Sit Em Start Em – Week 4

Ray Rice vs Jets – Its true, we do not usually suggest starting running backs vs the Jets, but one week removed from a Darren McFadden dicing, Rice is a must-start as well. This years RB crop is extremely thin and it is not really a year to be sitting your first round pick. Rice contributes in the air as well as on the ground which increases his chances at a decent fantasy day.

Nate Burleson vs Cowboys – The self proclaimed ‘Black Wes Welker’ is a must start against Dallas’ notoriously porous pass defense. Burleson should have a bounce back game after a quiet week three in which he caught only two passes for 13 yards. Roll with Burleson as a flex2 in deeper leagues.

Greg Olsen vs Bears – Greg Olsen is no Jermichael Finley but is a very good tight end in his own right. Squaring off against a Bears team that gave up three touchdowns to Finley last week Olsen seems poised for a big day against his former team.

David Nelson vs Bengals – David Nelson looks primed for another flex worthy day against the Cincinnati Bengals this week. Nelson is averaging just under seven receptions for 77.7 yards per game this season and needs to be in fantasy lineups despite being the number three receiver for the Bills.

Mark Ingram vs Jaguars – This should be Mark Ingram’s coming out party. Yes, Sproles and Thomas will get their touches but with the Saints expected to be nursing a healthy lead, they will go to their rookie to run out the clock in the 2nd half. Ingram is a sneaky flex play this week with RB3 upside.

Mario Manningham vs Cardinals – Manningam has returned to practice and is set to square off against the young and inexperienced Cardinals secondary. They will be a force one day, but they are still learning. Start Manningham with confidence as a flex player.

James Starks vs Broncos – With news that Ryan Grant will miss this Sundays game recently hitting the wire, Starks goes back to a must-start in fantasy leagues. He faces off against one of the worst run defense in the NFL and with the Packers expected to be nursing a large lead, we should finally see workhorse like touches for Starks. He is a RB2 with RB1 upside this week.

Sit Em

Ben Tate vs Steelers – With Arian Foster due back this week and the Steelers coming to town, the NFL’s fifth leading rusher should be on fantasy benches. Yes , there is a good chance that Foster reaggravates his injury, but squaring off against the Steelers and being the lesser back in a committee is never a formula for fantasy football success.

Thomas Jones vs Vikings – Thomas Jones goes up against a re-energized Vikings defense that just got run stopper Kevin Williams back from suspension. After averaging only 2.2 YPC last week we do not expect much from him against this defense. Jones will find some fantasy value some weeks, but at 33 years old he is not a high end fantasy option to begin with. Keep him on the bench as you should have better options.

Torrey Smith vs Jets – Fresh off of one of the best rookie debuts ever Torrey Smith is a recommended sit this week against the intimidating Jets secondary. Now if you are in a 14-team league, you honestly may not have any better options, but in any other format, you should not take an unnecessary risk by deploying Smith against one of the best cornerback duos in the NFL. While Evans may be back in week six, Smith is a much better option against the Texans porous pass defense when the Ravens come off of their bye week.

Willis McGahee vs Green Bay – The Broncos should be down early and than run on continuously severely limiting McGahee’s upside this week. Knowshown Moreno is also expected back in the lineup which will also hurt McGahee’s value vs the Pack. Keep McGahee on your bench this week and next.

Marshawn Lynch vs Falcons – Lynch had a good game against the Cardinals with 73 yards rushing but should be in for a disappointing week against a Falcons team that is projected to jump to an early lead. Playing in catch-up mode is never good for a running backs fantasy success and this week should be no different for Lynch.

DeAngelo Williams vs Bears – Anyone could have told GM Jerry Richardson that Jonathan Stewart was the superior back and that they should have let him go to the Broncos but apparently the GM did not want to give up on what was one of the teams only strengths by splitting up the double trouble duo of Stewart and Williams. Three weeks into the season Williams is looking like a $43 million dollar mistake. At this point we view him as nothing more than a thorn in the side of Stewart’s fantasy owners as a 28-year old running back who will be force fed snaps because a GM made a horrible decision. Keep him on fantasy benches until further notice.