Week 4 presents crucial lineup decisions in Half-PPR leagues. We've analyzed the matchups and player projections to help you optimize your roster.
Week 4 presents crucial lineup decisions in Half-PPR leagues. We've analyzed the matchups and player projections to help you optimize your roster.
Scoring assumption: Half PPR.
QB
Consider Jared Goff and Dak Prescott as Lean Starts due to soft matchups, while C.J. Stroud, Geno Smith, and Marcus Mariota are Risky Flex options. Deshaun Watson, Bo Nix, and several others face tough defenses, making them sits.
Starts
Jared Goff (DET @ CAR) — Lean start. Averaging 21.9 pts; soft QB matchup vs CAR.
Geno Smith (NYJ @ CHI) — Risky flex. Averaging 16.3 pts; soft QB matchup vs CHI.
C.J. Stroud (HOU vs DAL) — Risky flex. Averaging 15.1 pts; soft QB matchup vs DAL.
Sits
Deshaun Watson (CLE vs PIT) — Sit. Watson ranks 10th among QBs but faces a tough Steelers defense that has allowed the fourth-fewest fantasy points to quarterbacks. The game is projected to be low-scoring.
Bo Nix (DEN @ SF) — Sit. Nix broke out last week but is not a must-start against the 49ers, who allow the third-fewest fantasy points per dropback and eighth-fewest overall to QBs.
Lamar Jackson (BAL vs TEN) — Sit. Listed Questionable; tough QB matchup vs TEN despite 20.1 pts/g. Injury watch: Listed Questionable.
RB
Aaron Jones Sr. and TreVeyon Henderson are Lean Starts in favorable matchups, with Kyle Juszczyk also a Lean Start. Sit Jonathan Taylor, Alvin Kamara, and Javonte Williams due to difficult opponents or injury implications.
Starts
Kyle Juszczyk (SF vs DEN) — Lean start. Averaging 9.7 pts on 2.0 touches/g; soft RB matchup vs DEN.
Jacory Croskey-Merritt (WSH vs IND) — Risky flex. Averaging 7.4 pts on 16.7 touches/g; soft RB matchup vs IND.
Braelon Allen (NYJ @ CHI) — Risky flex. With Hall week-to-week, Allen should lead the Jets' backfield in touches. Despite a tough matchup on paper, the increased volume makes him a worthy flex consideration due to injuries. Injury watch: Breece Hall (thigh) week-to-week..
Sits
Javonte Williams (DAL @ HOU) — Sit. It's hard to sit Williams but temper expectations against the Texans. Their defense has held Jonathan Taylor, James Cook, and Chase Brown to modest stat lines and allows fewest Expected Points Added to RBs.
Alvin Kamara (NO vs ATL) — Sit. Kamara is a popular fill-in due to Etienne's injury, but he averages just two yards per reception and faces the Falcons, who are solid against receiving backs. Kendre Miller will also take some work. Injury watch: Travis Etienne Jr. (hamstring) out..
Omarion Hampton (LAC @ SEA) — Risky flex. Hampton's Chargers offense is broken, and his backfield touches are split. He faces a tough Seahawks defense that allows just 2.9 YPC and fourth-fewest fantasy points per touch.
WR
Stefon Diggs is a Lean Start, and Romeo Doubs, Josh Downs, Brycen Tremayne, and John Metchie III offer Risky Flex appeal in soft matchups. Amon-Ra St. Brown, Nico Collins, and Justin Jefferson face tough defenses or have injury concerns.
Starts
Romeo Doubs (NE @ BUF) — Risky flex. Averaging 8.8 pts on 4.0 targets/g; soft WR matchup vs BUF.
Josh Downs (IND @ WSH) — Risky flex. Averaging 8.5 pts on 8.0 targets/g; soft WR matchup vs WAS.
Stefon Diggs (WSH vs IND) — Lean start. Averaging 12.7 pts on 7.3 targets/g; soft WR matchup vs IND.
Sits
Nico Collins (HOU vs DAL) — Sit. Listed Questionable; tough WR matchup vs DAL despite 17.7 pts/g. Injury watch: Listed Questionable.
Justin Jefferson (MIN vs MIA) — Sit. Listed Questionable; tough WR matchup vs MIA despite 12.1 pts/g. Injury watch: Listed Questionable.
Deebo Samuel Sr. (SF vs DEN) — Sit. tough WR matchup vs DEN despite 11.8 pts/g.
TE
George Kittle and Harold Fannin Jr. are solid Starts this week, with Noah Fant, Juwan Johnson, and Isaiah Likely as Lean Starts in favorable matchups. Dalton Kincaid, Colston Loveland, and Tucker Kraft carry more risk.
Starts
Harold Fannin Jr. (CLE vs PIT) — Start. After two touchdowns and seven catches last week, Fannin Jr. is performing at an elite level and should be a reliable weekly starter.
Noah Fant (NO vs ATL) — Lean start. Averaging 11.3 pts on 8.0 targets/g; soft TE matchup vs ATL.
Juwan Johnson (NO vs ATL) — Lean start. Averaging 10.8 pts on 5.5 targets/g; soft TE matchup vs ATL.
Sits
Cole Kmet (CHI vs NYJ) — Sit. tough TE matchup vs NYJ despite 10.5 pts/g.
Mike Gesicki (CIN vs JAX) — Sit. tough TE matchup vs JAX despite 13.8 pts/g.
Colston Loveland (CHI vs NYJ) — Risky flex. Loveland is ranked outside the top 12 TEs despite season highs last week, with a low aDOT and no end-zone targets. Consider benching him for other options.
K
Will Reichard and Trey Smack are strong Start options with high upside. Brandon Aubrey, Tyler Loop, and Chris Boswell are Lean Starts, but Harrison Butker and Cameron Dicker should be avoided.
Starts
Brandon Aubrey (DAL @ HOU) — Lean start. Averaging 8.7 pts; soft K matchup vs HOU.
Tyler Loop (BAL vs TEN) — Lean start. Averaging 8.0 pts; soft K matchup vs TEN.
Chris Boswell (PIT @ CLE) — Lean start. Averaging 7.7 pts; soft K matchup vs CLE.
Sits
Harrison Butker (KC @ LV) — Sit. tough K matchup vs LV despite 9.3 pts/g.
Chad Ryland (ARI @ NYG) — Sit. tough K matchup vs NYG despite 9.0 pts/g.
Dominic Zvada (NYG vs ARI) — Sit. tough K matchup vs ARI despite 7.3 pts/g.
DST
The Ravens, Packers, Vikings, and Bills are top Starts this week against struggling offenses or rookie quarterbacks. Avoid the Broncos, Patriots, and Chargers who face high-scoring teams or tough matchups.
Starts
GB (GB @ TB) — Start. The Packers defense faces the Buccaneers and undrafted rookie free agent quarterback Jalon Daniels, who is making his first NFL start with Baker Mayfield out. Injury watch: Baker Mayfield (thumb) out; Jalon Daniels starting..
BAL (BAL vs TEN) — Start. The Ravens face a struggling Titans offense with QB Cam Ward, who averages low passing yards and has limited scoring, offering strong sack and turnover potential.
ARI (ARI @ NYG) — Streamer. The Giants offense only scored four field goals last week, and Jameis Winston has a history of costly turnovers.
Sits
DEN (DEN @ SF) — Sit. Draws a high-scoring SF offense; limited sack/turnover upside.
CAR (CAR vs DET) — Sit. Ranked D/ST30 for Week 4, the Panthers are a low-tier option against Detroit, suggesting minimal fantasy relevance.
LAC (LAC @ SEA) — Sit. Despite 14 fantasy points in Week 3, the Chargers face the Seahawks, who just lost to Washington, indicating a tough matchup and reduced upside.
See every Week 4 Start/Sit call →
Sources
