I’ve been unable to get any fantasy football articles out this season so why not start now? I was unable to get this article up before Thursday’s game between the Dolphins & Bengals. If you had A.J Green you’re off to a great start to secure a win this week. I will be taking a look at players that are playing Sunday & Monday. All of my starts/sits are based on PPR scoring so everyone knows ahead of time.
QBs to start in Week 4:
Matthew Stafford: Stafford is playing a pass defense that just lost Kyle Fuller to injured reserve & has given up a passer rating of 97.5 through 3 games this year. Under Jim Bob Cooter’s offense (his name is so fun to say) Stafford has been one of the best QBs in the NFL with 27 TDs & only 6 INTs through 12 games. Stafford is a must start this week.
Andrew Luck: After having 43 fantasy points in week 1 against the Lions Luck has only had 26 total fantasy points in the other 2 games combined. The good thing for Luck is that he will be playing the Jaguars who have given up an average of 18.7 fantasy points to QBs this season which makes them the 8th worst in fantasy.
Cam Newton: I know, I know it’s too easy to say to start the QB that was the first taken in most leagues. The thing is this week Newton plays against the Falcons who have given up an average of 24.7 fantasy points each game to QBs so far. Newton has struggled this year only in games with elite pass rushes but luckily for him Falcons have no pass rush at all accumulating only 3 sacks in 3 games this season.
Under the Radar QBs: I really like Kirk Cousins this week against the Browns who have given up an average of 17.7 fantasy points so far this year (10th worst). Cousins is a great play for this week for people who have Carson Wentz or Aaron Rodgers on a bye this week. Another QB I like this week is Joe Flacco. Flacco is playing against the Raiders who are the 4th worst fantasy defense against QBs giving up an average 20.3 fantasy points through week 3.
QBs to sit in Week 4:
Marcus Mariota: Mariota has had a slow start to the 2016 season with only 723 yards, 4 TDs & 4 INTs through 3 games. It doesn’t get any easier against the Texans defense in week 4. Although J.J Watt will be out this defense is still great & have only given up 9.3 fantasy points on average to opposing QBs.
Jameis Winston: I hate starting any QB against the Denver defense but it’s even worse for young QBs. This Denver defense is a historic one & against a questionable offensive line of the Buccaneers I see Winston struggling in this game. Denver already has 12 sacks this year which is the 2nd best in the NFL. Good luck Jameis Winston!
RBs to start in Week 4:
Melvin Gordon: Melvin Gordon is finally getting into the endzone this year scoring 4 times which is 4 more times he scored than last year (it still blows my mind that as a starting RB he failed to reach pay dirt last season). Gordon plays the Saints this week (who’s season looks over already but don’t say that Jim Mora Sr.) who have given up a whopping 31.7 fantasy points to RBs on average this season.
Le’Veon Bell: Bell is finally back from suspension after missing the first 3 games. Last year Bell came back in week 4 against the Rams & in that game received 26 touches. I see Bell getting a lot of touches in the game this week against the Chiefs even after missing 3 games because he is a big part of this offense in the running & passing game.
LeGarrette Blount: Blount is leading the NFL through 3 games with 298 yards rushing & has added 4 TDs as well. Blount this week plays the Bills who have given up the 8th most fantasy points per week to opposing RBs (20 points). With there being a question mark on what QB is going to play I see the Patriots relying heavily on the running game.
Under the Radar RBs: Isaiah Crowell is the 2nd leading rusher with 274 yards like everyone drafted him in fantasy to be… He went undrafted in most leagues & his RB counterpart in Cleveland in Duke Johnson Jr. was drafted in most if not all leagues but has let all of his owners down (that’s what happens when you rely on someone on the Browns). Start Crowell against the Redskins (have given up 24.3 fantasy points to opposing RBs on average). Also give me T.J Yeldon to start this week against the Colts who have given up the 2nd most fantasy points to RBs with 25.7 & with Ivory beng banged up I see Yeldon getting a heavy workload.
RBs to sit in Week 4:
LeSean McCoy: McCoy is playing the Patriots this week who are great against the run allowing only 12.3 fantasy points to opposing RBs on average. The Bills are going to be without Sammy Watkins so I see Patriots stacking the box often & forcing Tyrod Taylor to beat them with mediocre receivers.
Charles Sims: Sims in week 3 had 23 fantasy points in his 1st week starting after Doug Martin’s injury. This week Sims plays the Broncos so I don’t see him having the same production as he did against the Rams. Broncos have given up a surprising 17 fantasy points on average to opposing RBs but I don’t see that continuing here.
WRs to start in Week 4:
Demaryius Thomas: Thomas had his best game this year last week against the Bengals (20 fantasy points) & caught his 1st TD this year. Thomas plays the Buccaneers who have given up an average of 30 fantasy points to opposing WRs.
Terrelle Pryor: I might have him in here because I picked him up in almost all of my leagues & I want him to do well but he showed in week 3 just how versatile he is throwing for 35 yards, rushing for 21 yards & a TD while also catching 8 receptions for 144 yards for a total of 31 fantasy points (PPR). Is he the next coming of Jesus? Heck no cause he’s a Cleveland Brown but he is very talented.
T.Y Hilton: Hilton had a breakout week in week 3 getting 31 points (in PPR of course) against the Chargers. This week he goes against another weak pass defense in the Jaguars who have given up 24 fantasy points to WRs on average.
Under the Radar WRs: Tyrell Williams is an intriguing start this week playing against the Saints decimated secondary. Williams has scored 27 points in the 2 weeks since Keenan Allen has been out with injury. Another guy I like this week is Mike Wallace. Wallace is going against a Raider’s secondary that has allowed 1,020 yards through the air which is 2nd worst in the NFL.
WRs to sit in Week 4:
Brandon Marshall: I know it’s Brandon Marshall but he is playing with an injury, Eric Decker is out with injury (so he’s going to be focused on even more) & they’re playing Seattle’s defense which is not a good recipe for success. Seattle has allowed only 9 fantasy points on average which is the best in the NFL so I’d be wary starting him this week.
Sterling Shepard: Shepard had another good week in week 3 scoring 18 fantasy points which makes it 3 straight weeks of 13+ points. I don’t see that continuing this week against a good Vikings pass defense.
TEs to start in Week 4:
Zach Miller: Miller is playing in an offense led by Brian Hoyer but in week 3 with Hoyer at the helm, Miller had 27 fantasy points. I see another great week for Miller who’s going up against a Lions defense who has given up the most fantasy points to opposing TEs.
Jason Witten: Witten has always been a security blanket for whoever has been the QB of the Cowboys. Witten is playing the 49ers who have given the 4th most points to opposing TEs.
Dennis Pitta: Pitta has always been Joe Flacco’s favorite target but has had injuries preventing them from playing together. In 2016 Pitta is healthy & the last 2 weeks he has gotten 29 fantasy points combined. Pitta is going up against the Raiders who have allowed the 9th most fantasy points to opposing TEs.
Under the Radar TEs: Jacob Tamme is a guy I like this week because he’s been one of the top receivers on the Falcons & they play the Panthers & I expect them to be down in this game & will be forced to throw the ball. Coby Fleener is another one I like. I know he’s let people down for the most part but he just had 23 fantasy points against the Falcons in week 3 (although Willie Snead was out with injury) & has a favorable match up against the Chargers this week.
TEs to sit in Week 4:
Rob Gronkowski: This will probably be the only week you’ll see his name on the sit list. He’s still recovering from his injury & I don’t see Patriots throwing the ball much in their game against the Bills with the injuries they have with their QBs.
Dwayne Allen: Allen has been disappointing besides his 17 point performance in week 1 against the Lions. Since then he only has 10 points. Allen is playing the Jaguars but he hasn’t been a go to guy for Andrew Luck so far & I don’t see that changing on Sunday.
DEF/STs to start in Week 4:
Arizona Cardinals: They play the Rams this week & we all know how bad they are on offense. Cardinals are also playing pissed off after a 33-18 loss to the Buffalo Bills & Case Keenum is a great QB to play in a bounce back week.
Houston Texans: The Texans play the Titans in week 4. Marcus Mariota has struggled this year especially while under pressure. The Texans are a great pass rushing team even with the injury to J.J Watt & I don’t see that changing against a shaky offensive line.
DEF/STs to sit in Week 4:
Kansas City Chiefs: I know they’re coming off a field day against the Jets where they totaled 8 turnovers but this week they have the Steelers. The Steelers offense didn’t look like themselves in a 34-3 pounding against the Eagles in week 3 but they get their versatile RB back in Le’Veon Bell back & I expect him to have a big first game.
Los Angeles Rams: I do not like the Rams defense at all this week (I’m a Rams fan) against a Cardinals team who will look to quickly about their week 3 loss. Carson Palmer & that offense are still one of the best & I see them being able to pick apart a Rams defense that struggled to slow down Jameis Winston in week 3.
