My starts and sits were up and down in Week 3. One thing is for certain, Raheem Mostert might end up a league winner and was my best pick in starts and sits through three weeks of games. Some misses were the sits for running backs including Zack Moss and Jerome Ford. Some hits were sitting Kyle Pitts (obviously), starting Jared Goff, and sitting Justin Fields.
In my Week 4 starts and sits, we have players such as Trevor Lawrence, Brian Robinson, Tank Dell, and others who are going to make for a fun week. Let’s dive into the match-ups and gain an edge on our opponents.
Week 4 Starts and Sits
Quarterback Sits
Trevor Lawrence vs. Atlanta Falcons (@BrandonBlancoFF)
Most of the talk in the off-season was that the Jacksonville Jaguars would be among the elites in the NFL. Through three weeks of football, they are 1-2 and Trevor Lawrence has become a streaming option at best. Lawrence has been the QB23 in fantasy ppg and faces a Falcons’ defense giving up the 13th fewest fantasy ppg to the position.
Lawrence was drafted as the QB8 in the off-season and has been fairly disappointing thus far. Three weeks ago this would not be said, but you can find better options than Trevor Lawrence at this point such as CJ Stroud who is one of five Quarterbacks averaging over 300 ypg (yards per game).
Dak Prescott vs. New England Patriots (@BrandonBlancoFF)
Dak Prescott has quickly fallen in the ranks of NFL Quarterbacks. Prescott is currently the QB26 in fantasy ppg and that is the worst in his career. He is also putting up the lowest YPA (yards per attempt) in his career. Kellen Moore no longer being the Cowboys offensive coordinator has shown tremendously in the first month of the season.
Now, Prescott has to face the team allowing the fifth-fewest fantasy ppg to the position, the New England Patriots. Prescott is my favorite is a definite sit and needs to be faded in all formats. He has become a streaming option at best and there are Quarterbacks such as Jordan Love, Anthony Richardson, and even Jameis Winston who I would start ahead of Prescott.
Running Back Sits
James Conner @ San Francisco 49ers (@BrandonBlancoFF)
James Conner is currently the RB16 on a fantasy ppg basis and has lived up to his off-season ADP. He even is top five in total rushing yards three weeks into the NFL. The reason James Conner lands among my sits is because of the challenge that is ahead of him in Week 4.
The Arizona Cardinals face off against the San Francisco 49ers. This team allows just 73.3 total yards to running backs. They give up the fewest rushing ypg to the position and will most likely blow the Cardinals out. Garbage time points are where Conner will excel in this match-up and it is something I will not risk. Sit James Conner in Week 4.
Brian Robinson @ Philadelphia Eagles (@BrandonBlancoFF)
The Washington Commanders got blown out in Week 3 by the Buffalo Bills. With that being said, Robinson had 10 carries for 70 yards and zero catches. The Eagles will likely do the same thing against a Commanders team who have been very up and down to start the season.
The Eagles are once again dominating at the line with their front core. They are giving up the fewest fantasy ppg to the position and just 40 rushing yards per game to the position. In Week 3, the Eagles gave up just 38 rushing yards and 24 receiving yards to Rachaad White. Fade Robinson in what will be a one-sided football game.
Joe Mixon @ Tennessee Titans (@BrandonBlancoFF)
Joe Mixon was drafted as the RB9 in the off-season and has yet to deliver an RB1 performance. His best performance came in Week 3 with 14 points on 65 yards. A touchdown score by Mixon is what propped up his total score, but nothing impressive.
In Week 4, the Bengals and Mixon face the Tennessee Titans. The Titans are allowing just 2.7 ypa (yards per attempt) which is the best in the NFL. Jerome Ford of the Cleveland Browns had a great game against the Titans, but simply because of finding the end-zone twice. Ford averaged 1.8 ypc (yards per carry) and had 10 rushes for 18 yards.
Betting on touchdowns is something I stay away from. This Titans’s run defense is the best in the NFL and expect Burrow and Chase to continue getting into form after Chase’s big Week 3 performance.
Wide Receiver Sits
Zay Flowers @ Cleveland Browns (@BrandonBlancoFF)
Zay Flowers has been a fresh breath of air for the Baltimore Ravens. Flowers currently has the 20th most targets in the NFL and has seen back-to-back games of over five targets and has seen ten targets in two of three games. The challenge is fierce in Week 4, though.
The Cleveland Browns have one of the best defenses in all of football. The Browns have been the best team through three weeks in defending the pass and are giving up the fewest fantasy ppg and ypg to opposing wide receivers. Flowers and the entire Ravens offense will be in a tough match-up. Volume can still be there for Flowers, but lower expectations as the Browns are giving up just 163.7 ypg, the fewest in the NFL.
Terry McLaurin @ Philadelphia Eagles (@BrandonBlancoFF)
Terry McLaurin is currently the WR46 in fantasy ppg and has been fairly disappointing thus far. The entire Commanders offense besides Brian Robinson has been underwhelming. It does not get any easier as they have to face the Eagles in Week 4.
The Eagles are not the same in the secondary as the previous season, but their rush defense is still just as good and maybe even better. My worry is how much time Sam Howell will have to get the ball to McLaurin. I personally think it will be a tough game all around for the Commanders’ offense which leaves me having McLaurin on the sits in starts and sits.
There are much better options at the position with better upside matches in Week 4.
Garrett Wilson vs. Kansas City Chiefs (@BrandonBlancoFF)
It is with a heavy heart to say that Garrett Wilson might live in the sit part of starts and sits. It is very sad to see a superstar receiver not be able to do much because his Quarterback is one of the worst starting Quarterbacks in NFL history. Zach Wilson does not even have 200 passing yards through three NFL games.
The Jets now have to face the Kansas City Chiefs who just got Travis Kelce and Chris Jones back two weeks ago and are winners of two straight. It does not get any easier as well as the Chiefs are giving up just the sixth-fewest fantasy ppg to the position and just 129.3 ypg to the position.
Tight End Sits
David Njoku vs. Baltimore Ravens (@BrandonBlancoFF)
David Njoku was a breakout candidate at the tight end position in 2023 but has been nothing but a fade so far. Njoku is currently the TE25 at the position and has not been startable unless you are in tight-end premium leagues.
In Week 4, David Njoku gets the lethal defense and linebacker core of the Baltimore Ravens. The Ravens are giving up just the second-fewest fantasy ppg to the position and are allowing on average just 15ypg through three weeks. This game screams under and David Njoku is a player prop I’d fade this weekend including fading him out of your lineups.
Hunter Henry @ Dallas Cowboys (@BrandonBlancoFF)
Hunter Henry started the season out strong with a TE1 finish and a TE2 finish in the first two weeks. Then, facing a tough Jets defense in Week 3, Henry busted with a 3.7-point performance. Currently, the TE2 is on a fantasy ppg basis, Week 4 does not get any easier for Henry.
In Week 4, the Patriots face the Cowboys who just gave up a single catch to Zach Ertz and are allowing just 8.4 ppg and 37ypg to the position. Fade Henry once again in Week 4.
Quarterback Starts
Justin Fields vs. Denver Broncos (@BrandonBlancoFF)
In Week 4, the Chicago Bears and the Denver Broncos did their best impression of being a non-power five school and faced the Oklahoma Sooners and got obliterated in Week 3. Now, they face each other in Week 4 and it can either be the world’s best “mid-off” or it can be a game with a ton of points and fantasy points scored.
This is not the first time a player is on the sit side and the following week makes the start side in starts and sits. Justin Fields has a chance to redeem himself after not even throwing for 100 yards in Week 3. The Broncos just allowed over 700 total yards of offense in a single game.
The Bears will most likely not replicate it, but it is clear both these teams have no defense. The Bears are giving up the eighth most fantasy ppg and the Broncos are giving up the sixth most. Fields will deliver a QB1 performance and if he does not, then the shadow realm might be the spot he ends up in if he lets down the fantasy community once again.
Anthony Richardson vs. Los Angeles Rams (@BrandonBlancoFF)
Anthony Richardson was looking like the steal of all fantasy drafts. He still does, but is recovering from a concussion suffered in Week 1. Richardson was looking so great in Week 2, he had 17 fantasy points in the first quarter before leaving. He had just 56 passing yards but over 3o rushing yards with two rushing touchdowns.
Richardson is too lethal in the running game to ever be benched. I recently traded Lamar Jackson and some other players because I have Anthony Richardson on my bench and now my starter. A healthy Richardson has a top-five upside in fantasy and should be started everywhere in his Week 4 return.
Running Back Starts
Zack Moss vs. Los Angeles Rams (@BrandonBlancoFF)
Zack Moss proved me wrong with his second consecutive 20-plus point performance in Week 3. Moss has been a great addition for people who waited on a running back. Moss is an RB1 three weeks into the season and is a great choice every week. He faces a Rams team that is allowing just 88 ypg to the position but 4.6ypc (7th most).
This might be the final week for Moss as Jonathan Taylor might come back in Week 5. Regardless, Moss should be fired up in all lineups as he is one of the top two options on this Colts offense. Moss is currently seeing an 85% snap share which is second among all running backs.
Devon Achane @ Buffalo Bills (@BrandonBlancoFF)
Over 50 fantasy points and four touchdowns, and was the RB1 in Week 3 as a ROOKIE. Devon Achane made an impact every team wants their rookies to make. The Miami Dolphins scored 70 points and DeVon Achane played a key part in it.
Achane had over 230 total yards with 200 of them coming off rushes. Now, in a divisional match-up against the Buffalo Bills, Achane will get a first-time experience in a divisional game. The Bills were very close to losing to the Dolphins with a backup Quarterback for the Dolphins. Mostert saw over 130 rushing yards in his Week 15 match-up against the Bills last season.
Now, Miami will have the privilege of having not one, but TWO explosive running backs against the Bills in Week 4. After his Week 3 performance, Achane deserves a nod in starts and sits. Plug him into your line-up and enjoy a boom play that can very well win you a match-up with his speed.
Roschon Johnson vs. Denver Broncos (@BrandonBlancoFF)
The most fantasy ppg to the position through three weeks. Roschon Johnson is in a prime spot to deliver his best performance of the season. In this epic “mid-off” between the Bears and Broncos, I see a lot of fantasy points being scored. Johnson is in a fabulous spot vs. a Broncos team that just got torched for over 200 rushing yards.
Johnson is outplaying Khalil Herbert and is a top-24 running back three weeks into the season. Start Johnson in your flex as he will have a touchdown and over 15 fantasy points in Week 4.
Wide Receiver Starts
Tank Dell & Nico Collins vs. Pittsburgh Steelers (@BrandonBlancoFF)
Tank Dell made the sleepers and streamers, but I cannot deny him from starts and sits, too. Dell was wanted by CJ Stroud in the NFL draft and the Texans listened to their franchise Quarterback. Dell has seen the most targets on the team through three weeks.
Tank Dell has seen two top 20 finishes in back-to-back weeks with a top five finish in Week 3. The Texans get a Steelers team in Week 4 who got torched by Jakobi Meyers and Davante Adams for over 250 receiving yards. Stroud is on pace to shatter rookie passing records and Tank Dell is one of the people who will benefit most from it. Being drafted as the WR78 in the off-season, fantasy managers might have better options, but not with as much upside as Tank Dell has.
Tank Dell is my favorite player on the starts in starts and sits.
Nico Collins has had his best start to his NFL career in the year as he is the WR7 on a fantasy ppg basis. As stated, Adams and Meyers both had amazing games, more so Adams and Collins will look to continue his breakout season against the Steelers.
Adam Thielen vs. Minnesota Vikings (@BrandonBlancoFF)
A revenge game is always a nice sight to see. Adam Thielen took time back to 2018 with his top three finish in Week 3 with over 30 fantasy points. He saw over 10 targets in Week 3 and has emerged as the Carolina Panthers WR1. Andy Dalton took over for the injured Bryce Young in Week 3 and it was the best thing to happen to Thielen.
In Week 4, the Panthers face the Vikings who just allowed the Chargers to have two receivers have over 100 yards each. Thielen is in a prime position to have another consecutive WR1 week, especially if Dalton gets the nod at Quarterback again.
Tight End Starts
Luke Musgrave vs. Detroit Lions (@BrandonBlancoFF)
The play from rookie tight-end Sam LaPorta has made people forget what Luke Musgrave is doing. Musgrave is currently seeing the ninth most routes run by the position. Kyle Pitts led his team in targets against this same Lions team in Week 3.
Even if Christian Watson were to return in Week 4, Musgrave is in a prime position to get the first touchdown of his career and deliver a double-digit point performance. The Lions are allowing 26.4 fantasy ppg to the position which is the worst.
Gerald Everett vs. Las Vegas Raiders (@BrandonBlancoFF)
Gerald Everett had four TE1 finishes last season and finished as the TE11 on a ppg basis. With the unfortunate season-ending injury to Mike Williams, there are a handful of other players who need to step up and help take the load off of Keenan Allen. Everett is a great candidate.
Furthermore, Everett is in a great spot against a Raiders team giving up the sixth most fantasy ppg to the position. They also just let Pat Freiermuth finish as the TE8 and grab a touchdown in Week 3. Everett is a sneaky candidate to have a top-five week for all tight ends in Week 4.
Week 4 Fantasy Football Rankings: Quarterback | Running Back | Wide Receiver | Tight End | Half-PPR by Position | Flex Rankings | Positional Ranks w/ K & DST | Dynasty | Superflex Dynasty