We’re dealing with six teams on byes in Week 4. With teams like Denver and Cincinnati out of the picture, fantasy owners are left searching for suitable replacements across their lineups. We’re here to give you some extra options.
Fantasy football start/sit advice: Week 4
Six teams are on bye in Week 4. Let’s look at some alternate options for your lineup to fill the voids.
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Full disclosure: Last week's start/sit said to bench Eddie Lacy, Frank Gore, James Jones and Jason Witten. Delanie Walker let us down on the start list, but Ahmad Bradshaw and Brian Quick somewhat made up for that.
Let’s look at the players to start and the names to avoid in Week 4.
Start
In Week 3, the Falcons made the Bucs look like a college team. That could be construed as an insult to some college teams. I would expect Tampa to come out seeking redemption in Week 4, but this defense is bad.
Tampa does not have an interception in three games against Derek Anderson, Austin Davis and Matt Ryan. This is one of the best matchups Roethlisberger will see all season.
RB Lamar Miller, at Raiders
Even after keeping the Patriots ground game quiet in Week 3, the Raiders have allowed the sixth-most fantasy points to opposing backs in 2014. Sio Moore hasn't practiced this week. Nick Roach is working his way back from a concussion. Oakland does not appear to be in the best shape to stop Miller.
RB Donald Brown, vs. Jaguars
No running back made a bigger jump up the rankings after last week. Brown finished with 36 touches against the Bills. Prior to that game his career-high was 20 touches. It's safe to say the workload is coming his way again now that Danny Woodhead is done for the year.
The Jaguars have allowed the most fantasy points to running backs. Brown gets a major boost with Mathews and Woodhead out. The Chargers will feed him. Brown is a top 10 play this week.
WR Allen Robinson, at Chargers
A rookie quarterback starting his first game on the road isn’t an ideal situation, but it could lead to a garbage time frenzy. That’s when Robinson comes in.
The rookie wide receiver has 16 targets over the last two weeks. In Week 3 he caught seven passes for 79 yards, doing most of his damage in the second half. Blake Bortles likes to push the ball downfield and is more aggressive than Chad Henne. Robinson should at least pay off for owners as the Jaguars are trying to catch up late in the game.
WR Greg Jennings, vs. Falcons
If you're looking for another deep flier, Jennings is a good option, especially in PPR leagues. He has two double-digit PPR performances in three games. Jennings faced Darrelle Revis in Week 3, which explains the one-catch outing.
The Falcons' numbers against wide receivers are middle-of-the-road right now, but they didn't have to face A.J. Green for most of Week 2, and the Buccaneers completely derailed in Week 3. Atlanta's offense knows how to score, which will put pressure on Teddy Bridgewater and Minnesota to throw the ball. Jennings is a reliable target for the rookie.
TE Delanie Walker, at Colts
Indianapolis looked stout against tight ends in Week 3. That's probably because the Colts weren't facing any good ones. This is a defense that could not stop Julius Thomas to start the year and gave up four catches for 86 yards to Zach Ertz in Week 2.
Charlie Whitehurst might be under center for the Titans on Sunday if Jake Locker is forced to sit out. Whitehurst will be searching for high-percentage routes and short throws, which means even more targets for Walker.
Sit
Joe Flacco, vs. Panthers
The Ravens are averaging 30 carries per game. Dennis Pitta is out for the year. Left tackle Eugene Monroe is out for several weeks after undergoing a minor knee surgery. Does this sound like an ideal offense for Flacco?
Flacco threw four touchdown passes in his first three games. While the Panthers run defense could not stop anyone against the Steelers in Week 3, they still held Ben Roethlisberger to 196 yards. If you're searching for a bye week fill-in, Flacco is not your guy.
Geno Smith, vs. Lions
Detroit hasn't allowed a quarterback to throw for two or more touchdowns since Week 2 of 2013. After watching the Lions shut down the Packers offense last week, it's tough to foresee Smith showing up Aaron Rodgers.
Smith has five turnovers through three games. Facing one of the toughest front fours in the league, he’ll be pressured into mistakes we’re used to seeing from the young quarterback. Find a better fill-in.
The Jets RBs, vs. Lions
Rashad Jennings has the most rushing yards for a single running back against the Lions this season. He finished with 46 yards in Week 1. The Lions allowed two rushing touchdowns over the first three weeks, but overall opposing backs are not finding any room to run on this team.
Chris Johnson rushed for 55 yards on 22 carries over his last two games. It would probably be wise to sit him against most teams right now. Chris Ivory has at least been reliable to start 2014, but his matchup is not appealing. If your roster permits, bench both Jets running backs.
Bernard Pierce, vs. Panthers
Pierce is back in the lineup this week, but he has even more competition for carries. Lorenzo Taliaferro was far more impressive in his extended action in Week 3. These two will rotate with Justin Forsett going forward, clouding any fantasy prediction even further.
As Rich Hribar of XN Sports points out, Pierce is averaging 0.33 fantasy points per touch, well below Forsett and Taliaferro’s averages. It’s a good idea to avoid this backfield until the Ravens favor one back in particular (aka Taliaferro, we can only hope).
T.Y. Hilton, vs. Titans
Hilton has faced the Titans four times in his career. He hasn’t scored once and he averages 43.75 yards per game.
While Hilton’s ankle injury doesn’t appear to be worrisome, he still should be on the bench this week. The Titans only allowed one wide receiver to score in their first three games. That wideout was Dez Bryant. He’s a bit of a step up from Hilton.
Terrance Williams, vs. Saints
Williams’ boom-or-bust status doesn’t entice owners to play him week to week. He only has three targets in each of his last two games. Now he faces a Saints defense that has improved a bit since Week 1’s nightmare against the Falcons.
New Orleans has allowed three wide receivers to score in double-digits: Julio Jones, Roddy White and Miles Austin. Dez Bryant is always a safe bet against any defense. He’ll dominate the targets while Williams can only pray for a touchdown. Avoid him until he shows any sign of consistency.
Travis Kelce, vs. Patriots
His snaps are increasing each week, and the Chiefs seem to understand the impact Kelce can make on offense with his athleticism. Kelce’s rise to fantasy fame, though, could take a step back against the Patriots.
New England allows the fifth-fewest points to opposing tight ends. Kelce needs to be stashed for his long-term value, but owners should understand this week won’t be as promising.
