Phinsider Week 4 Fantasy Football Rankings

Week 3 saw plenty of upsets both in the real and fantasy football worlds, one of which involved our very own Miami Dolphins falling to a team that many had pegged to go 0-16 on the season. Just as fans of the Dolphins were disappointed this week, so too were owners of the likes of Travis Kelce and Dereck Carr, two players who were expected to have solid outings last Sunday. Kelce ended up corralling just one reception, while Carr threw for just 118 yards. I’m expecting a bounceback week for at least one of those two players below.

Each week, I’ll be giving an updated look at where the top players at each fantasy position stand, with matchups and injury concerns taken into account. For the sake of continuity, I’ll only be using standard scoring when constructing the rankings, so be sure to consider that when setting your lineups.

Quarterback

1. Aaron Rodgers - vs Chi
2. Tom Brady - vs Car
3. Drew Brees - @ Mia
4. Matt Ryan - vs Buf
5. Russell Wilson - vs Ind
6. Matthew Stafford - @ Min
7. Kirk Cousins - @ KC
8. Ben Roethlisberger - @ Bal
9. Philip Rivers - vs Phi
10. Carson Wentz - @ LAC
11. Carson Palmer - vs SF
12. Alex Smith - vs Was
13. Jameis Winston - vs NYG
14. Marcus Mariota - @ Hou
15. Jay Cutler - vs NO
16. Derek Carr - @ Den
17. Blake Bortles - @ NYJ
18. Andy Dalton - @ Cle
19. Trevor Siemian - vs Oak
20. Dak Prescott - @ LAR

Dereck Carr and the Raiders’ entire offense absolutely flopped last week against a not-so-imposing Redskins defense. Now, the Silver and Black will travel to the Mile High City to take on one of the league’s best secondaries, a situation that isn’t very conducive for success. Dak Prescott is another name you may want to avoid this week as Aaron Donald and the Rams will look to rebound from a poor defensive showing in Santa Clara.

Running Back

1. Kareem Hunt - vs Was
2. Le’Veon Bell - @ Bal
3. Ezekiel Elliot - vs LAR
4. Jay Ajayi - vs NO
5. Todd Gurley - @ Dal
6. Melvin Gordon - vs Phi
7. Dalvin Cook - vs Det
8. LeSean McCoy - @ Atl
9. Devonta Freeman - vs Buf
10. Leonard Fournette - @ NYJ
11. Carlos Hyde - @ Ari
12. Ty Montgomery - vs Chi
13. Jordan Howard - @ GB
14. DeMarco Murray - @ Hou
15. Chris Carson - vs Ind
16. Joe Mixon - @ Cle
17. Derrick Henry - @ Hou
18. C.J. Anderson - vs Oak
19. Tarik Cohen - @ GB
20. Lamar Miller - vs Ten

Joe Mixon quickly pushed himself back into fantasy relevancy with a strong performance against the Green Bay Packers. He should absolutely be in starting lineups this week with an exploitable matchup against the Cleveland Browns. Jordan Howard seems to have reaffirmed his role as the top dog in Chicago’s offense, but rookie runner Tarik Cohen also warrants consideration as a FLEX play, especially in PPR leagues.

Wide Receiver

1. Julio Jones - vs Buf
2. A.J. Green - @ Cle
3. Odell Beckham - @ TB
4. Antonio Brown - @ Bal
5. Jordy Nelson - vs Chi
6. Mike Evans - vs NYG
7. Stefon Diggs - vs Det
8. Tyreek Hill - vs Was
9. Brandin Cooks - vs Car
10. Doug Baldwin - vs Ind
11. Keenan Allen - vs Phi
12. Michael Thomas - @ Mia
13. Adam Thielen - vs Det
14. Demaryius Thomas - vs Oak
15. DeAndre Hopkins - vs Ten
16. Emmanuel Sanders - vs Oak
17. Golden Tate - @ Min
18. Larry Fitzgerald - vs SF
19. DeVante Parker - vs NO
20. Alshon Jeffrey - @ LAC

There are a couple of injuries to keep track of this week near the top of the rankings at the wide receiver position. Julio Jones (back) and Doug Baldwin (groin) are both likely going to be limited if not absent during practices this week, so owners of the two pass catchers need to be aware of their status as game time rolls closer.

Favorable matchups to fire up this weekend are Larry Fitzgerald against the 49ers, DeVante Parker against the Saints, and Demaryius Thomas against the Raiders.

Tight End

1. Rob Gronkowski - vs Car
2. Travis Kelce - vs Was
3. Zach Ertz - @ LAC
4. Delanie Walker - @ Hou
5. Jimmy Graham - vs Ind
6. Coby Fleener - @ Mia
7. Jason Witten - vs LAR
8. Charles Clay - @ Atl
9. Kyle Rudolph - vs Det
10. Benjamin Watson - vs Pit
11. Jesse James - @ Bal
12. Jordan Reed - @ KC
13. Jared Cook - @ Den
14. Evan Engram - @ TB
15. Austin Hooper - vs Buf
16. Eric Ebron - vs Min
17. Julius Thomas - vs NO
18. Jermaine Gresham - vs SF
19. Tyler Kroft - @ Cle
20. Martellus Bennett - vs Chi

The tight end position has been one of the most unreliable in fantasy thus far this season, and was only made worse for wear with Greg Olsen’s injury back in week 2. Through three weeks of NFL play, owners of anyone with a tight end outside of the top 5 of this week’s rankings have likely begun to explore other options, only to find that there aren’t too many consistent scorers out there. If you are one of the unlucky bunch without a star at the position, Tyler Kroft, Julius Thomas, and Jermaine Gresham are backend streamers with favorable matchups that could provide you a surprise production this weekend.

Defense/Special Teams

1. Jacksonville - @ NYJ
2. Seattle - vs Ind
3. Tampa Bay - vs NYG
4. Cincinnati - @ Cle
5. Kansas City - vs Was
6. Denver - vs Oak
7. New England - vs Car
8. Houston - vs Ten
9. Arizona - vs SF
10. Baltimore - vs Pit
11. Philadelphia - @ LAC
12. Pittsburgh - @ Bal
13. Tennessee - @ Hou
14. New York (Giants) - @ TB
15. Detroit - @ Min
16. Los Angeles (Rams) - @ Dal
17. Minnesota - vs Det
18. Los Angeles (Chargers) - vs Phi
19. Washington - @ KC
20. Green Bay - vs Chi

One of the most vital components of setting a fantasy football starting lineup is analyzing the matchups that your players face, and no where is that more prevalent than choosing one’s defense. Despite the on-and-off start of several defenses this season, (see Jacksonville, Baltimore, and Seattle) going into a favorable matchup is exactly what some of the league’s most fearsome units need to begin or continue a hot streak. Fortunately for the Jaguars and Seahawks, that’s exactly what week 4 brings to the table.

Kicker

1. Matt Bryant - vs Buf
2. Will Lutz - @ Mia
3. Matt Prater - @ Min
4. Ryan Succop - @ Hou
5. Giorgio Tavecchio - @ Den
6. Jason Myers - @ NYJ
7. Dan Bailey - @ LAR
8. Dustin Hopkins - @ KC
9. Bandon McManus - vs Oak
10. Mason Crosby - vs Chi
11. Stephen Gostkowski - vs Car
12. Justin Tucker - vs Pit
13. Jake Elliot - @ LAC
14. Greg Zuerlein - @ Dal
15. Cody Parkey - vs NO
16. Chris Boswell - @ Bal
17. Graham Gano - @ NE
18. Adam Vinatieri - @ Sea
19. Chandler Catanzaro - vs Jax
20. Ka’imi Faibairn - vs Ten

Recently signed Philadelphia Eagles kicker Jake Elliot was the star of the special teams show last week with his 61-yard game winner against the New York Giants. However, celebrity status only lasts so long as a kicker. The name of the game is consistency, something Elliot will be aiming to show this week against the Chargers. Other names to keep an eye on this week: Brandon McManus at home against the Oakland Raiders and Jason Myers visiting the New York Jets.