As we head into Week 4 of the NFL season, it’s safe to say that fantasy football has been… weird. However, we’re officially at a point where you can start to safely see how teams are going to use their players and what their true value is. It’s important to make the right call in your lineups every week. I had a tough Week 3, but I’ll help you make some of your decisions with my Week 4 starts and sits.
Quarterback
Start: Marcus Mariota vs. Cleveland Browns
Marcus Mariota has quietly been an efficient quarterback in Atlanta. He ranks in the top half of fantasy QBs and gets a solid matchup against the Cleveland Browns at home this week. Cleveland will most likely be missing Myles Garrett for this matchup, which should make this matchup a lot easier for Mariota. However, the Falcons’ QB is due for a big game. Expect Mariota to keep targeting Drake London and to get Pitts more involved. Mariota’s matchup and ability on the ground make him a candidate for fantasy lineups this week.
Sit: Jimmy Garoppolo vs. Los Angeles Rams
Jimmy G had a tough week in prime-time against the Broncos in Week 3. Unfortunately, the schedule doesn’t ease up for the Niners when they head to Los Angeles to play a division rival, the Rams, on Monday Night Football. This offense will be missing their best offensive lineman in Trent Williams to protect Jimmy G’s blindside. I have a feeling it’s going to get ugly for the Niners offensively, and any yards they get will be through the run game. It’s not like Garoppolo has impressed anybody so far with how he’s played, so this mismatch keeps him on my bench in Week 4.
Running Back
Start: Jamaal Williams vs. Seattle Seahawks
This is a prime example of why it’s important to handcuff your starting RBs (have their backup on your bench). D’Andre Swift will most likely be out in Week 4 against the Seahawks, and Swift managers will already tell you how aggravating it is to have him on their team. On the other hand, Jamaal Williams has had more than ten carries in every game this year, including almost every goal line snap, and that number will only go up with Swift out. Williams will be the lead back in a Detroit offense that has been very efficient to start the season. With the Seahawks allowing the third-most fantasy points to RBs this year, Williams is due for a huge game. It’s a no-brainer to start Williams, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him put up RB1-level numbers this week.Â
Sit: Travis Etienne Jr. @ Philadelphia Eagles
If you drafted Travis Etienne Jr. at his highest average draft position (ADP), I feel really bad for you. Nobody expected James Robinson to bounce back as well as he did less than a year after his torn Achilles, but he did. In fact, Robinson is just as explosive as he was before his injury. However, the reality is Etienne just isn’t worth starting right now. He has 10 carries or less in every game this season, and now the Jaguars head to Philadelphia to take on the Eagles. The volume just simply isn’t there, so I’m sitting Etienne until he proves he’s worth starting.
Wide Reciever
Start: Marquise Brown @ Carolina Panthers
Hollywood Brown has been a star in fantasy football through the first three weeks of the season. Just last week, he caught 14 passes on 17 (!!!) targets. I don’t expect this volume overload to decline when the Cardinals play the Panthers this week. He’s clearly the WR1 on the team right now, and the Panthers are ranked 19th against wide receivers in PPR formats. Hollywood isn’t touchdown-dependent, but I can see him absolutely hauling one in this week. Start Hollywood in Week 4.
Sit: Darnell Mooney @ New York Giants
Mooney has been incredibly disappointing this year. There’s no other way to say it: he isn’t a starter right now in fantasy football. He hasn’t caught more than two passes in any game this year, and it doesn’t look good for the young WR in this run-first offense. Justin Fields isn’t good enough to get him the ball consistently, if at all. He’s another player who I’m benching until he proves he’s worth starting.Â
Tight End
Start: Tyler Conklin @ Pittsburgh Steelers
Believe it or not, Tyler Conklin is the current TE3 in PPR formats. With Zach Wilson returning for the Jets, this offense’s potential takes an even bigger step forward. Everything we heard from the Jets’ training camp over the summer was the Wilson-Conklin connection, and I think Conklin’s target share remains high. He’s the clear TE1 on the Jets’ team, and I think we will see Conklin really shine in these upcoming weeks. Pittsburgh hasn’t been great against tight ends, and with Minkah Fitzpatrick in concussion protocol, I like Conklin’s upside in Week 4.
Sit: Dawson Knox @ Baltimore Ravens
It’s tough to sit Dawson Knox with how explosive the Buffalo offense is. But with Knox getting no more than five targets so far in a game, it’s tough to be excited about him. The tight end just isn’t a position that Josh Allen is prioritizing right now, and Knox’s fantasy value keeps dropping every week. There could be a week where Knox breaks out, but it’s difficult to trust him in this offense right now. Especially against a talented Ravens defense, I’m not starting Knox in my lineups this week.
