Week 4 Start 'Em, Sit 'Em: Top 10 Players, Stat Projections for Every Position

Start 'em, sit 'em articles and advice columns tend to exist in a black-and-white area. This guy is good enough for you this week or he isn't, case closed, next topic, blah, blah, blah. Of course, the truth is much more complex than that.

Do you have a better option available to you than the player I suggest you sit? Do you have a unique format or scoring rules in your league that warrant consideration? Do you just, you know, disagree with me?

Those are questions you'll have to answer for yourself. But I can give you a guide to some players I really like this week and some players that, if possible, I'll avoid like the plague. And while we're at it, I'll also break down the top 10 players at each position for Week 4. 

Whether you actually start them or sit them, well, that's up to you. And, as always, may the fantasy points be with you!

Quarterbacks

Rank	Player	Matchup	Proj. Points
1	Aaron Rodgers, GB	SF	23
2	Andrew Luck, IND	JAC	22
3	Russell Wilson, SEA	DET	20
4	Andy Dalton, CIN	KC	19
5	Matt Ryan, ATL	HOU	18
6	Peyton Manning, DEN	MIN	18
7	Cam Newton, CAR	TB	17
8	Carson Palmer, ARI	STL	17
9	Tyrod Taylor, BUF	NYG	16
10	Derek Carr, OAK	CHI	16

Start 'Em: Tyrod Taylor, QB, Buffalo Bills

Wilfredo Lee/Associated Press

Taylor is the sixth-ranked quarterback in standard leagues after three weeks. Raise your hand if you saw this one coming.

Now put down your hands, you liars.

Why mess with a good thing? Taylor has been excellent thus far and should be owned in all formats, and this week he faces a New York Giants defense that has given up over 300 passing yards in three straight games. With a slew of injuries and uncertainty at the quarterback position—and Tom Brady on bye—Taylor is a worthy starter this week.

Sit 'Em: Ryan Tannehill, QB, Miami Dolphins

Wilfredo Lee/Associated Press

Tannehill hasn't been bad this year, averaging 16.3 fantasy points per game. But a matchup against the New York Jets is just brutal, as they have yet to give up double-digit fantasy points to an opposing quarterback this season. 

There's one caveat—the health of Darrelle Revis. If the star cornerback can't go, Tannehill's stock goes up a bit. And with all of the potential injuries at the position, you may not have a choice but to start Tannehill. 

Just keep in mind that in two games against the Jets last year, Tannehill managed all of 20 total fantasy points. This isn't a good matchup for him, and if you can avoid starting him, keep him planted firmly on your bench.

Running Backs

Rank	Player	Matchup	Proj. Points
1	Marshawn Lynch, SEA	DET	20
2	Eddie Lacy, GB	SF	18
3	Adrian Peterson, MIN	DEN	17
4	Mark Ingram, NO	DAL	16
5	Matt Forte, CHI	OAK	15
6	Jamaal Charles, KC	CIN	15
7	Carlos Hyde, SF	GB	14
8	Alfred Blue, HOU*	ATL	14
9	DeMarco Murray, PHI	WAS	13
10	Melvin Gordon, SD	CLE	12

Start 'Em: DeMarco Murray, RB, Philadelphia Eagles

Matt Rourke/Associated Press

He has to start producing at some point, right? Right?

Sorry guys, the Eagles fan in me overtook the fantasy analyst for moment. I'm back. And while Murray has yet to produce to this point, is coming off an injury and has a tough matchup against Washington, I believe this is the week he'll hit his stride. 

The Eagles, finally, were able to establish a run game last week against a tough Jets defense, as Ryan Mathews rushed for 108 yards on 25 carries and Darren Sproles did a little bit of everything. Murray gives the team a more physical, downhill runner that can wear down a defense, and I expect he'll see a heavy workload early against Washington. 

Yes, Washington is second-best in fantasy points allowed to opposing running backs this season. But they also gave up 15 fantasy points to the Giants' backs last week. The Eagles are going to prescribe a heavy dose of Murray this week, and it should be just what the doctor ordered for his fantasy owners.

Sit 'Em: Ameer Abdullah, RB, Detroit Lions

Alex Gallardo/Associated Press

The Seahawks have given up 8.7 fantasy points per week to opposing backs, third-best in the NFL. The Lions, meanwhile, are averaging 45.0 rushing yards per game, worst in the league. 

You do the math, folks. Abdullah should remain firmly planted on your bench.

Wide Receivers

Rank	Player	Matchup	Proj. Points
1	A.J. Green, CIN	KC	20
2	Odell Beckham, NYG	BUF	18
3	Randall Cobb, GB	SF	17
4	Brandon Marshall, NYJ	MIA	16
5	Demaryius Thomas, DEN	MIN	15
6	Julio Jones, ATL	HOU	15
7	DeAndre Hopkins, HOU	ATL	14
8	T.Y. Hilton, IND	JAC	13
9	Calvin Johnson, DET	SEA	12
10	Amari Cooper, OAK	CHI	12

Start 'Em: Amari Cooper, WR, Oakland Raiders

Jeff Haynes/Associated Press

Cooper planted himself firmly in the WR2 tier after consecutive weeks with double-digit fantasy points. Now he faces a Chicago Bears defense that has already given up seven touchdowns (31st in the NFL) to opposing wideouts and is allowing an average of 29.3 fantasy points to the position per game (28th).

Derek Carr and Cooper have already formed an excellent chemistry that should have Oakland fans downright giddy about the pair. Fantasy owners can be giddy this week as well, as Cooper should torch Chicago's suspect pass defense.

Sit 'Em: Travis Benjamin, WR, Cleveland Browns

Aaron Josefczyk/Associated Press

Benjamin is due for a downtick in production. Of the 51 fantasy points he's posted this season, 24 of those points, or 47 percent of his total fantasy production, have come from his four touchdown receptions. It's safe to say that his touchdown production is due to slow in the coming weeks.

And it just might be this week against a San Diego defense that has given up just two receiving touchdowns and only 295 receiving yards to opposing wide receivers after three weeks. It probably won't be all about the Benjamin this week, folks. 

I'll see myself out.

Tight Ends

Rank	Player	Matchup	Proj. Points
1	Jimmy Graham, SEA	DET	15
2	Travis Kelce, KC	CIN	14
3	Greg Olsen, CAR	TB	12
4	Martellus Bennett, CHI	OAK	12
5	Jason Witten, DAL	NO	11
6	Charles Clay, BUF	NYG	10
7	Tyler Eifert, CIN	KC	9
8	Jordan Reed, WAS	PHI	9
9	Eric Ebron, DET	SEA	8
10	Jordan Cameron, MIA	NYJ	8

Start 'Em: Charles Clay, TE, Buffalo Bills

The New York Giants were torched in Week 1 by the Dallas tight ends, giving up three touchdowns to the position. Last week, Washington's Jordan Reed caught six passes for 96 yards against the G-Men. The Giants don't have a particularly stout defense, but they have proved to be pretty poor against opposing tight ends. 

Clay, meanwhile, has continued to assert himself as a valuable weapon in Buffalo's offense, nabbing a touchdown reception in Week 2 and finishing last week with five receptions for 82 yards and a score. This is a nice matchup for Clay and a good week to give him a start. 

Sit 'Em: Zach Ertz, TE, Philadelphia Eagles

Chris Szagola/Associated Press

Ertz just hasn't produced this season, and at this point, it seems that may be a trend. The Eagles have a lot of mouths to feed on offense and, somewhat surprisingly, feeding Ertz hasn't been a priority. He has just eight receptions for 93 yards on 16 targets, and he's currently the 30th-ranked tight end in standard leagues.

Then again, the Eagles offense as a whole simply hasn't been executing well.

“I think we are very close,” Ertz told Ed Benkin of CBS Philly, speaking of the team's offense. "Guys aren’t stressing about it. We know we’ll have a very formidable offense when we get this thing going but at the same time, we’ve got to go out there and execute.”

Getting Ertz going would probably help the entire operation. Until that happens, however, fantasy owners would be wise to leave Ertz on the bench.

Defense/Special Teams

Rank	Team	Matchup	Proj. Points
1	Arizona Cardinals	STL	15
2	Denver Broncos	MIN	13
3	Seattle Seahawks	DET	12
4	Carolina Panthers	TB	12
5	Cincinnati Bengals	KC	11
6	New York Jets	MIA	10
7	Green Bay Packers	SF	9
8	Philadelphia Eagles	WAS	9
9	Buffalo Bills	NYG	8
10	Dallas Cowboys*	NO	8

Start 'Em: Philadelphia Eagles

Al Bello/Getty Images

Oh, here comes the Eagles fan, writing about the Eagles again. What a hack.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, hear me out on this one, folks. The Eagles notched 16 fantasy points against the Jets last week. They've already forced eight turnovers this year. They have a really good special teams unit, and Sproles is always a threat to take a punt to the house. Washington's offense isn't great, and it's strength—running the ball—plays into Philly's strength on defense, a solid front seven. 

This matchup seems unlikely to be a shootout, given Washington's style of play this year and Philly's slow start offensively. Oh, and there's also a hurricane brewing, so if this game is even played, it could be a low-scoring slopfest with a bunch of turnovers.

Add it all up, and I think the Eagles are one of the sneakier, but smarter, fantasy starts at defense this week.

Sit 'Em: St. Louis Rams

Billy Hurst/Associated Press

The Arizona Cardinals are averaging a league-best 42 points per game this season. They are on fire. Sure, they faced New Orleans, Chicago and San Francisco the first three weeks, pretty mediocre defenses, but they still absolutely torched those units.

Will they put up 42 points against St. Louis? No, probably not. But am I starting the defense going against one of the league's hottest offenses at the moment?

No thanks.

Kickers

Rank	Player	Matchup	Proj. Points
1	Adam Vinatieri, IND	JAC	15
2	Josh Brown, NYG	BUF	14
3	Steven Hauschka, SEA	DET	13
4	Brandon McManus, DEN	MIN	12
5	Mason Crosby, GB	SF	11
6	Matt Bryant, ATL	HOU	11
7	Sebastian Janikowski, OAK	CHI	10
8	Dan Carpenter, BUF	NYG	10
9	Graham Gano, CAR	TB	9
10	Chandler Catanzaro, ARI	STL	8

Start 'Em: Adam Vinatieri, K, Indianapolis Colts

The Colts have a favorable matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars this week. Vinatieri hasn't been great for fantasy owners this season, but this will be his breakout performance.

Sit 'Em: Andrew Franks, K, Miami Dolphins

The Jets have given up a whopping 10 fantasy points, total, to opposing kickers this season. Sit Franks.

All fantasy stats and points against totals via ESPN standard leagues.