Top NFL Players - Week 4

Every Monday, I shall show the top players at each offensive skill position - fantasy-style, with the percentage owned and started in parenthesis. All data is from espn.com

Let's begin:

Quarterback:
David Garrard (5%/24.2%)
17/31, 163 yards passing and 2 TD's, 5 rushes for 4 yards and 1 Rushing TD
24 Fantasy Points

Surprisingly, this week was a down week for quarterbacks, if the overall fantasy leaders are Garrard and Detroit Lions QB Shaun Hill. Garrard's impressive performance led the team over the now-surprising 2-2 Indianapolis Colts in a thrilling 31-28 victory. He is a great spot-starter for the Jaguars, who face the woeful Buffalo Bills next week.





Running Back:
Arian Foster (98.7/100)
16 Carries, 131 rushing yards and 1 TD; 0 fumbles; 3 catches for 56 yards and 1 TD
30 Fantasy Points

This year, it is Arian Foster's time to shine. Despite being BENCHED for the entire FIRST HALF against the Oakland Raiders, he was still able to rack up 131 rushing yards and 2 touchdowns in a 31-24 victory, including this epic 70+ yard touchdown run:



He has turned into THE #1 running back this year, so he's a must-start for the rest of the year.

Running Back:
Maurice Jones-Drew (98.1/100)
26 Carries, 109 rushing yards and 1 TD; 2 Catches for 16 Yards and 1 TD

The Human Pinball Machine finally had his breakout performance of the season. He scored his first rushing touchdown of the season, and had his first game of 100-yards rushing the ball - but then again, it was against the horrible Colts' run defense, who let Arian Foster also run wild. He is a MUST-START against the Buffalo Bills next week - who knows what MJD will do in that game? I think he'll run for 150 yards and 3 rushing TD's.


Wide Receiver/Running Back (Flex):
LaDanian Tomlinson (74.6/100)
19 Carries, 133 rushing yards and 2 TD's; 3 Catches for 22 Yards

27 Fantasy Points

There's the old LT we've been waiting for! After the ranting and raving over Shonn Greene - who has been a TOTAL BUST this season - LT has turned into the de facto #1 running back for the New York Jets. He even did his iconic football flip after he scored his second touchdown of the game:




We probably won't see as good a performance for the rest of the season, for the team he was facing - the Buffalo Bills - are dreadful in nearly every position. But LT is still worth starting in the future (not against the Minnesota Vikings next week, who boast a very good run defense).

Wide Receiver:
Calvin Johnson (90.9/100)
6 Catches for 86 receiving yards and 2 TD's; 1 Rush for 2 Yards
20 Fantasy Points

Johnson - a.k.a. MegaTron - had his first of would-be many multiple-touchdown games this season - what fantasy owners were desperately waiting for him to do this year. I believe he'll do just as well against the St. Louis Rams next week.

Wide Receiver:
Terrell Owens (28.9/95.5)
10 Catches for 222 receiving yards and 1 TD
28 Fantasy Points

What happened here? We have seen the old TO against the Cleveland Browns yesterday, catching 10 passes for an INCREDIBLE 222 receiving yards! And to think, I dropped him in most of my fantasy leagues, mainly because he was dropped in 4.3% of all leagues. AARGH! as Charlie Brown would say. The nearly 30% that did start him were VERY lucky and rewarded for such lucky starts - but then again, he was facing off against the same Browns' team that gave up 3 TD's to Anquan Boldin last week. TO and the Bengals face Tampa Bay next week, so I believe he, like Garrard, is a spot-starter for those owners that have WR-byes next week.

Tight End
Antonio Gates (100/100)
7 Catches for 144 yards and 2 TD's
26 Fantasy Points

WOW! Gates has been a MONSTER this season, having the highest fantasy-point total of 26 yesterday against the Arizona Cardinals. He's had totals of 13, 17, 16 and 26 fantasy points this year, and will have more of such dominant performances, now that Vincent Jackson is out of the picture. I do not know why anyone would bench him this year outside his week 10 bye.

Kicker
Jason Hanson (1.0/1.6)
4 for 5 on Field Goals; 2 for 2 on Extra-Points
16 Fantasy Points

Every week, we have a new kicker in this slot. This time, the award for top fantasy kicker goes to the Detroit Lions' kicker Jason Hanson, who made field goals of 52, 49, 39 and 24 (he missed a 55-yard field goal right before halftime) and was 2-for-2 on extra points. Fantasy kickers like him bloom randomly, so he's not worth owning next week against the St. Louis Rams

Defense/Special Teams
San Diego Chargers (16/22.7)
2 Ints for 31 yards and 1 TD; 1 Fumble Recovered; 9 Sacks
25 Fantasy Points

The Chargers really had a great game yesterday after their woeful September (typical for a Norv Turner-run Charger team), especially their defense. They had one pick for a touchdown and had 9 sacks against the Cardinals. They are a must-start against the terrible Oakland Raiders.

TOTAL Fantasy Points: 222 (A fantasy-low this year)