Each week during the NFL season, we will rank enough players at each position to appease everyone from those in 8-team leagues to 16-team leagues, those that can start two QBs, two TEs, three RBs and four WRs. We cut out the rest, because if you're looking at who the 50th-best running back or the 17th-best kicker is for that week, you need more help than any Web site can give you.
Indianapolis and Pittsburgh are on bye.
2012 NFL Week 4 Fantasy Football Rankings — Defense/Special Teams
| Rk | Player | OPPONENT | Notes |
| 1 | Houston Texans | vs. TEN | |
| 2 | Seattle Seahawks | at STL | Had 8 sacks on MNF, Rams have allowed second-most (12). |
| 3 | Baltimore Ravens | vs. CLE (Thurs.) | Short turnaround, but facing rookie QB/RB in their house. |
| 4 | Arizona Cardinals | vs. MIA | Cards 2nd in points allowed at 13.3 per game. |
| 5 | San Francisco 49ers | at NYJ | Don't look for Jets to get Ground N Pound going this week. |
| 6 | Chicago Bears | at DAL (Mon.) | Ranked 6th in both rushing and passing yards allowed. |
| 7 | Dallas Cowboys | vs. CHI (Mon.) | Giving up league-low 250 yards per game. |
| 8 | Green Bay Packers | vs. NO | Winless Saints get Pack at worst time possible. |
| 9 | Atlanta Falcons | vs. CAR | Dirty Birds hoping to continue Cam's frustrations. |
| 10 | Philadelphia Eagles | vs. NYG | Eagles' secondary looks to slow down G-Men's aerial attack. |
| 11 | New York Jets | vs. SF | |
| 12 | New York Giants | at PHI | Giants planning to force more mistakes from Vick, Eagles. |
| 13 | Denver Broncos | vs. OAK | |
| 14 | New England Patriots | at BUF | |
| 15 | Miami Dolphins | at ARI | |
| 16 | Detroit Lions | vs. MIN |
Rankings are based upon Athlon Sports' standard scoring system:
DEFENSIVE SCORING
0 points allowed = 12 points
1-6 points allowed = 10 points
7-13 points allowed = 8 pts
14-20 points allowed = 6 points
21-27 points allowed = 2 pts
28+ points allowed = 0 points
Safeties = 2 points
Fumbles recovered = 2 points
Interceptions = 2 points
Sacks = 1 point
Defensive/Special Teams TDs = 6 points
[11]
Additional Week 4 Positional Rankings
Quarterbacks [12]
Running Backs [13]
Wide Receivers [14]
Tight Ends [15]
Kickers [16]
Week 4 Start or Sit [17]
