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Fantasy Football: Week 4 Quarterback Rankings

By Alex Butler
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco (5) throws under pressure from Buffalo Bills defenders during the first half of an NFL football game at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland, September 11, 2016. Photo by David Tulis/UPI
1 of 3 | Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco (5) throws under pressure from Buffalo Bills defenders during the first half of an NFL football game at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland, September 11, 2016. Photo by David Tulis/UPI | License Photo

MIAMI, Sept. 28 (UPI) -- Before the 2016 fantasy football season began, the belief was that the quarterback position was deeper than ever.

It was no longer necessary to splurge on an early round gunslinger in order to compete against your opponents. But as bye weeks begin, the quarterback crop is watered down. Also, some of the premier preseason sleepers at the position still need to wake up. Because of all of these factors, and inevitable injuries, you need to research your starting quarterback candidates each week, unless you have a surefire stud.

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Here are my top 20 quarterbacks for this week. You can also look at my top add/drops for the week and visit other positional rankings, in the links below.

TOP SHELF

Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton should absolutely obliterate the Atlanta Falcons this week. Newton gets to face a defense, which has allowed a league-high 10 touchdowns to quarterbacks this season. The Falcons have also allowed the second-most fantasy points per game to quarterbacks in 2016. Newton will be very hungry in his start this week, following a three interception, zero passing touchdown performance in Week 3. Indianapolis Colts stud Andrew Luck will play big this weekend at Wembley Stadium. The Jacksonville Jaguars are allowing the seventh-most fantasy points per game to quarterbacks this season and I expect Luck to expose that secondary. Luck in also due for a multi-touchdown performance, after throwing only one in Week 2 and Week 3.

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SNEAKY PLAYS

Washington's Kirk Cousins and New Orleans' Drew Brees are in for starter-worthy weeks. Cousins gets a match up against the Cleveland Browns. The Browns have allowed the 11th most fantasy points per game to quarterbacks through three weeks. That defense also allowed 319 yards and three touchdowns to Ryan Tannehill in Week 3. The Browns defense failed to stop Carson Wentz and Joe Flacco in its first two games. Brees is leading the NFL in yards this season and gets the San Diego Chargers secondary in Week 4. I expect Brees to rekindle his long-lost relationship with Brandin Cooks this week and absolutely explode if he gets Willie Snead back in the lineup. He showed great chemistry with rookie Michael Thomas last week and I look for that to continue. I also think this game could be a shootout between two of the better quarterbacks in the NFL.

LONGSHOTS

Baltimore Ravens' Joe Flacco has quietly become a solid fantasy football starting quarterback this season. Flacco has thrown for more than 200 yards or multiple touchdowns in its of his first three starts. This week he gets a shot at the Oakland Raiders. The Raiders have allowed the third-most fantasy points per game to opposing quarterbacks this season. With Baltimore having trouble getting its running game going, I look for Flacco to be leaned on in this one and for the Ravens to speed up that pace. Denver Broncos' Trevor Siemian shelled the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 3 for 312 yards and four touchdowns last week. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have allowed the fourth-most points per game to quarterbacks this season. I like Siemian's odds to torch the Buccaneers, reconnecting with a talented wide receiver group in a blowout.

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RANK NAME TEAM OPPONENT
1 Matthew Stafford Detroit Lions at Chicago
2 Cam Newton Carolina Panthers at Atlanta
3 Ben Roethlisberger Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Kansas City
4 Philip Rivers San Diego Chargers vs. New Orleans
5 Carson Palmer Arizona Cardinals vs. Los Angeles
6 Andrew Luck Indianapolis Colts at Jacksonville
7 Kirk Cousins Washington Redskins vs. Cleveland
8 Derek Carr Oakland Raiders at Baltimore
9 Drew Brees New Orleans Saints at San Diego
10 Joe Flacco Baltimore Ravens vs. Oakland
11 Andy Dalton Cincinnati Bengals vs. Miami
12 Trevor Siemian Denver Broncos at Tampa Bay
13 Dak Prescott Dallas Cowboys at San Francisco
14 Blake Bortles Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Indianapolis
15 Eli Manning New York Giants at Minnesota
16 Matt Ryan Atlanta Falcons vs. Carolina
17 Russell Wilson Seattle Seahawks at New York Jets
18 Jimmy Garoppolo New England Patriots vs. Buffalo
19 Ryan Tannehill Miami Dolphins at Cincinnati
20 Tyrod Taylor Buffalo Bills at New England
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