Tuesday, September 30, 2014

2014 Week 4 Fantasy Football Winners and Losers

Quarterback
MVP: Eli Manning (Giants)
Eli Manning channeled his brother Peyton this week as he dismantled the Redskins defense with a preposterous 300-yard, five TD performance (four passing, one rushing). Manning is finally starting to get a hold of offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo's system and its paying dividends on the field. Manning hasn't looked this comfortable or been this productive under center since his nearly 5,000-yard season in 2011. Manning is still too inconsistent to trust as a weekly starter, but he's well worth a pickup as a QB2 right now.
Honorable Mentions: Andrew Luck (Colts), Eli Manning (Giants), Aaron Rodgers (Packers)

LVP: Nick Foles (Eagles)
For the first time in a long time, Nick Foles had a terrible game. Foles couldn't get a damn thing going on Sunday against the 49ers as he was under duress for most of the game and had practically no help from his receivers getting open downfield. Because of this, Foles ended Sunday with less than 200 yards passing and zero touchdowns. In Chip Kelly's offense, Foles is still as strong of a QB start as there is out there, so don't bench him due to this performance.
Dishonorable Mentions: Kirk Cousins (Redskins), Cam Newton (Panthers), Tom Brady (Patriots)

Running Back
MVP: Jammal Charles (Chiefs)
Jammal Charles owners can officially rejoice now because he has officially woken up from his offseason hibernation. After missing the last two weeks with injuries, Charles returned to the field for his first dominant performance of the season against the Patriots in primetime on Monday night. Charles was all over the field getting a combined total of 21 touches, 108 yards and three TD's (two receiving, one rushing). After the early season injury, Charles looks to be back to his dominant RB1 form.
Honorable Mentions: DeMarco Murray (Cowboys), Matt Forte (Bears), Matt Asiata (Vikings)

LVP: LeSean McCoy (Eagles)
Who would've thought LeSean McCoy would be the worst fantasy running back play two weeks in a row? McCoy once again stuffed as he managed just 17 yards on 10 carries against the 49ers stiff run D on Sunday afternoon. While McCoy hasn't looked as fluid in space or with his cuts than usual over the past couple of weeks, he can't absorb all of the blame for these poor performances. The Eagles line is currently riddled with injuries, so the rushing lanes just haven't been there in the last two games. McCoy has a strong chance to return to from against the weak Rams run D in Week 5.
Dishonorable Mentions: Donald Brown (Chargers), Rashad Jennings (Giants), Arian Foster (Texans)

Wide Receiver
MVP: Steve Smith (Ravens)
As most people-myself included-expected, Steve Smith had a huge game in his first meeting against his former team-the Carolina Panthers. Smith just could not be stopped as he reeled in seven receptions for 139 yards and two TD's in the Ravens blowout victory on Sunday. Smith, 35, has once again proven to be an ageless wonder this season and if he keeps up at this rate, he'll a guaranteed top 10 fantasy WR at year's end.
Honorable Mentions: Antonio Brown (Steelers), Randall Cobb (Packers), Jordy Nelson (Packers)

LVP: Calvin Johnson (Lions)
Even robot overlords like Megatron can play poorly sometimes. Calvin Johnson was visibly hobbled by an ankle injury- which limited his snaps and production substantially-throughout the Lions Week 4 matchup with the Jets. Johnson should return to his typical superhuman form in a couple of weeks, but he's not worth starting as long as his ankle continues to bother him.
Dishonorable Mentions: Pierre Garcon (Redskins), DeSean Jackson (Redskins), Michael Crabtree (49ers)

Tight End
MVP: Larry Donnell (Giants)
If you've watched the Giants play at any point this year, you may have asked yourself "Who the hell is Larry Donnell? The third-year undrafted tight end has become a fixture in the Giants offense overnight thanks to his steady hands and monstrous red zone presence. Donnell easily made his greatest impact of 2014 thus far in Week 4 as he found the endzone three times against the Redskins. Donnell has emerged as the breakout TE of this season and if he's somehow still available in your league, you need to pick him up immediately.
Honorable Mentions: Heath Miller (Steelers), Delanie Walker (Titans), Travis Kelce (Chiefs)

LVP: Greg Olsen (Panthers)
It was a long day for pretty much the entire Panthers offense in their matchup with the Ravens this past Sunday, but no one suffered more in their lopsided loss than Greg Olsen. The typically productive Olsen was basically shut out as he picked up a mere two catches for 30 yards on the afternoon. Even with this setback, Olsen is on pace for a career year and he remains the number two option in this offense behind Kelvin Benjamin, so keeping starting him.
Dishonorable Mentions: Antonio Gates (Chargers), Zach Ertz (Eagles), Jason Witten (Cowboys)

Defense
MVP: Miami Dolphins
After two straight disappointing performances, the Dolphins came back with a vengeance against the Raiders. The Dolphins forced four takeaways (three INT's and a fumble), picked up two sacks and got a defensive touchdown in Sunday's international showcase in London. The Dolphins are still a little sketchy to trust due to their tendency to allow a lot of points, but they have the capability to go off at any time thanks to their strong pass rush and takeaway ability.
Honorable Mentions: Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, San Francisco 49ers

LVP: Carolina Panthers
Now is the time to hit the panic button for the Panthers defense. A week after getting crushed by the Steelers, the Panthers farted once again against allowing 38 points and not registered a single sack or takeaway in Sunday's contest against the Ravens. The pass-rush just isn't the same without Greg Hardy in the lineup and their second-ranked run defense from a year ago is suddenly near the bottom of the league. Things aren't going to get any easier for this struggling unit either as they face the Bears powerhouse offense in Week 5.
Dishonorable Mentions: Chicago Bears, New England Patriots, Atlanta Falcons

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