Week 4 Fantasy Football: Top 10 Dark Horse Sleepers to Pick Up

Week 4 Fantasy Football: Top 10 Dark Horse Sleepers to Pickup

Week 4 of Fantasy Football is when teams have to start to scramble to fill out their roster. In the draft, you try and make sure you have reserves to take over when your starters have bye weeks, but that doesn't always work out. There is always the person that hoards backup Running Backs and doesn't want to drop any of them in case of an injury. Then you have the guy that doesn't pick up a backup defense or kicker because he thinks they are all interchangeable. You also have Fantasy experts telling you that if you have a top tier Quarterback that you don't need to keep a second QB on your roster to just play for you for one week.

This week, you have teams like Green Bay Packers and Carolina Panthers on a bye week. That means no Aaron Rodgers, Cam Newton, DeAngelo Williams, Jordy Nelson, Randall Cobb, James Jones and Steve Smith. You also have injuries to players like Ray Rice, Danny Amendola, Steven Jackson, Rob Gronkowski, Malcolm Floyd and Jacoby Jones, which may challenge your depth this weekend.

Any Fantasy owners can have enough depth during the bye week to fill out your roster. There is always a healthy body out there that can give you a couple points. However, when you mix the bye week in with a few injuries to your starters, it may be time to look in the free agent pool at who can give you the best score just for this week and not worry about season totals. The additions this week should be looked at as one day rentals and not projected through Week 17.

10. Lance Moore

Throughout the past few seasons, Lance Moore has been a pretty reliable Fantasy Football player. He has averaged 61 receptions and seven Touchdowns over the past three years playing in the high powered New Orleans Saints passing attack. So far this year, he only has four catches which is why he is available in most leagues, but he may have a breakout day against the Miami Dolphins with Dimitri Patterson out.

9. Ronnie Hillman

Ronnie Hillman is the only Denver Bronco Running Back with a defined role. He is the change-of-pace and the third-down back. This guarantees him between 8-10 touches per game and in the Denver offense that could result in a touchdown.

8. Andre Roberts

Andre Roberts has 12 catches for 139 yards this season through three weeks, which is an average of almost nine points per game in PPR leagues. His numbers may go up this weekend with Larry Fitzgerald stuck on Revis Island.

7. Pierre Thomas

It is difficult to trust any Running Back from the New Orleans Saints other than Darren Sproles. They rely heavily on the passing game and Pierre Thomas usually isn't a big threat there. However, the Miami Dolphins struggled to stop the run against the Atlanta Falcons last week even though they were missing Steven Jackson. With Paul Soliai and Cameron Wake likely out, the Saints may try to wear down the thin Miami Dolphins defensive line and expolit the big nose tackle being out.

6. Aaron Dobson

In Week 3 against Tampa, Aaron Dobson had seven catches and was targeted 10 times by Tom Brady. It appears as though he is going to be the short yardage receiver that Danny Amendola was expected to be. With Amendola out again this week, Dobson will probably have similar opportunities against Atlanta.

5. E.J. Manuel

E.J. Manuel will be a low risk low reward pickup this week. He has averaged 230 yards passing per game and has had at least one TD in every game. He has only thrown one interception and his ability to run the ball will make him a steady Fantasy player this week.

4. Jerome Simpson

Jerome Simpson had seven catches for 140 yards in the first game of the season. This made him an immediate add in all leagues. However, after two subpar games in Weeks 2 and 3, he is available in the majority of leagues. He has still been targeted more than any Minnesota Vikings receiver and should be again this week.

3. Rod Streater

Rod Streater has been the second biggest target in the passing game for the Oakland Raiders this season. Streater is playing against a Washington Redskins team that is second to last in the NFL in passing yards against and has given up nine passing plays of over 20 yards. Sunday will be a big day for all Oakland receivers so Streater is a no-brainer to pick up.

2. Brandon Bolden

Brandon Bolden saw his first action on Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He finished with 51 yards rushing and five catches for 49 yards. Those totals are good for 15 points in PPR leagues and he should put up similar numbers in Week 4 against the Atlanta Falcons.

1. Ryan Tannehill

The Miami Dolphins are still not having success running the ball this season. Playing Monday Night in New Orleans, it should be a very high scoring game and Ryan Tannehill will be the biggest beneficiary of that. He has been getting better each week and threw two TDs last weekend against the Atlanta Falcons. If you are missing Cam Newton or Aaron Rodgers this week, Tannehill should get you between 20 and 25 points against the Saints.