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Let's start with the Sunday night game, as Chris Towers has made a habit of doing since it usually ends too late to crack Jamey Eisenberg's extra-thorough recap of Sunday's events.
To me, the big takeaways boil down to these:
• Drew Brees' shoulder isn't 100 percent, but the Saints' short passing game is so good that it may not impact his numbers too much.
• Willie Snead is emerging as Brees' favorite target, at least on more traditional passing plays. Brandin Cooks got more targets, but his were mostly underneath stuff.
• Brandon Weeden can stretch the field a little, which bodes well for Terrance Williams even if he didn't make the most of his 10 targets this time.
• Joseph Randle's grip on the starting role is more tenuous than ever.
Let's linger on that last one a bit because I think it's the most pertinent to Fantasy owners. Randle may have four touchdowns this season, but apart from a trio of 20-plus-yard runs he had against the Falcons in the first quarter two weeks ago, he hasn't been all that impressive, averaging 3.9 yards per carry.
And that fourth touchdown may have actually lowered his stock in the eyes of the coaching staff. He didn't secure the football on a first-down play, using one arm to reach across the goal line, and appeared to fumble as a result. The play was eventually ruled a touchdown, but for a few minutes there, the Cowboys thought Randle had cost them a golden opportunity to score.
"It's a dangerous play when you extend the ball like that," coach Jason Garrett said after the game, according to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. "It worked out for us tonight, but we don't want to do that in that situation."
The play came early in the second quarter. Randle didn't appear the rest of the first half and didn't play much in the second half either. And he didn't seem apologetic after the game, using two words to describe the play:
"Six points."
Darren McFadden was slightly more effective than Randle in this game and has been slightly less effective than him for the season, so the Cowboys could switch to him and probably not lose anything. And of course, Christine Michael could also work his way into the mix.
Or maybe the coaching staff believes it delivered its message and will go right back to Randle in Week 5, but if nothing else, whatever ground Randle gained on his competition with his three-touchdown performance in Week 3 -- which was probably exaggerated anyway -- is now lost. Particularly playing behind a backup quarterback, he's a risky start in Fantasy.
1. Todd Gurley is worth whatever you had to do to get him
You may have questioned your judgment when you were waiting out Gurley to recover the first two weeks of the season and your sanity when he had just 9 yards on six carries in his Week 3 debut, but with his 146-yard outburst in Week 4 -- 144 of which came in the second half, by the way -- you get the hype now. Gurley is in a position to become a Fantasy monster. He plays for an old-school coach who prefers to win by playing defense and controlling the clock, and he has the size and versatility to fill that Eddie George role perhaps better than George himself did. And because Tre Mason was so bad the first three weeks, Gurley shouldn't fall into the timeshare that plagues so many of the running backs at or near his level. I venture to say he's a must-start the rest of the way, and if his owner decides to shop him in a misguided attempt to sell high, you should be the first in line. -Scott White
2. Peyton Manning is still very much a concern
If you just looked at the box scores, Manning's Week 2 and 3 performances were fine -- 26 and 22 Fantasy points, respectively, with five touchdowns and 580 combined yards through the air. However, anyone who watched either game still saw telltale signs of bad times to come, including a number of dropped interceptions and sailed throws. That came back to bite him in Week 4, as he finished with just 10 Fantasy points, his second game in four with 10 or fewer. According to ProFootballFocus.com, Manning has accurately delivered just 69.6 percent of his passes so far, the sixth-lowest rate among 31 qualified passers. Manning's arm strength also remains a real concern, and I don't think you can consider him a surefire starting Fantasy option one-fourth of the way through the season. -Chris Towers
3. DeMarco Murray has too many obstacles
With Murray sidelined by a hamstring injury in Week 3, backup Ryan Mathews reeled off 108 yards against the vaunted Jets defense, so you probably hoped Murray was entering a better situation in Week 4 than the one he left, with the offensive line in disarray. Turns out that wasn't his only problem, though. The Eagles also signed Mathews to a big contract this offseason and want to keep him involved, and Darren Sproles still has his niche as a change-of-pace, third-down type. As a result, Murray got only eight of the 18 carries for the Eagles, who have only so many to go around since they're consistently playing from behind. Maybe if they had fewer options or a better team overall, Murray would still have a chance at first-round production, but with both hurdles, not to mention his own injury risk, he's looking like a shaky Fantasy option both week to week and for the rest of the season. -Scott White
4. Chris Ivory is a stud
Despite the fact that he basically didn't play in Week 3, Ivory is second in the league in missed tackles while rushing the ball. He has forced 16 missed tackles on 63 carries, and also ranks second in the league in yards per carry after contact. The Jets have a solid offensive line, but Ivory is doing plenty of the heavy lifting here too. The Browns, Colts and Dolphins aren't the toughest matchups in the world, but it is also worth noting that Ivory ranked 16th in yards per carry after contact last season as well, and his 52 missed tackles on 198 carries in 2014 represented one of the best rates in the league. Ivory is a tough runner who invites contact, which explains his history of injury issues. However, when he is healthy, it's hard not to view him as a must-start player. -Chris Towers
5. Jeremy Hill just gave you an opportunity to sell him
We thought coach Marvin Lewis spelled it out last week: "When we're behind, it's [Giovani Bernard]," he said, which would seem to suggest it's Hill when they're ahead. But the Bengals jumped out to a 14-3 lead over the Chiefs in the first quarter Sunday and never trailed thereafter, and yet Hill had only nine carries to Bernard's 13. Now, those nine carries were some of the most valuable he could get considering he turned three of them into touchdowns, but that's not a ratio you can expect to continue. Hill needs touches to succeed in Fantasy, particularly since he's not the big-play threat Bernard is, and regardless of the circumstances, he's not getting them. It should be a wake-up call for Hill owners, who are running out of time to get a full return on their investment. Shopping him after a three-touchdown game makes sense. -Scott White
6. It's time to go shopping
After Week 3, it's easy for Fantasy players to talk themselves into their teams. At 1-2, you're just one good game away from .500, and a playoff spot isn't far off. At 1-3 or 0-4, however, it's a lot easier to start panicking, which is why players in positions of strength should be looking to pounce. Even if you are 3-1 or 4-0, you should always be looking to improve, and the best way to do that right now is by taking advantage of another owner's early season panic. Go out and make lowball offers for the likes of Mike Evans, Lamar Miller, Alshon Jeffery or Frank Gore, all of whom have certainly left their owners frustrated one-fourth of the way through the season. If you can move some bench pieces for a potential difference-making start, it's a no-brainer. -Chris Towers
7. Maybe the Bears aren't a dumpster fire
Just a few days ago, the Raiders were looking like a sneaky playoff pick and the Bears like the laughingstock of the league, but funny the difference a game -- or rather, a quarterback -- can make. Jay Cutler returned from a hamstring injury earlier than anyone expected, and the Bears were able to eke one out against a trendy up-and-comer. But most notable for Fantasy owners is the way they did it, with Cutler throwing for 281 yards. Jimmy Clausen is one of those backup quarterbacks who's only a backup because there aren't 32 legitimate backups to go around, so Cutler gave the Bears offense the balance it lacked since he went down in Week 2. That's good news for everyone else you may have drafted on that offense, including Alshon Jeffery, whenever he returns, Matt Forte, who should find more running room, and Martellus Bennett, who was Cutler's favorite target Sunday. The Bears still may not be good, but at least they're competent offensively. -Scott White
8. Allen Hurns belongs on your roster
Maybe it's because he shares a name with a more-heralded teammate at the same position, but Hurns has been completely overlooked dating back to last season. Robinson was better last season and will likely remain better this season, but Hurns was enough of a factor as a rookie that ignoring him hasn't made much sense. After his 11-catch performance in Week 4, it's impossible to ignore him. He is second on the team in receiving yards and targets but has seven more receptions through four games than Robinson. Consistency will be an issue for Hurns -- he has had issues with drops going back to college -- but he is on pace for 120 targets and should be on your roster if for no other reason than the fact that you don't find guys on waivers with that kind of role. -Chris Towers
9. You'll do just fine with Philip Rivers as your quarterback
With the disappointments in Miami, Philadelphia and Detroit and the injuries to Ben Roethlisberger and Tony Romo, it's no secret some Fantasy owners are looking to upgrade at quarterback. But the ones with Philip Rivers shouldn't be among them. The Chargers offense is built around him and will offer another weapon when Antonio Gates returns from suspension in Week 5, and the Chargers defense should allow for some high-scoring games. Sunday's performance was obviously Rivers' best, but he has thrown for multiple scores in three of his first four games and has history on his side. You know who else has thrown for 4,000 yards and 30 touchdowns the last two years? Only Peyton Manning and Drew Brees, and they're both fading. Rivers, at age 32, isn't. I predict he'll have more three-touchdown games than one-touchdown games the rest of the way, with plenty of twos in between, and you can't ask for much more from a quarterback than that. -Scott White
10. Tavon Austin deserves your attention
Brian Schottenheimer never quite knew what to do with Austin, who had just 80 combined targets and carries in 15 games last year and never really lived up to his potential as a dynamic playmaker. Through four games with Frank Cignetti running the offense, Austin already has 30 targets and carries. It's hard to expect consistent production from him, but the Rams want to get the ball in his hands, and his playmaking abilities will lead to big games from time to time. -Chris Towers
