Another week and another group of players have shocked the fantasy football world, for better or for worse. Although fantasy owners no doubt wish they could have predicted these performances, that is impossible. In case you missed them, here are the fantasy football studs and duds for the NFL’s fourth week of games:
Studs:
1) Brian Hartline, WR, Miami Dolphins
With the help of rookie Ryan Tannehill, Hartline exploded against the Arizona Cardinals, breaking Miami’s previous single-game receiving record with 253 receiving yards. Hartline was active throughout the game, gathering 12 catches, including a go-ahead 80-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter. Despite being labeled by his critics as only a possession receiver, Hartline proved Sunday that he is more than capable of taking over a game with his speed.
2) Tom Brady, QB, New England Patriots
After consecutive losses to the Cardinals and Ravens, some people around the NFL were beginning to doubt Tom Terrific and the Patriots’ status among the league’s elite. Seriously? Brady made sure to quiet any naysayers, torching the Buffalo Bills on Sunday to ensure everybody knows the Patriots are still the team to beat in the AFC East. Led by Brady’s 340 passing yards and four total touchdowns, the Pats erupted for 45 second-half points, routing the Bills, 52-28.
3) San Francisco 49ers Defense
The 49ers fielded a defense full of studs Sunday afternoon against the Jets, outscoring New York’s offense 7-0 while holding Mark Sanchez and company to just 145 total yards in a 34-0 shutout. Along with sacking Sanchez three times and intercepting one of his passes, San Francisco’s defense forced three fumbles, one of which cornerback Carlos Rogers returned for a touchdown.
Duds:
1) Jeremy Maclin, WR, Philadelphia Eagles
Maclin was a no-show Sunday night against the Giants, registering just one catch for seven yards despite playing the entire game. Although his performance was hindered by a lingering hip injury, which kept him out of the Eagles’ last game, Maclin’s inability to get open on struggling Giants cornerback Prince Amukamara came as a surprise.
2) Mark Sanchez, QB, New York Jets
Sanchez looked awful against the 49ers on Sunday, completing just 13 of his 29 passes for 103 yards. Along with completing less than half of his passes, Sanchez also fumbled and was intercepted. If Sanchez continues to struggle, expect the chants for Tim Tebow to get louder and louder as each week passes.
3) Russell Wilson, QB, Seattle Seahawks
Six days after throwing the infamous last-play “touchdown” against the Packers, even the officials would not have been able to save Wilson from himself. The Seahawks’ signal-caller struggled against the Rams’ improved defense, passing for 160 yards and three interceptions while failing to throw a touchdown for the first time this season.
