Welcome back fantasy friends and foes to the PFN weekly fantasy football start-sit.
Week 3 brought great news for the New York Giants with the magical performance from quarterback Daniel Jones. However, the week also produced tragic news with the high ankle injury news to all-world running back Saquon Barkley.
There was also some great news in my Week 3 advice with the starts of Frank Gore and Will Dissly but not so much on the sit advice for Mitchell Trubisky.
You can’t win if you don’t play, so find out who I will start and sit in my Fantasy Football: Pair of Redskins lead the surprise players in PFN Week 4 Start-Sit.
For further start-sit questions, please view the Pro Football Network’s PPR and Standard Rankings for Week 4. Good luck in your matchups…unless you are playing against me.
Quarterbacks
START: Daniel Jones, QB, New York Giants vs. Washington Redskins
The media scrutiny that followed the New York Giants selecting Daniel Jones with the sixth overall selection in the 2019 NFL Draft was deafening. After outplaying incumbent starter Eli Manning this preseason, Jones started the 2019 season on the bench. However, in typical Eli fashion, he stunk up the place in the first two games, so with nothing to lose the Giants turned to Jones.
Dave Gettleman is laughing now after Jones led the Giants to a comeback win against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Jones finished with 336 passing yards and two passing scores along with 28 rushing yards and two rushing scores.
Jones has another favorable matchup against the Washington Redskins at home this week. With Saquon Barkley out for several weeks, Jones will have to be the focal point of the Giants offense against a Redskins’ defense that gave up three passing touchdowns to Mitchell Trubisky on Monday Night Football. Each quarterback who has played the Redskins thus far has had at least two passing touchdowns. Look for that streak to continue as you start Jones in Week 4.
START: Kyle Allen, QB, Carolina Panthers vs. Houston Texans
It might be tough to say for some NFL fans, but the Carolina Panthers offense looked more effective with Kyle Allen throwing the football. Allen stepped in Week 3 with Cam Newton ruled out due to a foot injury.
Allen created fantasy waves by going 19-for-26 passing for 261 yards and four touchdowns against the Arizona Cardinals last Sunday.
Newton has already been ruled out of Week 4, meaning Allen will get another NFL start. In his second start this season, Allen will face off against the Houston Texans, who are a bottom ten pass defense giving up 260.7 passing yards per game.
Fantasy owners need to start Allen as a streamer this week. With Christian McCaffrey, D.J. Moore, and Curtis Samuel at his disposal, Allen should take advantage of good matchups and provide fantasy value for owners. Allen has a high ceiling, so reach for the sky and start Allen in your Week 4 fantasy football lineups.
SIT Jameis Winston, QB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Los Angeles Rams
Jameis Winston has transformed into only a streaming quarterback. He took advantage of his Week 3 matchup against the New York Giants by throwing for 380 yards and three touchdowns.
In Week 4, Winston and the Buccaneers take on a Los Angeles Rams defense that is ranked fifth in pass defense. Additionally, he might be missing wide receivers Chris Godwin and Breshad Perriman against a defense that has held Cam Newton, Drew Brees, and Baker Mayfield to sub-par numbers.
This is not the week to have Winston in your fantasy lineups. Sit Winston.
SIT: Josh Allen, QB, Buffalo Bills vs. New England Patriots
Last week, Josh Allen was my featured start and didn’t have a breakout performance. Allen passed for 243 yards and a touchdown while also rushing for 46 yards.
Allen owners should consider it a win if he produces those type of stats this week. Allen is facing the New England Patriots defense, who have allowed just 17 points all season. His legs present a reasonable weekly floor, but fantasy owners should expect the Patriots’ defense to focus on making Allen one-dimensional, therefore limiting his typical upside.
Running Back
START: Kerryon Johnson, RB, Detroit Lions vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Kerryon Johnson was widely picked as a fantasy breakout candidate coming into this season and someone I targeted in all of my drafts. The second-year back flashed his big-play ability while running the ball a career-high 20 times in the Detroit Lions’ Week 3 win over the Philadelphia Eagles.
The Lions will attempt to exceed that number in their Week 4 matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs. The Chiefs own the 26th ranked rush defense and have allowed nearly 138 yards on the ground per game.
There will be plenty of fantasy points being produced in this contest with the Lions playing keep away from the Chiefs then probably passing to keep up. In both scenarios, Johnson will have an impactful role. The Chiefs’ defense allowed Mark Ingram to score three touchdowns against them last week. Johnson is an RB1 this week and could win your fantasy football matchups for you this week.
START: Adrian Peterson, RB, Washington Redskins vs. New York Giants
Adrian Peterson has struggled through the first three games of the season, averaging 2.8 yards per carry. However, Peterson has a favorable matchup against the Giants this week. The Giants have given up 128 yards per game on the ground, and they are an ideal matchup for the Redskins to improve their woeful running attack.
With Derrius Guice out on injured reserve, Peterson is the featured rushing back and will have his opportunities to score this week. Look for Peterson to make a fantasy impact this week and someone that owners can start as a flex in their fantasy football lineups.
SIT: Todd Gurley, RB, Los Angeles Rams vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
It may not be feasible to sit Todd Gurley, but operation Todd Gurley Load Management is in full effect. Gurley is not involved in the passing game, catching just four passes on six targets for eight yards on the season. He is averaging 15 rushes per game, while not crossing the 20+ carries in a game.
All NFL fans are aware of his knee issues, and the Rams are wisely safe with their franchise back. Unfortunately, this cautious treatment has ultimately frustrated fantasy owners to consider the impossible, possibly benching Todd Gurley.
In Week 4, the Rams take on the Buccaneers who have been quite stingy to the running backs. The Bucs defense ranked second in run defense DVOA. I forecast a Rams blowout win in which we see a ton of Rams throwing the ball all over the field to get up big, and Malcolm Brown with even rookie Darrell Henderson, carrying the load to finish the game.
SIT: Frank Gore, RB, Buffalo Bills vs. New England Patriots
I was successful on my advice to start Frank Gore last week after Gore rushed for 76 yards and a score against the Cincinnati Bengals. Fantasy owners looking for Gore to score for a third consecutive week will be sadly disappointed.
Gore and the Buffalo Bills will be taking on the New England Patriots in Week 4. He will be facing a Patriots rush defense that has given up a league-best 36.7 rushing yards per game.
In Week 3, rookie Devin Singletary was sidelined. However, there is a chance that he plays this week, which will reduce opportunities for Gore.
Fantasy football owners will not be able to trust Gore in this matchup against a superior Patriots’ defense. Sit Frank Gore.
Wide Receiver
START: Kenny Golladay, WR, Detroit Lions vs. Kansas City Chiefs
In what should be a high total game, the Lions welcome the Chiefs in a battle of undefeated teams. The Lions would love to pound the ball with Johnson to play keep away from Patrick Mahomes and that Chiefs’ offense. However, will the Lions’ defense (any defense) stop the Chiefs’ offensive attack?
Once the Chiefs eventually get ahead, the Lions will turn to Matthew Stafford to sling the ball all over the field, especially to his favorite receiver Kenny Golladay.
Look for each of the Lions’ offensive weapons to make a fantasy impact in their attempt to keep pace with the Chiefs. Kenny Golladay leads the team with 27 targets, and he should have plenty of opportunities in this high-scoring matchup.
START: Sterling Shepard, WR, New York Giants vs. Washington Redskins
Rookie quarterback Daniel Jones has placed a spark in the Giants’ offense. One of the benefactors was wide receiver Sterling Shepard, who returned after being out Week 2 due to being placed in the concussion protocol. Shepard caught seven passes on a team-high nine targets for 100 yards and a touchdown against the Buccaneers last week.
This week, Shepard will go up against the bottom-five Washington Redskins pass defense, who are coming off short rest following Mitch Trubisky’s torching of them on Monday Night Football. Fantasy football owners need to take advantage of these types of ideal matchups.
SIT: John Brown, WR, Buffalo Bills vs. New England Patriots
John Brown and Allen have seemed to develop excellent chemistry in their first season together. Brown is averaging six receptions and 82 yards per game through the first three games of the season.
The Bills welcome the Patriots in a matchup of unbeaten teams in Week 4. I believe this will be a low scoring game considering the quality of the defenses. Brown will matchup against shutdown corner Stephon Gilmore, who has already held both Robby Anderson and JuJu Smith-Schuster to modest production.
The Patriots haven’t allowed a receiving touchdown this season, and I don’t predict that Brown is the receiver that breaks that streak. Brown should not be in your fantasy football lineups in Week 4.
SIT Mike Evans, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Los Angeles Rams
Mike Evans‘ owners are riding high after his three-touchdown performance in Week 3 against the Giants. However, Evans faces a more significant challenge this week as he faces the Rams, who are ranked fourth in the league in pass yards allowed per game, and will be covered mostly by elite corner Aqib Talib.
It will be quite challenging to bench Evans, but owners stacked at wide receiver should realize that Evans will struggle in Week 4 and temper their expectations.
Tight End
START: Vernon Davis, TE, Washington Redskins vs. New York Giants
In the not so shocking news department, Jordan Reed has been ruled out this week, so veteran tight end Vernon Davis has an opportunity to shine in his Week 4 matchup against the Giants.
Davis caught four passes for 59 yards and a touchdown in Week 1 against the Eagles but has been a dud since. However, that changes in this battle of bottom-tier defenses which hints to be a high-scoring game. Fantasy owners that stream tight ends should look to start Davis this week.
SIT: O.J. Howard, TE, Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Los Angeles Rams
Fantasy owners who spent a mid-round pick on Buccaneers tight end O.J. Howard is feeling the pain of Howard not being much involved in the offense. This includes a goose egg in Week 2 against the Carolina Panthers.
In Week 3, Howard caught three passes on four targets for 66 yards which is his best game of the young season. However, that was against the Giants, who give up the ninth-most points to tight ends this season, and Howard still only produced a modest day.
The Buccaneers travel to face the Rams in Week 4. The Rams are top five in defense and pass defense. Look for Winston and his passing weapons, including the disappointing Howard, to have their troubles against this Rams defense. Fantasy owners should look to avoid having Howard in their Week 4 lineups.
Dennis Sosic is a writer for the Pro Football Network covering the Cleveland Browns and Fantasy Football. Dennis is also a co-host of the Fantasy Fixers podcast for PFN. You can follow him @CALL_ME_SOS on Twitter.