2017 Fantasy Football: Week 4 Sit/Start

Week 4 and we are already at the quarter pole of our fantasy football season. If you are win less or only have one win, you need a win this week or it gets really tough to make the playoffs.So before you set your lineup make sure you check out my sit and starts to help make those crucial decisions before game time. Remember if you have any other sit start questions you can hit me up in my Facebook group Dynasty League Problems or on twitter @MikeKelleyDLP Good luck this week.

The LootCrate START of the Week:

RB Chris Thompson (WAS)

I know the news out of Redskins camp is that when Rob Kelley is healthy it is his job and that Thompson is not inline for extended work. But we have three things to consider here. First Kelley is still recovering from his rib injury. Second Samaje Perine, who is listed as the number two back, just plain sucks right now and is banged up too. The last thing to consider is that Thompson is red hot right now. He has over 70 PPR points on just 27 touches. How do you not feed that guy the ball? The simple answer is you don’t. He will continue to get his share of touches. Can he Maintain his 17.8 yards per reception or 8.5 yards per carry? I doubt it. But this week he faces a Chiefs defense that has not exactly shut down running backs. So a six to eight carry game for 36 yards and six receptions for 70 yards would give him 16 points and thrown in a good shot for a touchdown and we could be looking at another 20 point game for him this weekend.

The LootCrate SIT of the Week:

WR Terrelle Pryor (WAS)

Those that have been following me all off season know I have been down on Pryor big time this year. My number one argument has been he went from the Browns only upright wide receiver to a team that had plenty of options in front of him. I was told I was wrong he is too talented to be that low in the pecking order. My next argument was that he only catches slightly more than 50 percent of his passes. I was told that was because it was crappy Browns quarterbacks throwing to him and that with Cousins it would be different. Well Pryor is currently fourth in receptions for the Redskins with Ryan Grant just behind in receptions and yards and actually has more touchdowns all on seven less targets. Don’t be surprised if Grant start taking some of Pryors targets away. So it looks like I was at least right for the first three weeks on the pecking order prediction. Currently Pryor has 10 receptions on 19 targets, if my math is correct that is only a little over 50 percent. Looks like I was right again. So where does that leave us regarding Pryor? Sitting him until he proves otherwise and that starts this week against the Chiefs. Less than four receptions and 50 yards is his best outlook right now.

Quarterback

START Russell Wilson (SEA)

For three weeks now Wilson has been running for his life on just about every play and last week he finally got something going. While his completion percentage was lower than I would like, I am not complaining about 373 yards with four touchdowns and zero interceptions he produced last week. So maybe just maybe Seattle is putting it together, they usually are slow starters. This week he faces off against a very forgiving Colts defense. He should be able to look like the Wilson of old and throw around 275 yards with a couple of touchdowns. Add around 35 rushing yards to his day and Wilson just might be what you need to win your game Sunday night.

Other STARTS:

• Jay Cutler (MIA)
• Andy Dalton (CIN)

SIT DeShone Kizer (CLE)

Overall I am a Kizer fan. I think the kid has looked good at times and other times he has looked like the rookie he is. While his future looks bright, his weekend out looks not so much. I know the Packers have a beat up offensive line, but man the Bengals were all over Aaron Rodgers last week. While the Browns do have a decent line, its still a rookie quarterback that has had a history of hanging on the ball too long to start his career. If he holds onto the ball too long this week he could be getting hit often. So whether its getting sacked or throwing under pressure the end result of most plays won’t be in Kizer’s favor. This poor kids has seen the Steelers, Ravens, and the Bengals in three of his first four games. Best you can hope for is low 200’s in yards maybe 1 touchdown. Unfortunately one or two interceptions will likely bring he day down to useless numbers.

Other SITS:

• Joe Flacco (BAL)
• Derek Carr (OAK)

Running Back

START Jordan Howard (CHI)

I have a completely new respect for Howard. He was a real popular pick for a down year and while I did not agree with that assesment I did concede that he might not improve on last year. Well after last week I am a believer in Howard. I got the privilege of watching the Bears game last weekend and Howard is one tough S.O.B. (I think that is an okay spot to use that). This guy was knocked out of the game two times and came back both time to help the bears win in over time. There was even one play that he got outside and turned it up field and as the defender approached he turned his bad shoulder away from the hit. I am not a Bears fan at all, but I was rooting for him that day. This week he face the Packers on short rest, which would normally cause concern, but I have no doubt he will be out there giving all he has to his team. While I don’t think they will need him as much as last week but 18 to 20 carries is still very possible with 105 yards and one touchdown. With a couple of receptions for 20 yards added in for good measure.

Other STARTS:

• Christian McCaffrey (CAR)
• Leonard Fournette (JAC)

SIT Ameer Abdullah (DET)

Facing Minnesota’s tough run defense is no easy task, and that is exactly what Abdullah is up against this week. I have typically been in Abdullah’s corner this season, but this week I am passing on him. This is more to do with the defense than his actual ability. Even Le’Veon Bell had his difficulties against the Vikings defense. Your best hope if you have to start Abdullah is that he can sang four or five receptions to go along with what will likely be a low producing rushing day. I think we are looking at around 40 to 50 yards rushing with three receptions for 18 yards and another week with no touchdown.

Other SITS:

• Bilal Powell (NYJ)
• DeMarco Murray (TEN)

Wide Receiver

START Alshon Jeffery (PHI)

The chemistry between Carson Wentz and Jeffery seems to be improving, which is to be expected for two players playing together for the first time. As luck would have it this week the Eagles will be in L.A. to face off against the Chargers. Who have been giving up yards in the passing pretty easily. I think this week will be no different either. I am expecting a game with plenty of scoring and plenty of passing, which bodes well for Jeffery this week. This could be a break out week for Jeffery as long as he continues to be Wentz’s number one target. eight receptions for 110 yards and a touchdown could easily be in his future this week.

Other STARTS:

• Doug Baldwin (SEA)
• DeVante Parker (MIA)

SIT Amari Cooper (OAK)

Cooper is too good to be 10/101/1 after three games. Throw in catching only 10 of his 23 targets and things are looking really bad for him. To make matters worse this might not be the week he breaks out of his slump. It will be even worse is Michael Crabtree misses, because that might mean double teams all day for him. Things will get better I am sure of it, but the chances of it happening this week against the Bronco’s seem to be pretty slim. I normally have a don’t sit your studs rule and honestly I plan on starting him myself, but with a late start I might keep my options open in case I want to switch him last second. I am not expecting anything great this week and if he grabs four or five receptions for 50 plus yards I might consider it win for him, but obviously a lose based on where he got drafted this year.

Other SITS:

• Chris Hogan (NE)
• Golden Tate (DET)

Tight End

START Coby Fleener (NO)

I know Fleener had a down week last week, but this week he faces a Dolphins team that just gave up 5/31/0 to a Jets tight end. Let that sink in, that is like more than half the receptions a Jets tight end has recorded in the last two years, possibly combined. After last weeks 1/21/0 performance I think things will balance back out this week. I could easily see Fleener bring in five receptions for 60 plus yards with a strong shot at a touchdown. If Fleener goes off this week I might have to adopt a play all tight ends in London policy.

Other STARTS:

• Jared Cook (OAK)
• Austin Saferian-Jenkins (NYJ)

SIT Hunter Henry (LAC)

Week one zero targets. Week two seven targets turned into seven receptions for 80 yards. Week three zero targets. Nothing can be more frustrating than that. Its not even like he is banged up and being used as a decoy, he is just not being used. Personally I think the Chargers need to have Henry involved for the benefit of the offense. But until he shows consistent production I am not sure how you can trust him. Which is why he is here this week. This week offers up a solid match up, and typically I would start him, but when you go from zero to seven and back to zero targets it is too risky for me to start him. I can’t even begin to predict what kind of numbers you might get out of him because the high and low are so drastic at this point. Either way I sit him until I see a solid consistent number of looks.

Other SITS:

• Marcedes Lewis (JAC)
• Kyle Rudolph (MIN)

Defense

START Cincinnati Bengals

The Bengals were sack machines last week and this week the face a quarterback that seems to enjoy getting sacked. Look for the Bengals to build on last weeks solid performance and turn it into their first win of the year.

Other STARTS:

• Jacksonville Jaguars

SIT Philadelphia Eagles

With a banged up secondary this game could be shoot out. Both team should do well stopping the run, but neither really excels at stopping the pass. They might get you some sacks, but could cost you in other areas.

Other SITS:

• San Francisco 49ers

Michael Kelley is a member of the Going For 2 team. You can check out his website Dynasty League Problems for more writings or find him on Twitter @mikekelleydlp spreading fantasy knowledge for the masses.

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