Remember when I talked about the recent trend that saw quarterbacks and wide receivers dominate while running backs floundered?
Well, it continued in Week 4.
Five of the week's top 10 fantasy performers came from the quarterback position, three were wide receivers (and no one could have predicted the trio), and two were runners. Overall, there is one back that ranks in the top 10 in points for the season, and it's not LaDainian Tomlinson -- it's Ronnie Brown. What's more, only seven of the top 30 points producers are backs, and one of them (LaMont Jordan) could be out a while due to an injured back.
Before we talk further about backs, let's focus on the real heroes of Week 4 -- the quarterbacks. Tony Romo led the position with 37 points on 339 yards and four total touchdowns. He has become a must-start option in all leagues. Daunte Culpepper threw for an awful 75 yards in Miami, but he scored five touchdowns against his old team. Too bad he was active in a mere 13 percent of NFL.com leagues. He'll be a hot name on the waiver wire this week.
Some of the surprises of Week 4 included Joey Harrington (20 points), Damon Huard (19 points) and Derek Anderson (18 points). Anderson, who faced what is considered a tough Baltimore defense, threw for 204 yards and two touchdowns in a 27-13 win. Believe it or not, Anderson ranks fourth in total fantasy points overall after four weeks.
Not all the quarterbacks were productive, however, as Marc Bulger (2 points), Donovan McNabb (3 points) and Matt Leinart (3 points) all had awful stat lines. Leinart started for Arizona, but he lost time to Kurt Warner for the second consecutive week. The offense runs much better under Warner, so owners need to keep tabs on that situation for a possible move.
While Tomlinson (21 points) and Larry Johnson (14 points) both had improved numbers, the real tale of the weekend for backs was the injuries suffered. Cadillac Williams tore his patella tendon in his right knee and his out for the season. Backups Michael Pittman and Earnest Graham will be hot names on the waiver wire. Jordan left the Raiders' win over Miami with an injured back, and reports out of Oakland suggest he could be out a few weeks. That makes Dominic Rhodes, who is available in more than 50 percent of NFL.com leagues, a hot free-agent asset.
The wide receiver position was turned upside down this week, as Patrick Crayton (30 points), Santonio Holmes (24 points), Dwayne Bowe (22 points), Michael Jenkins (18 points) and Andre' Davis (17 points) were all in the top five in points. The top 10 also included Jerry Porter (17 points) and Sidney Rice (13 points). Jerheme Urban (11 points) was 11th overall.
Crayton is a worth a fantasy roster spot but he won't produce another stat line with 184 yards and two touchdowns. Bowe, who has scored a touchdown three consecutive weeks, will be a hot name on the waiver wire.