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Week 3 is gone, and we are thankful for the lack of injuries considering how atrocious the first two weeks were.  Probably the worst from Week 3 was the Dolphins QB carousel with Skylar Thompson replacing Tua only to get dinged followed by the entrance of Tim Boyle.  Neither QB played well thus hurting the fantasy week for Achane, Tyreek, and Waddle.  A second QB left his start in Pittsburgh as Justin Herbert’s high ankle sprain caused him to miss time in the 4th quarter on the way to a loss to the home Steelers and Justin Fields.  Fret not my friends as the names below will help you overcome the injuries through Week 3 and provide some under the radar names to put you over the top in your Week 4 matchups.  You may need to work the waiver wire paying particular attention to the players dropped.  Example: One of my Guillotine leagues saw Evan Engram dropped.  I will attempt to scoop him on for cheap FAAB while he is injured.  A name like Engram, especially at the currently awful TE position, should not be on your wire.  Pay attention and pounce on other managers mistakes.  Do not forget Week 5 is the first bye week for 2024 with the Chargers, Eagles, Lions, and Titans all off.  Plan ahead to ensure your roster is covered.  Best to do so a week early.  I digress.  Back to Week 4 Start recommendations. 

 Be sure to check out Razzball Football’s updated rankings: Top 150 | QB | RB | WR TE | DEF | Rookie 

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Start These Players:

  • Position: QB
  • Player: Baker Mayfield
  • Week 3 Opponent: home versus Philadelphia Eagles

Ignore Week 3’s box score.  Baker, and the entire Buccaneers team (except for my guy Chris Godwin) looked lost at home versus Denver.  I have no idea why, but it was what it was, an ugly game all around.  Welcome in the remedy to a bad start, the Philadelphia Eagles defense that has not proven to be a formidable defense.  Bounce back Baker will show out in Week 4 and your team will benefit from starting him.  Sneaky Play: Andy Dalton home versus the Cincinnati Bengals who just blasted the Las Vegas Raiders.  Love seeing the Red Rifle back in action!

  • Position: RB
  • Player: James Conner
  • Week 3 Opponent: home versus Washington Commanders

Washington looked good on offense at Cincinnati on Monday Night Football.  I will give them that.  What I saw, that helps me recommend James Conner is how well both Zack Moss (12 carries for 58 yards and 1 TD; 5 receptions for 39 yards = 19 PPR Points) and Chase Brown (7 carries for 62 yards; 2 receptions for 7 yards = 8 PPR Points).  Certainly, Moss had more points (thank you late TD), but Brown looked solid in his complimentary role.  I mention both RBs in this section because Conner is the alpha RB1 for the Cardinals.  He has seen no less than 75% of the RB snaps through three weeks and is coming of a dud versus the stout Lions front.  Conner will get back on track against the Commanders in Week 4.  Start him with confidence.  Sneaky Play: The aforementioned Zack Moss at Carolina.  The Panthers are coming off an impressive performance at the Raiders, but they are still the Carolina Panthers. 

  • Position: WR
  • Player: Amari Cooper
  • Week 3 Opponent: at Las Vegas Raiders

Did you see what Diontae Johnson did against the Raiders in Week 3 in Vegas?  Now, get Cooper in your lineup for Week 4 and expect similar results.  Many people are still fading or looking to trade Cooper after his big Week 3 (7 catches on 12 targets for 86 yards and 2 TD), and I cannot blame the ‘sell high’ approach, but for now, I like Amari to ball out against the Raiders suspect DBs.  If DeShaun Watson can continue to show small bits of improvement (still yet to throw for 200 yards through three weeks), then Amari Cooper will benefit the most.  There is not a true WR2 for the Browns especially with Njoku out, so ride Cooper to a Week 4 win.  Sneaky Play: Jaylen Waddle with a viable QB in Tyler Huntley can return value that he was unable to do with Skylar/Boyle under center.  Many will fade/sit Waddle whereas I think Huntley can be serviceable enough to run the Mike McDaniel system that features quick passes to a spot on the field making Waddle (and Tyreek) good, not great starts this week.

  • Position: TE
  • Player: Zach Ertz
  • Week 3 Opponent: at Arizona Cardinals

It took Ertz a little to get rolling in Week 3, but when he did Jayden Daniels found him for key first downs.  With Austin Ekeler in concussion protocol, and the Commanders not having a true WR2, look for Ertz to be that consistent outlet for Daniels in a game they must keep up with the Cardinals in the scoring column.  This should be a relatively high scoring game, and my money is on Ertz to be a focal point for Kilff Kingsbury and the Commanders offense.  Sneaky Play: Elijah Higgins in the same game at home versus the Commanders.  If Trey McBride, currently in concussion protocol, and not practicing, misses Week 4, then Higgins, a former WR, could be the beneficiary.  At this point, the TE position is trash, so might as well have some fun and win your matchup with a player your opponent has never heard of.

 

Since you are here, check out more fantasy goodness at Razzball. Follow me on Twitter/X @Stiles08. Don’t forget to drop a comment or question down below.  Looking forward to seeing you during our Sunday Start/Sit Show on YouTube @RazzballFantasy two hours before kickoff where we answer all your questions live on the air!

-Stiles-