Week 4 of the fantasy football season is officially underway for 30 of the NFL’s 32 teams. The Tennessee Titans have had multiple players and coaches test positive for COVID-19, and their showdown with the Pittsburgh Steelers has been pushed back. While this obviously has huge real life implications, you can’t overlook how this affects the start sit decisions for your fantasy football team. Keenan Allen should be a great start this week, while Michael Thomas should probably stay on bench.
Keenan Allen, Michael Thomas Highlight Fantasy Football Week 4 Start Em, Sit Em
Start: Keenan Allen
Justin Herbert saved Keenan Allen. After Tyrod Taylor seemingly had no interest in targeting Allen in Week 1, Herbert has made him the clear focal point of the passing attack. Through the first three weeks of the season, Allen is actually third in my expected fantasy points model and is due for some positive regression. Throw in the fact that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers could be without Sean Murphy-Bunting in the secondary and Allen should give you a great performance this week.
Sit: Michael Thomas
Michael Thomas obviously has the ability to make me look like an idiot for this one, but he’s simply too risky to start. Thomas suffered a high-ankle sprain back in Week 1, and that is a tough injury to come back from. Even when on the field, players normally need an extra two or three weeks to find their old form. This news is bad enough on its own but made even worse considering Thomas is only three weeks removed from said injury. Add in the fact that age appears to have caught up with Drew Brees and there is just too much working against Thomas this week.
Start: DeVante Parker
DeVante Parker was no one-week wonder, as the former first-round pick is proving that his breakout season was legit. Parker is still the top option in this passing attack, and he should receive an ample amount of targets in Week 4. The Miami Dolphins face the unenviable task of facing off against a white-hot Seattle Seahawks offense. Seattle is finally letting Russell Wilson cook, and the Super Bowl MVP responded by having his best season to date. The Dolphins will need to throw early and often to keep up in this one, and Seattle’s passing defense is pretty terrible. Parker should have plenty of targets and shouldn’t have much of a problem getting open against this secondary.
Sit: A.J. Green
I’m officially pulling the plug on the A.J. Green reclamation project. Green, of course, used to be one of the best receivers in the league, but those days are long gone. The former first-round pick had plenty of targets through the first two weeks of the season, but wasn’t able to capitalize on his opportunity. Last week, those targets started to go away as Joe Burrow started spreading the ball around towards Tee Higgins. Higgins should see a larger role as the season progresses, and Green probably won’t be anything more than the third- or fourth-best option in this passing attack.
Start: Greg Ward
In what’s becoming something of an annual tradition, the Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver room is a walking infirmary. Jalen Reagor, Alshon Jeffery, DeSean Jackson, and even rookie John Hightower are all battling some type of ailment. This leaves Greg Ward as quite literally the only healthy receiver on the roster. Ward might not be the greatest talent in the world, but he’ll see a ton of snaps and already has a proven rapport with quarterback Carson Wentz. While he lacks superstar upside, he should be a solid flex play.
Sit: Allen Lazard
Update: Allen Lazard will not play in Week 4 and is out indefinitely
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Allen Lazard went off in Week 3 to the tune of six receptions, 146 yards, and one touchdown. This production is fantastic, but it probably won’t happen again. Unfortunately, the former undrafted free agent suffered a core injury and might have to undergo surgery. Even if that doesn’t happen, he’s probably too hurt to be a viable fantasy option. If you want to take a shot on one of Green Bay’s wide receivers, Marquez Valdes-Scantling is probably the way to go.
Auto-Start (Better Than Keenan Allen)
DeAndre Hopkins, Tyreek Hill, Calvin Ridley, Tyler Lockett, Amari Cooper, Allen Robinson, DK Metcalf, Adam Thielen, Cooper Kupp, Mike Evans, Terry McLaurin
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