Now that’s more like it. Sunday of week 4 in the NFL was an action packed day of fantasy frenzy in which many of the guys we’ve been waiting to see results from produced. Then again, a lot of the players we’ve come to expect the world from failed us in spectacular fashion. Here’s what I’ve taken away from yesterday’s games:

 

– Joe Flacco is playing at a borderline-elite level. He’s outscored Ben Roethlisberger, Tony Romo and Nick Foles this season, and he’s nipping at Drew Brees’ heels. He needs to be owned and utilized in all leagues until further notice.

– Finally, Torrey Smith showed up on the stat sheet. Don’t kid yourself though, Steve Smith Sr. is the top dog and senior citizen in this offense.

– While Owen Daniels did get some decent looks, he is not going to pick up where Dennis Pitta left off in this offense. Pitta’s targets are going to be spread around.

– Justin Forsett is Baltimore’s best back, and though that’s not really saying much, he is the one I’d want to own in fantasy.

– Kelvin Benjamin is not a fluke folks. He’s going to do this all season – again, you’re welcome, RosterWatch Nation.

– The Carolina backfield is in pieces, and only time will heal their wounds. Until then, we have Darrin Reaves and maybe Fozzy Whittaker to carry the weight. The Panthers may have just become a pass-first team overnight.

– I still believe in the Carolina defense. With no consistent running game to give them a breather, it’s no wonder they’re folding like we’ve seen over the last two weeks.

– I guess everyone should have just relaxed like Aaron Rodgers suggested. The Packers are fine, and Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb are going to terrorize defenses more often than not.

– Just when I thought Andrew Quarless might stick, he goes and lays a goose egg. It’s best to stay away from Packers tight ends until we see some consistency out of one of them.

– Is Eddie Lacy the new Trent Richardson? After a phenomenal rookie season, he can’t seem to make a dent even in easy matchups. His one saving grace right now is that he’s the goal line back on a prolific offense.

– Martellus Bennett is going to be an integral part of the Bears offense as long as Jay Cutler is their QB. When he starts to get picked or sacked, which should be often, he’ll lean into his tight end.

– DeAndre Hopkins is the Texans’ best receiver. Luke Shabro called it, but I didn’t think it would happen so soon. Andre Johnson is still going to get plenty of looks, sometimes more than Hopkins, but it’s DeAndre who Fitzpatrick looks to in the endzone and when the chips are down.

– Arian Foster still isn’t healthy, but he’s still worth at least a flex start. Alfred Blue is healthy and he is at most just a flex start.

– J.J. Watt will single handedly keep the Texans’ defense startable in fantasy.

– Another week, another game in which Fred Jackson outperforms C.J. Spiller.

– Tennessee is the worst team in the NFL. I know what’re you thinking, but Oakland has inept on-and-off-field management, and few weapons. The Titans have no excuse.

– Well I gave him one more week. It’s time to cut bait on Justin Hunter. He may get better, but we’ve learned that you can’t depend on him. Even his coaches are calling him out.

– Reggie Wayne looks no worse for the wear after his terrible injury last year. He’s the No.1 in Indianapolis.

– There’s enough room for both Trent Richardson and Ahmad Bradshaw in the Colts offense. Don’t look now, Bradshaw was seen in a walking boot after the game(doesn’t seem serious). Richardson may be an unspectacular running back, but he tends to avoid injury and will remain involved.

– Calvin Johnson wasn’t healthy and mainly played decoy yesterday. This kind of thing is more than frustrating, but it’s the sort of uncertainty you have to roll with when you’re dealing with the league’s most dominant receiver. You can’t sit him unless he’s inactive.

– True to my presumptions, Eric Ebron is getting more action in the wake of the loss of Joe Fauria. Hopefully he can carve himself a niche before Fauria returns.

– Joique Bell is a tremendous buy-low right now. Outside of Arizona and maybe Buffalo, he has great matchups for the rest of the season.

– It might be time for the Mike Vick show in New York. As much as we love Geno Smith, he doesn’t have the weapons to overcome his ill-timed errant throws.

– Chris Johnson had a nice breakout run yesterday, but Chris Ivory is separating himself as the lead back for the Jets.

– I didn’t buy it going into the game, but Eric Decker’s hamstring seems ok going forward.

– James Jones is Raider-proof. His own lousy team can’t keep him from being productive in fantasy.

– Keep your eye on Andre Holmes in deeper leagues. I can’t tell yet if his production was based on the blowout, or…wait, most of their games will be blowouts.

– MJD looks MJDone. Maybe he’ll regain life after the week 5 bye, but I’m not counting on a Lazarus moment.

– I honestly don’t know that I can take away anything certain from that Miami win on the Dolphins behalf. They were playing the Raiders in a soccer stadium in England.

– The Bucs are a different team under Mike Glennon. Josh McCown looked so much more comfortable on the sidelines in a visor congratulating his teammates. Hopefully he stays there.

– Mike Evans is gone until week 8. Look for Louis Murphy and Austin Sefarian-Jenkins to pick up the slack.

– As unattractive an option as he’s been, Vincent Jackson is worth targeting in trades with Evans hobbled.

– Bobby Rainey looked like an afterthought for the Bucs, but again the loss of Evans could help him maintain fantasy relevancy.

– Antonio Brown is playing out of his mind, and I think he’s going to keep it up. Don’t be surprised though, his father is the all time leading receiver in arena football history.

– Pittsburgh’s defense is bad enough to allow other teams to stay games. This bodes poorly for LeGarrette Blount, especially with Le’Veon Bell being so prolific in every aspect of his game.

– Cecil Shorts’ hammy just can’t take it. It might be the Allen Hurns and Robinson show for awhile in Jacksonville.

– Shorts’ injury does also open a door in the slot for Ace Sanders when he returns next week.

– Denard Robinson and Toby Gerhart are in at least a timeshare. If there is a silver lining for Toby it’s that he should maintain goal line touches.

– Blake Bortles took his lumps, but he moves the offense better than Chad Henne. He should comfortably maintain his hold on starter.

– Eddie Royal is on a run. Ride him until he cools off.

– See, there’s nothing to worry about concerning Keenan Allen.

– Branden Oliver looks like a poor man’s Darren Sproles– he even wears the same number. He should stay in the picture even when Ryan Mathews comes back, maybe even more so than Donald Brown.

– The second-team doctrine came to fruition again in Minnesota with Teddy Bridgewater and Jarius Wright. I’d stay cautiously optimistic as it was just one game, but Wright is a nice speculative add in all leagues.

– Bridgewater shut all his haters right up with a spectacular win against Atlanta. I never took much account of his pro day. All you had to do was watch his college play and know he was the real deal.

– It takes both Matt Asiata and Jerrick McKinnon to replace an Adrian Peterson. They will both be flex plays going forward.

– It looks as if The Vikings have forgotten what to do with Cordarrelle Patterson … again. He’s a WR 3 until they figure it out.

– Devin Hester is playing too well to be kept off the field. He’s well worth an add and a play in deeper leagues, especially as long as Harry Douglas is out.

– LeSean McCoy’s play of late makes me want to vomit a little. I’m confident it’s his line and not his own effort that is the culprit. I think Chip Kelly is smart enough to figure out how to get him the ball in space.

– Told you Jeremy Maclin couldn’t keep it up. He’ll be good, but you can trade him for better.

– Frank Gore looked fierce out there yesterday. Don’t count on him losing his job to Carlos Hyde anytime soon.

– It only took people counting out Dallas entirely for them to start playing like a real football team. They are a force to be reckoned with as long as they keep leaning on the run.

– The Saints road woes are real and they’re unspectacular unless they’re at home. Knock em all down a notch in fantasy when they’re not playing in the ‘dome.

– The Saints seem to be favoring Travaris Cadet over Pierre Thomas as their passing back. It all seems too fishy. I think Thomas might be hiding an injury. Either way, Khiry Robinson is the only safe Saints RB play.