Arguably, no tougher decisions in fantasy football exist than start ’em and sit ’em decisions. While you have to make choices continually in a fantasy season, only those start/sit decisions are immediately shown to either be incredible — or downright awful. With that in mind, let’s take a look at some names to consider as potential start ’em and sit ’em options in Week 4.
NFL Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em for Week 4: Quarterbacks
Which QB can you trust in Week 4, and who stands out as a candidate to sit this week?
Start ‘Em | Taylor Heinicke, Washington Football Team (@ ATL)
This is a somewhat bold call given Taylor Heinicke is rostered in just 31% of leagues in Fleaflicker. However, in the world of start ’em and sit ’em, especially in superflex leagues, sometimes we have to get a little adventurous. In Week 4, Heinicke faces the Atlanta Falcons, who are the third-worst defense against QBs in terms of fantasy points allowed.
Heinicke has also been solid from a fantasy perspective this season. If we include only the two games where he started, Heinicke averages 20.2 fantasy points. That would make him QB13 on the season, behind Sam Darnold.
Sit ‘Em | Ryan Tannehill, Tennessee Titans (@ NYJ)
If you drafted Ryan Tannehill, you have suffered a little through the first three weeks. Tannehill ranks 19th among QBs in fantasy points and has just 4 passing and 1 rushing touchdown. Meanwhile, he has thrown 3 interceptions and just 250 yards per game. Those 16.7 fantasy points per game are significantly down on his 2020 number of 21.5.
I have more bad news for you. In a surprise twist, QBs have produced just 1 passing touchdown against the New York Jets in 2021. That came back in Week 1 from Sam Darnold. Instead, the Jets have allowed 5 rushing touchdowns.
The slight positive is that one of those was by a QB (Darnold again). However, when it comes to fantasy points allowed to the QB position, the Jets rank as the third-toughest matchup at 12.8 fantasy points per game. Sitting Tannehill is not an easy decision. However, this game could quickly turn into a clock-killing exercise for the Titans.
Running backs
The running back landscape shifts slowly until injury strikes, and then it shakes up wildly. With many starters entrenched in your lineups, let’s take a look at which players are potential start ’em and sit ’em options in Week 4.
Start ‘Em | Miles Sanders, Philadelphia Eagles (vs. KC)
It is time to take a leap and faith and assume the Eagles will not call another dreadful game as they did on Monday Night Football in Week 3. In that game, Miles Sanders carried the ball just twice. He actually had as many receptions as Philly RBs had carries.
Assuming the Eagles have learned from that experience, this is a perfect matchup to take advantage of when considering start ’em and sit ’em options for Week 4. The Chiefs have the fourth-worst defense against RBs in terms of fantasy points. They have allowed 29.77 fantasy ppg, nearly 450 total yards, and 5 touchdowns to the position.
Start ‘Em | Zack Moss, Buffalo Bills (vs. HOU)
Zack Moss has come back with a bang since missing Week 1. In the two weeks since, he has scored 3 touchdowns and posted a total of 125 yards. His 15.5 fantasy ppg place him ninth at the position. Moss appears to have taken a slight edge in the role from Devin Singletary, and a good Week 3 performance should only hammer that home.
Additionally, while it is tough to trust that Moss will dominate touches, this is a wonderful matchup for Buffalo. The Texans allow 26.27 fantasy ppg to the RB position, and this should be a matchup that Buffalo is simply looking to quietly wind down with the running game in the second half.
Sit ‘Em | Mike Davis, Atlanta Falcons (vs. WAS)
It has been tough sledding for Mike Davis, who is averaging just 9.2 fantasy ppg in half-PPR formats so far. The opportunities have been there (53), but he has turned them into just 205 yards and 0 touchdowns. This is a tough matchup against a Washington team that ranks as the seventh-best against the RB position in fantasy points per game (16.5).
NFL Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em for Week 4: Wide receivers
With familiar names dominating the WR landscape, which players might be worth risking this week, according to the numbers from the first three weeks? Additionally, which starters might be worth considering a spot on the bench this week? Let’s take a look at the numbers for this week, including some that suggest a top-10 WR this season might be someone to consider sitting in Week 4.
Start ‘Em | Jakobi Meyers, New England Patriots (vs. TB)
This game has all the makings of a shootout at Gillette Stadium. It seems unlikely Tom Brady will come into his old stadium and hand the ball off continuously against a defense that has been pretty stingy to running backs.
Therefore, the Patriots will likely have to respond in kind, given that the Buccaneers’ run defense is solid. However, Tampa’s defense ranks last in fantasy points to the WR position at 58.93. Unfortunately, it is dubious whether the Patriots’ offensive line will give Jones the time to go downfield. That means he will need to look for his safety blanket and team target leader in Jakobi Meyers.
Meyers is averaging 9.7 targets per game but has yet to deliver a monster performance. Now would be a great time against the Patriots’ former QB, with the team hoping to avoid a 1-3 start.
Start ‘Em | Olamide Zaccheaus, Atlanta Falcons (vs. WAS)
It is time to dig deep into the Week 4 start ’em and sit ’em bin for our second WR start. With Russell Gage out in Week 3, Olamide Zaccheaus stepped up, scoring a touchdown on his 6 targets. Those 6 targets saw him rank third on the team behind Calvin Ridley and Cordarrelle Patterson.
Heading towards Week 4, Gage is once again doubtful to play, offering another opportunity for Zaccheaus. The matchup is also nice for the Falcons’ WR options in Week 4. At 53.5 FPPG, Washington is the second-worst defense against the position. They have allowed 62 receptions, 741 receiving yards, and 4 touchdowns to WRs in 2021.
Sit ‘Em | Marquise Brown, Baltimore Ravens (@ DEN)
There is no way to sugarcoat this; it was a bad day for Marquise Brown last Sunday. He had a pair of drops that left the announcers stunned and fans open-mouthed. Dropping a catch happens, but doing it twice is a different story altogether.
Usually, these things go one of two ways. Either the receiver is thrown the ball less because the trust is gone, or he gets a boost in targets to prove it was just a blip and reasserts himself as a fantastic pass catcher. Now, while Brown’s 2 drops seem like an anomaly, given he has just 2 in his entire rookie season, there are other factors.
Firstly, Rashod Bateman and Miles Boykin came off the IR this week, crowding the WR room along with Sammy Watkins. Brown has averaged 7.7 targets through three weeks, but we could see those drop in the coming weeks with these other options returning.
Additionally, the Broncos are a tough defense to face, allowing just 33.97 fantasy ppg to the position as a whole. Opposing receivers have just 2 touchdowns, 449 yards, and 39 receptions on 71 targets.
Sit ‘Em | Brandin Cooks, Houston Texans (@ BUF)
This is perhaps the most controversial call of my entire start ’em and sit ’em article in Week 4. Through three weeks, Brandin Cooks is the WR6 in terms of fantasy ppg at 16.7 and is tied for fourth in targets. He has been force-fed the ball and likely will be again in Week 4.
However, there is a world of difference in Davis Mills starting at home in Houston against the Carolina Panthers and him suiting up in Buffalo against the Bills. Here are the stats for Buffalo’s defense against WRs on a per-game basis this year so far:
- 22.3 targets
- 12.3 receptions
- 113 receiving yards
- 0.33 touchdowns
- 25.2 fantasy ppg
Cooks basically needs to have at least half of those stats go his way this week, even to be a WR3. Is it possible? Yes. However, the Bills will look at this Houston roster and know they can only be beaten in this game in one way — by Brandin Cooks. Expect Cooks to be covered closely and doubled the majority of the time.
Combine all that with a prediction of rain and some wind in Buffalo, and just maybe you need to consider going away from Cooks this week. It will not be easy, but assess your other options and make an informed decision you believe in.
Tight ends
While all attention is on Rob Gronkowski against the Patriots, the tight end position continues to be a frustration unlike any other in the fantasy landscape. Who do the numbers tell us might be worth starting this week, and who might be someone to consider sitting?
Start ‘Em | Tommy Tremble, Carolina Panthers (@ DAL)
There is no point playing it safe at tight end because, frankly, there is no such thing outside of a handful of options. Arguably the most volatile position in fantasy, only five tight ends average over 10 fantasy ppg this year. Therefore, the strategy I subscribe to is “shoot for the moon.”
This week, my tight end “shoot for the moon” is Tommy Tremble of the Carolina Panthers. Tremble caught his first catch in the NFL, on his first target, for 30 yards and a touchdown. A matter of days later, the Panthers trade their top tight end in Dan Arnold to the Jaguars. Coincidence? Maybe, but also maybe not.
Arnold was tied for fourth on the team in targets after three weeks (11). However, with Christian McCaffrey out injured, we could see the tight end play a more significant role in Week 4 and beyond. It is a gamble, but Tremble has the profile to be an intriguing fantasy option this week against a Cowboys side that has allowed 3 touchdowns to the position.
Sit ‘Em | Mark Andrews, Baltimore Ravens (@ DEN)
Welcome to the boom-and-bust life that is Mark Andrews. After scoring just 11.7 fantasy points through the first two weeks, he had 13.4 in Week 3. That is the quintessential Andrews experience — fun highs and frustrating lows.
Combine that with the matchup against a Broncos team that allows an average of 4.2 fantasy ppg to the position, including 7 receptions on 12 targets and 55 yards, and quite frankly, it is scary stuff. Add in the potential returns of Bateman and Boykin, and this pass-catching group suddenly looks crowded.
