Start Em Sit Em Week 4 – Fantasy Football (2024)
Another exciting week of the 2024 fantasy football season is in the books. Welcome to the Week 4 edition of our 2024 Start Em Sit Em. In this article, we will be bringing you our top starts and sits of the week. Our writers and experts from The FF Faceoff Podcast will be working together to make this happen every week.
These players will not always be the most obvious start or sit candidates. No one needs to tell you to start Ja’Marr Chase or Bijan Robinson every week. However, these players will likely be your Flex options or players you’re potentially on the fence about as your RB2 or WR3. Continue reading for our Week 4 Start Em Sit Em. As always, hit us up on all forms of social media with any lineup questions. Let’s get into it.
Start Em Sit Em Week 4
Your Week 4 NFL Start EM Sit Em decisions will be crucial for getting your fantasy football team on a path to the playoffs. As the season begins, it’s vital to analyze matchups. More importantly, to determine which players are poised for big performances and which ones might struggle.
Whether you’re considering a breakout running back or grabbing a sleeper wide receiver off the waiver wire, making smart choices in your Week 4 is vital to fantasy football success. If you’re 0-3, you’re not dead yet. Let’s bounce back and find a win in Week 4.
Start Em Sit Em Week 4 Quarterbacks
START – Sam Darnold QB Minnesota Vikings
When you’re hot, you’re hot and Sam Darnold is hot! With four touchdown passes last week, his season total is up to eight. He’s only thrown two interceptions and the offensive line is in sync, giving him the protection and time that he needs for plays to develop.
This week’s heated matchup will be in Green Bay. In his one career start against them, when he played for the Jets, he torched the Packers for 341 passing yards and three scores. With all the improved and proven playmakers around him, there’s a good chance that he lights them up again. – Benjamin Ditlevson @FFRabbitDad
SIT – Anthony Richardson QB Indianapolis Colts
After a great Week 1 performance, Anthony Richardson has been nothing short of bad for fantasy. Over the past two games, he’s thrown one touchdown pass and five interceptions. He also ran for less than 38 yards in each of those games. His completion rate on the season is an abysmal 49.3 percent. I don’t know if it’s him, the players around him, or the coaching. Whatever it is, I’m benching him until I see another worthwhile day of production. – Benjamin Ditlevson
Start Em Sit Em Week 4 Running Backs
START – Brian Robinson Jr. RB Washington Commanders
The Commanders offense is humming and Brian Robinson Jr. has been a steady RB2 so far this season. With backfield mate Austin Ekeler set to miss time with a concussion, the young RB should step into an even bigger role.
Up this week for Robinson Jr. is an Arizona Cardinals defense ranking bottom 10 in fantasy points allowed to opposing running backs. In a game with the highest over/under on the week, I like the TD potential for the third-year running back. – Daman Zimbelman
START – Najee Harris RB Pittsburgh Steelers
Najee Harris is dealing with an arm injury but is expected to play in Week 4’s matchup against the Colts. Coming off his best fantasy performance of the season—13.8 PPR points on 86 total yards and 23 touches against the Chargers—Harris is in a great spot to deliver. He’s been dominating the Steelers’ backfield in snaps, touches, and production, and with Jaylen Warren likely out due to a knee injury, Harris will only compete with Cordarrelle Patterson for touches.
Last week, both Harris and Patterson saw five targets, with Harris catching all five for 16 yards, raising his PPR floor. Averaging 20.7 touches per game and facing a Colts defense that has allowed a league-high 409 rushing yards, Harris is a must-start for Week 4. – Anthony Cervino
SIT – Jerome Ford RB Cleveland Browns
There’s been nothing consistent about the Browns’ offense this year. From the poor quarterback play to never knowing who’s getting the bulk of the ground or air work, it’s all a mess. Even in a very positive matchup, I’d seriously consider looking elsewhere. For all we know, they might feature Gary Brightwell this week.
With the uncertainty of all facets, it’s really hard to count on any Browns player. However, you might not have a better choice and Ford could still do well enough. I’d be looking at someone like Rico Dowdle (vs. Giants) or a healthy Austin Ekeler (concussion) and have a hard time not starting them over Ford.
Start Em Sit Em Week 4 Wide Receivers
START – Jaxon Smith-Njigba WR Seattle Seahawks
In a negative game script, Jaxon Smith-Njigba caught three passes for 39 yards. However, the week prior, he smoked the Patriots with 12 catches and 117 receiving yards. The trend is that he’s going to do well against susceptible passing defenses.
This week, the defense to abuse is Detroit. They’ve been hard against the run and soft against the pass. They’ve already allowed an opposing receiver to accumulate 110 and 117 yards on separate occasions. Smith-Njigba is in line for another stellar performance in Week 4. All in all, his stock is going up and I’ll start ’em this week. – Benjamin Ditlevson
START – Diontae Johnson WR Carolina Panthers
Start Diontae Johnson with confidence in Week 4. Although he had a slow start to the season with Bryce Young at quarterback, Johnson thrived last week with Andy Dalton under center. He posted 26.2 PPR points, catching a season-high 8-of-14 targets for 144 yards and a touchdown.
While the Bengals present a tougher matchup than the Raiders, this is a revenge game for Dalton, and he should bring his A-game. Cincinnati has allowed at least 18.5 PPR points to the opposing WR1 in consecutive games (Rashee Rice and Terry McLaurin), which bodes well for Johnson. If he continues to see heavy targets, he offers a solid floor for your Week 4 lineup. – Anthony Cervino
SIT – Tyreek Hill WR Miami Dolphins
Tyreek Hill is in a brutal situation this week with Tua Tagovailoa on injured reserve and backup QB Skylar Thompson questionable with a rib injury. Regardless of whether Thompson is a go or one of Tim Boyle or Tyler Huntley starts, there’s little room for optimism for Hill. The veteran wideout has been held to three catches in each of his prior two games and held to less than 50 yards in each game.
This week Hill faces L’Jarious Sneed and the Titans in a matchup with the lowest over/under on the week. Sneed has only allowed three catches all season despite facing off against D.J. Moore, Garrett Wilson, and the Packers wide receiving core. I’d look to pivot off of Hill if another option is available. – Daman Zimbelman
Start Em Sit Em Week 4 Tight Ends
SIT – Sam LaPorta TE Detroit Lions
Has it come to this already? Unfortunately, it has. With five targets over the last two games and the likelihood that Sam LaPorta won’t suit up this week due to an ankle sprain, you’re going to want another option. It would be very possible for the Lions to let him rest an extra week with the impending Week 5 bye.
The tight end landscape has been ugly, at best, with most of the popular names not producing. Even if LaPorta plays, you likely won’t get a full workload or his usual self. Go get your secondary option now. – Benjamin Ditlevson
START – Cole Kmet TE Chicago Bears
Cole Kmet came up big for Chicago last week, catching 10 or 11 targets for 97 yards and a score. A large part was due to the lackluster play of the offensive line. Caleb Williams needed to upload quickly and Kmet became a feature target. There were 52 passes thrown by Williams, as they trailed for nearly the entire game against the Colts. The lack of any kind of success on the ground will lead to more passing attempts again.
The Rams, who will face the Bears this week, have been a good matchup for the passing game, in general. They gave up 292 passing yards and three passing scores to the 49ers in Week 3. You might even be able to pluck him off of waivers as he is still available in more than 50 percent of Yahoo leagues. We should expect another hefty workload for Kmet again. – Benjamin Ditlevson
Start Em – Streaming DST Picks
Houston Texans vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
This Texans defense has been strong this year. While they have had a fairly easy first three weeks, on paper at least, they’ve done well. They picked off Anthony Richardson in Week 1 and picked off rookie Caleb Williams twice in Week 2. Additionally, they sacked Sam Darnold four times last week, making it 13 sacks in total on the season for this unit.
This week, Houston faces Trevor Lawrence and the Jaguars who have been underwhelming this year. It’s also a home game in Houston and the Jaguars are 27th in the NFL in yards per game. Also, the Texans are fourth in the NFL in yards allowed per game. Overall, the Texans make a fine streaming option and are currently rostered in 33% of Sleeper leagues.
Chicago Bears vs. Los Angeles Rams
This matchup features the Chicago Bears hosting Matt Stafford and the Rams. Right now, DraftKings Sportsbook has this line at 41 total points, making it one of the lowest on the slate in Week 4. This Rams team is dealing with a ton of injuries and has no Cooper Kupp or Puka Nacua. They also have a banged-up offensive line and Jonah Jackson is on IR with a fractured scapula.
Start with Caution
Jalen Hurts QB Philadelphia Eagles
Last week was a struggle for Jalen Hurts. Despite throwing for 311 yards, Hurts had no touchdowns which plummeted him down to QB24 for the week.
You should expect to have another week in which Hurts finishes outside the top 12 when the Eagles take on the Buccaneers.
Notably, the Buccaneers are the only team to not allow a touchdown pass this season. Despite Antoine Winfield Jr. being out with a foot injury the last two weeks.
In Hurts’ last four starts against the Buccaneers, the Eagles quarterback averaged 225 passing yards and never threw more than one touchdown in a game.
Yes, Hurts does have his rushing upside and the Buccaneers have allowed three quarterback rushing scores. Considering his history and the numerous injuries on the offensive side of the ball, the rushing numbers may save Hurts from QB24 but he won’t do much beyond that. – Michael Hauff
DJ Moore WR Chicago Bears
Some of you may be questioning whether to start DJ Moore after a slow start compared to his ADP and last year’s breakout. On the other hand, some may be questioning why you’d consider sitting someone like Moore. With all of the questions we’ve received on our recent podcast episodes, I’ve included him here.
While he hasn’t erupted yet, Moore has delivered a solid floor, with at least 10 PPR points in every game so far. Last week, despite a favorable matchup against the Colts, rookie Caleb Williams and the Bears’ offense showed signs of life, and Moore benefited with an 8/78/0 stat line on 10 targets, totaling a season-best 15.2 PPR points.
Although rookie Rome Odunze and Cole Kmet had big performances, Moore is still heavily involved, commanding 28 targets this season—25.2% of the team’s total, putting him in the 89th percentile among receivers. This week, Moore faces the Rams, who have been torched by wideouts, giving up at least 24 PPR points to the opponent’s top receiver in three consecutive games. – Anthony Cervino
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