FANTASY FOCUS: Good riddance to quitters

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I’m going to take this time to complain ... a lot. This happens every year, and probably in every league. You know it’s going to happen and yet when it does, you’re angry. Even if it happens to you.

You fantasy fanatics already know what I’m talking about. That guy or girl who for whatever reason apparently throws in the towel and “forgets” to change his or her lineup. So someone plays against someone who has four players on a bye week. FOUR?!

Half their lineup wasn’t even active. Why?

Why do some people take the time to scout, research and evaluate players and teams and make the agreement to participate in a league, only to not do well early and dump it?

How do people suddenly not care?

This to me is the No. 1 problem in fantasy football. It’s not as prevalent in cash leagues, but I’m playing in two free leagues and it’s rampant. Although we did have one guy in a different league trade for and play the Eagles defense this week. Please send me solutions to this epidemic!

We must crush the fantasy football quitters before it gets out of control! Viva La France!

Week 4  Report Card:

Starts:
Clinton Portis (RB/Wash.): 25 carries for 98 yards. Probably would’ve had big numbers had the Redskins not fallen so far behind early.

Cedric Benson (RB/Cin.): 18 rushes for 74 yards and one catch for 12 yards. Decent game against an inferior opponent. We’ll pass it off as a letdown after their stunning victory last week against the Steelers.

David Garrard (QB/Jax.): 27-for-37 for 323 yards, three touchdowns and zero picks. He also ran for 38 yards. Monster game by a quality quarterback who floats under the radar.

Sits:
Tony Romo (QB/Dal.): 25-for-42 for 255 yards, zero TDs and one interception. Sixty of those yards came on the Cowboys’ last drive. You can’t say the Broncos’ defense hasn’t played anyone anymore.

Pierre Thomas (RB/NO): Nineteen carries for 86 yards with a touchdown and four receptions for 46 yards. The Saints defense did the most damage against the Jets. Thomas did not look hampered by a leg injury suffered two weeks ago.

Bills running backs: Fred Jackson had nine carries for 42 yards and three catches for 26 yards. Marshawn Lynch had eight carries for 4 yards and five receptions for 43 yards. The Bills were dominated in every facet of the game by the Dolphins.

Week 5 Starts/Sits:

Starts:
Rashard Mendenhall (RB/Pitt.): at Detroit. Hello Mr. Glacier, goodbye Mr. Parker. That would be a geography reference, by the way.

Jake Delhomme (QB/Car.): Hosting Washington. If, and that’s a big if, Delhomme is to keep his job, this has to be the week to get it going.

LeSean McCoy (RB/Phil.): Hosting Tampa Bay. Remember ... play all your running backs against the Buccaneers.

Sits:
Eli Manning (QB/NYG): At home against the Raiders. I really don’t need to tell you, do I?

Steven Jackson (RB/STL): Versus Minnesota. You don’t tug on Supermans’ cape, you don’t spit in the wind and you certainly don’t run on the Vikings defense.

Patriots running backs: At Denver. The ‘New Orange Crush’ are all that and a bag of chips. That and Fred Taylor and Laurence Maroney tied for the team lead in attempts at seven.

Once again ladies and gentlemen, there are four teams on a bye this week. Get your active lineups in early and good luck.

• Andy Hampton writes a weekly fantasy football column, “Fantasy Focus,” for the Daily Chronicle. Write to him at sports@daily-chronicle.com.