Welcome to our season-long segment at RotoBaller where we will be targeting players owned in 25% or less of Fleaflicker leagues. A couple picks put up solid performances (Ryan Fitzpatrick, Falcons D) while Ty Montgomery stunk the bed. Can't hit 'em all.

Week 4 was a great week for DFS players, with Josh McCown, Tavon Austin, and Allen Hurns all being key components to winning lineups. Oh, and Todd Gurley is really, really good.

Same as last week, I'll include a player from every position (including D/ST) each week - as long as the options are worthy of discussion. This week includes a few WR options while we have to dig a bit deeper for owners needing bye-week replacements at QB/RB. Let's get to it.

 

Digging Deeper - Potential Week 4 Waiver Wire Sleepers

Tavon Austin (WR, STL) - 25% Owned in Fleaflicker

Another week, another Rams wide receiver leads the passing game. Tavon Austin was excellent at Arizona, catching six balls for 96 yards and two scores while leading all wide receivers in Week 4. He seven targets were enough to lead the team as the Rams only chucked the ball 24 times. The Todd Gurley Show was the main source of production in the second half.

Austin is a very tricky player to trust on a consistent basis. Here are his scores in standard leagues so far: 13.50, 4.60, 3.80, 23.60. Add in the fact Brian Quick should be entering the lineup soon and his ceiling drops even more. The key that separates Austin from his Ram peers is his open-field abilities along with an ability to get the ball in multiple ways. Austin makes for a WR 4/5  and is a name worth considering for deeper leagues. I wouldn't feel comfortable using him at Green Bay Week 5, but he has a WR-friendly schedule after the bye (CLE, SF, @ MIN, CHI, @ BAL).

FAAB: $8

 

Allen Hurns (WR, JAC) - 22% Owned in Fleaflicker

When a defense uses their top corner on the offense's best receiver, good things happen for the #2. That was exactly the circumstance for Allen Hurns on Sunday as the Colts shadowed Allen Robinson with Vontae Davis. Hurns responded by catching 11-of-15 targets for 116 yards and a score.

Hurns has now scored in back-to-back outings, and has accrued at least 60 yards in every game this year. He led the team with six touchdowns last season, and serves as a solid complementary piece to Robinson. The Jags will likely be trailing most weeks which should force Blake Bortles to air it out. The Jaguars face the Buccaneers this week who have allowed eight passing touchdowns this season, fourth worst in football. Hurns should be scooped up in all league formats.

FAAB: $15

 

Charcandrick West (RB, KC) - 1% Owned in Fleaflicker

We're going really deep here. The running back market is once again thin so we're going to have do some speculating. Roy Helu Jr. makes an interesting option considering the Latavius Murray injury/fumble benching in the second half, but I'm not buying it. Helu saw the ball once before that series.

Which takes us to Charcandrick West. What a name. The UDFA from Abilene Christian University made his NFL debut Sunday, rushing five times for 17 yards. He also added a four yard catch. The numbers aren't great, but the key development is he rotated with Jamaal Charles in the second half, not Knile Davis. If the rumors are true that West has surpassed Davis on the KC depth chart, West becomes an instant commodity. His pass-catching skills are likely what have helped him see playing time over Davis, but Davis makes for the better between the tackles option. This makes it difficult to gauge how the backfield would operate sans Charles, but it's a development to keep track of. If you're desperate for running back opportunities in a 14 team league or larger, West is a sleeper to keep an eye on.

FAAB: $5 - Charles Owners

 

Josh McCown (QB, CLE) - 10% Owned in Fleaflicker

Have no fear Cam Newton owners, Josh McCown is here. Wait, what?

That's right, I said start McCown. In his past two starts he has been carving, completing 60-of-90 passes for 697 yards and four touchdowns. Don't forget that McCown was leading the Browns on their opening drive at New York until a helicopter fall knocked him out until Week 3. McCown is making the most of his arsenal, notably the flashy rookie Duke Johnson Jr.

Week 4 was the first time Cleveland properly utilized Johnson and he turned in am eight catch, 85 yard performance with a score. McCown gets Baltimore this week, a team who's passing secondary should not be feared. They have fared well in team defense so far - but if you move the games versus a stiff Peyton Manning in Week 1, and Mike Vick in Week 4, things get ugly. Facing Derek Carr and Andy Dalton, they gave up a combined 734 passing yards and six passing TD. Stream McCown with confidence.

FAAB: $5

 

Gary Barnidge (TE, CLE) - 20% Owned in Fleaflicker

I can't highlight the Browns QB without giving you a receiver to pair him with. Barnidge fits our ownership requirements and deserves to be acknowledged with his recent play. He followed up his breakout week 3 with an excellent game Week 4, catching all six of his targets for 75 yards and a score.

If you had no idea who Barnidge was before the season you're not alone. The 30-year old was a backup in Carolina before joining the Browns in 2013. He's already set a new career-high in yards, and is four targets from tying his career-high and it's not even Week 5. Great story.

He gets the Ravens this week, and I'd be cautious of using Barnidge if you have better options. The Ravens didn't give up a catch to Tyler Eifert, and just one to Heath Miller (for a yard) last week, two tight ends much more skilled than Barnidge. Not the best sign, but if you're in a deep league and own Greg Olsen, there are worse plays than taking a guy who's developing chemistry with a fellow journeyman.

FAAB: $7

 

Atlanta Falcons Defense - 8% Owned in Fleaflicker

We're going back to the well! The Falcons forced four turnovers last week in a 48-21 demolishing of Houston. They scored two defensive touchdowns as well, including a time-expiring fumble return to pad the stats.

This week they get Kirk Cousins on the Redskins. Cousins is 1-6 on the road in his career and has never seen a triple-coverage he doesn't like. Desmond Trufant has shown his 2014 performance was no fluke and he belongs in the elite tier of corners. I expect Trufant to shadow Garcon forcing Cousins into risky throws, resulting in another turnover-heavy day for this defense.

FAAB: $1

 

NFL & Fantasy Football Chat Room