Fantasy Football Week 4: Big Board and Advice for 'MNF'

Just like we all predicted, the Detroit Lions are 0-3 and the Seattle Seahawks are 1-2. Hopefully your fantasy football team hasn't suffered a similar fate.

The Seahawks' only win came in Week 3 over the Jimmy Clausen-led Chicago Bears, a 26-0 victory.

While the Lions have playmakers such as wide receivers Calvin Johnson and Golden Tate, they added a playmaker to their backfield—running back Ameer Abdullah.

Despite those playmakers, quarterback Matthew Stafford has struggled this season, throwing at least one interception in each game.

Looking at the Seahawks, there are a couple of storylines to follow on Monday night. The leading headline surrounds running back Marshawn Lynch and his absence from the game. The next is a controversy that has surrounded the Seahawks pretty much all season—the usage of tight end Jimmy Graham. We saw more of the tight end in Week 3 than in Week 2, but with how talented he is, it's surprising he's not more of a focal point of the offense.

It's a tall task to go into Seattle and take on the Seahawks. Is this the week the Lions get their first victory of the season? It's not going to be easy.

Top-10 Big Board

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Monday Night Big Board

Rank	Player	Pos.	Team
1	Jimmy Graham	TE	Seattle Seahawks
2	Eric Ebron	TE	Detroit Lions
3	Russell Wilson	QB	Seattle Seahawks
4	Thomas Rawls	RB	Seattle Seahawks
5	Calvin Johnson	WR	Detroit Lions
6	Doug Baldwin	WR	Seattle Seahawks
7	Theo Riddick	RB	Detroit Lions
8	Golden Tate	WR	Detroit Lions
9	Matthew Stafford	QB	Detroit Lions
10	Ameer Abdullah	RB	Detroit Lions

Quarterbacks

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Detroit Lions: Matthew Stafford

Having thrown at least one interception in every game so far this season, Stafford will continue that trend in a big way against the Seahawks.

With wide receiver Calvin Johnson likely seeing Richard Sherman throughout the game, a big part of the passing game will be thwarted. However, if there is a silver lining, the Lions should see a decent amount of garbage time.

Look elsewhere. Stafford is a low-end quarterback option this week.

The Seahawks haven't allowed a 300-yard passer at home since the Denver Broncos and Peyton Manning in Week 3 of the 2014 season.

Projections: 27-of-46 passing, 250 passing yards, 1 TD, 3 INT.

Seattle Seahawks: Russell Wilson

Going into Monday night, Wilson will face a Lions defense that has surrendered over 18 fantasy points per game to opposing quarterbacks.

Additionally, the Lions are the fifth-most generous team in terms of fantasy points allowed to tight ends.

So let's see here—Wilson is a quarterback, and he has a tight end who is pretty good in Graham.

The Lions rank near the middle of the pack in terms of pass coverage, according to Pro Football Focus, so Wilson should have some success passing the ball.

Additionally, Wilson is second in the league in rushing attempts by a quarterback, so look for Wilson to utilize his legs to help pile on those points.

The Seahawks are close to 10-point favorites, according to Odds Shark. Look for Wilson to do damage early and then let running back Rawls finish off the game. Wilson is a QB1 option.

Projections: 21-of-31 passing, 240 passing yards, 2 TD, 0 INT; 7 carries, 35 rushing yards.

Running Backs

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Detroit Lions: Ameer Abdullah

With running back Joique Bell out for this game, the Lions will turn to a committee of running backs, including rookie Abdullah, Zach Zenner and pass-catcher Theo Riddick.

While there is a ton of hype surrounding Abdullah, the overall volume is worrisome. Through three weeks, Abdullah has yet to eclipse 11 touches in a game or reach double-digit carries.

In a game where the Lions will likely be down, they might have to abandon the running game and throw the ball.

Abdullah is a high-risk, high-reward running back option.

Projections: 7 carries, 40 rushing yards; 2 receptions, 10 receiving yards.

Detroit Lions: Theo Riddick

Riddick has one carry this season. One.

The projected game script for this game bodes well for Riddick because he's the go-to passing-game option out of the backfield.

Look for Riddick to accumulate a modest number of catches.

Projections: 5 receptions, 45 receiving yards.

Seattle Seahawks Starter: Thomas Rawls

With running back Marshawn Lynch out for Monday Night Football, Rawls will be called upon to take over the starting running back duties.

If you look at the Vegas line for this game, the Seahawks are heavy home favorites. Usually, the running game for the favored team will see plenty of opportunities, as it will be up in the game.

In Week 3, Rawls rushed for more than 100 yards for the Seahawks.

With Lions linebacker DeAndre Levy out for this game, Rawls should see enough volume to make him an RB2 option.

Projections: 20 carries, 95 rushing yards, 1 TD.

Seattle Seahawks: Fred Jackson

With Lynch out, Fred Jackson will be in line for more snaps.

Mostly a threat out of the backfield in the passing game, Jackson should see a few carries and get enough work to make him a low-end flex play in deep leagues. However, look for a better option. He's mostly a desperation play.

Projections: 5 carries, 25 rushing yards; 3 receptions, 10 receiving yards.

Wide Receivers

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Detroit Lions: Calvin Johnson

Having yet to reach 100 yards receiving in a game this season, Johnson will have to wait another week. Likely being covered by Sherman for most of the game, Johnson will win some battles, but it's not going to be an easy day for Megatron.

While there should be a good amount of garbage time for the Lions, expect Johnson to get the targets. He'll be held out of the end zone for the second straight game, though. You're starting Johnson regardless.

Projections: 6 receptions, 80 receiving yards.

Detroit Lions: Golden Tate

While Tate was productive last season in Johnson's absence, he has had a relatively tough go of it so far in 2015.

The narrative of a "revenge game" could play a factor in this one, but, like Johnson, Tate will struggle to produce against a tough secondary.

Tate went up against a difficult secondary in Week 3 against the Denver Broncos. Expect him to perform similar to the five-reception, 57-yard line he had against them on Monday Night Football. Quarterback Matthew Stafford's struggles will continue to plague him.

Tate is a flex option.

Projections: 4 receptions, 45 receiving yards.

Seattle Seahawks: Doug Baldwin

Being a Seahawks wide receiver has traditionally been hard.

Through the first two weeks of the season, Doug Baldwin saw eight targets in each game. In Week 3, he saw just three targets, but the game script was wasn't friendly to the passing game.

With Darius Slay likely set to cover him, Baldwin is a flex play heading into Monday Night Football.

Projections: 5 reception, 50 receiving yards.

Seattle Seahawks: Jermaine Kearse

In Week 3, Kearse played just over 64 percent of the snaps.

Kearse has been a bit of a roller-coaster receiving option through the first three games of the season, posting eight catches in Week 1, zero in Week 2 and six in Week 3.

With the Seahawks projected to be up big, this could be another lackluster game for the Seahawks' No. 2 wide receiver.

Projections: 3 receptions, 35 receiving yards.

Seattle Seahawks: Tyler Lockett

Through the first three games of the season, Tyler Lockett has yet to be a factor on offense. However, if your league counts return yards or you own the Seahawks defense, Lockett will be valuable there.

Projections: 3 receptions, 25 receiving yards. 

Tight Ends

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Detroit Lions Starter: Eric Ebron

Coming into Week 4, the Seahawks have surrendered two touchdowns and almost 200 receiving yards to opposing tight ends.

Through the first three weeks of the season, Eric Ebron has been among the top 12 tight ends in scoring each week. In a game in which the Lions should be down, their wide receivers locked down by cornerbacks Sherman and Cary Williams and a pedestrian run game, Ebron should benefit mightily from garbage time. Ebron is a TE1 option on Monday Night Football.

Projections: 6 receptions, 90 receiving yards, 1 TD.

Seattle Seahawks Starter: Jimmy Graham

From being in the headlines because he was upset with his role on the team to catching a touchdown in Week 3, Graham should be involved in this game.

The Lions rank fifth in terms of points allowed to opposing tight ends. You were starting Graham anyway, but look for him to mimic his New Orleans Saints days. Graham is an all-systems-go TE1.

Projections: 7 receptions, 100 receiving yards, 2 TD.

Defense/Special Teams

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Detroit Lions Defense/Special Teams

With the absence of linebacker Levy, the Lions will suffer in terms of run defense. Although Seahawks running back Lynch is out, the Lions will have to deal with a Rawls-Jackson committee. The Lions are ranked 27th in terms of run defense, according to Pro Football Focus.

The Lions are not a defense you want to start this week.

Projections: 27 points allowed, 3 sacks.

Seattle Seahawks Defense/Special Teams

In the return of safety Kam Chancellor, the Seahawks dismantled the Bears in their home opener 26-0. Although that win came against Clausen, this Seahawks defense looks like it's returning to form.

Facing the turnover-prone Stafford, expect the Seahawks to create quite a few turnovers in what will be the second win of the season for the Seahawks.

Projections: 13 points allowed, 3 interceptions, 3 sacks.

Best Sleeper Add

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Thomas Rawls, RB, Seattle Seahawks (owned in 34.4 percent of ESPN leagues)

With fellow running back Lynch out, Rawls should see an abundance of opportunities on the ground this game. Favored by almost 10 points, the Seahawks will likely be leading early and often against the winless Lions, leading to a ton of volume for Rawls. He's an RB2 option.

Injury Report

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Detroit Lions

Player		Status
DeAndre Levy	LB	Out
Joique Bell	RB	Out
Brandon Pettigrew	TE	Out

The biggest blow here is the absence of linebacker Levy. With him being out, the Seahawks should be able to run the ball with more ease. According to Lions writer Tim Twentyman, Levy is officially ruled out.

Seattle Seahawks

Player		Status
Marshawn Lynch	QB	Out
Paul Richardson	WR	Out
Luke Willson	TE	Probable

According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, Lynch is out Monday night.

Injury reports courtesy of ESPN.com.

Start or Sit?

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Matthew Stafford, QB, Detroit Lions

This is going to be a tall task for Stafford. The Seahawks haven't allowed a 300-yard passer in Seattle since Week 3 of the 2014 season. That, coupled with how turnover-prone Stafford has been, means you should look elsewhere this week.

Verdict: Sit

Ameer Abdullah, RB, Detroit Lions

With the Lions being close to 10-point underdogs on the road, they will likely have to throw to try to stay in this game. Abdullah has yet to touch the ball more than 11 times in a game. This won't be the week in which he eclipses that number.

Verdict: Sit

All advanced stats courtesy of Pro Football Focus. Fantasy numbers courtesy of ESPN.com.

Follow me on Twitter @RichardJanvrin.