Ben Roethlisberger clearly isn’t healthy and a Baltimore match-up isn’t going to help. Call me crazy, but I see Derek Anderson bouncing back in a major way in Week 4 against the Bengals. Carson Palmer and Anderson should both throw a ton in this game, and I predict that this match-up will be a high-scoring one. Don’t get me wrong, Anderson has to do more than play well this week in order to keep his job, but this will be a huge step in the right direction. Bad winds in Week 2 and the Ravens match-up in Week 3 (a match-up Roethy faces this week)… that’s a bad set of circumstances and I think Anderson will prove that by performing in Week 4. I expect Anderson to have over 300 yards passing and 2-3TDs in this one.

Big Ben is banged up and the Browns passing game will improve. When your offense is struggling, there is nothing like facing that Bengals defense. The Bengals aren’t the league’s worst passing defense or anything, but they aren’t top 10 and they have yet to intercept a ball this season. Derek Anderson could have a 300-yard game with two touchdowns in Week 4. This may come back to bite me, but start him unless you have a much better option.

At a glance, that Kansas City match-up makes Selvin Young a tempting option this week, but fantasy owners still can’t count on Mike Shanahan. Last week, Young received just 11 carries… and guess who got another touchdown? Michael Pittman (4TDs in 3 games). Could Young have a great game in Week 4? Sure, but Steve Slaton is the much safer option against a Jags defense that is surrendering 108.7 yards per game and has given up 4 rushing touchdowns on the year. Last week Slaton faced a top 10 rushing defense in Tennessee, yet he ran for 116 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries. Slaton could rush for roughly 80-100 yards in Week 4. The crafty rookie runner might just find the end zone again as well.

I’ll take the guy that just rushed for 100 yards and a score. I do not like that Denver running back situation and honestly I think fantasy owners better shop Young, like Smitty advised before week 1, before he loses all of his value. Steve Slaton is an exciting running back that is on the rise. I’m thinking that Slaton is going to have a very good game this weekend, possibly getting fantasy owners yet another 100-yard game.

The Ravens allow just 71.5 rushing yards per game (5th) and have given up 0 rushing touchdowns so far. Chicago has given up 2 rushing touchdowns thus far, but only surrenders 71.3 yards per game (4th). Rashard Mendenhall is probably guaranteed the touches, whereas Correll Buckhalter might share a handful of carries with Lorenzo Booker. Buckhalter will start, but against the Bears, I’m just not sold on him over Mendy. Neither are flashy starts, and neither will probably explode in Week 4, but I think Mendy will play hard and have a solid first start despite the match-up. Start the rookie and expect roughly 80 total yards and possibly a score.

I go Rashard Mendenhall. He has a tough match-up this week but so does Correll Buckhalter. This could be one of those games where Buckhalter is in and out of the line-up in a low-scoring game with a lot of punting. Both are kind of rough starts, but if forced to pick, I take Mendenhall.

As I said above, I think Derek Anderson responds to all this Week 4 pressure and I predict that he explodes against the Bengals. The Bengals will attack back, so this game will be a scoring fest, which is great for fantasy football. Greg Jennings is playing fantastic football, and the Bucs actually rank in the bottom 6 in the league against the pass. However, I think the Bucs defense is a bit better than that and keep in mind that they have picked off 5 passes so far this season. Braylon Edwards is a top 5WR looking forward if you ask me — I love both starts, so know that, but I roll with Edwards if forced to decided between the two. As for Edwards, this feels like one of those 100-yard outings with at least one score.

I like both receivers this week, but I have to go with the hot hand. Start Greg Jennings and expect another 80 yards or so with one touchdown. Braylon Edwards could produce similar stats, but Jennings has almost zero risk and nothing to prove. That means something if in this type of situation.

Both Ryan Grant and Jonathan Stewart face similar rushing defenses in Week 4. Tampa ranks 20th in the league against the run and the Falcons rank 23rd, although the Falcons have given up 4 rushing touchdowns on the year and the Bucs have given up 0 rushing TDs on the year. Even with the RBBC situation going on in Carolina, I take the risk and start J-Stew in Week 4. It could be one or two more weeks before Stewart starts getting most of the carries for the Panthers, which is why there is some risk to this selection, but with Grant’s hamstring injury lingering, I think there might be more risk with Grant this week. Start the Panthers rookie if in this situation and expect roughly 100 total yards and a touchdown in Week 4.

Until Ryan Grant proves to be fully recovered from his hamstring injury, I think I like Jonathan Stewart more. Some sources have suggested that Grant is now healthy, but I’ll believe it when I see it. Last week was a bit concerning, as DeAngelo Williams received three more carries than Stewart, but it was Stewart that got the touchdown. I think Stewart will get 15 carries or more this week.