The Browns and the Colts were the biggest surprises of Week 3 that could have ended 2013 Eliminator seasons. Every other game went as expected. The Seahawks and Broncos dominated the Jaguars and Raiders respectively. The Patriots and Saints took care of business against inferior opponents. And the Dolphins and Bengals won close games vs. the Falcons and Packers in games which had no business being anyone’s Eliminator pick.

Unfortunately, Week 4 presents some challenges. There is a fair share of evenly matched games and the bye weeks begin, leaving less games to choose from:

SAFE PLAY: Broncos- If you haven’t used the Broncos, they face the Eagles, in Denver, this weekend. The high paced Eagles offense could leave their defense gasping for oxygen by early in the second quarter due to that Mile High air. Plus, Peyton Manning (1143 yards, 12 TDs, 0 INTs) looks primed for a MVP run and the Eagles D has already given up 1021 passing yards. Many may be waiting to use the Broncos in Week 6 when they face the Jaguars but that week has plenty of other good plays to keep in mind (Kansas City is at home vs Oakland, Seattle is in the comforts of the 12th Man against Tennessee, and San Francisco faces Arizona by the bay).

GET THEM OUT OF THE WAY PLAY: Colts- Perhaps the best words to hear for a possible eliminator pick “Blaine Gabbert is starting against your pick.” That is the exact news the Indianapolis Colts get this week. Recently acquired, Trent Richardson has a full week to prepare to face the 32nd ranked rushing D in terms of yards allowed per game (167.7). The biggest concern for the Colts is the “”let down game’’ factor that looms after a huge win in San Francisco (27-7). Jacksonville is 3-1 against the Colts the last two seasons but that does include two wins against a Colts team that finished 2-14 in 2011.

MY PLAY: Ravens- Coming off a surprising domination of the Texans (30-9), the Ravens travel to Buffalo to face the Bills. The Bills biggest threat on offense, C.J. Spiller (61 yards per game, ) TDs) is nursing a quad injury while their biggest threat on defense, Mario Williams is nursing an ankle injury. For the Ravens, their O-Line has given Flacco plenty of protection (only 4 sacks the last two games) and their D hasn’t allowed a passing TD in the last two games.

Other Notes: The 3-0 Chiefs are at home to face an 0-3 Giants team that has given up 38 points per game… The Saints are 14-4 at home over the last three seasons and face the Dolphins in New Orleans on Monday night… If you are the true gambling type, the 2-1 Titans take on the 2-1 Jets in Tennessee. Betting against rookie quarterbacks on the road (Geno Smith in this case) is always enticing… Washington could be a sneaky pick if Terrelle Pryor can not go due to a concussion that he sustained late Monday night.

Safe Play: 1-2
Out of the way: 1-2
My Play: 3-0