Fantasy football start vs. sit decisions are way more nuanced than locking the best players into your starting lineup.
Matchups matter, recent workloads matter, a lot of other fluctuating factors matter. That’s why my rankings shift from week-to-week — and even day-to-da. That’s also why I outline my rankings into tiers for each position twice each week: Right before we make our first start/sit decisions for Thursday Night Football, then again on Saturdays before locking in our lineups for Sundays.
Below you’ll find the final version of my Week 4 fantasy tiers for quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers, tight ends, defenses and kickers. Last-minute developments could still impact these tiers, though, so be sure to check my real-time rankings before games kick off Sunday.
Week 4 Fantasy Rankings & Tiers
QUARTERBACKS
Tier 1
Josh Allen (vs. HOU)
Tier 2
Patrick Mahomes (@ PHI)
Kyler Murray (@ LAR)
Tier 3
Justin Herbert (vs. LV)
Jalen Hurts (vs. KC)
Tom Brady (@ NE)
Tier 4
Dak Prescott (vs. CAR)
Lamar Jackson (@ DEN)
Matthew Stafford (vs. ARI)
Tier 5
Russell Wilson (@ SF)
Tier 6
Derek Carr (@ LAC)
Aaron Rodgers (vs. PIT)
Kirk Cousins (vs. CLE)
Taylor Heinicke (@ ATL)
Joe Burrow (vs. JAX)
Sam Darnold (@ DAL)
Tier 7
Justin Fields (vs. DET)
Baker Mayfield (@ MIN)
Ryan Tannehill (@ NYJ)
Matt Ryan (vs. WAS)
Tier 8
Teddy Bridgewater (vs. BAL)
Jimmy Garoppolo (vs. SEA)
Jacoby Brissett (vs. IND)
Trevor Lawrence (@ CIN)
Tier 9
Mac Jones (vs. TB)
Daniel Jones (@ NO)
Jared Goff (@ CHI)
Ben Roethlisberger (@ GB)
Jameis Winston (vs. NYG)
Tier 10
Zach Wilson (vs. TEN)
Carson Wentz (@ MIA)
Tier 11
Davis Mills (@ BUF)
Tier 12
Taysom Hill (vs. NYG)
Trey Lance (vs. SEA)
RUNNING BACKS
Tier 1
Derrick Henry (@ NYJ)
Tier 2
Alvin Kamara (vs. NYG)
Tier 3
Najee Harris (@ GB)
Tier 4
Joe Mixon (vs. JAX)
Aaron Jones (vs. PIT)
Austin Ekeler (vs. LV)
Dalvin Cook (vs. CLE)
Nick Chubb (@ MIN)
Tier 5
Ezekiel Elliott (vs. CAR)
David Montgomery (vs. DET)
D’Andre Swift (@ CHI)
Jonathan Taylor (@ MIA)
Saquon Barkley (@ NO)
James Robinson (@ CIN)
Chuba Hubbard (@ DAL)
Antonio Gibson (@ ATL)
Chris Carson (@ SF)
Miles Sanders (vs. KC)
Tier 6
Clyde Edwards-Helaire (@ PHI)
Chase Edmonds (@ LAR)
Myles Gaskin (vs. IND)
Kareem Hunt (@ MIN)
Leonard Fournette (@ NE)
Mike Davis (vs. WAS)
Darrell Henderson (vs. ARI)
Tier 7
Zack Moss (vs. HOU)
Cordarrelle Patterson (vs. WAS)
Melvin Gordon (vs. BAL)
Trey Sermon (vs. SEA)
Damien Harris (vs. TB)
Jamaal Williams (@ CHI)
Javonte Williams (vs. BAL)
Nyheim Hines (@ MIA)
Devin Singletary (vs. HOU)
Tier 8
Michael Carter (vs. TEN)
Tony Pollard (vs. CAR)
Josh Jacobs (@ LAC)
Tier 9
Ty’Son Williams (@ DEN)
J.D. McKissic (@ ATL)
Ronald Jones II (@ NE)
Kyle Juszczyk (vs. SEA)
Sony Michel (vs. ARI)
Kenyan Drake (@ LAC)
James Conner (@ LAR)
Latavius Murray (@ DEN)
Alexander Mattison (vs. CLE)
Tier 10
Elijah Mitchell (vs. SEA)
Kenneth Gainwell (vs. KC)
A.J. Dillon (vs. PIT)
Mark Ingram (@ BUF)
J.J. Taylor (vs. TB)
Royce Freeman (@ DAL)
Ty Johnson (vs. TEN)
Peyton Barber (@ LAC)
Darrel Williams (@ PHI)
Jeremy McNichols (@ NYJ)
Malcolm Brown (vs. IND)
Tony Jones Jr. (vs. NYG)
Phillip Lindsay (@ BUF)
WIDE RECEIVERS
Tier 1
Davante Adams (vs. PIT)
Tier 2
Cooper Kupp (vs. ARI)
Tyreek Hill (@ PHI)
Tier 3
D.K. Metcalf (@ SF)
Justin Jefferson (vs. CLE)
Stefon Diggs (vs. HOU)
Calvin Ridley (vs. WAS)
CeeDee Lamb (vs. CAR)
D.J. Moore (@ DAL)
Chris Godwin (@ NE)
Mike Williams (vs. LV)
Terry McLaurin (@ ATL)
Keenan Allen (vs. LV)
Deebo Samuel (vs. SEA)
Tier 4
Ja’Marr Chase (vs. JAX)
Tyler Lockett (@ SF)
Amari Cooper (vs. CAR)
Adam Thielen (vs. CLE)
DeAndre Hopkins (@ LAR)
Tier 5
Mike Evans (@ NE)
Diontae Johnson (@ GB)
Courtland Sutton (vs. BAL)
Brandin Cooks (@ BUF)
Robert Woods (vs. ARI)
Tyler Boyd (vs. JAX)
Odell Beckham Jr. (@ MIN)
Jakobi Meyers (vs. TB)
Marvin Jones (@ CIN)
Antonio Brown (@ NE)
Tier 6
Allen Robinson (vs. DET)
Cole Beasley (vs. HOU)
Corey Davis (vs. TEN)
Juju Smith-Schuster (@ GB)
Robby Anderson (@ DAL)
Kenny Golladay (@ NO)
Marquise Brown (@ DEN)
Devonta Smith (vs. KC)
Tier 7
Michael Pittman Jr. (@ MIA)
D.J. Chark (@ CIN)
Emmanuel Sanders (vs. HOU)
Jaylen Waddle (vs. IND)
Brandon Aiyuk (vs. SEA)
Terrace Marshall (@ DAL)
Tier 8
Henry Ruggs (@ LAC)
Laviska Shenault (@ CIN)
Tim Patrick (vs. BAL)
Darnell Mooney (vs. DET)
Jalen Reagor (vs. KC)
Bryan Edwards (@ LAC)
Hunter Renfrow (@ LAC)
Christian Kirk (@ LAR)
A.J. Green (@ LAR)
Nelson Agholor (vs. TB)
Sammy Watkins (@ DEN)
Tier 9
Mecole Hardman (@ PHI)
DeVante Parker (vs. IND)
Rondale Moore (@ LAR)
K.J. Osborn (vs. CLE)
Jamison Crowder (vs. TEN)
Nick Westbrook-Ikhine (@ NYJ)
Marquez Callaway (vs. NYG)
Quintez Cephus (@ CHI)
Zach Pascal (@ MIA)
Curtis Samuel (@ ATL)
Will Fuller (vs. IND)
Chester Rogers (@ NYJ)
Freddie Swain (@ SF)
Kendrick Bourne (vs. TB)
Van Jefferson (vs. ARI)
Tier 10
Braxton Berrios (vs. TEN)
James Washington (@ GB)
Desean Jackson (vs. ARI)
Kalif Raymond (@ CHI)
Allen Lazard (vs. PIT)
Collin Johnson (@ NO)
Kadarius Toney (@ NO)
Olamide Zaccheaus (vs. WAS)
Jalen Guyton (vs. LV)
Deonte Harris (vs. NYG)
Quez Watkins (vs. KC)
TIGHT ENDS
Tier 1
Travis Kelce (@ PHI)
Tier 2
Darren Waller (@ LAC)
Tier 3
George Kittle (vs. SEA)
Tier 4
T.J. Hockenson (@ CHI)
Tier 5
Kyle Pitts (vs. WAS)
Logan Thomas (@ ATL)
Mark Andrews (@ DEN)
Tyler Higbee (vs. ARI)
Tier 6
Noah Fant (vs. BAL)
Tier 7
Jared Cook (vs. LV)
Robert Tonyan Jr. (vs. PIT)
Mike Gesicki (vs. IND)
Tyler Conklin (vs. CLE)
Dalton Schultz (vs. CAR)
Dawson Knox (vs. HOU)
Dallas Goedert (vs. KC)
Hunter Henry (vs. TB)
Tier 8
Austin Hooper (@ MIN)
Cameron Brate (@ NE)
Anthony Firkser (@ NYJ)
Cole Kmet (vs. DET)
Jonnu Smith (vs. TB)
Evan Engram (@ NO)
Will Dissly (@ SF)
Tier 9
O.J. Howard (@ NE)
Maxx Williams (@ LAR)
C.J. Uzomah (vs. JAX)
Blake Jarwin (vs. CAR)
David Njoku (@ MIN)
Zach Ertz (vs. KC)
Jack Doyle (@ MIA)
Pat Freiermuth (@ GB)
KICKERS
Tier 1
Tyler Bass (vs. HOU)
Harrison Butker (@ PHI)
Matt Gay (vs. ARI)
Tier 2
Greg Zuerlein (vs. CAR)
Evan McPherson (vs. JAX)
Tristan Vizcaino (vs. LV)
Ryan Succop (@ NE)
Robbie Gould (vs. SEA)
Younghoe Koo (vs. WAS)
Tier 3
Daniel Carlson (@ LAC)
Matt Prater (@ LAR)
Dustin Hopkins (@ ATL)
Chase McLaughlin (@ MIN)
Jason Sanders (vs. IND)
Jason Myers (@ SF)
Zane Gonzalez (@ DAL)
Brandon McManus (vs. BAL)
Justin Tucker (@ DEN)
Tier 4
Mason Crosby (vs. PIT)
Aldrick Rosas (vs. NYG)
Randy Bullock (@ NYJ)
Greg Joseph (vs. CLE)
Cairo Santos (vs. DET)
Nick Folk (vs. TB)
Jake Elliott (vs. KC)
Tier 5
Matt Ammendola (vs. TEN)
Graham Gano (@ NO)
Rodrigo Blankenship (@ MIA)
Ryan Santoso (@ CHI)
Chris Boswell (@ GB)
Matthew Wright (@ CIN)
Tier 6
Joey Slye (@ BUF)
DEFENSES
Tier 1
Buffalo Bills (vs. HOU)
Tier 2
Cincinnati Bengals (vs. JAX)
Tennessee Titans (@ NYJ)
Tier 3
New Orleans Saints (vs. NYG)
Chicago Bears (vs. DET)
Miami Dolphins (vs. IND)
Green Bay Packers (vs. PIT)
Tier 4
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@ NE)
Detroit Lions (@ CHI)
Tier 5
Indianapolis Colts (@ MIA)
Washington Football Team (@ ATL)
Dallas Cowboys (vs. CAR)
Baltimore Ravens (@ DEN)
Kansas City Chiefs (@ PHI)
Denver Broncos (vs. BAL)
Los Angeles Rams (vs. ARI)
Atlanta Falcons (vs. WAS)
New York Giants (@ NO)
Minnesota Vikings (vs. CLE)
Los Angeles Chargers (vs. LV)
Tier 6
San Francisco 49ers (vs. SEA)
New England Patriots (vs. TB)
Cleveland Browns (@ MIN)
Carolina Panthers (@ DAL)
New York Jets (vs. TEN)
Jacksonville Jaguars (@ CIN)
Pittsburgh Steelers (@ GB)
Seattle Seahawks (@ SF)
Las Vegas Raiders (@ LAC)
Arizona Cardinals (@ LAR)
Tier 7
Philadelphia Eagles (vs. KC)
Houston Texans (@ BUF)