Start 'Em, Sit 'Em Week 4: Best and Worst RB Plays This Weekend

It's always tough to predict which running backs are the best to start. The running game is fickle by nature.

However, by looking at trends and opposing defenses, we can get a pretty good sense of the best and worst running back plays this weekend.

Read on to find out the best Start 'Em, Sit 'Em decisions for Week 4.

Start 'Em: Trent Richardson, Indianapolis Colts

Trent Richardson now has a full week in the Colts system, and he's going to have a big game this weekend because of it.

Between his increased comfort level in the system and the fact that the Jacksonville Jaguars give up 167.7 yards per game on the ground, it's pretty evident that Richardson will put up big numbers.

Plus, this game is going to be over pretty early. The Colts are much, much better than the Jags. That means that the Colts will go to the run game early. Richardson will get plenty of touches and plenty of opportunities to show why he was the third overall pick in the 2012 NFL draft.  

Sit 'Em: Ronnie Hillman, Denver Broncos

The Denver Broncos are the best team in football. But relying on one of their running backs for fantasy is just not wise.

Hillman rushed for 66 yards last week, including a score. But in the previous two weeks, Hillman rushed for a combined 18 yards. Between Knowshon Moreno and Montee Ball, there are simply more running backs than carries available. 

Plus, this is a passing team. The Broncos average more than three times more yards through the air than on the ground. 

Philadelphia's run defense is not great. But its pass defense is worse. The Broncos will put up big points and will end up splitting the carries among the three running backs. Hillman, and the entire Denver running game, is just too unpredictable to start comfortably. 

Start 'Em: Lamar Miller, Miami Dolphins

Lamar Miller was the trendy fantasy sleeper before the season started, but he's been pretty up-and-down. He's rushed for just 134 yards and a score thus far.

However, this is going to be the week where he really breaks out. Going up against the New Orleans Saints, who have given up nearly 100 receiving yards per game to running backs, is the ideal matchup.

The Saints have the 24th-ranked rush defense, giving up 85.7 yards per game on the ground, and gave up 144 yards rushing to Doug Martin.

It is true that Miller is in a platoon with Daniel Thomas. Miller has 69 more yards rushing, but Thomas has more scores. As Omar Kelly of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel notes, this is all part of the plan:

That is troubling for fantasy owners. But Miller is still smart as a flex play.  He may not get carries in the red zone, but the Saints are struggling against running backs no matter where they are on the field. Miller will get a ton of chances in the open field to make plays, and has the potential to create some big plays, both on the ground and through the air. 

Miller is an ideal flex play this week.

Sit 'Em: C.J. Spiller, Buffalo Bills

C.J. Spiller will eventually break out, but this is not the week for that to happen.

Spiller, who left last week's game with a quadriceps injury, has been participating fully in practice, according to Chris Brown of the team's website. Spiller said that he is feeling better:

While that bodes well for the future, it does nothing to make him a good play this weekend.

The Bills are going up against the Baltimore Ravens, who give up the fourth-fewest rushing yards per game in the league. At just 74.7 yards per game, the Ravens run defense is its usual stingy self. It gave up only 54 yards to Arian Foster and just 58 yards to Trent Richardson when he was still with the Cleveland Browns. 

Spiller has been a fantasy bust, with only 153 yards rushing and zero scores. Fred Jackson is starting to take some carries away from Spiller, and Jackson was efficient last week, with seven carries for 72 yards. 

Starting Spiller is a mistake. Will he rebound? Eventually. But not this week. Not against a top rush defense, not when he's coming off an injury and not when Jackson is starting to regain his old form.