LestersLegends.com

Time for another edition of Fantasy Football Out on a Limb. I scour the rosters to select a player who I feel will outperform a higher profile player in that given week. I base my decisions on matchups, how the players are trending, and the ever-important hunch. To mix things up I’ll occasionally do some two on one matchups or even pit RB or WR duos against each other. Sometimes I’ll spot a player some points.

Scoring
6 points for rushing or receiving TD
4 points for a passing TD
0.1 points per yard for rushing or receiving
0.05 points per passing yard.

Last Week:
Trent Edwards vs. Matt Ryan – Loss.  Edwards 9.1, Ryan 9.85
Fred Jackson vs. Frank Gore – Win.  Jackson 9.7, Gore 0.4.  Injuries are part of the game.
Willis McGahee vs. Cedric Benson – Win. McGahee 18.7, Benson 14.1
Roy Williams vs. Dwayne Bowe – Incomplete.  Bowe didn’t play.
Eddie Royal vs. Jerricho Cotchery – Loss.  Royal 0.4, Cotchery 16.8
SS:  Anthony Fasano +2 vs. Owen Daniels – Loss.  Fasono 2, Daniels 9.8

Regular Picks:  2-2
Super Stretch Picks: 0-1
Overall:  2-3

Season Record
Regular Picks: 5-9
Super Stretch Picks:  0-3
Overall: 5-12

Week 4 Picks

Quarterback

Carson Palmer over Philip Rivers
These young QBs possess two of the best arms in the game.  When healthy they both can make all of the throws.  While Rivers, is the better of the two, his matchup against a bitter Pittsburgh team on primetime leads me to believe that Palmer, who is facing Cleveland, will win this battle.

Running Backs

Glen Coffee over Willie Parker and Fred Jackson (individually)
Coffee struggled a bit replacing Frank Gore, but he was taking on one of the top run defenses in the league with much prep time.  Now that he has a week to work with the first team offense, and a much better matchup against St. Louis, I think he’ll have a nice week.  Willie Parker is coming off a big game, but he’ll face a tough test against San Diego. I also think Coffee can outproduce Fred Jackson.  Miami is tough against the run and he’ll have to share the load with Marshawn Lynch.

Cedric Benson over Steven Jackson
Benson should also rip the Brownies apart.  Largely taken as a RB3, Benson is solidifying his role as a legit RB2.  S-Jax is a one man wrecking crew in St. Louis, but there’s only so much he can do, especially when facing a good Niners D.  They will stuff the box and force Boller to beat them without their top WR.

Wide Receivers

Donald Driver over Marques Colston
Driver has been hot the past couple weeks and will get plenty of looks in what should be a shootout in the Grudge Match against Minnesota on MNF.  Colston is also off to a fast start, but will be blanketed by Darrelle Revis this week as the Saints take on the Jets.

Kevin Walter over Braylon Edwards
Walter goes up against Oakland and should get plenty of looks with Andre Johnson garnering Nnamdi Asomugha’s attention and Owen Daniels working the middle of the field.  Braylon has was looked like a cream puff matchup at the beginning of the year, but my have things changed.  The Bengals are playing great D and Leon Hall has been playing lights out.

SUPER STRETCH

Josh Johnson over Matt Cassel
The Super Stretch picks have failed miserably this year, but I’m heading back out there anyway.  Johnson unseated Byron Leftwich and will get a shot at Washington, who is in complete disarray.  He didn’t look good in relief or Leftwich last week, but should look better with practice time under his belt.  Cassel is finding life a bit more challenging outside of Foxboro. Going up against the Giants, even at home, is a tall order.

Written by LEV

Observations and Predictions…
LEV from Crazy Colored Glasses checks in with his look back at Week 4 and a preview to Week 5.

With Detroit, Indianapolis, Miami, New England, New York Giants, and Seattle on bye next week there are several outstanding players not available to your fantasy teams.  Let take a look at some attractive alternatives.

Quarterback
Peyton and Eli Manning are likely starters in most league.  Jon Kitna and Matt Hasselbeck are occasional starters.  These are holes that need to be fixed.  Naturally, St. Louis (272.3 ypg, 7 Passing TDs) is one of the first places I look.  They face Buffalo so instantly Trent Edwards gets my attention.  If you need a spot starter, Edwards is likely available on your waiver wire, and a decent plug-and-play guy this week.  New Orleans (258.7 ypg) has been dreadful as well so J.T. O’Sullivan is another good option.

Running Back
Joseph Addai, Julius Jones, and Brandon Jacobs are out this week.  A good substitute this week is Selvin Young since the Broncos are facing Kansas City’s porous Run D (204 ypg, 6 TDs).  If Denver can get Selvin 20 carries he’ll get around 100 yards.  You probably are starting Jamal Lewis, but if his slow start has kept you away, perhaps this is the week he returns to glory against Cincinnati (174.3 ypg).

Wide Receiver
Reggie Wayne, Randy Moss, Wes Welker, Anthony Gonzalez, Marvin Harrison, Plaxico Burress, Calvin Johnson, and Roy Williams must be replaced this week.  Chad Ocho Cinco has been so bad that he’s not worthy of starting.  Although, this week they play the Browns and he appears to be a must play.  A lesser known alternative is Justin McCareins, who caught four Kerry Collin’s balls for 90 yards.  Minnesota’s Pass Defense is still not what it should be making McCareins a sneaky play.