Start ’em, Sit ’em Fantasy Football Week 4 – All Positions

Welcome to Week 4 of the NFL season. If you go back to last week, we did a pretty good job highlighting who to start and who to sit, but we strive for perfection and hope to be better this week!

By now everyone knows that scoring is down, passing touchdowns are down, but rushing and field goals are up…go figure. Additionally, this week offers a ton of injury issues that might go right to gametime…AJ Brown, Devonta Smith, Sam Darnold, Sam LaPorta, and Jordan Love to name a few.

As always, remember I sometimes go off the board. There are several players that in my opinion are always in “must start” or “must sit” situations. We won’t hit on too many of those here. We’ll discuss some of the mid-level guys who you might not start week in, week out.

So, take a look below and let’s try and sort through what we’re doing as we sit here on the eve of week 4…

Quarterbacks

Start ’em – Justin Fields

Justin Fields – I’m beginning to wonder what Fields needs to do to straight up win the job in Pittsburgh. Mike Tomlin confirmed again yesterday that Fields would start but wouldn’t commit to him as the long-term option this season. Either way, if you’re tired of your struggling fantasy QB (Baker Mayfield burned me last week) then Fields might be an interesting option. In some leagues he went over 20 fantasy points last week. And this week matches up with a Colts team that has been mostly gashed by the run this season. Indy allowed just 63 yards rushing last week to the hapless Bears, but I believe Fields and this Steelers running attack will be better. Plus, Indy hasn’t seen a true dual threat QB like Fields yet this season.

Sit ’em – Jalen Hurts

Jalen Hurts – If you drafted Hurts in early rounds and don’t have a better option then by all means start him. After all, most rankings will have him top 5-7 QB going into week 4. Here’s the problem…AJ Brown, Devonta Smith, and Lane Johnson continue to be held out of practice. I’d be checking on the WR all the way up until kickoff. If everyone is out, then a road contest against a Tampa Bay team coming off a loss is a tricky spot.

Running Backs 

Start’ em – Tony Pollard

Tony Pollard – I’m going to chalk Pollard’s dud last week against the Packers as the game just getting away from Tennessee. After back-to-back weeks of 18.4 and 15.2 points, Pollard was good for just 5.9 last week. But now he faces an iffy Miami team that makes me think he’ll be back to his normal 20 touches on Sunday. Plus, here’s a stat…the Dolphins have allowed the fifth-most fantasy points to RB this season.

Sit ’em – J.K. Dobbins

J.K. Dobbins – Trust me, I can sense your skepticism with me picking to sit Dobbins. After two 20+ fantasy outputs Dobbins came back to reality last week in Pittsburgh with just 8.4. I’m mostly worried about the matchup and the nagging ankle injury to Justin Herbert. Let me give you another stat…the KC defense held Derrick Henry to just 46 yards three weeks ago, Zack Moss/Chase Brown to just 65 yards two weeks ago, and the Falcons to just 82 yards last week.

Wide Receiver 

Start ’em – George Pickens

George Pickens – Sorry Colts fans, I’m doing it again. Before I begin, remember what I wrote at the beginning…I’m looking mostly at WR 2-3 or flex guys that aren’t always “for sure” starts. I think Pickens fits those criteria. Thus far, he’s averaging right around 10 fantasy points per week. He’s not a guy I’m starting week in, week out. Anyways, despite his talent, I’m saying “start ’em” mostly due to the matchup. The Colts allowed the Bears and Caleb Williams to move the football way too easy last week. And now standout CB Kenny Moore is injured and very iffy for Sunday.

Sit ’em – Garrett Wilson

Garrett Wilson – What’s tough about Wilson’s evaluation is that he’s average double digit fantasy points per week (36.5 points in 3 weeks) and has a target share through three weeks of 26. The problem is the matchup, and the fact Aaron Rodgers is spreading the wealth. Denver’s defense has been stout this season, and get this, is allowing under 19 fantasy points to WR per game! Just ask Mike Evans and Chris Godwin last week.

Tight End

Start ’em – Jake Ferguson

Jake Ferguson – The TE position is a complete mess this year. Ferguson, in some rankings, is top 5 at the position but has only 20 fantasy points through three weeks. But this pick is more from the heart. I’ve seen the Cowboys pick the Giants’ LB apart for the last 20 years. I think Ferguson will get into the endzone on Thursday night.

Sit ’em – Hunter Henry

Hunter Henry – In theory, Henry would be a solid TE streaming option, but I’m just having a problem seeing it right now. I know he had his week two coming out party but the other two weeks he’s been under 4 fantasy points. Not good. Combine this with San Francisco being near the top of the NFL in defense against tight ends and it equals a “sit ’em” situation.

Defense

Start ’em – Kansas City Chiefs

Chiefs – Kansas City is the perfect team to talk about here. They’re right outside the top ten in most rankings and aren’t a “for sure” start for every fantasy player. But, as I wrote above when evaluating J.K. Dobbins, the Chiefs defense has been stout against the run. They held Derrick Henry to just 46 yards three weeks ago, Zack Moss/Chase Brown to just 65 yards two weeks ago, and the Falcons to just 82 yards last week. Plus, don’t forget that Justin Herbert is dealing with a nasty ankle injury and has had to leave the last two games early.

Sit ’em – Cincinnati Bengals

Bengals – 47 is the over/under for Bengals and Panthers on Sunday…that’s good for the second highest of the weekend. The Bengals defense was already woeful and now at 0-3 they know their season is over. Plus, while I don’t see Andy Dalton going for over 300 yards and 3 TD, I’m guessing he still has a solid afternoon.