Fantasy Football Week 4 Start 'Em, Sit 'Em: Who Are the Smart Matchup Plays?

We're three weeks into the 2011 football season, and fantasy football teams across the land now run the gamut from undefeated powerhouses to winless cupcakes, although most teams likely fall somewhere in between.

Three weeks is also enough time that certain trends have developed, and identifying those trends and using them as a tool to help in choosing a starting fantasy lineup can go a long ways towards securing a victory for your team.

With that in mind here's a player at each of the positions in "standard" fantasy football leagues that possesses the sort of favorable matchup that all but insures that they should be in starting lineups for Week 4.

1. Philip Rivers: QB, San Diego Chargers (vs. MIA)

It's been a ho-hum start to the 2011 season for San Diego Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers, who failed to throw a touchdown pass against the Kansas City Chiefs last week and now has more interceptions (six) than touchdown passes (four) after three games this year.

However, Rivers' fantasy fortunes should be set to improve this week, as San Diego squares off against a Miami Dolphins defense that is 30th in the NFL in pass defense and has allowed the third most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks this year, so even with Chargers tight end Antonio Gates sidelined by injury Philip Rivers is due for a big game this Sunday.

2. Darren McFadden: RB, Oakland Raiders (vs. NE)

There's been no more productive running back in the National Football League through three games this year than Darren McFadden of the Oakland Raiders, who has averaged over six yards a carry and 130 yards per game and is the top fantasy player at his position so far this season.

The Raiders will try to keep the Patriots offensive juggernaut off the field this week in Oakland by controlling the clock with a ball possession attack featuring Darren McFadden, who should be in for a solid day against a New England defense that has surrendered the seventh most fantasy points to opposing running backs.

3. DeSean Jackson: WR, Philadelphia Eagles (vs. SF)

The Philadelphia Eagles have gone from prohibitive favorites to win the NFC in the eyes of many to finish last in their division. They are a team in desperate need of a win this week against the San Francisco 49ers, and have questions swirling around them regarding the playing status of quarterback Michael Vick and wide receiver Jeremy Maclin.

One player Philadelphia will certainly need to step up his game this week is fourth year wide receiver DeSean Jackson, and with a matchup on tap with a 49ers defense that has allowed the sixth most fantasy points to opposing wide receivers this year the table is set for Jackson to have a big fantasy day regardless of who lines up under center for the Eagles.

4. Greg Olsen: TE, Carolina Panthers (at CHI)

Carolina Panthers tight end Greg Olsen had his best game of the 2011 campaign in last week's rain soaked win over the Jacksonville Jaguars, hauling in seven receptions for 57 yards and scoring his first touchdown of the year.

Olsen returns to Soldier Field this week to face his old team, and given that the Bears have allowed the third most fantasy points to opposing tight ends this season and the added motivation of playing the team that traded him Olsen is an excellent matchup play at tight end in Week 4.

5. Rob Bironas: K, Tennessee Titans (at CLE)

Many fantasy football enthusiasts employ a revolving door strategy where kickers are concerned, adding and dropping players at that position based on matchups.

Proponents of that strategy should strongly consider rolling out Tennessee Titans kicker Rob Bironas this week, as the Titans face a Cleveland Browns team Sunday that has allowed the most fantasy points to opposing kickers to this point in the season.

6. Tampa Bay Buccaneers Defense (vs. IND)

Things just get better and better for the now hapless Indianapolis Colts, who sit at 0-3 and are now looking at the very real possibility that Curtis Painter will be their starting quarterback when they travel to Tampa Bay to face the Buccaneers this week.

The Colts were already allowing the fifth most fantasy points to opposing defenses this year, and if you saw Painter in action last week against the Pittsburgh Steelers you should have some idea of why the Buccaneers defense is a top matchup play at the position for Week 4.