Now that we are three weeks into the season, fantasy football managers are starting to get an idea of which players need to be in lineups and which need to be on the bench. However, matchups remain essential to lineup decisions. Let’s take a look at our Week 4 start ’em and sit ’em plays.
NFL Start’ Em, Sit ‘Em for Week 4: Quarterbacks
Which QBs should you start and sit in Week 4?
Start ‘Em | Kirk Cousins, Minnesota Vikings (vs. CLE)
Kirk Cousins seems perpetually disrespected. Cousins has posted 22, 25, and 25 fantasy points in each of his first three games. Yet, he’s consistently ranked as a borderline QB1. The Captain has earned the right to be an every-week starter in fantasy football lineups.
The Vikings’ defense can’t stop anyone, which is conducive to shootouts that keep Cousins throwing. They’re allowing 26 points per game to opposing teams. Meanwhile, the Browns allow the 15th-most fantasy points per game to quarterbacks.
While not a favorable matchup, it’s certainly not one to avoid. Fire up Cousins in what could be a sneaky shootout against the Browns.
Sit ‘Em | Ryan Tannehill, Tennessee Titans (at NYJ)
This call certainly has the potential to make me look very foolish, but hear me out. Why fade a quarterback facing the worst team in the NFL? For precisely that reason.
This game is set up perfectly for Ryan Tannehill to have his lowest total pass attempts of the season. Not just this far — the entire season. It’s the perfect confluence of a team that wants to run as much as possible facing a team that can’t score points to force their opponents to throw.
It should not come as a shock that the Jets’ pass defense has actually been stellar statistically. The Jets allow the third-fewest fantasy points per game to quarterbacks (12.77). They have allowed just one passing touchdown all season. Why?
Well, as Bart Scott famously said, they “can’t stop a nosebleed” on the ground. The Jets allow the third-most fantasy points per game to running backs (30.47).
This is going to be the Derrick Henry show, while Tannehill is merely a bystander. His sole purpose will be to take the ball from the center, turn around, and give it to Henry.
Running Backs
Which RBs are we starting, and who are we sitting in Week 4?
Start ‘Em | Chase Edmonds, Arizona Cardinals (at LAR)
Through three weeks, Chase Edmonds is the RB16 in PPR formats. He’s returned mid-RB2 value without scoring a touchdown. Edmonds has accomplished this feat primarily due to his involvement in the passing game, where he’s seen the fifth-most targets amongst running backs.
That’s the good news. The bad news is the Rams allow the 12th-fewest fantasy points per game to RBs. Furthermore, they’ve only surrendered a single rushing and receiving touchdown to running backs through three weeks.
So, why am I so bullish on Edmonds?
The Cardinals have mostly found themselves playing in positive game scripts, and they’ve still utilized Edmonds heavily in the passing game. Against the Rams, they’re touchdown underdogs on the road. The decision to throw may not be a choice.
The Rams may be stout against the run, but they’ve been susceptible to pass-catching backs, like Edmonds. 58% of the fantasy points scored against the Rams have come via the pass. That’s the seventh-highest rate in the league.
Add in the fact that Kliff Kingsbury clearly prefers Edmonds ahead of James Conner — evidenced by Edmonds’ snap share increasing in every game this season — and we have a recipe for Edmonds to be a PPR monster this week. If he somehow finds the end zone, he could be a matchup winner.
Sit ‘Em | Damien Harris, New England Patriots (vs. TB)
Sometimes, it can be difficult to pinpoint running backs to recommend benching. Not every start/sit recommendation comes with a high degree of conviction. This is not one of those times.
Damien Harris is the easiest sit of the week. This is just a terrible spot for him against the Buccaneers. The Patriots know all about Angry Tom Brady — he’s won them many games. This week, he will destroy them.
If this game goes like many of us think it will, the Patriots will be playing catch-up on the scoreboard. A negative game script means a whole lot of Harris on the sideline.
The Patriots were kind enough to offer us a preview of what things look like when they trail. Last week, against the Saints, Harris set season lows in carries (6), yards (14), and snap share (31%).
The game plan for Bill Belichick will never be for Mac Jones to toss it up 50 times, but the Bucs may force their hand. Tampa Bay allows 21 fantasy points per game to running backs. If the Patriots reach that number, it will likely be due to receptions, which are not going to Harris.
NFL Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em for Week 4: Wide Receivers
With the WR position deeper than ever for fantasy football, start ’em or sit ’em decisions for Week 4 are invariably matchup-dependent.
Start ‘Em | Odell Beckham Jr., Cleveland Browns (at MIN)
I liked what I saw from Odell Beckham Jr. last week. He played 64% of the snaps and wasn’t limited at all. His hands looked great, and physically, he looked as good as can be expected. He said his shoulder popped out at one point, and he’s been limited in practice. But it sure didn’t look like it negatively impacted him last week.
The Browns may want to run, but the Vikings should force them to have to throw. With Jarvis Landry still out, Beckham remains the only receiver in town. Minnesota allows the fourth-most fantasy points per game to wide receivers (47.23). This could be Beckham’s welcome back party, and maybe we finally get flashes of his New York Giants form.
Sit ‘Em | Tyler Lockett, Seattle Seahawks (at SF)
Initially, I had Chase Claypool here, but he picked up a hamstring injury at Thursday’s practice and has already been ruled out. So, we adjust.
Tyler Lockett currently sits as the WR3 on the season, but this is a bad spot for him. While you may not be able to bench Lockett, you certainly need to temper expectations.
The 49ers allow the 12th-fewest fantasy points per game to wide receivers. Lockett is coming off one of his classic disappearing acts where he posted just 31 yards on 4 receptions.
Yet, the main reason to be wary of Lockett this week is his injury status. Lockett was down on the field for a while in the fourth quarter last week before ultimately walking off under his own power. He practiced on a limited basis Friday but is listed as questionable with a hip issue.
Historically, Lockett has not performed well when playing through injury. The prime example was in 2019 when he spent the night in the hospital with compartment syndrome in his leg. His next three games: 1-38, 0-0, 4-43.
In 2020, Lockett sprained his knee prior to Week 10. He failed to record more than 67 receiving yards in a game the rest of the season (except Week 17). He doesn’t miss games, but he probably should.
By no means should you go out of your way to bench Lockett. However, if you have a deep team or you play in a league with shallow rosters, you could consider a strong alternative if you have one at the ready.