Fantasy Football: Week Four Hangover

I'm sure most people feel the same way, but this week has to leave you more confused than anything else about the fantasy football world as we know it. More questions are around than answers, but, hopefully, the guys at the 'Table can help you sort it all out. Let's get some Journey on the jukebox and look back on the week that was. 

Fantasy Up

1. Brett Favre and Laveranues Coles- Ok, these two hadn't been on the same page all season, but suddenly they just went off. Favre's six touchdowns are the most he's thrown in a single game. Coles' three touchdown receptions gave him a total of four for the season. That's what fantasy owners need out of Coles, and what Favre can do when he finds openings in poor secondaries.
2. Larry Johnson - Yes, Larry, I take it all back. You aren't quite washed up, but you did put up nearly 200 yards against one of the worst defenses for the first quarter of the season. Still, two good weeks in a row from Johnson, and he's suddenly a solid RB2 selection.
3. Muhsin Muhammad - Muhammad was targeted 10 times and recorded eight receptions for 147 yards and a touchdown. The Panthers need him as a complement to Steve Smith, and they got that this weekend. We can always call out poor performances on defense, but you don't get these yards by accident.
4. Matt Schaub- May have saved his job with his 307-yard, three-touchdown performance against the Jags. Schaub is inconsistent, no doubt about that, but he has the arm to be successful. The one thing he hasn't had in Houston is a running game, and with Steve Slaton in the backfield, he is getting something new and different.
5. Chris Johnson - I continue to like everything I see out of this guy. His two touchdowns on Sunday were textbook runs, and he's doing it on fewer carries than most featured backs. There will be games the team will need him to pound away for 25 carries, and rationing what he does early in the season will make him able to do that late. Fantasy owners will thank Jeff Fisher for that in the playoffs.

Honorable Mention - Trent Edwards, Edgerrin James, Jake Delhomme

Fantasy Down

1. Kurt Warner - I don't care if he threw for 400 yards, he's led the Cardinals, and owners, to wins because he doesn't turn the ball over. Seven turnovers is just awful. No other way to put it. Leinart may not be ready or whatever they want to call him, but I'm pretty sure he could have held on to a few of those fumbles. Just worth watching.
2. Maurice Jones-Drew and Fred Taylor - The tandem has been shut down in three of four games this season. We all got excited to see what they did to Indy, but that was as much a banged up defense as the Jags were offense. Jones-Drew, especially, has to be started, because he's still making his way to the end zone. It's just tough going behind any banged up offensive line.
3. Ben Roethlisberger- The Steelers have had no running game for two weeks. The line is getting killed, and Roethlisberger is still needed to lead the team to victory. He's trying to make plays where there aren't any to be made. It makes him hold on to the ball too long and has had him taking some vicious hits. His second half was better last night, but no Parker and no Mendenhall could be too much.
4. Dallas' Offense - I don't get it. I don't think it will happen again, but I don't get it. Why do you simply abandon Marion Barber? How do you not get Felix Jones an offensive touch? Are we missing something here? Wade Phillips, apparently, had a gameplan, but hell if I know what it is. When you lose, you can certainly say that it didn't work.
5. Reggie Bush - Consider this more a friendly warning. When Deuce is healthy, he takes carries away. Bush couldn't find seams against San Francisco, but McAllister seemed to have no issues. The Saints need Bush's pass catching ability, but it should be brought up as a point of concern here anyway.

You Shouldn't Trust the Performance of...

...the Saints receivers. One thing that many owners have likely noticed is how big-play reliant the guys in New Orleans are. There truly is no "possession" type guy down in the Bayou.

Robert Meachem had just two catches to get close to 100 yards, and Devery Henderson had one 81-yard reception. Lance Moore came the closest, catching seven passes.

The issue is, you aren't always going to get those big plays. They have a soft defense this week, playing against Minnesota, and should see a few of those bigger plays. Problem there being you just don't know which guy will come up big for them. Calling the situation fluid is probably accurate for now.

Give it another week or two before we start making fantasy decisions based on such a limited sample.

I'm Most Concerned About...

...Willis McGahee. McGahee had to miss the first game with a knee injury. He was taken out twice against the Browns after being gouged in the eyes. Last night, he was taken off the field for x-rays on his chest. Le'Ron McClain continues to run the ball well in his absence and seems to be able to take the punishment.

I'm not saying that McGahee could lose his job for this, but there is no reason to rush him back on the field when there are two capable backs still on the roster. He hasn't been able to get through a whole game this season, and that should make any owner concerned when it comes to making those start/sit decision.

Workin' the Wire

• Lance Moore - Because someone has to catch balls, and I'm already concerned about other Saints receivers, let's add another name to the mix. Moore had the most receptions of any of the Saints this past week, registering seven for more than 100 yards and a touchdown.
• Steve Breaston - This becomes more relevant if Anquan Boldin is out for any extended period of time. Breaston looked solid as the No. 3 receiver against the Jets, and he'll be needed to fill some big shoes if Boldin misses a week or two.
• Carey Davis- He's the default back in Pittsburgh, with Mendenhall out for the season and the health of Willie Parker still an unknown. In deep leagues, he's someone to look for if you need a running back. Can't say there's anything to sure about an undrafted rookie, but the Steelers have had luck before.
• Zach Miller - He may be on bye this week, but the big tight end caught passes to total 95 yards for the Raiders this week. Russell would be smart to use him more this way, as he has reliable hands, and is a solid outlet receiver in that offense. Of course, a change in head coach might be in order to exploit that.
• Le'Ron McClain - Need more justification for this? Re-read what I wrote about McGahee. McClain looked just fine against the Steelers last night, and will be the lead back if McGahee can't go. Can you say handcuff?

Back as the need arises.