Fantasy Football Start Em' Sit Em' Week 4: 3 Surprising Must Starts

As the NFL season rolls on, we'll now take a look at three players who you may be surprised you should start this week.

Football thrives on the element of surprise, and unexpected players step up to have big games each week. 

Most of these can never be predicted, but hey, we can always try, right? Match-ups are often overlooked, and we can use them as a good indicator of what players could have big games.

These three players fall into that category.

Eli Manning, QB, New York Giants

New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning is not normally a starter in fantasy football, but this week it might be smart to start him if you don't have Aaron Rodgers, Tom Brady or Drew Brees.

Manning and the Giants will be going up against the Arizona Cardinals, who rank 25th in pass defense and 22nd in run defense.

With both Hakeem Nicks and Mario Manningham back in the lineup, Manning will have his two top targets to throw to, both of which will be going against a possibly-overmatched cornerback.

With Ahmad Bradshaw and Brandon Jacobs keeping Arizona focused on the ground game, Manning could have himself a career day against a defense that allowed over 400 yards passing to Carolina rookie Cam Newton.

Chris Johnson, RB, Tennessee Titans

Tennessee running back Chris Johnson has had a horrible season to date, gaining just 98 total yards on 46 carries in his first three games.

Many fantasy owners have started labeling Johnson as a bust for 2010, and with good reason. After all, he could only muster 21 yards against the Denver Broncos last week, a team that is not known for being stout defensively.

This week, however, the Titans will take on the Cleveland Browns, who rank 29th in the NFL in rushing yards allowed per game. It would be an ideal time for Johnson to finally live up to the contract that he fought so hard for in the offseason.

With quarterback Matt Hasselbeck playing well enough to keep Cleveland's defense honest, you have to think Johnson will finally have a breakout game.

Cam Newton, QB, Carolina Panthers

This pick may not seem like a surprise, but after Carolina Panthers rookie Cam Newton struggled last week against the Jacksonville Jaguars, it seemed as though he had been brought down to earth.

With a matchup against revered defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli and the Chicago Bears this weekend, it would seem like Newton would be in for another below-average day.

However, Chicago has been below-par themselves in defending the pass, ranking 26th in the league allowing 277.3 yards per game.

That stat may be inflated, because the three quarterbacks Chicago has played thus far have been Matt Ryan, Drew Brees and Aaron Rodgers.

But considering Newton threw for over 400 yards against the Green Bay Packers just a couple weeks before, I like his chances of rebounding and having another big game passing.