Fantasy Football Week 4 Rankings: Top Players at Every Offensive Position

1 of 6

Larry French/Getty Images

With one game already played we've entered Week 4 of the 2012 NFL season, which means the bye weeks have arrived, and we're nearing the end of the first quarter of the 2012 fantasy football campaign.

As we head into the weekend, fantasy owners across the land will be setting their lineups, whether they're at the helm of a 3-0 team that looks unstoppable or an 0-3 team trying to get into the win column for the first time.

To help those folks get the best possible lineup "on the field" here's a look at the top fantasy plays at each position for Week 4 in point-per-reception fantasy football leagues.

Mind you, you neither will see players from the Baltimore Ravens or Cleveland Browns on this list, since they've already played, nor will you see any Pittsburgh Steelers or Indianapolis Colts, since they aren't playing.

Robert Griffin III and the Top 20 Quarterbacks

Patrick McDermott/Getty Images

Much like Cam Newton of the Carolina Panthers in 2011 the National Football League has been taken by storm by a rookie signal-caller this season, as Robert Griffin of the Washington Redskins is fantasy's top player at the position through three games.

The 2011 Heisman Trophy winner has posted at least 30 fantasy points in all three of his starts so far this season, and with a favorable fantasy matchup on tap with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Griffin has an excellent shot making it four in a row this Sunday.

1. Robert Griffin, Washington Redskins (at TB)

2. Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers (vs. NO)

3. Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons (vs. CAR)

4. Tom Brady, New England Patriots (at BUF)

5. Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints (at GB)

6. Matthew Stafford, Detroit Lions (vs. MIN)

7. Eli Manning, New York Giants (at PHI)

8. Cam Newton, Carolina Panthers (at ATL)

9. Tony Romo, Dallas Cowboys (vs. CHI)

10. Michael Vick, Philadelphia Eagles (vs. NYG)

11. Peyton Manning, Denver Broncos (vs. OAK)

12. Philip Rivers, San Diego Chargers (at KC)

13. Josh Freeman, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (vs. WAS)

14. Matt Schaub, Houston Texans (vs. TEN)

15. Andy Dalton, Cincinnati Bengals (at JAX)

16. Christian Ponder, Minnesota Vikings (at DET)

17. Matt Cassel, Kansas City Chiefs (vs. SD)

18. Russell Wilson, Seattle Seahawks (at STL)

19. Ryan Fitzpatrick, Buffalo Bills (vs. NE)

20. Carson Palmer, Oakland Raiders (at DEN)

Arian Foster and the Top 20 Running Backs

Justin Edmonds/Getty Images

Houston Texans running back Arian Foster has been displaying the form that made him the first overall pick in many fantasy drafts over the past two games, topping 100 rushing yards and finding the end zone in each of those contests.

Odds are that streak is going to reach three games in a row this week when Foster and the Texans host the Tennessee Titans, who have been the fifth-friendliest fantasy matchup for opposing running backs so far this year.

1. Arian Foster, Houston Texans (vs. TEN)

2. Maurice Jones-Drew, Jacksonville Jaguars (vs. CIN)

3. Jamaal Charles, Kansas City Chiefs (vs. SD)

4. Marshawn Lynch, Seattle Seahawks (at STL)

5. Darren McFadden, Oakland Raiders (at DEN)

6. LeSean McCoy, Philadelphia Eagles (vs. NYG)

7. Adrian Peterson, Minnesota Vikings (at DET)

8. Doug Martin, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (vs. WAS)

9. Frank Gore, San Francisco 49ers (at NYJ)

10. Ryan Mathews, San Diego Chargers (at KC)

11. Cedric Benson, Green Bay Packers (vs. NO)

12. BenJarvus Green-Ellis, Cincinnati Bengals (at JAX)

13. DeMarco Murray, Dallas Cowboys (vs. CHI)

14. Alfred Morris, Washington Redskins (at TB)

15. Stevan Ridley, New England Patriots (at BUF)

16. Mikel LeShoure, Detroit Lions (at MIN)

17. Darren Sproles, New Orleans Saints (at GB)

18. Steven Jackson, St. Louis Rams (vs. SEA)

19. Michael Turner, Atlanta Falcons (vs. CAR)

20. Ryan Williams, Arizona Cardinals (vs. MIA)

Calvin Johnson and the Top 20 Wide Recievers

Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

Week 3 was just another day at the office for superstar wide receiver Calvin Johnson of the Detroit Lions, as the sixth-year veteran racked up 10 catches for 164 yards and his first touchdown of the year in Detroit's overtime loss to the Tennessee Titans.

Johnson is currently on pace to set an NFL record with 1,968 receiving yards, and while "Megatron" may not reach that lofty goal there's no reason to think he won't be in for another big outing when the Lions host the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday.

1. Calvin Johnson, Detroit Lions (vs. MIN)

2. A.J. Green, Cincinnati Bengals (at JAX)

3. Julio Jones, Atlanta Falcons (vs. CAR)

4. Percy Harvin, Minnesota Vikings (at DET)

5. Vincent Jackson, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (vs. WAS)

6. Larry Fitzgerald, Arizona Cardinals (vs. MIA)

7. Demaryius Thomas, Denver Broncos (vs. OAK)

8. Wes Welker, New England Patriots (at BUF)

9. Andre Johnson, Houston Texans (vs. TEN)

10. Dwayne Bowe, Kansas City Chiefs (vs. SD)

11. Victor Cruz, New York Giants (at PHI)

12. Roddy White, Atlanta Falcons (vs. CAR)

13. Steve Johnson, Buffalo Bills (vs. NE)

14. Miles Austin, Dallas Cowboys (vs. CHI)

15. Brandon Marshall, Chicago Bears (at DAL)

16. Steve Smith, Carolina Panthers (at ATL)

17. Greg Jennings, Green Bay Packers (vs. NO)

18. Danny Amendola, St. Louis Rams (vs. SEA)

19. Dez Bryant, Dallas Cowboys (vs. CHI)

20. Jordy Nelson, Green Bay Packers (vs. NO)

Tony Gonzalez and the Top 20 Tight Ends

Jeff Gross/Getty Images

It appears that fantasy drafters who passed on Atlanta Falcons tight end Tony Gonzalez this summer fearing a drop-off in the 36-year-old's play may have been a bit hasty.

So far this season the 16th-year veteran has been absolutely lights-out, averaging seven catches, over 70 yards, and a touchdown per game.

Expect that strong play to continue this week against the Carolina Panthers, who have had their share of issues with stopping tight ends to this point in 2012.

1. Tony Gonzalez, Atlanta Falcons (vs. CAR)

2. Jimmy Graham, New Orleans Saints (at GB)

3. Rob Gronkowski, New England Patriots (at BUF)

4. Vernon Davis, San Francisco 49ers (at NYJ)

5. Jermichael Finley, Green Bay Packers (vs. NO)

6. Martellus Bennett, New York Giants (at PHI)

7. Greg Olsen, Carolina Panthers (at ATL)

8. Brandon Pettigrew, Detroit Lions (vs. MIN)

9. Owen Daniels, Houston Texans (vs. TEN)

10. Kyle Rudolph, Minnesota Vikings (at DET)

11. Antonio Gates, San Diego Chargers (at KC)

12. Jason Witten, Dallas Cowboys (vs. CHI)