B/R Writers' Fantasy Football Mock Draft

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Round 4

12. Team Crowe: Willie Parker (RB-PIT) Willie Parker struggled with injuries last season, but I'm expecting a huge bounce-back year from the normally steady running back. Even with his disappointing year, his three year averages are first or second round worthy: 1,200 yards, seven touchdowns. Sounds pretty good for a fourth round running back

11. Team Harkey: Kevin Smith (RB-DET) Kevin Smith is one of the only remaining running backs with a true feature back role. Last season, Smith flew under the radar due to a dreadfully slow start as an NFL rookie. However, Smith quietly battled his way through the season starting 12 games and totaling just under 1,000 rushing yards, 300 receiving yards, and eight touchdowns. More importantly, Smith only dropped the rock once all year long. That late season push has left the second year back with a renewed sense of confidence. Earlier this year, Kevin Smith predicted a playoff appearance for the Detroit Lions in 2009. While I certainly don't agree with this prediction, I like Smith's confidence and attitude. Smith should continue to flourish in Detroit's zone blocking scheme and I project him to total around 1,500 all purpose yards and eight touchdowns.

10. Team Nash: Pierre Thomas (RB-NO) Let's face it, Reggie Bush is not now, nor is he ever likely to be, an every-down back. He's a great punt/kick return man and is awesome for anyone looking to pick up points in a PPR league; however, this is not that type of league. That said, Pierre Thomas showed that he has the skills to pay the bills. From week 10 onward, Thomas racked up 500-plus yards (5.1. ypc) and six scores. With Deuce long gone and the Saints looking to continue their potent offense of 2008, Pierre will likely have the backfield all to himself and that means fantasy gold.

9. Team Anderson: Thomas Jones (RB-NYJ) Team Anderson needs a second running back, but there are few options to choose from here. The best remaining is Thomas Jones who rushed for 1,300 yards and caught for 200 with 15 total touchdowns. He might drop off due to the addition of draft pick Shonn Greene, who could see plenty of red zone action, but Jones is the best RB left on the board.

8. Team Williams: TJ Houshmandzadeh (WR-SEA) After a good season on a bad Bengals team, Houshmandzadeh will be even better this season. The Seahawks had a down year last year, but it appears to be more of a hiccup then a trend. With both Matt Hasselbeck and Nate Burleson back in the lineup, the team should return to a more .500 record this season. This should mean good things for Houshmandzadeh.

7. Team Winslow: DeSean Jackson (WR-PHI) With three running backs on my team, I'm in dire need of a wide receiver here in round four. There are some intriguing prospects still on the board, but Jackson has a good offense around him, a new first round pick to draw the coverage away from him, and a high caliber quarterback throwing to him.

6. Team Waddell: Dwayne Bowe (WR-KC) The value is great as Bowe's ADP is 3.06 and he's the ninth best wide receiver on my board. But I'm still not overly thrilled with the selection considering all of the changes occurring in Chiefs Country. Bowe racked up 1,022 yards and seven touchdowns after catching 86 balls last year. There's no reason to think he can't reach 100 receptions this year with consistent and competent quarterback play from Matt Cassel. While he is not Larry Fitzgerald, Bowe may morph into the poor man's Fitzgerald under the tutelage of new head coach Todd Haley. Bowe had an issue with drops last year that cost the Chiefs at least one victory. If Bowe can get the issues with his stone hands worked out this offseason, he should be able to post at least 1,100 yards and 10 touchdowns as the only receiving option in Kansas City, making this mid fourth round selection seem like a steal.

5. Team Bedinger: Jason Witten (TE-DAL) Witten has been a stud the last couple of years, and I do not even feel he reached his full potential as a receiver with Owens in the mix. Now that Owens is gone, Witten is the man in Dallas. He will be a fantasy beast at TE if he stays healthy.

4. Team Lester: Roy Williams (WR-DAL) With Owens exiled to the frozen tundra that is Buffalo, Roy Williams gets a crack at the No. 1 wide receiver position for the Dallas Cowboys. Having a full season with a quarterback with a pulse should make him a top 15 wide receiver and a solid WR2.

3. Team Lorge: Marshawn Lynch (RB-BUF) Right now Lynch is sitting on a three game suspension, but I think he has a good chance of getting that reduced to one or two games. Lynch would be a second round pick if he wasn't suspended. When he returns to the Bills, he won't see the eight man in the box type of looks he did last season with defenses focused on stopping the deep pass. Lynch could rack up 1,100-plus yards in the 13 games he's projected to play.

2. Team Stashin: Brandon Marshall (WR-DEN) I know all the questions surrounding him. Can he produce without Jay Cutler? Will he still be a Bronco? Will he stay on the field? The truth of the matter is that the past two seasons, all he has done is produced. With what he's done in the past, he's worth the slight risk here.

1. Team Schottey: Jay Cutler (QB-CHI) Without a legit No. 1 receiver, Cutler isn't a great fantasy option. Add into that the unfriendly confines of Soldier Field and the first time in a season full of cold, windy Chicago weather, there's a question mark here. However, this pick is big risk, big reward. If reports out of Chicago are true, the offense looks great already and the Bears are linked with several big time wide receivers on the market. If Chicago is a buyer at the trade deadline (or sooner), Cutler could have great numbers down the stretch.

Fourth Round Notes

Sean Crowe: I like Bowe a lot. I think he and Cassel will work well together. I also like the fact that the Chiefs are going to run an extremely quarterback-friendly offense.

Kyle Winslow: The trend that I'm really noticing though: Get your wide receivers early. Pierre Thomas and Thomas Jones just went off the board, and those are solid running backs. I can't predict with confidence that those guys are going to be significantly less valuable than some of the other backs that went in the late first and early second round, but the value at wide receiver here in round four is not nearly the same. I think it's a must to take a receiver in one of the first two rounds this year.

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