The hardest part of fantasy football is choosing the right player to start every week.
Even with the best roster in your league, owners can lose when the players on the bench end up with a great game while starters flop.ย
Fortunately, this can be used as a cheat sheet as you debate which NFL players to keep in your lineup for Week 4 of the regular season.
Quarterbacks
1 of 5It is time to start giving respect to Matt Ryan and Robert Griffin III. The lowest fantasy output for either of these players this year was 17 points, and it seems like the beginning of the year has not been a fluke.
Griffin has the ability to rack up points with his legs as well as his arm, which prevents him from having a bad game.
Both he and Ryan are facing poor defenses this week and should be started in almost all leagues.
Meanwhile, be careful with usual elite quarterbacksย Drew Brees and Eli Manning. They are facing tough defenses that know how to bring pressure and force opponents into mistakes.
| No. | Player | Team | Opponent |
| 1 | Aaron Rodgers | Packers | Saintsย |
| 2 | Matt Ryan | Falcons | Panthers |
| 3 | Robert Griffin III | Redskins | Buccaneers |
| 4 | Tom Brady | Patriots | Billsย |
| 5 | Peyton Manning | Broncosย | Raidersย |
| 6 | Drew Brees | Saintsย | Packersย |
| 7 | Eli Manning | Giantsย | Eaglesย |
| 8 | Philip Rivers | Chargersย | Kansas Cityย |
| 9 | Matt Schaub | Texansย | Titansย |
| 10 | Michael Vick | Eaglesย | Giantsย |
Running Backs
2 of 5Frank Gore only had 12 carries as the San Francisco 49ers lost to the Minnesota Vikings. Watch for Jim Harbaugh to get back to the power running game and for Gore to have a big day.
BenJarvus Green-Ellis and Cedric Benson also sneak into the top 10 due to great matchups. Both players have been getting consistent carries and have solid matchups against two of the three worst run defenses in the NFL.
Owners should also temper expectations for Jamaal Charles after a career day last week. The San Diego Chargers are only allowing 67.3 rushing yards per game and are much tougher up front than the Saints.ย
| No. | Player | Team | Opponent |
| 1 | Arian Foster | Texansย | Titansย |
| 2 | Maurice Jones-Drew | Jaguarsย | Bengalsย |
| 3 | Adrian Peterson | Vikingsย | Lionsย |
| 4 | Frank Gore | 49ersย | Jetsย |
| 5 | LeSean McCoy | Eaglesย | Giantsย |
| 6 | Darren McFadden | Raidersย | Broncosย |
| 7 | Marshawn Lynch | Seahawksย | Ramsย |
| 8 | BenJarvus Green-Ellis | Bengalsย | Jaguarsย |
| 9 | Jamaal Charlesย | Chiefsย | Chargersย |
| 10 | Cedric Benson | Packersย | Saintsย |
Wide Receivers
3 of 5After seeing what Ramses Barden was able to do to the Carolina Panthers' defense, it is hard to imagine what kind of numbers Julio Jones and Roddy White would be able to provide.
Eric Decker is a bit of a sleeper this week after emerging as Peyton Manning's go-to target in Week 3 with 136 receiving yards.ย
Finally, the Washington Redskins have allowed the second-most passing yards in the NFL this season. Vincent Jackson was stymied by the Dallas Cowboys last week, but he should redeem himself in this favorable matchup.
| No. | Player | Team | Opponent |
| 1 | Calvin Johnson | Lionsย | Vikingsย |
| 2 | Andre Johnson | Texasย | Titansย |
| 3 | A.J. Green | Bengalsย | Jaguarsย |
| 4 | Julio Jones | Falconsย | Panthersย |
| 5 | Roddy White | Falconsย | Panthersย |
| 6 | Larry Fitzgerald | Cardinals | Dolphinsย |
| 7 | Eric Decker | Broncos | Raidersย |
| 8 | Greg Jennings | Packersย | Saintsย |
| 9 | Vincent Jacksonย | Buccaneersย | Redskinsย |
| 10 | Victor Cruz | Giantsย | Eagles |
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Tight Ends
4 of 5It does not matter what the matchup is or how they did last week, Jimmy Graham and Rob Gronkowski will remain at the top of the list until otherwise noted.
Antonio Gates has not done much this season, but a matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs is a great way to break out offensively.
A sleeper candidate at the position is Fred Davis, who is facing the worst pass defense in the NFL. The Washington Redskins have a moving rotation of receivers, but Davis should be a consistent target for Robert Griffin.
| No. | Player | Team | Opponent |
| 1 | Jimmy Graham | Saintsย | Packersย |
| 2 | Rob Gronkowski | Patriotsย | Billsย |
| 3 | Vernon Davis | 49ersย | Jetsย |
| 4 | Tony Gonzalez | Falconsย | Panthersย |
| 5 | Martellus Bennett | Giants | Eagles |
| 6 | Antonio Gates | Chargersย | Chiefsย |
| 7 | Jermichael Finley | Packersย | Saintsย |
| 8 | Fred Davis | Redskinsย | Buccaneersย |
| 9 | Owen Daniels | Texansย | Titansย |
| 10 | Brandon Pettigrew | Lionsย | Vikingsย |
Defense/Special Teams
5 of 5After scoring 21 points last week, the Arizona Cardinals move to the top of the list. The defense is very tough, especially at home, and it should fare well against the rookie Ryan Tannehill.
An interesting strategy could also be to follow the Philadelphia Eagles as an opponent. After turning the ball over 12 times in three games, it is not hard to imagine this trend continuing. They face the New York Giants this week and could be in trouble early.
The Atlanta Falcons might be a risky play against the quick-striking offense of the Carolina Panthers, but recent trends indicate this being a good play.
| No. | Team | Opponent |
| 1 | Cardinals | Dolphinsย |
| 2 | 49ers | Jetsย |
| 3 | Texans | Titansย |
| 4 | Seahawks | Ramsย |
| 5 | Falcons | Panthersย |
| 6 | Cowboys | Bearsย |
| 7 | Giants | Eaglesย |
| 8 | Patriots | Billsย |
| 9 | Packers | Saintsย |
| 10 | Bears | Cowboysย |
For more fantasy football advice, follow me on Twitter. I make better roster decisions than Bill Belichick.
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