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 options at the RB position heading into Week 4 of NFL action.
Other Start/Sit Position Analysis: WR | QB/TE
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Which RBs Should You Start in Fantasy This Week?
James Cook, Buffalo Bills
Don’t look now, but James Cook has registered back-to-back 90+ rushing yard performances while seeing a minimum of 15 carries both weeks.
Do you know how many times Devin Singletary did that during his four-year run in Buffalo? Zero.
Cook’s 6.1 yards per carry leads all running backs who have seen over 30 carries so far. Expect him to continue seeing plenty of work in what could be a very high-scoring game against the Miami Dolphins.
Zack Moss, Indianapolis Colts
If we thought the 2023 debut of Zack Moss in Week 2 was pretty good … what do we think about his 145-yard, one-touchdown performance against one of the better defenses in the league?
The word phenomenal comes to mind. Oh, and he was taking handoffs from a backup quarterback, too.
Moss’ 27 touches per game lead the RB position. Despite missing a game, his 54 total touches during the 2023 season currently rank ninth amongst running backs.
While the potential return of Jonathan Taylor looms large in his fantasy value heading into Week 5, for the moment, we have to consider Moss a top-15 RB play.
Aaron Jones, Green Bay Packers
Aaron Jones was a game-time decision against the New Orleans Saints but ultimately was unable to take the field in Week 3.
Well, after the Green Bay Packers failed to score a single point in the first three quarters of their narrow 18-17 victory on Sunday, it’s painfully obvious this team needs Jones back in the fold.
MORE: Fantasy/NFL News Tracker
AJ Dillon has generated just 88 rushing yards on 26 carries over the last two weeks without Jones in the lineup, leaving the offense without an explosive element out of the backfield.
Which RBs Should You Sit in Fantasy This Week?
Derrick Henry, Tennessee Titans
Maybe this is a contrarian take, but Derrick Henry doesn’t look like himself right now.
He picked up a toe injury during the team’s Week 2 win against the Los Angeles Chargers that many weren’t overly concerned about, given he finished the game and practiced in a limited capacity throughout the week.
However, Henry finished this past Sunday with just 20 yards on 11 carries against the Cleveland Browns.
Since 2019, Henry has seen fewer than 12 carries in a game on only one other occasion … a blowout loss to the Philadelphia Eagles last year. His 20 rushing yards were the lowest total he has posted over the last four seasons.
It doesn’t help matters that rookie running back Tyjae Spears has seen a minimum of eight touches in this backfield over the last two weeks.
Now, the Browns’ defense has been really stingy through the first three weeks of the season, historically so. It could just be a bad day at the office altogether in a tough matchup.
Still, if Henry really is hitting a wall or dealing with a more significant toe injury than we’re aware of, his lack of a pass-catching floor in PPR formats makes him a boom-or-bust option in your fantasy lineup.
Brian Robinson Jr., Washington Commanders
After a breakout fantasy performance in Week 2, Brian Robinson Jr. saw just 10 carries with no receptions against the Buffalo Bills.
Sure, he was still efficient with his 10 touches, but Robinson proved capable of being a victim of the game script and an offense that is still a work in progress. Quarterback Sam Howell’s propensity for taking sacks meant the Washington Commanders were behind the sticks early and often.
MORE: Buy Low, Sell High Week 4
That progress could be stunted again in Week 4 against an Eagles defense that has been very stout against opposing rushing attacks to start the 2023 season.
Trending Searches for RB 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 gives us the opportunity to see the most popular searches. We’ve jotted some of them down to help provide some clarity!
Should You Start Derrick Henry or Josh Jacobs?
Both options have gotten off to slow starts by their own lofty standards, but the current fact is that one of these players is dealing with an injury while the other is healthy.
Henry’s efficiency struggles and lack of involvement in the passing game give him a lower floor while dealing with a toe injury in comparison to Josh Jacobs.
I’ll roll with Jacobs in Week 4 while Henry isn’t quite 100%.
Should You Start Zack Moss or Miles Sanders?
Miles Sanders finally managed to score his first touchdown of the 2023 season, but those opportunities haven’t exactly been easy to come by for the Carolina Panthers.
Come to think of it, the touches haven’t quite been there in comparison to Moss, either. Sanders only has 53 touches to this point in the season in comparison to Moss’ 54 with one fewer game played.
I’ll take the player with higher efficiency and more touches per game in Week 4.