Week 4: Heroes, Bums, and Sleepers

Heroes:

1. Percy Harvin (WR - MIN) and Eric Decker (WR - DEN)
I'm listing these guys together because I like them for the same reason: They're going up against two soft passing defenses (Detroit and Oakland, respectively), and both of these guys are ready to pop. We're three weeks into the season and Percy Harvin has literally done everything we've expected aside from scoring a TD and suffering from migraines. As for Decker, he leads the team in catches and receiving yardage, yet he somehow hasn't grabbed a six-pointer this season. This week he faces a second-string Oakland secondary, and Percy-big-play-Harvin faces a Lions team that gave up five (5!) big play TDs last week against the Titans. So expect both Harvin and Decker to post solid numbers and crash the TD column this week.

2. Vincent Jackson (WR - TB)
V-Jax has been fickle throughout his career, but if there's one constant this season, it's that you can throw on the Redskins--whether you're Drew Brees, Sam Bradford, Andy Dalton, or... Mohamed Sanu. And since I'd stick Josh Freeman somewhere between Bradford and Dalton (both of whom chucked 3 TDs against the Skins), you can expect 3 TDs from Freeman--with at least one going to a V-Jax who nearly starved in Dallas last week.

Bums:

1. Reggie Bush (RB - MIA)
He's hurt, he's reckless, and he's playing the Cardinals. And that's IF he plays. And IF he does, he'll be facing a defense that hasn't surrendered a 100-yd game or a rushing TD this season.

2. Jamaal Charles (RB - KC)
He erupted last week, but it was against the worst rushing defense in the league. Plus, the all-new Healthy Jamaal Charles won't surprise the Chargers, who are undoubtedly focusing their entire defensive gameplan on suppressing J-Mail. Keep in mind that in Weeks 1 and 2 (when the Chargers held the lead), they limited opposing RBs to less than 50 yards in both games. I expect them to go up early and keep one eye on J-Mail at all times.

3. A.J. Green (WR - CIN)
The Jags' defense is a cracked shell of its 2011 self. Running backs graze in the endzone, rookie wideouts post monster days, and turnovers are practically unheard of. Yet for whatever reason the Jags's defense keeps No. 1 WRs in check. Percy Harvin was virtually silent in the first half of Week 1, Andre Johnson ceased to exist in Week 2, and Reggie Wayne failed to break double-digit fantasy points for the first time this season in Week 3. A lot of this has to do with the Jags' utterly abysmal run defense, and we can expect a heavy dose of the Law Firm this week. As for A.J., expect pedestrian numbers.

Sleepers:

1. Alex Smith (QB - SF)
I have no idea which lucky Niner receivers will catch TDs from Alex Smith this weekend, but I do know that Darrelle Revis cannot cover them from the sideline.

2. Jerome Simpson (WR - MIN)
Because Christian Ponder has to throw to somebody other than Harvin and Rudolph. Jerome Simpson's coming off a suspension, not an injury, so expect him to immediately establish himself at the No. 2 wideout in an underrated passing attack that gets a soft match-up against the Lions.

3. Ronnie Hillman (RB - DEN)
This depends entirely on whether or not McGahee plays, but I don't like Lance Ball as a feature back. Even for one week. Even against the Raiders. And if you're the Broncos, why wouldn't you give your speedy 3rd Round draft pick a test drive against Oakland's horrid defense?