Fantasy Football Week 4 Start/Sit
NFL Fantasy Football Week 4 Start/Sit
By: Andrew Ferguson
Week 3 we went 25-9 in our fantasy picks. Hoping I put you all in positions to win and we’re going into week 4 with a chance to make a statement. My goal for these articles is to avoid the obvious. Some of you don’t have a choice to start a lot of big name players. So you’ll see guys on my list for these start/sit articles that either have bad matchups, or they’re more middle tier players that could potentially be on someone’s bench that they’re debating on starting. I’m never going to tell you to start or sit Jahmyr Gibbs. I think we all know you’re playing him no matter the matchup. But as the season progresses, some people lose value and some people gain. So where do we go this week?
QBs to Start:
Bryce Young- It’s hard to ignore what Bryce Young is doing early in the season as he ranks as QB4 overall in fantasy. He gets the most favorable matchup at home against the Detroit Lions worst ranked defense against quarterbacks that looks like an episode of Oprah. “You get a touchdown, you have a career day, you get 100 yards!” This could be a high scoring game and the Panthers offense will eat.
Tyler Shough- Tyler Shough. Same thing. Can’t ignore what he's doing as he ranks as QB3 overall this year and he’s doing it in a way to build confidence. He’s getting his tight ends involved with lots of good reads and completions and he’s throwing touchdowns. Olave is his best friend and the Atlanta defense is missing their best corner and doesn’t have the best secondary. Even though Atlanta just beat up on Green Bay, Jordan Love still put up a respectable fantasy night.
Geno Smith- Geno Smith is week-by-week, getting more comfortable with this offense. He’s going up against a very beatable Bears defense that struggles against QBs in fantasy. Breece Hall is out so the game script should fall in favor of a pass heavy offense. If you’re dealing with a QB injury and need to stream, this isn’t a bad option at all.
Trevor Lawrence- I’ve been big on Trevor all year and he let us down 2 weeks in a row. The game against Denver is one thing, but taking a knee at the one yard line last week with 9 minutes left in the game was a heartbreaker. He could’ve had an even bigger day and that touchdown would’ve put him as QB9 overall, but he currently sits at QB13. The Bengals just allowed Aaron Rodgers to go for 3 TDs so Lawrence should be able to do the same. Fire him up as your starter.
QBs to Bench:
Aaron Rodgers- In the first two games of the season, Rodgers threw one TD pass. He had 3 against the Bengals on Sunday but goes into a short week on the road in a matchup with the Browns that’s quietly not allowing QBs to light up the statsheet. I don’t like this recipe for Rodgers this week.
Kirk Cousins- Alright, I’ve seen enough. No way this continues. Kirk Cousins has 3 games in a row with 3 TDs. No way a 4th happens. This matchup is tough and he’s going on the road to the Chiefs in a rivalry game that gives up the fewest points to QBs in fantasy. I know Bowers is back but I don’t like the passing game for the Raiders this week.
Bo Nix- I want to prove this guy sucks, but he keeps winning games so I can’t. It’s mind boggling. Nix has a tough road matchup against the 49ers that defends well against QBs. And from the eye test (in the first half at least), he’s not playing well to be my fantasy QB starter. Nix got bailed out a few times last week, makes bad reads and decisions but has the legs to potentially make up for it. Not starting him this week.
Malik Willis- This is more for 2 QB league mates. Don’t do it. He has potential to get you some points with his athleticism but overall, Minnesota’s defense on the road is nothing to experiment with. No Achane, no real weapons to throw to. This could be ugly for Willis in week 4.
RBs to Start:
Braelon Allen- Breece Hall is out and Allen has been getting a decent amount of work behind him in the first 3 games already. Allen is trusted by the coaching staff and should get the full workload. Isaiah Davis is the only competition but he’s had hardly any playing time all season. Allen is talented and this could be a breakout game for him.
Aaron Jones Sr.- Aaron Jones is quietly having a good season as an RB2. He’s going up against Miami that gives up the most fantasy points to RBs on the season. With no Jordan Mason and Justin Jefferson banged up, Kyler and the team should rely on the run game to put these Dolphins to sleep.
Bucky Irving- This offense is going to take a hit without Baker, but it was already underperforming. I expect a lot of Bucky in this home game against the Packers that just let Bijan go into videogame mode on them. He’s dealing with a glute injury so that’s the only thing to keep an eye on. If healthy, the Bucs are in desperation mode for a win and should get it done with the ground game.
David Montgomery- Houston’s O-Line is letting the RBs down this season. They get a much more favorable matchup with Dallas that allows the 8th most fantasy points to RBs this season so far to get back on track. Nico is hopefully back which should open up the run game some more for the Texans. Montgomery is too talented to be bottled up the way he has been.
RBs to Bench:
Omarion Hampton- I can’t believe it’s only week 4 and we’re already debating benching this guy. The Chargers are 0-3 and Hampton hasn’t been a focal point of the offense like many people who drafted him early in the 2nd round thought. He’s even losing goal line touches to Keaton Mitchell. It doesn’t get one bit easier for him this week either as the Chargers travel to Seattle who don’t let RBs score points. I know he was an early pick, but I’d really consider benching him if you have any other decent options at RB.
Quinson Judkins- Judkins hasn’t hit double digits in points this season and I don’t see it happening on a short week of rest against the Steelers defense. Pittsburgh’s defense surprisingly is allowing RBs to score, but they have the talent to right that ship. I don’t expect a lot of scoring this game which is why I’m not high on Judkins, even with the 3 weeks of data to say otherwise.
Ollie Gordon/Jaylen Wright- I know a lot of you lost Achane and spent good money or used their high waiver position to obtain one of these 2. I think this is a split backfield with Gordon being the favorite. But even with the opportunity, Minnesota is not going to allow either of these players to have a breakout day. Achane wasn’t able to get going this year with this terrible offense so I don’t see either of these 2 able to do so.
Saquon Barkley- This is another early 2nd or even late 1st round pick that has yet to score double digit fantasy points. Is age playing a factor? Is it playcalling? Something is not right in Philly. Saquon is also playing through a stinger in his shoulder. On top of all of that, they go up against the Rams that ranks top 5 in stopping RBs. I’m a huge fan of Saquon, but with how this offense is performing, I don’t see it getting back on track in week 4.
WRs to Start:
Zay Flowers- In week 3, Zay Flowers put up 100 yards and barely got the clearance to play. He only played 33% of the snaps. So even with a questionable tag and limited practice this week, fire him up as a WR1. He has a decent matchup against the Titans and the injury is proving to not matter as long as he’s playing.
Michael Wilson- Are we starting to see the end of 2025 Michael Wilson in 2026? Looking at his numbers over the first 3 games, he had a dud against Seattle and that’s to be expected with their shutdown defense. In his two other games, he has a whopping 24 targets with 16 catches, 145 yards and a tudder. He’s the true number 1 WR in Arizona as Marvin Harrison Jr. has been the biggest WR bust in history (my opinion for another day/article). McBride obviously gets his share but Wilson is Brissett’s favorite downfield target. He has a favorable matchup against the Giants that have allowed WRs to put up numbers.
DJ Moore- Take out the game he got injured and he’s putting up a respectable season as a WR2 in fantasy terms. He has WR1 upside and even playing through an injury last week, drew 10 targets and brought in 6 passes for 67 yards. I expect this game against New England to be a tight game where Josh Allen will need Moore.
George Pickens- I think we’re all waiting for that breakout game for Pickens. However, he wasn’t on my love list for 2026 because when CeeDee is fully healthy, Pickens isn’t putting up dominating numbers. However, Dak is starting to play better and it’s translating into Pickens earning more opportunities. I think his first TD is on the horizon and for him to be quiet for 4 weeks would be odd. Houston is somehow allowing WRs to eat so this is a great matchup for Pickens to have a day.
WRs to Bench:
Stefon Diggs- Even with Mariota having a very unexpectedly great day against Seattle, Diggs did not benefit. I don’t expect Mariota to have the same success and I still have a ton of questions about this offense. Diggs being involved without Daniels would be surprising and I’m benching him until Daniels is back.
Denzel Boston- I’ve already expressed my thoughts on the Browns this week and I don’t like this matchup on a short week against the Steelers that are shutting down WRs in fantasy points. I’d wait a couple weeks before Boston is back in my lineup before deploying him as he has a rough schedule ahead of him. He’s averaging 5 targets a game so the talent is taking over the volume for now.
Tre Tucker- This is for people in deeper leagues or some that are already dealing with injuries. I know Kirk is having a good year so far but Kansas City ranks number 1 in holding WRs to low fantasy points this year. Tre Tucker seems have grasped the number 1 WR role in Las Vegas, but I expect a lot of Bowers and Jeanty in week 4. Tucker is also averaging 5 targets a game so I would like to see his role grow more in the offense before I’m playing him.
Emeka Egbuka- Baker is out and a guy named Jalon Daniels is starting. There are early reports that he’s forcing the ball to Egbuka in practice but I can’t trust it in a real game until I see it for myself. He does have a favorable matchup against Green Bay that has been a huge disappointment this year but I expect this week to be run heavy with Bucky Irving being the star, not the WRs.
TEs to Start:
Darren Waller- Waller is quietly ranked TE12 on the year. What a surprise. Detroit has allowed TEs to score at will and Bryce loves him not only in the red zone, but enough to give Waller 8 targets last year. Waller’s role is increasing in this offense and he’s worth starting.
Juwan Johnson- Johnson is proving to be a huge part of this offense and he’s still on waivers in some leagues. He has 3 TDs on the year to go with 19 targets. Shough loves him and he’s putting up points. He has a good matchup in Atlanta whose defense is very beatable. Atlanta has given up 3 TDs to TEs this season already.
Tyler Warren- I think people are expecting a little more of Warren this season, but he’s been consistent. He has 22 targets already on the year and has found the end zone is 2 out of 3 games. He has a great matchup against the Commanders that’s give up a whopping 5 TDs to TEs on the season already. He’s a set it and forget it TE right now.
Kenyon Sadiq- It usually takes a while for rookie TEs to be reliable. Sadiq is a first round pick with nobody ahead of him on the depth chart. He already ranks TE6 overall and New York has some banged up players as they’re missing Omar Cooper and potentially Adonai Mitchell again. He should have another big day against the Bears as the number 2 pass option with Breece Hall out as well for check downs.
TEs to Bench:
Mark Andrews- Mark Andrews doesn’t seem to be heavily involved like the old days. He’s played against some favorable matchups in the first 3 weeks and hasn’t found the endzone. He’s also getting consistent targets but they aren’t leading to much gain so Lamar is using him as a safety valve so far. He has his toughest matchup ahead of him in week 4 as the Titans sneakily don’t allow TEs to beat them.
Mike Gesicki- I see this every year; Gesicki has one or two good games and everyone wonders how he wasn’t drafted in fantasy, he’s Joe Burrow’s starting TE in a high powered offense, blah blah blah. He’s never been consistent and crashes back down to earth every year. And with Higgins and Chase both healthy and dominating target share, He’s not to be trusted. Chase Brown will get more involved in the pass game as well and Gesicki will be the victim. I can’t count on him this week against a tough Jaguars defense that’s only allowed 8 catches to TEs the entire year.
Cade Otton- See Emeka Egbuka ^^^ I won’t bore you here. Questionable QB play ahead of us and I expect a big game from Bucky Irving with the pass catchers all taking a hit.
Harold Fannin Jr.- I know he’s coming off a 2 TD game, but are we really trusting the Browns and Deshaun Watson that much going into a Thursday night game? I’m not. The Steelers defense doesn’t play around with TEs beating them and it won’t happen Thursday night. I’m looking at other options here for a TE streaming option.
