After two productive weeks, I lay a stinker in Week 4. Sometimes I can get a little too cute and IDP secondaries have been a crapshoot thus far in 2014. DRC was amazing for the New York Football Giants, but was worthless to his fantasy owners. My pick of Shareece Wright was coming up huge before a knee injury knocks him out. Malcolm Jenkins bailed me out with another big week. Fortunately, I did better on my prognostications on this past Sunday’s appearance on Major League Fantasy Football Radio that should have given you some good offensive plays making up for a rough week on Secondary Opinion. In fairness, I’m not giving you the 10 best plays. I’m giving a little something for everyone. My deeper picks are more rewarding when they hit and can help you steal a win. Hopefully, I have some good ones for you this week. Before we get there, let’s take a closer look at the break-down of Week 4

Position Player Team Real Deal MLFF Verdict CB Dominique Rodgers Cromartie NYG 1.5 1 One tackle is the only stat earned, but DRC proved that Fantasy doesn’t always = Reality as he locked down DJax CB Antoine Cason CAR 3.5 1.5 After two big games to start the season, Week 4 was second straight game with no impact plays CB Shareece Wright SD 11.5 10.5 Nice start with 7 tackles and a stuff in less than a half before leaving with knee injury CB Kyle Fuller CHI 5 2.5 After two straight incredible weeks, Fuller comes back to earth as Rodgers made him look like a Rookie CB AJ Bouye HOU DNP DNP Groin Injury derailed this sleeper pick S Malcolm Jenkins PHI 27.25 26.8 7 tackles, PD and a Pick 6 leads to another terrific day for Jenkins S Charles Woodson OAK 9.5 10 Only 3 tackles but a Fumble Recovery and PD gives him a serviceable day across the pond S Aaron Williams BUF 6.5 8 PD is only impact play in Week 4 S Calvin Pryor NYJ 8.25 4 ½ Sack is only impact play as he fails to break out against the Lions S Isa Abdul-Quddus DET 2.25 0.5 Sleeper pick still asleep with no impact plays

TIme to put Week 4 behind us and look forward to a new week with only two teams on a bye. Let’s be honest, I’m not going to be sweating it with only the Dolphins and Raiders off this week. So here we go with…

Week 5 Targets

Early Bird Special – Thursday Night Targets

CB – Sam Shields AND Davon House (GB) vs. MIN

As of this publishing, Teddy Bridgewater has not practiced yet. Shields held Brandon Marshall to only two catches last week and made a pick and 3 PDs. House is your sleeper pick of the week. He likely serves as the nickelback this week and should spend a lot of time chasing around Cordarrelle Patterson or the suddenly relevant Jarius Wright who seems to have already developed some chemistry with Teddy. Either a less than 100% Teddy or a less talented Christian Ponder will be manning the helm and there should be opportunity for some impact plays from the GB corners. The Packers defense is 5th overall in limiting passing yards averaging only 214 yards per game. I expect a dominating performance this Thursday.

S – Harrison Smith (MIN) @ GB

In the preseason, this was my pick to be the highest scoring DB for the season. His is currently the top scoring Fantasy Safety in MLFF and he trails only Malcolm Jenkins in Real Deal Dynasty. He has 21 tackles, 2 picks, a sack and 5 PDs in the first 4 games. He should be starting in every format and should have a big day with double-digit tackles and a few impact plays as he looks to contain the GB receivers and disrupt Aaron Rodgers. Even if GB wins in a rout, I expect Smith to put up big IDP numbers.

Sunday Feast – Monster Day Potential

CB – Joe Haden (CLE) @ TEN

With a week to rest up, Haden should be ready to roll and lock down the Titans’ receivers. Tennessee is tied for worst by throwing for 1.5 Interceptions per game and I am betting that Haden picks up one of them. If Locker plays, he will be limited with the injured ankle and if Whitehurst plays…well…even better for the CLE secondary. After underachieving for two of the three games thus far, look for Haden to bounce back with a big game.

S – Eric Weddle (SD) vs. NYJ

Weddle is licking his chops to face Geno and company at home in So Cal. Eric has made impact plays in 3 of the 4 games this year including a pick last week on rookie QB, Blake Bortles. Enter Geno Smith who has already thrown 5 picks this season. I expect SD to get up early and often, forcing the NYJ to abandon the run by the second half and Geno will no doubt make a mistake or two. I expect Weddle to get a pick and perhaps take it to the house. He will probably throw in some tackles early in the game as helps out in the run game.

S – Kenny Vaccaro (NO) vs. TB

Vaccaro has been pretty mediocre so far this season. 22 tackles for a safety after four games isn’t that great when there has been only one PD and one sack in the way of impact plays. The best cure for this poor start by a talented young DB is to come home to the Superdome. TB likely starts Glennon who wasn’t that bad last year and takes care of the ball better than McCown. That being said, they will be without Mike Evans and the running game is still a question mark. On the other hand, Brees and company have ridiculous home and away splits as he throw 27 TDs at home vs. only 12 away in 2013. I expect Brees to put up big numbers and the Bucs forced to air it out giving Vaccaro opportunity to rack up tackles and impact plays. I can see a break-out game this week getting Kenny back on track to where he left off last season.

Waiver-Wire Fodder – Sneaky pickups that could cover your players on a bye

CB – Sterling Moore (DAL) vs. HOU

Claiborne goes down for the season and unheralded, Sterling Moore, will slide into his vacant nickel slot. He played well during his opportunity to fill in for the suspended Scandrick during the first two games of the season. Houston is averaging 1.8 giveaways per game and Dallas is averaging 2 takeaways per game. So with Moore having been involved in two fumbles this season already, he will likely be busy in both the run support and the passing game. He is on the waiver wire in my the 32 Team Real Deal Dynasty League and MLFF4. He should help cover any bye or injury you may be facing in Week 5.

S – Michael Mitchell (PIT) @ JAX

Mitchell plays nearly every snap as the starting FS for the Steelers. He doesn’t get much fan fare because he has not really had any impact plays over the first 4 games of the season. That being said, Jacksonville comes in with their rookie QB, banged up receiving core and an offense averaging just 14.5 points per game. I expect the Steelers to get their act together and put up some points after their disappointing loss to Tampa in Week 4. Jacksonville is dead last in scoring defense (38 points/game) and total defense (451.2 yards/game). Big Ben, Brown and the Blunt Boys should get out to an early lead causing Bortles to go to the air early and often. As much as I like his poise and presence as a rookie, he is a bit of a gunslinger and Mitchell will have a chance to get on the board with some impact plays this week. He is likely on your waiver wire in most IDP leagues with 16 teams or less.

Dynasty Diaper Dandies – Young talent that should be playing in your 32 Team dynasty leagues

CB – Bradley Roby (DEN) vs. ARI

Now we get to some deeper plays. If you are crazy like me and play in 32 Team Leagues, you often are starting backups and prayers. Successful owners in deeper roster leagues like MLFF need to be skilled in streaming sleeper IDPs during bye weeks. Roby has averaged 60 defensive snaps, 6 tackles and a PD per game as a rookie. He is a must add in dynasty leagues.

S – Kemal Ishmael (ATL) @ NYG

This is a boom or bust pick. He had a good showing in tackle heavy leagues in Week 4 and got a pick 6 against the Bucs in the blowout win in Week 3. He has gotten some playing time over the last two weeks due to Moore and Lowery being a little banged up. I expect Sunday’s game to be a shootout with the G-Men and Ishmael to see enough snaps to warrant a start in deeper leagues.

Bryan Luhrs

Real Deal Dynasty Sports, Creator & Executive Commissioner

MajorLeagueFantasySports.com, Fantasy Baseball and Football Writer

@realdealdynasty

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