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Week 4 Rankings | Top
150 Flex Rankings | Week
4 Projections
You don't replace guys like Peyton Manning, Marshawn Lynch, A.J. Green, Demaryius Thomas and Julius Thomas. You just hope to manage when those players are off.
That's what Fantasy owners are dealing with in Week 4, which is the start of the bye weeks. Denver, Cincinnati, Arizona, St. Louis, Seattle and Cleveland are off this week, and Fantasy owners have to replace some heavy hitters. Injuries are also a factor, and this is when you find out if you have enough depth to succeed.
The NFL made it challenging for the first wave of byes with the level of talent Fantasy owners will be without. We don't face another week like this until Week 9 when Atlanta, Buffalo, Chicago, Detroit, Green Bay and Tennessee will be off, and we hope you're ready for this first test.
We'll do our best to guide you through this potential Fantasy minefield. And hopefully when the scoreboard stops ringing Monday night you'll come out with another victory.
Start of the Week: Colin Kaepernick, QB, 49ers
49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick heads into his Week 4 matchup against the Eagles in need of a get-right game. He's struggled in each of the past two weeks as the 49ers lost to Chicago and Arizona.
In those games, Kaepernick threw three interceptions with a fumble against the Bears at home, and he was outplayed by Cardinals backup Drew Stanton in a tough NFC West loss at Arizona. But he should rebound this week against the Eagles.
The good news for Kaepernick is he has at least 20 Fantasy points in two of his first three games, and he's running well with 118 yards the past two weeks. We hope that continues, and the offensive line is getting healthy with tackle Anthony Davis (hamstring) expected to return against the Eagles, along with tight end Vernon Davis (ankle).
Philadelphia is also a nice opponent at home since the Eagles have been miserable in pass defense against Chad Henne, Andrew Luck and Kirk Cousins. That trio has averaged 288 passing yards with eight passing touchdowns combined and two interceptions. The 49ers can't afford another loss, especially at home, and the Eagles could be due for a letdown game after starting 3-0.
We know it might be hard to trust Kaepernick after his past two games, but he should remain a Top 10 quarterback this week and a solid Fantasy option. Don't give up on him yet, especially with this tasty matchup at home.
I'm starting Kaepernick over: Tom Brady (at KC), Cam Newton (at BAL), Matthew Stafford (at NYJ), Nick Foles (at SF) and Kirk Cousins (vs. NYG)
Quarterback
Start 'Em
Jay Cutler (vs. GB): We hope Cutler isn't going to fool us like he did last season when he got off to a hot start only to get hurt. He had at least 20 Fantasy points in five of his first six games last season before going down in Week 7, and this year he has at least 20 Fantasy points in all three outings. The Packers just held Stafford to three Fantasy points in his own building, but prior to that Russell Wilson and Geno Smith both scored multiple touchdowns against Green Bay. Cutler has at least 19 Fantasy points in two of his past three home games against the Packers, and we expect him to stay on point this week.
Philip Rivers (vs. JAC): This should be a layup for Rivers coming off consecutive games with at least 23 Fantasy points against Seattle and Buffalo and facing a Jaguars defense that has allowed at least 250 passing yards and two touchdowns to Foles, Cousins and Andrew Luck in consecutive weeks. The Chargers are down Ryan Mathews (knee) and Danny Woodhead (ankle), which means the offense runs through Rivers. So far, so good, and he is a fantastic bye-week replacement in all leagues.
Tony Romo (vs. NO): We got a glimpse of the Romo we expected to see all season in Week 3 at St. Louis when he was down 21-0 at halftime and forced to lead a comeback effort. He only attempted 23 passes in the game, but he completed 18 for 217 yards, two touchdowns and one interception and finished with 19 Fantasy points, which is a season high. He will likely have to do more heavy lifting this week against the Saints, who shut down the Cleveland and Minnesota passing games the past two games but got lit up by Matt Ryan in Week 1. Romo will still be hard to trust until he has a breakout performance, but that could easily come this week at home.
Kirk Cousins (vs. NYG): Cousins could easily become this year's Foles as a backup quarterback given a starting job, who then turns into a Fantasy darling. He had 22 Fantasy points when he took over for Robert Griffin III (ankle) against the Jaguars in Week 2 and 33 points at Philadelphia last week. The Giants have allowed 20 Fantasy points to two of the three quarterbacks they faced in Stafford in Week 1 and Ryan Fitzpatrick in Week 3. If Cousins can continue to connect with Pierre Garcon, DeSean Jackson and Niles Paul like he did in Week 3 then great things will continue to happen.
Ben Roethlisberger (vs. TB): Roethlisberger is still looking for his first 20-point Fantasy outing of the season, but he played well against the Panthers in Week 3. He completed 22-of-30 passes for 196 yards and two touchdowns, and he became the first quarterback since Week 14 of 2012 to score multiple touchdowns in Carolina, including matchups with Ryan, Brady, Drew Brees, Stafford and Wilson. He could have a breakout this week since the Buccaneers have struggled with opposing quarterbacks this year. Derek Anderson had 22 Fantasy points in relief of Newton in Week 1 at Tampa Bay, and Ryan had 29 points against the Bucs in Week 3. The only thing that could slow Roethlisberger down this week is too many handoffs, but we're confident he'll get the job done in this game.
Sleepers
Teddy Bridgewater (vs. ATL): It's a decent matchup for his first NFL start.Joe Flacco (vs. CAR): He could shine in the Steve Smith bowl at home.
Ryan Fitzpatrick (vs. BUF): The beard has scored twice in his past two games.
Sit 'Em
Tom Brady (at KC): Having Brady listed here has little to do with the Chiefs defense and more about the New England offense. Brady just isn't doing much to help Fantasy owners. Now, he has attempted at least 37 passes in two of the first three games, but he has yet to score multiple touchdowns or pass for at least 250 yards. If you believe in Brady and want to start him this week then hope he can get multiple touchdowns against the Chiefs like Jake Locker and Peyton Manning did in the first two games of the season.
Eli Manning (at WAS): I want to like Manning this week, and I would start him in a desperate situation. He appears to have grasped this offense the past two weeks with at least 19 Fantasy points in consecutive games against Arizona and Houston. But the Redskins have his number, especially with Jim Haslett as the defensive coordinator. In eight games against Haslett with the Redskins going back to 2010, Manning is averaging 242 passing yards with five touchdowns and 10 interceptions. It's also a Thursday game, which is typically low scoring for Fantasy quarterbacks, and Manning will likely finish more as a No. 2 quarterback than a starting option in standard leagues. He should still be used in two-quarterback formats, and he benefits with DeAngelo Hall (Achilles) out.
Blake Bortles (at SD): It's going to be fun watching Bortles grow into this role as the starter for the Jaguars, and he played well in the second half of last week's blowout loss against the Colts. He was 14-of-24 passing for 223 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions, and he added two carries for 30 yards, which was good for 19 Fantasy points in just a half. We like his outlook for the rest of the season, but he's not worth starting outside of two-quarterback leagues this week. The Chargers have allowed Carson Palmer and Wilson to throw multiple touchdowns against them, but let's give Bortles the chance to prove himself first. He could eventually become a weekly Fantasy starter, but you don't have to trust him in his first NFL start.
Geno Smith (vs. DET): We're glad coach Rex Ryan is standing behind Smith. He should remain the starter ahead of Michael Vick, at least for now. Smith has to eliminate the turnovers with four interceptions in the first three games, but he's looked good at times with a beautiful touchdown pass to Jeremy Kerley last week against the Bears and two touchdowns at Green Bay in Week 2. But this is a tough matchup against the Lions, who have allowed three touchdowns and two interceptions against Eli Manning, Newton and Aaron Rodgers through three weeks. Smith also might not have Eric Decker (hamstring), and we'd be cautious using Smith in two-quarterback leagues.
Alex Smith (vs. NE): Smith had his first big game of the season in Week 3 at Miami with 24 Fantasy points, and he connected on three touchdowns to Joe McKnight (twice) and Travis Kelce. That illustrates how weak his receiving corps is, and the Patriots could decide to shadow Dwayne Bowe with Darrelle Revis, which further limits this offense. The Patriots have dominated the three opposing quarterbacks they've faced, but those guys are Ryan Tannehill, Cassel and Derek Carr. Smith might thrive in this matchup, but we'd bet against it, which limits him to just a low-end starting option in deep two-quarterback leagues.
Bust alert: Cam Newton (at BAL): Newton was beat up in Week 3 against the Steelers and had to be removed late in the fourth quarter. His injured ribs and ankle remain a problem, and you have to worry a little about his health moving forward, especially behind a shaky offensive line. The Ravens have yet to allow multiple passing touchdowns in a game this season, including matchups with Andy Dalton and Roethlisberger. And Newton only has one game with multiple touchdowns in his past six regular season outings going back to last year. It's obviously risky to bench Newton based on his potential, but I'd rather start Cousins over him this week based on the respective matchups for both players.
Running back
Start 'Em
Ahmad Bradshaw (vs. TEN): You can look at Bradshaw's production as somewhat fluky since he's reached double digits in Fantasy points in a standard league the past two games thanks to three receiving touchdowns. But he's also averaging 6.0 yards per carry, and his 12 catches are third on the team behind Reggie Wayne and T.Y. Hilton. At some point he'll slow down based on his injury history and the wear and tear on his body, but while he's playing like this he should be started in all leagues. He's clearly running circles around Trent Richardson right now, who is only a flex consideration in deeper formats.
Lamar Miller (at OAK): This might be Miller's last chance as the featured rusher for the Dolphins with Knowshon Moreno (elbow) saying he expects to return following the bye in Week 5. Miller was great in the spotlight in Week 3 against the Chiefs with 15 carries for 108 yards and four catches for 24 yards. The Patriots struggled to run the ball against the Raiders last week, but prior to that Chris Ivory, Chris Johnson and Arian Foster each reached double digits in Fantasy points in a standard league. Miller hasn't scored a rushing touchdown since Week 4 of last year, so he's due, and the Dolphins would be smart to lean on him with Tannehill struggling.
Donald Brown (vs. JAC): Brown was elevated from third string to the starting job in just three weeks because Mathews and Woodhead suffered serious injuries. Brown got an extended look in Week 3 at Buffalo but finished with just 31 carries for 62 yards and five catches for 27 yards. We wish he had more success carrying the ball, but the Bills run defense is much better than the Jaguars. Jacksonville has already allowed five running backs to reach double digits in Fantasy points with Darren Sproles, LeSean McCoy, Alfred Morris, Silas Redd and Bradshaw. Brown should join that group, and last year he scored a rushing touchdown against the Jaguars when he played for the Colts.
Khiry Robinson/Pierre Thomas (at DAL): Robinson and Thomas are both worth starting this week in what should be a fun game against the Cowboys. Dallas hasn't been destroyed by running bacLks yet with Carlos Hyde and Zac Stacy the only ones to reach double digits in Fantasy points, but I like the workload for Robinson and Thomas coming out of Week 3 against Minnesota in the first game without Mark Ingram (hand). Robinson had 18 carries for 69 yards, and Thomas had eight carries for 30 yards and a touchdown and three catches for 21 yards. If Robinson gets 15-plus carries again this week he should post a solid stat line, and Thomas will be a significant factor in PPR leagues.
C.J. Spiller/Fred Jackson (at HOU): We like Jackson this week since the Texans have allowed at least 90 rushing yards or a touchdown to all three starting running backs they've faced this season in Morris, Darren McFadden and Rashad Jennings. And Jackson was good last week against San Diego with six carries for 34 yards and eight catches for 78 yards and a touchdown. But Spiller could be in line for a big week playing indoors at Houston. Since 2012, Spiller has played five games in a dome or on turf (at Arizona, Houston and Indianapolis in 2012), including twice in Toronto (vs. Seattle in 2012 and Atlanta in 2013). His worst game, ironically, was against the Texans when he had six carries for 39 yards and five catches for 63 yards. Jackson played in all but the Seahawks game, and Spiller has 64 carries for 486 yards (7.5 yards per carry) and three touchdowns in those outings. His speed on a fast track should be fun to watch.
Sleepers
Matt Asiata (vs. ATL): He could be great catching passes
this week.
Steven Jackson (at MIN):
He could score his second touchdown this week.
LeGarrette Blount (vs. TB): Hello more garbage time production.
Chris Ivory (vs. DET): He has 90 total yards or a touchdown in
all three games.
Bishop Sankey
(at IND): Let's hope the workload continues to increase.
Sit 'Em
DeAngelo Williams (at BAL): Williams is expected to return this week after being out the past two games with a thigh injury. He will likely get all the work he can handle with Jonathan Stewart (knee) and Mike Tolbert (leg) out, but he's nothing more than a flex option at best. The Ravens did struggle with the Browns last week as Terrance West and Isaiah Crowell both scored touchdowns, but prior to that it took Giovani Bernard and Le'Veon Bell making plays as receivers to salvage their production. Look for Williams to produce like he did in Week 1 before he got hurt with seven Fantasy points in a standard league.
Joique Bell (at NYJ): I consider Reggie Bush a low-end starting option this week because what he should be able to do as a receiver. Bell could also be in that role since he had six catches for 61 yards in Week 2 at Carolina, but he won't find much running room this week. The Jets have swallowed up running backs this season, including Eddie Lacy in Week 2 and Matt Forte last week. Lacy had four Fantasy points and Forte had seven, with four of them coming from his receiving prowess with six catches for 43 yards. It might be hard to sit Bell this week, but the matchup suggests he should struggle for the second week in a row.
Shane Vereen (at KC): Stevan Ridley, despite last week's disappointing game against the Raiders (19 carries for 54 yards) should again lead this backfield in touches, and I like him as a starter in standard leagues this week. The Patriots should be able to lean on their ground game with the Chiefs allowing 5.6 yards per carry against Tennessee, Denver and Miami. Vereen will eventually get going when the Patriots have to throw more, but he now has 12 touches or less in eight straight games going back to last year, including the playoffs. There's always the chance he could score -- he has three touchdowns over that span -- but his yards will likely be minimal if the Patriots continue to ground and pound.
Bernard Pierce/Lorenzo Taliaferro (vs. CAR): The Ravens backfield is about to get messy with Pierce back in action after he was out in Week 3 with a thigh injury. With Pierce sitting at Cleveland, Taliaferro shined with 18 carries for 91 yards and a touchdown. Justin Forsett is also in the mix, and a three-headed backfield is far from ideal for Fantasy owners. We hope to get a better idea of how Baltimore will use Pierce, Taliaferro and Forsett after this game, but you should only start one if you're desperate. I'd lean toward Taliaferro if I had to pick one with Pierce at less than 100 percent and Forsett more of a change-of-pace rusher.
Chris Johnson (vs. DET): We hope the Jets do the right thing and bench Johnson in favor of Chris Ivory. The numbers are decidedly in Ivory's favor this season since he has 33 carries for 189 yards (5.7 yards per carry) and two touchdowns and a shocking five catches for 55 yards compared to Johnson, who has just 35 carries for 123 yards (3.5 yards per carry) and six catches for 23 yards and a touchdown. Even if Johnson remains the featured back you can't trust him against the Lions, who have yet to allow a running back to gain more than 46 yards on the ground. Jennings and Stewart have scored touchdowns against the Lions, but they had limited rushing yards, as did Lacy last week. Johnson has a lot to prove before Fantasy owners can consider using him again this year.
Bust alert: Darren Sproles (at SF): It's hard to bench Sproles, especially in PPR leagues. He has 14 catches on the season, and he's already scored in two games. But I think his production in Week 3 against Washington (two carries for 20 yards and three catches for 30 yards) is more indicative of his stat line than what he did in the first two games. He had a 49-yard touchdown run on a fourth-and-1 play in Week 1 against Jacksonville, and his monster performance in Week 2 (four carries for 26 yards and a touchdown and seven catches for 152 yards) came on turf at Indianapolis, which is a surface he thrived on in New Orleans. Prior to the Jaguars game, Sproles had 20 Fantasy points combined in his past six games outdoors. He's faced the 49ers twice in the past two years with the Saints and has three carries for 16 yards and 11 catches for 84 yards over that span. San Francisco was run over by DeMarco Murray in Week 1, but in the past two games the 49ers have limited Forte (12 carries for 21 yards and five catches for 15 yards) and Andre Ellington (18 carries for 62 yards and three catches for 13 yards) to minimal production. They should be able to clamp down on Sproles as well, and I'm worried about him in standard leagues.
Wide receiver
Start 'Em
Steve Smith (vs. CAR): I love when players have extra motivation on a particular week, and Smith should be extremely fired up against the Panthers. He spent the first 13 years of his career in Carolina, and he was released this offseason, which has clearly inspired him this season. Through three games, Smith has 18 catches for 290 yards and a touchdown on 32 targets. He has at least seven Fantasy points in all three outings, and he could go off against his former employer. The Panthers just gave up two touchdowns to Antonio Brown, and Smith could follow suit.
Golden Tate (at NYJ): I'm giving Tate one more chance this week based on the matchup against the Jets. He should go off against this porous secondary. The Jets trail only San Francisco (six) for the most touchdowns allowed to opposing receivers with five, and three No. 2 receivers -- Rod Streater, Randall Cobb and Alshon Jeffery -- have reached double digits in Fantasy points. Tate has tailed off the past two games after a productive Week 1 against the Giants when he had six catches for 93 yards with just 10 catches for 108 yards at Carolina and against Green Bay. But the targets are there with 15 over that span, and Matthew Stafford should be able to exploit the Jets with Calvin Johnson and Tate.
Brandin Cooks/Marques Colston (at DAL): This should be the bonanza of the week with two explosive offenses. Of course, we thought that last week with the Packers and Lions and were disappointed. For this week, we like Cooks and Colston against a Dallas defense that allowed two touchdowns to the Rams last week with Brian Quick and Austin Pettis. The Saints have played two games indoors this season at Atlanta in Week 1 and home against Minnesota last week. Cooks has 15 catches for 151 yards and a touchdown in those two games, and Colston has seven catches for 135 yards and a touchdown. Colston also had seven catches for 107 yards and a touchdown against Dallas last year.
Victor Cruz (at WAS): Manning might not have the best history against the Redskins, but Cruz has been solid in the past three meetings. He has at least five catches for 80 yards in every game over that span with one touchdown and two 100-yard outings. The Redskins are without Hall, and Cruz is coming off his best performance of the year with five catches for 107 yards and a touchdown against Houston. He has 16 targets the past two weeks, and we hope Cruz can stay hot in this matchup on Thursday night.
Terrance Williams (vs. NO): Williams is quietly off to a good start with at least nine Fantasy points in two of the first three games. He has two touchdowns over that span, and we could see a breakout game in this potential shootout against the Saints. Now, the touchdowns are nice, but we'd like to see more catches and yards since he has just eight catches for 102 yards on the season with 13 targets. The Saints have already allowed seven receivers to catch at least five passes this season with seven gaining at least 60 yards and two scoring touchdowns. Williams also scored against the Saints last year with one catch for 21 yards.
Sleepers
Jordan Matthews (at SF): He should have success vs. a thin
SF secondary.
Allen Robinson (at
SD): He's involved with 16 targets the past two games.
Jeremy Kerley (vs. DET): He could be the No. 1 receiver if Decker
is out.
Markus Wheaton (vs. TB): PIT
should throw at will vs. this secondary.
Eddie Royal (vs. JAC): He and Malcom Floyd
should stay hot this week.
Sit 'Em
Torrey Smith (vs. CAR): I'm waiting for Smith to have his breakout game, and it could easily happen this week if the Panthers make a concerted effort to take away Steve Smith. But until we see Torrey Smith have more than 50 receiving yards he should remain benched in the majority of leagues. The Ravens tried to get him more involved in Week 3 at Cleveland with a season-high eight targets, and it resulted in two catches for 25 yards. We hope the loss of Dennis Pitta (hip) can help Smith, but he has to prove himself first.
Cordarrelle Patterson (vs. ATL): There's reason for optimism with Patterson over the next few weeks with Bridgewater taking over for the injured Matt Cassel (foot), and Kyle Rudolph (groin) is also out. The upgrade in quarterback, along with the need for more targets to replace Rudolph, should allow Patterson to make more plays as a receiver. But so far the lack of targets and receiving production has been troubling. He has just 17 targets on the season and 11 catches for 143 yards and no touchdowns to show for it. His only touchdown came on a 67-yard run in Week 1 at St. Louis. He's easily capable of an amazing play, and he's still a Top 36 receiver this week. But I don't consider him a must-start option right now with his lack of production the past two weeks.
Eric Decker (vs. DET): Decker is dealing with a hamstring problem, and you don't want to risk him playing in Week 4 against Detroit but not being able to finish the game like he did in Week 3 against Chicago. He started the season with two quality games against the Raiders and Packers with nine catches for 137 yards and a touchdown on 14 targets, but this injury could linger. We hope he's able to play through the pain, but let him sit on the bench for your Fantasy roster until he proves he's back at 100 percent. The Lions also have allowed just one receiving touchdown on the year to Jason Avant, including matchups with the Giants and Packers, so maybe this secondary isn't as bad as we expected.
T.Y. Hilton (vs. TEN): Like Decker, Hilton heads into Week 4 dealing with an injury, and he left Week 3 at Jacksonville with an ankle problem. He's expected to play this week, but we wouldn't start him in the majority of leagues. He has yet to score a touchdown this season, and the Colts clearly are spreading the ball around with Reggie Wayne, Hakeem Nicks, Dwayne Allen, Coby Fleener and their running backs. Hilton is No. 1 in targets with 28, but he's now gone 11 games in a row in the regular season without a touchdown. He's typically better at home than on the road, but he also hasn't scored in Indianapolis in his past six games. It's risky to bench him because of his big-play ability, but he's less than 100 percent and might not play at a high level with his injured ankle.
Kendall Wright (at IND): Wright continues to be a solid option in PPR leagues with five catches for 44 yards on 10 targets in Week 3 at Cincinnati, but the quarterback trouble in Tennessee should make Fantasy owners nervous. Jake Locker (wrist) could miss this game, meaning Charlie Whitehurst would start against the Colts. Maybe he helps Wright improve, or maybe this offense completely falls apart. Wright did have 15 catches for 157 yards against the Colts last year in two games, and Indianapolis has allowed three touchdowns to receivers this season. But I don't want to start Wright in a standard league if Locker is out or playing hurt. It could be a tough outing for the Titans this week.
Bust alert: DeSean Jackson (vs. NYG): I wish Jackson didn't have the shoulder injury heading into last week's game at Philadelphia because I would have made him a must-start option with the revenge factor. I love those motivating games, which is why I like Steve Smith so much this week. Jackson has a great history against the Giants with at least six catches in each of his past four meetings, two touchdowns and three games with at least 88 receiving yards. But he has a tough matchup against former teammate Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, who has done a nice job against receivers this season. Calvin Johnson beat him up for 28 Fantasy points in Week 1, but since then he helped limit Larry Fitzgerald to six catches for 51 yards and Andre Johnson to four catches for 24 yards. He matched up with Jackson last year when he was with the Broncos and Jackson with the Eagles, and Jackson was held to two catches for 34 yards. We're not saying to bench Jackson in the majority of leagues, but don't be surprised if there's a letdown following his performance last week when he had five catches for 117 yards and a touchdown.
Tight end
Start 'Em
Martellus Bennett (vs. GB): He's off to an amazing start with four touchdowns in three games and at least eight targets in each outing. The Bears could lean on him again this week against the Packers with Brandon Marshall (ankle) hurting, and Green Bay has yet to face a quality tight end in matchups against Seattle, the Jets and Detroit. Bennett struggled against the Packers in two meetings last year with five catches for 51 yards, but he seems revitalized this season. Keep in mind he got off to a hot start last September as well, so this is his time to shine.
Niles Paul (vs. NYG): The Giants have yet to face a competent tight end this season with matchups against the Lions, Cardinals and Texans. Garrett Graham had the best game against them with five catches for 41 yards on six targets. Paul will be their toughest opponent to date, and he has 20 targets in two starts for the injured Jordan Reed (hamstring) with 14 catches for 167 yards and a touchdown over that span. Cousins will continue to look for Paul in this matchup, and we expect him to have a solid performance on Thursday night.
Antonio Gates (vs. JAC): The Jaguars have allowed the most Fantasy points to opposing tight ends this season with four touchdowns allowed to Ertz, Paul, Coby Fleener and Dwayne Allen. Gates comes into this game with a touchdown in each of his past two home games going back to last season, with four total scores over that span. He was quiet in Week 3 at Buffalo with just one catch for 8 yards on one target while Ladarius Green stepped up with four catches for 64 yards on six targets, but Green could be out this week with a hamstring injury. That should allow for Gates to play even better in this matchup, and we like him as a Top 5 tight end this week if Green is out.
Sleepers
Dwayne Allen (vs. TEN): He's still better than Fleener even
after Week 3.
Heath Miller (vs.
TB): This should be the game where he gets on track.
Mychal Rivera (vs. MIA): MIA has allowed two touchdowns to tight
ends.
Sit 'Em
Jason Witten (vs. NO): Witten's not going to be held in check all season, and he could be let loose this week if the Cowboys are forced to air it out against the Saints. But his best game was last week against the Rams, and he finished with four catches for 49 yards on five targets. For the season, Witten has just 10 catches for 95 yards and no touchdowns, and he had just two catches for 27 yards in a meeting with New Orleans last year. The Saints also did a good job against Rudolph last week with three catches for 27 yards on five targets before he got hurt, and Witten should only be considered a low-end starter this week.
Owen Daniels (vs. CAR): Daniels takes over for the injured Pitta, and we hope he can be a great addition for Fantasy owners the rest of the season. But you don't have to start him right away, and the Panthers have yet to allow more than five Fantasy points to an opposing tight end. Now, the best one they faced was Miller last week, and he had four catches for 51 yards. But let's see Daniels show he's ready for the increased workload to replace Pitta, and he had just one catch for 8 yards on one target at Cleveland last week after Pitta went down. The upside is there for Daniels, but don't feel pressured to start him right away.
Travis Kelce (vs. NE): We like that Kelce's role is increasing, and the production has followed with four catches for 81 yards in Week 2 at Denver and three catches for 36 yards and a touchdown at Miami last week. He could emerge as a breakout candidate and be great for Fantasy owners missing Pitta, Rudolph and Reed. But the Patriots are obviously aware that Kelce's role is on the rise, and they will likely try to limit his production. You can envision Revis covering Bowe, and the Patriots using two bodies to stay with Kelce. They've already held Charles Clay and Rudolph to a combined seven catches for 70 yards on 14 targets, and Kelce could be in trouble in this matchup. Stash Kelce on your roster for the rest of the season, but he's not a must-start option this week.
Bust alert: Greg Olsen (at BAL): Olsen comes into this game as the No. 6 tight end in standard leagues with 19 catches for 224 yards and two touchdowns on 26 targets, and he hasn't had less than seven Fantasy points in any game this year. But the Ravens have done a nice job on tight ends already this season in holding Miller to four catches for 35 yards on seven targets and Jordan Cameron to one catch for 23 yards on three targets. Cameron might not have been 100 percent with his shoulder, but Olsen will likely be a focal point of his Baltimore defense. It's impossible to bench him in the majority of leagues, but this might be his worst game of the season based on the matchup, especially if Newton isn't 100 percent healthy either.
Defense/Special teams
Start 'Em
Chargers (vs. JAC): The Chargers have done a nice job defensively to start the season with at least two sacks in all three games, three fumble recoveries and no more than 21 points allowed. The Jaguars are allowing the most Fantasy points to opposing DST units, with a touchdown allowed in two of three games. But now there's a wildcard with Bortles starting, although he had two interceptions against the Colts. We expect the Chargers to be great on defense in this matchup at home.
Sleepers
Steelers (vs. TB): Steelers finally got physical in Week 3 vs.
Carolina.
Dolphins (at OAK): Miami has at least four sacks in
two of three games.
Lions (at NYJ): Geno Smith has four interceptions in three games.
Sit 'Em
Bears (vs. GB): The Bears DST has been amazing the past two games against the 49ers and Jets with five interceptions and seven sacks. Along those lines, the Packers have been among the best teams for opposing DST units, mostly because of their performance at Seattle in Week 1 and at the Lions in Week 3. Things will obviously get better for the Packers offense, and Rodgers has at least two touchdowns in three of his past four games against the Bears. While the Bears have been solid to open the season, this is not the week to trust the DST, even with the Packers struggling.
Kicker
Start 'Em
Shaun Suisham (vs. TB): Suisham was a star in Week 3 at Carolina with three field goals and four extra points. He now has at least 12 Fantasy points in two of three games and seven made field goals on the season. The Buccaneers have allowed at least eight Fantasy points to three kickers on the year, with Matt Bryant getting eight extra points in Week 3. The Steelers should do well moving the ball in this game, and Suisham should again have the chance for a big week.
Sleepers
Nick Novak (vs. JAC): The Jaguars have already allowed 14
extra points.
Sebastian Janikowski
(vs. MIA): It's fitting having him kick in London.
Dan Carpenter (at HOU): He leads the NFL with nine made field
goals already.
Sit 'Em
Blair Walsh (vs. ATL): The Vikings are without their starting running back and tight end, and they are breaking in a rookie quarterback in his first NFL start. While we like Bridgewater and his upside, the offense could easily remain stagnant. That helped to a certain extent last week with Walsh kicking three field goals at New Orleans, but he has just one extra point in his past two games. The Falcons have also allowed just one made field goal since Week 1, with Mike Nugent and Patrick Murray combining for eight Fantasy points in the past two games.
Full Disclosure from Week 3
If I would have known prior to Week 3 that Ridley would have 19 carries against the Raiders at home and not fumble, I would have expected him to be a Top 5 Fantasy running back. It was that premise that made him the Start of the Week.
Well, Ridley got the work, but he struggled with just 54 rushing yards and no touchdowns. We are now 0-for-3 in our Start of the Week predictions with Frank Gore in Week 1, Moreno in Week 2 and Ridley, and I find the comments funny that it's a jinx. If that's the case, then bench Kaepernick in all leagues.
Aside from Ridley, we had positive start suggestions with Cutler, Rivers, Wilson and Foles at quarterback, including Cousins as a sleeper, and Bennett was the No. 1 tight end. At running back, we had productive starters in Miller, Zac Stacy, Bradshaw and Steven Jackson, and we liked Knile Davis, Terrance West and Jeremy Hill as sleepers. Kelvin Benjamin, Brian Quick and Steve Smith were also recommended as sleepers at receiver.
We said to sit several big-name players who struggled like Montee Ball, Chris Johnson, Frank Gore, Larry Fitzgerald and Jason Witten. And we liked the Colts DST, which was dominant against the Jaguars.
On a down note, we said to start guys like Newton, Joique Bell, Keenan Allen and Tate. And we said to sit some guys who shined like Eli Manning, Kaepernick, Fred Jackson, Cruz and Michael Crabtree.
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| Player | Fantasy Pts. (proj.) | Fantasy Pts. (actual) | Pos. rank | |
| Stevan Ridley, RB, Patriots | 15 | 5 | 40 | |
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| Nick Foles, QB, Eagles | 22 | 32 | 3 | |
| Martellus Bennett, TE, Bears | 9 | 17 | 1 | |
| Ahmad Bradshaw, RB, Colts | 11 | 13 | 12 | |
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| Montee Ball, RB, Broncos | 9 | 1 | 68 | |
| Frank Gore, RB, 49ers | 8 | 1 | 69 | |
| Larry Fitzgerald, WR, Cardinals | 8 | 1 | 86 | |
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| Cam Newton, QB, Panthers | 20 | 14 | 24 | |
| Golden Tate, WR, Lions | 14 | 5 | 51 | |
| Joique Bell, RB, Lions | 15 | 3 | 44 | |
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| Eli Manning, QB, Giants | 16 | 21 | 12 | |
| Fred Jackson, RB, Bills | 7 | 16 | 8 | |
| Victor Cruz, WR, Giants | 6 | 16 | 10 | |