Week 4 Start 'Em, Sit 'Em: Aaron Hernandez and 3 Players You Must Sit

Word has come through that New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez sat out Thursday's practice. This means the second-year tight end will not play in the team's Sunday matchup against the Oakland Raiders, as head coach Bill Belichick insists that those who don't practice can't play that week. Hernandez is one of several players who need to sit this week in fantasy football.

Cleveland Browns running back Peyton Hillis sat out the team's 17-16 Week 3 win over the Miami Dolphins with a bad case of strep throat. In his place, Montario Hardesty ran the ball 14 times for 67 yards and had three catches for 19 more yards. That, combined with Browns head coach Pat Shurmur's declaration that he wants to limit Hillis' workload, means you probably shouldn't rely on the Madden 12 cover boy this week.

Hillis has practiced, but given his bad matchup against a very good Tennessee Titans defense, in addition to the emergence of Hardesty, you should probably bench him if you have another option.

Houston Texans running back Ben Tate has been outstanding this year with Arian Foster missing time due to an injured hamstring. Tate has rushed 66 times for 301 yards and a touchdown. However, this week, Foster will reportedly start for Houston, relegating Tate to backup status.

The second-year running back out of Auburn is also battling an ankle injury he suffered in Houston's 40-33 loss to the New Orleans Saints on Sunday. You've got to believe that, hampered with an ankle injury and now the second option, Tate is a terrible play this week. He's worth holding on to, but keep him out of the lineup on Sunday.

Baltimore Ravens receiver Torrey Smith broke out with a huge game in the team's 37-7 win over the St. Louis Rams in Week 3. The rookie out of Maryland had five catches for 152 yards and three touchdowns. However, that explosion came against a fairly poor Rams secondary.

This Sunday night, the Ravens face the New York Jets, a team with a phenomenal secondary. Smith will be matched up against some combination of Antonio Cromartie and Darrelle Revis. Expecting him to do damage against that pair would be foolish.

If you've got Smith, this is the week to sit him.