Nearly a quarter of the way into the season, fantasy football managers are already facing some difficult decisions regarding the starts and sits in their lineups entering Week 4.
Doing start/sit articles can be a little challenging. The players featured on the list below should not be taken as “must starts” or “must sits.” Instead, these are more suggestions on what we believe managers should do with fringe players heading into the weekend. The choice is ultimately up to the manager.
Just because a player is listed as a “start” doesn’t mean he should be put in the lineup over the secure, bona fide studs. Vice versa for the “sits.” If there’s no better option on the waiver wire or the bench, a manager shouldn’t automatically sit the player. That’s why these can be tricky waters to navigate.
Feel free to ask any specific start/sit questions via X, formerly Twitter, (@KevinHickey11) or check out our player projections for Week 4:
Quarterback
Start ’em
Anthony Richardson, Indianapolis Colts vs. Los Angeles Rams
Returning from a concussion that has forced him to miss the majority of the last two games, Richardson should be back in the lineup again as a low-end QB1. Though the Rams have been solid against the position thus far, allowing the seventh-fewest fantasy points per game (10.7), they haven’t faced a quarterback with the rushing upside of Richardson. There will be some ugly moments but as he showcased through the first five quarters of the season, he can easily find his way into multiple rushing touchdowns.
Daniel Jones, New York Giants vs. Seattle Seahawks
It’s always a risky endeavor trusting Jones, but he showed what kind of upside he can bring in the right matchup when he finished as the overall QB1 in Week 2. He has another strong matchup against a Seahawks defense that is generating pressure at the third-lowest rate (16.7%) this season. They’ve also allowed the seventh-most fantasy points per game (20.3) and are one of two teams to have yielded over 1,000 passing yards through the first three games. Jones is a strong QB2 with QB1 upside in this favorable matchup.
Sit ’em
Deshaun Watson, Cleveland Browns vs. Baltimore Ravens
In the right matchup, Watson is a solid play. However, he has struggled throwing the ball against defenses that rank in the top half of the league against the pass. He only has one game with multiple passing touchdowns, and the Ravens have been strong against quarterbacks, allowing 10th-fewest fantasy points per game (12.7) to the position so far. On top of that, Watson is dealing with a shoulder injury to his throwing arm that kept him from throwing at practice this week.
Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys vs. New England Patriots
Within this new offense without Kellen Moore, it’s difficult to see a high ceiling for Prescott. He hasn’t finished better than QB17 in a single week, and his best performance included 255 passing yards and two touchdowns. Also, the Patriots have allowed the sixth-fewest fantasy points per game (10.4) to opposing quarterbacks, so this may be a situation where we look for more upside this week.
Running Back
Start ’em
Javonte Williams, Denver Broncos at Chicago Bears
Maybe I just want Williams to show us he’s capable of a break-out game. We haven’t seen it yet, which makes it understandable for managers to keep him on the bench. But this could be the week. Williams has maintained a firm grasp of the touches in the backfield, and he takes on a Bears defense that has allowed the second-most PPR points per game (34.7) to opposing running backs. On top of that, the Bears have allowed four rushing touchdowns and three receiving touchdowns. If Williams can’t find his way into the end zone this week, it’s going to be even more difficult to trust him moving forward.
Najee Harris, Pittsburgh Steelers at Houston Texans
It’s difficult to put confidence in playing Harris, but this week could lead to an increase in production. Harris is coming off a season-high 20 opportunities. Even though he didn’t do much at all with them, he finds himself in a strong matchup against the Texans this week. Houston is still struggling against the run, allowing the sixth-most PPR points per game (25.5) and the fourth-most rushing touchdowns (five) to opposing backs. It may not be pretty, but Harris is worthy of a back-end RB2/flex spot.
Jerome Ford, Cleveland Browns vs. Baltimore Ravens
Most managers are likely already starting Ford after he scored two touchdowns against one of the best run defenses in the league last week. He faces another tough matchup this week against a Ravens defense that hasn’t allowed a rushing touchdown yet this season. However, with Deshaun Watson nursing a shoulder injury, the Browns may lean on the running game even more. On top of that, Ford has a healthy 10% target share in both game since Nick Chubb‘s injury.
Sit ’em
Breece Hall, New York Jets vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Like his teammate, Hall has the chance to make a big play happen at any moment, which always makes a suggestion like this risky. However, the last two games have been brutal for Hall. He has totaled just 27 rushing yards on just 1.7 yards per carry, and he’s only seeing two targets per game. Meanwhile, the Chiefs are allowing the fourth-fewest PPR points per game (13.6) to opposing running backs, so Hall probably shouldn’t be in the lineup.
Baltimore Ravens RBs at Cleveland Browns
This is purely matchup-based and due to the fact that we’re likely to see a heavy rotation with the potential return of Justice Hill. Though Hill and Gus Edwards have some low-end flex appeal, there have been few defenses better against running backs than the Browns. They’ve allowed the fewest PPR points per game (12.6) and just held Derrick Henry to 20 rushing yards. It’s best to look elsewhere for some flex help.
Rachaad White, Tampa Bay Buccaneers at New Orleans Saints
White can be serviceable as a flex option, but he simply hasn’t shown enough consistency to warrant confidence. The workload is stable, and it’s not like the other backs in the room are faring much better. But White’s upside is capped if he’s not finding the end zone. He’s averaging just 3.1 yards per carry, and the Saints are one of the teams to have not allowed a touchdown to opposing running backs. They’ve allowed the seventh-fewest PPR points per game (15.6) and rushing yards (194) to the position through the first three weeks.
Wide Receiver
Start ’em
Joshua Palmer, Los Angeles Chargers vs. Las Vegas Raiders
With Mike Williams going down with a torn ACL, it’s likely that Palmer will step into the No. 2 role behind Keenan Allen. Though the return of Austin Ekeler will take away some targets, Palmer is in a good position to provide flex value in Week 4. He gets to take on a Raiders defense that has allowed the 13th-most PPR points per game (36.2) to wide receivers to open the season.
Tee Higgins, Cincinnati Bengals at Tennessee Titans
Volatile doesn’t even begin to describe the way Higgins has started the season. Much of it isn’t his fault, outside of a handful of drops in Week 3, due to the calf injury Joe Burrow has been battling. But Higgins finds himself in a prime spot to bounce back against the Titans, who are allowing the fourth-most PPR points per game (49.5) to opposing wide receivers this season.
Adam Thielen, Carolina Panthers vs. Minnesota Vikings
We saw some vintage Thielen take the field in Week 3 when he posted a receiving line of 11-145-1. The veteran wideout has now seen target shares of 29% and 25% in each of the last two games, which is stellar usage even in a poor offense. Meanwhile, the Vikings have allowed the third-most PPR points per game (51.3) through three weeks.
Sit ’em
Garrett Wilson, New York Jets vs. Kansas City Chiefs
It’s always difficult sitting a talent like Wilson, because it only takes on play for him to score a 75-yard touchdown as we saw in Week 2. However, the star wideout has a capped ceiling because of the offense being run by Zach Wilson. His peripheral numbers have been strong, including a 31% target share, but not even those can overcome what he’s dealing with at quarterback. To make matters worse, the Chiefs are allowing the sixth-fewest PPR points per game (26.9) to opposing wideouts this season.
New England Patriots WRs at Dallas Cowboys
Even without Trevon Diggs, who will miss the remainder of the season due to a torn ACL, we should be avoiding the Patriots offense as much as we can. The Cowboys defense is one of the best units we’ve seen in a while, generating pressure at the fourth-highest rate (29.1%) in the NFL so far this season. While Mac Jones has been solid under pressure to open the season, he’s likely going to be under duress all day, and none of the receiving options have truly made a difference.
DeAndre Hopkins, Tennessee Titans vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Nuk has had a sensational career making the most out of poor situations. He finds himself in another shaky offense as the Titans have struggled mightily with consistency, especially in the passing game. Unfortunately, it seems Hopkins can’t overcome this issue as he’s yet to surpass 65 yards on the season and hasn’t gone over 48 yards in either of the last two games. Meanwhile, the Bengals are allowing the 13th-fewest PPR points per game (31.7) to the position so far.
Tight End
Start ’em
Evan Engram, Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Atlanta Falcons
Engram has quietly put together a strong start to the season with a healthy 19% target share. Though the trip overseas to London always carries some risk, there will be no Zay Jones while the Falcons have allowed the fifth-most PPR points per game (15.2) to the position thus far.
Noah Fant, Seattle Seahawks at New York Giants
Fant hasn’t been an exciting asset for a while, but he’s showing some life in the Seahawks offense after recording four receptions in each of the last two games. The Giants present a strong matchup, having allowed the second-most receiving yards (189) to the position entering Week 4.
Sit ’em
David Njoku, Cleveland Browns vs. Baltimore Ravens
It has not been a strong start for Njoku through the first three games this season and even though he bounced back in 2022 after doing the same thing, it’s difficult to trust him in the lineup right now. The usage isn’t there, and the Ravens are allowing the second-fewest PPR points per game (4.2) to the position this season.
Dallas Goedert, Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Commanders
Goedert isn’t a must-sit because managers (including yours truly) simply have to start him considering the landscape of the position. However, we should temper expectations despite the fact that he’s recorded 11 receptions on 14 targets in the last two games. He’s averaging a measly 5.7 yards per reception while the Commanders have been strong against the position, allowing the sixth-fewest PPR points per game (5.6) to opposing tight ends.
