Week 4 Fantasy Football: Instant Sunday Recap

One month of fantasy is in the books. You should know what kind of team you have by now. If you're looking at 1-3, it might be time to make a bold move.

Go big or go home.

If you're 0-4, it's not too late to make adjustments and get back in it. Often it merely takes a 7-6 record to make the fantasy playoffs. An 0-4 team needs to go 7-2 from here on out.

We break down Week 4 in Bleacher Report's Instant Sunday Recap, including five surprising studs and five disappointing duds. We also survey the injury carnage and weigh the best of the early waiver-wire options for Week 5.

Five Surprise Week 4 Studs

RBs Matt Asiata and Jerick McKinnon, Minnesota Vikings

On a day NFL insider Chris Mortensen told ESPN's Matthew Berry it is "very unlikely" Adrian Peterson plays again this season because he's "not in the Vikings plans," Asiata goes out and leads all fantasy running backs with three rushing touchdowns. The Vikings took advantage of a favorable matchup against the Atlanta Falcons, making Asiata and the athletic rookie McKinnon the primary beneficiaries.

They have another favorable matchup Thursday night against the Green Bay Packers, so consider them viable starts through the bye weeks in all leagues. McKinnon is a must-add handcuff, particularly after rushing for 135 yards on 18 carries. He will eventually become the feature back this season, even if Asiata keeps the short-yardage and goal-line roles.

Berry is even suggesting dropping Peterson now.

We won't go so far as giving up on Peterson yet because the legal process needs to sort itself out, but clearly the Vikings like what they have at running back with McKinnon and Asiata. Fantasy owners should too.

WR Steve Smith Sr., Baltimore Ravens

Here is this week's mea culpa. We didn't buy Smith having a huge week in his out-for-blood game against his former team. We sure missed the boat there.

Heck, we all sold the veteran receiver short this year with the Ravens.

Smith Sr. looked more like 25 than 35 in going off with seven catches for 139 yards and two touchdowns. He has been a fantasy monster and has made Torrey Smith an afterthought.

Torrey Smith did manage two catches for 53 yards and a touchdown himself...finally...but clearly, Steve Smith Sr. is the No. 1 Ravens wide receiver right now. Both Smiths will be solid starts at the Indianapolis Colts next week, though.

WR Jarius Wright, Minnesota Vikings

Reserve receivers famously come out of the woodwork when the backup quarterback emerges as a starter, as is the case with Teddy Bridgewater, Wright and the Vikings this week. Backup quarterbacks have a rapport with the reserve wideouts they work closely with running the scout teams.

If you were wondering where Wright's eight catches for 132 yards came from, that is as good of a reason as any.

Wright is a sneaky pickup off waivers in the short term, but his success might be contingent on Bridgewater's health for Thursday night at Green Bay. Christian Ponder is just as much of a backup quarterback as Bridgewater, but he is not quite the same caliber of downfield passer.

QB Eli Manning, New York Giants

We could have figured it would be a slow start for Manning in his transition to offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo's West Coast offense, but we couldn't have seen that kind of performance coming Thursday night. That was fairly sudden.

Manning, who threw for 300 yards and four touchdowns, looks like a potential fantasy monster again, particularly with the defenseless Falcons coming to New Jersey to face the Giants with extra time to prepare. Manning is available in almost 58 percent of ESPN.com leagues and could be among the top 12 fantasy options for Week 5 with that favorable of a matchup.

The Giants are getting healthy offensively and finding a groove just in time for a shootout with Matt Ryan and the Falcons.

TE Larry Donnell, New York Giants

And, because Manning has life again, Donnell has emerged as one of the breakthrough tight ends of the year. The West Coast system has the tendency to cause that, and Donnell looks every bit of a productive red-zone threat.

Donnell led tight ends with three receiving touchdowns and will be a frequent target for Manning, particularly against the Falcons' young and suspect secondary. Donnell is available in over 73 percent of ESPN.com leagues, but he might be worth starting in 100 percent amid his hot streak and in that matchup.

Five Week 4 Duds

QB Nick Foles, Philadelphia Eagles

Foles and the Eagles looked like world-beaters out of the gate, scoring at will against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Indianapolis Colts and the Washington Redskins. Those are three of the most advantageous matchups for fantasy owners.

A trip to San Francisco to face the 49ers leveled the Eagles and Foles off this week. Foles was held to just 195 yards passing and two interceptions, which equals his pick total for all of 2013. He isn't quite a fantasy MVP who is immune to a bad matchup, apparently.

The good news is the Eagles and Foles have the St. Louis Rams and New York Giants both at home the next two weeks. Keep Foles and all of your Eagles mainstays active.

RB LeSean McCoy, Philadelphia Eagles

Speaking of mainstays, McCoy still cannot get out of his own way. He was held to 17 yards on 10 carries Sunday. The 49ers have that effect on backs, so don't sell low on McCoy, even if much of the struggling running game can be pinned on the offensive line.

Chip Kelly pointed right there to Mark Eckel of NJ.com:

"

We got whupped up front. We're just not very good up front right now. No excuses, but playing against a front like that, it's tough. At that point they were up at the line. I thought our best chance was to throw it.

"

McCoy is going to be fine in the long run, particularly when, not if, Darren Sproles succumbs to the anticipated injuries undersized 31-year-old running backs are susceptible to. He is going to get offensive tackle Lance Johnson back from suspension next week against the Rams.

Brian Westbrook said McCoy is the focal point, and the Eagles all work off him, Eckel reported. 

"

Defenses know they have to stop LeSean McCoy to beat the Eagles. This team needs the running game. If the Eagles can't run, the passing game is going to suffer along with it. ... Getting Lane Johnson back will help. But it's more than just that, they really miss (center) Jason Kelce, too.

"

You have to keep riding your first pick, McCoy. Trading him now will just compound your misfortune and give your trade partner McCoy's best for something less than he is truly worth.

RB Arian Foster, Houston Texans

Foster returned from his hamstring strain. That was the good news. The bad was he was limited to just eight rushes for six yards. The silver lining is he was healthy enough to catch seven passes for 55 yards.

As long as Foster is active, he should be starting for fantasy owners in all leagues. He is just too important to the Texans offense, and he will get yards and fantasy points in the air if he is stuffed on the ground.

Week 5 should be a productive week for Foster in the Texas rivalry game at Dallas, but we have been disparaging that Cowboys defense for weeks, and it keeps surprising us. Foster remains too promising to sit because of his potential for touches on all downs.

WR Calvin Johnson, Detroit Lions

We might have to add Megatron to the growing list of first-round fantasy disappointments. Johnson was limited to just two catches for 12 yards.

He has dealt with an ankle issue and was kept as a decoy Sunday, according to ESPN.com's Michael Rothstein.

"

Went out there. It was tough but I figured from moving around [on Saturday] that I'd be able to get on the field a little bit. It's good to be out there with the fellas. It sucks to be on the sideline and not be able to play at all. It sucks to have injuries, too, but that's just part of the game.

"

Having a slow-starting first-round pick is a part of fantasy, too. Megatron should be fine to play, though, as long as he is active for the Lions at home next week against the Buffalo Bills.

"

Simms: Calvin Johnson Is No Longer the Best Receiver in the NFL http://t.co/s0L1wXYenK

— Calvin Johnson (@4CalvinJohnson) September 29, 2014"

WR Cordarrelle Patterson, Minnesota Vikings

You are right to love Patterson's freakish athleticism and long-term potential. You should remember those things don't win fantasy leagues necessarily.

Patterson was held to just two catches for 38 yards this week, despite the fact Teddy Bridgewater managed to throw for 317 yards. It is a telling sign Jarius Wright was a bigger downfield threat.

Patterson lacks the polish to be a traditional NFL wideout just yet. He is going to need to score his fantasy points off runs, screens or perhaps returns. He looks like a 50-catch, 750-yard, four-touchdown player—i.e., something well short of his trade worth.

The next time Patterson has a productive week, or even flashes game-breaking ability, trade him off for someone more consistent—maybe even a Sammy Watkins.

Injury Concerns

TE Vernon Davis, San Francisco 49ers (back)

Davis left with a back injury, according to ESPN.com's Paul Gutierrez. He was already nursing an ankle and knee issue. Davis is running out of body parts to have injured, and fantasy owners are equally running out of patience. He is going to be difficult to trust in a 4:25 p.m. ET start next week against the Kansas City Chiefs.

RB Joique Bell, Detroit Lions (concussion)

The New York Jets apparently hit running backs more than just on the stat sheet. Bell left with a concussion and will be subject to the NFL's head-injury protocol this week, according to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. Regardless of whether Bell is cleared or not, Reggie Bush was effective late against the Jets and should be active next week against the Bills.

RB Bernard Pierce, Baltimore Ravens (quad)

Pierce was active, but he wasn't used, as Justin Forsett and Lorenzo Taliaferro did all of the work for the Ravens against the Carolina Panthers on Sunday. Pierce was held out of action to give his strained quad more rest, according to Aaron Wilson of The Baltimore Sun. The Ravens running back situation will be too tough to call until the rookie Taliaferro emerges as the feature back by year's end.

RB DeAngelo Williams, Carolina Panthers (ankle)

The Panthers need their running game, especially with Steve Smith Sr. now in Baltimore, but they just cannot keep their backs healthy. Jonathan Stewart (knee) is out for at least a few weeks, and Williams is dealing with an ankle issue after returning from a hamstring injury. Jonathan Jones of The Charlotte Observer reported Williams left Sunday with a walking cast on his foot.

"We're playing two undrafted free agents right now at running back," head coach Ron Rivera told Jones. "As of right now, Darrin Reaves is our starter."

Reaves is an add off waivers on potential carries alone, even once Williams or Stewart returns. Those injury-riddled veterans never stay healthy.

QB Teddy Bridgewater, Minnesota Vikings (ankle)

It isn't just that Bridgewater has a sprained ankle. He is also a rookie quarterback who has yet to complete an NFL game, and the Vikings have the Green Bay Packers on the road this Thursday night on a short week. Bridgewater is in a race against the clock to be healthy enough for that one. You likely cannot trust him, even if you deem that a potential shootout.

WR Mike Evans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (groin)

Evans caught the first of many touchdown passes of his young career Sunday, but he was forced from the game with a groin issue. "Just a little tweak—it hurt, and I couldn't run," Evans told Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times.

QB Derek Carr, Oakland Raiders (knee, ankle)

Carr isn't a trustworthy fantasy option, and the Raiders were headed for a Week 5 bye anyway. You can cut the rookie in standard leagues.

Waiver Favorites

There is one more game and another day to review injuries and news, but here are some early favorites for the most-added players in fantasy this coming week:

1. RB Lorenzo Taliaferro, Baltimore Ravens
2. RBs Matt Asiata/Jerick McKinnon, Minnesota Vikings
3. QB Eli Manning, New York Giants
4. TE Larry Donnell, New York Giants
5. RB Andre Williams, New York Giants
6. RB Darrin Reaves, Carolina Panthers
7. WR Eddie Royal, San Diego Chargers
8. RB Bishop Sankey, Tennessee Titans
9. WR Jarius Wright, Minnesota Vikings
10. WR Odell Beckham, New York Giants
11. QB Mike Glennon, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
12. QB Blake Bortles, Jacksonville Jaguars
13. QB Teddy Bridgewater, Minnesota Vikings
14. WR Devin Hester, Atlanta Falcons
15. TE Dwayne Allen/Coby Fleener, Indianapolis Colts

Eric Mack, one of the giants among fantasy writers, is the Fantasy Football Lead Writer for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter, where you can ask him endless questions about your team, rip him for his content and even challenge him to a head-to-head fantasy game.