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Ed Barkowitz: Give Moss a chance to get used to Favre, Vikings

JUST WHEN Brett Favre's slow start was enough to make you burn your Wrangler Jeans collection, the Vikings pull the switch on one of the most significant in-season trades in recent memory.

JUST WHEN

Brett Favre's

slow start was enough to make you burn your Wrangler Jeans collection, the Vikings pull the switch on one of the most significant in-season trades in recent memory.

For the Patriots, who sent Randy Moss to Minnesota to become Favre's biggest weapon, it was all about Moss' expiring contract. For the rest of us, it's all about the potential numbers.

Traded players usually need time to acclimate to their new teams to avoid miscues that mean the difference between first downs and interceptions.

So Moss owners might want to check out a few recent examples of wide receivers changing teams in midseason before posting something truly regrettable on a message board. Remember, the Internet has no eraser:

* The Dolphins dealt Chris Chambers in 2007 to San Diego, where, in 10 games, he scored four touchdowns and averaged 3.5 catches for 55.5 yards for the rest of that season. (The second-rounder the Dolphins got for Chambers turned out to be current starting quarterback Chad Henne.)

* Fantasy fans didn't see it as Roy Williams being traded to Dallas in 2008. They saw it as his being rescued from Detroit. Things didn't quite pan out that way, and Williams was a major bust. He had 19 catches in 198 yards and one touchdown, and put the "cow" in "Cowboys."

* Chambers again switched teams in 2009 following his midseason release and signing by the Chiefs. He had two 100-yard efforts and four touchdowns in nine games, but still mixed in too many mediocre games to become a fantasy starter.

* Braylon Edwards played 12 games with the Jets after a 2009 trade from Cleveland and caught four touchdowns and hit 100 yards only once.

Meanwhile, since Favre runs the Vikings offense, Moss' transition shouldn't be too difficult. It can't get much easier than, "Hey Randy, go deep."

Moss owners get one more benefit. Because he was acquired after Minnesota's bye, he has the chance to play 17 games this year, including Week 8 back at New England.

Vikings running back Adrian Peterson and wide receiver Percy Harvin, providing he can stay off the injury report, might be the biggest beneficiaries to Moss' arrival. Down the line, Moss could snatch some of Visanthe Shiancoe's red-zone targets.

In New England, if rookie Brandon Tate can transition from kickoff-return ace to a regular spot in the offense, the Pats might be OK. If not, slot receiver Wes Welker will have less room to work. Tate should be picked up and stashed.

POSITION WATCH

Quarterbacks: Kyle Orton, of Denver, has 1,419 passing yards through 4 weeks, second only to Kurt Warner's 1,557 in 2000. Orton had 476 yard in Week 3, which is the total number the Ravens, Sunday's opponent, has given up all season. Let's see what the kid has . . . How many fantasy players who take team quarterbacks had Max Hall penciled in as the Cardinals' starter for Week 5? Hall, an undrafted free agent out of BYU, was the best quarterback in camp, but there was too much money (Matt Leinart) and too much experience (Derek Anderson) in front of him to make him the Opening Day starter. The kid has an average arm, but is smart and old (25) for a rook.

Running backs: Marshawn Lynch's trade to Seattle makes Fred Jackson the Buffalo running back to have. (Actually, has there really been a Buffalo running back to have since Willis McGahee? ) Relying on Jackson is dicey with C.J. Spiller looming. Washington's Ryan Torain is the better gamble . . . Tampa Bay will phase out Cadillac Williams, which means more work for Earnest Graham and LeGarrett Blount, whom I just took a flier on in my 10-team league.

Wide receivers: It's tempting to bring Jets receiver Santonio Holmes off the bench as a No. 2, but expectations should be moderate. The Vikings, New York's opponent on Monday, have given up only three touchdown passes in their three games. Use Holmes as a No. 3 . . . The obligatory Andre Johnson note of the week finds the Texans star more likely to play Sunday against a Giants team ranked second against the pass thus far. *

WEEKLY RANKINGS (Based on projected production for Week 5)

QUARTERBACKS

1. Peyton Manning, Colts, vs. Chiefs

2. Drew Brees, Saints, at Cardinals

3. Matt Ryan, Falcons, at Browns

4. Aaron Rodgers, Packers, at Redskins

5. Matt Schaub, Texans, vs. Giants

6. Tony Romo, Cowboys, vs. Titans

7. Philip Rivers, Chargers, at Raiders

8. Brett Favre, Vikings, at Jets

9. Mark Sanchez, Jets, vs. Vikings

10. Joe Flacco, Ravens, vs. Broncos

11. Eli Manning, Giants, at Texans

12. Sam Bradford, Rams, at Detroit

13. Kyle Orton, Broncos, at Ravens

14. Carson Palmer, Bengals, vs. Bucs

15. Matt Cassel, Chiefs, at Colts

RUNNING BACKS

1. Chris Johnson, Titans, at Cowboys

2. Frank Gore, 49ers, vs. Eagles

3. M. Jones-Drew, Jaguars, at Bills

4. Adrian Peterson, Vikings, at Jets

5. Steven Jackson, Rams, at Lions

6. Arian Foster, Texans, vs. Giants

7. R. Mathews, Chargers, at Raiders

8. A. Bradshaw, Giants+, at Texans

9. Peyton Hillis, Browns, vs. Falcons

10. Matt Forte, Bears, at Panthers

11. Cedric Benson, Bengals, vs. Bucs

12. Michael Turner, Falcons, at Browns

13. D. Williams, Panthers, vs. Bears

14. Ray Rice, Ravens+, vs. Broncos

15. Jahvid Best, Lions+, vs. Rams

16. Joseph Addai, Colts, vs. Chiefs

17. Jamaal Charles, Chiefs, at Colts

18. LaDainian Tomlinson, vs. Vikings

19. Beanie Wells, Cardinals, vs. Saints

20. Ryan Torain, Redskins, vs. Packers

21. Pierre Thomas, Saints+, at Cardinals

22. Thomas Jones, Chiefs, at Colts

23. Michael Bush, Raiders, vs. Chargers

24. Marion Barber, Cowboys, vs. Titans

25. Fred Jackson, Bills, vs. Jaguars

WIDE RECEIVERS

1. Miles Austin, Cowboys, vs. Titans

2. Reggie Wayne, Colts, vs. Chiefs

3. Calvin Johnson, Lions, vs. Rams

4. Roddy White, Falcons, at Browns

5. Randy Moss, Vikings, at Jets

6. Hakeem Nicks, Giants, at Texans

7. Terrell Owens, Bengals, vs. Bucs

8. L. Fitzgerald, Cardinals, vs. Saints

9. Mark Clayton, Rams, at Lions

10. Brandon Lloyd, Broncos, at Ravens

11. DeSean Jackson, Eagles, at 49ers

12. Anquan Boldin, Ravens, vs. Broncos

13. Greg Jennings, Packers, at Redskins

14. Pierre Garcon, Colts+, vs. Chiefs

15. M. Colston, Saints, at Cardinals

16. Donald Driver, Packers, at Redskins

17. Santana Moss, Redskins, vs. Packers

18. Jacoby Jones, Texans, vs. Giants

19. Braylon Edwards, Jets, vs. Vikings

20. C. Ochocinco, Bengals, vs. Bucs

21. Percy Harvin, Vikings, at Jets

22. Dez Bryant, Cowboys, vs. Titans

23. M. Williams, Bucs, at Bengals

24. Andre Johnson, Texans+, vs. Giants

25. Austin Collie, Colts+, vs. Chiefs

TIGHT ENDS

1. Dallas Clark, Colts, vs. Chiefs

2. Antonio Gates, Chargers, at Raiders

3. Dustin Keller, Jets, vs. Vikings

4. Vernon Davis, 49ers, vs. Eagles

5. Zach Miller, Raiders, vs. Chargers

6. Chris Cooley, Redskins, vs. Packers

7. J. Finley, Packers, at Redskins

8. Jason Witten, Cowboys, vs. Titans

9. Tony Gonzalez, Falcons, at Browns

10. Brent Celek, Eagles, at 49ers

+ Injury concerns.

Byes: Dolphins, Patriots, Seahawks, Steelers

Ed Barkowitz, who last wore Wranglers with his maroon Members Only jacket, has been writing about fantasy football for the Daily News since 2001. Send e-mail to fantasyfootball@phillynews.com.