Every week can feel like a must-win in fantasy land, but for some of us, that week might be more important than others. Because starting a season 1-3 or even 0-4 is a bad motivation damper. Therefore, it is up to all false starters to pull out all the potential strands in order to come out of Week 4 with a win. We at TOUCHDOWN24 are here to help – with our Fantasy Starts and Sits for NFL Week 4.
Quarterback
Must-Starts: Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson, Jalen Hurts, Patrick Mahomes, Justin Herbert, Kyler Murray, Joe Burrow
Start: Tua Tagovailoa, Miami Dolphins (@ Cincinnati Bengals)
It looked like Tua might leave the AFC East summit against the Bills with a concussion, but the 24-year-old got back on the pitch and his Dolphins delivered one of the biggest upsets of the previous week. We now know that Tua didn’t injure his head but his back. That shouldn’t affect him much on Thursday night against the Bengals, so the leader of one of the NFL’s most explosive offenses should be in your lineup.
Start: Jared Goff, Detroit Lions (vs. Seattle Seahawks)
The Lions offense is a positive surprise and has an absolute superstar in its ranks in Amon-Ra St. Brown. The German-American is a big part of Goff being the 10th best fantasy quarterback of the season so far. The matchup against the Seahawks at home’s Ford Field is the perfect time to strike the iron while it’s hot. Goff is my streamer of the week.
Best TD-INT ratio since Week 12 last season
Aaron Rodgers 18-1 (18.0)
Patrick Mahomes 19-2 (9.5)
Jared Goff 17-3 (5.7) pic.twitter.com/ldjkcPGUCB— NFL on CBS ???? (@NFLonCBS) September 20, 2022
Sit: Derek Carr, Las Vegas Raiders (vs. Denver Broncos)
Carr has had a poor season so far and has failed to live up to hopes of establishing himself as QB1 in fantasy land this year. Now the strong Broncos defense is waiting with a Bradley Chubb in top form. Denver’s pass rush could really hit Carr and make for a nightmare afternoon. Better leave Carr on the bench if you have a good alternative.
Sit: Ryan Tannehill, Tennessee Titans (@ Indianapolis Colts)
Tannehill has already had two strong fantasy performances this year (4th and 10th place), but these came at Nissan Field on home soil. An away duel with the motivated Colts defense could turn out to be more difficult. There are better weeks to bring the now 34-year-old into your lineup.
Runningback
Must-Starts: Jonathan Taylor, Nick Chubb, Saquon Barkley, Christian McCaffrey, Derrick Henry, Jamaal Williams, Auton Ekeler, Najee Harris, Joe Mixon, James Robinson, Leonard Fournette, Aaron Jones, A.J. Dillon, James Conner, Javonte Williams, Alvin Kamara, Dalvin Cook (falls active), Khalil Herbert (ohne David Montgomery)
Start: Rhamondre Stevenson, New England Patriots (@ Green Bay Packers)
Stevenson’s usage profile is currently that of a real RB1. In Week 3, Stevenson picked up 50 percent of carries (season-high) and ran a passing route on 64 percent of all passing plays—an elite stat in the region of stars like Christian McCaffrey. Stevenson played 62 percent of all snaps for the second time in a row over the weekend and should scratch 20 fantasy points again with this usage. The Patriots can mess up the backfield at any time, but we have to swallow that pill. Stevenson is a clear RB2 in Week 4.
Rhamondre Stevenson stepped into an RB1 utilization profile in Week 3, per PFF data ????????????
62% snaps
54% rushing atts
64% route participation
16% target share
60% short yardage
60% long-down-distance
100% two-minute— Dwain McFarland (@dwainmcfarland) September 26, 2022
Start: Breece Hall, New York Jets (@ Pittsburgh Steelers)
For the first time this season, Hall fielded more snaps than Michael Carter (51 to 49 percent). He once again dominated the two-minute drill and long pass situations and ran a pass route in 50 percent of all passes – the best value of the season. Hall is targeted on 33 percent of his passing routes, which is elite usage, and nearly one in five runs he runs is 10+ yards. In short, Hall is an ultra-talented back who is slowly but surely finding the use of an RB2. So it should at least start in your Flex. Trade for Hall in every league you can before it’s too late.
Sit: Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Kansas City Chiefs (@ Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
It was now the second straight week that Jerick McKinnon has dominated running back snaps in Kansas City. CEH found his way back into the end zone, but ran for 0 yards in his seven carries. Now he meets the strong running defense of the Bucs. Edwards-Helaire will not score a touchdown every week and cannot consistently outperform his RB3 usage with RB1 performances. Trade him away while his value is high (currently CEH is the 4th best fantasy RB) and even consider benching him against the Bucs this week. In my rankings, CEH is just an RB3 this week.
Sit: Cam Akers und Darrell Henderson, Los Angeles Rams (@ San Francisco 49ers)
Who knows how Sean McVay will deploy his running backs next? Henderson dominated in Week 1, it was a classic 50/50 split in Week 2 and last weekend Akers just had the upper hand. That should mean Akers dominates the snaps in Week 4, right? Then again, it’s McVay that’s probably why Henderson gets 20 carries. I would avoid this whole situation until we have more clarity. Please don’t drop Akers or Henderson though, both have way too much upside to be floating around on the waiver wire.
Wide Receiver
Must-Starts: Cooper Kupp, Stefon Diggs, Justin Jefferson, Ja’Marr Chase, Tyreek Hill, Amon-Ra St. Brown, A.J. Brown, CeeDee Lamb, Deebo Samuel, Davante Adams, Jaylen Waddle, Michael Pittman Jr., Christian Kirk, Courtland Sutton, Mike Evans, Tee Higgins, Mike Williams, Keenan Allen (falls active), Gabe Davis, Marquise Brown
Start: Rashod Bateman, Baltimore Ravens (vs. Buffalo Bills)
The Bills are currently struggling with injuries in their secondary and Lamar Jackson is playing at MVP level. Since the Ravens defense also had difficulties stopping the pass recently, I’m assuming a real shootout between Jackson and Josh Allen. So start all your Bills and Ravens players like Bateman who is always good for a big play.
Start: DeVonta Smith, Philadelphia Eagles (vs. Jacksonville Jaguars)
The “Slim Reaper” benefited from a triumphant Jalen Hurts in the last two weeks and should have his hands full again against the Jaguars. Jacksonville has the best running defense in the league to date, which will force the Eagles to make a lot of passes. Smith, AJ Brown and tight end Dallas Goedert belong in fantasy lineups of all shapes and sizes.
Devonta ‘too skinny for the NFL’ Smith! pic.twitter.com/az00GeB4Ko
— FootballRausch – The NFL Podcast (@Footballrausch) September 26, 2022
Sit: D.J. Moore, Carolina Panthers (vs. Arizona Cardinals)
I see a lot of articles are currently touting Moore as a buy-low target, and depending on what you’re giving up for the 25-year-old, it might even be a legitimate strategy. Just know that Moore is little more than a WR3 in one of the weakest pass offenses in the league. Unless Baker Mayfield can significantly improve his performance (PFF grades of 45.7, last rank), I would bench Moore.
Sit: Allen Robinson, Los Angeles Rams (@ San Francisco 49ers)
How many weeks are we going to watch Matt Stafford desperately trying to fit Robinson into the Rams offense? This unit is currently run through Cooper Kupp and Tyler Higbee and A-Rob is just the extra wheel on the car. If the 29-year-old doesn’t catch a touchdown, he’s basically worthless. I wouldn’t bet on that in a probably low-scoring matchup with the 49ers.
Tight End
Must-Starts: Mark Andrews, Travis Kelce, Darren Waller, Kyle Pitts, George Kittle, Dallas Goedert, Zach Ertz
Start: David Njoku, Cleveland Browns (@ Atlanta Falcons)
Njoku has now run more than 80 percent passing routes in two straight games and is the clear No. 2 option in the Browns’ passing game behind Amari Cooper. It is a high end TE2 with a solid floor and should no longer be available on the waiver wire.
David Njoku made this touchdown look easy ????pic.twitter.com/R5ea5603WD
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPointsApp) September 23, 2022
Start: Tyler Conklin, New York Jets (@ Pittsburgh Steelers)
CJ Uzomah returned in Week 3 and took away a few pass routes from Conklin, but the 27-year-old remains a usage monster. He runs around 80 percent of the pass routes we expect from tight ends that have fantasy impact. Like Njoku, it is now a high-end TE2 and should also be obtained from the waiver if it is still available.
Sit: Dawson Knox, Buffalo Bills (@ Baltimore Ravens)
With Isaiah McKenzie and Jamison Crowder, the Bills now rely on too many targets in the intermediate range, which massively damages Knox’s value. Any player on this offense who sees 60 percent snaps like Knox does has the potential to get a touchdown. But that’s all Knox hopes for. Better leave him on the bench.
Sit: Irv Smith Jr., Minnesota Vikings (@ New Orleans Saints – London Game)
Like Knox, Smith is currently only No. 4 or 5 in the Vikings’ passing game and, like his Bills counterpart, is very TD dependent. Better options are available on most waivers with Conklin and Njoku.