2009 NFL Fantasy Week Four Rankings PPR and Standard Leagues

Sean E. DouglasOct 1, 2009

After this week, we will already be a quarter of the way finished with the fantasy football season.

With that being said, there's still plenty of time for fantasy football owners to salvage the season if you've started off slow.

Week Four is the first week that fantasy owners will start losing players because of teams being on their respective bye weeks. With this in mind, it is always good to find strong waiver pickups to strengthen your bench.

If you are able to get production from fantasy players outside of your normal starters, then your chances of making the playoffs are much higher.

This week, we have our weekly section on Wounded Warriors, as well as our top rankings for position players.

TOP NEWS

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We have the top 16 ranked QB, TE, K and D/ST.

We also have the top 30 RBs and top 40 WRs, as well.

Every week, we will start off with our Wounded Warriors' section. These are the key players who are on the injury report that you need to pay attention to before games begin.

Wounded Warriors

Frank Gore vs. Rams—Frank Gore will be out for the next two games against the Rams and the Falcons with an ankle injury. Look for rookie Glen Coffee to get the feature back duties as Gore is out of action.

Matt Forte vs. Lions—A fellow teammate of Matt Forte's admitted that he doesn't believe Forte is running at 100 percent. He dinged up his knee in Week Three, and may also still be slowed from his hamstring injury from June.

Hopefully, Forte can play and produce this week against the Lions' poor defense. Week Five, the Bears are on a bye week and that should help Forte get some rest.

Felix Jones/Marion Barber @ Broncos—The Cowboys will be without Felix Jones until at least mid-October because of a knee injury he suffered on Monday night.

If Marion Barber can play at all, I'm sure Dallas will put him back in the lineup as they are down to only Tashard Choice in the backfield.

Look for Choice to be a nice flex play this week, even if Barber does come back to action.

Willie Parker vs. Chargers—The Steelers top running back Willie Parker suffered a turf toe injury last week against the Bengals. While the Steelers maintain that Parker can still play this week, he would be best served to wait a few games.

Turf toe can linger for a very long time if it does not heal right and this makes Rashard Mendenhall a sneaky play for Week Four.

Kevin Smith @ Bears—Unfortunately for the Lions and fantasy owners, Kevin Smith has both a shoulder and knee injury. The Lions were working out different running backs today and will probably sign someone in a day or so.

Look for Smith to be out for a couple of weeks as the team will lean on Maurice Morris and a committee of backs to run with. The Lions face the Bears, Steelers, and Packers in the next three weeks. Unless you're desperate, I would not suggest you pick Morris up.

Dwayne Bowe vs. Giants—The Chiefs are not confident that their star receiver Dwayne Bowe will play this week. Unfortunately, they need Bowe on the field every week as he's the one star they have.

Look for the Chiefs' passing attack to struggle as long as he is out.