Six Things to See in Week 4 Sep 30, 2009 | More

Audibles Week 4

Welcome to another edition of Audibles. These are the tidbits I noticed last week coupled with some projections.

1. Darren Sproles has been struggling running the football. His 37 carries in the last three games has net a total of 90 yards, a measly 2.43 yards per carry. However, he has 14 catches for 181 yards, which translates into 12.9 yards per catch. He also has two TDs (one rush, one receiving).

Expect to see his yards per carry stay the same against a very formidable Steeler defense. The reality is that he is quite a weapon in open space, but getting past the first line of defenders has been difficult for the 5-foot-6, 181-pound Sproles.

Expect San Diego to find ways to get him the ball on the perimeter against Pittsburgh. Michael Bennett cut into his carries last week and had a measly 2.25 yards per carry versus 2.28 for Sproles. It isn’t a size thing;   Miami has stopped the run all year.

Miami held Michael Turner to 65 yards on 22 carries, or 2.95 yards per carry, in Week 1. In Week 2, the Dolphins allowed only 66 yards rushing to the tandem of Joseph Addai/Donald Brown.

I’m officially on board the Sproles train to yardage town. The latter part of this season, Sproles has favorable matchups. This week I see him at 12 carries for 42 yards, and four catches for 48 yards and a score. That’s very serviceable numbers for a No. 2/No. 3 back.

2. Andre Caldwell is really pushing Laveranues Coles for playing time. Caldwell has been targeted 19 times in three weeks. This stat is surprising since Coles was targeted 15 times in the same span. The difference is Caldwell’s 14 catches to Coles’ eight. Against Cleveland this week, Caldwell is a good sleeper play.

I’m seeing him giving the Bengals no choice but to keep him on the field and moving up to the No. 2 spot. I see Chad Ochocinco getting the most looks this week, then Caldwell second. Coles has done very little to merit any consideration.

While I wouldn’t bump any legitimate receivers to start Caldwell, I’d have the radar locked on this guy for waiver wire pickup in the next three weeks. He is a good flex play as he also returns kicks. He has ideal size at 6-foot, 204, good speed and solid hands.

3. The Jaguars will have to throw the ball to stay in the game with the Titans. The Jets and Texans both torched the Titan secondary in the previous two weeks. Maurice Jones-Drew will keep eight Titans in the box in order to stop him. They will dare David Garrard to throw deep. I’m on board with Torry Holt this week. Holt has been frustrated in weeks past, but he is the ultimate team player.

I’m going out on a limb with this one: seven catches, 104 yards and a TD for Holt.  This will be his high as a Jaguar and will be the second-highest total he posts this season.

4. Aside from the great Reggie Wayne, and the mountain that is Vincent Jackson, is there any receiver getting more looks than the third quarter, man? Jerricho Cotchery is climbing the ladder out of fantasy mediocrity to the top of fantasy stardom. His 285 yards is third ahead of studs like Randy Moss, Steve Smith and Andre Johnson.

Given the newness of this season, I am not jumping to conclusions just yet. I am excited about the matchup this weekend versus New Orleans, who has given up an average of 245 yards per game through the air.

I say Cotchery exceeds his trend of six catches and 95 yards this week. I am going eight catches, 113 yards and a TD. The Saints are only giving up 67 yards on the ground average which translates into a whole lot of passing.

5. The Houston defense aka “the swinging gate” has given up a league high 614 yards and eight TDs to running backs this year. Oakland needs a miracle to get back on track. Expect the tandem of Darren McFadden and Michael Bush to add to the total.

I see Bush as a super sneaky sleeper play this week. He should be available in some leagues because everyone views Oakland as the fantasy wasteland. If McFadden continues to fumble, (three last week, one lost) you may see more Bush than before. Anytime you see more Bush this is a good thing.

I’ll go 88 total yards and a score on nine carries with three receptions. If you need a bye week with upside, Bush is your guy.

Don’t confuse the Raiders as a passing team, they will run most of the game against Houston unless they get behind by 14 points. Then they will throw screen passes to DMC and Bush, who both have good hands.

6. Jay Cutler has another solid week at 20-for-26 with 259 yards and 2 TDs. The run game blossoms as Matt Forte gives the Bears the balanced attack that has been missing in weeks past. Forte is due for a TD on a screen pass as well.

I like those screen passes that turn into free yards for your QB. The Lions won last week and the confidence is high but the reality is that the Bears are too much for them to handle.

Thanks for the support readers!

Comments/Questions/Concerns to michaelfsarmento@gmail.com.