It’s Week 4 of the 2024 NFL regular season, which is about the quarter-pole of the fantasy season. Luckily, we finally received a bit of a respite from the injury bug in Week 3.
The good news is that the weather doesn’t appear to be a giant factor this weekend, although it’s always worth double checking. The remnants of Hurricane Helene are swirling around in the Southeast and Midwest, but as luck has it, most teams in the area will have dry conditions, or are indoors under a roof.
This is the final week before we start to get games over in England, bye weeks kick in, and things become a little more difficult from a lineup standpoint. Here’s to a great Week 4 for everyone!
Doing start/sit articles can be a little challenging. The players featured on the list below should not be taken as “must starts” or “must sits.” Instead, these are more suggestions on what we believe managers should do with fringe players heading into the weekend. The choice is ultimately up to the manager.
Just because a player is listed as a “start” doesn’t mean he should be put in the lineup over the secure, bona fide studs. Vice versa for the “sits.” If there’s no better option on the waiver wire or the bench, a manager shouldn’t automatically sit the player. That’s why these can be tricky waters to navigate.
Feel free to ask any specific start/sit questions via X, formerly Twitter, (@danieledobish), or check out our start/bench list for Week 4:
Quarterbacks
Start ‘Em
Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals vs. Washington Commanders: Murray was a fabulous QB1 in most fantasy leagues prior to a devastating knee injury in 2022. He finally appears back to full health, and he looks better than ever. Murray has a 104.6 QB rating through three games, and that’s not likely to get worse against a Washington pass defense that has allowed an NFL-high 9 TD passes with 0 INT. The Commanders even made Giants QB Daniel Jones look able. Even without TE Trey McBride, Murray is a fine play.
Caleb Williams Chicago Bears vs. Los Angeles Rams: The rookie managed 267 passing yards and no touchdowns in his first two games, and there were few signs of brilliance. But, he tuned up the Indianapolis Colts in Week 3, completing 33 of 52 passes for 363 yards, 2 TDs, and 2 INT. He really developed a nice rapport with fellow rookie WR Rome Odunze, hooking up for the first of what is likey to be many scoring connections. The Rams have allowed seven passing TD through three games, so look for Williams to excel again.
Sit ‘Em
Jared Goff, Detroit Lions vs. Seattle Seahawks: Goff actually has a difficult matchup on Monday night as the unbeaten Seahawks have yielded just 4.7 yards per pass attempt, and a minuscule 60.4% pass completion rate against and just a single pass TD allowed through three games. Goff had thrown for 217 or fewer yards in two of three games and just one TD in two home games to date.
Aaron Rodgers, New York Jets vs. Denver Broncos: It was vintage Rodgers last Thursday night against the visiting New England Patriots as he broke loose for a season-high 281 passing yards, with his second straight game with two TDs and no picks. However, the Broncos boast the NFL’s No. 1 pass defense, allowing just 451 passing yards through three games and only one pass play of 20-plus yards.
Running Backs
Start ‘Em
Najee Harris, Pittsburgh Steelers at Indianapolis Colts: Harris gets a crack at the leaky Indianapolis rush defense, which has allowed 537 yards, most in the NFL through three games. While Indy has allowed only a single rush TD, it is giving up plenty of yardage, including 4.4 yards per attempt and two rushes of 20 or more yards. Harris has been consistent, going for 69 rushing yards in Week 2, and exactly 70 rushing yards in both Weeks 1 and 3. RB Jaylen Warren‘s absence can’t hurt, either.
Zack Moss, Cincinnati Bengals at Carolina Panthers: Moss should be a rolling stone against a Panthers’ run defense that has been tagged for 454 yards through three games. Carolina did a pretty good job against the Las Vegas Raiders, but it has still been gouged for four TDs, 4.7 yards per attempt, and 26 first downs on the ground. Moss is a solid RB2 in all fantasy formats this week.
Sit ‘Em
James Cook, Buffalo Bills at Baltimore Ravens: Cook wasn’t leaned upon much in a rout of Jacksonville last week, going for a pedestrian 39 yards on 11 carries, but at least he scored and reeled in four receptions. He has four total scores in the past two games, too. However, facing the No. 1 rush defense in the NFL on the road will be an ultra-tough matchup for the 25-year-old.
Josh Jacobs, Green Bay Packers vs. Minnesota Vikings: Jacobs blew up for 151 yards in Week 2 against the dismal Colts rush D, but he had just 43 yards last weekend, good for 3.1 yards per attempt against Tennessee. Emanuel Wilson actually outplayed him, too, and that’s a situation worth watching closely. The Vikings have been very stingy on the ground, allowing just 3.6 yards per attempt and only one rush TD through three games.
Wide Receivers
Start ‘Em
Stefon Diggs, Houston Texans vs. Jacksonville Jaguars: So far through three games in H-Town, Diggs has been a model citizen. The diva receiver had 10 receptions in the first two games, and he doubled that with a giant 10-catch, 94-yard showing in Minnesota last Sunday against his former team. He hasn’t scored since Week 1, but that could change against a shaky Jacksonville D. The Jags have allowed 7.8 yards per pass attempt, 11 pass plays of 20 or more yards, and five scores via the air.
Terry McLaurin, Washington Commanders at Arizona Cardinals: Scary Terry wasn’t so frightening for fantasy managers Monday night in Cincinnati. After just 39 receiving yards in the first two games, McLaurin returned to Ohio, where he starred for the Buckeyes, and posted 100 yards and his first TD of 2024 in the ‘Nati. In Week 4, he has another strong matchup, facing an Arizona D that has allowed 10 passing plays of 20 or more yards.
Sit ‘Em
Tyreek Hill, Miami Dolphins vs. Tennessee Titans: Tyreek hasn’t changed, but his QB situation sure has gone downhill. It was bad enough when QB Tua Tagovailoa went down to concussion in Week 2. QB Skylar Thompson did nothing in Week 3 at Seattle, and then was hurt, leaving the door open for QBs Tim Boyle or Tyler Huntley to start Monday night against a tough Titans D. No matter the signal caller, a poor matchup and awful QB situation makes Hill a very risky fantasy play.
Diontae Johnson, Carolina Panthers vs. Cincinnati Bengals: Johnson received a lot of traction off the waiver wire this past week, and fantasy managers are considering him in Week 4 now that the Panthers look like they have an NFL-caliber offense again. Johnson jelled nicely with QB Andy Dalton in Week 3 in Las Vegas, going for eight grabs for 122 yards and his first Carolina TD. But, the Bengals pass D is stout, allowing just 526 yards through three games, and Johnson (groin) is questionable. Be careful.
Tight Ends
Start ‘Em
Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs at Los Angeles Chargers: It’s become passe to pick on Taylor Swift’s boyfriend, and rightly so. He has just eight catches for 69 yards through three games. Kelce has regularly had that kind of production in a half of football. He had a season-high four receptions in Atlanta last Sunday night, and it just feels like he is about to break out against a familiar foe. In his only game against the Bolts in 2023, he had season highs with 12 receptions, 179 yards, and a TD.
Cole Kmet, Chicago Bears vs. Los Angeles Rams: Fantasy managers have been hoping for a big game from Kmet all season, but he opened with two quiet games, mainly due to his rookie QB struggling. Williams was phenomenal in Week 3 at Indy, and so was Kmet. He was targeted 11 times, nearly doubling the six he had in the first two weeks, while finishing with 10 receptions, 97 yards and a TD. The Rams’ pass D is porous, and it should be another solid showing for Kmet and the Chicago passing attack. He is a legit TE1 in all formats.
Sit ‘Em
Tyler Conklin, New York Jets vs. Denver Broncos: Fantasy managers might have been inclined to bump Conklin up after he went for five catches and 93 yards last Thursday against the Patriots. However, he opened with just two catches and 16 yards in his first two games, and that’s more of an expected stat line against the No. 1 passing defense in the NFL. Denver has allowed just one aerial play of 20 or more yards, so the passing game is likely to be a slow-go for Gang Green. Conklin remains a low-end TE2 in Week 4.
Sam LaPorta, Detroit Lions vs. Seattle Seahawks: LaPorta emerged as a top-tier fantasy option as a rookie, but he has had a tough start to 2024. LaPorta has 45 or fewer yards in all three games, and he has yet to find the end zone. He also has been trying to play through an ankle injury. Between his ankle ailment, and a capable Seattle defense coming to town, a breakout appears unlikely in Week 4. Maybe sitting him is unrealistic for most owners, but you should consider all options at this point.
