Empty the Bench

You’ll notice there’s a Steve Smith in the top dozen of our weekly wide receiver rankings, and for the first time in ETB history he doesn’t play for the Carolina Panthers. This Steve Smith plays for the New York Giants, and as you may have noticed he leads all Smiths in catches, receiving yards and receiving TDs – by a wide margin. The 2007 second-round pick is having a breakout season sans Plax and it’s time to start trusting the kid. Eli Manning sure does, and that’s good enough for us.

We’ve also taken a stand on the Denver Broncos receiving corps, ranking Brandon Marshall a full 18 spots ahead of Eddie Royal. While we were happy to scoop up Marshall on the sly in drafts amid all the offseason argle bargle and fooferah, we thought Royal was one of the more solid picks out there. Royal runs great routes, has good hands, goes over the middle well, doesn’t rely on the deep ball, blah, blah, blah – basically, his skill set is tailor made to take advantage of Kyle Orton’s shortcomings. But that hasn’t been happening so far, and the Broncos seem much more intent on getting the ball into Marshall’s hands. So this is how we’ll roll this week, but an Eddie Royal resurgence is going to come. Patience.

Meanwhile, the rookie in Minnesota is having himself quite an opening month to his career. Three games, 3 TDs for Percy Harvin. Can he keep it going under the big top on Monday night? He’s clearly Brett Favre’s favorite receiver right now, and there’s no reason to think he can’t. We’ve seen Harvin make some tough grabs, break tackles and flash serious moves. On that 101-yard kick return he hit the 30 and just decided he wanted to run faster than everybody else on the field. Video evidence after the jump. Impressive.

Enough chatter, on to your wide receiver commandments. Love them. Live by them.

See also:
- Week 4 QB Rankings
- Week 4 RB Rankings
- Week 4 TE Ranks
- Week 4 DEF Ranks

1. Reggie Wayne, Indianapolis Colts vs. SEA
2. Randy Moss, New England Patriots vs. BAL
3. Vincent Jackson, San Diego Chargers @ PIT
4. Andre Johnson, Houston Texans vs. Asomugha
5. Chad Ochocinco, Cincinnati Bengals @ CLE
6. Calvin Johnson, Detroit Lions @ CHI
7. Greg Jennings, Green Bay Packers @ MIN
8. Jerricho Cotchery, New York Jets @ NO
9. Santonio Holmes, Pittsburgh Steelers vs. SD
10. Marques Colston, New Orleans Saints vs. NYJ
11. Steve Smith, New York Giants @ KC
12. Brandon Marshall, Denver Broncos vs. DAL
13. Devin Hester, Chicago Bears vs. DET
14. Santana Moss, Washington Redskins vs. TB
15. Kevin Walter, Houston Texans vs. OAK
16. Donald Driver, Green Bay Packers @ MIN

WR rankings 17 through 42, after the jump…

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We tend to aggressively rank our weekly fantasy plays, within reason. Sometimes we nail it, sometimes we flub–yes, even ETB makes overly optimistic predictions from time to time. Not often, but it does happen. This week, however, we’re fairly confident you’ll thank us for starting breakouts-in-waiting like Donald Brown and Glen Coffee.

The Franklin Delano Gore-Glen Coffee situation in San Francisco is Exhibit A for why you always, always, always secure solid handcuffs to your RB1. With Gore out for the next 2 weeks, Coffee will essentially step into Gore’s role as the team’s main offensive weapon and get a full load at home against the lowly St. Louis Rams this Sunday. He also gets another home game next week against an Atlanta Falcons rush defense that’s ranked towards the bottom. Yes, Coffee is a sexy fantasy play, especially for those of you who scooped him up and foiled those Gore owners who weren’t smart enough to prioritize Coffee on draft day. It’s like pissing in their Cheerios.

Start Glen Coffee with confidence as your RB2. Start Donald Brown with confidence as your RB3/Flex. And speaking as a frustrated Steve Slaton owner to others in the same boat, don’t give up on the man just yet: I smell somewhat of a breakout game this week at home against the Oakland Raiders. Pencil him in for 140+ total yards and at least one score.

See also:
- Week 4 QB Rankings
- Week 4 WR Rankings
- Week 4 TE Ranks
- Week 4 DEF Ranks

1. Adrian Peterson, Minnesota Vikings vs. GB
2. Chris Johnson, Tennessee Titans @ JAC
3. Maurice Jones-Drew, Jacksonville Jaguars vs. TEN
4. Matt Forte, Chicago Bears vs. DET
5. Brandon Jacobs, New York Giants @ KC
6. Steve Slaton, Houston Texans vs. OAK
7. Cedric Benson, Cincinnati Bengals @ CLE
8. Steven Jackson, St. Louis Rams @ SF
9. Ronnie Brown, Miami Dolphins vs. BUF
10. Pierre Thomas, New Orleans Saints vs. NYJ
11. Glen Coffee, San Francisco 49ers vs. STL
12. Darren McFadden, Oakland Raiders @ HOU
13. Marion Barber/Tashard Choice, Dallas Cowboys @ DEN (Check Status)
14. Darren Sproles/LT, San Diego Chargers @ PIT (Check LT’s Status)
15. Willis McGahee, Baltimore Ravens @ NE

Running back rankings 16 through 36, after the jump…

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You know it’s a weird week for team defenses when the Cincinnati Bungles DEF is nearly a must-start, on the road.

Of course, it’s no ordinary road game: it’s against cross-state “rival” Cleveland Browns, who’ll trot Derek Anderson onto the field as the starting quarterback for an offense that’s apparently intent on establishing new all-time lows in production. Through their first three games, the bumbling Browns are averaging just 9.7 points per, which pathetically enough is actually better than the St. Louis Rams’ 8 points. They’re last in total yards per (218), second-to-last in passing yards per (146.7, almost 30 yards better than former first-overall pick JaMarcus Russell), 29th in rushing yards per (71.3), and….

They’ve scored 1 fucking offensive touchdown in the past 36 quarters, dating back to last season. One!

So, yeah… get the Bengals in your lineup unless you’re sitting pretty with the Giants, 49ers, or maybe the Colts.

See also:
- Week 4 QB Rankings
- Week 4 WR Rankings
- Week 4 RB Rankings
- Week 4 TE Ranks

1. New York Giants @ KC
2. San Francisco 49ers vs. STL
3. Indianapolis Colts vs. SEA (tie)
3. Cincinnati Bengals @ CLE (tie)
5. Baltimore Ravens @ NE
6. Minnesota Vikings vs. GB
7. Chicago Bears vs. DET
8. Denver Broncos vs. DAL
9. Buffalo Bills @ MIA
10. New York Jets @ NO
11. Green Bay Packers @ MIN
12. New Orleans Saints vs. NYJ
13. Pittsburgh Steelers vs. SD
14. San Diego Chargers @ PIT
15. Seattle Seahawks @ IND

We mentioned last week that the tight end position has never been deeper, and the guys went out and proved our point on Sunday. Nine TEs dropped double-digit points in the ETB league, with several others providing useful lines. The week was of course highlighted by massive performances from a duo of ETB favorites (and numbers two and three on our breakout TEs list): Vernon Davis and Brent Celek. The pair combined for 15 receptions, 200 yards and 3 TDs. We hope you own them.

Things get a little trickier this week, though, as the dreaded bye weeks have hit. That means four stating TEs will be out of commission this week, including Mr. Celek, making the rankings a little more difficult to fill out – and that much more important for those of you who own Celek or Tony Gonzalez.

See also:
- Week 4 QB Rankings
- Week 4 WR Rankings
- Week 4 RB Rankings
- Week 4 DEF Ranks

1. Dallas Clark, Indianapolis Colts vs. SEA
2. Jason Witten, Dallas Cowboys @ DEN
3. Antonio Gates, San Diego Chargers @ PIT
4. Owen Daniels, Houston Texans vs. OAK
5. John Carlson, Seattle Seahawks @ IND
6. Chris Cooley, Washington Redskins vs. TB
7. Greg Olsen, Chicago Bears vs. DET
8. Dustin Keller, New York Jets @ NO
9. Vernon Davis, San Francisco 49ers vs. STL
10. Kellen Winslow, Tampa Bay Bucs @ WAS
11. Jeremy Shockey, New Orleans Saints vs. NYJ
12. Todd Heap, Baltimore Ravens @ NE
13. Heath Miller, Pittsburgh Steelers vs. SD
14. Zach Miller, Oakland Raiders @ HOU
15. Kevin Boss, New York Giants @ KC
16. Visanthe Shiancoe, Minnesota Vikings vs. GB
17. Mercedes Lewis, Jacksonville Jaguars vs. TEN
18. Randy McMichael, St. Louis Rams @ SF
19. Anthony Fasano, Miami Dolphins vs. BUF
20. Jermichael Finley, Green Bay Packers @ MIN

We’re three weeks in, and it’s already (finally?) time to downgrade Tom Brady.

It’s not that ‘ol Tom is having a terrible fantasy season: going into his Week 4 matchup at home against the Baltimore Ravens, the 32-year-old is ranked fifth overall amongst QBs in ETB’s fantasy scoring format. And that’s a fine, if not fantastic, start to his fantasy season, especially considering that whole knee surgery thing… but we’re still waiting for the prolific passing attack Brady’s comandeered for so many years in New England to return. Right now, he just looks average.

Brady’s fantasy production thus far has largely been nothing more than a byproduct of already attempting 142 passes, which is 20 more than the next-closest quarterback (Kurt Warner). He’s completed 87 of those attempts, also tops in the league ahead of Warner’s 80. Fine. He’s lagging in other key areas, though… namely TD passes with just 3 (24th overall) and just 6.1 yards per attempt. It’s called rust, and is manifested in the number of wide-open receivers and easy completions he’s missed. Or is it something more? Has the inevitable decline already begun? We’ll see. Again, he’s not been terrible–but he’s not been Brady.

And that, coupled with a so-so matchup against the Ravens, is enough for us to bump him down to #6 in our Week 4 QB ranks.

See also:
- Week 4 WR Rankings
- Week 4 RB Rankings
- Week 4 TE Ranks
- Week 4 DEF Ranks

1. Peyton Manning, Indianapolis Colts @ SEA
2. Matt Schaub, Houston Texans vs. OAK
3. Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints vs. NYJ
4. Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers @ MIN
5. Philip Rivers, San Diego Chargers @ PIT
6. Tom Brady, New England Patriots vs. BAL
7. Eli Manning, New York Giants @ KC
8. Jay Cutler, Chicago Bears vs. DET
9. Carson Palmer, Cincinnati Bengals @ CLE
10. Tony Romo, Dallas Cowboys @ DEN
11. Joe Flacco, Baltimore Ravens @ NE
12. Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers vs. SD
13. Brett Favre, Minnesota Vikings vs. GB
14. Trent Edwards, Buffalo Bills @ MIA
15. Jason Campbell, Washington Redskins vs. TB
16. Kyle Orton, Denver Broncos vs. DAL
17. Mark Sanchez, New York Jets @ NO
18. Shaun Hill, San Francisco 49ers vs. STL
19. David Garrard, Jacksonville Jaguars vs. TEN
20. Matt Cassel, Kansas City Chiefs vs. NYG

Tom Brady Photo Credit: Icon SMI

Professional baseball players, in general, are pigs. They dip. They spit. They have a fascination with adjusting their genitals. They have massive guts and ’90s-style goatees. And, at least in the case of Hall of Famer George Brett, they shit their pants with some degree of regularity.

Whether you’re a baseball fan or not, this one’s worth watching in its entirety. Thanks to ETB reader Judd for the find.

- The Giants offense is a lot better, and more balanced, than I anticipated. The offensive line is obviously playing great, but we knew they would (hopefully injuries to Kareem McKenzie and Rich Seubert don’t hurt the unit too much). However, I was one of the guys that thought Plaxico Burress made Eli Manning look good, and that he wouldn’t be able to make plays and keep safeties downfield enough without Plax to put up numbers and keep defenses honest. Steve Smith isn’t the playmaker Burress was, but he’s a more consistent option than Burress ever was. Last week: 7 targets, 7 catches, 63 yards and 1 TD. Mario Manningham continues to impress after the catch and Hakeem Nicks could be a factor after mid-season.

Meanwhile, Ahmad Bradshaw looks like a future household name. The kid is explosive out of the backfield, averaging over 6 yards per carry for his career. He runs hard and shows good burst and instincts, now he just needs to improve in the passing game and get an opportunity. I’ve got a gut feeling that his chance to shine will come this season. Brandon Jacobs‘ running style and body make me nervous, but even if Jacobs stays healthy Bradshaw’s productivity as a No. 2 on his team may just be good enough to qualify as your RB2 or RB3 in the bye weeks.

Ahmad Bradshaw photo credit: Icon SMI

- Brett Favre has been solid, good enough at least, but not as good as Vikings fans hoped or as good as Minnesota will need him to be going forward. Yes, that last-minute comeback was one for the ages, and it was the exact type of performance that Favre was brought in for. But the first two weeks were the definition of pedestrian and before the final minute Sunday Brett was having a thoroughly mediocre day. I still haven’t seen him deliver balls to the sidelines downfield, he doesn’t have a rapport with any receiver outside of Percy Harvin (shocking) and Brad Childress can only hide and gameplan around that sub-6.0 YPA for so long. He’s dominated SportsCenter highlights all week, but I need to see a better performance from No. 4 on Monday against Green Bay before I’m sold.

- The San Francisco 49ers are going to be a tough out. Mike Singletary commands respect. San Francisco is going to win that division.

- Kickers do enough to muss up NFL games, you don’t need to be rooting for them in your fantasy league as well. They stress you out with your real-life team and gambling lines, next season don’t feel obligated to carry that headache over to your fantasy football endeavors. Trust me, you’ll never look back.

- Clinton Portis is done. I don’t think Ladell Betts would be tearing shit up right now in that offense, but I think he’s a better option and if I were sitting on the hot seat like Jim Zorn is I would be ready to make the switch. Now.

Breakin’ seven more eggs on wisdom on your forehead, after the jump…

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