NFL Barometer: Top Bucs Back is Back

A host of key injuries in Week 4 have opened up opportunities for several players. Meanwhile, others continue to squander their chances and are seeing their fantasy prospects take a dive as a result. Let's dive into who's heading in what direction as we approach Week 5.

RISING

Quarterback

Andy Dalton, Bengals- Dalton was trending downward two weeks ago, but a pair of games in which he's thrown for a combined 498 yards and generated a 6:0 TD:INT have vaulted him back into fantasy relevance. Those performances have coincided with Bill Lazor taking the reins of the offense, offering hope that his newfound success won't be fleeting.

Running Back

Eddie Lacy / Thomas Rawls / C.J. Prosise, Seahawks- The Seahawks' stable of backs are this week's three-headed monster to monitor, as it isn't yet clear how head coach Pete Carroll will opt to divvy up the work in the wake of Chris Carson's leg injury. Lacy (11 carries, 52 yards) took charge after Carson went down Sunday night, but both Prosise (ankle) and Rawls (inactive-coach's decision) were unavailable. Naturally, the scenario could play out quite differently in Week 6, when all three players are expected to be uniform.

Latavius Murray, Vikings- There's considerably less ambiguity in Minnesota, where Murray inherits the lead-back role he was expected to take on when signing as a free agent back in March. Dalvin Cook's season-ending knee injury vaults the former Raider into the spotlight, and a solid track record in his three seasons out west lend credence to the notion that he'll be a serviceable fantasy producer. Of particular note is Murray's proficiency near the goal line -- as evidenced by his 20 rushing touchdowns over 543 career carries coming into 2017 -- and the PPR potential that his 91 career receptions attest to.

Doug Martin, Buccaneers- Martin's body of work – both in previous seasons and this past summer – get him the "Rising" tag from the jump. After a tumultuous 2016, Martin looked rejuvenated and motivated throughout OTAs, training camp and preseason. He won't completely displaced Jacquizz Rodgers, but is likely to usually pace the backfield in touches and encounter plenty of beatable seven-man fronts, given the Bucs' plethora of offensive weapons.

Alvin Kamara, Saints- Kamara was a bit lost in the shuffle over the first three weeks as head coach Sean Payton tried to figure out how to best deploy his cadre of backs. Matters may have gotten sorted out across the pond, as Kamara enjoyed a breakout effort through the air (10 receptions, 71 yards, one touchdown) versus the Dolphins in London. Kamara appears to be an ideal complement to starter Mark Ingram, while Adrian Peterson seems to be getting more phased out by the week. Kamara will likely make a significant chunk of his contributions through the air, but his elite speed makes him a big-play threat any time he touches the ball.

Tevin Coleman, Falcons- Coleman's role as the lightning to Devonta Freeman's, well, different kind of lightning has been consistent through four games, but he's picked up the pace, particularly on the ground, over the last trio of contests. Coleman is averaging just under 8.0 yards per carry (21 rushes, 167 yards) over that span and has added seven receptions (on 11 targets) for 108 yards in the last two weeks. His snaps have yet to exceed 30 in any one game, but his explosiveness helps him make the most of his opportunities.

Ameer Abdullah, Lions- The script has flipped a bit for Abdullah, who's much less involved in the passing game thus far (nine catches through four games) but has served as a double-digit carry lead back. Abdullah has no less than 14 totes in any of the first four games and had already amassed 20 in Week 4 before exiting with a minor ankle injury early in the fourth quarter. With that kind of volume, he's primed to potentially produce Top 15 running back numbers, provided his health endures.

Alex Collins, Ravens- A second straight nine-carry, 82-yard performance vaults Collins from a player to keep an eye on to this spot. He'll have to learn how to hang on to the ball after already suffering a pair of lost fumbles, but he appears to easily be the most explosive of the Ravens backs at this juncture of the season.

Bilal Powell / Elijah McGuire, Jets- Both backs may be in the midst of a backfield coup given their Week 4 play. Powell was able to replicate some of his 2016 late-season success, gashing the Jaguars for 163 yards and a touchdown on 21 rushes, although much of that came on a fluky 75-yard TD run where the defense gave up on the play after it seemed like he was down just past the line of scrimmage. Meanwhile, McGuire contributed 93 yards on the ground while adding a pair of receptions for 38 yards. Both players contribute in the passing game, meaning that their roles could be somewhat interchangeable as long as Matt Forte remains sidelined, and even beyond.

Wide Receiver

Zay Jones / Andre Holmes, Bills- Jordan Matthews (thumb) is reportedly in line to miss at least a month, leaving Jones and Holmes as the Bills' starting wideouts. While tight end Charles Clay – an inclusion in this article last week – will undoubtedly see even more targets, Jones and Holmes are in for a notable uptick in opportunity as well.

Will Fuller, Texans- Fuller celebrated his return to action with a two-touchdown effort in the Week 4 blowout of the Titans, and the play of rookie quarterback DeShaun Watson suggests that he could be in for many more successful outings. Fuller provided a glimpse of his upside early last season with a pair of 100-yard efforts to open his career, but he fell victim to the Texans' quarterback issues the rest of the way. With Watson now at the helm, Fuller is poised to reap the rewards of what should be plenty of one-on-one coverage opposite DeAndre Hopkins.

Brandon Marshall, Giants- Marshall's two receptions on nine targets in the first two weeks were cause for concern, but he seems to have turned things around in the last pair of contests. Eli Manning has found him on 14 of the subsequent 21 passes he's sent in his direction, making Marshall a PPR consideration even though he's yet to score a touchdown.

Tight End

Tyler Kroft, Bengals- Kroft was a player we suggest monitoring last week, and he earned a "Rising" tag with a two-touchdown effort versus the Browns in Week 4. Starting tight end Tyler Eifert (back) is still expected out for some time, leaving Kroft in a good position to profit in an improving, pass-heavy offense.

Austin Seferian-Jenkins, Jets- Two weeks into his season, ASJ has seen 10 targets, nine of which he's parlayed into receptions. While a lot of his work has been near the line of scrimmage thus far, he's capable of getting downfield, having logged 10 receptions of over 20 yards, including two over 40, in the first 16 games of his career with the Bucs.

Ben Watson, Ravens- The ageless Watson may have put together one of the quieter 74-reception seasons in recent memory last year with the Saints, and he's at it again despite playing on one of the most disappointing offenses in the NFL during the early going. Watson already has 16 receptions on 18 targets through four games, and with no true competition for the starting role, he should continue seeing plenty of volume.

KEEP AN EYE ON

Mitchell Trubisky, QB, Bears- Ready to start NFL career after being afforded starting job. Plenty of promise after spectacular final college campaign.

Aaron Jones, RB, Packers- With both Ty Montgomery and Jamaal Williams iffy for Week 5, could see expanded opportunity following 49-yard effort versus Bears.

Wayne Gallman, RB, Giants- Led Giants backs in carries and yards in Week 4, notably outperforming starter Paul Perkins.

Deonte Thompson, WR, Bears- Journeyman has 11 receptions as No. 2 receiver and could serve as a sure-handed option for Trubisky.

Ricardo Louis, WR, Browns- Five-catch day in Week 4 and veteran Kenny Britt's continued struggles could spell opportunity.

Austin Hooper, TE, Falcons- Five-catch day in Week 4 offers hope that he might finally see some volume.

Andre Ellington, RB, Cardinals- Cardinals still sorting out David Johnson-less backfield and Ellington turned 14 Week 4 targets into nine receptions for 86 yards.

Aldrick Robinson, WR, 49ers- Marquise Goodwin's struggles as the No. 2 WR and current concussion issue could open door for Robinson to parlay past experience with Kyle Shanahan into starting role.

A.J. Derby, TE, Broncos- Sure-handed, athletic and averaging 14.3 yards per catch, Derby could carve out a prominent role on a nondescript tight end depth chart.

FALLING

Quarterback

Jay Cutler, Dolphins- Cutler appears to have turned into a pumpkin after an efficient opener had fans thinking that Adam Gase did indeed have the magic touch when it came to the mercurial signal caller. A six-point tally for the Dolphins offense over the last two weeks – with that score coming on the last play of regulation against the Jets, no less – has brought expectations crashing back down to earth. Cutler is certainly capable of a rebound, but we'll have to see it happen before he shakes this designation.

Running Back

Charles Sims, Bucs- Sims has a combined nine touches through four games, leading to speculation about how much further his opportunities may tumble with Doug Martin (suspension) now back in the fold. Both Martin and Jacquizz Rodgers offer solid production on the pass-catching front that is Sims' specialty, so the fourth-year pro could be the odd man out for the time being.

Adrian Peterson, Saints- That also sums up Peterson's situation, as he appears to have clearly fallen behind rookie Alvin Kamara as the backup to starter Mark Ingram. Peterson played on only four snaps in the Saints' Week 4 tilt versus the Dolphins in London and is averaging just 3.0 yards per rush on his 27 carries.

Terrance West, Ravens- West logged just four carries in Week 4 and has seen his rush attempts drop in each game thus far. Meanwhile, rookie Alex Collins has averaged 9.1 yards per carry over the last two weeks and Javorius Allen is capable of serving as an excellent pass-catching complement, leaving West out in the cold for the moment.

Paul Perkins, Giants- Perkins' 1.9 yards per carry through four games implies he's nowhere near up to the task of a lead back. He's also dealing with bruised ribs following Week 4, while rookie Wayne Gallman flashed with 42 yards on 11 totes and a receiving touchdown against the Bucs.

Wide Receiver

Markus Wheaton, Bears- Wheaton's Bears tenure got off on the wrong foot due to a broken finger that robbed him of the first two games. He's subsequently failed to convert any of the five targets he's seen in the two contests since his return and remains behind Kendall Wright and journeyman Deonte Thompson on the depth chart.

Torrey Smith, WR, Eagles- Smith has converted just over half of his 19 targets and has a pair of one-reception games through the first four weeks. Drops have prevented him from being a factor downfield, dampening his prospects for the moment.

Marquise Goodwin, WR, 49ers- Goodwin's track speed hasn't translated into much success, as he's posted just nine receptions on 19 targets and is now in the concussion protocol after sustaining the injury against the Cardinals. Aldrick Robinson, who also can get downfield and has a history with head coach Kyle Shanahan, could step into Goodwin's role in Week 5 and potentially take a hold of the No. 2 job with a strong effort.

Tight End

Dwayne Allen, Patriots- With just six targets through four games, Allen is a total afterthought on an offense that has plenty of mouths to feed. He naturally won't come anywhere close to seeing starter Rob Gronkowski's target share, and with just 26 snaps over the last two games, his role appears to be shrinking even further.