Ugh, bye weeks! We all hate them and unfortunately we are already at that point of the fantasy season. It makes it worse that the two teams off this week both have been fantasy friendly to start the year. So, this week you have to endure without your stars on the Packers and Eagles, and hopefully you won’t have too many holes on your roster. Adding to the byes are injuries galore, which already makes lineup decisions difficult. Who should you start and sit? Find out now!
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Fantasy Football Start/Sit Week 4
Quarterbacks
Start: Kirk Cousins, Washington Redskins vs. Cleveland Browns. I have been anti-Cousins since the beginning of last season, and the first two games had me feeling confident that he wouldn’t be able to repeat. However, last week proved that against bad defenses that he still had the firepower to get the job done. It just so happens that this week the ‘Skins will face the Cleveland Browns, who……..well, my mother told me if I didn’t have anything nice to say to not say anything at all. So, I’m just gonna say go ahead and start Cousins with confidence this week and leave it at that.
Ryan Fitzpatrick, New York Jets vs. Seattle Seahawks. It might not seem like much of a stretch to say to sit the guy who threw a six pack of interceptions last week, but we all know that Fitzmagic is better than he showed last week. However, it doesn’t look like a winner this Sunday against the Seahawks. Seattle might not be the team they were during the Super Bowl years, but they still have only allowed one passing touchdown in three weeks. I mean they played the offensive powerhouses that are the Dolphins, Niners, and Rams, but the defense has been strong nonetheless. Compound that with the loss of Eric Decker, and I expect 215 yards and at most two touchdowns for Fitz this week.
Remember the time that I threw six interceptions in one game? That…..that was great
Running Backs
Start: Isaiah Crowell, Cleveland Browns vs. Washington Redskins. It has been a strong start to the season for Crowell, even though he has had a few long runs to make his stats look better. However, even with a terrible quarterback situation, he has continued to produce. This week he faces the Redskins who are allowing nearly 125 yards per game on the ground and seven total rushing touchdowns in three weeks. Cleveland is in a tough spot offensively, but I still expect Crowell to shine against Washington.
Start: Dewayne Washington, Detroit Lions vs. Chicago Bears. Washington was a hot name on the waiver wire last week after the Lions lost Ameer Abdullah for the season. However, he didn’t have a good game as the starter, but it was against the strong Packers’ defense. This week the Lions will face the Bears, who, if you didn’t watch on Sunday night against the Cowboys, are a pretty awful defense. Theo Riddick is more of a pass catching threat, and I expect Washington to have at least 80 yards on the ground and a touchdown. Unfortunately, he isn’t much of a threat as a pass catcher. But look for Washington to have the best game of his very short NFL career so far.
He might be carrying the load this week for Seattle, but I think it will be tough sledding for Michael this week
Sit: Christine Michael, Seattle Seahawks vs. New York Jets. With Thomas Rawls out for an extended period of time, and Russell Wilson seriously banged up, it seems like a no brainer to roll Christine Michael as one of your running backs this week. And, chances are, he will be one of your top three options at the position this week between injury situation and bye weeks. My advice is to start him with caution. If Wilson doesn’t play, the Jets will be stacking the box perhaps with all 11 guys to stop the run as there will be no reason to respect the pass game. I may exaggerate some, but I am not expecting Michael to break 100 yards or find the end zone against a very tough Jets run defense. It might be tough to sit him entirely, but don’t be too giddy about the prospects of Michael this Sunday.
Sit: Jerick McKinnon, Minnesota Vikings vs. New York Giants. It wasn’t an awesome first game for McKinnon after the Peterson injury with 46 yards on 15 carries, but it was good to see the number of carries that he received. He has the chance to be the more consistent back in Minnesota throughout the year. However, so far the Giants run defense has looked very strong, and has only given up one rushing touchdown through three games. I like McKinnon as an option going forward, but I don’t think Week 4 will be a strong one.
Wide Receivers
Start: Kelvin Benjamin, Carolina Panthers vs. Atlanta Falcons. This one is going to be really quick. Benjamin is the Panthers best receiver, despite having no catches last week. Cam Newton is really good and the Falcons defense is really crappy. They have allowed 10 passing touchdowns in just three games and I expect Benjamin to add to that total on Sunday.
Start: Steve Smith, Sr., Baltimore Ravens vs. Oakland Raiders. He hasn’t scored a touchdown yet, but Smith certainly seems to be rounding into shape after coming into the season off of an injury. While the passing game in Baltimore is starting to improve, they get a gift in facing the Raiders. The pass defense in Oakland is one of the worst as they are allowing a mind blowing 340 yards per game and seven passing touchdowns in three weeks. I expect Smith to have 120 yards and one score…..maybe two.
Sit: Tavon Austin, Los Angeles Rams vs. Arizona Cardinals. Why the stupid ass Rams won’t put Jared Goff behind center, I will never know. But as long as Case Keenum is the quarterback, the offense will be limited. It was a huge breakout game last week for Los Angeles, but the Cardinals are going to be pissed coming off the ass whipping they took in Buffalo. Look for their defense to bounceback in a big way and maybe only give up one rushing touchdown to Todd Gurley. Leave Austin out of your lineups.
Sit: Adam Humphries, Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Denver Broncos. Humphries has watched his production increase in each of the first three weeks, and it certainly seems that he has passed Vincent Jackson on the target list. However, this week the Bucs face one of the best defenses in the NFL in Denver and I don’t see Tampa being able to rack up the passing yards. I do actually think that Humphries has fantasy value throughout the season, but I would keep him on your bench this week if you can.
Tight Ends
Start: Coby Fleener, New Orleans Saints vs. San Diego Chargers. It did a body good for us Fleener owners to see Drew Brees target him as many times as he did on Monday against the Falcons. There have been many stories about Fleener’s struggles with the playbook and connection with Brees, but everything looked in sync on Monday. The Chargers have allowed over 320 yards per game through the air through three weeks and I could see Fleener approaching 100 receiving yards again this week.
#Saints Coby Fleener, Drew Brees finally starting to find their rhythm. Said Brees: “Light bulb begins to come on.” https://t.co/di4E8FeLw7
— Mike Triplett (@MikeTriplett) September 28, 2016
Sit: Delanie Walker, Tennessee Titans vs. Houston Texans. It looks like a game time decision for Walker who missed last week with a hamstring injury. However, the signs are pointing him able to give it a go in Week 4. However, even if he does suit up it won’t be a good time to give him the start. Between this lingering injury and a matchup against the tough Texans, you must have a better option at the position than Walker. I’m expecting no more than 40 yards if he’s able to play at all.
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