Must Starts for Week 4

Quarterbacks:

1) Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers: The reigning MVP hasn’t played up to his caliber this season but playing against the disaster known as the Saints defense, expect Rodgers to have huge numbers. The Saints defense has given up the most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks and with a healthy Greg Jennings, Rodger’s weapons will be just too much for the Saints to handle.

2) Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons: Ryan has been amazing this season; he has thrown multiple touchdowns passes in each of the first three games he has played this season. The Panthers haven’t been able to stop anyone and I don’t expect them to start this week, so Ryan is a must start.

3) Phillip Rivers, San Diego Chargers: The Chiefs defense is prone to giving up a lot of passing yards because they have a bend but not break philosophy so expect Rivers to have a big game. Malcom Floyd and Robert Meachem should be able use their height advantage to have big games. After a terrible game last week I suspect that the Chargers should bounce back in a big way.

4) Peyton & Eli Manning, Denver Broncos/New York Giants: The Manning brothers should both have big games; Peyton is playing against an Oakland defense that has been shredded this season. Eli has been a monster so far this season, already having over 1000 yards passing, granted half came against Tampa Bay. I think both will put good numbers and the Manning’s usually don’t disappoint.

Running backs:

1) Arian Foster, Houston Texans: Tennessee has just been awful against the run this season and facing Foster will not help. Foster is a beast in the running and passing game, so he will almost certainly get in the end zone whether it is receiving or rushing it wont matter.

2) Maurice Jones-Drew, Jacksonville Jaguars: The Bengals defense haven’t been able to stop the run and last year’s leading rusher should be able to gash them. Jones-Drew has 314 yards rushing on only 59 carries and I suspect he will get fed the ball a lot.

3) Willis McGahee, Denver Broncos: Oakland’s defense has been lit up, even though they held the Steelers to almost nothing on the ground, I suspect McGahee will do a lot better than Isaac Redman on the ground. I like McGahee against the Raiders who are prone to give up big running games like Reggie Bush who got 172 yards rushing in week 2.

4) Michael Turner, Atlanta Falcons: The Panthers have been terrible this season against running backs, they gave up 118 yards and two rushing touchdowns to Andre Brown of the Giants last week. While Turner hasn’t been too productive this season however he should have a breakout game against the Panthers.

Wide receivers:

1) Wes Welker, New England Patriots: Welker is a safe play against the Bills; Brady usually doesn’t have too many bad games against any team. Even though Brandon Lloyd has had the most receptions on the team, Welker will eventually breakout and this week should be it.

2) Jordy Nelson/Greg Jennings, Green Bay Packers: The Saints defense has been horrible this season and have been lit up by every team they have played this season so far. Nelson and Jennings should torch the Saints and they are both due for breakout games.

3) Andre Johnson, Houston Texans: The Titans secondary have been rocked this season and Johnson is a beast so expect big numbers from him. I can’t see him not having a good game against the Titans. Schaub should be fine and Titus Young, Nate Burleson and Calvin Johnson burned the Titans, so I expect something similar this week.

4) Calvin Johnson, Detroit Lions: There isn’t many times where you would sit Calvin Johnson and this week isn’t any different. Stafford should be fine and Johnson had a monster game last week and there should be more of the same. In three games Johnson has 24 receptions with 369 yards with a touchdown reception.

By: Michael Ferraro