Week 4 is the first for bye weeks, and that means many owners will be missing their full complement of players. You may be reaching for your bench for the first time this year, especially at the flex position. This is where your late-round drafting or early-season free agent pickups will come in handy.

Regardless, every week owners are put to the test with the critical decisions in the flex spot that can determine the outcome of their matchups. If you have guys like RB Chris Perry going against the Browns’ suspect run defense or WR Ike Hilliard facing a banged up Green Bay secondary, feel comfortable putting them, among others, into the flex slot in Week 3.

RUNNING BACKS
Philadelphia RB Correll Buckhalter
Buckhalter’s value is directly related to the injury of Brian Westbrook, but all indications are that Westbrook will, at the very least, be limited, if not out. Philadelphia is a good offense for any back, and Buckhalter has done well in this stop-gap role in the past. If byes or injuries plague you this week, pick up Buckhalter and expect him to get some chances to produce.

Cincinnati RB Chris Perry
Perry, like the Bengals, has been improving ever so slightly every week and he even has a TD in each of the last two games. Going against Cleveland’s defense, which has given up 435 rushing yards and six rushing TDs so far this year, should provide Perry the opportunity for a breakout game. He may have been on your bench the last few weeks but Perry will be a very usable option against the Browns

Houston RB Steve Slaton
The news surrounding Slaton right now is really good. He was officially named the starter in Houston after having the best game of his short NFL career. Slaton was impressive, running for 116 yards against a stout Tennessee defense. Jacksonville is in the middle of the pack as far as run defenses go and Slaton should find some holes. Whether off the waiver-wire or off your bench, feel free to grab Slaton and put him in your lineup.

New Orleans RB Pierre Thomas
Thomas is just what you want from a flex player – someone who will have chances to get in the endzone. He has thrived at that so far with three TDs in the first three weeks, including two last week. He gets the goal-line touches for the high-powered Saints, who are in the red zone a lot. The 49ers are below average stopping the run, so Thomas could very well find paydirt again this week.

Denver RB Selvin Young
Young has looked good when on the field, but with Mike Shanahan’s running back by committee philosophy, you never know how long that’s going to be. He needs to take advantage of his carries when he gets them, and going against Kansas City, statistically the NFL’s second-worst rushing defense, he should do a maximum amount of damage with minimum carries. At worst, he is a good bye week replacement.

WIDE RECEIVERS
Kansas City WR Dwayne Bowe
Bowe faces Denver this week, and each of the Broncos’ previous four games were like playing Madden. The scores have been high and that always spells success for fantasy receivers. Bowe is KC’s No. 1 wideout, and he should benefit from playing against the NFL’s worst passing defense. He has 15 catches for 182 yards and two TDs in three games, and this should be a game where he pads those stats.

San Francisco WR Isaac Bruce
Bruce has lost a step, but that’s why he is being considered as a flex option and not a top-line receiver. On the bright side, J.T. O’Sullivan has looked better running Mike Martz’s offense and Bruce has benefited by scoring a TD in each of the last two games. He only had two catches last week, but the matchup against New Orleans, which figures to be back and forth, should provide more opportunities. Put the 2008 version of Bruce in and hope he can put up 2004-like numbers.

Tampa Bay WR Ike Hilliard
Brian Griese threw the ball 67 times in Week 3 - not bad for an offense unknown for its passing firepower. Hilliard has been consistent all year and has 16 catches for 143 yards and two TDs so far. This week, he faces off against a Green Bay secondary that will have to replace starting corner Al Harris and was already in the bottom half of the league in terms of passing defense. Expect more steady numbers from Hilliard, who should be a good option to round out your lineup.

New York Jets WR Chansi Stuckey
You can’t argue with someone who scores touchdowns. Stuckey has found the endzone in each of his first three games and now merits fantasy consideration. He was quiet for most of Week 3, but then finished with six catches for 42 yards when the Jets opened up their playbook in the second half. The Jets should have a similar gameplan against a potent Arizona team that can also air it out. He seems to have a connection with Favre, so Stuckey could reward an aggressive owner that went out to get him.

Atlanta WR Roddy White
White was on this list last week and he rewarded owners with a five-catch, 119-yard, one-TD performance in Week 3 - by far his best game of the year. Therefore, he is on this list again. Matt Ryan has shown signs of being an effective QB in this league and that only helps White’s value. Carolina is 13th in the league against the pass, but with an efficient passing attack and above-average running game, White should still get plenty of opportunities to make owners happy.