Week 4: Start Em, Sit Em

Week 4 Start Em, Sit Em

By: Armando Marsal

Quarterbacks

Start Em

Philip Rivers, SD vs. NO -€” This contest has the highest projected total of the weekend. Rivers is in a great spot as he faces off against one of the worst, if not the worst, defense in the league. Quarterbacks are averaging 309 passing yards per game against the Saints. Their opponents are averaging 32 points per game. Rivers is averaging 264.3 passing yards per game and has tossed five touchdowns passes. Rivers had a big game in his last home, 220 passing yards and four touchdowns, against the Jags. Similar production is not out of reach in this matchup.

Other Starts

Derek Carr, OAK at BAL

Matthew Stafford, DET at CHI

Kirk Cousins, WAS vs. CLE

Dak Prescott, DAL at SF

Joe Flacco, BAL vs. OAK

Sleeper Alert: Brian Hoyer, CHI vs. DET (if he starts)

Sit Em

Jameis Winston, TB vs. DEN -€” Denver is by far the best defense in the league and this unit is arguably one of the best to ever play in the game. They have allowed no more than 206 passing yards in a single game this season and have surrendered just two touchdowns. Keep in mind, they have faced Cam Newton, Andrew Luck, and Andy Dalton. This is just not a spot you want to be in. There are a handful of quarterbacks that you can pick up and plug in this week ahead of Winston.

Other Sits

Tyrod Taylor, BUF at NE

Marcus Mariota, TEN at HOU

Russell Wilson, SEA at NYJ

Ryan Fitzpatrick, NYJ vs. SEA

Bust Alert: Eli Manning, NYG

Running Backs

Start Em

Melvin Gordon, SD vs. NO - The Saints have been unable to contain the run all season. Opposing running backs have totaled 606 yards and have scored seven touchdowns against them through the first three weeks. Gordon has scored a touchdown in each game this season and has a good chance to keep that streak going. He has 47 touches in the last two games and with Danny Woodhead out last week, Gordon played in 87 percent of the offensive snaps. Game flow is not going to matter with Gordon in this contest as he will be on the field for the majority of the snaps. He should be fired up in all lineups.

Other Starts

Carlos Hyde, SF vs. DAL

Jeremy Hill, CIN vs. MIA

Jordan Howard, CHI vs. DET

LeGarrette Blount, NE vs. BUF

Sleeper alert: Dwayne Washington, DET at CHI

Sit Em

Christine Michael, SEA at NYJ -€” Trust me, I am aware of his Week 3 performance, but this week he has a tough task ahead of him. The Jets have yet allowed opposing running backs to rush for more than 78 yards in a game. They have yielded just one touchdown and are giving up just 3.7 rushing yards per carry. Although Michael is the featured runner on this offense, he has a shaky offensive line and faces a vicious defensive line. It may be tough to bench him for some owners, but this is not a situation that favors Michael.

Other Sits

Jerick McKinnon, MIN vs. NYG

Kenyan Drake, MIA at CIN

Frank Gore, IND at JAX

New York Giants at MIN

Bust Alert: Charles Sims, TB vs. DEN

Wide Receivers

Start Em

Will Fuller, HOU vs. TEN -€” After starting the season with consecutive 100+ receiving yard games, he was contained to three catches for 31 yards in Week 3. However, it is not time to panic. The matchup was not ideal. This week he has a far better matchup against the Titans. The Titans have surrendered over 165 receiving yards to opposing receivers in each game this season, as well as two touchdowns. Despite a subpar performance, Fuller was still targeted seven times last week. He is averaging 8.3 targets per game and has yet seen fewer than seven targets in a single game. He accounts for 23.1 percent of the Texans targets and has played in 87.2 percent of the offensive snaps. The volume is there and the matchup is solid. Do not place too much emphasis on last game and plug him in your lineups.

Other Starts

Michael Crabtree, OAK at BAL

Tyrell Williams, SD vs. NO

DeSean Jackson, WAS vs. CLE

Michael Thomas, NO at SD (if Snead does not play)

Sleeper Alert: Cole Beasley, DAL at SF

Sit Em

Michael Floyd, ARI vs. LAR-€” Floyd suffered a concussion last week against the Bills, but is expected to play in this contest. The issue is that he has been far from good this season. Through three games, he has nine receptions for 134 yards and a touchdown. He has caught fewer than five passes in each game and has scored fewer than 10 fantasy points in PPR formats twice. The Rams have also done a decent job against receivers, allowing just one touchdown in the first three games. I like Floyd in general, but want to see him be more productive and fully healthy before I feel confident rolling him out.

Other Sits

Victor Cruz, NYG at MIN

Eric Decker, NYJ vs. SEA

Tavon Austin, LAR at ARI

Julian Edelman, NE vs. BUF

Bust Alert: Mike Evans, TB vs. DEN

Tight Ends

Start Em

Zach Miller, CHI vs. DET

Kyle Rudolph, MIN vs. NYG

Coby Fleener, NO at SD

Sit Em

Martellus Bennett, NE vs. BUF

Cameron Brate, TB vs. DEN

Defense

Start Em

New York Jets vs. Seattle Seahawks

Houston Texans vs. Tennessee Titans

Sit Em

Los Angeles Rams at Arizona Cardinals