Editor's note: FanDuel.com is hosting a one-week long $350,000 Fantasy Football contest for Week 4. It's only $10 to join and first prize is $30,000. Starts Sunday, September 28th at 1 p.m. ET. Enter now to join Dave.

Week 4 Rankings | Top 150 Flex Rankings | Week 4 Projections

This week's confidence scale is based on breakfast cereals, according to me -- not Marty Gitlin, author of The Great American Cereal Book -- because crunching on whole grains (or artificial flavors) doused in milk is the picture of confidence.

1. Grape Nuts - The worst. I cannot be convinced otherwise.
2. Shredded Wheat - Unfrosted, unawesome cereal.
3. Crispix - I won't deny I've eaten them but it might mean they were my only choice.
4. Raisin Bran - Two scoops of plump juicy raisins in every box? I demand a re-count.
5. Golden Grahams - This cereal captures the honey graham taste exceptionally well. And is that Doug Flutie in the commercial?!
6. Cookie Crisp - Short of dumping a sleeve of Chips Ahoy into a bowl of milk, this gets the cookies-for-breakfast idea down pat.
7. Banana Nut Crunch - As a banana bread connoisseur I've always loved this cereal. Commercial had a very young Hayden Panettiere in it, too.
8. Mr. T Cereal - A classic. I pity the fools who didn't eat Mr. T's cereal!
9. Reese's Puffs - One time I ate a whole box in one sitting. I regret nothing.
10. Cracklin' Oat Bran - The most amazing, underrated cereal of all-time. I cannot be convinced otherwise.

Let's dig into Week 4!

Bills at Texans, Sun., 1 p.m. ET

Over the last three weeks we've seen the snap count gap between C.J. Spiller and Fred Jackson widen -- last week Jackson played on 20 more snaps after playing in one more snap in Week 1. Playing from behind might have had something to do with it, but Jackson still looks like their passing downs and goal-line guy. The Bills' success in this game (and really every game) will come down to how well those backs run.

Quarterbacks
EJ Manuel (4.0): With one passing touchdown in each game this season and one or none in all but three career starts, it's safe to say Manuel is a low-end bye-week replacement quarterback.
Ryan Fitzpatrick (5.9): Buffalo's pass defense is ripe for the picking -- two of three opposing quarterbacks have thrown two or more touchdowns. But how much passing with Fitzpatrick actually have to do? Put him in the mix as a fair bye-week option.

Running backs
Fred Jackson (7.5): The Texans have allowed a rushing score in each game this season, all from a yard out. That's Jackson's turf. He's also seeing more work shift in his direction. You can trust him this week.
C.J. Spiller (6.8): While they might be bad at the goal line, the Texans are good at containing big runs. They've given up just one run of over 20 yards -- 21 yards to Alfred Morris. That's not good news for Spiller, who has 78 total yards or less in three straight.
Alfred Blue (6.2): Per Fantasy staffer Chris Towers, Blue didn't show a lot of positives in the Texans' loss last week. Ditto that for his offensive line. Buffalo's run defense has allowed just 3.3 yards per carry on the season, but that number looked like 4.4 before Donald Brown scooted for an average of two yards over 31 carries in Week 3. Blue is a safe flex or bye-week option if he ends up playing.

Wide receivers
Sammy Watkins (6.5): Last week was an example of why Watkins is a Fantasy risk because of his quarterback. Manuel missed Watkins on a bunch of throws and didn't throw to him when he was open a couple of other times. So even if the Texans have allowed a highly-targeted receiver to land at least 15 Fantasy points in consecutive games, Watkins offers no promises for production because of his passer. He's flex material.
DeAndre Hopkins (7.5): While Johnson has posted nine points or less in each game, Hopkins has hit at least eight points in each game. Fitzpatrick clearly has no problem throwing to Hopkins when he's in single coverage. Not only did Hopkins go for 116 yards last week, he had a 53-yard grab called back. Face facts: he's the Texans' best big-play threat.
Andre Johnson (7.1): Last week was the first time a No. 1 receiver didn't score on the Bills, yet they gave up a pair of touchdowns to slot maven Eddie Royal. This isn't a good secondary despite the names you might recognize and the Texans are acutely aware that Johnson (11 targets last week, four in the red zone and three either near or in the end zone) is scoreless through three weeks. The skid should end but I can't say with confidence he'll outproduce Hopkins.

Tight ends
Scott Chandler (3.8): A deep sleeper if you need a hand at tight end. Chandler has seven targets and just over 100 total yards in his last two games.
Garrett Graham (2.8): Not a good sleeper for Week 4 since he hasn't gotten much work at all this season.

Defense/Special Teams
Bills (5.7): Might be worth a shot if you strike out getting the Lions, Chargers or Dolphins off waivers, especially if Arian Foster is out. The Giants totaled over 10 Fantasy points last week against the Texans.
Texans (7.0): EJ Manuel hasn't thrown an interception in two weeks, though the Bills allowed the Chargers DST to land 13 Fantasy points against them. The Texans are a better unit.

Dolphins vs. Raiders, Sun., 1 p.m. ET

Could Ryan Tannehill's last start happen abroad in London? That seems to be the gist after Tannehill's uneven start to the season. He should do well against a Raiders defense down starting safety Tyvon Branch. All Miami might look for from him is a win to pull to 2-2, which means he might not have to throw a lot (neither did the other quarterbacks who have beaten the Raiders so far). But a loss against the Raiders will probably end his stint as the Dolphins starter.

Quarterbacks
Ryan Tannehill (4.5): It's not that the Raiders are great against the pass, it's that they haven't really been tested too much. No quarterback has posted 20 or more Fantasy points on the Raiders so far. If the Dolphins want to test Tannehill, he could end up attempting 35 passes -- naturally he will if the Raiders give the Dolphins a game. With a spot on the bench looming, it's tough to count on Tannehill as a bye-week replacement quarterback.
Derek Carr (3.8): Alex Smith was the first quarterback all season to toss multiple touchdowns on the Dolphins, and he did it with help from his running backs. Carr's better known for putting up yardage, which the Dolphins have been good at limiting. This isn't the week to start Carr.

Running backs
Lamar Miller (8.2): After last week's performance the Dolphins are expected to lean heavily on Miller. And with the Raiders run defense among the worst in football, why shouldn't they? Miller is in position to be a very good Fantasy option for the second week in a row.
Maurice Jones-Drew (4.45): Having him back hurts Fantasy owners because not a lot is expected of him and he'll take away any shot at a decent game that Darren McFadden had. I expect the Dolphins defense to be focused on stopping the Raiders run game and take their chances with Carr.
Darren McFadden (4.35): DMC has 36 touches over the last two weeks and has totaled 133 yards with a goal-line score. He nearly had another touchdown last week but a penalty called it back. McFadden's a flex option based on the lack of running backs this week but, the matchup could be troublesome since.

Wide receivers
Mike Wallace (7.8): Not a single receiver has posted 10 Fantasy points on the Raiders so far this season, but that's in part because teams aren't throwing on them a lot. The Dolphins surely want to keep Wallace as a regular part of the offense, but there's no guarantee he'll put up a big stat line because the Dolphins run game might end up doing the heavy lifting.
Andre Holmes (5.4): Holmes isn't a good starting choice this week but with Rod Streater sidelined with a foot fracture, we could see Holmes take a step forward in the Raiders passing game. He's worth a speculative add off waivers.
James Jones (5.1): Not an exciting choice in Week 4, but if the Raiders are going to keep on throwing then he'll fall into production. He's worth a flex spot in deeper PPR leagues.

Tight ends
Charles Clay (3.2): A low-end sleeper for this week because of the byes, Clay will take on a Raiders defense that couldn't slow down Rob Gronkowski in the end zone last week. If the Dolphins want to jump-start Tannehill then Clay will be a factor.

Defense/Special Teams
Dolphins (8.1): Each of the three DSTs that have taken on the Raiders so far have finished as Top 12 units. The Dolphins have put up nice numbers in two of three games.
Raiders (4.5): Maybe Oakland makes some plays and gets to Ryan Tannehill a few times, but trusting this unit to hold down any offense, especially without safety Tyvon Branch helping the run, is just too much.

Titans at Colts, Sun., 1 p.m. ET

This is the fourth consecutive opponent that Titans coach Ken Whisenhunt faced last season while with the Chargers, but the first one he might be without his starting quarterback. With Jake Locker's wrist expected to keep him out, this is the right time for the Titans to lean on their run game. By doing so they can try and win the time of possession battle, keep the ball out of Andrew Luck's hands and try to crack a Colts run defense that's allowed 174.0 total yards per game to backs so far this season. That strategy served him well last season against Luck & Co.

Quarterbacks
Charlie Whitehurst (2.9): We're assuming Jake Locker will miss the game with a wrist injury. Whitehurst's career totals: 54.2 completion percentage, 5.19 yards per pass attempt, three touchdowns, four interceptions and a fumble lost over four starts. It seems unlikely that a career backup quarterback will waltz into Indianapolis and find success.
Andrew Luck (8.3): The Titans pass defense has allowed just one passing touchdown per week so far this season, and Luck didn't record a passing touchdown against the Titans in two games last season. Does it matter? It might not, but is Luck apt to put up huge numbers in consecutive games where he might not be needed to do so? Plus, the secondary he's facing has passed the sniff test so far this season. It might take the Titans putting up a fight to have Luck finish as a Top 5 quarterback this week.

Running backs
Bishop Sankey (5.0): Sankey actually led the Titans in playing time in their blowout loss last week and also had 27 rush yards on two carries called back due to O-line penalties. Whisenhunt says he still needs work before getting more snaps, but the team's record and alternative backs suggest the future is now. I might not start him unless totally desperate.
Shonn Greene (4.6): Greene played just 20 percent of the Titans' snaps last week because they were playing from behind. While I might look for Greene to take on a big role early on, it's tough to count on him to deliver huge numbers. He'll need a touchdown or over 20 touches to deliver enough -- that seems unlikely.
Ahmad Bradshaw (8.3): The Titans have allowed a back to get at least 16 Fantasy points in two straight. Bradshaw is playing extremely well as the Colts lead guy. Expect another outstanding game.
Trent Richardson (5.1): Last week we saw Richardson get a lot of garbage time and he didn't embarrass himself. This week should be more of the same, making him a so-so one-week replacement.

Wide receivers
Kendall Wright (4.6): The difference between Week 1 for Wright and Weeks 2 and 3 is a touchdown. He's had under 50 yards in each game this season, even when the team is playing from behind. Would you believe the Colts have allowed only two wideouts to top 50 yards against them this season? And Whitehurst at quarterback doesn't help things.
Justin Hunter (1.7): We're starting to see people give up on Hunter as a breakout player, and rightfully so. On 21 targets -- one more than Wright! -- Hunter has eight receptions for 126 yards and no scores. You can't start him.
Reggie Wayne (5.6): With T.Y. Hilton expected to play and the Colts not entirely needing Wayne, this could be a disappointing week. Indianapolis is content spreading the ball around and nothing it guaranteed for Wayne so long as the team doesn't have to throw a lot. Wayne needs volume and he might not get it in Week 4.
T.Y. Hilton (5.0): Should be active, though I'm not sure I love his matchups outside against the Titans cornerbacks. It feels like we need to see it from Hilton before we buy in -- he has caught 57 percent of his team-leading 28 targets and is just 1 for 6 on deep routes this year.
Hakeem Nicks (4.0): Nicks doesn't tend to play as much when Hilton is active, save for when the Colts use three-receiver sets like they did playing from behind in Week 1.

Tight ends
Delanie Walker (6.75): Last week's dud brought Walker back down to earth, but there's no getting around sitting him unless you have strong options. The Colts allowed at least eight Fantasy points per week to tight ends before taking on the tight end-less Jaguars last week.
Dwayne Allen (6.8): Has 10-plus points in two of three games and is worth starting just on that alone. The Titans haven't allowed a tight end to hit more than eight Fantasy points this season.
Coby Fleener (3.0): Maybe it's just me, but it feels like we've talked up Fleener too much for what he's delivered. With Hilton back Fleener's playing time should be reduced.

Defense/Special Teams
Titans (2.2): The Colts are averaging 27.1 points per game in their last 10 at home. Tennessee's defense shouldn't hold up Luck much if at all.
Colts (8.4): After putting up 26 points at Kansas City in Week 1, the Titans have totaled 17 points in their last two games. Tack on the injury to Jake Locker and the Colts look like a DST you can use again after doing a nice job at Jacksonville. They're the best you can get this week.

Lions at Jets, Sun., 1 p.m. ET

It's been the bad version of Matthew Stafford for the last two weeks for Detroit, as he totaled one touchdown in his last eight quarters. The Jets secondary is terrible and the Jets run defense is fantastic, so this is a week the Lions really need Stafford to deliver. It will mean very good pass protection from his offensive line.

Quarterbacks
Matthew Stafford (7.9): Stick with him, especially since the Jets have allowed every quarterback they've faced to get multiple touchdowns and at least 18 Fantasy points. Stafford had a great game outside of a dome four out of six times last year.
Geno Smith (5.5): Predictably, Smith has struggled with his accuracy. Predictably, his receiving corps isn't anything special. Unpredictably, the Lions have allowed exactly one passing touchdown in every game this season. Stay away from Geno (and think about picking up Michael Vick in two-QB leagues).

Running backs
Reggie Bush (6.9): With a season-high 18 touches compared to 15 for Joique, we could be seeing a push for Bush on offense. This week the Lions will need to use Bush as a receiver -- the Jets have allowed nine more yards on the ground than through the air to backs on 27 fewer touches.
Joique Bell (5.4): Did Bell's fumbles in Weeks 1 and 2 impact his reps in Week 3? Seems like it -- he played one less snap than Bush in a game the Lions never trailed in. Bush also had the only carry between them inside the 10. Now they'll take on a defense that's excellent against the run. Not the week to trust Joique.
Chris Ivory (4.9): The Lions run defense is strong thanks to their beefy linemen. It'll be interesting to see if Ivory has a chance to pick up some numbers against them since his O-line isn't too shabby either. Ivory also caught four passes for 52 yards last week.
Chris Johnson (4.3): It looks like Johnson is waist deep in his annual early-season swoon. He has 22 carries for 55 yards in his last two games with one catch for no yards. And the kicker is that Johnson played more than Ivory last week.

Wide receivers
Calvin Johnson (9.7): Last week was the first time the Jets didn't allow multiple touchdowns to a wide receiver this season, though they came close to allowing at least one a handful of times. Johnson's scoreless streak should subside shortly.
Golden Tate (6.1): I'm taking a hands-off approach with Tate, even with the great matchup. Tate has caught 16 of 21 targets for 201 yards and no scores this season, hitting nine points in Week 1 and five each in Weeks 2 and 3. Unless you're in a pinch this week, let Tate show you some numbers before you think about trusting him again.
Jeremy Kerley (4.7): On the surface, Kerley looks like a sneaky sleeper since he could wind up being the best target for Geno Smith. His targets have gone up each week as well -- this is a good PPR option against a Lions defense that has played better than expected.

Tight ends
Jace Amaro/Jeff Cumberland (3.5 avg.): If the Jets play without Eric Decker, then expect both of these guys to see more playing time. Amaro is a work in progress who could be a part of goal-line packages, while Cumberland has been a steady low-end target of Smith's for a while.

Defense/Special Teams
Lions (7.2): A fantastic option for Week 4. Detroit has returned at least 15 Fantasy points in two of three games and the Jets have allowed an opposing DST to land at least 10 Fantasy points in two of three games.
Jets (5.3): Matthew Stafford has been a turnover machine of late, which gives the Jets defense some appeal. But it feels like a big game is coming. Not the right time to go with the Jets defense.

Panthers at Ravens, Sun., 1 p.m. ET

There was a huge surprise last week when the Panthers run defense got smashed for 264 yards, including six runs of 10 yards or more and a run of 81 yards. The Panthers were uncharacteristically out of position and manhandled by the Steelers offensive line. Chances are that will be a huge point of emphasis for the coaches this week in Carolina, and the players will have a big test with the Ravens and their solid offensive line up next for them (left tackle Eugene Monroe will be sidelined, though). The good and the bad from Lorenzo Taliaferro's breakout game last week can be attributed to the blocking he had, but Baltimore's backs aren't as dangerous as Le'Veon Bell.

Quarterbacks
Cam Newton (5.7): Each of the last two quarterbacks to face the Ravens have 17 or fewer Fantasy points. Also, the Ravens have allowed just two passing touchdowns all season. The Ravens defense should be equipped to handle the Panthers passing game, plus Steve Smith might spill some beans on how to attack Cam. It's a bad week to trust him.
Joe Flacco (5.1): I think the Ravens will lean on Flacco a good amount in this game, but it doesn't guarantee he'll put up enough stats to warrant Fantasy use. The Panthers have allowed two of three quarterbacks to toss multiple touchdowns against them.

Running backs
DeAngelo Williams (5.2): Baltimore allowed two rushing touchdowns to the Browns last week, but it's otherwise a good defense and a tough matchup for Williams. Expect an uptick in touches with so many Panthers running backs hurt, giving him some flex consideration.
Justin Forsett (5.6): The matchup suggests that Forsett will have a lot of opportunities to catch passes on this defense (assuming that the Panthers haven't fallen off the proverbial cliff after one bad game last week). The Panthers allowed short-yardage receiving scores to running backs/fullbacks in Weeks 1 and 2. I like Forsett best of the Ravens running backs and wouldn't hesitate to start him in PPR leagues.
Lorenzo Taliaferro (4.7): The rookie looked outstanding at first last week, but once the Browns made some adjustments the run game slowed down. To wit: Taliaferro had 81 yards on his first 11 carries, 10 yards and a goal-line barrel-through on seven second-half carries. He could eventually replace Pierce, but this week and this matchup isn't exactly the right time to bank on it for Fantasy.
Bernard Pierce (4.1): Expect Pierce to start the game as the Ravens running downs back with Taliaferro taking snaps from him here and there, including at the goal line. With that being the case and the Panthers expected to re-establish themselves as a great run defense, this isn't the week to trust Pierce.

Wide receivers
Kelvin Benjamin (7.0): Benjamin's best numbers have come with Derek Anderson under center, not Cam Newton. In less bizarre news, the Ravens have allowed each of the three No. 1 receivers they've faced to come up with 10-plus Fantasy points (two have scored). Two additional receivers have eight points. Benjy should be good for that range of points.
Steve Smith (7.6): It would be a shock if Smith didn't put up a big game against his former team. Through three weeks, he's averaged 11.3 Fantasy points per game, six plays of 20-plus yards and has 32 targets to lead the Ravens by a mile. With this game circled on his calendar since mid-March, bank on Smith to deliver as a No. 2 Fantasy receiver. He's also awesome in one-week league play.
Torrey Smith (4.9): And then there's Smith, who has seen his targets get soaked up by Steve Smith, Owen Daniels and others. It seems like he's the Ravens deep-threat guy. They'll take some shots with him and he could connect, but no one is trusting him unless it's as a bye-week replacement.

Tight ends
Greg Olsen (7.6): The Ravens have been solid against tight ends this season, allowing an average of 37 yards per game to the position. Olsen's an OK start this week but don't expect a huge stat line.
Owen Daniels (4.8): A lot of people are excited for Daniels since he'll take over a lot of the targets from Dennis Pitta. That would suggest that Daniels would be in line to be second in targets for the Ravens like Pitta was before his season-ending hip injury. For Daniels to be good he needs a lot of work, and this week there's no guarantee he'll get a lot of it.

Defense/Special Teams
Panthers (5.1): Last week was a major letdown, but don't let it force you to go in a different direction. The Ravens are scoring 21.7 points per game through three weeks and could easily be held to less.
Ravens (7.6): Cam Newton's banged up, the Panthers running back corps is thin, the offensive line is weak and the Panthers are putting up about the same amount of points as the Ravens are. With some turnovers and sacks expected to go down, the Ravens DST is a good pick.

Buccaneers at Steelers, Sun., 1 p.m. ET

I might expect a close game simply because Pittsburgh's defense is so weak following three injuries. Antwon Blake and William Gay could tag team to replace Ike Taylor, Arthur Moats could work as an outside backer in place of Jarvis Jones and Sean Spence, a linebacker I once liked a lot, replaces Ryan Shazier in the middle of the Steelers defense. You have now read the names of three players the Buccaneers are sure to test in their matchup, plus the rest of the Steelers defense isn't so hot to trot either.

Quarterbacks
Mike Glennon (4.4): Before you laugh off the idea of considering Glennon, know that he posted two touchdowns in four of six road games last season, including at Seattle and at New Orleans -- the two toughest places to play on the road. Given the Steelers' struggles and the way Glennon improved the Bucs passing game last week, I wouldn't put it past him to throw two more on Sunday.
Ben Roethlisberger (7.5): Within his first five games each of his last three seasons, Big Ben shakes off the cobwebs and puts together a very solid game against a non-divisional opponent. The Bucs allowed a mammoth stat line to Matt Ryan last week and Derek Anderson in Week 1.

Running backs
Doug Martin (6.6): On one hand, it's been over a calendar year since Martin has had a good game for Fantasy owners. On the other hand, he'll get a good opportunity against a hobbled Steelers defense. This will be a telling game for Martin, who should be considered a safe No. 2 Fantasy running back.
Bobby Rainey (4.5): Don't expect Rainey to go away just because he had a couple of fumbles last week -- he still finished the team's loss with over 100 total yards. The hunch here is that if Martin doesn't get off to a good start, Rainey could become a factor. Hang on to him in your leagues.
Le'Veon Bell (9.4): Gerald McCoy is back to help anchor the Bucs defensive line, but it's not enough to slow down Bell, especially a week after he bulldozed the Panthers defense in Carolina.
LeGarrette Blount (5.7): Blount is a decent sleeper this week as he takes on his former team. The last time he played Tampa Bay (with the Patriots) he had 14 carries and averaged 4.6 yards per carry but couldn't score, playing a bunch in garbage time. Same thing could happen here.

Wide receivers
Vincent Jackson (7.75): It's been a gross start to the year for V-Jax, but this is the kind of matchup that can really change things. Jackson gets an upgrade at quarterback with Glennon and a great matchup against cornerbacks he has a size advantage over. Even with a wrist injury, expect Jackson to cash in on what will be a season-high in targets this week.
Mike Evans (4.5): Evans has the same size advantage Jackson has against this defense. Additionally, the Bucs figure to play from behind, opening the door for some second-half numbers. Trusting Evans is the hardest part because he hasn't had any more than 52 yards in a game this season. Perhaps he narrowly beats that small season-high total. Like Jackson, matchups against cornerback Antwon Blake will be appealing.
Antonio Brown (9.5): One of Fantasy's elite receivers against a Bucs defense that's been ripped by receivers? Yeah, sounds awesome.
Markus Wheaton (3.9): No. 1 receivers have fared the best against the Bucs and Wheaton's yardage has slipped over three straight. He's no better than a bye-week replacement.

Tight ends
Austin Seferian-Jenkins (3.7): Keep this name on your radar -- the rookie is practicing again after missing a little time with an ankle injury. He'll eventually give the Buccaneers another tall receiving threat and it wouldn't be a shock if he ended up contributing.
Heath Miller (5.8): In the only game the Bucs have taken on a solid tight end they allowed over 80 yards and a touchdown to Greg Olsen. Miller isn't as good as Olsen but could be an easy red-zone target. I like him as a bye-week replacement.

Defense/Special Teams
Buccaneers (3.9): Can't trust them against the Steelers, especially after the Steelers run game tore apart one of the best run defenses in Week 3.
Steelers (5.9): After losing three starters it feels like the Steelers DST is a sucker bet just because they're taking on the 0-3 Buccaneers at home. Random: Glennon threw just two interceptions in eight road games last season.

Packers at Bears, Sun., 1 p.m. ET

With a loss, the Packers will fall to 1-3 and the pressure will really be on. Coach Mike McCarthy has to know he'll need to put up points in this one to compete with the Bears' aggressive offense, especially since his defense stinks. The Packers could open up with a big dose of the run to keep the clock on their side and to attack a weakness in the Bears defense. Aaron Rodgers typically finds a way to rack up numbers against the Bears and this should be no exception, but it should also be a breakout game for Eddie Lacy (finally!).

Quarterbacks
Aaron Rodgers (9.0): The Bears are sure to try and get after him like the Lions did last week, but they won't be as successful. Chicago allowed over 300 yards passing to Geno Smith last week! And while the defense hasn't allowed a 20-plus-point Fantasy quarterback, they haven't exactly been tested, either. Rodgers' last four games at Chicago have all been stellar.
Jay Cutler (8.7): Cutler's been playing so well that it's really tough to sit him in Week 4. The Packers did a nice job against Matthew Stafford last week, but it doesn't mean they'll be as successful against Cutler. In his last meeting against the Packers, Cutler delivered 19 Fantasy points, his best tally since September of 2011. It helps that the Bears have done a good job keeping up with the Packers under Trestman.

Running backs
Eddie Lacy (9.0): I'm willing to give Lacy one more week before freaking out about his role. No one likes his 13 or fewer carries per game this season and his matchups have been against three of the six toughest run defenses to put Fantasy points on this season. The Bears rank 16th in Fantasy points allowed to running backs, yielding at least nine points per week so far to the opposing starter. Lacy should be a lock for lineups.
Matt Forte (9.5): Like Lacy, Forte should benefit from his first easy matchup in three weeks. And it's easy all right -- each of the three starting running backs to take on the Packers have delivered at least 10 Fantasy points.

Wide receivers
Jordy Nelson (9.2): Averaging over 12 targets per game, Nelson is a no-brainer against the Bears.
Randall Cobb (8.9): Cobb's two most recent games against the Bears have been backbreakers, and they've both been in Chicago. Cobb is only averaging seven targets per game, though.
Brandon Marshall (9.3): Marshall had one catch last week when he should have otherwise scored and put up other numbers, but no one should sweat it. Three receivers have posted at least nine Fantasy points against the Packers so far.
Alshon Jeffery (8.2): Jeffery caught 8 of 13 targets last week to go over 100 yards for the first time all year. Better yet, the 13 targets were one more than what he had in Weeks 1 and 2 combined. Hopefully Jeffery isn't lost in the shuffle anymore.

Tight ends
Andrew Quarless (4.2): Richard Rodgers started last week but Quarless played more snaps -- 60 percent of them to be exact -- and had four catches for 43 yards and a touchdown. Knowing how the Packers have used the middle of the field to break up the Bears defense in the past, Quarless has the look of a Week 4 sleeper.
Martellus Bennett (8.6): He's a must start until further notice, though the flip of the calendar to October typically signals when Bennett's production begins to sink. There's no doubt about him this week.

Defense/Special Teams
Packers (4.1): The Packers defense came up with 12 total Fantasy points last week, nine combined in the two weeks beforehand. They can't be trusted.
Bears (3.3): Really hard to count on them even though the Packers scored one touchdown last week and have under 20 points in two of three games.

Jaguars at Chargers, Sun., 4:05 p.m. ET

The game could flow a number of ways but regardless, expect Blake Bortles to end up attempting 40 passes in this one. If the Chargers build a lead, Bortles will throw. If the game is close, Bortles will throw. If Toby Gerhart starts breaking off long runs, double-check your insurance because the world might be coming to an end. We should get a real long look at Bortles against the Bolts.

Quarterbacks
Blake Bortles (5.3): I really like how Bortles can keep plays alive and make things happen even when things don't go according to plan. And while the Chargers are sure to plan for him, they have allowed two of three quarterbacks they've faced to get multiple touchdowns and hit the 20-point Fantasy barrier. Citing the Chargers secondary as a weakness, Bortles is a sleeper this week.
Philip Rivers (7.8): A must against Jacksonville's weak defense. Look at what quarterbacks have done against the Jags! The Chargers might not let Donald Brown handle the ball 30-plus times again like he did last week -- Rivers should shine.

Running backs
Toby Gerhart (5.5): The Chargers have yet to allow a rushing touchdown to a back but have allowed four receiving touchdowns to the position. Does that open the door for Gerhart to catch one? He's catching two passes per game, so it seems unlikely, but I wouldn't put it past Gerhart to make some plays, particularly with help from Bortles.
Donald Brown (7.8): Why is Brown a must-start? Because the Jaguars defense is terrible. They've allowed five running backs to land 10-plus Fantasy points in three games! Only Branden Oliver could end up taking some touches away from Brown, but not enough to matter.

Wide receivers
Allen Robinson (6.0): A-Rob's last two games: 16 targets, 11 catches, 154 yards. Not bad for a rookie. Bank on him getting plenty of snaps and targets as the Jaguars continue to shape their offense. He's better in PPR than standard league play.
Cecil Shorts (5.3): Shorts scored in garbage time last week and caught half of his 10 targets for 35 yards. His last 100-yard game came over a year ago and he had just three games with 10-plus Fantasy points last season. We need to see more from Shorts before we count on him in typical Fantasy situations.
Keenan Allen (6.6): Maybe it was because of the wind in Buffalo or maybe it was part of the game plan, but Allen did way more clearing out and pick setting for others than he did running routes for himself. I thought he struggled to get open at times, too. That's a bad sign. The matchup this week is plush -- if he can't get it done this week then something's up and the pretty matchups he has moving forward won't matter.
Malcom Floyd (5.55): This guy has the look of a sleeper based on the deep targets he gets. Allowing 191.0 yards to receivers per game, Jacksonville's pass defense stinks.
Eddie Royal (4.05): Played a lot last week after Danny Woodhead got hurt. Expect to continue seeing him until the Chargers start rolling out more two-tight end formations. Still wouldn't use him unless desperate.

Tight ends
Antonio Gates (8.8): Gates is slow out there but still a visible member of the offense, especially in the red zone. He lost snaps to Ladarius Green last week as the Chargers admitted they were looking for more chunk plays. Gates should thrive against the Jaguars as they've allowed four touchdowns to tight ends in three games.

Defense/Special Teams
Jaguars (3.7): Paul Posluszny is banged up, which hurts the run defense. Changes are being made elsewhere and the team can't generate much of a pass rush. Why are you reading this?
Chargers (8.3): Jacksonville's offense will eventually put it all together and become dangerous, but this doesn't seem like the week for it. So keep going with what's been working in Fantasy and starting the DST opposite the Jags.

Falcons at Vikings, Sun., 4:25 p.m. ET

Where has the pathetic Falcons defense gone? After allowing 31 points in Week 1, they held the potent Bengals to 24 points at home and cut down the Buccaneers in a major way on Thursday. Teddy Bridgewater will have his moments in the pros, but with his O-line down a starter and tight end Kyle Rudolph on the shelf for a while (not to mention a weak run game next to him in the backfield), it's tough to expect him to put up points. It won't help that the Falcons defense is playing well.

Quarterbacks
Matt Ryan (8.5): No one's sitting him, but he's never a lock to thrive when he plays outdoors. The Vikings defense isn't a pushover -- Drew Brees had only 250 or so passing yards and two touchdowns at home last week.
Teddy Bridgewater (4.7): If Drew Brees, Andy Dalton and Mike Glennon can only put up one touchdown each on the Falcons, then it's darn near impossible to envision Bridgewater throwing two. He could always run for one -- expect Bridgewater to use his legs a bunch going forward.

Running backs
Steven Jackson (5.3): We got real lucky with Jackson last week -- he had his allotment of 13 carries wrapped up until the Buccaneers turned the ball over in front of their own goal line. A play later, Jackson punched it in and his night was over. The Vikings have allowed goal-line touchdowns in consecutive games but Jackson's limited workload makes him a dangerous risk, because if he doesn't score he won't rack up enough yardage to make up for it. Use him with caution as a flex play.
Matt Asiata (6.7): Asiata still does enough good with the ball to keep him from getting taken off the field for Jerick McKinnon. McKinnon won't see more than a few snaps until he finally shows something on the field or in practice. The Falcons are allowing 184.0 total yards per game to running backs so far -- a number the Vikings probably won't reach -- but if Asiata gets near half of that it would be a good day. He's a Top 20 running back for me this week.

Wide receivers
Julio Jones (9.6): Maybe the best receiver in the NFL right now. Not joking around.
Roddy White (7.4): It's been No. 1 receivers doing damage against the Vikings so far, not the No. 2s. White is among the best No. 2 receivers in football and would be a No. 1 receiver on many other rosters, but his track record outdoors isn't very good, plus he's not 100 percent. You'll end up starting White anyway but he's not the safest choice for Week 4.
Cordarrelle Patterson (6.3): Remember how excited we were for Patterson after Week 1? What happened?! Well, in two games since he's managed only a decent amount of targets, catching 8 of 12 for 117 yards and no touchdowns. Eventually the Vikings will start dialing up more plays for him and pretty much every week will consist of them throwing to stay in the game/play from behind. Defenses are trying to take him away first and that should continue to be the case in Week 4 against the Falcons.
Greg Jennings (5.9): If defenses are chasing Patterson around, then Jennings is in single coverage quite often. Our Chris Towers noticed that Bridgewater had no qualms about throwing to Jennings, targeting him more than any other Viking in the half-and-change he played last week. With Rudolph out, the run game iffy and the scoreboard suggesting to throw, Jennings could get a lot of targets.

Defense/Special Teams
Falcons (6.9): Between last week's sensational effort and this week's matchup against rookie Teddy Bridgewater, the Falcons shape up to be a decent choice for Week 4.
Vikings (3.4): I would never be surprised to see Mike Zimmer's defense finish well in a given week in Fantasy, but trusting them against a red-hot Matty Ice is dangerous.

Eagles at 49ers, Sun., 4:25 p.m. ET

The target on Nick Foles' chest has never been bigger. Playing behind an offensive line down three starters and running on second- and third-stringers on the interior, the 49ers have to be thinking about finishing the job the Redskins couldn't last week and knocking Foles into submission. The Eagles have gotten some outstanding play out of their quarterback, but this is a week where he'll either prove he can handle the pass rush or fail trying.

Quarterbacks
Nick Foles (7.3): Over the last two weeks Jay Cutler and Drew Stanton combined for six touchdowns, 420 pass yards, 41 rush yards and zero turnovers against the Niners. Granted, they've gotten some big help from the 49ers offense turning the ball over to help put points on the board. Assuming he stays upright, look for him to target Jimmie Ward in the Niners secondary, as he's been beaten badly of late.
Colin Kaepernick (7.1): The Niners effectively admitted their game plan at Arizona was to throw a lot, which made sense given the opponent. This week the matchup suggests throwing more again -- the Eagles have allowed eight passing touchdowns on the year and an average of 288.3 pass yards per game. The only question is if they'll actually go through with it since it was a losing game plan last week.

Running backs
LeSean McCoy (7.9): It's another tough matchup for McCoy as the Niners have regained their form against the run over the last two weeks. Also, McCoy's O-line is in pretty bad shape outside of their tackles (one of whom is usually a guard). You should have lowered expectations for Shady.
Darren Sproles (6.0): We saw the Redskins ready for Sproles last weekend, effectively taking him out of the game plan. He did continue to average 10 yards per touch -- he just didn't have nearly as many. The 49ers will get a dose of Sproles, but it's the same thing as it's always been: either he breaks free for a long play or he delivers weak stats. I guess he's worth a whirl in the flex.
Frank Gore (7.1): The Niners might feel obligated to give Gore more work after leaving him limited last week. The Eagles have allowed an average of 164.5 total yards and four touchdowns to backs over their last two games (one rushing), and they'll start a rookie drafted to be a pass rusher at inside linebacker. Expect the Niners to test the Eagles defensive front, giving Gore a shot to be effective.
Carlos Hyde (4.4): Someday the Niners will lean heavily on Hyde and he'll reward Fantasy owners in a big way. Until then, he'll be stuck in this five-touch vortex he's been in for a couple of weeks, making him a risk to use in Fantasy.

Wide receivers
Jeremy Maclin (8.8): He's off to a super start, catching half of his 32 targets for 296 yards and a touchdown in each game so far. The targets are huge -- at least 10 per week. Until that slows down, Maclin is a must-start against anyone.
Jordan Matthews (5.7): We'll start seeing Matthews take snaps away from Riley Cooper as Matthews is the better receiver. If the Eagles keep him in the slot then he'll match up against fellow rookie Jimmie Ward (if the 49ers keep him there), and that should lead to some nice yardage at the very least. Matthews is worth the risk at flex, especially in PPR leagues.
Michael Crabtree (8.4): Crabtree has delivered in consecutive weeks as Kaepernick's top receiver, though Vernon Davis was out for one of those matchups. After the Eagles secondary got torched by the Redskins, it's certain that the Niners have some ideas on how to attack. Kaepernick's accuracy can't waver or else Crabtree won't be as effective as he's been.
Anquan Boldin (4.6): If the Niners have to end up throwing, Boldin should exploit plenty of single coverage working underneath while Crabtree and Vernon Davis stretch the secondary. Expect a better game than last week.

Tight ends
Zach Ertz (8.0): The Niners had their hands full with Martellus Bennett in Week 2 but kept him relatively under wraps save for his touchdown. Ertz will get targeted and is worth starting, but he might not have a huge game like he did in Week 1.
Vernon Davis (9.4): Davis should be outstanding now that he's back from his ankle issue. The toughest tight end the Eagles have taken on all season is Niles Paul, who despite being raw, still caught six passes against them. Davis should have a big game.

Defense/Special Teams
Eagles (3.1): Colin Kaepernick might be good for a turnover, but the Niners shouldn't be considered a weak offense in the least.
49ers (6.2): Either the Niners will knock around Nick Foles and decimate the Eagles offensive line, or they'll get shelled for over 400 total yards and several touchdowns. No in-between. Probably not work the hassle of starting.

Saints at Cowboys, Sun., 8:30 p.m. ET

It's funny how both of these teams were expected to be explosive passing the ball and yet both are trying hard to stick to their running backs. Both are in the Top 6 in rush yards per game. They've also combined for only nine passing touchdowns, one fewer than the Broncos and Bears each. Both are in the top half of the league in run defense and bottom half in pass defense, so the team that figures out that they need to throw first will probably have an edge.

Quarterbacks
Drew Brees (8.8): I know he hasn't been bombastic so far this season, but this game could bring it out of him. There's no way you could consider sitting him.
Tony Romo (6.9): The Saints defense couldn't slow down Matt Ryan in Week 1, had trouble with Brian Hoyer in Week 2 and finally corralled Teddy Bridgewater in Week 3. They have yet to intercept a pass. Romo should be considered a pretty good start this week.

Running backs
Khiry Robinson (7.0): While it was discouraging to see Pierre Thomas score from up close last week, we were right to expect Robinson to eat up most of the touches. He just didn't score. The Cowboys have allowed 5.0 yards per rush through three games.
Pierre Thomas (6.5): There's just Thomas and Robinson taking up most of the Saints rushing workload, and it paid off for Thomas last week when he worked the goal line. It should be harder for Thomas to have a repeat score in Week 4.
DeMarco Murray (9.6): The best back in Fantasy this week, especially since the Saints have allowed a lot of good rushing totals to backs not named Matt Asiata.

Wide receivers
Brandin Cooks (6.8): The Cowboys were beat deep last week by Brian Quick, part of the reason why the secondary endured a shake-up this week. Cooks should be able to fly past defensive backs and pick up plenty of yardage. The production hasn't been awesome since Week 1, but this is a game where the Saints should be able to throw a lot.
Marques Colston (6.4): In a game like this, Colston could be a very reliable red-zone target for Brees. I don't mind him as a quality third receiver or flex in PPR.
Dez Bryant (9.4): An obvious monster against the Saints terrible secondary.
Terrance Williams (6.7): With touchdowns in two of three games this year, don't rule out Williams from your Fantasy roster. In fact, non-No. 1 receivers have fared very well against the Saints this season.

Tight ends
Jimmy Graham (9.6): It feels like defenses are starting to figure out how to take Graham away from Drew Brees, but it's not quite an epidemic to make you think twice about sitting Graham in Fantasy.
Jason Witten (6.4): As much as the Cowboys would prefer to run the ball all game long, they will eventually need to throw. Romo might end up throwing a lot, which should help Witten. Look out for his best game of the year here.

Defense/Special Teams
Saints (4.3): You'd have to be nuts.
Cowboys (2.7): You're better off starting the Saints!

Patriots at Chiefs, Mon., 8:30 p.m. ET

Don't look now, but Kansas City's defense is coming off of an impressive, confidence-building win at Miami. Meanwhile, Tom Brady hasn't looked like himself, and it's already cost the Patriots one win and it nearly contributed to them coughing up another win last week. If Brady and his offensive line can't manage the Chiefs improving pass rush (Dee Ford stepped up last week), then this will be another tough game for the Patriots.

Fun fact: Bill Belichick-coached teams are 4-0 all-time against Andy Reid-coached teams, including Super Bowl XXXIX.

Quarterbacks
Tom Brady (6.3): Brady's fine as a start this week if you are in a pinch, though other quarterbacks like Kirk Cousins and Eli Manning should fare better. He's easier to defend when he doesn't have receivers stretching the field and an offensive line protecting him efficiently.
Alex Smith (6.1): Teams just aren't throwing for much yardage against the Patriots -- they're giving up 184.7 pass yards per game and have been stingy near the goal line. But Smith finds sneaky ways to get Fantasy points, so I wouldn't entirely dismiss him. He's a potential waiver-wire replacement.

Running backs
Stevan Ridley (7.4): No doubt, Ridley had his chances last week, but couldn't come up with many big gains and didn't get into the end zone. It doesn't mean the same thing will happen this week against a Chiefs run defense that's allowing 5.4 yards per carry on the year (albeit no touchdowns, though given their run defense that should change soon).
Shane Vereen (4.8): Vereen has totaled 77 yards on 17 touches in his last two games, both matchups where the flow of the game dictated that the Pats run to kill the clock with Ridley. Given the Chiefs run defense Vereen should get some opportunities to work, but not enough to be considered anything more than a third running back or a flex.
Jamaal Charles (7.6): If he plays he'll take on a run defense that looks better because of who they've played, not because of how they've played. The Chiefs figure to lean on their running backs to help drain the clock, something that worked out for them nicely at Miami a week ago. If you own Charles but not Knile Davis, make the move now to get the handcuff, since the only player likely available to start in a pinch if Charles is inactive and Davis is on another roster is Joe McKnight. Even if Charles plays, he will likely split reps in some form or fashion with Davis. Hopefully there will be clarity on this by Sunday morning.
Knile Davis (5.8, 8.8 if Charles is inactive): Davis' play will warrant more playing time whether Charles is active or not. One thought is that Davis could get a third of the snaps with Charles getting the rest. The Chiefs offer the most dangerous running backs the Patriots have faced all season.
Joe McKnight (1.0, 4.2 if Charles is inactive): McKnight was forgotten about by everyone until last week, when the Chiefs gave him a shot to work in the Dexter McCluster-type role. It worked out for him, as he scored twice from short range, but chances are it's a temp job. Only consider him if you're caught without a running back on Monday night and if Charles is out.

Wide receivers
Julian Edelman (7.7): As the trusted short- and mid-range target for Tom Brady, count on Edelman snaring a bunch of passes on Monday while the Chiefs force Brady into quick throws via their pass rush. It's worked out for Edelman so far -- he has at least eight Fantasy points in standard leagues (17 in PPR) in every game this season.
Dwayne Bowe (3.333): If the Raiders weren't scared to throw at Darrelle Revis last week (and they weren't), then neither should the Chiefs. Of course, the Chiefs seem scared to throw to any receiver more than eight or nine yards downfield, which caps the Fantasy value of a guy like Bowe. He's a low-end flex or bye-week replacement.

Tight ends
Rob Gronkowski (9.2): New England has been ramping up Gronkowski's snaps (59 percent of snaps last week) and with the Chiefs secondary considered a weak spot, expect Gronk to see a lot of targets and be quite involved. Tight ends have scored three times against the Chiefs already this season.
Travis Kelce (6.2): The Patriots will be mindful of Kelce's athleticism and likely focus on him in passing downs and red zone situations. Not that they've taken on elite tight ends, but they've handled the likes of Charles Clay and Kyle Rudolph without allowing a touchdown or big yardage.

Defense/Special Teams
Patriots (7.3): Reid's offenses have put up at least 20 points in three of four meetings with Belichick's Patriots. It wouldn't be surprising if they scored about that many points in this game, making the Patriots DST a decent start.
Chiefs (5.5): As frustrating as the Patriots offense has been, they've still been tough on opposing DSTs, allowing only one (Miami) to finish as a Top 12 scorer. With all of Kansas City's injuries it's a hard sell for non-desperate Fantasy owners.

Giants at Redskins, Thu., 8:25 p.m. ET

I never like to go with a quarterback who's not a no-brainer on Thursdays, but if you're in a pinch, I think Kirk Cousins will work out. As I wrote about him here, Cousins is a real good fit for the Redskins offense because of his ball placement and receivers on the other end. If the Giants were more familiar with Jay Gruden's scheme I'd be nervous, but Gruden's Bengals met up with the Giants in 2012 and schooled them (with help from Eli Manning).

Quarterbacks
Eli Manning (6.5): He's been very impressive over the last two games as the Giants offense has seemingly clicked. The bad news is that Eli is 0 for life in putting up numbers against Jim Haslett's Redskins defense (here are his last five). Manning has also struggled in previous Thursday night games which have also been on the road (263.5 yard avg, one touchdown in each with three total interceptions).
Kirk Cousins (6.7): The Giants pass rush is good but it's not great. If it were great then Cousins could end up being inaccurate. He'll need his receivers to win battles against the Giants cornerbacks in order to push through for another solid game.

Running backs
Rashad Jennings (8.4): I know he's too hot to sit, but there are two things to watch out for: The workload -- he had 34 carries in Week 3 and will hit the field on four days rest. And the opponent -- Washington -- has been surprisingly stout against the run so far.
Alfred Morris (8.6): I'm counting on Morris having a big game. Running backs have cashed in for 10-plus Fantasy points in two of three games against the Giants this season (the Texans didn't do it last week without Arian Foster). Morris has been good for 10-plus Fantasy points in three of four career games against Big Blue.
Roy Helu (4.0): He had an exciting game last week but don't expect another. He's unlikely to get a lot of work so long as Morris is healthy and the long catch he had last week is basically an anomaly.

Wide receivers
Victor Cruz (8.1): I especially like the matchup for Cruz against a secondary that begins life without cornerback DeAngelo Hall, who previously frustrated Cruz. Expect him to have a lot of success against cornerback Bashaud Breeland.
Rueben Randle (5.8): Don't rule out Randle for the same reasons why we like Cruz: A favorable matchup against a vulnerable and mostly inexperienced secondary. Randle had 10 targets last week.
Pierre Garcon (8.6): The lesson was learned by Cousins in Week 2: Don't forget about Garcon, who saw a third of Cousins' pass attempts head his way in Week 3. He's also had 10-plus targets in three straight against New York.
DeSean Jackson (7.9): Jackson has a negative track record against Giants cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, but it's too much to ask of DRC to hold down D-Jax for four quarters. Rodgers-Cromartie was not part of the Giants when Jackson posted 99 or more yards and a touchdown in two of his last three against them (with a third-string quarterback ruining Jackson to hit the trifecta). I trust Cousins, so I expect Jackson to put up numbers.

Tight ends
Larry Donnell (6.6): We've seen Daniel Fells start to sneak valuable touches away from Donnell, but there isn't a real worry about Donnell losing his spot in the offense. The Redskins did a really nice job against Zach Ertz last week.
Niles Paul (7.8): After reviewing last week's game it's clear that Paul has some great athleticism, but he's still not a finished product. Example: Cousins' lone interception was because of an errant route by Paul. Still, you can't argue with what Paul's done so far and the Giants haven't faced a test like this so far.

Defense/Special Teams
Giants (4.7): Even with a good secondary and the matchup on a short week, they're not a safe bet against the Redskins.
Redskins (4.9): Tough to trust after losing two starters. Might be a decent source of sacks, but otherwise there's not a lot to love. A potential bye-week sleeper.