Fantasy Football: Week Four Preview, Part Two

After delving into the early games yesterday, it's time to get the jukebox pumping again and talk on the few late games that there are this week. It's a light schedule, which has to make you wonder why the NFL balanced it that way. That's another discussion for another day.

Let's get to it.

San Diego at Oakland

Who to Start: All your Chargers, Darren McFadden, Ashley Lelie

Who to Sit: JaMarcus Russell, Michael Bush, Darren Sproles

What to Expect: No one has been able to stop the Chargers offense at this point, and I don't think Oakland's defense is up to that challenge either.

I'm a big Philip Rivers guy this week, and seeing him go off for three touchdowns and 320 yards would make my day. Mainly because I'm not a fan of the way they've jerked around Kiffin. Gates, Chambers, and Jackson will all get in on the fun through the air. Jackson should make a solid flex option for teams looking to go that route.

Darren Sproles doesn't see enough action as LT's backup to warrant being put into action. He has the chance to break a big play every time he touches the ball, but the rist outweighs the reward. No doubt on starting LT, he looked much better last week.

With the Raiders, you have to figure someone will catch the ball, and so far it has been Lelie doing the trick. 80 yards and a touchdown for Lelie. I just don't see Javon Walker putting it together yet. If Russell throws a second touchdown, Zach Miller gets it. Russell doesn't throw enough to make him a start though. Look for the QB to crack 165 with a touchdown.

The horse in this game is McFadden. He's a fine play and no worries on him finding the end zone and over 90 yards. Michael Bush likely gets the call as the backup, as Fargas is still nursing an injured groin. No fantasy impact for either of these guys this week.

Sleeper Pickup: Does Lelie qualify? I'll say yes. He's a solid pickup here.

Buffalo at St. Louis

Who to Start: Trent Edwards, Josh Reed, Josh Brown

Who to Sit: Trent Green, Marc Bulger, Randy McMichael, any Ram you can

What to Expect: Ok, you can't tell me that you see the Rams looking good here. You just can't.

Trent Edwards is far from a stud fantasy quarterback, but no one has been stopped by the Rams defense. They just cut a starting corner to boot. Edwards will crack 250 yards and throw for two touchdowns, making him a fine play in any league. Lee Evans and Josh Reed should be just fine to play, with Reed looking like a good flex option more than anything else. Both will grab a touchdown. The one aspect that hasn't been utilized against the Rams is the tight end. Makes Robert Royal a less than adequate play.

Marshawn Lynch should enjoy himself very nicely. Based on the lead, Fred Jackson could see some touches as well, but that's a risk play.

The Rams are in trouble. They have a concussion-prone quarterback sitting behind a shaky offensive line. Look for the Bills to stuff the box against Jackson and make Green try to throw to beat them. Since they only have Holt to do that, I don't like the chances of Green looking too good.

You likely HAVE to start Steven Jackson, but my feeling is that he's going to be held down. He may score, but the yardage just isn't going to be there again. With Green under center, the threat of throwing isn't as great, meaning a strong front of Buffalo beating up on Jackson and friends.

Sleeper Pickup: Buffalo Defense. I like this matchup for them, in a big way.

Washington at Dallas

Who to Start: Felix Jones, Patrick Crayton

Who to Sit: Miles Austin, Jason Campbell, Antwaan Randle El

What to Expect: Washington has a better defense than you might think, but it isn't going to be good enough to stop the Cowboys. The Cowboys have a better defense than they have shown, and it's going to be plenty to stop the Redskins.

Tony Romo should have a very good day through the air, and you always start him. Terrell Owens will be fine, and, again, you always start him. Witten will be one of the best tight end plays of the week as well. This should be an all out attack through the air on the depleted Washington secondary.

Marion Barber and Felix Jones will both find the end zone without an issue. Jones still falls in the flex category, but as he continues to improve could become a valid RB2 option.

In Washington, I'm not really a fan of anyone in the passing game beyond Cooley and Moss. Campbell has struggled through the air, and the Dallas secondary is better than this. Campbell will hang out around 200 yards with a score going to Moss.

Clinton Portis is the best play, and he should be fine as an RB1 in all formats.

Sleeper Pickup: Miles Austin. While not a good start in this one, it's just a good business move to own him in deeper leagues.

Philadelphia at Chicago

Who to Start: Correll Buckhalter (if Westbrook is injured), DeSean Jackson, Greg Lewis, Brandon Lloyd

Who to Sit: Kyle Orton, Hank Baskett, Reggie Brown

What to Expect: Expect that the key to this game is going to be the health of the key players involved.

Donovan McNabb hasn't practiced all week, but is expected to play. We're going with that premise. He should throw for a ton of yards against this Bears defense. Give him 325 and two touchdown passes. Jackson and Lewis split the two. Lewis should approach 80 yards, with Jackson cracking 125.

Correll Buckhalter should have numbers slightly lower than Westbrook if he plays. 90 yards on the ground with a touchdown and maybe 45 yards receiving. Westbrook would add a touchdown to McNabb's totals, as he would likely score one through the air and on the ground. He hasn't practiced yet, and a high ankle sprain is not easy to do much of anything on.

It's rare to like anything in the passing game for Chicago, but Brandon Lloyd got my attention last week, as he did with most people. Lloyd may not have many 100-yard games in him, but he should be safe for 60-80 yards per week. Against Philly, I like him to add a touchdown and much closer to 80 yards. Just because we like him, doesn't mean we like Kyle Orton.

Matt Forte has done all the work, and Kevin Jones is nowhere to be found. Forte will be strong again, cracking the end zone and breaking free for 60 yards. Why so low? The Eagles are allowing under 50 yards rushing per game.

Sleeper Pickup: L.J. Smith. He wasn't involved much last week, but let's chalk that up to some health concerns on the offensive side to the football. He'll be back this week and a top-ten tight end play.

Baltimore at Pittsburgh

Who to Start: Le'Ron McClain (deep leagues), both defenses

Who to Sit: Rashard Mendenhall, any Pitt receiver you have better plays for, anyone on offense for Baltimore...it's a long list

What to Expect: Baltimore's defense has allowed 20 points in two games, and only giving up 161 yards of total offense. Pittsburgh is giving up just 240 yards per game of total offense and is the toughest in the league against the run. They're defense is giving up just 12 points a game.

In other words, expect defense.

Baltimore got McGahee back last week, but he was largely ineffective and McClain was used at the goal line to steal the touchdowns. He's not going to be taken out of that role in the short-term. Not with a rookie quarterback, and not when it's working. The Steelers are very hard to run on, so I don't expect McGahee to break for more than 50 yards, and he'll be held out of the end zone.

McClain will be held to around 20 yards, but get one touchdown.

Throwing the ball, let's be realistic. You don't want Joe Flacco starting, you don't want to deal with the guys he has catching the ball. With the Steelers giving up around 180 yards passing a game, I wouldn't want any receiver for this one. I think that sadly sums it up.

With Pittsburgh, Baltimore is at the top in passing defense, allowing under 100 yards a game, and second in rush defense, allowing 64 yards per game. This doesn't bode well for anyone concerned.

Without Parker in the lineup, Mendenhall is left to find holes in a tough defense. Not the week to use him, unless you have no other options available. 45 yards, no scores for Mendenhall.

Big Ben has issues of his own with his shoulder and line protection. He looked rough against Philly last week. I don't expect the going to get easier against a team that will pressure him up the middle all day long. He will throw for a touchdown, but this game will be won by the kickers. Ward catches the touchdown, but Big Ben tops out at 130 yards.

Sleeper Pickup: Jeff Reed, I think we can all understand why on this one.

Enjoy the games, and we'll be back on Monday to wrap it all up. Have start and sit questions? Send an email to [e-mail].