It’s never too early to take a peek ahead at your start/sit options for your upcoming fantasy football matchup. Here are some of my top start/sit options at the QB and TE positions heading into Week 4 of NFL action.
Other Start/Sit Position Analysis: WR | RB
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Which QBs & TEs Should You Start in Fantasy This Week?
Joe Burrow, QB, Cincinnati Bengals
We start one off with a bit of a controversial selection, but if Joe Burrow is available for the matchup against the Tennessee Titans… he needs to be in your lineup.
The Titans’ pass defense is practically giving away yardage on a weekly basis in 2023.
Week 1: 282 passing yards allowed
Week 2: 281 passing yards allowed
Week 3: 263 passing yards allowed
When you realize that two of these games came against the New Orleans Saints and Cleveland Browns — two teams who aren’t exactly considered elite passing offenses — this secondary could be having issues like this all season long.
I’m well aware Burrow is probably not going to be 100% — if available at all — for Week 4, but I don’t see how the Titans can slow down Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins if Burrow is in the lineup.
Sam LaPorta, TE, Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions may have struck gold with rookie tight end Sam LaPorta. Through the first three weeks of his NFL career, LaPorta has seen his targets, yards, and receptions all improve on a weekly basis.
Sam LaPorta’s Weekly Production
Week 1: Five targets, five receptions for 39 yards
Week 2: Six targets, five receptions for 63 yards
Week 3: 11 targets, eight receptions for 84 yards and a TD
LaPorta has firmly and quickly established himself as a reliable option for quarterback Jared Goff.
MORE: Week 4 TE Waiver Wire Targets
His dynamic ability as a playmaker after the catch, quality route-running ability, and strength at the catch point could make him a weekly top-10 play at the TE position.
Which QBs & TEs Should You Sit in Fantasy This Week?
Justin Fields, QB, Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears got absolutely bamboozled by the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday. Justin Fields looked incapable of getting through his progressions, his receivers dropped some passes, and the offensive line had protection issues.
In other words, it was a complete disaster on the offensive side of the ball.
While I believe better days could be ahead if the Bears can scheme up Fields into some easier completions and some QB-designed runs to help him start stressing opposing defenses with his dynamic playmaking ability, I have to see it before I believe it for this 2023 Bears offense.
On paper, a Denver Broncos defense that just surrendered 70 points to the Miami Dolphins’ high-powered offense could be a favorable matchup. However, until this offense finds any sort of identity, it’s hard to trust Fields in your fantasy lineup.
Jake Ferguson, TE, Dallas Cowboys
I’m not exactly as high on Jake Ferguson as other fantasy analysts, but I’m willing to admit he’s the only Dallas Cowboys tight end I want anywhere near my fantasy lineup. However, that won’t be the case in Week 4 against the New England Patriots.
Bill Belichick has been incredibly stingy against opposing tight ends to start the 2023 season.
Week 1: Dallas Goedert — zero catches
Week 2: Durham Smythe — three receptions for 23 yards
Week 3: Tyler Conklin — three receptions for 26 yards
Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott also hasn’t exactly been lighting it up through the air this season. In what could be a low-scoring contest, I’d rather go in other directions at tight end for Week 4.
Trending Searches for QBs & TEs Start/Sit
Did you know that we have a Start/Sit Optimizer here at Pro Football Network?! It’s completely free to use and it allows you to enter in up to six players to find the best option to plug into your starting lineup!
It also allows us to see the most popular trending searches, which we’ve jotted some of them down here to help provide some clarity on!
Should You Start Joe Burrow or Justin Fields?
Burrow is clearly not operating at 100% when on the field so far in 2023. While this has capped his fantasy ceiling for the time being, he still looks far better than Fields and the Bears offense through the first three games of the season.
MORE: Fantasy Football Sleepers Week 4
Both quarterbacks have favorable matchups on paper, but I trust a hobbled Burrow far more to take advantage of a struggling secondary at the current moment than Fields. I’m going to roll with Burrow.
Should You Start Sam LaPorta or Dallas Goedert?
Despite a dreadful start, Dallas Goedert has managed to post back-to-back games with at least five receptions.
Do you know what tight end has caught a minimum of five passes each game this season? The answer is LaPorta.
While Amon-Ra St. Brown continues to battle through a toe injury, expect LaPorta’s workload to continue at a more reliable rate than Goedert in the coming weeks. I’m rolling with LaPorta.