First it was Tom Brady. Then it was Nate Burleson and Vince Young.

Now fantasy owners have lost Marques Colston.

Drew Brees (9) will be without Marques Colston for at least four weeks. (Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)

Colston already underwent surgery to repair a torn ligament in his thumb, which he sustained in the season opener against Tampa Bay.

He could be out until late October in a worst-case scenario.

Colston has been one of the better wide receivers in fantasy football since the Saints stole him in the seventh round of the 2006 NFL Draft.

The Hofstra product was a surefire No. 1 wideout heading into this season, so he’ll be hard to replace.

I think David Patten will be the most consistent option in the interim and is now a viable No. 3 fantasy wideout. Devery Henderson will move into a starting role and should now be added in all leagues with 12-plus teams.

With Colston on the sidelines, look for Reggie Bush and Jeremy Shockey to see more targets in the passing game. That could also mean more time in the backfield for Deuce McAllister and Pierre Thomas in certain sets.

While Drew Brees loses his top target, I still see him as an elite fantasy option at the quarterback position. He threw for 343 yards and three touchdowns in Week 1, and he did it despite the fact that the Bucs shut down Colston for much of the afternoon.

The talented wideout finished with three catches in the contest. Now he’ll have to wait awhile for his fourth.

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