2010 Week 4 fantasy football preview with projections: Texans at Raiders
Effective replacing Jason Campbell last week, Raiders quarterback Bruce Gradkowski gets a gift this week: The Texans pass “defense” wrapped with a bow.
The biggest issue for the Raiders is a receiving corps that’s got red injury notifications after almost all of the names. Projections for Gradkowski and his receivers, and the Texans, who might be without Andre Johnson, below.
Our projection model is not perfect. There are many improvements that could be made, but we have been relatively good at predicting players’ good weeks. Translation: Use these at your own discretion but they should be pretty darn good.
Other fantasy football previews with projections: CIN@CLE | DEN@TEN | CAR@NO | BAL@PIT | NYJ@BUF | SEA@STL | SF@ATL | DET@GB | HOU@OAK | IND@JAX | WAS@PHI | ARI@SD | CHI@NYG | NE@MIA (Teams on bye: DAL, KC, MIN, TB)
Week 4 content | Chinstrap Ninjas Fantasy Football Contest: Week 4
The Texans are projected to win by two points, 24.2-22.1.
Matchups
While the Raiders get a good passing matchup, the Texans get the surprisingly third-ranked Raiders pass defense. They also get a questionable, game-time decision Andre Johnson matched up with Nnamdi Asomugha. Asomugha has held Andre Johnson to 94 yards and a TD in their last three meetings combined.
For as good as Oakland’s pass defense has been, they’ve allowed running backs room to roam. That means we could see lots of Arian Foster this weekend.
Other injury concerns: Owen Daniels is questionable but will likely play; Darrius Heyward-Bey is questionable but likely to play but Louis Murphy is questionable and his status is uncertain.
Some dude named Nick Miller will be one of Oakland’s starting receivers. He’s a second-year player out of Southern Utah. We threw a handful of other third and fourth receivers in there for a Oakland because of the injury concerns.
David Anderson could see some opportunities if Andre Johnson doesn’t play for Houston.
Projections
Quarterbacks
Bruce Gradkowski, OAK: 24-38, 304 yards, TD, INT, 5 rush yards
Matt Schaub, HOU: 19-30, 225 yards, 2 TD, INT
Running backs
Arian Foster, HOU: 105 yards, TD, 3 catches, 25 receiving yards
Darren McFadden, OAK: 80 yards, TD, 4 catches, 45 receiving yards
Steve Slaton, HOU: 25 yards
Michael Bush, OAK: 10 yards
Vonta Leach, HOU: 1 catch, 10 receiving yards
Wide receivers
Kevin Walter, HOU: 6-90, TD
Jacoby Jones, HOU: 4-50, TD
Darrius Heyward-Bey, OAK (Q-expected to play): 4-70
Louis Murphy, OAK (Q): 3-50
Andre Johnson, HOU (Q-GTD): 2-20
Nick Miller, OAK: 3-30
David Anderson, HOU: 3-20
Yamon Figurs, OAK: 2-20
Johnnie Lee Higgins, OAK: 2-20
Jacoby Ford, OAK: 2-20
Tight ends
Zach Miller, OAK: 4-50, TD
Owen Daniels, HOU: 2-25
Kickers
Sebastian Janikwoski, OAK: 2 FG, 2 XP
Neil Rackers, HOU: FG, 3 XP
Defenses
Raiders: 3 sacks, INT
Texans: 2 sacks, INT
[...] with projections: CIN@CLE | DEN@TEN | CAR@NO | BAL@PIT | NYJ@BUF | SEA@STL | SF@ATL | DET@GB | HOU@OAK | IND@JAX | WAS@PHI | ARI@SD | CHI@NYG | NE@MIA (Teams on bye: DAL, KC, MIN, [...]