Fantasy Football Week 4 Rankings: Last-Minute Outlook for Flex Players

Picking a flex player can be an extremely difficult decision for fantasy owners in any given week, but it gets even tougher when byes come into play.

Week 4 represents the first instance of idle teams this season with six of them on the bye. That thins out the player pool considerably and forces some owners to start players who they may not feel overly confident in.

The fantasy beat goes on even in the face of bye weeks, though, and there will undoubtedly be plenty of productive players by the time Week 4 is said and done.

Here is a full rundown of the top running back and wide receiver flex plays for Week 4, including a closer look at some of the most intriguing options on the table.

Ahmad Bradshaw

The Indianapolis Colts are viewed by many as a pass-first team due to the presence of quarterback Andrew Luck, but they have enjoyed a great deal of success on the ground so far this year as well. Trent Richardson has experienced a return to credibility, but the true shining star in that regard has been Ahmad Bradshaw.

The former New York Giants star is averaging an impressive six yards per carry, and he has been a major factor in the passing game as well with 12 receptions for 114 yards and three touchdowns. He has developed into Luck's safety valve, which makes him remarkably valuable in point-per-reception leagues especially.

Perhaps the one thing working against Bradshaw is the fact that he splits carries with T-Rich. There are also plenty of mouths to feed in the passing game with Reggie Wayne, T.Y. Hilton and Hakeem Nicks. Even so, Bradshaw believes that there is plenty of production to go around, according to Stephen Holder of The Indianapolis Star:

In addition to that, it is quite clear that head coach Chuck Pagano believes in what Bradshaw brings to the offense and the team as a whole, per Kevin Bowen of Colts.com:

On Sunday, the Colts will host a Tennessee Titans team that they have beaten five straight times. Tennessee's defense is among the best in the league at stopping the pass, which means Indy could focus on the run and short passing game to counteract that.

The Titans are surrendering more than 130 yards rushing per game and have given up four rushing scores as well, which makes Bradshaw an ideal flex play in Week 4.

Keenan Allen

After a spectacular rookie season in 2013, expectations were high for San Diego Chargers wide receiver Keenan Allen entering the 2014 campaign. He has failed to live up to them thus far with just 12 catches and 109 yards with no touchdowns through three games.

Allen could break out at any time, though, and a Week 4 meeting with the Jacksonville Jaguars seems like the perfect storm. The Jags rank last in the league against the pass, having allowed 306 passing yards per game and eight passing touchdowns overall. That means quarterback Philip Rivers will be throwing, and Allen could be his prime target.

Even though Allen is coming off a Week 3 showing that saw him make just two grabs for 13 yards, Brad Evan of Yahoo! Sports is among those who expect him to produce in Week 4, according to SiriusXM Fantasy:

The one potential concern is that the Chargers could build a big lead early and commit to the run thereafter, but San Diego has plenty of question marks as it relates to the running game. Both Ryan Mathews and Danny Woodhead are out, which leaves Donald Brown as the starter. Brown averaged two yards per carry on 31 totes last week, so expect Rivers to sling the ball around plenty on Sunday.

Rivers has done a good job spreading the ball around to the likes of Malcom Floyd, Eddie Royal and Antonio Gates, but it's safe to assume that he wants to get his No. 1 receiver going. Jacksonville is the perfect team against which to do it, so expect Rivers to make a concerted effort to get the ball to Allen.

Shane Vereen

Predicting how New England Patriots running backs will fare in any given week is always a crapshoot. Head coach Bill Belichick loves to mix and match, so almost any player could be the offensive star from week to week. While Stevan Ridley is seemingly New England's preferred choice between the tackles, Shane Vereen clearly has the highest ceiling.

The California product is a versatile weapon who can excel in both the running and passing games. Although he has just 20 rushing attempts, he is averaging nearly four yards per carry to go along with nine catches for 52 yards this season.

Vereen hasn't produced as much as expected thus far, but that can be said for the entire New England offense. According to Darren Hartwell of NESN.com (h/t The Jim Rome Show), Vereen expects the team to improve moving forward.

"We know that we can play better offensively, but at the same time, it's just the beginning of the season," Vereen said. "We have a lot to work on, but we still have a long way to go."

Getting the ball in Vereen's hands more often is one way to liven up the offense. He was on a 16-game pace of more than 90 receptions last season, and quarterback Tom Brady would be wise to start targeting him more often. Vereen can makes things happen from anywhere on the field, which is why he's a matchup nightmare for opposing defenses.

The Pats will face the Kansas City Chiefs on Monday Night Football this week, which could mean big things for Vereen. The Chiefs are allowing over 130 rushing yards per game and five yards per carry. Add in Vereen's pass-catching prowess, and it seems as though Week 4 could truly be a breakout week for him.

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