Week 4 was historic, it was the first week that I didn’t finish first in overall fantasy rankings, a little competition we have here at LuckyLester.com. For those of you that don’t know, the staff gets together their fantasy rankings for the week, and in the Fantasy Focus review everybody gets graded based on their picks. I won the first 3 weeks before getting ousted by my chubby and generally crazy uncle. I haven’t heard the end of it since he knew he took home the gold. But hey, I still finished tied for “next” with Red Red Ryan, yet another guy that keeps telling me he’s just as good as me. It’s a tough crowd, you fall a step back one week and now you’re not the best. We’ll see… This week we have four more teams on bye, Bears, Packers, Saints, Chargers – so don’t get caught with any of those circus-squads in your starting lineup. Dream big in Week 5, almost 1/3 of the way through the fantasy season. Craziness…
Elite Starters: Guys picked early that I love this week…
1. Peyton Manning – Come on, free money, against the Titans D, he should be even better than normal.
2. Adrian Peterson – I liked him last week against the Packers, and while he didn’t do well, I won’t hesitate against STL.
3. Maurice Jones-Drew – This cat is physical, ask Frank Gore what physical runners do to Seattle…
4. Matt Schaub – The Cardinals are really good against the run, good enough to score a lot, thus Matt will have a day.
5. Reggie Wayne – I can’t get enough of Reggie, he’s such a sure thing, and I expect him to do bad things to Tennessee.
Solid Starters: Guys picked in middle rounds that should outplay their ranking/draft position this week…
1. Julius Jones– Julius and the Hawks were brutal last week, but against Jax’s defense, I like his upside.
2. Santana Moss – If Carolina knows what’s good for them, they’ll stack the line. That should open a few up for Moss.
3. Tim Hightower– I’d say Tim was picked in the low rounds, but he’s not full sleeper. Against Houston he could score twice.
4. Carson Palmer – I like Carson again, even against a good Ravens D – there’s room to pass in that secondary.
5. Hines Ward –Hines, like Carson, finds himself on this list for the 2nd straight week. He didn’t let me down last time.
Sleeper Starters: Guys ranked low, drafted low or not at all, but I still like them this week…
1. Tashard Choice – He might be a back-up again, but if Dallas is up early, why waste Marion? They won’t, Choice gets 20 totes.
2. Jerome Harrison – I’ve always loved his vision; thought he’d do big things with lots of carries; he’ll get them again this week.
3. Mohamed Massaquoi –He’s the #1 in Cleveland now, and Derek Anderson likes him. A good play this week.
4. Steve Breaston– You can probably pick up breast in most leagues; he could be huge against Houston.
5. Eddie Royal – I have to go to this well one more week, he’s as talented as little guys come, could be huge!
Sit ‘Em Son: I don’t care where they were drafted, I don’t like these guys starting this week…
1. Ray Rice – I would sit Rice this week, I think Cincinnati really shuts him down in Week 5.
2. Steven Jackson – Minnesota, ick. I’d rather start Mendenhall, Hightower, or Julius Jones.
3. Matt Ryan – I’d look for a better option than San Francisco’s solid defense coming off two weeks of prep.
4. Roddy White –If I don’t like Matty Ice, I really don’t like Roddy going against Nate Clements all day long.
5. Larry Johnson – Get ready for less than 3 yards per rush against Dallas.
PS – Bye weeks are back, and here for some time, recognize! Mind the gap!
Week 5 Fantasy Pre-Rankings
Ryan Kauffman Josh Arsenault Papa Weimer Lucky Lester QBs---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1.Peyton Manning 1.Peyton Manning 1.Matt Schaub 1.Peyton Manning 2.Kurt Warner 2.Tom Brady 2.Kurt Warner 2.Matt Schaub 3.Ben Roethlisberger 3.Donovan McNabb 3.Tony Romo 3.Donovan McNabb 4.Joe Flacco 4.Matt Schaub 4.Peyton Manning 4.Carson Palmer 5.Tom Brady 5.David Garrard 5.Donovan McNabb 5.Kurt Warner RBs----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1.Adrian Peterson 1.Maurice Jones-Drew 1.Adrian Peterson 1.Adrian Peterson 2.Chris Johnson 2.Brandon Jacobs 2.Rashard Mendenhall 2.Maurice Jones-Drew 3.Maurice Jones-Drew 3.DeAngelo Williams 3.Chris Johnson 3.Brandon Jacobs 4.DeAngelo Williams 4.Clinton Portis 4.Brian Westbrook 4.Rashard Mendenhall 5.Brandon Jacobs 5.Rashard Mendenhall 5.Glen Coffee 5.Tim Hightower WRs----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1.Reggie Wayne 1.Reggie Wayne 1.T.J. Housmandzadeh 1.Reggie Wayne 2.Andre Johnson 2.Andre Johnson 2.Reggie Wayne 2.DeSean Jackson 3.Larry Fitzgerald 3.Anquan Boldin 3.Larry Fitzgerald 3.Anquan Boldin 4.Derrick Mason 4.Brandon Marshall 4.Andre Johnson 4.Chad Ochocinco 5.Hines Ward 5.Calvin Johnson 5.Mike Sims-Walker 5.Andre Johnson TEs----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1.Dallas Clark 1.Dallas Clark 1.Dallas Clark 1.Dallas Clark 2.Jason Witten 2.Jason Witten 2.Tony Gonzalez 2.Chris Cooley 3.Chris Cooley 3.Tony Gonzalez 3.Vernon Davis 3.Owen Daniels 4.John Carlson 4.Brent Celek 4.Chris Cooley 4.Tony Gonzalez 5.Vernon Davis 5.Vernon Davis 5.Dustin Keller 5.Jason Witten DSTs----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1.Vikings 1.Vikings 1.Giants 1.Giants 2.Steelers 2.Giants 2.Vikings 2.Vikings 3.Giants 3.Eagles 3.Eagles 3.Jets 4.Jets 4.Cowboys 4.Ravens 4.Eagles 5.Patriots 5.Jets 5.Steelers 5.Steelers Kickers------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Laces out, just like our kickers, out of the rankings! When the toe kick returns, we're back in!