Start 'Em or Sit 'Em - NFL Week 4 (2022)

We are starting to see some patterns emerging in offenses and defenses, and that is making it a bit easier on start/sit decisions.

As the season progresses, we will get more and more data that will at least allow us to make educated guesses on what players will perform and what players will disappoint.  But as we all know, fantasy football is an evil game that will lead to heartbreak more often than not.

That said, let’s dive into some matchups and what players are worth starting or should be sitting in Week Four.

Starts

1. Jared Goff, QB (Detroit Lions)

So Jared Goff didn’t exactly light up the Vikings last week, but he did put up a respectable 277 yards and one touchdown in a close loss.

This week the Lions get the Seahawks at home, and the injury to D’Andre Swift could force Goff and the Lions to throw a bit more.  Now I know they will utilize the guy I listed below, but Goff has one of the best matchups on paper this week for a streaming-type Quarterback.

Goff has thrown for over 700 yards and seven touchdowns this season, all while limiting his interceptions to just two.  It’s hard to say that this game will be a shootout, but with both teams sporting bad defenses, it should give both Quarterbacks some room to throw.

2. Jamaal Williams, RB (Detroit Lions)

Somehow sticking with the Lions, Jamaal Williams has a prime opportunity to explode against a bad Seahawks’ run defense.  The Seahawks just gave up 141 yards and a touchdown to Cordarrelle Patterson.  The week before they gave up 84 yards to Jeff Wilson Jr.

Now I will say that Craig Reynolds probably will see some more work than he did last week, but Williams should get most of the goal line work as well as a majority of the carries and targets.

Williams should provide great fantasy value in Week 4.

3. Gabe Davis, WR (Buffalo Bills)

This has got to be one of the most glorious matchups of the week, with the Bills taking on the high-powered Ravens in a potential shootout.

Lamar Jackson is again looking like a cheat code, and the Bills’ defense is a tad banged up.  Add to that that the Ravens’ secondary is a sieve currently and you have all the makings of a great fantasy day for Bills’ Receivers.

Gabe Davis is coming off an injury that held him in check last week, but he hopefully will be 100% for this one.  Also, the Bills and Josh Allen are coming off a stunning upset and seem pretty angry, so they may throw the ball 60 times.

4. David Njoku, TE (Cleveland Browns)

Tyler Higbee was the second-leading target behind Wide Receiver Cooper Kupp on Sunday, catching seven passes for 71 yards.  Allen Robinson hasn’t been much of a factor so far on offense, leading Stafford to lean on Kupp and Higbee.

This week the Rams face the Cardinals, who have not been good at covering the Tight End (or defending in general).  Granted they did face Travis Kelce and Darren Waller the first two weeks.

Still, being the number two target in a high-passing offense and having the potential to be targeted a lot in a high-scoring game makes Higbee a solid option in Week Three.

5. Graham Gano, K – (New York Giants)

The Giants take on the Chicago Bears on Sunday, a team that is letting opponents run all over them.  Saquon Barkley should have a field day, although there is a good chance the Giants sputter out on numerous occasions.  As of now, their only good offensive weapon is Barkley.

That leaves a lot of field goal opportunities for the veteran kicker.  Gano is 7/8 on the season and has made all four of his 50+ yard attempts.

This game probably won’t be super high-scoring, but Gano does have a decent shot at a few field goals.

6. Green Bay Packers, DST

Mac Jones was injured late in Week Three and will miss some time (high ankle sprain).  That leaves backup Brian Hoyer as the starter on a team that has struggled on offense to start the season.

The Packers have settled in nicely after getting blown up by Justin Jefferson in Week One, allowing only 22 points over the last two games.  Granted that came against the Chicago Bears and weaponless Tom Brady (Buccaneers).

Still, the Packers’ defense, at home, against a backup Quarterback with a struggling offense bodes well for those who take a shot at starting them.

Sits

1. Russell Wilson, QB (Denver Broncos)

I just don’t know what to do about Russell Wilson yet.  Sure you can credit the San Francisco 49er defense with stopping him last week.  But what about his putrid games against the Seahawks and Texans?

Wilson and the Bronco offense are experiencing some intense growing pains under HC Nathaniel Hackett’s first-year system, and I don’t think it will get better quickly.

This week the Broncos take on the Raiders, but I don’t think this one will turn into some shootout that redeems Wilson of his first three games.  This game has Wilson's trap written all over it, so I will avoid him until that offense starts to turn it around.

2. Darrell Henderson….and Cam Akers, RB (LA Rams)

0RBers rejoiced after Week One, where Darrell Henderson got pretty much all the work and Cam Akers did nothing.  But slowly that rejoicing has turned into sheer panic, as Akers has now seized the backfield again.

Now we aren’t sure how that backfield will shape up week to week, and so far no one has really stood out enough to claim the workhorse status.  The Rams take on the 49ers in Week Four, a team that has been pretty good at keeping the Running Back position at bay.

The 49ers have pretty much shut down the Chicago, Denver, and Seattle run game through three weeks, and this two-headed monster is too risky to justify playing either one.  If you have other options, I’d pivot off both this week.

3. DJ Moore, WR (Carolina Panthers)

So yeah I don’t often like to keep the same player on this list two weeks in a row, but I just can’t let this one go.  DJ Moore has been one of the most disappointing Wide Receivers this season, and most of the blame has to come from Quarterback Baker Mayfield.

The Panthers face the Cardinals this week, a team that is beatable through the air, but you just can’t start the guy until he starts seeing consistent action.

Moore is a sit until Mayfield starts to actually target his top Receiving option.

4. Tyler Higbee, TE (LA Rams)

Yeah so I have Higbee on the list again, but this time I moved him to the Sit column.  The 49ers have given up 23 yards to the Tight End position through three games.  Twenty.  Three.  Yards.

Now they haven’t faced a Travis Kelce or Mark Andrews type of Tight End yet, but still, 23 yards is pretty impressive.  All that said, if you can stream a different Tight End, this would be the week to do it.

5. Nick Folk, K (New England Patriots)

Going along with what I said above for the Packers’ defense, the Patriots will struggle to move the ball in this one.

The game is in Lambeau, and although the weather looks good so far, Nick Folk may not even get a chance to attempt a kick.

Stream elsewhere.

6. Buffalo Bills, DST

The Bills get another tough test this week with the Baltimore Ravens.  The defense is beaten up (they were without four defensive backs and two defensive tackles against the Dolphins…and lost another Cornerback in that game) and they are playing in Baltimore.

Lamar Jackson is running and throwing all over opposing defenses, so they may struggle to contain the Baltimore offense.  It’s tough to sit the Bills’ defense, but the combination of their opponent and their injuries makes this one a tough start.

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