You might not know it to read these inane ramblings of mine, but writing is actually my part-time job. I am actually employed full-time as the announcer for a harness racing track in Pennsylvania.

In harness racing, most races are a mile long and are timed at each quarter-mile station. Since we’ve reached the quarter-season mark in the NFL, I thought I’d use some harness racing terms to classify certain players at three different positions (quarterback, running back, wide receiver) in terms of their fantasy football season to date and their future prospects.

Hopefully, it will help you get to your league’s finish line out in front.

SETTING A BLISTERING PACE AND SHOWING NO SIGNS OF SLOWING: Aaron Rodgers, Darren McFadden, Calvin Johnson

Rodgers' Week Four explosion is just a taste of what you can expect for the rest of the season. McFadden had decent yardage totals even in a hiccup against the Patriots and would be beyond reproach if it weren’t for Michael Bush vulturing his goal-line touchdowns.

Still, he’s got a legitimate chance to amass more than 2,200 yards on the season. Johnson is seemingly unstoppable at the goal line, and he finally has the weapons around him to keep defenses from ganging up.

SETTING A BLISTERING PACE WHICH THEY CAN’T SUSTAIN: Matt Hasselbeck, Beanie Wells, Mike Wallace

I’m sure there will be some who are tempted to jump on Hasselbeck based on his strong start. Without a true No. 1 receiver though, it’s hard to imagine him keeping up what he’s done so far. Wells should be solid from this point, but more like RB2 solid. Plus, he’s a huge injury risk.

Wallace is a tough call here, because he’s a superior talent. The problem is that he’s still mainly a long-ball threat, meaning that there will be games where he shines and others where he is relatively quiet.

LURKING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PACK: Kevin Kolb, Chris Johnson, Hakeem Nicks

Kolb has been up and down in the first four games, but he is a guy who is essentially a rookie in terms of playing time. Look for him to excel as the schedule softens.

Johnson finally showed some life with 100 yards for the Titans last Sunday. It’s safe to say that his holdout had an effect, but that should be wearing off soon. Nicks has been hampered by injuries, but he had a breakout game against Arizona, and he should be a no-doubt WR1 the rest of the way.

SLOW STARTERS WHO COULD CLOSE LATE: Matt Cassel, Steven Jackson, Roddy White

Cassel will be counted on to carry the Chiefs offense, and, after a dismal first half in Week Three against San Diego, things have been clicking nicely. Jackson looks to be completely healthy after a few weeks off, and the Rams schedule in the second half of the season is as soft as they come.

White has been somewhat of an after thought in the Atlanta offense with the emergence of Julio Jones. That should balance out in the coming weeks and get Roddy back to the elite.

TOO FAR BACK TO CONTEND: Jay Cutler, Shonn Greene, Percy Harvin

Any thoughts that Mike Martz might be the tonic for Cutler’s stats should be banished. The Bears are at their best when they run a lot, and when they throw a lot, Cutler kills his fantasy value by throwing picks. Greene has been absolutely anemic in New York, and it’s hard to imagine Rex Ryan continuing to stick with him.

Harvin has been healthy in Minnesota, but the Vikings' train wreck of a season has claimed what was supposed to be his breakout year. His only score thus far has been a kick return.

In harness racing, you can’t really win the race in the first quarter, but you sure can lose it. Here’s hoping your team hasn’t fallen into that latter category at this relatively early stage in the season.