Week 3 brought some huge numbers to fantasy owners' starting lineups. Four running backs each scored three touchdowns A.J. Green and Steve Smith went off in the same game, and Randall Cobb finished with a hat trick on Monday Night Football.
Fantasy football start/sit advice, Week 4
We’re back for Week 4 of the 2015 NFL season. We’ve got fantasy football start/sit advice as you head into the weekend.
We're already to the point where you have to manage around bye weeks, so there's no Brady, Gronk or Kendall Wright for Week 4. Let's run through some of the best and worst matchups for your lineup.
Start
Tyrod Taylor vs. Giants
Taylor opened the season as a promising streaming option, but he's developed into an every-week starter. The Bills have faced some easy opponents through three games. However, that trend will continue with the Giants, as they're allowing nearly 24 fantasy points per game to opposing quarterbacks. Taylor is making things happen. Continue to ride his success.
Derek Carr at Bears
According to Rich Hribar's Worksheet for Week 4, Carr is 20-28 for 246 yards and two touchdowns on third down this season. He's stepping up in clutch situations, and he's been a top 10 fantasy QB for two straight weeks. The Bears secondary was shredded for eight touchdowns over the first three games. Carr is a no-brainer this week, especially if you're looking for a spot start while Tom Brady is on a bye.
Devonta Freeman vs. Texans
The Houston-Atlanta matchup has the third-highest over/under for Week 4. Jonathan Stewart and Doug Martin made my sit list in one of the past two weeks due to their matchups with the Texans, but I'm all-in with Freeman at the moment. It's hard to bench anyone after seeing that kind of game in Week 3. The Falcons offense is clicking, and the volume will be there for Freeman to at least put up RB2 points.
Karlos Williams vs. Giants
Sticking with the Bills theme, Williams has been incredibly efficient on a small workload so far. LeSean McCoy looks like he'll miss Week 4, leaving Williams to reap the benefits. Buffalo is only two carries behind the league leader (San Francisco) in rush attempts. Sammy Watkins could also miss this week's matchup, giving the Bills even more of an incentive to rely on their ground game.
Donte Moncrief vs. Jaguars
Moncrief finished as a WR3 or higher in the last three games. With the second-highest over/under (47.5), Andrew Luck will be letting loose against a defense that allows 283 passing yards per game. The Colts need a big offensive game to energize themselves, and this is the matchup to take advantage of. Moncrief possesses WR1 upside.
Michael Crabtree at Bears
If we're trusting Carr, there's reason to have faith in Crabtree. He's seen 33 targets through three games (16 in Week 2). The Bears have allowed seven touchdowns to wide receivers. Amari Cooper will demand attention after blowing up the past two weeks. Crabtree is seeing volume and he's worth trying out as a WR3.
Charles Clay vs. Giants
Giants fans must think I'm picking on them, but it's logical to invest in the Bills offense for this matchup. Jason Witten caught two touchdowns against the Giants in Week 1, and Jordan Reed finished with six receptions for 96 yards in Week 3. The aforementioned absence of Watkins will make Taylor rely on his starting tight end more, and the two showed great rapport last week.
Sit
Ryan Tannehill vs. Jets
Tannehill faces one of the leagues top pass defenses in London with the over/under set at 41. That's exactly the type of situation I'd like to avoid. Tannehill has be a QB1 (top 12 performance) once over the first three weeks, and that game came against a poor Jaguars secondary. The Jets are surrendering the fifth-fewest fantasy points to quarterbacks.
Matthew Stafford at Seahawks
Seattle ranks No. 7 in fantasy points allowed to opposing quarterbacks. While that stat is skewed after playing Jimmy Clausen, the Seahawks still possess one of the toughest defenses in the NFL. They've only allowed four touchdowns through three games. Stafford is too shaky for me to test this defense.
Doug Martin vs. Panthers
Martin is dealing with a minor knee injury he suffered in practice earlier this week. He should play on Sunday, but regardless of his status, he shouldn't be in many starting lineups. The Panthers haven't allowed more than 51 yards rushing to a single running back through three games. Martin struggled against a tougher Houston run defense last week. Charles Sims could eat into Martin's workload as well if the knee injury continues to bother him.
TJ Yeldon at Colts
The Colts have given up three rushing touchdowns to running backs, but they’re holding opposing rushers to just 3.4 yards per carry. Chris Ivory’s 57-yard game in Week 2 in the highest rushing total by a running back against Indy so far. Yeldon is seeing good volume, but the game script is working against him. The Colts are big favorites (-9) and if they get out in front early, the Jaguars will be forced to throw constantly again.
Mike Wallace at Broncos
Denver is allowing the fewest fantasy points to wide receiver. Calvin Johnson's 77-yard game last week was the highest single game total against the Broncos defense through three weeks. Wallace and Charles Johnson should turn things around at some point, but Week 4 will be another rough Sunday afternoon for their owners.
Jared Cook at Cardinals
Despite a enticing matchup for Week 3, Cook finished with one reception. Now he faces a Cardinals defense that hasn't allowed more than eight points (PPR) to a tight end through three games. You can find better streaming options for this week.
