Week 4 Fantasy Football Rankings: Positional Overview, Guide and Advice

Believe it or not, we're already approaching the end of the first month of the 2016 season. Three full weeks of NFL action are in the books, and Week 4 is only days away.

This, of course, means that fantasy owners only have a couple of days to analyze rosters, submit waiver claims and prepare for the next round of action. Things kick off on Thursday night when the Cincinnati Bengals host the Miami Dolphins.

Though it's still early in the season, we've seen enough over the first three weeks to recognize some playing patterns and fantasy truths. That Minnesota Vikings defense, for example, is a fantasy must-start, even if it's going against a dynamic quarterback like Cam Newton. Rookie Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz is more than just a curiosity—he's becoming a legitimate fantasy quarterback. 

We're going to take what we've learned thus far in 2016 and apply it to the upcoming week of fantasy football. We'll be providing rankings and advice regarding rising and falling players for each fantasy position. Our choices are based on factors such as player performance, matchup and health.

Quarterbacks

Rank	Player	Team	Opponent
1	Andrew Luck	IND	@ JAX
2	Matthew Stafford	DET	@ CHI
3	Cam Newton	CAR	@ ATL
4	Derek Carr	OAK	@ BAL
5	Matt Ryan	ATL	CAR
6	Joe Flacco	BAL	OAK
7	Ben Roethlisberger	PIT	KC
8	Philip Rivers	SD	NO
9	Drew Brees	NO	@ SD
10	Andy Dalton	CIN	MIA
11	Blake Bortles	JAX	IND
12	Kirk Cousins	WAS	CLE
13	Alex Smith	KC	@ PIT
14	Brock Osweiler	HOU	TEN
15	Dak Prescott	DAL	@ SF

Up: Matthew Stafford, Detroit Lions

Dylan Buell/Getty Images

One thing that we know for certain after three weeks of football is that the Chicago Bears are banged up and lacking talent on the defensive side of the ball. This creates an ideal matchup for Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford, who has been tossing passes all over the field this season.

Through three games, Stafford already has 985 yards with seven touchdowns and two interceptions. Just last week against the Green Bay Packers, he threw for 385 yards with three scores and one pick.

Chicago is ranked 10th in pass defense (214.3 yards per game allowed), but this statistic is misleading. Opponents have been protecting a lead against the Bears virtually all season and have chosen to gash Chicago on the ground—Chicago is ranked 30th in run defense (142.7 yards per game allowed) and 23rd in scoring defense (27.7 points allowed per game).

With starting running back Ameer Abdullah sidelined, expect the Lions to frequently utilize short passes in lieu of the running game. Also expect Stafford to capitalize with a strong day.

Down: Eli Manning, New York Giants

When the 2016 season started, we expected New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning to be set for a huge fantasy campaign. He has one of the top wide receivers in the game at his disposal in Odell Beckham Jr. and has a revived Victor Cruz and rookie Sterling Shepard in the mix.

Manning has racked up the yardage—925 yards in three games—but he hasn't exactly been a scoring machine. He has four touchdown passes and four turnovers so far and hasn't shown the same chemistry with Beckham that he had in 2015.

Manning is still worth a start in most weeks, but not this one. He's going up against a Vikings unit that has given opponents fits dating back to last season.

Tom Pelissero of USA Today recently explained just how good the Vikings defense has been:

"

Dating to last December, the Vikings have held seven consecutive opponents to 17 points or fewer, and they’ve faced some excellent quarterbacks in that stretch: Eli Manning, Russell Wilson, [Aaron] Rodgers twice and now Newton, the reigning NFL MVP who seemed beat up and beaten down once coach Mike Zimmer’s crew was done with him.

"

If you can find an alternative to Manning this week, do it.

Running Backs

Rank	Player	Team	Opponent
1	C.J. Anderson	DEN	@ TB
2	Theo Riddick	DET	@ CHI
3	Melvin Gordon	SD	NO
4	DeAngelo Williams	PIT	KC
5	Mark Ingram	NO	@ SD
6	Isaiah Crowell	CLE	@ WAS
7	Devonta Freeman	ATL	CAR
8	Latavius Murray	OAK	@ BAL
9	LeGarrette Blount	NE	BUF
10	Ezekiel Elliott	DAL	@ SF
11	Spencer Ware	KC	@ PIT
12	Matt Forte	NYJ	SEA
13	DeMarco Murray	TEN	@ CIN
14	Jeremy Hill	CIN	MIA
15	Tevin Coleman	ATL	CAR
16	Carlos Hyde	SF	DAL
17	LeSean McCoy	BUF	@ NE
18	David Johnson	ARI	LA
19	Frank Gore	IND	@ JAX
20	Lamar Miller	HOU	TEN
21	T.J. Yeldon	JAX	IND
22	Jordan Howard	CHI	DET
23	Matt Jones	WAS	CLE
24	Fozzy Whittaker	CAR	@ ATL
25	Christine Michael	SEA	@ NYJ
26	Giovani Bernard	CIN	MIA
27	Charles Sims	TB	DEN
28	Le'Veon Bell	PIT	KC
29	Justin Forsett	BAL	OAK
30	Todd Gurley	LA	@ ARI

Up: Mark Ingram, New Orleans Saints

Chris Graythen/Getty Images

The New Orleans Saints may have received a beatdown from the Atlanta Falcons on Monday night, but no blame should be placed on running back Mark Ingram. He was stellar.

Ingram finished the game with 77 yards rushing and a 5.1 yards-per-carry average. He also added four receptions for 30 yards and a touchdown. Had the Saints not spent the vast majority of the night behind on the scoreboard, Ingram might have had an even bigger game.

This week, he draws a favorable matchup against the San Diego Chargers. Pro Football Focus rates the Chargers just 19th in run defense. Expect the Saints to be involved in a closer game in Week 4 and to give Ingram a hefty workload—both in the running and passing games.

Down: Todd Gurley, Los Angeles Rams

So Los Angeles Rams running back Todd Gurley finally got into the end zone in Week 3, and he did so twice. This means the 2015 rookie phenom is back to fantasy stardom and a must-start, right? Well, not so fast.

Gurley had a strong fantasy game because of those two scores, but he wasn't especially effective. He only averaged 3.1 yards per carry against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and is averaging 2.9 yards per carry on the season. As Gurley recently explained, this is probably because opposing defenses are focused on stopping him.

“It’s been crazy,” Gurley said last week, per Gary Klein of the Los Angeles Times. “I’m like, ‘There’s 12 people on the field!’ It’s definitely a lot of people.”

Things aren't likely to get any easier this week when the Rams travel to face the Arizona Cardinals. You can start Gurley and hope that he scores a cheap touchdown, but don't expect him to have a huge game.

Wide Receivers

Rank	Player	Team	Opponent
1	Marvin Jones	DET	@ CHI
2	A.J. Green	CIN	MIA
3	Stefon Diggs	MIN	NYG
4	Brandin Cooks	NO	@ SD
5	Mike Wallace	BAL	OAK
6	Antonio Brown	PIT	KC
7	Travis Benjamin	SD	NO
8	DeAndre Hopkins	HOU	TEN
9	Julio Jones	ATL	CAR
10	Terrelle Pryor	CLE	@ WAS
11	Larry Fitzgerald	ARI	LA
12	Jarvis Landry	MIA	@ CIN
13	DeSean Jackson	WAS	CLE
14	Amari Cooper	OAK	@ BAL
15	Golden Tate	DET	@ CHI
16	Kelvin Benjamin	CAR	@ ATL
17	Doug Baldwin	SEA	@ NYJ
18	Odell Beckham Jr.	NYG	@ MIN
19	Eric Decker	NYJ	SEA
20	Alshon Jeffery	CHI	DET
21	Steve Smith Sr.	BAL	OAK
22	Michael Crabtree	OAK	@ BAL
23	Jeremy Maclin	KC	@ PIT
24	Julian Edelman	NE	BUF
25	Cole Beasley	DAL	@ SF
26	Marquise Goodwin	BUF	@ NE
27	Jamison Crowder	WAS	CLE
28	Eddie Royal	CHI	DET
29	Dez Bryant	DAL	@ SF
30	Will Fuller	HOU	TEN

Up: Mike Wallace, Baltimore Ravens

Jason Miller/Getty Images

Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Mike Wallace cooled off in Week 3 against the Jacksonville Jaguars—just three receptions for 34 yards—but he is still a major deep threat. His 166 yards and three touchdowns on 10 receptions this season should indicate this.

Wallace will have a chance to get back on track and to potentially have a huge game this week against the Oakland Raiders.

Oakland has been absolutely gashed through the air so far this season. Though the team was better against the Tennessee Titans in Week 3, no team has given up more yards through the air through the first three games (340 yards per game on average).

Oakland hasn't been especially effective rushing the passer, either—Pro Football Focus rates the Raiders 25th in pass rush. If Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco has time in the pocket this week, he'll have a chance to find Wallace deep.

Down: Dez Bryant, Dallas Cowboys

Dallas Cowboys receiver Dez Bryant finally had a 100-yard game in Week 2, and he finally scored a touchdown in Week 3. Still, he hasn't been a dominant fantasy receiver this year, even though rookie quarterback Dak Prescott is playing well.

Prescott doesn't seem to have the same kind of chemistry with Bryant that he has with fellow wideout Cole Beasley and tight end Jason Witten.

In addition, Bryant suffered a knee injury against the Bears on Sunday night. Though he returned to the game and the injury doesn't appear serious, the Cowboys are awaiting MRI results.

Given the San Francisco 49ers are a pretty strong team against the pass—Pro Football Focus rates them third in coverage through Week 3—expect the Cowboys to come out with a run-oriented game plan.

We're not saying Bryant isn't worth a start, but we don't expect him to be as productive as he has been over the past couple of weeks.

Tight Ends

Rank	Player	Team	Opponent
1	Greg Olsen	CAR	@ ATL
2	Dennis Pitta	BAL	OAK
3	Julius Thomas	JAX	IND
4	Jacob Tamme	ATL	CAR
5	Martellus Bennett	NE	BUF
6	Delanie Walker	TEN	@ HOU
7	Eric Ebron	DET	@ CHI
8	Jordan Reed	WAS	CLE
9	Jason Witten	DAL	@ SF
10	Clive Walford	OAK	@ BAL
11	Kyle Rudolph	MIN	NYG
12	Vance McDonald	SF	DAL
13	Travis Kelce	KC	@ PIT
14	Dwayne Allen	IND	@ JAX
15	Jordan Cameron	MIA	@ CIN
16	Gary Barnidge	CLE	@ WAS
17	Jesse James	PIT	KC
18	Coby Fleener	NO	@ SD
19	Charles Clay	BUF	@ NE
20	Rob Gronkowski	NE	BUF

Up: Greg Olsen, Carolina Panthers

Carolina Panthers tight end Greg Olsen is still one of the biggest pieces of the team's offense and one of the top tight ends in the game—even at 31 years of age. 

Olsen has continued to chug along this season, racking up 18 receptions for 259 yards and a touchdown through three weeks. Expect him to continue being a focal point of the passing game in Week 4, where he gets to face an inconsistent Falcons defense.

This Atlanta defense just gave up 109 yards and a touchdown to Saints tight end Coby Fleener. Expect Olsen to have a big day.

Down: Rob Gronkowski, New England Patriots

New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski made his 2016 debut in Week 3, but he only played sparingly and finished the game without a reception. Though we expect Gronkowski to finally see some production this week, we're not sure how much.

Quarterback Tom Brady is still suspended, and Jacoby Brissett and Jimmy Garoppolo are both injured. According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, though, the Patriots are confident that one of their eligible quarterbacks will start:

We can't possibly consider ignoring Gronkowski if he plays, but he's risky. He has no real chemistry with either Brissett or Garoppolo, and he doesn't appear back to 100 percent health. Martellus Bennett is likely to remain the desirable Patriots tight end this week.

Kickers

Rank	Player	Team	Opponent
1	Dan Bailey	DAL	@ SF
2	Graham Gano	CAR	@ ATL
3	Adam Vinatieri	IND	@ JAX
4	Cairo Santos	KC	@ PIT
5	Matt Bryant	ATL	CAR
6	Justin Tucker	BAL	OAK
7	Nick Novak	HOU	TEN
8	Dustin Hopkins	WAS	CLE
9	Mike Nugent	CIN	MIA
10	Stephen Gostkowski	NE	BUF
11	Blair Walsh	MIN	NYG
12	Brandon McManus	DEN	@ TB
13	Matt Prater	DET	@ CHI
14	Chris Boswell	PIT	KC
15	Josh Lambo	SD	NO

Defense/Special Teams

Rank	Team	Opponent
1	Minnesota Vikings	NYG
2	Denver Broncos	@ TB
3	Houston Texans	TEN
4	Seattle Seahawks	@ NYJ
5	Arizona Cardinals	LA
6	New England Patriots	BUF
7	Washington Redskins	CLE
8	Los Angeles Rams	ARI
9	Buffalo Bills	NE
10	Cincinnati Bengals	MIA
11	Detroit Lions	@ CHI
12	Cleveland Browns	@ WAS
13	Dallas Cowboys	@ SF
14	New York Jets	SEA