In Week 4 of the college football season, we still have some inter-conference matchups. We even have a few FCS opponents in the mix. Some teams have solidified themselves in the playoff picture, a few players are now Heisman contenders, but there is a whole world of college football at your disposal for fantasy-related matters. And so, here are my players to start and to sit for Week 4 of this college football campaign.
AAC Starts and Sits
START
D.J. Crowther, RB, South Florida at Bowling Green
In Crowther's first game after transferring to South Florida from Dartmouth, he struggled a bit. His 14 carries only yielded 42 yards and a touchdown. Each week has been a bit better, though, and he just ran eight times for 101 yards and three touchdowns against Delaware State. Now, that was an FCS opponent, but Bowling Green's defense has played in a way that feels FCS-esque. It has allowed a whopping 43.7 points and 295.7 rushing yards per game.
SIT
D'Andre Hardeman, RB, Rice at Fresno State
Rice likes to run the ball, but top back Quinton Jackson went down in the opener. Hardeman stepped in with 11 carries for 77 yards and a touchdown in that game, but since then things have been decidedly tougher. He just ran 11 times for 43 yards against Western Michigan, and while Fresno State was routed by USC in its opener, the last couple of games have gone well enough that it is
In Week 4 of the college football season, we still have some inter-conference matchups. We even have a few FCS opponents in the mix. Some teams have solidified themselves in the playoff picture, a few players are now Heisman contenders, but there is a whole world of college football at your disposal for fantasy-related matters. And so, here are my players to start and to sit for Week 4 of this college football campaign.
AAC Starts and Sits
START
D.J. Crowther, RB, South Florida at Bowling Green
In Crowther's first game after transferring to South Florida from Dartmouth, he struggled a bit. His 14 carries only yielded 42 yards and a touchdown. Each week has been a bit better, though, and he just ran eight times for 101 yards and three touchdowns against Delaware State. Now, that was an FCS opponent, but Bowling Green's defense has played in a way that feels FCS-esque. It has allowed a whopping 43.7 points and 295.7 rushing yards per game.
SIT
D'Andre Hardeman, RB, Rice at Fresno State
Rice likes to run the ball, but top back Quinton Jackson went down in the opener. Hardeman stepped in with 11 carries for 77 yards and a touchdown in that game, but since then things have been decidedly tougher. He just ran 11 times for 43 yards against Western Michigan, and while Fresno State was routed by USC in its opener, the last couple of games have gone well enough that it is now down to 114.3 rushing yards and 17.3 points per contest, all against FBS competition.
ACC Starts and Sits
START
Kendrick Raphael, RB, SMU vs. Missouri State
Raphael transferred from one ACC stalwart, Cal, to another in SMU. With the Golden Bears, he rushed for 943 yards and 13 touchdowns, and he's off to a strong start with his new team. Even though he barely played against UC Davis, Raphael has averaged 7.1 yards per carry and scored four touchdowns. Missouri State, a Conference USA program, has allowed over 30 points and 200 rushing yards per game. The only concern here is that he might not see much work as was the case against UC Davis, but even with only three carries that day, he scored a touchdown.
SIT
Caden High, WR, Stanford vs. Georgia Tech
High missed Stanford's first game, but since then he has 11 catches. That's encouraging in terms of his role, but he's averaged 7.5 yards per target, and his one touchdown matches his total from last season. Georgia Tech's run defense has had issues, but it has only allowed 124.7 passing yards per game, and Stanford QB Davis Warren has totaled two passing touchdowns this year.
Big Ten Starts and Sits
START
Chris Durr, WR, Maryland vs. UCLA
Though this is Durr's first season with the Terrapins, he is already the focal point of the team's passing game. Malik Washington looks to him constantly, and he's already been targeted 36 times through three games. Not only that, but he's tallied 28 catches, has gone over 100 yards in each of the last two games, and he has three touchdowns. Last year UCLA's issue was run defense, but this year it has given up 253.7 passing yards per game, most in the Big Ten.
SIT
Jordan Marshall, RB, Michigan vs. Iowa
Marshall stood out in a dual backfield last season, but this year he has averaged 4.0 yards per carry and failed to even hit 60 rushing yards in a game. The competition hasn't been easy, but it's also not getting any easier. This year has been business as usual for Iowa, which leads the Big Ten in both rushing yards and points allowed per game.
Big 12 Starts and Sits
START
Gavin Freeman, WR, Baylor vs. Colorado
Oklahoma State transfer Freeman has notched 29 catches for 305 yards and a touchdown, and that is with DJ Lagway missing the last two games for Baylor. Lagway is all set to return for Week 4, and for conference play, which should only benefit Freeman. Colorado has not faced difficult competition; Deion's team has still allowed 242.7 passing yards and 25.0 points per contest.
SIT
JC French, QB, Cincinnati vs. Kansas State
French is off to a hot start for Cincinnati, and he already has five passing touchdowns and four rushing touchdowns. However, the toughest opponent thus far has been Boston College. Though French is a dual-threat quarterback, Kansas State's defense has proved tough to tackle. The Wildcats have allowed 10.0 points per game, and have allowed under 100 yards per game both rushing and passing.
Conference USA Starts and Sits
START
Brock Glenn, QB, Western Kentucky vs. Mercyhurst
If the name rings a bell, this is the same guy who once played for Florida State. He's now starting for Western Kentucky, which has an FCS opponent in Week 4. Glenn was thrown into the fire, as his two starts for the Hilltoppers have been on the road against Georgia and Indiana. In those games, he managed to total three touchdowns with 100 rushing yards and only one turnover, and Mercyhurst should feel like a breath of fresh air for Glenn after those two opponents.
SIT
Sean Wilson, WR, Delaware at Virginia
It feels pertinent to mention that while Wilson excelled against Merrimack and Coastal Carolina, Vanderbilt held him to three catches for 30 yards. Last year he had 68 catches for 877 yards, but when he faced, say, Wake Forest, he was held to 30 yards. Well, now he has to visit the Cavaliers, who have allowed 150.0 yards per game. The next good game Wilson has against a power conference team will be his first.
MAC Starts and Sits
START
Dru DeShields, QB, Kent State vs. Ball State
Here's another quarterback at an off-the-beaten-path program for you. Yes, DeShields didn't do anything against Ohio State, not a shocker, but he threw for 253 yards and a touchdown against Wofford, though with two picks. He also ran for 72 yards and two touchdowns in that game, though. Plus, last season he only threw three interceptions. DeShields will be at home against a Ball State side that has allowed 487.0 total yards and 41.3 points per game, a chance for him to finally rack up some stats.
SIT
Angel Flores, QB, Central Michigan at Miami (FL)
Flores took over for Central Michigan last season, and the offense became run-heavy because his game is not built around throwing the ball well. To his credit, Flores has rushed for 312 yards and three touchdowns this season, but this is a trip to Miami. The simple fact of a MAC quarterback being on the road against the Hurricanes would be sufficient for a sit, but the Hurricanes happen to have only allowed 45.7 points per game as well.
Mountain West Starts and Sits
START
Markell Holman, RB, Wyoming vs. Hawaii
There's basically no juxtaposition greater than the Rainbow Warriors having to travel to Laramie. Those Warriors have allowed 176.7 rushing yards per game, even though they've played two games at home already. Holman is a Western Illinois transfer, where last year he rushed for over 1,000 yards and had nine total touchdowns. He got only one carry in his first FBS game, but in his second he got over 100 total yards, and last week he scored his first touchdown with the Cowboys.
SIT
DeAree Rogers, WR, Northern Illinois at Georgia State
Yes, let us not forget that Northern Illinois is a Mountain West team now. Rogers does have 22 catches through three games, but they have gone for 145 yards and a touchdown. The Huskies are on the road this week, and Georgia State leads the Sun Belt with 157.0 passing yards per game.
Pac-12 Starts and Sits
START
Bryson Donelson, RB, Fresno State vs. Rice
Donelson performed well the last couple of seasons in a secondary role, and this season his role is a bit larger. While he didn't do anything against USC, in his last two starts he's managed 159 yards and four touchdowns. The Owls have allowed 161.0 rushing yards and 27.7 points per game, and that is with having thumped Houston Christian in their opener.
SIT
Nathan Acevedo, WR, San Diego State at Toledo
Acevedo has tallied 11 catches for 119 yards and two touchdowns, though he's also fumbled twice, losing one of them. The Aztecs aren't generally known for their passing game as is, and while Toledo has struggled against the run, it has been fine against the pass, allowing 159.0 passing yards per contest. Additionally, San Diego State will be on a long road trip, and this game kicks off at 12 p.m. ET, which is 9 a.m. PT.
SEC Starts and Sits
START
Kenny Darby, WR, Kentucky vs. South Alabama
Darby, a true freshman, has found himself with a role in Kentucky's pass game. He has 10 catches for 183 yards and two touchdowns, including one against Texas A&M. With most of the SEC in conference play in Week 4, the Wildcats are hosting a Sun Belt team, and South Alabama has allowed 26.0 points per game.
SIT
Rueben Owens, RB, Texas A&M at LSU
These are two teams in need of bouncing back, but LSU is at home. Also, LSU has only given up 33.0 rushing yards per game. Owens has been around Texas A&M since 2023, so we know what kind of back he is, and given that he has yet to top 77 rushing yards in a game this season, there is plenty of reason for skepticism in this matchup.
Sun Belt Starts and Sits
START
DJ Riles, WR, Georgia State vs. Northern Illinois
Georgia State's top receiver Rodshaun Dorsey tweaked something in its last game, and he is questionable to play in Week 4. Meanwhile, with Dorsey banged up, Riles got eight targets in that game, bringing in seven catches for 69 yards against UCF. Potentially the team's top receiver in Week 4, Riles will be at home against an NIU team that has given up 36.7 points per game.
SIT
David Mbadinga, RB, Georgia Southern vs. Houston
Mbadinga stepped into the lead role for Georgia Southern last week, and he did manage over 100 rushing yards, plus five catches for 40 yards. That was against Jacksonville State, though. This is the Houston Cougars. The Cougars have only allowed 62.7 rushing yards per contest.
