Welcome to The Lowdown for Week 4. This is my little corner of the fantasy football universe--feel free to pull up a chair and stay a while! Tampa Tempest Last week I speculated that things were not going smoothly for Greg Schiano in Tampa, despite all the official denials. This week, we find that those denials were as legitimate as all those Clinton denials (take your pick of Bill or Hillary). QB Josh Freeman was benched in favor of rookie Mike Glennon this week. Now, I'm no fan of Freeman's-- at the time he was drafted, I stated I thought the Bucs took him about four rounds too early. But his benching was a huge slap in the face; understandably, Freeman wants a trade. I think it's unlikely a trade will happen; Freeman earns too much money and, let's face it, he really isn't all that good. You have to wonder how Schiano's handling of Freeman is affecting the team; not only is he disrupting any team cohesiveness which may have existed, he is painting himself as a huge jerk that doesn't know how to coach grown men. I'm still sticking with last week's assertion that I expect Schiano to be let go at the end of the season; he's simply too much of a jerk to be the head coach of an NFL team. If he's lucky, he might be able to find work as a coordinator somewhere. Next Time, Try DiGiorno Lions' leading receiver, WR Nate Burleson (that's right, look it up), suffered a broken arm this week in a car accident that was initiated by... a couple of pizzas. Apparently, Burleson was driving with a couple of hot pizzas in the seat next to him; at some point, he stopped short. In an effort to protect his pizzas (as any noble gentleman would do), he stuck out his right arm to keep the pizzas from sliding off the seat. I don't know what 'ol Nate likes on his pizzas, but it must've been something meaty because his act of valor ended up breaking his forearm. But don't worry, Lions' fans: Burleson should be back sometime in November. Although, because the Lions' IR-Return spot is already occupied by Monte Owens (who?), the Lions will have to essentially write off a roster spot while Burleson recuperates. Unless TE Brandon Pettigrew suddenly awakes from his slumber, Burleson may not be coming back to a contender. False Hope It's amazing how many pundits will continue to hype their preseason picks, even in the face of impending doom. I'm talking about all those bobble heads that are trying to convince us that some 0-3 teams still have a shot at "turning it ...

undefinedundefinedundefinedundefinedundefinedundefined Tampa Bay 22, Atlanta 17 Buccaneers Doug Martin capped off his awesome rookie season with another huge outing posting 148 yards on 28 rushing attempts. The Muscle Hamster is a lock as a top five RB next year. Mike Williams quietly had another solid season accumulating 996 yards and nine touchdowns. He should also be mentioned amongst the best red-zone wide receivers in the league adding another short-yardage touchdown in this game. Falcons Yes, the starters played, but no they were not playing at full capacity. I suspect this game was more of a "walk through" after pouring their energy into the past two weeks and clinching home field advantage. The Falcons postseason fantasy value will be contingent on their opponent. New York 9, Buffalo 28 Jets The best news for the Jets is the season is officially over, meaning the rebuilding process can begin. Say goodbye, Mr. Sparano. Bills Yet another of the NFL teams who are about to undergo some radical changes. The misuse of CJ Spiller and reliance on Ryan Fitzpatrick are the two reasons Chan Gailey will likely be fired by the time you're reading this article. Baltimore 14, Cincinnati 23 Ravens This game reminded me of preseason week one as the Ravens starters played two series and sat much of the game. Nothing to see here, move along. Bengals Cincinnati came out relatively slow until a touchdown pass to Marvin Jones just before halftime. Similar to preseason week two, the starters did not return in the second half. Boring. Chicago 26, Detroit 24 Bears For fantasy managers projecting into next season our focus has been on the development of Alshon Jeffery. Brimming with talent, playing alongside strong armed quarterback and with Brandon Marshall demanding added attention, Jeffery will be worthy of late round flier entering the 2013 season as a mid WR4. Lions Calvin Johnson's quest for 2,000 receiving yards fell 36 yards short as Charles Tillman, Tim Jennings and the Bears secondary said, "not on my watch". Still an amazing season for fantasy owners who ignored the Madden Curse and selected Johnson in the first round. Beyond Calvin, this team is not good. No defense, no real running game and more off field issues than a rehab clinic. Jacksonville 20, Tennessee 38 Jaguars The Tim Tebow groundswell in Jacksonville will be reaching tidal wave proportions after Chad Henne tossed three interceptions, two of which were ...

Even with only one week of the NFL season to go, the waiver wonders never cease! The pickings are slim, but there are a few stars shining brighter than the others that can guide you to sweet victory in Week 17. A pair get mentioned as solid pickups, with a handful of players after that in the deeper categories. Something for everyone this week! Solid Pickup RB Ryan Grant, Green Bay The Packers continue to lose running backs, with Alex Green joining the ranks of Cedric Benson and James Starks on the sideline. Green was a surprising scratch this week, handing not only the starting job, but the position of only trustworthy back dressed in this week's game against the Tennessee TItans. Grant responded with more than 100 yards in total offense to go along with two touchdowns. The status of Green will determine how many times Grant will touch the ball in the finale against the Minnesota Vikings, at the very least we expect that Grant will get 60-75 percent of the workload, which is enough to warrant fantasy consideration for those in need at the position. K Blair Walsh, Minnesota A week after drilling a trio of kicks from more than 50 yards (on a day where he connected five times in total!), Walsh backed that effort up by connecting three times against the Houston Texans, including once from more than 50 yards. The Vikings will be home the final week of the season, in a must win game against their divisional rival Green Bay Packers. Every point will be crucial, and look for Walsh to continue his hot streak with another strong performance to close out a tremendous rookie season. On the Radar RB Montell Owens, Jacksonville With Maurice Jones-Drew still on the shelf, Owens tabulated more than 100 yards in total offense against the New England Patriots. He is splitting time with Richard Murphy, but a weak Tennessee squad is on the schedule for this upcoming week. The status of Jones-Drew may cut into Owens' time, but, if he does not play, Owens will have the opportunity to put up another 100 yards of total offense. WR Jason Avant, Philadelphia Nick Foles has been using Avant as his checkdown over the middle, so Avant has been racking up the catches of late. He has caught 19 passes in the last four games, including eight for 70 yards this week against the Washington Redskins. Especially in points per reception leagues, Avant is worth considering. TE Lance Kendricks, St. Louis What a sight it was to see Kendricks lumbering down the field on his way...

Below, I'll list the player, their week 15 matchup, and the percentage of leagues in which he is owned according to our friends at fleaflicker.com. DISCLAIMER: The hope is that you don't find yourself in a situation like this. The hope is that you dodge the bullet. But hope won't help you come Sunday. Let's move on to this week's targets, keeping in mind that these aren't every week starters. Instead, these are guys that should only be used if you're in some kind of roster emergency. With the majority of big name quarterbacks, including Robert Griffin III, expected to be active, we'll skip the position, moving on to running backs and receivers. RB Joique Bell @ARI -- 38%. Last week, Arizona gave up 284 rushing yards to the Seattle Seahawks. Marshawn Lynch ran for 128 yards and three scores on just 11 carries. His backup ran 20 times for 108 yards. Granted, last week's 58-0 drubbing was a unique situation, and I wouldn't expect that kind of productivity again, but Bell and "lead-back" Mikel Leshoure have been splitting reps of late. Leshoure is still the goal line option, but Bell is more explosive and adds a pass-catching dynamic that Leshoure just doesn't have. Our staff has projected him for 70 yards rushing, four catches for 35 yards, and a touchdown. I think those numbers are fairly realistic, and he's available in way too many leagues. Montell Owens @MIA -- 10%. We didn't know what to expect from Owens last week. But he served well in a lead role against the Jets, running for 91 yards on 14 carries, including a nice 32-yard score. There were some early week whispers that Rashad Jennings might return from a concussion this week, but he had yet to pass the necessary tests to return, meaning Owens is the default option in the Jaguars' backfield. When our projections were posted, we estimated 65 total yards for Jennings and 55 for Owens. With Jennings all but ruled out, I like Owens to put up 80-100 yards, with a good chance to score. WR Danario Alexander vs CAR -- 54%. How is he available in almost half of leagues?! Right now, he is easily a top-25 fantasy receiver, and possibly higher, meaning he should not only be owned, but started in almost every league. Want further proof? Since week 10, in standard leagues, only Calvin Johnson and Dez Bryant have scored more than his 16.7 points per week. With a decent matchup in what could turn into a shootout with Carolina, I love Alexander, especially with teams covering him with just one defender ...

We unearth a trio of running backs this week that are worth taking a look at, including one that is in line to be the starter again this week. Though none of the three are worthy of being in our highest category, they lead a group of eleven players worth considering at this late juncture in the season. The majority of this week's players are running backs, but as usual we dig up a couple tight ends, and then fill in the rest of the list with some wide outs. There's something for everyone this week! Solid Pickups RB Montell Owens, Jacksonville Drawing the start against the Jets, Owens ran well carrying the ball 14 times for 91 yards and a touchdown. He wasn't as active as we would have liked in the passing game, recording only a single catch for eleven yards but he was the main back for the Jaguars on the field for the majority of offensive plays. With Maurice Jones-Drew and Rashad Jennings both out, it is looking like Owens is in line for a second consecutive start this week at Miami. It's a rarity this late in the season to find a starting running back on the waiver wire, but we expect that Owens will be able to put up similar numbers against the Dolphins this week. RB LaMichael James, San Francisco The backup runner on the 49ers always has value, operating as the change of pace to starter Frank Gore. Finally getting a chance to dress for a game this week against the Dolphins, James did not waste the opportunity, carrying the ball eight times for 30 yards while also catching a pass for 15 yards. Not tremendous numbers, but he did not make any glaring mistakes so he's earned some playing time for the future. San Francisco has cleared the deck for him to be the clear backup by suspending Brandon Jacobs, so James has some value even this late in the fantasy season. RB DuJaun Harris, Green Bay The Packers are not ready to trust Alex Green with the entire load, and with James Starks done for the season, Green Bay used Harris as their change of pace back this past week against the Lions. Harris rushed seven times for 31 yards, and did find the end zone. Coach Mike Sherman flips his backs on a week-to-week basis looking for the "hot hand." Harris will continue to see touches with the potential for him to edge out Green for the majority of carries in Green Bay. On the Radar WR Jonathan Baldwin, Kansas City The Chiefs are having major issues at the wide receiver position, this week placing Dwayne Bowe on season ending injured reserve. That leaves ...

Below, I'll list the player, their week 14 matchup, and the percentage of leagues in which he is owned according to our friends at fleaflicker.com. DISCLAIMER: The hope is that you don't find yourself in a situation like this. The hope is that you dodge the bullet. But hope won't help you come Sunday. Let's move on to this week's targets, keeping in mind that these aren't every week starters. Instead, these are guys that should only be used if you're in some kind of roster emergency, whether it be related to bye weeks or injuries. QB Brandon Weeden vs KC -- 22%. Weeden has been better than you'd thing, especially lately. Last week against Oakland, Weeden threw for 364 yards. While he threw just one touchdown to two interceptions, he's starting to make defenses pay when they attempt to load up against Trent Richardson. The Chiefs seem to give up 20+ points every week to opposing quarterbacks, and with Weeden improving, I like him even better in the dog pound in Cleveland. The FantasySharks.com staff has projected him for 250 yards and a score, and I like him to surpass those conservative numbers. Colin Kaepernick vs MIA -- 42%. Kaepernick had a hiccup last week against a beatable Rams defense. I suppose it's to be expected for a young quarterback, although I'm not happy with how much he struggled against a fairly average pass defense, I still like him as he's leading a competent offense. Add to it his rushing ability and goal line potential, and there's a lot to be optimistic about. If you're looking for a fill-in or need a better option or matchup, the Fantasy Sharks staff projects 215 yards passing, 40 yards rushing, and two scores (one rushing). RB Bilal Powell @JAC -- 10%. Powell and running mate Shonn Greene are now splitting carries. With Mark Sanchez inexplicably still under center, the two backs will get plenty of work against Jacksonville's porous run defense. While Greene is still probably a slightly better option, I do like Powell quite a bit. He'll get enough work to be productive, and the Jaguars have given up plenty of yards on the ground. I like him to reach the 60 yards and touchdown projected on our site. Montell Owens vs NYJ -- 4%. Who? I know. Look, our site even states that even without Maurice Jones-Drew and Rashad Jennings active, Owens is still a desperation play at best. That said, he'll start at running back for the Jaguars against a Jets defense that has struggled all season against the run. Last week was only ...

Around the League Oakland tight end Brandon Myers had a huge game last week against Cleveland. He caught an amazing 14 balls for 130 yards and a touchdown. Even more impressive was he received 15 targets, so he hauled in all but one pass. Myers has been solid in the second half of the season and has been Carson Palmer's go-to guy. He has put up more than 11 fantasy points in three of the last five weeks and has four touchdowns and 38 receptions in that time. He may still be available in some leagues, but that window is closing fast. Grab him if you can, as tight end production has been hard to come by this season. Peyton Manning is having a great season after missing all of 2011, but it looks like Adrian Peterson is poised to win the NFL's Comeback Player of the Year award. Peterson had another huge day in Week 13, rushing for 210 yards on just 21 carries with a touchdown. The score came on an incredible 82-yard sideline scamper in which he broke a few tackles and outran the Green Bay defense. On the season, Peterson already has rushed for 1,446 yards and scored eight touchdowns, and there are still four games left. If he can average just under 139 yards a game he will reach 2,000 yards less than a year after tearing his ACL. It would be one of the most amazing feats the NFL has ever seen. It was another start and another huge week for Philadelphia running back Bryce Brown. Brown ran the ball 24 times for 169 yards and two scores Sunday night against Dallas. He also had four receptions and did an excellent job of finding holes. His only flaw was that he lost a fumble in the fourth quarter on the potential go-ahead drive. The fumble was returned for a touchdown and subsequently lost the game for Philadelphia. LeSean McCoy might be returning for Week 14, so Brown's production will obviously drop. Monitor this situation as the week goes on. Shark Sleepers Montell Owens, RB, Jacksonville Well, Owens is getting the start this weekend by default for the Jaguars since three running backs ahead of him are all injured. That doesn't mean that Owens cannot be serviceable for owners looking for an edge as the playoffs start. He gets to square off with the New York Jets, so he should find some space to operate and will see close to 20 carries. Owens could be a nice flex option since the Jaguars offense is starting to move the ball with new quarterback Chad Henne. Josh Gordon, WR, Cleveland Gordon has had a nice little run over the last three weeks for ...

So you've managed to get into your league's playoffs? There will always be a need for fill-in players because of injury. This, as they say, is for all the marbles. You may need a running back this week as LeSean McCoy is still out and you didn't have the foresight to grab Bryce Brown. Well it's time to look at the opportunities that you can take advantage of. Billal Powell is available in a pretty large percentage of leagues. Powell is involved in a timeshare with Shonn Greene who has under-impressed as of late. Both backs will run well this week and although Powell played 43 percent of snaps as opposed to Greene's 48 percent, there is still value there. Powell can be started as a low-end flex with some upside because he is the primary goal line back. Pair that with the change at quarterback, and there could be more carries for both backs. Rashad Jennings will enter the concussion program this week according to Mike Mularkey. Maurice Jones-Drew is not ready and with Jalen Parmele out. There is a real question mark as to who gets the ball. Montell Owens looks like the front runner as the starter with Jordan Todman, and Richard Murphy as the reserves. The Jets will give up plenty on the ground as well. So this may be just the play that one team needs to fill in for an injured back. James Starks sure looked the part last week as he got to the edge and outraced Vikings defenders for a touchdown. The problem is that every time he shows some promise, it ends with a trip to the injury report. This was the first time that I saw Starks really turn it on. Any back not named Cedric Benson is seriously not the answer. The answer here is if you have Green that you can rest assured that he will get the majority of carries only to be vultured by John Kuhn at the stripe. The signing of Donte Stallworth means that Julian Edelman is indeed done for the season. Stallworth will be a pretty deep option on the depth chart. I suspect that Wes Welker, Brandon Lloyd, Aaron Hernandez, and Shane Vereen should see an uptick in targets. Grab Stallworth only if you are desperate. Dallas Clark is starting to get enough targets to be fantasy worthy. I had that inclination last week and grabbed him off of the wire. He had a nice catch in the end zone on a play clearly designed to get him the ball. He has big red zone potential as teams stack the box against Doug Martin. If you can still grab him, do so. He will be a decent play this week against the Eagles, and a pretty ...

New York 16, Washington 17 Giants The dual that started in week seven did not disappoint as the two quarterbacks traded blows all game long. On the receiving end for the Giants was Victor Cruz racking up 104 yards on five receptions. Nice to see Cruz stepping up his game just in time for the fantasy playoffs. Martellus Bennett was also a beneficiary catching five of seven targets, for 82 yards and the Giants lone touchdown. With the Saints coming to the Big Apple, Bennett has medium fantasy value as a lower TE1. With Andre Brown out for the season, Ahmad Bradshaw finally got the workload we all projected according to his third round ADP touching the ball 26 times for 116 yards. Bradshaw should be cemented in our lineups as a borderline RB1 next week facing New Orleans. Redskins Robert Griffin III must be touched by fate after his fumble jumped right into the hands of Skins wide receiver Josh Morgan who rolled in for a 13-yard touchdown. Not the greatest of fantasy performances, Griffin was able to set the single season rookie rushing record, the primary reason he remains a solid fantasy starter. The future of the NFL quarterback position looks brighter than ever. After a mid third quarter fumble Mike Shannahan showed his confidence in rookie running back Alfred Morris giving him the ball repeatedly on the very next series. Although Morris will never be considered for rookie of the year, he'd certainly get my vote for best draft value, both NFL and fantasy. Pierre Garcon owners who were patient all season look to have a solid WR2 on their hands. He is a lineup lock now making the championship push. Tuesday Morning Quick Hits •Lions wide receiver Ryan Broyles has been diagnosed with a torn ACL, he's done for the season. Head coach Jim Schwartz says Titus Young will not replace Broyles in the lineup meaning Mike Thomas becomes a player of intrigue. •Darren McFadden and Mike Goodson are expected to return Thursday night, but the timeshare is still unknown. Best to avoid all Raiders running backs. •Chargers left tackle Mike Harris has suffered a high ankle sprain. Best to avoid all Chargers players not named Danario Alexander (low end WR3) this week facing Pittsburgh. •Packers head coach Mike McCarthy says he'll stick with the "hot hand" at running back meaning James Starks is nothing more than a mid-RB3. •McCarthy also stated that Jordy Nelson will be "hard pressed to play" this weekend after suffering a hamstring injury. Find other ...

New Orleans 13, Atlanta 23 Saints The Saints continue to prove that trusting any New Orleans running back is a complete roll of the dice. Over the past three weeks we've seen a steady rotation typically led by Mark Ingram and Chris Ivory. This week it was Pierre Thomas out of nowhere pacing the team in rushing attempts at 14 for 84 yards. Fortunately for Ingram owners, the second year runner punched in a one-yard score after Pierre Thomas was dropped on the one yard line. Best to avoid all three if possible. We should also note the complete absence of Darren Sproles from the rushing statistics. However, what Sproles lacked in carries he made up for in targets with nine on Thursday night. Those numbers typically equated with a low end WR2, further solidifying Sproles as the only Saints RB worthy of starter consideration. Falcons Fantasy owners have been flooding social media after the game with complaints about Matt Ryan, Julio Jones and Roddy White. However, with Brees chucking up interceptions like beads on Mardi Gras, along with an early lead, the Falcons never had the urgency to move the football through the air, instead choosing to grind out the clock on the ground. Hard to blame a guy for poor fantasy production when his team wins the game. Jacksonville 18, Buffalo 34 Jaguars It's tough to decipher through the television, but the weather report indicates rain and 20 mph winds impacting this game. That could be to blame for Chad Henne sailing passes, while the wide receivers weren't helping maters with a number of critical drops. Combined with untimely penalties, the Jags couldn't sustain drives and keep their offense on the field leading to poor statistics all around. Cecil Shorts III amazing season continued finding the zone on a five yard touchdown catch. However, Shorts would be forced to leave the game after suffering a concussion giving fantasy owners concerns as we make our playoff preparations. Monitor this situation closely. As for the running game, which usually prospers in poor weather, Rashad Jennings managed just 20 yards on eight carries before leaving the game with a concussion early in the 2nd quarter. More of a straight line plodder with the inability to make defenders miss, Jennings could find himself on the bench even if he returns next week. In his place stepped Montell Owens with seven carries for 29 yards. Falling behind early in this game killed Owens' chances of making an impact, but the seventh year player ...