Must Starts and Sits | Fantasy Football Week 4

by Matt Babich · Matchups Start/Sit

It’s time for Start Sit Week 4 in Fantasy Football! Which players should you be starting this week, and which players should you consider benching? We will cover it all in this weekly article!

Every week of the NFL season, fantasy gamers juggle players to insert into lineups at each position. Are you questioning which players face easy matchups and which players face tougher paths to production? You are in the right place! For seasonal leagues, DFS, and more, this week’s must-start and must-sit picks can give you some guidance on setting your lineups.

PlayerProfiler is home to award-winning redraft rankings and tools. Our Player Rankings are second to none, and the World Famous Draft Kit contains detailed player write ups and cheat sheets to help You dominate fantasy drafts! Check it out. 

Week 3 Recap

Here’s what we learned from our hits and misses last week:

  • QBs will be tough to play against Miami with how bad their team and rushing defense is.
  • Never underestimate Kyle Shanahan.
  • The Titans won’t be playing in many positive game scripts.
  • Javonte Williams is dust.
  • Keep the faith in Rashid Shaheed, the production will continue to come.
  • That’s likely the last time I fade Terry McLaurin this season.

Quarterback Start Sit Week 4

Start: Sam Darnold

The Sam Darnold you thought you knew is dead. The ghosts that once haunted him have moved on (to Trevor Lawrence, it seems). It’s an early sample, but we’re on the cusp of Darnold becoming a weekly starter in fantasy land. He may be overperforming his Expected Fantasy Points, but he is indeed the QB4 in fantasy points per game. Even without Jordan Addison and T.J. Hockenson, this offense is humming under its new signal caller. After recent weeks, the matchup against Green Bay looks to be a stiffer one. However, I’m not convinced that this Packers’ defense is elite.

The Packers got sliced and diced by Philly in Week 1. They let them do whatever they wanted. Then, they stifled Indianapolis and Tennessee … two teams that have looked horrible on offense. This is a beatable defense. It’s also telling that the Vikings opened as underdogs. Vegas isn’t expecting the Vikings to burn the clock while playing ahead. Minnesota is going to continue to sling it. To make the situation even better, it’s growing more likely that Jordan Love suits up. I’ll ride the hot streak until it cools off.

Honorable Mentions (Starts): Caleb Williams, Justin Fields, Baker Mayfield

Sit: Jared Goff

After being a weekly starter in fantasy leagues last season, Jared Goff has been sluggish and very difficult to trust out of the gate in 2024. The Lions are truly establishing this season, ranking 25th in pass rate over expectation (per NFELO), so the pass attempts are going to be limited in tighter game scripts (Vegas is expecting this to be a tight contest). Even in Week 2, a negative game script where Goff threw 55 times, he failed to finish as a top-24 quarterback on the week.

Now rising star Sam LaPorta looks to be missing some time with an ankle injury, and star center Frank Ragnow looks to be done for the season. Down a playmaker, the Lions will have to face off against Mike MacDonald’s Seahawks. The Seahawks are truly getting after the quarterback this season, ranking second in QB pressure rate, fifth in QB knockdown rate, and 27th in completion percentage allowed (per ProFootballReference). I expect the Lions to lean on the run game against the run-susceptible Seattle defense and play less aggressively through the air to accommodate for their personnel. With this, it’ll take a hyper-efficient performance from Goff to burn you, an outcome I’m willing to bet against.

Honorable Mentions (Sits): Jordan Love/Malik Willis, Brock Purdy, Derek Carr

Running Back Start Sit Week 4

Start: Tony Pollard

Pollard was a popular play last week and was my start of the week (swing and a miss). At the risk of sounding cliche, the process behind the decision was sound. That’s why we’re going right back! Green Bay has been sneakily impactful on the defensive side of the ball, and they were able to get a lead early and completely take away the Titans’ run game. Indianapolis will have a much tougher time executing this game plan. The Colts have struggled defending anything that’s been thrown their way, run or pass. 

The Colts have allowed 159 yards on 30 rushes to Joe Mixon and 151 yards on 32 rushes to Josh Jacobs. Even Roschon Johnson eclipsed 10 fantasy points with a 38-percent snap share. With Tyjae Spears potentially not 100% and getting less than 30-percent of the opportunities, Pollard should heavily command the backfield looks. The expected floor production is there, and the potential for multiple scores makes the upside all the more palpable.

Honorable Mentions (Starts): Zack Moss, Chuba Hubbard, Cam Akers (If  Joe Mixon is inactive)

Sit: J.K. Dobbins

J.K. Dobbins has been an incredible story thus far in 2024. After a multitude of lower-leg injuries, the veteran is currently third in the NFL in rushing yards and the RB14 in fantasy points per game. After two dominant performances against soft matchups in Week 1 and Week 2, Dobbins was brought back down to earth against Pittsburgh. That matchup’s game script gave us a peek behind the curtain of what to expect in tougher matchups where the Chargers are trailing. 

The Chargers will face the Chiefs this weekend, who have been stout against the run game early on. They’ve neutralized Derrick Henry, Zack Moss, and Bijan Robinson in three straight weeks. Add in the fact that Justin Herbert may not play and will be limited if he does, and I don’t like the Chargers’ chances of keeping this game within striking distance. Expecting less rushing opportunities against a stout matchup, I’m passing on Dobbins this week.

Honorable Mentions (Sits): Cordarrelle Patterson, D’Andre Swift, Carson Steele

Wide Receiver Start Sit Week 4

Start: Terry McLaurin

Scary Terry drafters, rejoice! We finally saw McLaurin get involved in the manner we expected him to this offseason in Week 3. From a route participation perspective, no one has been more involved in Washington’s pass game than McLaurin all season. However, he wasn’t getting the targets … that is, until Monday night. McLaurin drew six targets and 148 air yards en route to 100 receiving yards and a score (20 fantasy points). 

The Commanders will ride the momentum of this huge win to Arizona, where McLaurin will find himself against a secondary that has allowed the highest completion percentage and the second-highest passing yards per attempt this season among NFL defenses. Keep in mind, the Cardinals have played an alpha-less Bills and a Rams’ squad without Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp. This Commanders offense is finding their groove, and as such you’re going to want to play McLaurin against defenses that are susceptible to big plays.

Honorable Mentions (Starts): Diontae Johnson, George Pickens, D.J. Moore

Sit: Tyreek Hill & Jaylen Waddle

As long as Skylar Thompson or Tim Boyle are leading this team, I can’t fathom slotting either of these two in my starting lineup. The Dolphins’ offense is actually unwatchable when driven by these quarterbacks. Tyreek was held to 40 yards on three receptions last week, and Waddle to 26 yards on four receptions. If you were watching the game, that felt like an upside outcome. They now face a much improved Titans secondary that’s allowed the fourth-lowest passing yards per attempt and second-lowest completion percentage (per ProFootballReference).

It’s tough to get behind the idea of sitting either of these two, especially Hill. However, this is a decision you unfortunately have to make. In deeper leagues, it may be worthwhile to bet on the upside (Waddle vs. Greg Dortch is a real debate I’ve been forced to have this week). In most leagues, there are better options to start. The caveat here is, I’m willing to take the risk if Tyler Huntley suits up. Even then, the floor is as low as it gets. In that event, I’m at least comfortable enough in the talent to take the risk in deeper leagues.

Honorable Mentions (Sits): Quentin Johnston, Michael Pittman Jr., Gabe Davis

Tight End Start Sit Week 4

Start: Cole Kmet

Shane Fraudron finally, FINALLY, realized that Cole Kmet is better than Gerald Everett. Running at least 50-percent of the team’s routes for the first time this season, Kmet turned his whopping 11 targets into 10 receptions, 97 yards, and a touchdown. His 26 fantasy points is one of the few boom weeks the tight end position has had all season, putting him in rare but important company. The tight end landscape is so nasty that players with Kmet’s ceiling should be valued at a premium. Who cares if your TE gets you five points? Half your league is in the same boat! If you’re even asking who to start here, you might as well take the home run swing.

With Keenan Allen likely to return this week, expecting another 20-point explosion is wishful thinking. However, the Bears are going to start having more red zone drives. Kmet’s 26-percent red zone target share indicates his potential for finding the end zone every week. As the Bears look to find their offensive identity, look for them to hone in on what works, including feeding Kmet.

Honorable Mentions (Starts): Zach Ertz, Hunter Henry

Sit: Kyle Pitts

I’m ready to be burned by this decision, but sometimes you have to make calls like these in this silly little game of ours. Kyle Pitts has once again been a disappointment to start the season, breaking 10 fantasy points in just one game this season thanks to a broken-play touchdown. Against a Chiefs defense that runs a tight-end funnel, Pitts drew only five targets and 59 air yards. Him and Kirk Cousins aren’t just on different pages, Cousins and Zac Robinson don’t really even have him in the game plan. Pitts’ 17-percent target rate is currently a career-low, and he’s currently tied for fourth on the team in targets. 

This week the Falcons face the Saints, who are making a living off of getting after the quarterback. New Orleans, on average, is only allowing 14.7 points per game. In their first competitive matchup, they racked up four sacks and eight hurries against the mobile Jalen Hurts. Imagine the carnage they cam impose on Kirk Cousins. It’s gonna be a game of quick passes for Kirk, and he’ll likely be honing in on his separators and best connections (Drake London and Darnell Mooney) if he’s not dumping it off to Bijan Robinson. Save yourself the headache.

Honorable Mentions (Sits): Pat Freiermuth, Mike Gesicki

Set Your Lineups!

It is time to set lineups! Fire up those fingers and plug in your productive players (and bench the sits!). Check back for weekly must-starts and must-sits based on the action that unfolds this season. Need some more options? Check out PlayerProfiler’s Upside Finder or DM me on Twitter! It’s time again for a season full of ups and downs. Buckle up!

For more articles from PlayerProfiler, check out the fantasy home page – NFL Fantasy | PlayerProfiler – Fantasy Football News & Media

Follow @babich_matt10