Hiccups and Pickups: Week 4

FALLING DOWN

Matt Forte. After a monster receiving day Week 1 and a touchdown Week 2, Forte has been weak, putting up consecutive stinkers. With Jay Cutler out this week, the Panthers will load up on the run and short passing game and force Todd Collins to look downfield. Just a few fantasy backs are on the bye Week 5 (Brown/Williams, Green-Ellis, Mendenhall) so hopefully you can bench Forte until Chicago and Cutler have it working again.

DeSean Jackson. New Rule. So goes Mike Vick, so goes DeSean Jackson. For the speedster, his success with McNabb and Vick dictate that a mobile quarterback gives him time to execute double-moves and burn defenders deep. Until Vick gets back, view DeSean as a flex play that might break one, but would also be a threat to score on a run or punt return.

Darren McFadden. McFadden and Ahmad Bradshaw are a couple of semi-surprises rounding out the NFL's top 5 rushers through the first month, behind Foster, Mendenhall and Peterson. McFadden's 554 yards from scrimmage through 4 games will be stalled by a hamstring injury that has jeopardized his status for this week vs. San Diego.

Malcom Floyd. There are a few reasons Malcom makes this list, despite being the clear #1 wideout in San Diego. Antonio Gates will always be Philip Rivers' first option, he'll be facing shutdown corner Nnamdi Asomugha this week, the Bolts have Mathews and Tolbert going well, and there is a chance that Vincent Jackson just might want to play football this year. His strong play thus far and a potential Jackson return in Week 7 make Malcom a nice sell-high candidate for teams with WR depth.

Clinton Portis. "That popping sound you're hearing is actually Clinton Portis' groin." While CP isn't an alien (as far as we know) bench this citizen of The District until week 9.

MERCURY RISING

Maurice Jones-Drew. Fantasy owners got their MoJo back in Week 4. Pocket Hercules crossed the century mark for the first time since last December (also against Indy), and just the second time in his last 11 games. He'll get two in a row as the Jags visit Buffalo, who may as well start the Jills on defense after their performance vs. LT and the Jets made the Griswold's house on Christmas look dim.

Ricky Williams. The first bye week helped Ricky find some lineups in time for his first fantasy game of the season, gaining 56 rushing yards and adding 45 and a score through the air. Ricky's 7.0 per-carry average (10 yards per touch) will put him heavily in the mix during the Dolphins' bye-week practices and will make him useful, if not essential, as the season progresses.

Marshawn Lynch. Despite topping 1,000 yards in his first two seasons, Lynch fell out of favor in Buffalo after a disappointing 2009 on and off the field. A trade anywhere represents an upgrade for Marshawn, who brings his career 4.0 per-carry average to Seattle. We'll take it. Buffalo's Fred Jackson and C.J. Spiller get a bump into the fantasy universe this week with Marshawn gone, but only because they're hosting the Jags.

Ryan Torain. The door was already opening when an injury to Dollar Bill's groin busted it down. Five years and 1,800 carries younger than the eccentric workhorse, Ryan should eat up plenty of terrain as the starter in upcoming weeks, as the Redskins have games against the Colts and Lions among their next four.

Brandon Tate. Whispers about a possible trade for Vincent Jackson should be taken with a big bag of rock salt. New England and San Diego are probably the two most hard-headed teams in the NFL who would both rather teach their players a lesson than swap holdouts pre-deadline, so it's a safe bet that VJ won't be brought in mid-stream to replace Randy Moss. That leaves the speedster Tate, who should benefit with Tom Brady again being allowed to do what he does best, throw to the receiver who's open. Weapons Welker, Hernandez and Tate will not complain when they don't get the ball, leaving Brady to feel relaxed and unobliged to force throws, as he did when the Pats were winning SuperBowls.

Dexter McCluster. In Yahoo! leagues, McCluster qualifies as an RB, making him a sneaky play this week at Indy and for the rest of the season. The speed merchant went undrafted in many leagues and a lot of owners dropped him after a successful, yet unspectacular (fantasy-wise) first three games. The Chiefs' schedule is light, their bye is behind them, and their offense lends itself to big plays. Dexter's 69 yards and a TD in Week 3 is an encouraging sign that the player that could only be described as absolutely explosive while at Ole Miss will hit the highlight reels soon. Depending on their roster's makeup and especially in PPR leagues, some owners might consider starting McCluster at RB2, and going 4-wide.