was activated for his first regular season action in the game against New Orleans. He was given his first NFL carry in the Jets fourth possession of the game, right after Mark Sanchez threw a costly pick-six that gave New Orleans the lead. The Jets running game was not necessarily clicking in the three possessions prior and Greene came in a provided a spark. He rushed for 9, 7 and 4 yards on that possession, which ended in a FG that helped the Jets temporarily keep pace with the Saints. In the few carries that he had, he looked very determined running the ball. His 6-foot, 228-pound frame plowed into the defense with a full head of steam. He even showed good quickness in finding a small hole that he busted through. He added another 3-yard carry in the third quarter, but by then the Jets were in comeback mode and the running game was all but abandoned. Expect Greene to see more carries next week at Miami and consider adding him to your roster if you have the room and are in need of RB assistance. He is buried on the depth chart, but if plays like he did in his debut, he could see more and more carries as the season wears on.

RB Jerome Harrison, CLE - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - Harrison found much more running room than Cleveland running backs had in the first three weeks. He was quick to the hole and showed enough power and elusiveness to break some tackles. As usual, he was also successful as a pass catcher out of the backfield. With James Davis now on injured reserve, Harrison has no competition as Jamal Lewis' primary backup. Given Lewis' struggles to move the ball during the first two games and his ongoing hamstring issues, Harrison should see plenty of work in future weeks against Buffalo and Green Bay.

RB Brandon Jacobs, NYG - Brandon Jacobs started to get on track this week by racking up over four yards per carry with three rushers over 10 yards against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 4. Jacobs continues to run well behind his pads and hits the hold hard, so whenever he breaks through the front seven his is practically assured of a 10-20 yard pickup. Even though Jacobs is not much of a receiver, nor has he found the end zone with any regularity, the visit from Oakland to Giants Stadium in Week 5 makes Jacobs a very good start next week.

RB Rashad Jennings, JAX - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - The rookie running back from Liberty got in some second half work as Maurice Jones-Drew enjoyed the view from the sidelines in a blowout over Tennessee in Week 4. Jennings looked good, running hard and pushing the first defender and his block off of the point of contact to gain additional yardage. Jennings looked much quicker, faster and powerful than any other back on the roster and is likely to be the first man up if anything were to happen to Jones-Drew. His value is nearly entirely as a handcuff to MJD, but he is a back to keep an eye on going forward.

RB Larry Johnson, KC - Larry Johnson actually ran with better conviction and determination -- unfortunately he was up against the New York Giants in Week 4. Johnson strung together 46 yards on his 10 first half carries, and if he can put together a full game with that workload and production he may get back to RB2 status above his current RB3/flex/bye week starter status. Johnson takes on the Dallas Cowboys next week before games at Washington and vs. San Diego, so he may start to get on a very productive roll in October.

RB LaMont Jordan, DEN - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - Jordan entered the game in the third quarter to sub for Correll Buckhalter after the co-starter injured his ankle. Jordan gained 12 yards up the middle, making a nice cut inside of his pulling guard. He only saw one more carry for three yards in the game, but expect him to get more opportunities if Buckhalter can't go next week. Jordan has proven he can be a productive option, so he's worth a roster spot as long as Buckhalter isn't healthy.

RB Rashard Mendenhall, PIT - Filling in for Willie Parker (toe) one week after Mendenhall was benched for not always knowing his assignments, Mendenhall gave the Steeler running game a huge lift on Sunday night, running for 165 yards and two touchdowns. Mendenhall rushed for more yards in one game than Willie Parker had rushed for in the previous three. And he looked impressive doing it: Mendenhall made big plays in key situations; he showed a good burst through the hole; he ran with power and generally finished his runs by dragging tacklers for a few extra yards. He also excelled in pass protection, punishing the Chargers' blitzing linebackers. (The Steelers' offensive line also played well Sunday night, although it was against a Charger front seven that has been pushed around all year.) It's unsure when Parker will return to the lineup, but even when he does, Mendenhall has likely played himself into a steady role in the offense. Mendenhall, frankly, looks like a better player than Parker at this stage in their careers, and may make it tough for Parker to get his starting job back. It's not likely anyone dropped Mendenhall, but if he's sitting on your waiver wire due to his less than auspicious start, grab him.

RB Ryan Moats, HOU - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - Ryan Moats had 15 carries for 56 yards, replacing Chris Brown as the complement to Steve Slaton. When Slaton showed to be wearing down after multiple carries of no-gain and a fumble, the Texans inserted Moats and quickly found a spark to the running game. Moats was much more consistent then Slaton on runs between the tackles, finding positive yardage on his first eight carries (the first four of which set up Slaton's first touchdown). It is worth noting that all but two of Moats carries came behind the right side of the Texans line. If Moats continues (instead of Brown) as the Texans second running back and performs as he did on Sunday, even in limited duty, then he is worth a roster spot in larger leagues.

RB Knowshon Moreno, DEN - Moreno routinely made the first defender miss at the line of scrimmage and the Broncos had a lot of success on a specific play call where the line shifted to the left and the TE pulled across the formation to open a backside hole for the RB to make a cut back for nice gains. He scored on a short pass to the flat that was well covered, but somehow made its way through DE Anthony Spencer's hands and into Moreno's. In the second half, he caught a third down swing route where his feet were taken out from under him. He limped a little bit off the field, but came back to gain 14 yards on an inside hand-off on the same misdirection cut back run described earlier. This put the Broncos at midfield at the two-minute warning and set up the winning pass to Brandon Marshall on the next play. With Correll Buckhalter nursing an ankle injury that took him out of the game, its likely LaMont Jordan will see some of Buckhalter's workload, but expect Moreno to be the main beneficiary because Jordan wasn't used as much as Buckhalter, and upcoming opponents New England and San Diego can be vulnerable on the ground.

RB Sammy Morris, NE - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - Morris looked good early in the game and New England didn't hesitate to stay with him in a variety of situations that we normally would have seen from a combination of Fred Taylor and Kevin Faulk. Morris banged through the line to convert a 4th and 1 at the three-yard line that set up a score. He also got the first down on an 8-yard pass on a short out and run from an empty backfield look as the slot receiver behind Welker. He scored on a 12-yard run from the spread formation on a delayed handoff, getting a good block from Moss to get into the end zone. Moss also sprung him on a screen pass he caught lined up as a receiver. Morris was decisive and had six third down conversions on the day on runs up the middle and passes in the flat. This is further evidence that New England will play the hot hand at RB and there is no true feature back in this offense. Morris is a huge gamble, but if there is little else on your waiver wire and you're desperate, he's capable of starter-worthy production as a flex option.

RB Clinton Portis, WAS - There were questions surrounding Portis' effectiveness this week, due to his lackluster performance against the Lions the week prior. On top of that, he was questionable with bone spurs in both ankles, not to mention a calf injury that kept him from practicing leading up to the game. He showed good resolve and toughness not only playing in the game, but also playing well. He was patient in waiting for his blockers and explosive when trying to find an opening in the defensive onslaught. He didn't have any long gains, but he was consistently getting 4, 5, or 6 tough yards when the team needed his production. Perhaps a microcosm of his day was a three-play stretch in the second quarter that included a game-best, 15-yard run that was negated by a questionable holding penalty from Malcolm Kelly. The next play he was stuffed for negative yardage, but he responded with an 8-yard gain on the very next play. He didn't score a TD, but he was a big part of the Redskins offensive attack that aided in holding off the transitioning Buccaneers, despite four Redskins turnovers. Portis has a good match up next week at Carolina, and deserves to be back in your lineup, if he wasn't this week.

RB Ray Rice, BAL - Rice looked like the best runner on the field in this game, demonstrating excellent stop-start moves, patience, and burst on runs up the middle or outside. He was used extensively in the spread formation on inside hand-offs, routinely gaining more than four yards on most runs. He made key plays as a receiver out of the backfield, breaking a tackle after making a leaping adjustment on a poorly thrown 3rd down pass to convert the first down and, a 15-yard screen pass down the left sideline, and a 14-yard screen pass and run with less than 1:30 in the game. He also had a 50-yard run on a 1st and 20 delay that he took up the middle and burst to the right sideline. He lacks game-breaking speed, but he's still the best all-around back the Ravens have and they use him as such.

RB Bernard Scott, CIN - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - The Bengals finally trusted Scott enough to give him significant snaps on offense. Scott took a couple of carries early in the game, and then had a major role in the fourth quarter drive that tied the game against Cleveland. Scott hit holes hard and broke tackles, showing the skills he was impressing with during camp. Cedric Benson will continue to get the bulk of the work, but put Scott back on your radar as a possible flex option for later in the season.

RB Steve Slaton, HOU - Slaton had a nice fantasy game for the second week in a row, totaling 89 yards and two touchdowns on 23 touches. After a slow start in the first half that included a stretch of 5 touches of no gain plus a fumble, Slaton finally started finding space to run against the Oakland defense. He made a number of quick moves to evade tackles at the line of scrimmage and had an easy time evading the Raiders' defense on both of his touchdowns due to impressive blocking from the offensive line and receivers. His two biggest gains came on a 32-yard touchdown rush set up excellently by his blockers and an 18-yard reception for touchdown where Slaton faced little resistance getting to the end zone. That said, he displayed much of the lateral quickness that made him so effective last season. For example, in the play prior to his receiving touchdown, Slaton took the hand-off on a stretch play to the left only to completely reverse field, outrun the defense, and gain 12 yards. While some would point to Slaton's biggest game of the year as a result of only a handful of plays, it is important to note that for the first time this year he had an effective complement in the backfield (Ryan Moats) which allowed Slaton to not wear down as the game wore on. If the Texans continue spelling Slaton with Moats or Chris Brown instead of wearing him down with every carry out of the backfield then we expect him to have more big plays on fewer touches, possibly regaining his form from last season and performing as a top-10 back the rest of the way.

RB Kevin Smith, DET - Kevin Smith showed his toughness this week, playing through a shoulder injury and starting against Chicago. He did not put up much in the way of yardage, but he was able to get the ball into the end zone twice despite Chicago keying on him near the goal line. Smith did not see much work in the second half as Detroit was throwing nearly every play in a desperate attempt to catch up on the scoreboard, but there is little question of Smith's fantasy value going forward. Smith does face a tough matchup next week (Pittsburgh) but he should still be startable in most league formats.

RB Pierre Thomas, NO - It didn't take long for Thomas to make an impact as the Saints go-to RB. He has picked up right where he left off last season, and is now an emerging RB who is running his way into the fantasy Top 10, if not higher. Thomas provides the Saints with a quick, yet powerful RB (for his size) who can run between the tackles - something Reggie Bush has struggled with in his career. Thomas has also shown the ability to be a force in the receiving game, which is a must for any productive RB in the Saints offensive system. There were questions surrounding his playing time with Mike Bell also earning carries, but due to two strong games in back to back weeks, it appears as if Thomas has taken the lead for good as the Saints primary ball carrier. When Bell returns from his injured knee, expect Thomas to still receive the bulk of the team's carries. He now becomes a must start in all scoring formats.

RB Ricky Williams, MIA - Even at 32 years of age, Williams is showing that he can still be a viable and productive piece of the Dolphins running game. Although he didn't find much room to run early on, he still led the team with 10 carries in the first half compared to just five for Ronnie Brown. Things opened up for him in the second half, however, as he broke free up the middle for a big, 28-yard gain thanks to some excellent blocking up front. Although Brown got most of the goal line carries in the game -- and scored two touchdowns on them -- Williams also scored on a 1-yard touchdown run late in the third quarter that put the game out of reach. Williams showed surprising quickness in the game, and with the inexperienced Chad Henne taking over at quarterback, look for the Dolphins to rely more heavily on Williams and the running game going forward. Brown should remain the feature back, but Williams also looks like he can expect to see 10-15 touches every week and be an excellent flex option, or desperation RB2 in most leagues.

Downgrade

RB Mike Bell, NO - The emergence and success of Pierre Thomas will likely force Mike Bell into a back up role with the team. He probably won't be a big contributor as long as Thomas is healthy, but he is still worthy of a roster spot, simply due to his potential production if an injury opens up a chance at more playing time. Bell himself is still recovering from a sprained MCL in his knee, but according to reports, he should be able to play in week six after the bye.

RB Chris Brown, HOU - Chris Brown's fumble in the end zone last week appears to have left a lasting impression on Coach Gary Kubiak. Brown did not receive a carry against the Raiders. Ryan Moats handled all of the work, spelling starter Steve Slaton. If Brown has lost his job to Moats, he is hardly worth a roster spot in even the deepest leagues.

RB Correll Buckhalter, DEN - Buckhalter ran hard and gained yards after contact on pitch plays and screen passes in the first half. However in the third quarter, DeMarcus Ware tackled Buckhalter from behind on a pass reception and rolled up on the RB's left leg/ankle, pinning it awkwardly to the turf. A left ankle injury was the initial diagnosis and he missed the rest of the game.

RB Michael Bush, OAK - Bush carried the ball three times for 10 yards as the Raiders rotated him, Darren McFadden, and Justin Fargas in the Raiders failed attempt to run the ball. He also had one reception for four yards but lost the ball at the end of the play when he was gang-tackled. Like Justin Fargas and Darren McFadden, Bush was unable to find any space between the tackles to run. He is only worth a roster spot in deep leagues; he has shown flashes of ability in the past but he currently appears to be third on the depth chart of a very bad offense.

RB Reggie Bush, NO - The thought process in the game against the Jets was to expect a big involvement from Reggie Bush - possibly one of his notable 10-catch games. After all, the blitzing nature of the Jets would be a great opportunity for Bush to receive several quick, dump off passes or quick strikes. He started off as a key player in the Saints offensive plans with seven touches in the first half, however he saw the ball only three more times the rest of the way. The Saints appear to be more in favor of Pierre Thomas than Bush. Thomas has shown the ability to not only gain tough yards, but also grab clutch catches. In short, Thomas is becoming the Saints primary ball carrier and go-to RB and Bush is the one being phased out. This is not to say Bush won't be involved in the offense going forward, he just won't see as many plays. It all points to a down tick in fantasy production, especially in non-PPR leagues. Bush is still a good flex option in PPR leagues, but he is becoming a risky pick in traditional scoring formats. Three of his four games in non-PPR format, he has scored less than 8 fantasy points.

RB Brandon Jackson, GB - Jackson was inactive for the game with an ankle injury.

RB Steven Jackson, STL - Steven Jackson in Mr. Ram Offense, which is both good and bad. The good part is that you can know that if you start him, he will be seeing the bulk of the workload and will likely get close to 100 total yards on the afternoon. The bad side? Every NFL defensive coordinator that faces St. Louis will try and control Jackson, tacking their chances on the rest of the Rams trying to beat them. Jackson needs Marc Bulger back and other players to step up and produce so for now he is no better than a RB2 from a fantasy perspective. The sledding does not get any easier next week with Minnesota on the schedule.

RB Chris Johnson, TEN - Tennessee's main offensive weapon cannot keep it rolling when the defenses do not respect the pass and the Titan offensive line cannot create lanes or seal the edges for Johnson to break off big runs. Johnson is the dominant workhorse for Tennessee, but that does not mean very much if the defenses key on him and keep eight in the box against the Titans. Tennessee plays the Colts so that could afford Johnson some opportunities for big plays in Week 5.

RB Julius Jones, SEA - The Seahawks couldn't get their running game established against the Colts. They ran for just 49 yards on the day; Jones got about half of those, rushing for 25 yards on 11 carries. His six first-quarter carries went for just 8 total yards; by his seventh rush the Seahawks trailed 14-0, and by his ninth rush they trailed 28-3. In other words, Jones had no chance. So far this season, Jones has had two good games and two stinkers, and it looks like that's the way things will go as long as the Seahawks struggle to stay in games. While it looked before this week like Jones may have been a solid RB3/flex player, we now recommend starting him, even at the flex spot, only when he has a favorable match-up.

RB Thomas Jones, NYJ - Jones scored for the first time since his two TDs in week one, but he continues to be in a RBBC approach with Leon Washington, which is hurting his value. To add more confusion and uncertainty surrounding Jones' fantasy expectations, the Jets activated rookie RB Shonn Greene, who brings a youthful exuberance to an already cloudy RB picture. Jones may see some good games in the coming weeks, but he is far from a sure start, if you're looking for consistency - and who isn't? Jones may not be the best RB to insert into your lineup unless the match up is very favorable.

RB Marshawn Lynch, BUF - In his first game back from a three-game suspension, Marshawn Lynch finished with a very disappointing four yards on eight carries. He ran hard, but the offensive line gave him very little room to run and he was often met in the backfield. Meanwhile, the quicker and more decisive Fred Jackson was much more effective with his carries in the game and averaged over four yards per carry on nine rush attempts. Lynch was able to make a contribution in the passing game as he added 43 yards on five catches that included a nice 23-yard catch and run over the middle after he broke a tackle by safety Gibril Wilson. The one target that he didn't catch, however, was a drop on an easy pass to the left that he should have been able to bring in and take for a decent gain. The Bills announced prior to the game that they wanted to ease Lynch into things this week given how well Jackson had been playing, but it looks like we may see something close to a 50/50 split in touches between these two players going forward. This is obviously not a good sign for owners who drafted Lynch early in the hopes of landing a top-10 fantasy back once he returned to the lineup.

RB Laurence Maroney, NE - Maroney started the game, but he still danced far too much at the line of scrimmage. He did look a lot like former Minnesota Golden Gopher teammate Marion Barber on a circle route when he made the first LB miss to get the first down. However, he followed up his few nice gains with minimal gains or losses due to the desire to make that one extra move. He gave way to Sammy Morris in this contest and it's clear that New England will ride the hot hand among Maroney, Taylor, Faulk, and Morris. The only positive for Maroney was that he got the start in the past two games. However, if he can't make the most of his opportunities early, he might stop being the first option on initial drives.

RB Darren McFadden, OAK - McFadden carried the ball six times for negative three yards with a long rush of four yards. He had one reception for five yards and was mostly ineffective each time he touched the ball. Most of McFadden's touches were to the left side of the line towards the tackle or around the end. His lone productive carry was a 4-yard rush up the middle. On his carries to the outside, he was met in the backfield by the Texans defense, including one hit by DeMeco Ryans wherein McFadden was flipped upside down for a 3-yard loss. Until the Raiders can move the ball through the air, McFadden is still a big question mark over the long term and not even consistent flex-option material this year. Even worse is the news that McFadden will miss two to four weeks due to injury.

RB Mewelde Moore, PIT - Moore was active in the red zone on Sunday night, catching a 19-yard touchdown pass from Ben Roethlisberger in the first quarter, and throwing a halfback option pass to Heath Miller for a touchdown in the fourth. But Rashard Mendenhall's success likely signals a reduced role for Moore going forward. Moore had only five touches against the Chargers even with Willie Parker out of the lineup. When Parker returns, he and Mendenhall will form a one-two punch, and too few touches will be left over for Moore to have fantasy value.

RB Willie Parker, PIT - Parker sat out of Sunday night's game after missing practice all week with turf toe. He could return this week against the Lions, although a definite timetable has not been set. The reason for Parker's downgrade is that, after the Steelers struggled to run the ball with Parker during the first three weeks of the season, Rashard Mendenhall had a breakout game in week four. Mendenhall ran with a burst that's been missing from Parker's game this season, and with power that Parker has never had. When Parker returns, he will probably share the load with Mendenhall, and could be in danger of giving up the starting job.

RB Adrian Peterson, MIN - For the second week in a row, a stingy run defense set out to keep Adrian Peterson in check. And for the second week in a row, Peterson was held in check for most of the game. Early on, he looked sharp. He carried the ball six times on the opening drive, including the first four plays and he nearly scored on first and goal from the eight when the defense stuffed him up the middle and he bounced to the outside for a nice seven-yard gain. Favre's play-action fake to him set up the TD pass to Shiancoe. Peterson had a solid run for 12 yards up the middle early in the second quarter but it turned out to be his longest run of the day and he was stopped frequently after that. On the fumble return, he was gang-tackled by four defenders and they ripped the ball out of his hands as he fought for additional yardage. His TD run was after a defensive pass interference call with 33 seconds to go. He scored on a 1-yard run up the middle. He opened the third quarter with four carries on the first six plays before Favre took over with two 25+ yard passes to give the Vikings a 14- point lead. He only touched the ball a few times in the second half and never had a big gain. As defenses begin to respect Favre more for his arm strength, Peterson may see additional holes. For now though, his trade value has dropped a bit because defenses are determined to stop the run and make Favre beat them with the pass.

RB Darren Sproles, SD - With LaDainian Tomlinson back in the lineup on Sunday night, Sproles got no carries and just one reception. He is back to contributing primarily in the return game. While Sunday night's game was atypical since the Chargers had to abandon the running game so early, Sproles' lack of playing time and involvement in the passing game is a bad sign for his fantasy prospects. A threat to score from anywhere on the field, Sproles can turn one big play into a decent fantasy outing -- but you'll never know in advance in which games that will happen. As a result, Sproles cannot be counted on as a fantasy contributor in any given week.

RB Chester Taylor, MIN - Taylor saw minimal action in the first half of the game, and didn't even touch the ball until there were fewer than two minutes to play in the 2nd quarter. Taylor took a nice dump-off for 19 yards up the middle that set up the long pass to Percy Harvin on the next play. Even with the Vikings up by 16 and trying to run out the clock in the 4th quarter, Taylor only had one carry for four yards. He's still the third and long running back that the Vikings are using, but if the Vikings are moving the ball, Taylor will be on the sidelines.

RB Fred Taylor, NE - His first time in the line up was in the red zone on a short yardage run late in the firs quarter. He broke a Ray Lewis tackle on a delay for a seven-yard gain in the red area, but was pulled down from behind on a 3rd and 2 from the three-yard line. He also showed good patience on a screen pass for a first down following the fumble return for a TD by Baltimore and fought hard for a 4-yard run I the second half. Otherwise, he was not used much in this game, because Sammy Morris seemed to be the hot hand and New England rode him. Taylor also hobbled off the sideline with 4:30 in the 4th QTR and did not return. Even if he's ready to go in coming weeks, Denver and Tennessee present more difficult options on the ground, and the merry-go-round that is the distribution of carries for the Patriots backfield, there's no telling who will be the big guy when they face easier rush defenses like Tampa Bay.

RB LaDainian Tomlinson, SD - It is still hard to know exactly what kind of player fantasy owners have in Tomlinson this season. He got just 13 carries in week one when he suffered an ankle injury in the first quarter. Then he sat out the next two games with said ankle injury. Then he got just 7 carries in week four when the Steelers got out to a 28-0 lead before the Chargers had controlled the ball for nine minutes. One thing looks clear, however: the Chargers' running game as a whole appears bound to continue struggling. The offensive line is playing poorly -- the team is averaging just 2.7 yards per rush this season. The defense is playing poorly, which has forced the Chargers to abandon the run to play catch-up. Tomlinson himself has looked very good at times -- both in week one and in week four he made sharp cuts to elude tacklers that he couldn't have made last season. But he's also stumbled and lost his footing a few times, including on his only goal line rushing attempt against the Steelers. Going forward, the poor play by the offensive line and the defense, if not by Tomlinson himself, will limit Tomlinson's fantasy production. On the bright side, his ankle did not bother him during the game; so especially with the bye week coming up, that no longer appears to be an issue.

RB Leon Washington, NYJ - Before the season started, Washington was considered a potential boom RB who would see plenty of opportunities in the Jets offense. Last year he blossomed into a play-making threat that could score on any given carry. So far, he hasn't lived up to expectations. He hasn't scored a TD yet, nor has he made a game-breaking play that his owners were hoping for. In order for him to be a startable fantasy option, he's going to have to reach double-digit fantasy points, which is something he hasn't done yet this year. He is definitely capable of turning a routine play into a game-breaker, but his value won't be maximized unless an injury to Thomas Jones opens the door to more carries and more of a primary role with the team. To make matters worse, the Jets activated rookie RB Shonn Greene, who showed good promise as well, thus clouding the picture even more. Washington is a good, not great flex option in PPR leagues, but right now, he is a risky start for leagues that don't reward receptions.

RB LenDale White, TEN - LenDale White had just three touches in Week 4 against Jacksonville. He is worth far less than last season as at least in 2008 he had the goal line touches and vultured several scores from Chris Johnson. He is the "handcuff" to Chris Johnson, but until the Titans start to punish people on the ground and get consistently in the Red Zone, White cannot be used from a fantasy perspective.

Holding steady

RB Marion Barber, DAL - Barber ran gingerly early in the game, but after 4-5 carries the adrenaline must have kicked in, because he stopped appearing gimpy and began showing a good burst and power. He gained 27 yards up the left flat on a screen pass in the first quarter and made a vintage Barber-esque run where he cut, slashed, and spun back to the inside for a four-yard gain on the second drive. He also fought his way across the goal line after initially getting stopped at the point of attack. However, it appeared he was trying to stay warmed up on the sideline in the second half and wasn't much of a factor at that point due to the Cowboy's difficulties with pass protection and Tashard Choice getting 2-3 carries for every attempt they gave Barber. This week was a good sign that Barber is feeling better, but it was clear he was still trying to gut through this game because his attempts to keep the muscle warm on the sideline while Tashard Choice was in the lineup was more telling than any words out of his mouth could have been. Barring any set back, he should be ready for a bigger dosage of the ball after the bye week.

RB Cedric Benson, CIN - Benson struggled early to find running room with Shaun Rogers clogging the middle for the Browns, but ripped off a number of longer runs late in the game. Although Bernard Scott finally saw playing time this week and Brian Leonard continues to take the majority of snaps on passing downs, Benson should get the bulk of the rush attempts. He faces a very tough matchup next week against the Ravens; a strong week will give him a clear RB1 expectation for the rest of the season.

RB Tashard Choice, DAL - Choice got at least twice the looks that Marion Barber saw and he had some nice plays both up the middle and on screen passes in the flat, breaking the first tackle and weaving his way for extra yardage. However, the Cowboys could not throw the ball downfield successfully and his opportunities dwindled in the second half. With a bye week for Marion Barber to return to full health, Choice will see his opportunities remain the same or decrease. He's still worth a roster spot, but he's more of a borderline flex option after next week's bye.

RB Glen Coffee, SF - In a game where Glen Coffee should have broken out and positioned himself as the heir apparent to Frank Gore, Coffee did not produce very much offense against a suspect Rams defense. He did not show the same explosiveness that he did during the preseason, barely averaging over three yards per carry while also adding 32 yards on four catches out of the backfield this weekend. He looked capable as a runner but did not get much after first contact and did not break many tackles. Coffee will likely get one more shot to produce as a starter next week against Atlanta as San Francisco will try and buy Gore three weeks off with the Week 6 bye after the Falcons game.

RB Justin Fargas, OAK - Fargas led the Raiders with 10 carries for a paltry 24 yards with a long of 13. Fargas ran the ball primarily between the tackles and experienced little success despite the Texans' NFL worst rush defense. He did not have a reception in the passing game. Fargas was also tackled in the end zone by linebacker Brian Cushing as he attempted to go off-tackle to the right, resulting in a safety that effectively iced the game for the Texans. In addition to a 13-yard gain, Fargas managed a 3-yard gain. The rest of his carries, all between the tackles, resulted in one or fewer yards. Fargas may have moved past Michael Bush on the depth chart but is still not worth a roster spot until the Raiders offense gains some life.

RB Frank Gore, SF - Frank Gore was unable to suit up for Week 4 due to his ankle sprain. Gore likely will not play next week either as the 49ers have Week 6 as their bye week. Taking this week off gives him three weeks to get ready for the Week 7 contest at Houston. Based on Coffee's initial start, Gore will have no issue re-taking the starting job and without losing carries.

RB Maurice Jones-Drew, JAX - Jacksonville got a big lead early on the Titans, going up 27-3 before halftime. Jones-Drew had done enough by then to take the second half off and allow rookie Rashad Jennings to manage the workload, giving MJD some rest as he gears up for two very favorable matchups at Seattle and then at home against the Rams before the Jaguars' Week 7 bye. Jones-Drew should remain in fantasy lineups for the next two weeks for certain and is a likely fantasy RB1 the rest of the season.

RB Willis McGahee, BAL - His best play was a seam route from the backfield that he caught over his inside shoulder for a touchdown, taking a hit from Brandon Meriweather as he came down with the football. Otherwise, he looked average as a runner between the tackles. This was partially due to the Patriots defense anticipating running plays when McGahee was in the lineup, getting good penetration to keep him bottled up for most of the day.

RB Cadillac Williams, TB - Williams showed good burst and quickness, especially in open space. He found it easy to get past the initial defensive line in the first half, but the task was more difficult in the second half. Williams often made himself available as an outlet receiver for QB Josh Johnson and caught four passes as a result. He was the primary RB in the game with Derrick Ward recovering from a sore knee and Williams, is a fiery, hard-nosed RB capable of carrying the team on his back when healthy. The Bucs are a team in transition, and have struggled to sustain drives. That deficiency will likely keep Williams from being a consistent fantasy threat. He's a good flex option, and an excellent start when the match up is favorable.

RB DeShawn Wynn, GB - When Ryan Grant wasn't carrying the rock, DeShawn Wynn was in the game. However, Wynn only had three touches for 21 yards. It was probably due to the fact that GB played from behind for most of the game, and Rodgers needed to press the ball down the field more, but Wynn isn't worth rushing out to get for your fantasy team yet unless you can use him to handcuff Grant if he goes down to injury.

Wide Receiver

WR Bernard Berrian, MIN - Berrian and Favre were definitely in sync tonight. From the opening TD drive where Favre connected with Berrian three times on three attempts, to the 31-yard TD bomb early in the 3rd quarter, Berrian was a big part of the win for Minnesota in this game. When Favre was looking for big plays down the field, Berrian was his main target. Berrian was also used in short yardage and quick catch and run type of plays where he was able to break a high percentage pass into a 15+ yard gain. On his TD reception, he faked CB Al Harris out with a nice double move and Favre put the ball out in front of him where he was able to run under it for the TD. The biggest change for Berrian was that he was not used as the punt returner like he was last week. Rookie Jaymar Johnson did the honors and let Berrian focus on being the go-to WR.

WR Deion Branch, SEA - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - After missing the first two games with a hamstring injury, Branch is settling in as the Seahawks' third receiver behind Burleson and Houshmandzadeh. Branch caught all six of his targets on Sunday for 49 yards, and although he lost yardage on a couple of screen passes, he showed his characteristic quickness on a few other plays. His fantasy value is still severely limited -- in fact, it is really contingent on Burleson or Houshmandzadeh missing time with injury -- but it does look better than it did a week ago.

WR Kenny Britt, TEN - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - Rookie wide receiver Kenny Britt was used quite often in Week 4 as the Titans were down 27-3 at halftime. Tennessee threw nearly every play in the second half, affording Britt extra playing time. Britt made the most of his chances, exactly what you would want a player to do, making the most of his 11 targets and recording his first career 100-yard game. Britt could see extra action next week against Indianapolis if the Colts and Titans get into a shootout. The Titans are 0-4 and are about to host the Colts in Week 5, so they will need every wide receiver that they can find to keep pace with Peyton Manning.

WR Antonio Bryant, TB - The good news is it appears Bryant's knee is healthy once again. He initially re-aggravated the same knee that underwent surgery in the off-season, and he often looked sluggish in previous weeks, shying away from contact and not completing routes. It was a different story this past week against Washington. He looked fresh and confident, ran good routes and looked comfortable doing so. He often was Josh Johnson's go-to receiver, including the receiving end of a TD pass in the first quarter, which was Johnson's first possession as the Bucs starting QB. The bad news is Josh Johnson has not yet shown the ability to be comfortable throwing the ball deep down field. If that doesn't improve, Bryant's ceiling could be limited to the short game of quick up and outs, slant patterns, etc. Bryant's numbers should improve as the Josh Johnson gains experience. He's not a bad WR4 or flex option, but temper your expectations. He's not going to produce the same stats that he boasted in the second half of last season.

WR Chris Chambers, SD - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - Chris Chambers had his first decent game of the season on Sunday night, catching four passes for 39 yards and a touchdown. After Vincent Jackson, the Chargers' next three receivers -- Chambers, Naanee, and Floyd -- are all jockeying to establish themselves as the clear number two. While Chambers has many fewer receiving yards than Naanee or Floyd this season, he has gotten more snaps, more targets, and is the only one of the three to have scored. His touchdown reception against the Steelers was an impressive play: he caught the ball coming over the middle, then outran the Pittsburgh defenders to the corner and dove inside the pylon. While his fantasy value is still limited, if you're hurting at receiver and someone dropped Chambers in your league, he's worth a look.

WR David Clowney, NYJ - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - The recent disappointment from Chansi Stuckey could mean that David Clowney could get a shot in the starting lineup. Clowney had five receptions of 20 yards or more to lead all WRs in the preseason. He also had three receptions of 40 yards or more, which also led the league (tie with Hakim Nicks) during the preseason. Don't be surprised to see him get some playing time if things don't improve for Stuckey. Oftentimes, it's wise to add a player like this to your roster before the rest of your league catches on. If you're thinking ahead and have the roster space, consider adding Clowney, who could provide a spark to the Jets receiving game in the coming weeks or at least some point this season. One injury to Stuckey or Jerricho Cotchery could open things up for the talented WR, who is itching to make a contribution.

WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh, SEA - Through the first three weeks it looked like Nate Burleson had worked himself into the WR1 role on the Seahawks. Houshmandzadeh came to Seattle with high expectations, but it's taken him a few weeks to settle into the offense. It appears that he's getting there. Against the Colts, Houshmandzadeh converted his 11 targets into 8 catches for 103 yards. He also had a 27-yard reception called back because QB Wallace was (just barely) beyond the line of scrimmage on his throw. One note of caution, however, is that half of Houshmandzadeh's catches came in garbage time on Sunday after the Colts had taken a 34-3 lead. On the other hand, the Seahawks have almost certainly not seen their last garbage time of the season.

WR Johnny Knox, CHI - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - It seems like every season, one or two rookie wide receivers break out and contribute early in the NFL season and in their young careers. Johnny Knox looks to be on that short list of players contending for that distinction in 2009. Knox blistered Detroit's special teams when he exploded from the end zone to start the second half, returning the opening kickoff of the third quarter 102 yards for a touchdown. Knox also added five catches as the most targeted Bear in Week 4 against the Lions, showing that the speedy rookie not only has talent but also the confidence of Jay Cutler -- a relationship that should not go unnoticed. The shin injury is a non-issure and Bears are off in Week 5, so Knox should be on the short list of most waiver wire pickups, and it may be wise to beat the rush now and stash him on your roster.

WR Brandon Marshall, DEN - Marshall made the play of the game with a highlight-reel, 51-yard catch and run where he leaped over Terrance Newman at the sideline for the ball, dipped inside and then made a sick cutback again to the sideline to avoid the pursuit of five Dallas defenders for the game-winning score on the play after the two-minute warning. He could have had a few big plays earlier in the game if his QB didn't under throw him on a deep post and his lineman didn't have a crossing route called back on a tripping penalty. However, this game-winning play should be a sign of things to come because the Broncos are undefeated and Troy Aikman reported during the game that Marshall was working extremely hard in practice and it's a small sign his attitude as turned around since the preseason. Young immature players can respond to firm leadership and it appears Josh McDaniels and the Broncos have followed the Bengals lead with Chad Ochocinco and Marshall is beginning to respond. He isn't a WR1 yet, but he's back to being a sold WR2 until his QB can demonstrate accuracy with the deep ball.

WR Derrick Mason, BAL - Mason is still the most reliable outside threat in this offense and he was targeted as such throughout the game. He caught two play action passes in the first series: a 17-yard deep out on third and five and a play action catch on first down for nine yards. His score was a leaping grab on 3rd and 20 on a deep out where the DB undercut Mason's legs as he caught the ball at its highest point. His only drop was a 3rd and 3 pass that was the result of a good hit just as the ball arrived late in the fourth quarter. Otherwise, he was reliable on deep outs, and in-cuts. He almost caught a 50-yard touchdown, but the rookie CB Darius Butler made an excellent play to come over Mason's back and knock the ball away. Mason remains a solid starter in fantasy leagues, capable of big games because QB Joe Flacco routinely targets him on deep and intermediate routes and with the ground game making play action passing effective, the seemingly ageless Mason doesn't need to be that much faster than his coverage to get separation. He's a very solid WR2 with upside as long as the ground game remains productive.

WR Mohamed Massaquoi, CLE - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - Although he drew praise for his strong play in camp, Massaquoi saw very little playing time during the first three weeks. Against the Bengals, Derek Anderson came to him early and often, targeting him 13 times on 48 passing attempts on a variety of routes. He narrowly missed a long touchdown catch on a sideline fade when he was called down inside the one-yard line. Given his strong play in camp and the time he spent taking reps with Derek Anderson with the second team for most of September, Massaquoi could continue to be a favored target and productive fantasy option. Just remember Derek Anderson can be inconsistent, which gives Massaquoi more boom-bust potential. Still, he's an exciting athlete who could make a difference for your team.

WR Josh Morgan, SF - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - Josh Morgan is starting to validate his top spot on the wide receiver list with the 49ers. He consistently beat the Rams' secondary, getting open deep and behind coverage on several occasions. He grabbed one touchdown with a deep catch of a 24-yard fluttering ball from Shaun Hill in the back of the end zone behind two Rams defenders. Morgan is far from polished as an NFL receiver; however, as he let a 44-yard touchdown go through his hands on arguably the best throw by Hill all afternoon. Morgan needs to produce with more consistency to get fantasy recommendation, but the Week 4 effort against St. Louis could start him on that path. Expect at least a half-dozen targets next week against Atlanta before the Week 6 bye.

WR Hakeem Nicks, NYG - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - Rookie Hakeem Nicks was healthy enough to be the third wideout for the Giants in Week 4, and he made the most of his one catch on the day. Nicks grabbed a short pass to the right and made the defense look silly with his combination of speed, quickness and agility on his way to a 54-yard touchdown with most of the yardage coming after the catch. Mario Manningham struggled to both get open and reel in his targets, so Nicks may see more chances coming up in the next few games for the Giants. Should Nicks produce on a heavier workload he may again push for starter status. Steve Smith is entrenched as the primary possession receiver and a red zone target, so Nicks has a real opportunity to re-take the opposite side where the Giants can then move Manningham to the slot.

WR Sidney Rice, MIN - Sidney Rice is back in favor with the Vikings, and he enhances Berrian's game with those short and medium range passes that can turn into big gains if he can make a person miss. He had a nice catch and run on 3rd and two that he broke for 24 yards and the 14-yard TD reception was a good play over the middle where Rice was well defended. He helped set up the go-ahead TD late in the second quarter with a nice 16-yard reception over the middle and had a few short and medium range passes thrown his way the rest of the game. Rice came up BIG on special teams for the Vikings, recovering two on-sides kicks by the Packers but he did not try to advance the ball. He finished the game with 70 yards receiving and a TD catch. The Packers put CB Charles Woodson on Harvin most of the night despite the fact Harvin was in the slot. Saying Sidney Rice is the clear-cut No.2 guy for Favre might be a bit premature; however last night showed the Minnesota has enough weapons at receiver to make the Vikings a dangerously balanced offense and that Green Bay worried more about Harvin beating them than Rice. Favre recognized it and called the Packers on their ploy, going to Rice early and often.

WR Mike Sims-Walker, JAX - Mike Sims-Walker led all Jaguars (not just the hyphenated ones) in production, catching seven out of 11 targets for 91 yards and two scores. Walker showed great body control in keeping in bounds near the sidelines and also slipped the first defender often to slide forward and pick up extra yardage, including his first score in Week 4. His second touchdown required him to hold on to the ball as long as he could with his defender trying to force a fumble, but Sims-Walker held on long enough to get the six points. He has posted solid numbers three weeks in a row and should be rostered already -- and if he isn't, fix it as quickly as possible. This is a receiver regarded to have better route skills and hands out of Central Florida than his teammate Brandon Marshall.

WR Brad Smith, NYJ - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - The Jets briefly employed a Wildcat style of offense against the Saints to try to keep them off-guard. Brad Smith was often used as the WR in motion who either received the hand off from Leon Washington or was the decoy while Washington rushed the ball. Smith is a former college QB, who definitely has the ability to throw a pass if the situation presented itself. He didn't throw a pass against the Saints, but he did run for 20 yards on two carries in the Wildcat formation. He's someone to keep an eye on, but we don't recommend adding him to your fantasy roster right now.

WR Steve Smith, NYG - Steve Smith leads the NFL in touchdowns and yardage and is one of the most surprising developments early in the 2009 season. Smith works the middle of the field with regularity and confidence, settling down in holes between the linebackers and safeties and giving a red hot Eli Manning a great target to get first downs and more. Smith has two 10-catch games in the past three contests and is on pace for over 1600 yards and 16 scores -- just ridiculous production given where many had him rated in August. Smith is both the possession receiver and the reliable target for Manning, as Smith can move the chains and also break off yardage after the catch if he grabs the ball in the right gap between the safeties. The Giants face a tough secondary with Oakland heading to New Jersey next week, but Smith remains a must-start going forward.

WR Mike Thomas, JAX - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - Rookie wide receiver Mike Thomas was featured as the punt and kick returner in Week 4 for Jacksonville, but he was also in the mix as a receiver on offense. The quick and young wideout grabbed all five of his targets short over the middle, helping David Garrard to keep the offense moving. Torry Holt did not do much in Week 4, but Thomas was just one of several WRs vying for the third wideout spot for the Jaguars (along with Jarrett Dillard and Ernest Wilford). Keep an eye on his targets or stash him now in a very deep league.

WR Hines Ward, PIT - Maybe the torch hasn't passed yet to Santonio Holmes. Ward had his second 100-yard game of the season yesterday. He received 11 targets Sunday night (to Holmes' 5), converting them into 8 catches for 113 yards. (Two of the incompletions, however, were drops by Ward.) Ward now leads the Steelers in receptions and receiving yards, and has caught more balls than Holmes in three of the four games played so far. He keeps the chains moving at key points in the game, and runs with a fullback's attitude and determination after the catch. Moreover, his reliable routes and sure hands still have QB Roethlisberger's complete trust, so Ward should be a steady fantasy WR2 going forward.

WR Kelley Washington, BAL - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - Joe Flacco clearly trusts Washington, and based on the situations the slot receiver was targeted in this game, it's possible the former Bengal and Patriot might move past Mark Clayton on the pecking order if this keeps up. On 2nd and 12 he took a short out for nine yards and later in the half gained 12 yards with a reception at the sideline in tight coverage with 1:22 left in the half. He converted a third down with a diving flat route against Shawn Springs. He didn't make big plays on the stat sheet, but Mark Clayton could not make the reliable plays while Washington did. It would not be a surprise if Washington sees opportunities in the near future.

WR Nate Washington, TEN - Veteran wide receiver Nate Washington led all Titans with 12 targets in a Week 4 loss to Jacksonville. Washington is the top option for QB Kerry Collins, and as long as the Titans have holes in their defense then the wide receivers will have some decent value. Washington worked the middle and sides of the field 15-20 yards downfield. He also lost a 20-yard catch where he fell out of bounds but he still posted good numbers (7-66-1) against Jacksonville, a pattern that may continue against the Colts next week. The Titans are 0-4 and are about to host the Colts in Week 5, so as mentioned in the Kenny Britt write-up, they will need every wide receiver that they can find to keep pace with the Colts offense.

Downgrade

WR Miles Austin, DAL - Austin didn't run the correct route in the second half in the Red Zone and it resulted in Romo expecting the WR to break outside earlier than he did. As a result, Champ Bailey made an interception that stopped a drive that should have at least ended with a field goal. Unable to consistently get open, and one of his three catches at the end of the half, he failed to run out of bounds to stop the clock. One of the Dallas receivers might have a nice game, but counting on the same one to provide that kind of weekly production is unrealistic especially Austin, who has the physical talent of a starter but does not have the refined mental approach to the game that will make him a productive receiver on a consistent basis.

WR Donnie Avery, STL - The Rams offense is just terrible right now, so even their top wide receiver cannot get going. Donnie Avery did the best he could against San Francisco without his normal starting quarterback (Marc Bulger) and both the elements (windy) and the tough 49er defense stared him square in the face. Avery had the longest catch of the day for St. Louis (22 yards) but he had just four targets and three catches in Week 4. Avery needs Marc Bulger to get healthy and other receivers to step up and draw coverage away from him to really elevate his chances to perform, as for now Avery is a fantasy WR3 or flex option at best.

WR Earl Bennett, CHI - Earl Bennett only had two targets in Week 4 against Detroit as he fell out of favor with Jay Cutler. Bennett had two grabs including a nice 25-yard grab over the middle deep down the seam, but it wasn't quite enough to keep him in Cutler's radar. Rookie Johnny Knox stepped up and into the spotlight as both wideouts saw time on the field with Devin Hester sidelined, but it was clear whom Cutler wanted to throw to, and his name wasn't Bennett. Look for Bennett to slip down the depth chart to third wide receiver for the Bears and that is maybe the fourth or fifth target option (TE Greg Olsen, RB Matt Forte) for Chicago -- making Bennett unrosterable.

WR Mark Clayton, BAL - Clayton had a rough game because he missed two opportunities to make a big difference in the contest. He was just overthrown on a corner fade in the end zone when Shawn Springs got a good bump on the receiver off the line, and Flacco mistimed the throw just enough for the pass to fall incomplete. He was well covered on a sideline fade and missed the attempt at a one-handed catch for the score on the play. This was a play a solid WR2 often makes in this league. So was the drop of a 4th and 3 pass that bounced off Clayton's chest in the Red Zone, because he tried to turn inside of his CB before he caught the ball. This miscue ended the Ravens chances for a comeback. Other than a short hitch and a reception underneath the zone for a nine-yard gain, he wasn't much of a factor. Clayton is still too inconsistent despite his obvious talent, and will continue to take a backseat to Derrick Mason, Todd Heap, Ray Rice, and at this rate, Kelley Washington.

WR Patrick Crayton, DAL - His biggest play was a short out for nine yards. Otherwise he was overthrown, under-thrown, or unable to get open. He was wide open down the seam in the second half, but overthrown yet again. He's simply not a consistent factor in this offense and expecting him, Miles Austin, or Sam Hurd to step forward in this offense requires more patience than your fantasy team should have. He's the type of player who could be up and down on this report all year, but never have enough of an impact to seriously consider him for your roster.

WR Josh Cribbs, CLE - Cribbs didn't start against the Bengals and the quick start from Mohammed Massaquoi pushed Cribbs back into a special teams role with only rare offensive time. The Browns also seem to have shelved the Wildcat package over the past two weeks, further limiting Cribbs' value. Barring major regression in his play, Massaquoi will likely see the vast majority of the snaps opposite Braylon Edwards in future weeks, making Cribbs a fantasy afterthought in leagues that don't include return yardage.

WR Braylon Edwards, NYJ - Edwards was targeted on the first pass of the game and dropped it. After that, Edwards was targeted four more times, but Derek Anderson seemed to prefer Mohamed Massaquoi as his main target. Edwards is likely to have some big games in future weeks (next week against a banged up Buffalo secondary may be one of them) with Anderson at the helm, but his focus and the emergence of Massaquoi may limit some of his potential.

WR Justin Gage, TEN - With rookie wide receiver Kenny Britt grabbing over 100 yards receiving against Jacksonville, someone had to be missing a usual compliment of targets. That would be Justin Gage, who had five targets but just one 15-yard grab for the entire contest. If Britt continues his assertion towards getting more playing time, it would be Gage that slips down the depth chart.

WR Ted Ginn, MIA - Ted Ginn was supposed to be the Dolphins No. 1 WR this year, but apart from the one-game blowup in week two, he has been almost invisible. With Chad Henne taking over at quarterback, some thought his stronger arm might provide more big-play opportunities for Ginn, but the only deep pass they threw in Ginn's direction came on the first play of the game and it was incomplete. Despite facing a Bills secondary that was missing three of their four starters, Ginn was a non-factor in the game and finished with just one catch on three targets for four yards. He did add 22 yards rushing on a play, but that was his only contribution in the game. If we exclude the Colts game when the Dolphins controlled the ball for nearly the entire contest, Ginn has just three catches on 14 targets for 30 yards. Ginn might have some big games once in awhile, but he is far too unreliable to use as a starter right now and it doesn't look like a breakout is coming for this third-year wide receiver.

WR Percy Harvin, MIN - Harvin was held out of the end zone for the first time this season. He was not used on any end-arounds and had only had two passes thrown his way. His big play of the game came late in the second quarter when Favre hit him on over the middle for a 43-yard gain. He made one defender miss and nearly scored on the play, but was gang-tackled by the safeties inside the 10. He only saw kick return action after that. Note that the Packers put CB Charles Woodson on him most of the night despite the fact Harvin was in the slot. Last night showed the Minnesota has enough weapons at receiver to make the Vikings a dangerously balanced offense and that Green Bay worried more about Harvin beating them than Rice. Favre recognized it and called the Packers on their ploy, going to Rice early and often.

WR Darrius Heyward-Bey, OAK - Heyward-Bey caught one pass for 18 yards as the Raiders struggled to move the ball through the air. He also had one rush for 20 yards (a long for the Raiders) on a reverse around the right side where his ample speed was on display before Dunta Robinson brought him down at the sideline. Quarterback JaMarcus Russell also overthrew Heyward-Bey on a slant to the middle of the field and a quick pass to the right side.

WR Greg Jennings, GB - Jennings had a quiet game, where he made a few solid plays but did not make much noise from a fantasy prospective. He had two important plays in the first half, taking a nice catch and run for 13 yards on third and seven, and coming up bit on 4th and 3 with a four-yard reception early in the second quarter. He was the outside target of a short pass two plays later but Aaron Rodgers was picked off on a good play by Antoine Winfield. Jennings caught one more pass before the half, but was not used at all in the second half and finished with minimal fantasy stats. Jennings is still the primary receiver on the team, but if the offensive line can't give Rodgers time to feed him the ball, his contribution to the passing game is going to be minimal.

WR Jacoby Jones, HOU - Jones had one reception for six yards against the Raiders. He did return a free-kick (punt off of a safety) 95 yards for a touchdown, but also fumbled a punt. On the return, Jones ran untouched to mid-field before darting to the right, leaving the Raiders special team's unit in his dust. On his next return attempt, he fumbled the ball and received an earful on the sidelines from Coach Gary Kubiak as he came of the field. All told, he returned seven punts for eight yards in addition to the touchdown return. Jones was on the field in most four-wide sets during the game, but the return of Kevin Walter in week 3 and the Texans developing run game should limit his value going forward.

WR Mario Manningham, NYG - Manningham struggled to get open against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 4, and even when he did get space he had problems securing the catch. His only catch was a nice deep ball down the sideline that he also nearly dropped as he made an athletic juggling catch for 43 yards. With the return of rookie Hakeem Nicks, Manningham may start to slide back down the depth chart and might make for a "sell high" trade candidate.

WR Eddie Royal, DEN - Royal was one of the most frustrated players on the field because he thought Terrance Newman interfered with him on two dropped passes in this game. Royal was targeted mostly on short routes and the Cowboys sniffed out these plays so the second-year receiver was severely limited as a contributor. His best chances to break a big gain came on punt returns. Until Brandon Marshall and Kyle Orton can stretch the defense vertically, don't expect much from Royal week to week because defenses are routinely sniffing out the plays designed to get Royal free and daring Orton to attempt deeper routes.

WR Chansi Stuckey, CLE - After eight catches in his first two games, Stuckey has fallen back to mediocrity or below mediocrity for that matter, with three catches in his last two games. The Jets were pressured all game long by the Saints, which forced Mark Sanchez to throw short, quick, screen or underneath passes to his receivers. Stuckey didn't help his own cause, because he often didn't adjust or alter his routes to account for the pressing blitz that the Saints were giving Sanchez and he missed out on some key receptions that would've extended drives. At least two or three targets were on third-and-short that he simply wasn't able to get to because the pass was hurried. The Jets have David Clowney waiting in the wings for his opportunity to shine. Clowney had five receptions of 20 yards or more to lead all WRs in the preseason. He also had three receptions of 40 yards or more, which also led the league (tie with Hakim Nicks) during the preseason. Don't be surprised to see Clowney get some playing time if things don't improve for Stuckey.

WR Roy Williams, DAL - Williams showed very good concentration on a 13-yard sideline hitch to catch the ball with his hands, but did little else in the game until the fourth quarter, and even then he was limited after taking a shot to the ribs on a deep post when Romo led the WR too high and directly into MLB D.J. Williams who doubled over the Cowboy. He did return to make a catch on the next series on a deep in-cut over the middle with 5:00 left for the first down in a tie game, but was on the sideline struggling to catch his breath during the last series of the game. Although Atlanta and Seattle might be more advantageous match ups, Williams has to prove he can produce before he's worth starting in your fantasy league. He's a desperation WR3 or flex-option at best simply because he's Dallas' de facto No. 1 WR.

Holding steady

WR Austin Collie, IND - Austin Collie has been a pleasant surprise this season, operating out of the slot to find the soft spots in the zone and keep the chains moving. He has been the Colts' third-most targeted receiver over the past two weeks (behind Reggie Wayne and Dallas Clark), and scored his first touchdown on Sunday against the Seahawks. It was a beautiful 21-yard, over-the-shoulder catch with just seconds remaining in the first half. While Collie is playing better than it would have been fair to expect, his fantasy value will likely evaporate in another three weeks or so when Anthony Gonzalez returns to the lineup. From the standpoint of considering the rest of the season as a whole, therefore, we cannot give him an upgrade.

WR Marques Colston, NO - We may as well punch the ticket to the Pro Bowl for Jets CB Darrelle Revis this year. Colston was the latest big-name WR to be slowed by the great Darrelle Revis. Revis provided a blanket cover on Colston all game, which led Drew Brees to look at other options. Part of Revis' success is thanks to the Jets strong pass rush and blitzing nature. It causes opposing QBs to make quick decisions, which often aren't accurate. Even when Brees had time to throw, Revis was right there in tight coverage, which made it difficult for Colston to make a catch. Colston is a must start, but when the Saints return from their bye in week six, they'll face the Giants and Corey Webster, who has also been a very good cover corner. Don't expect great things from Colston, but on the Saints prolific offense, anything can happen.

WR Donald Driver, GB - Donald Driver had a quiet game for the Packers, considering he was looking to become the all-time leading receiver for the Packers. He ended up tying Sterling Sharpe on his last reception with three minutes to go, but will have to wait for next week to break the record. Driver was used as a short and medium range target, breaking shorter catches into medium gains. He broke a short reception on 3rd and 2 into a 24-yard gain early in the 3rd quarter and had another catch and run for fourteen yards two plays later. As a fantasy WR, Driver will see action each week, but won't be a big play threat unless he breaks a shorter pass for a longer gain.

WR Devin Hester, CHI - Devin Hester had to leave game against Detroit in Week 4 in the second quarter. Hester injured his shoulder on a tackle by S Louis Delmas on an attempted wide receiver screen and went to the locker room for testing and evaluation and did not return to action. Since Week 5 is a bye and the Bears took over the game early in the second half, keeping him out of the game was a wise move.

WR Sam Hurd, DAL - The stat sheet looks like Hurd stepped up, but he had one significantly play in this game when he came free on a scramble adjustment to catch the ball just past the line of scrimmage and gain the sideline for a 53-yard play with less than a minute left in the game. He was targeted on the final two plays of the game, but Champ Bailey successfully defended the passes that were thrown into the teeth of coverage. Hurd is a high-effort player, but he lacks the speed be a consistent game-changer. Betting on Miles Austin, Patrick Crayton, or Sam Hurd to make a difference in your lineup is currently a losing proposition.

WR Andre Johnson, HOU - Johnson had 2 receptions for 66 yards including a 62-yard catch in the first quarter on Matt Schaub's longest completion of the game. Johnson also had four more deep targets in the game - two that fell incomplete, one that was intercepted, and one that resulted in a clear pass interference call on corner back Chris Johnson, whom the Texans picked on most of the day. Johnson was double-covered on most every snap by a cornerback and much improved safety Michael Huff. As a result, despite being targeted throughout the game, Johnson was unable to get open despite Matt Schaub's attempts at finding him. While Johnson can expect double-teams every week, he is still a must start in all formats and we expect him to remain in the top tier of receivers for the remainder of the season.

WR Lance Moore, NO - The good news is that Lance Moore was active and played on Sunday against the Jets. The bad news is he only caught one pass for one yard. Moore, who is slowly returning from a hamstring injury, has yet to make an impact this year, but the thought process is that things will turn around once he's healthy. Perhaps the Jets game was a bad game to make an assumption of his future production this season, but two things are known. One, Moore is apparently healthy enough to play - with all of the talent the Saints have at WR, he wouldn't be out there if he weren't ready. Two, he represents good value simply because he plays on a team that has a highly proficient offense that will score a ton of points. Moore's toughness and gritty nature will eventually be someone Brees will turn to. It may take a few games for him (Moore) to get his game legs and timing back, but he should provide good production at some point this year. He may be someone who is on your waiver wire due to his slow start, if he is, grab him and reap the benefits later.

WR Randy Moss, NE - The Ravens made it a priority to take Moss's big plays out of this contest and with the exception of three passes they did so. Moss caught a 16-yard deep out in the second quarter, a 19-yard in-cut in the third quarter, and a 14-yard TD off a great blitz adjustment in single coverage late in the third quarter. His biggest plays for the team were often his blocks on screen passes thrown to Sammy Morris, springing the RB for a TD on one play, and his fellow WRs. With Denver, Tennessee, and Tampa up next, Moss will face some decent cover corners but teams that are susceptible to the big play. He remains a strong WR1 despite a ho-hum game by his standards last weekend.

WR Santana Moss, WAS - After a ten-catch performance against Detroit last week, Santana Moss owners were sitting pretty thinking the same was in store against a Buccaneers defense that has seen quite a few missteps this season. Moss failed to be that consistent bull's eye for Jason Campbell and the Redskins passing game, but he did save face with a nice stop-an-go TD reception in the third quarter that put the Skins ahead for good. The four Redskins turnovers obviously ended drives, which also left fewer opportunities for Moss to get in any kind of rhythm. For the most part, he was covered well by Aqib Talib, as evidenced by the second-year CB's three interceptions. Look for Moss to be a key contributor next week against Carolina's CBs Chris Gamble and Richard Marshall.

WR Louis Murphy, OAK - Murphy had three receptions for 34 yards (long of 19) against the Texans. He also had an apparent 17-yard reception reversed on replay that would have given the Raiders a much-needed first down. Murphy also rushed once for a 7-yard loss. Murphy was targeted four times on passes down the field, catching one for a 19-yard gain and another for an apparent 17-yard gain where he appeared to drag his toe at the sideline. The initial ruling of a completion was waived off and confirmed by replay. Most of Murphy's routes were on out patterns 15 or more yards down the field. Two more passes that came his way on longer routes sailed by incomplete. Murphy currently appears to be JaMarcus Russell's favorite target in the passing game, but the quarterback's woeful accuracy makes starting him with any confidence a risky proposition.

WR Jordy Nelson, GB - Will Blackmon was injured late in the second quarter on a kickoff return. Nelson saw his first action as his replacement and was more involved in the passing game in the second half. He came up with a big play early in the 3rd quarter on third and seven, making a nice catch for a first down. He came up big in the 4th quarter, taking a nice short pass over the middle 33 yards for a TD, bringing the Packers closer to the Vikings after being down 16 points. He only saw one target after that. He's still way down on the depth chart when it comes to offensive receiving options, but if Blackmon is out for an extended period, Nelson could see action returning kicks and punts.

WR Chad Ochocinco, CIN - Though the usual inconsistencies with his catch percentage are showing again (three receptions on 11 targets against Cleveland), Ochocinco's red zone targets are way up. Should that continue, the usual roller coaster of fantasy numbers should smooth out in Ochocinco's favor in most weeks.

WR Kevin Walter, HOU - Walter only had one reception against the Raiders, but it was for 41 yards when cornerback Chris Johnson missed the jam at the line of scrimmage allowing Walter to streak down the sideline for a large gain. Walter ran right past Johnson and Schaub found him with a perfect toss behind the cornerback. Walter wrapped the ball up and gained another 9 or 10 yards after first contact. Walter was also an effective blocker in the run game, helping Steve Slaton gain space on all three of his long gains. We expect Walter to continue being productive as the Texans second receiver, even with Andre Johnson and Owen Daniels receiving more looks.

WR Wes Welker, NE - Welker made some nice gains after the catch on crosses and flat routes. He looked quick, shifty, and healthy, gaining yardage after the catch. As long as he has no set backs to his knee after the game, he has some quality match ups in the next three weeks and will be worth having in your lineup, especially after Sam Aiken couldn't do much with his targets against Baltimore and Joey Galloway was holding down the bench because he is struggling with the requirements of being an all-around receiver.

Tight End

TE Dan Coats, CIN - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - The Browns forced Carson Palmer to look to underneath routes with their frequent Cover-2 defensive calls, and Coats was the biggest beneficiary. Although second tight end J.P. Foschi had more yardage, Coats was targeted twice as often. Tight end screens are becoming a frequent play call for the Bengals as well, making Coats a potential bye week replacement target for those in deeper leagues.

TE Chris Cooley, WAS - The Redskins, especially QB Jason Campbell, can thank Chris Cooley for his performance against the Bucs, because he was definitely a deciding factor in the Skins getting the win, despite four turnovers. Cooley stayed in to block on several pass plays, but he often was able to spin out for quick dump off passes that the defense never picked up on. Cooley does a great job of adjusting his route to accommodate Campbell. In one occasion, Campbell rolled right and Cooley drifted his route left to create a lane for which Campbell was able to find him for a first down. Receivers who can do that are a QB's best friend and Cooley definitely is Campbell's go-to guy for mid-ranged passes. He easily was Campbell's favorite target this week, and he helped secure the win with a TD catch that got the offense going in the third quarter. Cooley has at least five catches in three of his first four games this year. He represents good value as a starting TE in your lineup and he has a favorable match up next week at Carolina that makes him a slight upgrade despite the fact he's already in good standing among fantasy owners.

TE Owen Daniels, HOU - Daniels continues to be a relied upon option in the Texans' potent passing game. Against the Raiders, he had two receptions for 48 yards (long of 44) and just missed on another 15-yard completion as he bobbled the ball on the way to the turf on a pass thrown too high by Matt Schaub. Daniels was targeted all game in the deep middle of the field but wasn't able to add any more receptions after his two early catches. However, Daniels was devastating in the run game, helping push out the Raiders defensive ends on Ryan Moats interior runs. We expect Daniels to remain one of the top tight ends in football. His ability to get open on deep routes makes him a rare, and valuable, commodity in all leagues. With Kevin Walter beginning to make an impact, teams will be forced to give up the middle of the field to Daniels more often.

TE Vernon Davis, SF - Remember that big athletic guy from the University of Maryland that was drafted high by San Francisco a few years back? Yeah, the one that was supposed to develop into that next secret weapon for the 49ers and be a huge target over the middle. Well, that day may finally be here as Vernon Davis continues to elevate his game, making a strong case as to becoming a fantasy starting TE and viable contributor in most league formats. Davis scored on a pretty 13-yard seam pass in the Red Zone in the middle of the end zone, reaching up for a nice spiral from Shaun Hill over James Laurinaitis. Davis has three touchdowns in the past two games and has had a catch for 17 or more yards in every game this season. Expect another game with several chances for Davis next week against Atlanta. This is the last week you're likely to get him off the waiver wire in even leagues with lax owners.

TE Jermichael Finley, GB - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - The second-year TE for the Packers had a break-out game, leading the Packers in receptions, yards and taking a long pass 62 yards for a TD in the second quarter to tie the game at seven. Finley had several more short and medium receptions, including a nice catch and run for 37 yards on 2nd and 10 that set up Nelson's TD late in the fourth quarter. Finley is an excellent option for your fantasy team as Rodgers looks for him on the short passes, especially when he's scrambling to make time for a collapsing pocket. Finley has good size and speed, and is a big target up the middle. Lee's dropping the TD pass in the third quarter only helped Finley's cause, but he had already been involved in short catch-and-run situations and continued to make big plays for the Packers all game. He's a great waiver wire pickup if he's available.

TE Antonio Gates, SD - There is, after Sunday night, no question that Antonio Gates is all the way back from the injuries that slowed him last season. Gates was dominant facing a Polamalu-less Pittsburgh secondary, catching 9 passes for 124 yards and two touchdowns -- his best fantasy performance since he went for 10/145/3 against the Chiefs in 2005. After four games, Gates is on pace for 96 catches and receiving 1,396 yards on the season -- i.e., he is on pace for his best season ever. More importantly, he is once again doing all the things that made him a fantasy stud earlier in his career: he is accelerating out of his cuts, using his body to shield defenders from the ball, showing awareness as a runner in the open field, and fighting through tackles for extra yards.

TE Steve Heiden, CLE - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - Heiden looks healthy after suffering a severe knee injury late in the 2008 season that kept him from practicing until camp. He saw twice as many targets as starting tight end Robert Royal and was a frequent checkdown option for Derek Anderson. He'll have to compete with Royal, Jerome Harrison and Mike Furrey for underneath targets, but Heiden is worth putting on your radar if you're desperate for TE help in PPR leagues.

TE Marcedes Lewis, JAX - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - David Garrard found his big tight end four times in Week 4 against Tennessee, including a late 33-yard grab down the seam in the waning moments of the game. Lewis was wide open on that play and waltzed into the end zone, capping a strong fantasy day (4-76-1) for both he and Garrard. While he is not quite a Top 12 fantasy TE, he should be noticed well enough now to be a flex player or spot starter to cover a TE1 bye week.

TE Heath Miller, PIT - Miller is the Steelers' top receiving threat in the red zone. While the Pittsburgh wide receivers as a group have gotten two red zone looks this season, Miller has gotten seven. He got three last night (including a halfback option pass thrown by Mewelde Moore) and scored twice. More impressively, Miller has caught 89% (24 of 27) of the targets he's seen this season; Sunday night's 8 catches on 9 targets was par for the course. Miller has become one of the more sure-handed receivers in the league. And although he lacks the downfield speed of a Dallas Clark, Antonio Gates, or Vernon Davis, Miller's ability to find the opening on underneath routes makes him especially valuable in PPR leagues.

TE Brandon Pettigrew, DET - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - Pettigrew saw a ton of targets (10) in Week 4 against Chicago, getting open consistently down the middle of the field. Pettigrew should have topped 100 yards and scored at least once, but his fellow draft class member and quarterback was too erratic. There is a chemistry developing between Matthew Stafford and Pettigrew, so once they both start settling into their respective roles in the NFL they should make for an exciting and productive duo. Detroit faces Pittsburgh next week, a team that has had issues this season with big tight ends.

TE Ben Watson, NE - Watson is one of the more frustrating tight ends in fantasy football because he has the talent to be an elite option, but between his lapses and plethora of options for the Patriots he's been a disappointment for most of his career. However, he actually led the Patriots in receiving yardage this week. Watson put his athleticism on display, catching a deep seam route for 34 yards and an over the head grab for 17 yards on an out route. He was targeted frequently enough in 3- or 4-WR sets as a TE on the line of scrimmage that he's worth a slight upgrade given then the fact New England is lacking a quality No. 3 receiver, remains inconsistent on the ground, and Wes Welker's health remains a bit of a question mark.

Downgrade

TE Anthony Fasano, MIA - Fasano continues to disappoint fantasy owners who were expecting a repeat of his 2008 breakout performance. Although the Bills were without their best linebacker and both starting safeties in the game, Fasano failed to make an impact in the passing game, finishing with just one catch on three targets for seven yards. He was targeted on a deep pass on one play, and then was targeted in the end zone on another, but he was well covered on both. Through four combined games this season, Fasano has just four catches on nine targets for 18 yards. Given how deep the tight end position is, there are almost certainly better options available than him on the waiver wire in most leagues.

TE Donald Lee, GB - Donald Lee was involved in the short and medium range passing game for the Packers, but was clearly overshadowed by the big plays of rookie Jermichael Finley. Lee had a nice catch and run on the first series for 16 yards but was quiet after that. His biggest mistake came late in the third quarter after a 13-play, eight-minute-plus drive where the Packers were stopped three times after reaching first and goal from the eight. On fourth and one from the goal line, Rodgers threw a low, but catchable ball to Lee who flat out dropped it after signaling that he was open. It killed all of the momentum at that point and Lee was not a factor in the offense again until the final drive where he was stopped behind the line of scrimmage on one play and had a short gain on second and long. Finley was the big story at TE for the Packers.

TE Kellen Winslow, TB - It was unclear how Winslow's numbers would fare with new QB Josh Johnson under center. Johnson started off on a positive note, but faded away as a down field passer as the game went on. As a result, Winslow was rarely targeted. Johnson will gain more confidence with experience, which will mean better numbers for Winslow, but until then, keep your expectations at a minimum for Winslow.

TE Jason Witten, DAL - The Broncos did a great job of taking Witten out of the game. His first catch was a flat route late in the half for a nine-yard gain and the only other memorable play was a 7-yard route over the middle off a tipped pass in the fourth quarter. Don't be surprised if New England follows Josh McDaniel's lead and does similar things to take away Witten, and force Dallas to find outside receivers that can produce. Witten will still see enough looks to generate some fantasy production, but expecting big weeks without a complement on the outside might be pushing it.

Holding steady

TE Todd Heap, BAL - Heap made a couple of nice plays in this game including a leaping catch for 22 yards up the seam off play action in the first half and showed good awareness to adjust to his scrambling QB with an out route where he tight-roped the sideline. It was not much of a fantasy effort for Heap this week, because New England focused on taking him away from Flacco. However, he did make the most of his targets and it indicates he'll have better weeks ahead.

TE Zach Miller, JAX - The one consistent bright spot in the Raiders' passing game, tight end Zack Miller, had three receptions for 33 yards (long of 13) against the Texans. Miller was also overthrown on a deep pass up the seam. Miller was kept in to block on most rushing plays but was ineffective at keeping the Texan linebackers out of the backfield, particularly one sweeps to Darren McFadden. Miller is only worth a roster spot at this point as a second tight end until the Raiders offense gains some momentum. On the upside, however, most of his routes are of the short-medium variety that JaMarcus Russell seems to favor. If any receiver in Oakland is likely to have consistent fantasy value this season, it is Miller.

TE Greg Olsen, CHI - Detroit threw a ton of defensive attention at TE Greg Olsen in Week 4, limiting him to just one catch despite seven targets against the Lions. Olsen did score on the one catch, but until someone consistently commands more attention from the defense it will remain tough sledding for Olsen. Now that rookie WR Johnny Knox had a big day, defenses may start to have to respect Knox and Devin Hester which should mean lighter coverage for Olsen.

TE Visanthe Shiancoe, MIN - Shiancoe had another quietly productive game for the Vikings. He caught all three passes that were thrown his way and put Minnesota out in front with a TD reception after a good play action fake to Peterson on the one yard line. His reception at the end of the 3rd quarter was nice because he caught a six yard pass on third and eight and fought for an additional three yards to get the first down.

Kicker

PK Jason Hanson, DET - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - The Lions offense is scoring a good clip this season, and Jason Hanson has kicked well. Hanson has been perfect this season on seven FGs and sight PATs.

PK Garrett Hartley, NO - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - John Carney has scored well for the Saints in place of Garrett Hartley, but Hartley is now eligible to play after serving a 4-game suspension. He is likely on your waiver wire, so go ahead and upgrade your PK position.

PK Josh Scobee, JAX - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - After a sluggish start, the Jaguars offense is beginning to perform well. This is likely due to their offensive line. With a ton of new bodies in place (including two rookie tackles), they understandably needed some time to gel. With improved protection, David Garrard and Maurice Jones-Drew now have time to create more scoring opportunities for Scobee.

Downgrade

PK John Carney, NO - This type of downgrade is the toughest as John Carney has been kicking very well for the Saints. However, he has been filling in for the suspended Garrett Hartley, who is now eligible to play.

PK Nick Folk, DAL - We're giving Nick Folk a bit of a downtick. The problem here isn't Folk. He has been pretty good this year (perfect on 10 PATs and just a single miss on seven FGs). However, the Cowboys offense simply isn't that great. They can excel against bad defenses but struggle to provide scoring opportunities against opponents that are average or better.

PK Rian Lindell, BUF - After two weeks of excellent offense, where the Bills scored 57 points against the Patriots and Buccaneers, Buffalo has stunk up the joint lately. Against New Orleans and Miami, they have totaled only 17 points. Despite Rian Lindell missing only one kick (on 15 total tries), this lack of opportunity is killing his fantasy value.

Holding steady

Team Defense

TD San Francisco 49ers, SF - When a defense scores more TDs in a game than 14 offenses did that day, they are assured of an upgrade. The 49ers forced three St. Louis turnovers and returned each of them for a score. This stingy unit simply overwhelmed the Rams.

TD Denver Broncos, DEN - While they passed their first real quiz against the Cowboys, there are some tough tests on the horizon with New England, San Diego, Baltimore and Pittsburgh next on the schedule. However, the Broncos have been putting some great fantasy stats. They are first in the league with 15 sacks and second with 10 turnovers forced.

TD New York Jets, NYJ - We've been pretty high on the Jets for a few weeks, but we want to note how impressive this unit has been so far this season. Despite facing a murderers row of quarterbacks that include Drew Brees, Tom Brady, and Matt Schaub, only once (Schaub) have the Jets allowed more than 150 net passing yards in a game. They get the upgrade for what is coming up. With guys like Chad Henne (twice), Trent Edwards, and JaMarcus Russell on tap, look for the Jets to turn in some fantastic numbers in the next four weeks.

TD New Orleans Saints, NO - The biggest fantasy defense surprise this season is the New Orleans Saints. While Drew Brees and the offense garnered the headlines, this group has been turning in some outstanding numbers. They absolutely steamrolled Mark Sanchez and the Jets and have generally been good every week. Currently, the Saints defense leads the league in forced turnovers with 13 and are tied for fifth with 11 sacks.

TD Houston Texans, HOU - *** POTENTIAL WAIVER WIRE GEM *** - We know they were playing the Raiders, but Houston turned in an outstanding performance in Week 4. That display alone would merit an upgrade, but the Texans get one for what they did before the game. After three weeks of generally playing great defense but suffering a few laspes, the Houston coaching staff simplified their defensive scheme. This allowed their players to play without thinking and eliminate mistakes. Even though it was against Oakland, it was still an impressive improvement.

Downgrade

TD Oakland Raiders, OAK - This isn't a bad group, but they are simply fighting a losing battle due to the Oakland offense. JaMarcus Russell and Co. put the Raiders defense on the field too often and in too many tough situations. Plus, the offense applies zero pressure on Oakland's opponent.

TD Pittsburgh Steelers, PIT - Amazingly enough, the Steelers defense is last in the league in forced turnovers with three. Even worse, they have accumulated only seven sacks. These are not the numbers everyone expected when they made Pittsburgh the consensus No. 1 fantasy defense. We aren't sure if Troy Polamalu makes that much of a difference, but it's clear that a Polamalu-less Steelers defense is simply a borderline unit.

TD Tennessee Titans, TEN - The Titans have been a huge disappointment this season. They have decent sack numbers with nine and are tough against the run with just under 80 yards allowed per game. However, they are horrible in other major categories. The Titans have forced only four turnovers (only ahead of Pittsburgh's three). Tennessee has not scored a defensive touchdown, and they are atrocious against the pass (tied with the Jaguars for most passing yards allowed at 1,129).

Holding steady