Week 4 saw a few unexpected studs in addition to the usual premier performers. Sure, Drew Brees, Chris Johnson and Roddy White all posted big fantasy days, but we all expected that, right? At the very least, we knew it was a possibility.

But who knew Brian Hartline would rack up two games' worth of receiving yards, the Patriots would have two 100-yard rushers and a Kevin Kolb target would hit the century receiving yard mark while reeling in a couple of scores? Yet that's exactly what happened during Sunday's slate of games, meaning we could see some serious activity on the waiver wire this week.

Pull up a chair. Here are five unexpected key players from Sunday's Week 4 action

Brian Hartline, WR, Dolphins
12 catches, 253 yards, 1 TD

We're four weeks into the regular season, and the NFL's leading receiver is Brian Hartline. No, seriously, it's true. Hartline has emerged as Ryan Tannehill's top target down in South Beach, and Week 4 went a long way toward showing that Hartline could be an impact fantasy receiver going forward.

Hartline had a monster week, catching 12 balls for 253 yards and a score. It's no Flipper Anderson circa 1989, but that's some serious yardage, especially for a relatively unknown receiver playing with a rookie quarterback. We probably shouldn't expect that type of production each week — otherwise, we'd be looking at the best receiver in the history of football — but it's realistic to think Hartline will continue to produce at a high level.

The wideout's big time performance came against a nasty defense in Arizona, and the game marks Hartline's second 100-yard performance of the season. The 25-year-old now has 455 receiving yards in 2012, which, as mentioned, is tops in the NFL.

Hartline's teammate Davone Bess also accumulated over 100 yards receiving on Sunday, so clearly The 2012 Fins aren't afraid to air it out. Hartline probably got scooped up in many leagues after his 111-yard Week 2, but if someone in your league cut the cord with him following his subpar Week 3, now is the time to put in a claim.

Andre Roberts, WR, Cardinals
6 catches, 118 yards, 2 TDs

While Brian Hartline's performance was a jaw-dropper, it wasn't the only unexpected big day from Sunday's Dolphins-Cardinals clash. Arizona's Andre Roberts also turned in an impressive performance, catching his third and fourth touchdowns of the season, including a game-tying score on fourth down with 15 seconds to play in regulation.

Roberts finished with six catches for 118 yards and two touchdowns, meaning he now has a touchdown in three of his first four games. Larry Fitzgerald is always going to be the go-to receiving threat for the Cards, but Kevin Kolb looked like he had a good rapport with the 24-year-old Roberts. Since Anquan Boldin went to Baltimore, fantasy owners have been wondering who is going to finally emerge as the Cardinals' clear-cut No. 2 receiver. We could finally be looking at that guy.

Brandon Bolden, RB, Patriots
16 carries, 137 yards, 1 TD

We're used to seeing Patriots high up on the weekly leaders list, but it's typically a product of Tom Brady picking apart the opposition. This week, however, the Patriots had a huge game on the ground, and came away from Sunday's victory over the Bills with two 100-yard rushers.

Stevan Ridley posted 106 rushing yards and two touchdowns, which once again shows why he's been highly touted since getting drafted by New England. Brandon Bolden was just as effective, though, scampering for 137 yards in just his fourth NFL game.

Bolden's big day really came out of nowhere. He entered the game with just seven carries for 15 yards, and it was safe to assume a majority of the ground touches would once again go to Ridley and Danny Woodhead. Bolden made the most of his opportunity, though, as he posted an impressive 8.6 yards per carry while pacing the Patriots' offense.

With all of this said, fantasy owners should tame their excitement. Bolden might have a nice day every now and then, but expecting big things from a New England running back is always risky business, especially when you've got as many weapons as the Patriots currently do.

Scott Chandler, TE, Bills
4 catches, 62 yards, 1 TD

Before the Patriots beat up on the Bills in the second half of Sunday's game, Buffalo was hanging tough. Helping to keep the game within reach was Scott Chandler, who suddenly looks like a viable fantasy tight end option.

Chandler caught two touchdowns, including one very nifty grab that involved outjumping a defender. The Iowa product now has four scores on the season, and it wouldn't be surprising to see Ryan Fitzpatrick continue to look his way. At 6-foot-7, Chandler is a massive target, and he showed Sunday that he has the hands to make the tough catches, so Chan Gailey would be foolish to not dial it up for the big man when the Bills start knocking on the door in the red zone

Chandler's four catches on Sunday matched a season-high, and his 62 yards were also the most he's had in a game this season. Ultimately, Chandler's value comes down to how many targets the Bills coaching staff opts to give him, but he's certainly a solid plug-and-play option right now. He may be on the cusp of becoming a starting tight end in most fantasy formats.

Alfred Morris, RB, Redskins
21 carries, 113 yards, 1 TD

Mike Shanahan's running back use has historically been a crap shoot. That trend figured to continue this season with Washington having Roy Helu and Evan Royster in the fold in addition to Alfred Morris. Helu has since been placed on IR, though, and Royster is now clearly the backup to Morris, giving the Redskins' situation a surprising sense of clarity.

Morris has earned his starting gig, and he proved Sunday that his solid first three weeks weren't an aberration. The 23-year-old rushed for over 100 yards for the first time in his NFL career as Washington pulled out a dramatic victory over Tampa Bay.

Starting Morris in the fantasy world isn't yet a given, as Sunday's big game was still somewhat of a surprise, but you could certainly do worse than him at this point. You might as well enjoy the ride while you can.

If you're still passing those day-to-day updates from your fantasy league, that means you're likely right in the middle of a playoff push, or just setting your roster for the postseason.

Well, if you're looking for a little extra help, NESN's Julie Wetherbee has you covered, offering some tips on how to manage your roster. She also suggests some streaking players who could help put your team over the top. At this time of the year, every roster slot counts.

Check out the video above to get all of Wetherbee's hints and tips.

Were you a fantasy owner of Melky Cabrera who was patting themself on the back for that shrewd draft or waiver wire pickup? Are you now feeling the sting of the outfielder's recent 50-game suspension for violationg Major League Baseball's substance abuse policy?

Well, have no fear, Julie Wetherbee is here — for this week's Fantasy Blast.

In this edition of the Fantasy Blast, the focus is largely on three players: the Rays' Alex Cobb, the Reds' Ryan Ludwick and the Tigers' Alex Avila. Wetherbee offers Ludwick as a possible replacement for Cabrera, if you've been so unlucky.

Where do the others fit in? Well, you're just going to have to watch the video above to find out how they can help your fantasy squad.

Thumbnail via Twitter/Stacy-LuxeTravel

Hanley Ramirez wasn't the same player he's been known to be last season, and those struggles carried over into this year. But following a trade to the Dodgers, the infielder could benefit from a change of scenary.

Ramirez started off hot with L.A., going 6-for-16, but he's cooled off since. It's still reasonable to expect him to turn things around in his new home.

Meanwhile, Phillies pitchers could be in some trouble. With Philadelphia dealing away both Shane Victorino and Hunter Pence before the trade deadline, the team's run support could end up being worse than it already is. Therefore, fantasy owners should tamper their excitement when it comes to Philly's hurlers.

To hear more about the fantasy impact of the trades made before the MLB trade deadline, check out the video above for Julie Wetherbee's Fantasy Blast report from NESN Daily.

Major League Baseball teams aren't the only ones looking to make moves that will help them after the All-Star break.

Fantasy owners are looking for a few players who have been sluggish in the first half but could heat up after the break. Leading the pitching choices are Cliff Lee and Ian Kennedy, while Mark Teixeira, Dustin Pedroia and Mike Napoli are expected to see their hitting production rise.

Get the inside scoop on the Fantasy Blast with Julie Wetherbee on NESN Daily.

Jarrod Saltalamacchia has already hit 15 home runs in 2012. That's one less than in all of 2011.

Jed Lowrie, meanwhile, has finally found his health and apparently his stroke, too, since moving to the Astros during the offseason. Lowrie has 14 home runs, a career high, and 33 RBIs during the first half of 2012.

Both players have been pleasant surprises for fantasy baseball owners and have had an unbelievable impact for some.

NESN's Julie Wetherbee takes a look at some of the other unknowns who have turned into fantasy studs so far this season.

Check out the video above for more fantasy news and analysis.

Freddie Freeman is having another outstanding year for the Braves. With the towering first baseman in Fenway Park over the weekend for a series with the Red Sox, it's about time to break down his fantasy baseball value.

Same for former Red Sox and current Colorado Rockies shortstop Marco Scutaro. Scutaro has been solid at the plate and in the field for the Rockies this season and has been doing fantasy owners a favor in both departments.

NESN's Julie Wetherbee checks in on some fantasy studs and gives fantasy owners their weekly need-to-know during NESN Daily's Fantasy Blast.

Check it out in the video above.

Fantasy baseball owners are now entering midseason form and looking to solidify a number of spots on their roster.

Pitching has come at a premium so far this season, and relievers are thinning out as injuries continue to take hold of closers all over the majors.

NESN's Julie Wetherbee takes a peek at some good relief and closing options for fantasy owners to consider.

Check out the video above for more great fantasy baseball advice.

R.A. Dickey has been surprisingly trendous this year, leading the majors in ERA and scoring plenty of points for fantasy owners.

There have been a few other pleasant surprises during this still somewhat young fantasy season, including Mark Trumbo and Paul Goldschmidt, among others.

NESN's Julie Wetherbee gets you caught up on all your weekly fantasy news and notes.

Check out the video above to hear more to help with your fantasy team.

The Chicago Cubs indicated that they are willing to part with many of their stars, after a troublesome start has the team spiraling away from the playoff picture.

Ryan Dempster is one of those players and could still be had in many fantasy baseball leagues. Dempster has been good so far this season, posting a 2.90 ERA in nine starts. His 0-3 record may scare off some owners, but with a change of scenery that record should see a vast improvement.

NESN’s Julie Wetherbee has all your fantasy baseball information and insight during this week’s NESN Fantasy Blast.

Check out the video above for more good ideas and potential pickups for your team.

Thumbnail via Facebook/Ryan Dempster Foundation

Troy Tulowitzki has been having a bit of a down season in 2012. The annual MVP candidate was selected first overall in most fantasy baseball leagues. But the Rockies' shortstop certainly isn't living up to the high expectations, hitting just .268 with only six home runs on the year.

Another big name who hasn't produced this season is Roy Oswalt, although he has a very different reason. Oswalt decided to take some time away from the game, and it appears the three-time All Star is ready to make his return to the big leagues. But is he worth a spot on your bench?

Will Middlebrooks is another hot name on the market, right now. He's definitely worth the roster spot, but how much would you give up to get him?

NESN's Julie Wetherbee takes a look at some big names on the waiver wire and which trades would suit your team best.

Check out all the fantasy info in the video above.

There's been a rash of injuries to some star fantasy players this year, and many of those injuries happened to closers.

The loss of Mariano Rivera was the most recent development, as the legendary closer tore his ACL late last week. But if your fantasy team is struggling in the saves department, there still are some solid options out there to grab.

NESN's Julie Weatherbee says to take a look at the Yankees' David Robertson and Chicago Cubs reliever Rafael Dolis, both of whom could be had on the waiver wire in many leagues.

Check out the video above for this and many more tips for your fantasy baseball roster.

With that in mind, it's time for another NESN.com FanDuel contest on Friday, with $250 in prizes up for grabs this week. You must have signed up for a FanDuel account through NESN to be eligible for this promotion.

This week's contest comes with just a $2 entry fee, and as we mentioned, there are $250 in prizes available for those who can pick the best one-day fantasy lineup. 

The contest will once again be salary-cap style drafting, where everyone attempts to assemble the best team out of the available players. You will have a $35,000 budget to build a nine-player team with one pitcher, one catcher, one first baseman, one second baseman, one third baseman, one shortstop and three outfielders. Each MLB player has been assigned a price based on his expected fantasy performance.

Here's this week's NESN.com (nesn1) team.

Vance Worley, P
Carlos Ruiz, C
Ike Davis, 1B
Dan Uggla, 2B
Jack Hannahan, 3B
Erick Aybar, SS
Jose Bautista, OF
Mike Stanton, OF
Josh Hamilton, OF

Once again, as a reminder, you must have signed up for a FanDuel account through NESN to be eligible for this promotion.

Be sure to sign up by Friday in time for this week's contest.

Click here to sign up, and enter the NESN.com one-day $250 fantasy baseball giveaway presented by FanDuel.

Injuries have started to pile up on fantasy baseball rosters, and it's about time to start considering some solid replacement options.

Kansas City's Eric Hosmer is a risky play, as the Royals' third baseman is off to a slow start with a .198 batting average. Hosmer has produced some power numbers early on though, and with five longballs and 15 RBIs already there could be a turnaround in the works.

While Hosmer may be an easy steal in most leagues, it might be time for owners to give up on pitcher Francisco Liriano. The same guy who threw a no-hitter in 2011, Liriano is off to a rough start at 0-4 with a 9.97 ERA in 2012. It might be time to let the 28-year-old head into free agency.

NESN's Julie Wetherbee has got plenty of good free agent options and trade thoughts in this week's edition of the NESN Fantasy Blast.

Check out the video above to get the inside scoop on your fantasy team.

Chris Davis has always had tremendous raw power, but making contact hasn't always been easy for the talented slugger. He's now starting to put it all together in Baltimore, which could make him a viable fantasy baseball option.

Davis, who is hitting .286 with three home runs and seven RBIs, could provide 25-30 home runs this season. And for someone who is available in many leagues, that's not too shabby.

As far as hurlers go, Baltimore's Jason Hammel is starting to showcase his skills, going 3-0 with a 1.73 ERA four starts so far this season.

Check out the video above for more fantasy advice.

Building a successful fantasy baseball team takes finding great value in players on the free-agent market.

Oakland pitcher Bartolo Colon and Padres third baseman Chase Headley appear to be two guys who have great value on the waiver wire in most leagues.

Colon has been solid so far this season, goign 3-1 with 19 strikeouts and a 2.63 ERA. On the offensive side, Headley has been raking in the early going with four home runs, 12 RBIs and a .300 batting average.

Check out the video above to hear about these and other quality players available on the free-agent market.

All you have to do is build a team for a full slate of games on Friday, and prizes will be paid out after the games end that evening.

This free contest will be salary-cap style drafting, where everyone attempts to assemble the best team out of the available players. You will have a $35,000 budget to build a nine-player team with one pitcher, one catcher, one first baseman, one second baseman, one third baseman, one shortstop and three outfielders. Each MLB player has been assigned a price based on his expected fantasy performance.

On Friday, fans can monitor their squad throughout the day with FanDuel's live scoring, and the best fantasy general managers will take home $200in prizes.

NESN.com readers also can earn bragging rights by beating NESN.com's team. The NESN.com team will be "NESN1" on the FanDuel site.

Here's our lineup for Friday's contest.

Matt Moore, P
Jarrod Saltalamacchia, C
Justin Smoak, 1B
Mark Ellis, 2B
Alex Rodriguez, 3B
Jhonny Peralta, SS
Chris Denofria, OF
Matt Kemp, OF
Alfonso Soriano, OF

So be sure to hurry, as time is limited. You only have a day to fill your roster for this week's contest, so you're running out of time to register your team for a chance to win $200.

Click here to sign up for free, and enter the NESN.com one-day $200 fantasy baseball giveaway presented by FanDuel.

All you have to do is build a team for a full slate of games on Thursday. Prizes will be paid out after the games end that evening.

This free contest will be salary-cap style drafting, where everyone attempts to assemble the best team out of the available players. You will have a $35,000 budget to build a nine-player team with one pitcher, one catcher, one first baseman, one second baseman, one third baseman, one shortstop and three outfielders. Each MLB player has been assigned a price based on his expected fantasy performance.

On Thursday, fans can monitor their squad throughout the day with FanDuel's live scoring, and the best fantasy general managers will take home $1,000 in prizes.

NESN.com readers also can earn bragging rights by beating NESN.com's team. The NESN.com team will be "NESN1" on the FanDuel site.

Here's our squad for Thursday.

Stephen Strasburg, P
Jarrod Saltalamacchia, C
Ike Davis, 1B
Neil Walker, 2B
Hanley Ramirez, 3B
Dee Gordon, SS
Jason Bay, OF
Jayson Werth, OF
Logan Morrison, OF

Be sure to hurry, as time is limited. Opening Day is just a day away, so you're running out of time to register your team for a chance to win $1,000.

Click here to sign up for free, and enter the NESN.com one-day $1,000 fantasy baseball giveaway presented by FanDuel.

Who's going to break out in 2012? What pitcher finally find his form? What previous unknowns will clean up?

These are just some of the questions fantasy baseball owners work hard every day to answer. Analyzing statistics and typing names into Google is no easy feat, either. In order to get the leg up on the competition, one has to be thoroughly prepared.

To help you on your way, we've put together some names that will serve as answers to those questions in 2012. This summer will feature plenty of break out seasons and even more sprints to the waiver wire, but if you can draft some premier talent in the later rounds of your draft, it will save you plenty of stress during the long summer months.

Check out our list of the top 10 fantasy baseball sleepers and you'll be able to do just that. You may recognize some of these names, but even if you do, they'll be the surprise performers for your team this year. So get a jump start on your draft preparation and check out our sleeper picks in the gallery below.

Click here to see the Top 10 Fantasy Baseball Sleepers >>>

When bat meets ball – now that is exciting! Watching swing after swing launch baseballs 500 feet over a wall is why the Home Run Derby is the premiere event during the MLB All-Star Break. Plus, chicks dig the long ball, so everyone has to love it.

Of course there are those guys who toe the rubber and do a good job. Bland personalities like Roy Halladay and Justin Verlander. Hard workers who say the right thing and don't take too much credit for their team's success. But there's no swagger there, no interesting characters. What good are they anyway except to toss the ball so someone can smack it?

Oh, what's that? They count for half of the stats in fantasy? Oh. Well, then.

Pitching is the best! Throwing something faster than cars can legally drive on most roads is totally why baseball is popular. They should bring a fastest pitch competition to the All-Star Break. And Halladay? He has so much confidence up there, just decimating batters left and right.

With so much talent, these guys deserve a list of their own. Since I'm assuming you weren't interested in pitching until I just explained how cool it is, you're going to want to check this out before draft day. The top 10 pitchers in fantasy baseball are no joke and you'll want to have at least one of them on your roster. After all, they're what baseball is about, right?

Click here to check out the Top 10 Pitchers in Fantasy Baseball >>