One of the most challenging aspects of season-long fantasy football is making lineup decisions. There are so many variables to consider, and we’re always kicking ourselves when we lose a matchup because we got a start/sit decision incorrect. The team at Pro Football Network is here to help. Here are our top start ’em, sit ’em RB plays for Week 4.
RB Start ‘Em for Week 4
Which running backs are starts heading into Week 4?
Start ‘Em | Chase Edmonds, Arizona Cardinals
Edmonds is the RB16 through three weeks, which is quite good considering where you drafted him. When you realize he’s done it without scoring a touchdown, it looks even better.
Edmonds has the fifth-most targets amongst running backs so far this season and has caught all but 1 of them. This week, the Cardinals play the Rams, who have allowed 7.6 targets per game to running backs, which bodes well for Edmonds.
This game also has the highest over/under of the week at 54.5. There should be a lot of passing and a lot of points. While James Conner has stolen short touchdowns, Edmonds is clearly the 1A in this backfield. In fact, Edmonds’ snap share has increased in every game this season (all the way to 66% in Week 3).
The Rams allow the 12th-fewest fantasy points per game to running backs. Nevertheless, I expect a back-and-forth, high-scoring contest where the Cardinals are very pass-heavy. That means more opportunities for Edmonds. He is a solid RB2 this week that will push RB1 numbers if and when he finally finds the end zone.
Start ‘Em | Chuba Hubbard, Carolina Panthers
I’m certainly not reinventing the wheel in recommending Hubbard. The rookie played 55% of Carolina’s offensive snaps last week compared to just 15% for Royce Freeman. Once Christian McCaffrey exited with a strained hamstring, Hubbard was the preferred running back.
This week, the Panthers travel to Dallas to play the Cowboys. Carolina has yet to trail for a single second this season. That’s going to change this week. Normally, we like positive game scripts for running backs. However, when a team throws to its running backs as much as the Panthers, negative game script can be a boon to their fantasy value.
25% of the targets allowed by the Cowboys’ defense have gone to running backs. With Trevon Diggs looking like a shutdown corner who will likely erase one of DJ Moore or Robby Anderson, the Panthers will presumably utilize Hubbard in the passing game. Hubbard has a shot at racking up 5-7 receptions and providing a strong PPR RB2 floor.
RB Sit ‘Em for Week 4
Which RBs are better left on the bench in Week 4?
Sit ‘Em | Damien Harris, New England Patriots
One of my most confident fades of Week 4 is Harris. This is just a nightmare spot for him against the Buccaneers. The Patriots will have to deal with not just Angry Tom Brady coming off a loss, but also Angry Tom Brady wanting to stick it to his former team and coach.
If this game goes as expected, the Patriots will trail for the majority of the contest. Even with James White out, negative game script will mean less Harris and more of New England’s passing-down back — probably J.J. Taylor.
The Patriots offered us a glimpse at what that may look like in their disastrous performance against the Saints last week. Harris saw a season-low 6 carries for a season-low 14 yards on a season-low 31% snap share, a far cry from the 23 carries and 100 yards he managed in Week 1.
New England certainly does not want Mac Jones chucking it up 50 times a game. But this week, they may not have a choice. The Bucs allow just 21 fantasy points per game to running backs, and the majority of those points — at least this week — will likely come from receptions, which won’t go to Harris.
Sit ‘Em | Nyheim Hines, Indianapolis Colts
Fantasy managers can have a bad habit of trying to chase last week’s production. Hines is coming off his best game of the season, where he totaled 79 yards and a touchdown. He’s currently tied with Myles Gaskin with the seventh-most targets amongst running backs. Plus, the Colts are slight road underdogs in Miami.
So why fade Hines? I would like to welcome you all to Jonathan Taylor’s smash week. The Dolphins are not going to score enough to game script Taylor out of the Colts’ offensive plans. Last week, Taylor carried the ball just 10 times but averaged 6.4 ypc against the Titans, who have been one of the better run defenses this season.
The Dolphins allow the second-most fantasy points per game to running backs. They allowed 100 rushing yards to Damien Harris in Week 1. They somehow let Devin Singletary and Zack Moss combine for over 100 rushing yards in Week 2. But the coup de grâce came in Week 3 when Raiders RB Peyton Barber managed to rush for 100+ yards.
Taylor is — by far — the most talented running back the Dolphins have faced thus far. He is going to run all over them, obviating the need for Hines. Expect Hines to see his smallest snap and touch share of the season, making him someone you should keep out of your Week 4 fantasy lineups.