The Hive - week 4 Sep 28, 2007 | More

The Hive – 2007 season – week 4

Week 4?? Are you flippin kidding me?? ¼ of my fantasy season GONE? Already? Yes folks, it happens that fast...

Hopefully more of you are on the 3-0 and 2-1 side of things, but even if you are 0-3, all hope is not lost. Take advantage of the early season waiver action and don’t give up on your studs. If you aren’t going to quit on Larry Johnson, you better not quit on an underachieving IDP stud like Will Witherspoon or Kerry Rhodes. Next week we will have a special edition of The Hive detailing some of the surprises and disappointments of the first month of the 2007 season. But for now, let’s take a look at an intriguing week 4 IDP schedule.

How we rank `em!

Giddyup! – must start at their position

SINS! – solid if not spectacular

Hellno! – DOH!

Houston @ Atlanta Sunday 10am PST

Houston

Giddyup! – Demeco Ryans, Mario Williams

SINS! – Amobi Okoye, Morlon Greenwood, Dunta Robinson

Hellno! – Danny Clark

Atlanta

Giddyup! – Keith Brooking

SINS! – John Abraham, Lawyer Milloy

Hellno! – Jamaal Anderson, Deangelo Hall

Game notes: Look out for the Texans DL this week. The Falcons have given up a ton of sacks, especially considering how few pass plays they have attempted. I love Mario Williams this week, and Amobi Okoye is a nice start as well. On the Atlanta side John Abraham is starting to show signs of life, and while the Texans OL is improved, I think Abraham can make an impact. Chocolate Pudding in Pads, aka Ron Dayne, going against Brooking is a dream matchup for Brooking owners. Dayne couldn’t outrun Brooking if the last Krispy Kreme on Earth depended on it. Rookie Jamaal Anderson is doing nothing, and like Gaines Adams should not be on a redraft roster at this point. Deangelo hall will miss part of the game, and the Texans have no WR’s to throw it to anyways. So play him, and his fat mouth, at your own risk.

New York Jets @ Buffalo Sunday 10am PST

New York

Giddyup! – Kerry Rhodes, Kenyon Coleman, Erik Coleman

SINS! – David Barrett, Eric Barton, Bryan Thomas, Jonathan Vilma

Hellno! – Darrelle Revis, Shaun Ellis

Buffalo

Giddyup! – Jim Leonhard, Angelo Crowell, Terrance McGee

SINS! – John DiGiorgio, Chris Kelsay, John McCargo

Hellno! – Paul Posluzny

Game notes: I haven’t given up yet on Kerry Rhodes, and neither should you in DB required formats. Kenyon Coleman has produced repeatedly, and should be owned in all DL required leagues. The Bills are trotting out a rook at QB, so I’d imagine the Jets are going to get some coverage sacks and picks this week. On the Buffalo side, mighty mite Jim Leonhard looks like the real deal, and while most are touting DiGiorgio this week I think Angelo Crowell ends up putting up better numbers. Chris Kelsay has been consistent and McCargo looked good last week. Keep an eye on him in deeper leagues.

Baltimore @ Cleveland Sunday 10am PST

Baltimore

Giddyup! – Ray Lewis, Dawan Landry, Bart Scott, Terrell Suggs

SINS! – Ed Reed, Trevor Pryce

Hellno! – Chris McCallister

Cleveland

Giddyup! – Sean Jones

SINS! – Andra David, D’Qwell Jackson, Kamerion Wimbley, Eric Wright

Hellno! – Willie McGinest

Game notes: Ray Ray has been so so, Hot Sauce has been mild at best, Suggs has been as worthless as Dwight Freeney, and outside of a punt return for TD Ed Reed has been invisible. If a matchup with the Browns doesn’t get them going I don’t know what will. Reed and Suggs especially have done well in the past against the Browns. On the Cleveland side Sean Jones has been one of the few top preseason DB picks that has actually performed to that level. McGinest is getting closer to a return, but don’t allow nostalgia to steer you towards adding him to your team.

St Louis @ Dallas Sunday 10am PST

St Louis

Giddyup! – O.J. Atogwe, Will Witherspoon, Leonard Little

SINS! – James Hall, Brandon Chillar

Hellno! – Tye Hill

Dallas

Giddyup! – Demarcus Ware, Anthony Henry, Roy Williams

SINS! – Bradie James, Ken Hamlin

Hellno! – Bobby Carpenter

Game notes: For the Rams you have to like their IDP’s against an explosive Cowboys offense. Witherspoon hasn’t been up to his normal standards, but I think he will have a huge game vs MBIII. Tye Hill isn’t back yet, and it’s a shame. He would have had a field day IDP wise in this one. On the Dallas side, with no Pace, no SJax, and Bulger with hurt ribs, I think Dallas turns the dogs loose all game long. I think Ware has a huge game this week, and I think the Rams will play from behind so I like the Dallas DB’s. Bobby Carpenter is gimpy and mostly playing special teams. So much for his supposed “breakout” season predicted by other sites.

Chicago @ Detroit Sunday 10am PST

Chicago

Giddyup! – Brian Urlacher, Mark Anderson, Lance Briggs (check the injury reports)

SINS! – Adam Archuleta, Ricky Manning Jr, Trumaine McBride

Hellno! – Tommie Harris, Nathan Vasher, Charles Tillman

Detroit

Giddyup! – Ernie Sims

SINS! – Gerald Alexander, Dewayne White, Shaun Rogers

Hellno! – Boss Bailey

Game notes: The Bears are a real M.A.S.H. unit right now. There are a couple of interesting deep league plays on their D for people in CB required formats as well in Ricky Manning Jr and 7^th round rookie Trumaine McBride. These two could have huge weeks going against Kitna and the Detroit passing attack. For Detroit if Gerald Alexander keeps producing he will start getting serious IDP consideration. Nothing else on that team excites me too much. White is starting to look like a one week wonder, but I’m still riding him in a league or two.

Oakland @ Miami Sunday 10am PST

Oakland

Giddyup! – Kirk Morrison, Thomas Howard

SINS! – Schweigart/Huff, Tommy Kelly, Gerard Warren

Hellno! – Derrick Burgess, Fabian Washington, Terdell Sands

Miami

Giddyup! – Jason Taylor, Channing Crowder (if Thomas doesn’t play)

SINS! – Renaldo Hill, Vonnie Holliday, Matt Roth. Zach Thomas (if he plays)

Hellno! – Jason Allen, Joey Porter

Game notes: Expect the Raiders to be fired up after Joey Porter guaranteed a Dolphins victory. Kirk Morrison and Thomas Howard are must starts. In my dynasty league I am finally taking the plunge and starting them together. Should be fun. Schweigart and Huff should be useful and Gerard Warren is starting to come on, and is someone to keep an eye on in DT required leagues. Terdell Sands and Fabian Washington were demoted in favor of Warren and Stanford Routt, and the changes seemed to help. You will have to follow the injury reports this week if you are a Zach Thomas or a Channing Crowder owner. Even if Thomas plays I don’t think I’d use him coming off a concussion. I think Jason Taylor gets off his cold streak vs Barry Sims. And we all know Daunte has fumbling problems.

Green Bay @ Minnesota Sunday 10am PST

Green Bay

Giddyup! – Nick Barnett, Aaron Kampman, Atari Bigby, A.J. Hawk

SINS! – Charles Woodson

Hellno! – Al Harris

Minnesota

Giddyup! – Antoine Winfield, Cedric Griffin, Darren Sharper, E.J. Henderson , Chad Greenway

SINS! – Ray Edwards, Kevin Williams

Hellno! – Mike Doss, Keniche Udeze

Game notes: For Green Bay I’d give Hawk one more week if you own him. I think a running team like the Vikes should be just what the IDP doctor ordered. Bigby is in the top 10-15 safeties in most formats, gotta like that kind of production from a waiver wire find. For Minnesota there aren’t many of their IDP’s that I don’t like vs the rejuvenated Brett Favre. The CB’s should be outstanding plays, and you know Sharper loves playing the team that let him go. Mike Doss is back from injury, but he is merely Sharper’s backup these days and far from IDP relevance.

Tampa Bay @ Carolina Sunday 1:05pm PST

Tampa Bay

Giddyup! – Barrett Ruud, Derrick Brooks, Ronde Barber, Jermaine Phillips

SINS! – Tanard Jackson, Cato June

Hellno! – Bucs DL’s

Carolina

Giddyup! – Jon Beason, Chris Harris, Julius Peppers

SINS! – Richard Marshall, Chris Gamble, James Anderson (if Morgan can’t go)

Hellno! – Dan Morgan

Game notes: Tampa has to be licking their chops thinking about David Carr starting over the injured Delhomme. I like Ronde for a pick this week. Ruud is the man, and is the #1 LB in every format I’ve seen. Play him with confidence. Brooks has done surprisingly well this year too. For Carolina we are all still waiting for Julius Peppers to realize the season has started. I’m really glad I didn’t overpay for this guy in my dynasty league. I picked up Marques Douglas off waivers instead. Peppers will bounce back, and it very well could start this week, but this season is a prime example of why I don’t like overpaying for DL’s in an IDP draft. Even the best ones are going to give you terrible weeks, and the start of the season for many top DL’s, from Peppers to Suggs to Taylor to Osi, proves that point. Beason has been solid, I expect that to continue, and as of now its looking like James Anderson will start in place of Dan Morgan, who decided to hurt his ankle this time instead of getting his 137^th concussion.

Seattle @ San Francisco Sunday 1:05pm PST

Seattle

Giddyup! – Lofa Tatupu, Julian Peterson, Deon Grant, Pat Kerney

SINS! – Darryl Tapp, Leroy Hill, Rocky Bernard

Hellno! – Marcus Trufant

San Francisco

Giddyup! – Pat Willis, Michael Lewis, Nate Clements, Marques Douglas

SINS! – Walt Harris, Hannibal Navies, Bryant Young

Hellno! – Brandon Moore

Game notes: For Seattle you have to like their LB’s and DL’s. You know the Niners will bring plenty of Frank Gore and I don’t trust that OL to protect Smith on the occasions that they do pass. Trufant will be bored, I highly doubt Smith will mess with him. For the Niners you have to like their DB’s vs the Seattle passing attack. A real flier pick this week is Hannibal Navies. I’ve watched Seattle quite a bit in the preseason and all 3 of their regular season games (ain’t living in Oregon and having cable swell?) and their OL just isn’t what it used to be. I think Douglas and Navies, who played very well in his 1^st start taking over for IR bound Manny Lawson, can get to Hass and make an impact. Douglas should not be on the wire in any DL required leagues. Nolan knew the kid from Baltimore and it certainly looks like he knows how to use him. I still have no flippin clue why Brandon Moore isn’t playing more, but for now he is worthless in IDP. I’d hold on to him in a dynasty format though, I think he is too talented to be on the bench for too long.

Pittsburgh @ Arizona Sunday 1:15pm PST

Pittsburgh

Giddyup! – James Farrior, Ike Taylor, Troy Polamalu

SINS! – James Harrison, Aaron Smith

Hellno! – Lawrence Timmons

Arizona

Giddyup! – Gerald Hayes, Adrian Wilson, Karlos Dansby

SINS! – Terrance Holt, Bert Berry

Hellno! – Antrel Rolle, Calvin Pace

Game notes: I think the Steelers are going to take it to ol’ Whisenhunt. Farrior should be all over Edge and this is the type of matchup that should bring out the best in Polamalu. For the Cards I really like Hayes and Wilson this week, and this smells like a good game for Dansby too. Lots of garbage tackles for the Cards IDP’s in the 2^nd half as Parker and Davenport salt away the Steelers victory.

Denver @ Indianapolis Sunday 1:15pm PST

Denver

Giddyup! – D.J. Williams, Champ Bailey, Dre Bly

SINS! – Elvis Dumervil, Ian Gold, Nick Ferguson

Hellno! – John Lynch, Simeon Rice

Indy

Giddyup! – Bob Sanders, Freddy Keiaho, Gary Brackett, Marlin Jackson

SINS! – Robert Mathis, Antoine Bethea, Rob Morris

Hellno! – Dwight Freeney

Game notes: With the quality of the offensive lines in this one, I wouldn’t expect many sacks for either team. Bailey and Bly vs Harrison and Wayne should be fun to watch. Lynch is gimpy and Rice is just irrelevant. For Indy I like their LB’s and DB’s. Rob Morris is back, that will help the run D. Freeney is the most overpaid piece of garbage on our planet. Please, let some DL get a bigger deal than his so I don’t have to hear about it on every single Colts broadcast. Please?

Kansas City @ San Diego Sunday 1:15pm PST

Kansas City

Giddyup! – Donnie Edwards, Derrick Johnson, Napoleon Harris, Jared Allen

SINS! – Bernard Pollard, Tamba Hali, Jarrad Page

Hellno! – Patrick Surtain, Ty Law

San Diego

Giddyup! – Stephen Cooper

SINS! – Shawne Merriman, Marlon McCree, Clinton Hart, Luis Castillo

Hellno – Matt Wilhelm

Game notes: the KC LB’s should be in full effect going against LT. And you know Edwards will be extra spicy this week for his old team. Jared Allen came back with an explosion last week. Its his contract year, and after that suspension I really think he is going to play all season like a man on a mission. His return is fantastic news for Tamba Hali as well, as Allen draws an awful lot of attention on his side. For San Diego with Wilhelm gimpy and the Chiefs offense as bad as it is its hard for me to get excited about anyone outside of Stephen Cooper. Hope you Merriman owners enjoyed that stellar statline last week. You are condemned to start him every single week, otherwise you will miss his occasional 20 point explosions……enjoy!

Philadelphia @ New York Giants Sunday 5:15pm PST

Philly

Giddyup! – Trent Cole, Brian Dawkins

SINS! – Omar Gaither, Takeo Spikes, Mike Patterson

Hellno! – Lito Sheppard

New York

Giddyup! – Antonio Pierce, Gibril Wilson

SINS! – Osi/Strahan, James Butler, Matthias Kiwanuka

Hellno! – Sam Madison

Game notes: For Philly the return of Brian Dawkins will be huge. You also have to like this matchup for the en fuego Trent Cole. Sheppard will be out for a couple of weeks, so hopefully you have other options if you own him in a CB required league. For New York , you had to like the signs of life finally displayed by Matthias Kiwanuka, but I wasn’t impressed enough to recommend starting him as an LB. if he keeps it up, maybe. Pierce and Wilson are the studs here, not much else to see.

New England @ Cincinnati Monday 5:30pm PST

New England

Giddyup! – Asante Samuel, Adaluis Thomas, Jarvis Green

SINS! – Vince Wilfork, Mike Vrabel, Ellis Hobbs, Eugene Wilson

Hellno! – Junior Seau, Tedi Bruschi

Cincy

Giddyup! – Madieu Williams, Jonathan Joseph

SINS! – Deltha O’Neal, Dexter Jackson, Ahmad Brooks, Landon Johsnon, Justin Smith

Hellno! – Caleb Miller

Game notes: Finally, a MNF game worth a damn. This should be entertaining. Start your New England DB’s with confidence. Samuel should be ready for a huge game after starting for the 1^st time this season in week 3. Green has been hot, and with the Cincy OL a mess I think he continues his solid play. For Cincy their LB’s have pretty much all been hurt, and now Miller is hurt. Brooks is back, but I would give him a week before I started him. The Bengals DB’s should have excellent games. I cant wait to watch this one!

Well that about wraps it up for week 4. Remember to check back next Wednesday for a special installment of The Hive, and the game by game report for week 5 will come out next Friday as usual. Hope to see you all back next week with another win under your belts. Good luck!