Bye Week Buyers: Week Four Breakdown

In what will be a weekly fantasy update here at NFLHouse.com, we’ll take a look at our exclusive “Bye Week Buyers”. 

We’ll take a look at the top players who are out this week on a bye week, and some options for you to pick-up each week. This week, with the Vikings, Cowboys, Bucs, and Chiefs out for bye weeks, we’ll let you know the top players to consider as you build your fantasy roster this week.

Top Players on Bye Weeks:
Quarterback– Tony Romo, Dallas Cowboys
Running Back – Adrian Peterson, Minnesota Vikings
Running Back – Jamaal Charles, Kansas City Chiefs
Running Back – Marion Barber, Dallas Cowboys
Wide Receiver – Miles Austin, Dallas Cowboys
Wide Receiver– Dez Bryant, Dallas Cowboys
Wide Receiver– Mike Williams, Tampa Bay Bucs
Tight End– Visanthe Shiancoe, Minnesota Vikings
Defense – Dallas Cowboys
Defense – Minnesota Vikings

Players to Pick-Up: 

Quarterbacks

1. Mark Sanchez, New York Jets
He’s slowly developed this season into a respectable fantasy quarterback since his abysmal opening week loss to the Baltimore Ravens. Now he’ll be going against a Bills defense that is anything but playoff caliber, he should explode once again.

2. Chad Henne, Miami Dolphins
If he’s available in any leagues and you’re in need of a back-up, I’d strongly look at Henne to be that guy. Otherwise, he has a decent match-up against a beatable Patriots defense and has only improved throughout the season.

3. Bruce Gradkowski, Oakland Raiders
He may be the only guy on this list that isn’t over 20 percent owned, but for deeper leagues, he’s a solid start against the Texans, whose secondary has been lackluster. He’s now the man in Oakland, and he could be a 250 and 2 TD guy this week.

Running Backs

1. Justin Forsett, Seattle Seahawks
Leon Washington played well as a special teamer last week, but there is little doubt that Forsett is the lead man, at least for this week. Against the St. Louis Rams, he could get around 4 yards a carry, so 80-100 yards and a score is very realistic.

2. Lawrence Maroney, Denver Broncos
Once a disappointing cut in fantasy just a week or two ago, the trade to Denver and the injury to Moreno instantly makes him a fringe fantasy start. Buckhalter will get carries too, but 15 carries for 70+ and a score could be worth the risk.

3. BenJarvis Green-Ellis, New England Patriots
Fred Taylor was a solid fantasy option for the Patriots, but with him out for an injury, it goes back to the running back by committee in New England. Green-Ellis will bet the bulk of the carries, and likely the red-zone rushes.

4. Kenneth Darby, St. Louis Rams
Steven Jackson has been out of practice this week so far, and while he’s still questionable and likely will get some game action, Darby will get at least half of the carries. If Jackson is out for the game, look for Darby to get 20+ carries.

5. Ryan Torain, Washington Redskins
Mike Shanahan has a strong liking to Torain, as Torain rose quickly up his depth chart in Denver and now vice versa in Washington. Portis is the starter, no question, but Torain will get some carries, and may be at least a good handcuff.

Wide Receivers

1. Jacoby Jones, Houston Texans
Against the Oakland Raiders this week, Jones may be a Top 20 receiver. With Asomugha likely matching up with Andre Johnson most of the game and the run defense solid in Oakland, look for the Schab-to-Jones conntection to be major.

2. Lance Moore, New Orleans Saints
The Panther defense has played well thus far this year, but against the Saints defense, they still should give up 28+. Moore has been a consistent target for Drew Brees, and he should be a great start this week, and a solid start for the year.

3. Brandon Lloyd, Denver Broncos
The Josh McDaniels hasn’t quite been figured out, by neither opponents nor the fantasy teams. A new receiver has steped up each week. Lloyd has been the best playmaker on the team, and would be a solid start this week if need be, and for the future.

4. Mike Thomas, Jacksonville Jaguars
Thomas has been a sleeper for this Jaguars offense in the past, but now it looks like it’s his time to be a solid number two option opposite Mike Sims-Walker, and against the Colts, he has a chance to get deep early and often.

5. Darius Heyward-Bey, Oakland Raiders
With Bruce Gradkowski the starter now, he has some chemistry with the 2nd team and Darius Heyward-Bey in particular. Heyward-Bey has shown in a few practices that he can make plays after the catch, and with Gradkowski’s chemistry, he can really be impressive if given the chance.
 

Tight Ends

1. Jeremy Shockey, New Orleans Saints
The Saints offense has been on the outside in the passing game and up the middle with Pierre Thomas to complement that. However, with Thomas out, Shockey will be the intermidiate threat and could get some red-zone attempts.

2. Rob Gronkowski, New England Patriots
The Patriots have always enjoyed using their tight ends, and with the Dolphins doing a great job in stopping the deep pass, the short passing game will be huge for Tom Brady, especially Gronkowski.

3. Kevin Boss, New York Giants
Boss is finally healthy now, and Eli Manning feels so much more comfortable. He won’t be a Top 10 tight end, but he’s a guy who could be a solid start this week, and a guy to watch as he gets reacclimated to the offense.

Defenses

1. Tennessee Titans (vs. Denver Broncos)
The Titans have been one of the best defenses in the AFC this year, and with Cortland Finnegan being a top notch cornerback and the defense line getting pressure consistently, Kyle Orton could struggle in Tennessee this week.

2. Atlanta Falcons (vs. San Francisco 49ers)
The 49ers offense has been awful this season, and even though they made the switch at offensive coordinator, it won’t be a week one change. Look for the playmaking-hungry defense in Atlanta to make Alex Smith struggle another week.

3. Miami Dolphins (vs. New England)
The Dolphins defense has played outstandingly this season thus far, but going against the Patriots offense makes me a little cautious. Still, they have great talent and have played well for the most part, and they will be looking to rebound from a rough loss in New York.