NFL Editorial

Fantasy Football: Week 4 Start/Sit

Quarterbacks

START

Derek Carr, Oakland Raiders

Carr will be a popular option in both season long and DFS leagues in Week 4. Carr gets to face a Chicago Bears team who has given up eight passing touchdowns in the first three games thus far this season. The Bears also allow an average of 24.1 fantasy points per game to opposing quarterbacks and rank 31st overall in the league. Start Carr with extreme confidence against this treacherous Chicago defense.

Cam Newton, Carolina Panthers

Newton has been great over the last two weeks versus the Texans and the Saints. Over the last two weeks, he has thrown for 510 yards, four touchdowns and just one interception. In his career, he has 16 career touchdowns in six career games versus Tampa Bay. This year, the Buccaneers rank 21st at defending opposing quarterbacks, allowing an average of 21.2 fantasy points per game. Newton very well could be Week 4’s start of the week.

Tyrod Taylor, Buffalo Bills

Taylor may possibly be this year’s best waiver wire add so far. This season, he has thrown for 711 yards, seven touchdowns and three interceptions. He’s also rushed for 94 yards and a score this year. Taylor faces off against a Giants defense who ranks 29th at defending against opposing quarterbacks. New York allows an average of 22.7 fantasy points per game to quarterbacks, so Taylor should have a solid game in Week 4.

SIT

Ryan Tannehill, Miami Dolphins

Coming into the 2015 season, I was super high on Tannehill, but he just hasn’t been very solid whatsoever. So far this season, he has thrown for 882 yards, five touchdowns and three interceptions. It doesn’t help that the Dolphins will be traveling overseas to London, England, but they’ll also be facing off against their divisional rival the New York Jets. In 2015, the Jets rank at 23rd defending opposing quarterbacks, but I just don’t see them not containing this stagnant Miami offense.

Matthew Stafford, Detroit Lions

Stafford is having a horrible start to his season and a trip to one of the toughest stadiums to play in at Seattle in Week 4 doesn’t help his fantasy value either. The Seahawks are great at home and will take advantage of Stafford’s recent struggles. Seattle is the 1st ranked defense versus quarterbacks, allowing an average of just 15.1 fantasy points per game. Stafford is a virtual must-sit this week in all formats.

Eli Manning, New York Giants

I’m not very high on Giants fantasy players at all in Week 4. Manning is coming off a solid effort in Week 3 versus the Redskins, however, this week he draws a stout Bills defense who is great at home. So far this year, Buffalo has held good quarterbacks like Andrew Luck and Ryan Tannehill down pretty easily. The Bills rank 3rd versus opposing quarterbacks and only allow 17.4 fantasy points per game to them.

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Running Backs

START

Latavius Murray, Oakland Raiders

It’s getting pretty obvious that I’m on the Raiders fantasy bandwagon in Week 4. After an awesome Week 3 game versus the Browns, Murray draws an even worse defense in the Bears. The Raiders allowed no-name running back Thomas Rawls to run wild on them last week to the tune of 104 yards. This year, Chicago is ranked 20th against opposing running backs, allowing 19.5 fantasy points per game. Murray is my start of the week at the running back position!

Joseph Randle, Dallas Cowboys

Randle is on my “sell high” list this week, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t going to absolutely demolish the Saints defense in Week 4. He scored an amazing three touchdowns versus the Falcons last week and I see him having another successful game versus New Orleans. So far in 2015, the Saints rank 29th versus opposing running backs, giving up an average of 22.8 fantasy points per game. Start Randle with confidence and bask in the glory once again this week!

Mark Ingram, New Orleans Saints

I see a bit of a trend here… It’s looking like the Sunday Night Football game between Dallas and New Orleans is gonna be a fantasy gold mine for running backs. Ingram has been solid so far this year, scoring two touchdowns and rushing for 279 yards. He will be facing a Cowboys defense who ranks 19th versus opposing running backs, allowing 18.9 fantasy points per game. Ingram is a must start this week, get him in your lineups with no worries.

SIT

Rashad Jennings, New York Giants

Like I said above, I’m avoiding Giants players at all costs in Week 4. Not only is the running back situation in New York a cluttered mess, they’re also facing a formidable rush defense. The Bills have only allowed a total of 193 rushing yards this season, ranking 6th overall. They only allow 15.3 fantasy points per game to opposing running backs, which means you should all steer clear of Giants’ backs.

Alfred Morris, Washington Redskins

Like Jennings, Morris has been very inconsistent this season for the Redskins. It’s looking more and more every week that Washington will use the running back by committee approach, so Morris is almost droppable for fantasy purposes. He faces off against an Eagles defense who ranks 26th versus opposing running backs, but I don’t think that’s going to matter honestly. Matt Jones and Chris Thompson will both split carries with Morris, so keep him on your bench going forward.

Doug Martin, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Martin has a tough matchup in Week 4 with the Carolina Panthers, who have completely shut down opposing backs all season. Martin looked great in the preseason, giving us all a glimmer of hope that he’d be back to his old self, but he just hasn’t lived up to our expectations. In 2015, Carolina has only given up a total of 195 yards and rank 17th overall against opposing running backs.

Wide Receivers

START

Amari Cooper, Oakland Raiders

Once again, a Raider is a must-start in Week 4! Cooper was electric last week against the Browns, gaining 134 yards against them. This season, Chicago ranks 24th versus wide receivers, giving up an average of 24.4 points per game to them. Cooper’s Week 3 success will carry over to this game and he should be in your lineups no matter what the circumstances are.

Brandon Marshall, New York Jets

Marshall has been a great draft bargain, so far this year. In 2015, he’s gained 272 yards and three touchdowns within the first three weeks. He faces off against a Miami defense who we all thought would be much better than they have been. This year, Miami ranks 22nd against opposing wideouts, giving up an averaged of 23.8 fantasy points per contest. The trip overseas doesn’t scare me here with Marshall, start him with confidence.

Donte Moncrief, Indianapolis Colts

Moncrief has quickly become a fantasy stud this season. He came into the 2015 year as the number three receiver for the Colts, but easily jumped Andre Johnson on the depth chart. Moncrief should put up a solid stat line versus the Jaguars and will hopefully keep his touchdown scoring ways going. This season, Jacksonville ranks 16th versus opposing wideouts, which spells great news for Moncrief owners.

SIT

Golden Tate, Detroit Lions

Tate has a tough matchup this week in the Seattle Seahawks. He hasn’t got off to the best start this year and is most likely looking for revenge against his old team. Seattle is way too good at home and I just don’t see any Lions players having a very successful day. This year, Seattle ranks 1st against opposing wide receivers, allowing just 13.6 fantasy points per game.

Jarvis Landry, Miami Dolphins

Unlike his opponent Marshall, Landry won’t be so successful in London in Week 4. Landry has been pretty solid in PPR formats but has been an epic letdown in standard leagues. A Week 4 matchup against Darrelle Revis only makes it tougher to start him also. The Jets rank 19th versus opposing wideouts, but it’s all going to depend on the guy feeding Landry the ball. Like I said above, I don’t like Tannehill this week, so bench Landry as well.

Travis Benjamin, Cleveland Browns

Benjamin is truly the definition of a boom or bust player. Without Johnny Manziel feeding him the deep ball, he just isn’t a very good fantasy option. Josh McCown doesn’t have near the chemistry with Benjamin and I don’t see much fantasy potential here for him. This season, the Chargers rank 17th at defending against opposing wideouts, allowing an average of 22.2 fantasy points per game.

Tight Ends

START

Martellus Bennett, Chicago Bears

Other than Matt Forte, Bennett is the only must start Bear this week. He faces off against a Raiders defense who made Gary Barnidge look like a king. In 2015, the Raiders rank 23rd versus opposing tight ends. I think that Bennett will be the best option at the position in Week 4!

Jason Witten, Dallas Cowboys

I have to give one of my all-time favorite players a start in Week 4. Witten has proven this season that he still has it in Big D! He faces off against a New Orleans defense who does rank 2nd versus opposing tight ends, but I still see him being Brandon Weeden’s go-to option all night long.

Jordan Reed, Washington Redskins

Talk about a guy with a ton of talent, Reed could easily be the best tight end this week. As long as he can stay healthy, he can make a major impact on any game that he plays in. This year, only two other tight ends have been targeted more times than him in Rob Gronkowski and Greg Olson, so I expect a solid day versus the Eagles.

SIT

Zach Ertz, Philadelphia Eagles

Ertz has been a bust by most people’s fantasy standards. We all had high hopes for him going into his 2015 campaign, but he just hasn’t lived up to our lofty expectations. I don’t see it getting any better this week versus a much improved Redskins defense.

Jordan Cameron, Miami Dolphins

It’s like I’m preaching to the choir here, don’t start any Dolphins players in Week 4. Cameron is not only battling injuries, he’s also taking on a salty Jets defense. Avoid him at all costs this week.

Kyle Rudolph, Minnesota Vikings

Like always, Rudolph just hasn’t come through for our fantasy squads. He is a touchdown-reliant fantasy player who just isn’t doing anything this season. He’s facing off against a Broncos team who rank 26th versus tight ends, but not even that will help Rudolph make it into any of my lineups this week.

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