. In addition, there are injuries that will vault players into the starting conversation. Here are the starts and sits for week four in fantasy football.
Week 4 Sees Starts and Sits Become More Complex
Quarterback – Kirk Cousins (Start), Ryan Tannehill (Sit)
Kirk Cousins heads into week four surprisingly as a top ten fantasy quarterback. Drafted as most teams’ bench quarterback, Cousins is once again in the streaming tier this week against the Cleveland Browns. The Minnesota Vikings defense is bad, so Cousins will have to air it out a lot to keep up. Ryan Tannehill is a sit despite the great matchup versus the New York Jets. Not only is AJ Brown out but Julio Jones could also miss this game. Against a Jets team that will struggle to put up points, the Tennesee Titans may decide to just run the ball with Derrick Henry and play defense to win this game.
Honorable Mention Starts: Derek Carr (vs. LAC), Joe Burrow (vs. Jax)
Honorable Mention Sits: Ben Roethlisberger (vs. Green Bay), Baker Mayfield (vs. Minnesota)
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Running Back – Chuba Hubbard (Start), Leonard Fournette (Sit)
One of the most popular waiver wire pickups of the week, Chuba Hubbard is a must-start with Christian McCaffrey sidelined. The Carolina Panthers like to utilize a workhorse approach, so Hubbard should get plenty of volume both on the ground and in the passing game. Leonard Fournette is a sit this week against the New England Patriots. The Patriots have a good run defense and with Tom Brady making his return to Foxboro, it will be Brady throwing a lot as he tries to make a statement against Bill Belichick.
Honorable Mention Starts: Cordarrelle Patterson (vs. Washington), Kareem Hunt (vs. Minnesota)
Honorable Mention Sits: Michael Carter (vs. Tennessee), Damien Harris (vs. Tampa Bay)
Wide Receiver – Chase Claypool (Start), Jaylen Waddle (Sit)
With Juju Smith-Schuster and Diontae Johnson banged up, Chase Claypool is a solid play in all leagues. Claypool had 15 targets last week and he will get plenty of targets since the Pittsburgh Steelers will most likely be trailing the Green Bay Packers. Jaylen Waddle is a sit-in in week four after he had 12 receptions for 58 yards last week. Yes, you read that correctly. Operating in a conservative offense with Jacoby Brissett at quarterback, there isn’t a lot of upside in starting Waddle.
Honorable Mention Starts: Tyler Boyd (vs. Jax), Jakobi Meyers (vs. Tampa Bay)
Honorable Mention Sits: DeVonta Smith (vs. Kansas City), Henry Ruggs III (vs. LAC)
Tight End – Tyler Higbee (Start), Kyle Pitts (Sit)
After a down week two, many decided to bench Tyler Higbee last week. He responded last week with five catches for 40 yards and a touchdown. This week, the Los Angeles Rams should have a high-scoring game against the Arizona Cardinals. Higbee is a must-start as a top-three option in an elite offense. Coming into the season Kyle Pitts was considered to be a top-six tight end, but as with any rookie, there is a risk. Pitts has yet to get into the end zone and has only topped 40 receiving yards once. In a shallow league, it may be time to bench Pitts until he starts to heat up.
Honorable Mention Starts: Rob Gronkowski (vs. New England), Logan Thomas (vs. Atlanta)
Honorable Mention Sits: Hunter Henry and Jonnu Smith (vs. Tampa Bay), Robert Tonyan (vs. Pittsburgh)
Defense – Tennessee Titans (Start), Carolina Panthers (Sit)
The Titans are a starting defense in all leagues against a Jets offense that got shut out last week. While the Titans’ defense has been bad this season, any team facing the Jets will enter the streaming conversation. After yet another dominant defensive performance, the Panthers’ hot streak will finally come to an end this week. The Cowboys have one of the best offenses in football so there is a chance this game turns into a shootout. If the Panthers can somehow manage to shut down the Cowboys this Sunday, it may be time to consider them as more than just a flash in the pan.
Honorable Mention Starts: Cincinnati Bengals (vs. Jax), Miami Dolphins (vs. Indianapolis)
Honorable Mention Sits: Los Angeles Rams (vs. Arizona), Pittsburgh Steelers (vs. Green Bay)
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