Alright, fantasy managers! It’s that time again to lock in and get ready to set those lineups. You have a little wiggle room if you’re sitting at 3-0 or 2-1. If you’re on the opposite end at 1-2 or the dreaded 0-3, it’s time to hunker down and get some trades done to help your team. Then come back and set your lineups. There were a few great performances that bailed out fantasy managers from Week 3. David Montgomery’s 29.4 fantasy point game against the Baltimore Ravens was certainly one of them. Thank you for not sliding down at the end of the game.
And if you were looking for a wide receiver to help your fantasy rosters, Raiders wideout Tre Tucker was a hot item to get. Tucker went off against the Washington Commanders for 145 yards and three touchdowns. Tucker finished as the WR1 for Week 3, leading all receivers with nearly 41 fantasy points. Now it’s time to build off of those performances and get ready for another week of fantasy football. Here are some options to consider for your lineups in Week 4.
Week 4 Starts and Sits
Quarterbacks
Start: Geno Smith vs. CHI
Geno Smith is coming off one of his better performances so far this season. Smith threw three touchdowns and 289 yards against the Washington Commanders in Week 3. The Chicago Bears are next on the docket with several injuries to their defense. The Bears are giving up 265 passing yards per game to opposing quarterbacks. They are also allowing the third-most fantasy points to enemy quarterbacks at 25 fantasy points per game. Smith is averaging 277 passing yards per game heading into Week 4.
Start: Patrick Mahomes vs. BAL
This is a perfect opportunity for Patrick Mahomes to get back on track. Mahomes has been struggling in the first few games of the season. Mahomes is averaging just 223 passing yards per game. This could be because he’s missing his top two wide receivers in Rashee Rice and Xavier Worthy. The good news is that the Worthy could be returning for Week 4 after practicing in full on Wednesday and Thursday. With Worthy potentially returning, Mahomes has a bounce-back game on deck against a vulnerable Baltimore Ravens defense. The Ravens are allowing fourth-most fantasy points per game at 23.3 fantasy points per game. The Ravens are also giving
Sit: Jaxson Dart vs. LAC
Fantasy managers may have invested in Jaxson Dart off the waiver wire this week, but it may be too soon to throw him into your lineups. While the rookie did show promise during the preseason, he faces a tough test in Week 4 against the Los Angeles Chargers. The Chargers are averaging just 15.2 fantasy points per game allowed to quarterbacks this season. They are also giving up the fewest passing yards to enemy quarterbacks at 182 yards per game. The Chargers are allowing the second-fewest yards per attempt at 5.5. With the Giants’ poor offensive line play stacked on top of that, Dart is a “wait and see” candidate for now.
Running Backs
Start: Breece Hall vs. MIA
Breece Hall got off to a good start to begin the season, but has quieted down since Justin Fields went down in Week 2 with a concussion. Hall hasn’t cracked double-digit fantasy points since Week 1, but he has an opportunity to get right against the Miami Dolphins this week. The Dolphins are giving up 4.5 yards per attempt to running backs and the fifth-most rushing yards at 145 per game. If Justin Fields can return for the game and lift the running game back up, Hall is set up for a good week for fantasy football.
Start: J.K. Dobbins vs. CIN
So far, J.K. Dobbins looks like he’s having a resurgence of a season like he did last season with the Chargers. Dobbins is averaging a healthy 15.2 fantasy points per game and 7.5 yards per attempt on the ground. Dobbins heads into Week 4 to face off against a Bengals defense that has been run over the last few weeks. Recently, Vikings running back Jordan Mason had his way with the Bengals defense, rushing for 116 yards and averaging 7.2 yards per attempt. Dobbins is a solid RB2 play in a great matchup for fantasy managers this week.
Sit: Travis Etienne vs. SF
While Travis Etienne has been solid so far this season for fantasy, this week against the San Francisco 49ers defense might be a matchup managers might want to avoid. Etienne is coming off his worst game this season as a rusher, held to just 3.5 y/a against the Houston Texans last week. The 49ers’ defense heads into Week 4 ranked 13th against the run, allowing just 3.7 yards per attempt. Etienne does have some receiving upside but the Jaguars offense hasn’t been generating a ton of scoring opportunities, ranking 15th in offensive scoring.
Wide Receivers
Start: Ricky Pearsall vs. JAX
The 49ers’ roster has been wrecked with injuries at the wide receiver position once again. Fellow Niners wideout Jauan Jennings may be unavailable this week due to injuries. The same can be said about Jordan Watson. That means more targets for Pearsall to get active this week. The Jaguars are bleeding fantasy points to wide receivers so far this season. Ranking sixth-most in fantasy points allowed at just over 40 FPPG, and the extra volume that could be coming Pearsall’s way, fantasy managers should feel comfortable with him in their lineups. Oh! And Brock Purdy could be returning this week too.
Start: George Pickens vs. GB
More volume has never been a bad thing, right? George Pickens now finds himself in a similar situation with Ceedee Lamb unlikely to play against the Green Bay Packers for Week 4. Now expected to be Dak Prescott’s top target for the next few games, Pickens should benefit in an offense that’s averaging nearly 44 pass attempts per game. The Packers are no slouches when it comes to defending fantasy wide receivers, allowing the fifth-lowest FPPG at 25.1 per. Pickens may be a riskier play than usual but with volume and scoring opportunity on his side, he can be a decent play this week.
Sit: Ja’Marr Chase vs. DEN
The loss of Joe Burrow was bad. The “Jake Browning experience” didn’t get off to a good start in his first full game as the starter. Chase had just 8.9 fantasy points in Week 3 against the Minnesota Vikings. Going 5 of 6 for 50 yards as the top fantasy wide receiver was not a great look. Now he takes on a Denver Broncos defense trying to rebound from a close Week 3 loss with Patrick Surtain on the incoming? This might be hard because of what fantasy managers invested in him. This may be the riskiest play this week.
Tight Ends
Start: Hunter Henry vs. CAR
Hunter Henry has thrown his name into the ring as a top fantasy tight end after three weeks of football. Henry heads into Week 4 as the TE4, averaging nearly 14 fantasy points per game. Now he gets a solid matchup against a Carolina Panthers defense that’s been susceptible to the position. The Panthers are allowing 15.4 fantasy points per game (T-8th). Henry sees solid work as one of the more reliable pass catchers for Drake Maye and the New England Patriots. Hopefully, Henry can keep it going in a good matchup against Carolina.
Sit: Cole Kmet vs. LVR
Cole Kmet took advantage of a great matchup against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 3. But Kmet could be coming back down to Earth in Week 4 against the Las Vegas Raiders. The Raiders are one of the toughest defenses when taking on opposing tight ends. The Raiders are allowing the fifth-fewest fantasy points to opposing tight ends at just seven fantasy points per game. Kmet has seen north of five fantasy points just once this season, averaging 5.7 fantasy points per game after three weeks. There may be better options to put in starting lineups this week.
