GLENDALE, AZ – AUGUST 17: Running back Ryan Williams #34 of the Arizona Cardinals rushes the football against the Oakland Raiders during the first half of the NFL preseason game at the University of Phoenix Stadium on August 17, 2012 in Glendale, Arizona. (Image credit: Getty Images via @daylife)
Some of the most added players for week 4 are guys who will be given a chance due to injury, and shockingly the most dropped guys were the injured players, some of who (Roy Helu) won’t be returning this season. Want to know which of the most added guys you should be considering for your squad, and which players should continue to be dropped? You’ve come to the right place, lets get started.
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Week 4′s MOST ADDED (Hottest players)
Ryan Williams – RB – Arizona Cardinals
With Beanie Wells being placed on injured reserve (eligible to return), Ryan Williams will suddenly become the Arizona Cardinals feature back. Fantasy owners obviously jumped on this, even though Williams has been less than impressive so far this season. Looking for a nice handcuff option? William Powell will be backing up Williams, and he averaged 7 yards per carry this preseason. If you play in a deeper format, and need an injury handcuff, take a look at Powell. Williams has already had his share of knee issues this season, and is averaging just 3.4 yards per carry this year.
Atlanta – DEF – Atlanta Falcons
No big surprise here, the Falcons are averaging 12 pts/ week in standard fantasy scoring.
Lawrence Tynes – K – New York Giants
Hurray, a kicker in the top 10 most added. Nothing to get too worked up about here, it is just a kicker, and one that probably should have been owned to begin with.
HOUSTON, TX – JANUARY 07: (R) Quarterback Andy Dalton #14 of the Cincinnati Bengals looks over at Andrew Hawkins #16 of the Cincinnati Bengals in the second quarter against the Houston Texans during their 2012 AFC Wild Card Playoff game at Reliant Stadium on January 7, 2012 in Houston, Texas. (Image credit: Getty Images via @daylife)
Andrew Hawkins – WR – Cincinnati Bengals
Now we get back to the legit waiver wire pickups, and Hawkins showed explosive speed in week 3. While he is a decent speculative add thanks to his speed and YAC, keep in mind he has averaged just 4 catches per week to this point, and saw action on just 30 snaps in week 3. Hawkins should be added in all deeper formats, but the Bengals will need to get him on the field more often before he becomes a recommended fantasy WR3 or Flex option.
Arizona – DEF – Arizona Cardinals
Yawn, another defense. 43 points on the season, and they get the Dolphins in week 4. Should be another great matchup for the Cardinals D.
Tashard Choice – RB – Buffalo Bills
As the week progresses it looks more and more like Choice will be the feature back on Sunday, as Fred Jackson is still working his way back, and C.J. Spiller is expected to miss 1-2 more weeks. Week 4 Choice gets New England, and it may be his only week as a three down workhorse, as he will be returning to a backup role once Jackson/Spiller return. He makes a decent flex play this week, just remember this is the same Choice who was dropped by the Cowboys and Redskins last season before settling into the Bills depth chart as the 3rd RB. He averaged 3.7 yards per carry in 2010, and just 2.7 in 2011. Once Jackson returns, you will see Choice gracing the most dropped list.
Daniel Thomas – RB – Miami Dolphins
So far, Reggie Bush hasn’t practiced this week and is on his way to a gameday decision this Sunday. If Bush doesn’t suit up, Thomas will be the starter at RB for the Miami Dolphins in week 4 against a tough Arizona D. I would only recommend Thomas in the deepest of formats for this matchup, and that is as a flex option. Bush should be back by week 5 for sure as long as his knee cooperates. Lamar Miller will be the backup for Thomas if Bush can’t go, and while Miller looks like the more explosive option, he is still learning the playbook and hasn’t gained the coaches trust yet. Need to know if Bush will play week 4? Log in to the forums Sunday morning before games, head NFL writer mikesherman will be available to answer all start/sit questions on gameday.
Jackie Battle – RB – San Diego Chargers
How does a RB who rushed 3 times for 55 yards end up on the most added list? I can only assume it is because of his 14 rush/ 69 yard/ 2 TD week 2 vs the Titans. Battle isn’t a recommended option as long as Mathews is healthy, and even if Mathews goes down the Chargers figure to go by committee with Curtis Brinkley and even Ronnie Brown rotating in.
Jeremy Kerley – WR – New York Jets
I’m seeing a trend here with the Jets, as Stephen Hill was the hot pickup after week 1, and now Kerley after week 3. The truth of the matter is with Sanchez at QB, there will be inconsistent targets to go around for the Jets’ WR, and really none of them are recommended fantasy options at this point. If you play in a league that uses KR/PR you can check out my return yardage rankings for week 4, Kerley is useful in those leagues.
Kyle Rudolph – TE – Minnesota Vikings
Thanks in large part to his TD totals, including 2 of them in week 3, Kyle Rudolph has vaulted into the top 10 TE in the league for 2012. Christian Ponder continues to look for his TE in the red zone, and we see no reason that should change going forward. Keep Rudolph active in the majority of formats for his matchup with Detroit in week 4.
Most Dropped – Week 4 (Coldest Players)
GREEN BAY, WI – OCTOBER 03: Kevin Smith #34 of the Detroit Lions is tackled by Nick Barnett #56 of the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field on October 3, 2010 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The Packers defeated the Lions 28-26. (Image credit: Getty Images via @daylife)
Beanie Wells – RB – Arizona Cardinals
Beanie Wells has been diagnosed with a dreaded case of turf toe, and is out until November 25th at the earliest. He was the most dropped across fantasy football formats, 3 times more dropped than Kevin Smith who comes in at #2 on this list.
Kevin Smith – RB – Detroit Lions
As I mentioned last week, Smith is the backup for LeShoure now in Detroit, and is one of the lower ranked handcuff options in the league. Should be a safe drop here.
Roy Helu – RB – Washington Redskins
Helu has been placed on injured reserve, ending his season. Drop him immediately in all formats for 2012. If you are in a dynasty league, it depends on depth of format whether you hold onto him, as the Shanahan’s don’t seem overly impressed.
Peyton Hillis – RB – Kansas City Chiefs
Many fantasy owners probably envisioned a Brandon Jacobs type role, but 2010 is looking more and more like an aberration. With Charles healthy and running well, and Shaun Draughn coming on strong, Hillis is nothing more than a handcuff option with a bad ankle.
Pittsburgh – DEF – Pittsburgh Steelers
With all the injuries plaguing the Steelers defense, this should be no surprise. They are aging rapidly, and losing speed on the defensive end, which is a major requirement for pick 6′s and sacks. If the Falcons or Cardinals D is available, the Steelers should continue to be dropped.
JACKSONVILLE, FL – SEPTEMBER 16: Justin Forsett #28 of the Houston Texans breaks up a pass attempt to Justin Blackmon #14 of the Jacksonville Jaguars during the game at EverBank Field on September 16, 2012 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Image credit: Getty Images via @daylife)
Detroit – DEF – Detroit Lions
This one is a bit harder to explain than the Steelers. The Lions still have young impact players like Suh on the defensive side of the ball, they just aren’t getting to the QB, and they have 0 interceptions to their credit. Looks like another safe drop for 2012.
Justin Blackmon – WR – Jacksonville Jaguars
As expected, you can have all the talent in the world, but without an elite QB to throw you the ball, you will struggle. Through his first 3 games, Blackmon is averging just 5 targets a game. That isn’t receptions, that is targets. While he could have a big week here and there, Blaine Gabbert doesn’t look consistent enough to make Blackmon even a WR3 this season.
Stephen Hill – WR – New York Jets
Stephen Hill took fantasy football by storm in week 1 with 5 receptions for 89 yards and 2 TD’s. Speculation came alive that he was Sanchez’s favorite target, and Hill was one of the most added players coming out of week 1. Fast forward to week 4, and Hill hasn’t caught a ball since that breakout game. Now with a bad hamstring, it doesn’t look like Stephen will play in week 4, and even if he does he isn’t a recommended fantasy option going forward. Feel free to drop Hill at this point.
Buffalo – DEF – Buffalo Bills
Nobody circles the wagons like the Buffalo Bills! They actually haven’t been THAT bad. The Bills defense has 25 points through 3 games, 8.33 fantasy points per game, while the vaunted 49ers defense has just 14 points. (Standard scoring) If you own the Bills D, don’t give up on them quite yet, we have them ranked as a top 15 defense still in fantasy football.
Austin Collie – WR – Indianapolis Colts
Collie is done for the year with a ruptured right patella tendon, drop him in all formats.
