Week 4 Fantasy Football Primer

We have started a new weekly blog post for you: the Fantasy Football Primer.  Between this and the post for the weekly NFL picks, this gives you the detail we could not possibly give you on our This Week in Fantasy Sports segment on Sports With The StatMan (Saturdays, 11am ET on BlogTalkRadio).

Ahead are our positional rankings for quarterback, running back, wide receiver, tight end, kicker, and defense/special teams positions.  How is this different than any other prognostication or, for lack of a better term, “guess”?  We break them down into tiers.  We give you a projected amount of points.  Also, for a few of these players, we give a little more information.  Some we talk about on the show, some we do not.

A note on the tiers: if you are in a 10-team league and play two running backs, if you have two tailbacks listed here in the top 20, you are in good shape.  If you have three running backs and you play with a “flex” position, you may want to consider playing your third solid running back at “flex”.  If you see a free agent in the top 20, grab him and don’t look back.

POSITIONAL RANKINGS

QUARTERBACKS

TIER 1 (“ELITE”: Projected Points – 20+ pts)

1. Matt Schaub HOU (vs TEN): 27.10 projected points

2. Drew Brees NO (at GBY): 26.89 ppts

3. Peyton Manning DEN (vs OAK): 21.96 ppts

4. Aaron Rodgers GBY (vs NO): 20.57 ppts

5. Matt Ryan ATL (vs CAR): 20.41 ppts

6. Robert Griffin III WSH (at TBY): 20.00 ppts

TIER 2 (“SOLID STARTS”: Projected Points – 15-20 pts)

7. Joe Flacco BAL (vs CLE): 19.23 ppts

8. Ryan Fitzpatrick BUF (vs NE): 18.02 ppts

9. Andy Dalton CIN (at JAX): 16.51 ppts

10. Carson Palmer OAK (at DEN): 16.24 ppts

11. Tom Brady NE (at BUF): 15.98 ppts

12. Eli Manning NYG (at PHL): 15.27 ppts

TIER 3 (“FRINGE STARTS”: Projected Points – 12-15 pts)

13. Matthew Stafford DET (vs MIN): 14.64 ppts

14. Cam Newton CAR (at ATL): 13.37 ppts

15. Philip Rivers SDG (at KCY): 12.37 ppts

16. Josh Freeman TBY (vs WSH): 12.35 ppts

17. Michael Vick PHL (vs NYG): 12.29 ppts

18. Tony Romo DAL (vs CHI): 12.25 ppts

19. Mark Sanchez NYJ (vs SFO): 12.05 ppts

TIER 4 (“DESPERATE STARTS”: Projected Points – <12 o:p="o:p" pts="pts">

20. Blaine Gabbert JAX (vs CIN): 10.14 ppts

21. Alex Smith SFO (at NYJ): 10.06 ppts

22. Russell Wilson SEA (at STL): 9.49 ppts

23. Jay Cutler CHI (at DAL): 8.85 ppts

24. Kevin Kolb ARZ (vs MIA): 8.44 ppts

RUNNING BACKS

TIER 1 (“ELITE”: Projected Points – 12+ pts)

1. Arian Foster HOU (vs TEN): 33.44 projected points

2. Maurice Jones-Drew JAX (vs CIN): 20.40 ppts

3. BenJarvus Green-Ellis CIN (at JAX): 13.86 ppts

4. Jamaal Charles KCY (vs SDG): 12.89 ppts

5. Ray Rice BAL (vs CLE): 12.75 ppts

6. Frank Gore SFO (at NYJ): 12.34 ppts

TIER 2 (“SOLID STARTS”: Projected Points – 9-12 pts)

7. Darren McFadden OAK (at DEN): 11.04 ppts

8. Willis McGahee DEN (vs OAK): 9.58 ppts

9. LeSean McCoy PHL (vs NYG): 9.44 ppts

10. Marshawn Lynch SEA (at STL): 9.42 ppts

11. Andre Brown NYG (at PHL): 9.11 ppts

12. C.J. Spiller BUF (vs NE): 9.09 ppts

13. Fred Jackson BUF (vs NE): 9.01 ppts

TIER 3 (“MATCHUP STARTS”: Projected Points – 6-9 pts)

14. Trent Richardson CLE (at BAL): 8.9 ppts

15. Ahmad Bradshaw NYG (at PHL): 8.8 ppts

16. Adrian Peterson MIN (at DET): 8.6 ppts

17. Michael Turner ATL (vs CAR): 8.56 ppts

18. Cedric Benson GBY (vs NO): 7.65 ppts

19. Ryan Mathews SDG (at KCY): 7.15 ppts

20. Michael Bush CHI (at DAL): 7.13 ppts

21. Darren Sproles NO (at GBY): 6.97 ppts

22. DeMarco Murray DAL (vs CHI): 6.91 ppts

23. Doug Martin TBY (vs WSH): 6.38 ppts

TIER 4 (“FRINGE STARTS”: Projected Points – 4-6 pts)

24. Steven Jackson STL (vs SEA): 5.92 ppts

25. Ben Tate HOU (vs TEN): 5.91 ppts

26. Chris Johnson TEN (at HOU): 5.88 ppts

27. Jackie Battle SDG (at KCY): 5.76 ppts

28. Reggie Bush MIA (at ARZ): 5.34 ppts

29. DeAngelo Williams CAR (at ATL): 5.01 ppts

30. Matt Forte CHI (at DAL): 4.57 ppts

31. Ryan Williams ARZ (vs MIA): 4.42 ppts

TIER 5 (“DESPERATE STARTS”: Projected Points – <4 o:p="o:p" pts="pts">

32. Shonn Greene NYJ (vs SFO): 3.78 ppts

33. Rashad Jennings JAX (vs CIN): 3.78 ppts

34. Jonathan Stewart CAR (at ATL): 3.75 ppts

35. Stevan Ridley NE (at BUF): 3.74 ppts

36. Kevin Smith DET (vs MIN): 3.37 ppts

37. Mikel Leshoure DET (vs MIN): 2.65 ppts

38. Mark Ingram NO (at GBY): 2.64 ppts

39. Jacquizz Rodgers ATL (vs CAR): 2.39 ppts

40. Alfred Morris WSH (at TBY): 2.37 ppts

WIDE RECEIVERS

TIER 1 (“ELITE”: Projected Points – 12+ pts)

1. A.J. Green CIN (at JAX): 18.84 projected points

2. Victor Cruz NYG (at PHL): 18.67 ppts

3. Calvin Johnson DET (vs MIN): 16.68 ppts

4. Andre Johnson HOU (vs TEN): 13.54 ppts

5. Julio Jones ATL (vs CAR): 12.96 ppts

6. Vincent Jackson TBY (vs WSH): 12.76 ppts

7. Miles Austin DAL (vs CHI): 12.50 ppts

8. Wes Welker NE (at BUF): 12.41 ppts

TIER 2 (“SOLID STARTS”: Projected Points – 8-12 pts)

9. Torrey Smith BAL (vs CLE): 11.67 ppts

10. Larry Fitzgerald ARZ (vs MIA): 10.97 ppts

11. Brandon Lloyd NE (at BUF): 10.87 ppts

12. Demaryius Thomas DEN (vs OAK): 10.40 ppts

13. Jordy Nelson GBY (vs NO): 10.19 ppts

14. Steve Johnson BUF (vs NE): 9.86 ppts

15. Greg Jennings GBY (vs NO): 9.78 ppts

16. Aldrick Robinson WSH (at TBY): 9.56 ppts

17. Steve Smith CAR (at ATL): 8.24 ppts

18. Percy Harvin MIN (at DET): 8.00 ppts

TIER 3 (“MATCHUP STARTS”: Projected Points – 5-8 pts)

19. Jeremy Maclin PHL (vs NYG): 7.89 ppts

20. Santonio Holmes NYJ (vs SFO): 7.62 ppts

21. Roddy White ATL (vs CAR): 7.59 ppts

22. Mike Williams TBY (vs WSH): 7.41 ppts

23. Dez Bryant DAL (vs CHI): 7.11 ppts

24. DeSean Jackson PHL (vs NYG): 6.98 ppts

25. Brandon Marshall CHI (at DAL): 6.38 ppts

26. Damaris Johnson PHL (vs NYG): 6.33 ppts

27. Travis Benjamin CLE (at BAL): 6.31 ppts

28. Marques Colston NO (at GBY): 6.27 ppts

29. Leonard Hankerson WSH (at TBY): 6.12 ppts

30. Eric Decker DEN (vs OAK): 6.06 ppts

31. Dwayne Bowe KCY (vs SDG): 5.85 ppts

32. Denarius Moore OAK (at DEN): 5.83 ppts

33. Anquan Boldin BAL (vs CLE): 5.46 ppts

34. Nate Washington TEN (at HOU): 5.33 ppts

TIER 4 (“FRINGE STARTS”: Projected Points – <5 o:p="o:p" pts="pts">

35. Pierre Garcon WSH (at TBY): 4.93 ppts

36. Malcom Floyd SDG (at KCY): 4.92 ppts

37. Andrew Hawkins CIN (at JAX): 4.89 ppts

38. Lance Moore NO (at GBY): 4.72 ppts

39. Keshawn Martin HOU (vs TEN): 4.67 ppts

40. Robert Meachem SDG (at KCY): 4.56 ppts

TIGHT ENDS

TIER 1 (“ELITE”: Projected Points – 12+ pts)

1. Rob Gronkowski NE (at BUF): 18.26 projected points

2. Jimmy Graham NO (at GBY): 14.57 ppts

3. Vernon Davis SFO (at NYJ): 12.59 ppts

4. Tony Gonzalez ATL (vs CAR): 12.30 ppts

TIER 2 (“SOLID STARTS”: Projected Points – 7-12 pts)

5. Owen Daniels HOU (vs TEN): 10.47 ppts

6. David Ausberry OAK (at DEN): 9.00 ppts

7. Antonio Gates SDG (at KCY): 8.84 ppts

8. Brandon Pettigrew DET (vs MIN): 8.50 ppts

9. Jermaine Gresham CIN (at JAX): 7.50 ppts

10. Jason Witten DAL (vs CHI): 7.40 ppts

11. Fred Davis WSH (at TBY): 7.33 ppts

12. Martellus Bennett NYG (at PHL): 7.20 ppts

TIER 3 (“MATCHUP STARTS”: Projected Points – 5-7 pts)

13. Brent Celek PHL (vs NYG): 6.84 ppts

14. Jermichael Finley GBY (vs NO): 6.66 ppts

15. Greg Olsen CAR (at ATL): 6.23 ppts

16. Tony Moeaki KCY (vs SDG): 6.08 ppts

17. Kyle Rudolph MIN (at DET): 5.68 ppts

18. Jared Cook TEN (at HOU): 5.59 ppts

19. Jacob Tamme DEN (vs OAK): 5.37 ppts

TIER 4 (“FRINGE STARTS”: Projected Points – <5 o:p="o:p" pts="pts">

20. Dallas Clark TBY (vs WSH): 4.96 ppts

21. Scott Chandler BUF (vs NE): 3.77 ppts

22. Jeff Cumberland NYJ (vs SFO): 3.60 ppts

23. Anthony Fasano MIA (at ARZ): 3.50 ppts

24. John Carlson MIN (at DET): 3.29 ppts

KICKERS

TIER 1 (“ELITE”: Projected Points – 10+ pts)

1. David Akers SFO (at NYJ): 11.49 ppts

2. Stephen Gostkowski NE (at BUF): 10.54 ppts

3. Jason Hanson DET (vs MIN): 10.32 ppts

TIER 2 (“SOLID STARTS”: Projected Points – 7-10 pts)

4. Shayne Graham HOU (vs TEN): 8.49 ppts

5. Mason Crosby GBY (vs NO): 8.10 ppts

6. Blair Walsh MIN (at DET): 7.57 ppts

7. Justin Tucker BAL (vs CLE): 7.34 ppts

8. Nick Novak SDG (at KCY): 7.33 ppts

9. Matt Bryant ATL (vs CAR): 7.14 ppts

TIER 3 (“FRINGE STARTS”: Projected Points – <7 o:p="o:p" pts="pts">

10. Sebastian Janikowski OAK (at DEN): 6.89 ppts

11. Lawrence Tynes NYG (at PHL): 6.65 ppts

12. Mike Nugent CIN (at JAX): 6.52 ppts

13. Robbie Gould CHI (at DAL): 6.24 ppts

14. Billy Cundiff WSH (at TBY): 6.06 ppts

15. Dan Bailey DAL (vs CHI): 6.04 ppts

16. Dan Carpenter MIA (at ARZ): 5.67 ppts

17. Rob Bironas TEN (at HOU): 5.63 ppts

18. Greg Zuerlein STL (vs SEA): 5.27 ppts

19. Ryan Succop KCY (vs SDG): 5.17 ppts

20. Matt Prater DEN (vs OAK): 5.15 ppts

21. Connor Barth TBY (vs WSH): 5.11 ppts

22. Garrett Hartley NO (at GBY): 4.83 ppts

23. Jay Feely ARZ (vs MIA): 4.75 ppts

24. Nick Folk NYJ (vs SFO): 4.67 ppts

DEFENSE/SPECIAL TEAMS

TIER 1 (“ELITE”: Projected Points – 10+ pts)

1.  Bears CHI (at DAL): 11.97 ppts

2.  Seahawks SEA (at STL): 11.64 ppts

TIER 2 (“SOLID STARTS”: Projected Points – 6-10 pts)

3.  Cardinals ARZ (vs MIA): 7.81 ppts

4.  Packers GBY (vs NO): 7.56 ppts

5.  Giants NYG (at PHL): 7.45 ppts

6.  Ravens BAL (vs CLE): 6.88 ppts

7.  Jets NYJ (vs SFO): 6.21 ppts

TIER 3 (“MATCHUP STARTS”: Projected Points – 4-6 pts)

8.  Eagles PHL (vs NYG): 5.54 ppts

9.  Texans HOU (vs TEN): 4.99 ppts

10.  Bengals CIN (at JAX): 4.83 ppts

11.  49ers SFO (at NYJ): 4.70 ppts

12.  Falcons ATL (vs CAR): 4.61 ppts

13.  Cowboys DAL (vs CHI): 4.46 ppts

14.  Lions DET (vs MIN): 4.37 ppts

15.  Patriots NE (at BUF): 4.37 ppts

16.  Buccaneers TBY (vs WSH): 4.31 ppts

TIER 4 (“FRINGE STARTS”: Projected Points – <4 o:p="o:p" pts="pts">

17.  Saints NO (at GBY): 3.56 ppts

18.  Bills BUF (vs NE): 3.49 ppts

19.  Broncos DEN (vs OAK): 3.49 ppts

20.  Chargers SDG (at KCY): 3.29 ppts

21.  Vikings MIN (at DET): 3.27 ppts

22.  Redskins WSH (at TBY): 3.06 ppts

23.  Titans TEN (at HOU): 2.71 ppts

24.  Chiefs KCY (vs SDG): 2.61 ppts

WEEK 4 INJURIES

OUT (0% of playing)

RUNNING BACKS

Peyton Hillis KCY (ankle) (Beneficiary: Jamaal Charles)

Beanie Wells ARZ (IR, toe) (Beneficiary: Ryan Williams)

Roy Helu WSH (IR, toe) (Beneficiary: Alfred Morris)

Rashard Mendenhall PIT (knee) (Beneficiaries: Isaac Redman/Jonathan Dwyer)

Brandon Jacobs SFO (knee) (Beneficiary: Kendall Hunter)

WIDE RECEIVERS

Hakeem Nicks NYG (foot, knee) (Beneficiary: Ramses Barden)

Stephen Hill NYJ (hamstring) (Beneficiary: Jeremy Kerley)

Darrius Heyward-Bey OAK (concussion, neck) (Beneficiary:

Kenny Britt TEN (ankle) (Beneficiary: Kendall Wright)

TIGHT ENDS

Aaron Hernandez NE (ankle) (Beneficiary: Rob Gronkowski)

Dustin Keller NYJ (hamstring) (Beneficiary: Jeff Cumberland)

KICKER

Nate Kaeding SDG (right groin) (Beneficiary: Nick Novak)

QUESTIONABLE (50% of playing)

RUNNING BACKS

Reggie Bush MIA (knee) (Possible beneficiary: Daniel Thomas)

Matt Forte CHI (ankle) (Possible beneficiary: Michael Bush)

Bernard Scott CIN (ankle)

Mike Goodson OAK (hamstring)

WIDE RECEIVERS

Pierre Garcon WSH (foot) (Possible beneficiary: Leonard Hankerson)

TIGHT ENDS

Brandon Myers OAK (concussion) (Possible beneficiary: David Ausberry)

PROBABLE (75% of playing)

RB: Darren McFadden OAK (shoulder), Willis McGahee DEN (ribs), LeSean McCoy PHL (rib), Ahmad Bradshaw NYG (neck), Rashad Jennings JAX (knee), James Starks GBY (toe), Evan Royster WSH (knee)

WR: Miles Austin DAL (hamstring), Greg Jennings GBY (groin), Jeremy Maclin PHL (hip), Leonard Hankerson WSH (back), Laurent Robinson JAX (concussion)

TE: Jacob Tamme DEN (groin)

K: Sebastian Janikowski OAK (left groin)

START ‘EM/SIT ‘EM

(number before player name is this week’s positional rankings)

QUARTERBACKS

START: #1 Matt Schaub HOU (vs TEN): Owned in 98%/Starting in 22% of CBSSports.com leagues

START: #8 Ryan Fitzpatrick BUF (vs NE): 74 O%/9 St% (CBS)
SIT: #15 Philip Rivers SDG (at KCY): 99 O%/71 St% (CBS)

SIT: #17 Michael Vick PHL (vs NYG): 99 O%/72 St% (CBS)

RUNNING BACKS

START: #3 BenJarvis Green-Ellis CIN (at JAX): 100 O%/84 St% (CBS)

START: #8 Willis McGahee DEN (vs OAK): 99 O%/61 St% (CBS)

SIT: #28 Reggie Bush MIA (at ARZ): 100 O%/91 St% (CBS)

SIT: #40 Alfred Morris WSH (at TBY): 99 O%/78 St% (CBS)

WIDE RECEIVERS

START: #6 Vincent Jackson TBY (vs WSH): 100 O%/69 St% (CBS)

START: #9 Torrey Smith BAL (vs CLE): 100 O%/39 St% (CBS)

SIT: #31 Dwayne Bowe KCY (vs SDG): 100 O%/95 St% (CBS)

SIT: #36 Malcom Floyd SDG (at KCY): 100 O%/72 St% (CBS)

TIGHT ENDS

START: #5 Owen Daniels HOU (vs TEN): 87 O%/42 St% (CBS)

START: #6 David Ausberry OAK (at DEN): 0 O%/0 St% (CBS)

SIT: #13 Brent Celek PHL (vs NYG): 94 O%/66 St% (CBS)

SIT: #14 Jermichael Finley GBY (vs NO): 100 O%/100 St% (CBS)

KICKERS

START: #4 Shayne Graham HOU (vs TEN): 61 O%/47 St% (CBS)

SIT: #22 Garrett Hartley NO (at GBY): 88 O%/87 St% (CBS)

THE BARGAIN BIN

(number before player name is this week’s positional rankings)

Just as our Week 3 Bargain Bin was AFC-centric, our Week 4 Bargain Bin has all but one player coming from the NFC.

QUARTERBACKS

#20 Blaine Gabbert JAX (vs CIN): Owned in 12%/Starting in 0% of CBSSports.com leagues

#22 Russell Wilson SEA (at STL): 40 O%/2 St% (CBS)

WIDE RECEIVERS

#29 Leonard Hankerson WSH (at TBY): 17 O%/4 St% (CBS)

KICKERS

#6 Blair Walsh MIN (at DEN): 40 O%/13 St% (CBS)

DEFENSE/SPECIAL TEAMS

#16 Buccaneers TBY (vs WSH): 33 O%/2 St% (CBS)

Key:

O% - Percentage that player is owned in CBSSports.com leagues

St% - Percentage that player is started in CBSSports.com league lineups