NFL Fantasy Football Week 4 Recap: Ranking The Top Performers

In a wild week of NFL upsets and crazy finishes we should take a step back and look at the very best performers from our second favorite dimension of football: Fantasy.

These players not only helped the teams that pay them the big bucks but regular Joe Schmoes who spend their Sundays following the stats from every game. A big victory this week can help a team jump out to an early division lead or just keep a good start going.

Anyone who was lucky enough to have any of these five players probably were carried to victory this weekend.

5. Antonio Gates

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SAN DIEGO - OCTOBER 03: Tight end Antonio Gates #85 of the San Diego Chargers celebrates after catching a 26 yard touchdown pass in the second quarter against the Arizona Cardinals at Qualcomm Stadium on October 3, 2010 in San Diego, California. (Photo

Gates helped the Chargers bounce back from a disappointing loss to the Seahawks with a 41-10 thrashing of the Arizona Cardinals. 

Gates hauled in seven catches for 144 yards and two touchdowns as he once again proved to be the anchor of the Chargers high powered passing game. Fantasy owners have become used to performances like this from Gates, but that certainly takes nothing away from a game like this.

4. Eddie Royal

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DENVER - SEPTEMBER 26: Eddie Royal #19 of the Denver Broncos receives a punt gainst the Indianapolis Colts at INVESCO Field at Mile High on September 26, 2010 in Denver, Colorado. The Colts defeated the Broncos 27-13. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Imag

Eddie Royal has been up and down during his tenure in Denver, showing flashes of brilliance while occasionally disappearing and being held to only a couple or no catches.

On Sunday however Royal was all over the field making plays for his team. Royal caught eight passes for 113 yards and a touchdown. Adding up all those yards and catches on top of a big TD certainly equals a big fantasy day for Royal.

Of course Royal needed someone to throw him the ball, someone who also had a big game...

3. Kyle Orton

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DENVER - SEPTEMBER 26: Quarterback Kyle Orton #8 of the Denver Broncos delivers a pass against the Indianapolis Colts at INVESCO Field at Mile High on September 26, 2010 in Denver, Colorado. Orton passed for 476 yards as the Colts defeated the Broncos 27

Orton has had a truly great season heading into week 4 and continued his success putting up huge numbers in a 26-20 victory over the Titans.

Orton connected on 35 of 50 passes for 341 yards and two touchdowns, putting together a huge game both fantasy wise and in reality. Orton is sporting a 96.4 passer rating but is somehow only owned in 77 percent of fantasy leagues according to ESPN.Com.

This number is sure to be on the rise as Orton continues to put up big numbers in Josh McDaniels' offense.

2. Arian Foster

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OAKLAND, CA - OCTOBER 3: Running back Arian Foster #23 of the Houston Texans scores a touchdown in front of linebacker Rolando McClain #55 of the Oakland Raiders during an NFL football game October 3, 2010 at The Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum in Oakla

Texans running back Arian Foster continued his breakout season Sunday compiling big numbers in his team's victory over the Oakland Raiders.

Foster ran for 131 yards on 16 carries and a touchdown, while adding three receptions for 56 yards and another touchdown. Big games like this have started to become the norm for Foster as he is gaining steam and respect throughout the league.

Foster's big jump has allowed the Texans to present a truly balanced offense and could be the key to their first playoff appearance in team history.

1. Giants Defense

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EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - OCTOBER 03: Justin Tuck #91 of the New York Giants sacks against Caleb Hanie #12 of the Chicago Bear at New Meadowlands Stadium on October 3, 2010 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Andrew Burton/Getty Images)

The Giants were able to use a suffocating defensive effort to defeat the Chicago Bears at home on Sunday Night.

The Bears were held to just 110 yards of total offense and 0 of 14 on third and fourth down conversions. The Giants D also racked up two interceptions, three forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery.

The most staggering stat of the night however were the 10 sacks the Giants D was able to rack up. These stats led to short nights for both Jay Cutler and backup Todd Collins. This left the Bears with third stringer Caleb Hanie trying to bring the team back late in the game.

Although the Giants will not face offensive lines as weak as the Bears on a weekly basis they should still use this game as a confidence booster going forward.