NFL Fantasy Rankings Week 4

Jake WestrichSep 25, 2008

2008 Week 4 Fantasy Rankings

BtB presents position-by-position cheat sheets

By Paul Bessire, WhatIfSports.com

September 23rd, 2008

We present our updated, weekly fantasy football projections. This thorough analysis and statistical evaluation of every player and team in the NFL is part of a broader endeavor with FOXSports.com's Fantasy Football. Each regular season game is simulated 10,001 times, with the sum of the averages of those games being our final predicted outcome. This allows us to account for every player and statistical interaction in an NFL game. Rosters and depth charts are up-to-date and as accurate as possible as of Tuesday morning for each week. Information on scoring and injury analysis appears at the very bottom of this article.

To view a pop-up with positional rankings, please click on one of the links below. Good luck this season!

Quarterback	Running Back	Wide Receiver	Tight End
Kicker	Team Defense	Individual Defense

	Name	Pos	Team	Opp	Points
1.	Philip Rivers	QB	Chargers	Raiders	23.8
2.	Frank Gore	RB	49ers	Saints	23.8
3.	Kurt Warner	QB	Cardinals	Jets	23.4
4.	J.T. O'Sullivan	QB	49ers	Saints	22.3
5.	Trent Edwards	QB	Bills	Rams	22.3
6.	Drew Brees	QB	Saints	49ers	21.9
7.	Reggie Bush	RB	Saints	49ers	21.9
8.	Jay Cutler	QB	Broncos	Chiefs	21.1
9.	Brett Favre	QB	Jets	Cardinals	20.0
10.	Aaron Rodgers	QB	Packers	Buccaneers	19.9
11.	Donovan McNabb	QB	Eagles	Bears	19.2
12.	Tony Romo	QB	Cowboys	Redskins	18.9
13.	Greg Jennings	WR	Packers	Buccaneers	18.6
14.	Marion Barber	RB	Cowboys	Redskins	18.4
	Name	Pos	Team	Opp	Points
15.	Adrian Peterson	RB	Vikings	Titans	17.5
16.	Darren McFadden	RB	Raiders	Chargers	17.1
17.	Selvin Young	RB	Broncos	Chiefs	16.5
18.	Jason Campbell	QB	Redskins	Cowboys	16.4
19.	Marshawn Lynch	RB	Bills	Rams	16.4
20.	Correll Buckhalter	RB	Eagles	Bears	16.3
21.	Thomas Jones	RB	Jets	Cardinals	16.3
22.	Kerry Collins	QB	Titans	Vikings	16.1
23.	Steven Jackson	RB	Rams	Bills	15.6
24.	Carson Palmer	QB	Bengals	Browns	15.5
25.	David Garrard	QB	Jaguars	Texans	15.5
26.	Larry Fitzgerald	WR	Cardinals	Jets	15.5
27.	Jake Delhomme	QB	Panthers	Falcons	15.2
28.	LaDainian Tomlinson	RB	Chargers	Raiders	15.1
29.	Jamal Lewis	RB	Browns	Bengals	14.8
	Name	Pos	Team	Opp	Points
30.	Chris Johnson	RB	Titans	Vikings	14.7
31.	Andre Hall	RB	Broncos	Chiefs	14.2
32.	Brandon Marshall	WR	Broncos	Chiefs	13.9
33.	Earnest Graham	RB	Buccaneers	Packers	13.7
34.	Tyler Thigpen	QB	Chiefs	Broncos	13.6
35.	Anquan Boldin	WR	Cardinals	Jets	13.5
36.	Edgerrin James	RB	Cardinals	Jets	13.4
37.	Jason Witten	TE	Cowboys	Redskins	13.4
38.	Derek Anderson	QB	Browns	Bengals	13.3
39.	Santana Moss	WR	Redskins	Cowboys	13.3
40.	Marc Bulger	QB	Rams	Bills	13.2
41.	Ben Roethlisberger	QB	Steelers	Ravens	13.2
42.	Lee Evans	WR	Bills	Rams	13.0
43.	Steve Slaton	RB	Texans	Jaguars	12.9
44.	Brian Griese	QB	Buccaneers	Packers	12.6
	Name	Pos	Team	Opp	Points
45.	T.J. Houshmandzadeh	WR	Bengals	Browns	12.5
46.	Jonathan Stewart	RB	Panthers	Falcons	12.5
47.	Larry Johnson	RB	Chiefs	Broncos	12.0
48.	Gus Frerotte	QB	Vikings	Titans	11.7
49.	Clinton Portis	RB	Redskins	Cowboys	11.7
50.	Matt Forte	RB	Bears	Eagles	11.6
51.	Michael Bush	RB	Raiders	Chargers	11.6
52.	Fred Taylor	RB	Jaguars	Texans	11.4
53.	Mason Crosby	K	Packers	Buccaneers	11.2
54.	Michael Turner	RB	Falcons	Panthers	11.1
55.	Rian Lindell	K	Bills	Rams	11.0
56.	Nate Kaeding	K	Chargers	Raiders	10.9
57.	Maurice Jones-Drew	RB	Jaguars	Texans	10.9
58.	DeAngelo Williams	RB	Panthers	Falcons	10.8
59.	John Kasay	K	Panthers	Falcons	10.6
	Name	Pos	Team	Opp	Points
60.	Rob Bironas	K	Titans	Vikings	10.5
61.	DeSean Jackson	WR	Eagles	Bears	10.5
62.	Matt Ryan	QB	Falcons	Panthers	10.2
63.	Joe Flacco	QB	Ravens	Steelers	10.1
64.	Jaguars	DEF		Texans	10.1
65.	Ryan Grant	RB	Packers	Buccaneers	10.1
66.	Steelers	DEF		Ravens	10.0
67.	Kyle Orton	QB	Bears	Eagles	9.9
68.	Roddy White	WR	Falcons	Panthers	9.9
69.	Dwayne Bowe	WR	Chiefs	Broncos	9.8
70.	Santonio Holmes	WR	Steelers	Ravens	9.8
71.	Chris Perry	RB	Bengals	Browns	9.7
72.	Josh Reed	WR	Bills	Rams	9.7
73.	Jerricho Cotchery	WR	Jets	Cardinals	9.7
74.	Jerry Porter	WR	Jaguars	Texans	9.6
	Name	Pos	Team	Opp	Points
75.	Willis McGahee	RB	Ravens	Steelers	9.6
76.	David Akers	K	Eagles	Bears	9.6
77.	Vincent Jackson	WR	Chargers	Raiders	9.5
78.	Chris Chambers	WR	Chargers	Raiders	9.5
79.	Josh Scobee	K	Jaguars	Texans	9.3
80.	Antonio Gates	TE	Chargers	Raiders	9.1
81.	Rashard Mendenhall	RB	Steelers	Ravens	9.1
82.	Nick Folk	K	Cowboys	Redskins	9.0
83.	Steve Smith	WR	Panthers	Falcons	8.8
84.	JaMarcus Russell	QB	Raiders	Chargers	8.8
85.	Jeff Reed	K	Steelers	Ravens	8.8
86.	Hank Baskett	WR	Eagles	Bears	8.7
87.	Warrick Dunn	RB	Buccaneers	Packers	8.7
88.	Bryant Johnson	WR	49ers	Saints	8.6
89.	Laveranues Coles	WR	Jets	Cardinals	8.6
	Name	Pos	Team	Opp	Points
90.	Kellen Winslow	TE	Browns	Bengals	8.5
91.	Eddie Royal	WR	Broncos	Chiefs	8.4
92.	Matt Prater	K	Broncos	Chiefs	8.3
93.	Isaac Bruce	WR	49ers	Saints	8.3
94.	Hines Ward	WR	Steelers	Ravens	8.3
95.	Terrell Owens	WR	Cowboys	Redskins	8.2
96.	Torry Holt	WR	Rams	Bills	8.1
97.	Joe Nedney	K	49ers	Saints	8.1
98.	Panthers	DEF		Falcons	8.1
99.	Matt Schaub	QB	Texans	Jaguars	7.9
100.	Neil Rackers	K	Cardinals	Jets	7.9
101.	Bo Scaife	TE	Titans	Vikings	7.9
102.	Tony Gonzalez	TE	Chiefs	Broncos	7.8
103.	Antonio Bryant	WR	Buccaneers	Packers	7.8
104.	Fred Jackson	RB	Bills	Rams	7.7
	Name	Pos	Team	Opp	Points
105.	Jay Feely	K	Jets	Cardinals	7.6
106.	Justin McCareins	WR	Titans	Vikings	7.6
107.	Shayne Graham	K	Bengals	Browns	7.6
108.	Brandon Lloyd	WR	Bears	Eagles	7.5
109.	Sebastian Janikowski	K	Raiders	Chargers	7.4
110.	Andre Johnson	WR	Texans	Jaguars	7.4
111.	Ryan Longwell	K	Vikings	Titans	7.4
112.	Phil Dawson	K	Browns	Bengals	7.3
113.	Robbie Gould	K	Bears	Eagles	7.2
114.	Matt Stover	K	Ravens	Steelers	7.1
115.	Robert Meachem	WR	Saints	49ers	7.1
116.	Donald Driver	WR	Packers	Buccaneers	7.1
117.	Bernard Berrian	WR	Vikings	Titans	7.0
118.	Devery Henderson	WR	Saints	49ers	7.0
119.	Billy Miller	TE	Saints	49ers	7.0
	Name	Pos	Team	Opp	Points
120.	Matt Bryant	K	Buccaneers	Packers	7.0
121.	Ike Hilliard	WR	Buccaneers	Packers	6.7
122.	Martin Gramatica	K	Saints	49ers	6.7
123.	Browns	DEF		Bengals	6.6
124.	Bills	DEF		Rams	6.5
125.	Eagles	DEF		Bears	6.4
126.	Chris Cooley	TE	Redskins	Cowboys	6.4
127.	Packers	DEF		Buccaneers	6.3
128.	Cowboys	DEF		Redskins	6.2
129.	Randy McMichael	TE	Rams	Bills	6.2
130.	Mewelde Moore	RB	Steelers	Ravens	6.2
131.	Donald Lee	TE	Packers	Buccaneers	6.1
132.	Chansi Stuckey	WR	Jets	Cardinals	6.1
133.	Jerious Norwood	RB	Falcons	Panthers	6.1
134.	Broncos	DEF		Chiefs	6.1
	Name	Pos	Team	Opp	Points
135.	Braylon Edwards	WR	Browns	Bengals	6.1
136.	Josh Brown	K	Rams	Bills	6.0
137.	Chad Johnson	WR	Bengals	Browns	6.0
138.	Kris Brown	K	Texans	Jaguars	5.9
139.	Brandon Jackson	RB	Packers	Buccaneers	5.9
140.	Muhsin Muhammad	WR	Panthers	Falcons	5.9
141.	Chester Taylor	RB	Vikings	Titans	5.9
142.	Jason Elam	K	Falcons	Panthers	5.8
143.	Titans	DEF		Vikings	5.8
144.	Shaun Suisham	K	Redskins	Cowboys	5.7
145.	Derrick Mason	WR	Ravens	Steelers	5.6
146.	Mike Tolbert	RB	Chargers	Raiders	5.6
147.	Devard Darling	WR	Chiefs	Broncos	5.6
148.	Robert Royal	TE	Bills	Rams	5.5
149.	Bengals	DEF		Browns	5.5
	Name	Pos	Team	Opp	Points
150.	Ravens	DEF		Steelers	5.5
151.	Steve Breaston	WR	Cardinals	Jets	5.4
152.	Arnaz Battle	WR	49ers	Saints	5.4
153.	LenDale White	RB	Titans	Vikings	5.2
154.	Buccaneers	DEF		Packers	5.2
155.	Nick Novak	K	Chiefs	Broncos	5.0
156.	Mark Clayton	WR	Ravens	Steelers	5.0
157.	49ers	DEF		Saints	4.7
158.	Pierre Thomas	RB	Saints	49ers	4.6
159.	Dane Looker	WR	Rams	Bills	4.6
160.	Tony Scheffler	TE	Broncos	Chiefs	4.4
161.	Ashley Lelie	WR	Raiders	Chargers	4.4
162.	Antonio Chatman	WR	Bengals	Browns	4.4
163.	Matt Jones	WR	Jaguars	Texans	4.2
164.	Cardinals	DEF		Jets	4.1
	Name	Pos	Team	Opp	Points
165.	Jamaal Charles	RB	Chiefs	Broncos	4.1
166.	Chris Baker	TE	Jets	Cardinals	4.1
167.	Antwaan Randle El	WR	Redskins	Cowboys	4.1
168.	Reggie Williams	WR	Jaguars	Texans	4.1
169.	Todd Heap	TE	Ravens	Steelers	4.0
170.	Brandon Jones	WR	Titans	Vikings	4.0
171.	Leon Washington	RB	Jets	Cardinals	4.0
172.	Felix Jones	RB	Cowboys	Redskins	4.0
173.	Brandon Stokley	WR	Broncos	Chiefs	3.9
174.	Dexter Jackson	WR	Buccaneers	Packers	3.9
175.	Jets	DEF		Cardinals	3.8
176.	Darren Sproles	RB	Chargers	Raiders	3.8
177.	Texans	DEF		Jaguars	3.8
178.	Donte' Stallworth	WR	Browns	Bengals	3.8
179.	Chargers	DEF		Raiders	3.7
	Name	Pos	Team	Opp	Points
180.	Bobby Wade	WR	Vikings	Titans	3.7
181.	Patrick Crayton	WR	Cowboys	Redskins	3.7
182.	Le'Ron McClain	RB	Ravens	Steelers	3.7
183.	Raiders	DEF		Chargers	3.7
184.	Greg Lewis	WR	Eagles	Bears	3.6
185.	Bears	DEF		Eagles	3.5
186.	Vikings	DEF		Titans	3.5
187.	Saints	DEF		49ers	3.4
188.	Heath Miller	TE	Steelers	Ravens	3.4
189.	Visanthe Shiancoe	TE	Vikings	Titans	3.4
190.	Brandon Manumaleuna	TE	Chargers	Raiders	3.4
191.	Roscoe Parrish	WR	Bills	Rams	3.4
192.	Aundrae Allison	WR	Vikings	Titans	3.3
193.	Kevin Walter	WR	Texans	Jaguars	3.3
194.	Redskins	DEF		Cowboys	3.3
	Name	Pos	Team	Opp	Points
195.	Tim Hightower	RB	Cardinals	Jets	3.3
196.	Chris Davis	WR	Titans	Vikings	3.2
197.	Lorenzo Neal	RB	Ravens	Steelers	3.2
198.	Owen Daniels	TE	Texans	Jaguars	3.1
199.	Michael Jenkins	WR	Falcons	Panthers	3.1
200.	Reggie Brown	WR	Eagles	Bears	3.1

* The individual players and defensive teams below are ranked based entirely on projected full-season fantasy points using the FOX Fantasy Football Default Scoring where for QBs, RBs, WRs and TE, all TDs are 6 points, each 25 yards passing are 1 point, interceptions are -2 points, fumbles lost are -2 points, each ten yards receiving are 1 point and two-point conversions are 2 points. For kickers, all extra points are 1 point and all field goals are at least 3 points with an extra bonus point for field goals made over 40 yards and another bonus point for field goals made over 50 yards. Individual defensive players (linked to below, but not inlcuded in overall rankings) earn 1 point for each solo tackle, 1 point for each sack, 2 points for each interception and six points for each touchdown. Team defenses include special teams and are treated similarly for sacks, interceptions and touchdown returns, while a more complex system, based on the outcome of each individual game, is utilized for points allowed per game.

Please note: These overall fantasy rankings are strictly based on total points earned for the season. They do not account for position scarcity, number of owners drafting and their drafting styles, roster restrictions, custom league scoring rules or other items that should be considered while drafting. Injuries are accounted for based on a player's past history and the likelihood of missing games due to injury. This is reflected in his games played (GP) value. However, unless the injury is already known and takes place at the beginning of the season, the players are arbitrarily injured throughout the season (as opposed to just at the end or beginning of the year). Players with less than 16 GP will likely vary the most from their projected numbers because they are injury-prone or have depth chart and playing time concerns.

Paul Bessire is the Senior Quantitative Analyst and Content Manager for WhatIfSports.com and a member of the Pro Football Writers of America. With any comments, questions or topic suggestions, Paul can be reached at BtB@whatifsports.com. Thanks!