NFL Fantasy Fifty

by Roger Rotter

Updated: October 2, 2008, 8:59 PM EST 229 comments

Each week, I'll highlight the best of the NFL PLAYERS League powered by FOX Sports.

Highest scorer: Brian Brohm's team scored the most points in Week 4 with Brett Favre's six touchdowns, Greg Jenning's 109 yards and two scores and Jerricho Cotchery's two touchdowns.

Still undefeated: Maurice Jones-Drew's team lost its first game of the season to Larry Fitzgerald's squad. However, Jay Feely's team remained undefeated by outscoring Will Witherspoon's squad. Adrian Peterson's two touchdowns, Anquan Boldin's 119 yards and one touchdown, Jason Witten's 90 yards and a score, and his own two field goals and six extra points led Feely's team to victory.

Transactions: Tatum Bell signed Denver kicker Matt Prater to bolster histeam. Feely signed Philadelphia rookie wide receiver DeSean Jackson and Buffalo kicker Rian Lindell. Of note, with the Jets having a Week 5 bye, Feely released himself.

Watch the Week 5 scoreboard on Sunday! Feely hopes to keep his spotless record intact against Bell. In the other division, Steven Jackson's team and Jones-Drew hope to remain in first place with victories.

Rankings are updated every Wednesday during regular season

NFL Fantasy Fifty
Rk	P	A	Player	Pos	Tm	Comment
1			Marion Barber III	RB	Dal	Had a poor Wk 4, but faces Cin, Ari and Stl next 3 gms
2			LaDainian Tomlinson	RB	SD	He's no Shaun Alexander! I'll take 4 TDs in 2 gms and be happy
3			Adrian Peterson	RB	Min	Scores twice vs. tough Titans; Big gms ahead vs. NO, Det
4	6		Joseph Addai	RB	Ind	Still a strong start despite facing Bal, GB, Ten, NE & Pit after Hou
5			Marshawn Lynch	RB	Buf	Sharing carries w/ F. Jackson is concern, but Bills are rising
6	7		Clinton Portis	RB	Was	Runs for 100-plus yds at Dal; meets Stl, Cle and Det after Phi
7	4		Brian Westbrook	RB	Phi	Still questionable for Wk 5; is one of the best when he plays
8			Tony Romo	QB	Dal	Can have more 3-TD passing games vs. Cin, Ari and Stl
9			Brandon Marshall	WR	Den	Has scored in 3 straight and ready to extend streak vs. TB
10			Frank Gore	RB	SF	Tot. 99-plus yds in every gm; tough gms vs. NE, Phi, NYG & Sea
11	14		Steven Jackson	RB	StL	Rebounded w/ 188 yds, 1 TD but has Wk 5 bye, tough stretch
12	11		Reggie Bush	RB	NO	Disappointed last gm; Aiming to bounce back on MNF vs. Min
13	12		Terrell Owens	WR	Dal	Expect big gms ahead w/ questionable defenses like Cin, Ari & Stl
14	13		Reggie Wayne	WR	Ind	Had 10 catches for 143 yds, 1 TD vs. Hou in Wk 16 last year
15			Larry Fitzgerald	WR	Ari	Aiming 4th straight 100-yd gm; to get throws w/ Boldin's injury
16			Michael Turner	RB	Atl	Can rebound vs. GB, which allowed 111 rush yds to E. Graham
17	22		Greg Jennings	WR	GB	Leads NFL in yds (482); has favorable gm vs. Atl if Rodgers plays
18	23		Jason Witten	TE	Dal	Has 2nd-most rec (27), 6th-most yds (363) as fantasy's top TE
19	17		Jay Cutler	QB	Den	Has 2nd-most yds (1,275), 3rd-most TDs (9) in breakout season
20	18		Philip Rivers	QB	SD	Underperformed last gm but still worth starting in potent offense
21	19		Maurice Jones-Drew	RB	Jac	Not a strong start vs. Pit, but could surprise w/ TDs
22	20		Peyton Manning	QB	Ind	Can rebound vs. Hou; threw for 311 yds, 3 TD in Wk 16 meeting
23	36		Larry Johnson	RB	KC	Call it a comeback: Runs 198 yds, 2 TDs. Remains weekly start
24	21		Brandon Jacobs	RB	NYG	Has only 1 TD this year but ready to explode for multiple scores
25	24		Steve Smith	WR	Car	Broke through for 96 yds, 1 TD; aiming for 100-yd gm vs. KC
26	25		Drew Brees	QB	NO	Must starts: Has appealing MNF home gm vs. Min, then Oak next
27	26		Donovan McNabb	QB	Phi	Threw for 251 yds, 4 TD at Was in Wk 10 meeting
28	27		Plaxico Burress	WR	NYG	Suspended for Wk 5, but to return in big way vs. Cle
29	28		Randy Moss	WR	NE	If Cassel continues to flop, Moss will need QB change for success
30	39		Chris Johnson	RB	Ten	Has difficult gm vs. Bal No. 2 run def that has yet to allow rush TD
31			Matt Forte	RB	Chi	Tot. 85 yds vs. Phi No. 3 def and meets Det's worst-ranked def
32	42		Santana Moss	WR	Was	On a roll after 145 yds vs. Dal; Had 6 rec for 89 yds Wk 2 vs. Phi
33	32		Andre Johnson	WR	Hou	Had 7 rec for 74 yds, 1 TD in Wk 16 meeting at Ind
34	33		Calvin Johnson	WR	Det	Struggled last gm, but is a weekly start w/ role in offense
35	34		Anquan Boldin	WR	Ari	When he returns, is a strong start no matter the foe w/ QB Warner
36	37		T. Houshmandzadeh	WR	Cin	Palmer expected to return, will throw frequently vs. Dal
37	38		Wes Welker	WR	NE	Still a fantasy factor even with Cassel's struggles
38	40		Ronnie Brown	RB	Mia	How many gm will it take for Brown to reach another 5 TDs?
39	43		Marvin Harrison	WR	Ind	Still a question mark to produce, but start until further notice
40	44		Torry Holt	WR	StL	Has Wk 5 bye, tough stretch, but has new coach w/ return of QB
41	45		Antonio Gates	TE	SD	Proving fantasy worth at weak TE: Has scored 3 of 4 gms
42	46		Earnest Graham	RB	TB	Expect big gm vs. Den after totaling 100-plus yds in 3 of 4 gms
43	53		Dwayne Bowe	WR	KC	Has at least 85 yds or TD in all 4 gm; still worth starting vs. Car
44	47		Hines Ward	WR	Pit	Flopped last gm, but had 10 rec for 135 yds in playoff vs. Jac
45	--		Brett Favre	QB	NYJ	Has Wk 5 bye and can follow amazing Wk 4 w/ solid gm vs. Cin
46	50		Kurt Warner	QB	Ari	Threw for 472 yds, 2 TDs last gm; just needs to stay healthy
47	54		Lee Evans	WR	Buf	Scores 1st TD; Expect big day vs. Ari's 3rd-worst pass defense
48	--		Jerricho Cotchery	WR	NYJ	Scores twice vs. Ari; Has appealing schedule vs. Cin, Oak, KC
49	--		Laveranues Coles	WR	NYJ	Can continue strengthening rapport in Wk 5 bye
50	29		Braylon Edwards	WR	Cle	Has Wk 5 bye w/ tough matchups vs. NYG, Was, Jac & Bal next
Just Missed
Rk	P	A	Player	Pos	Tm	Comment
51	--		Steve Slaton	RB	Hou	Posts 2nd straight gm w/ 100-plus tot. yds, 1 TD as featured RB
52	--		DeSean Jackson	WR	Phi	Scores what should be 2nd TD last gm; Will he continue success?
53	30		Ryan Grant	RB	GB	Atrocious 20 rush yds on 15 carries; Needs to rebound vs. Atl
54	51		Edgerrin James	RB	Ari	Had surprising goal-line scores vs. NYJ; tough gm ahead vs. Buf
55	52		Tony Gonzalez	TE	KC	Has TD in 2 of last 3 gm; Prospects brighter w/ Huard at QB
56	55		Chris Chambers	WR	SD	Has just 8 catches, but 4 are TDs; Needs to be targeted more
57	56		Kellen Winslow	TE	Cle	Disappointing so far; has Wk 5 bye before facing tough NYG, Was
58	57		Aaron Rodgers	QB	GB	Will shoulder injury affect performance? Seeing NFL is not easy.
59			LenDale White	RB	Ten	Has scored in every gm, but Baltimore has allowed zero rush TDs
60	49		Jamal Lewis	RB	Cle	Can he total 94 yds, 1 TD vs. NYG, Was, Jac and Bal next?
The Fallen
Rk	P	A	Player	Pos	Tm	Comment
--	35		Willie Parker	RB	Pit	Out Wk 5 w/ sprained knee, still uncertain for Wk 7 after bye
--	41		Willis McGahee	RB	Bal	Battling rib injury, facing Ten next and McClain has produced
--	48		Ben Roethlisberger	QB	Pit	Has just 2 TDs in past 3 gm; that's unacceptable for owners
--	58		Darren McFadden	RB	Oak	Toe injury has curtailed production; has Wk 5 bye to recover
--	60		Thomas Jones	RB	NYJ	Has been scoreless in last 3 gm w/o totaling 100 yds