Fantasy Football Start/Sit for Week 4: Streaming Options & More

Unless otherwise noted, references to 'fantasy points' are based on PPR scoring with 25/10 yards per point and 4/6 points for TDs. Start % comes from Yahoo, as of Wednesday night / Thursday morning.

Start/Upgrade 👍

Quarterbacks 👍

• Caleb Williams (at LV) — 47% started

Start Over — Kyler Murray (vs. SEA), Dak Prescott (vs. GB), Daniel Jones (at LAR)

He won't get to face the Cowboys every week, but Williams' upcoming matchup at Las Vegas might be the next best thing. The Raiders still have Maxx Crosby and not much else on defense, ranking 28th in opponent EPA per dropback (0.18), 26th in YPA (7.8) and 20th in fantasy points allowed to QBs (18.4). It's been a while since Chicago's offense had a large talent advantage over any opponent, but we're now seeing it for a second straight week as Rome Odunze and DJ Moore prepare to tee off on the Raiders' no-name secondary.

• Other Good Matchups: Bo Nix (vs. CIN), Drake Maye (vs. CAR), Jordan Love (at DAL), Justin Fields (at MIA), Bryce Young (at NE), Geno Smith (vs. CHI), Tua Tagovailoa (vs. NYJ)

Running Backs 👍

• J.K. Dobbins (vs. CIN) — 50% started

Start Over — Tony Pollard (at HOU), Javonte Williams (vs. GB), Chase Brown (at DEN)

Dobbins is this week's version of Jordan Mason, worthy of a lineup spot even on teams that need to bench someone darn good to make it happen. Consistent production is already there, with Dobbins scoring between 14.8 and 15.5 PPR points in each of his first three games this season -- numbers that establish him as a strong RB2. He's more than that this week, facing a horrific Cincinnati defense at home as a 7.5-point favorite, after recording season highs for snap share (69 percent) and route share (48 percent) in a Week 3 loss to the Chargers. In addition to his usual role as the lead runner, Dobbins took over most of the passing-down snaps that Tyler Badie got in Weeks 1 and 2.

• Nick Chubb (vs. TEN) — 23% started

Start Over — Isiah Pacheco (vs. BAL), RJ Harvey (vs. CIN), Jacory Croskey-Merritt (at ATL)

Chubb at least looks much improved from last year, averaging a respectable 4.1 YPC in one of the worst offenses in the league. The Texans have too much talent to be this bad all year, even if the problems are very real, and they're in an ideal get-right spot this week as 7.5-point favorites over the pathetic Titans. Only two teams have allowed more PPR points to running backs (27.3 per game) and only two have surrendered more yards per carry (5.53) to RBs. 

Chubb, meanwhile, has accounted for 66.7 percent of the carries (34 of 51) in Houston's backfield, along with a surprising 53.8 percent of the targets (seven of 13). This is one of the few weeks with a good enough matchup that the large workload shares actually translate to a solid projection for fantasy points, bringing Chubb up to RB2 range.

• Other Good Matchups: Josh Jacobs (at DAL); Breece Hall (at MIA); Ashton Jeanty (vs. CHI); TreVeyon Henderson & Antonio Gibson (vs. CAR); Kareem Hunt (vs. BAL); Ollie Gordon (vs. NYJ); Woody Marks (vs. TEN); Chris Rodriguez (at ATL); 

Wide Receivers 👍

• Jakobi Meyers (vs. CHI) — 73% started

Start Over — DK Metcalf (vs. MIN), Marvin Harrison (vs. SEA), Zay Flowers (at KC)

Amid all the discussion about Tre Tucker and Brock Bowers, one could almost forget that Meyers leads the Raiders in targets (26), catches (17) and receiving yards (228). The only thing missing is touchdowns, with Tucker somehow accounting for all four of the team's receiving scores so far (with 19.4 percent of the targets). Even if Tucker's breakthrough is for real, kind of, he's unlikely to replace Meyers as the possession receiver who piles up targets and steady PPR points. For Week 4, the Raiders should find success targeting their main guys, facing an injury-marred Chicago secondary that's allowing the fifth-most PPR points (40.0 per game) and second-most YPT (10.5) to wide receivers.

• Jordan Addison (at PIT) — 9% started

Start Over — Keon Coleman (vs. NO), Tre Tucker (vs. CHI), Matthew Golden (at DAL)

Addison is back from suspension but seemingly in a precarious situation for fantasy, catching passes from 32-year-old Carson Wentz for at least this week (and perhaps much longer). That's not great, but Addison is a talented player, and returning from suspension (rather than injury) increases the odds of jumping right back into a full-time role.

If so, he'll take aim at a name-brand defense that's no longer living up to the reputation, mostly looking old, slow and injured, not star-studded (even though Jalen Ramsey is playing well). It's a good enough spot to roll with Addison if you don't have a reliable WR3, even acknowledging the considerable concern about Minnesota's QB play. Just don't stick with Addison in tougher matchups, or if Wentz/McCarthy eventually prove incompetent.

• Other Good Matchups: WRs Puka Nacua & Davante Adams (vs. IND); Garrett Wilson & Tyler Johnson (at MIA); Tyreek Hill & Jaylen Waddle (vs. NYJ); Rome Odunze & DJ Moore (at LV); Ladd McConkey & Quentin Johnston (at NYG); Jakobi Meyers & Tre Tucker (vs. LV); Romeo Doubs, Matthew Golden & Dontayvion Wicks (at DAL); Darnell Mooney (vs. WAS)

Tight Ends 👍

• Hunter Henry (vs. CAR) — 35% started

Start Over — Dalton Kincaid (vs. NO), Juwan Johnson (at BUF), T.J. Hockenson (at PIT)

Chasing last week's points at tight end will mostly get us into trouble, but Henry at least has enough of a track record -- and strong enough receiving peripherals -- to know that he won't entirely disappear in the coming weeks. Last year, he ranked sixth or higher among tight ends in targets, catches and air yards, but with just two TDs and 6.9 YPA in a miserable offense. 

The blockers and pass catchers don't look much better so far this year, but Drake Maye does, ranking fifth in passing yards (785), 11th in YPA ( 7.4) and second in completion percentage (72.6). Maye still makes some bone-headed throws, but New England's cumulative receiving production has been much better this year, with Henry as the only true full-time player. A home matchup against Carolina's vulnerable, zone-heavy defense* should lead to another solid showing from both Maye and Henry. 

*The Panthers used zone coverages on 80.0% of opponent dropbacks last season (4th) and are now at 86.0 percent (3rd) early in 2025.

• Other Good Matchups: Brock Bowers (vs. CHI), Trey McBride (vs. SEA), Tucker Kraft (at DAL), Travis Kelce (vs. BAL), Cole Kmet (vs. LV)

Sit/Downgrade 👎

Quarterbacks 👎

• Aaron Rodgers (vs. MIN) — 7% started

Start Instead — Bryce Young (at NE), Jaxson Dart (vs. LAC), Tua Tagovailoa (vs. NYJ)

Dak Prescott is the obvious guy in a nightmare spot this week, playing without CeeDee Lamb (ankle) against a white-hot Green Bay defense. After that, Rodgers has arguably the toughest matchup, traveling across the pond to face what might be Brian Flores' best defense yet. Last week's massacre was probably more about Jake Browning than his opponent, but the Vikings also held both Caleb Williams and Michael Penix under 6.5 YPA in Weeks 1-2.

• Other Tough Matchups: Dak Prescott (vs. GB), Daniel Jones (at LAR), Jake Browning (at DEN)

Running Backs 👎

• Chase Brown (at DEN) — 78% started

Start Instead — Tony Pollard (at HOU), Javonte Williams (vs. GB), Travis Etienne (at SF), Trey Benson (vs. SEA)

The argument for Brown as a top-25 pick in fantasy rarely mentioned anything about his talent. He's not a bad player, to be clear, but he's also not the type of brilliant runner who can regularly churn out more than what's blocked. The Bengals will still try to get Brown going, because what other choice do they have?

In terms of what those touches produce, expectations should be modest in general and even lower than that this week. Denver's defense hasn't looked as good as it did last season, but the talent is still there, which is more than Cincinnati's offense can say. Brown is in a tough situation, playing with a subpar offensive line and a quarterback that defenses don't need to respect. Making matters worse, he's been losing some passing-down snaps to Samaje Perine and some garbage-time work to Tahj Brooks.

• Quinshon Judkins (at DET) — 50% started

Start Instead — Nick Chubb (vs. TEN), Cam Skattebo (vs. LAC), D'Andre Swift (at LV)

I'm optimistic about Judkins in general, and even think he can find some success in negative game scripts, but this is a matchup where we have to worry about both the volume and efficiency. Detroit's front seven looks tough again, with DE Aidan Hutchinson already in mid-season form despite breaking his leg last year. The Lions are also a tough matchup for running backs from a schematic standpoint, as this is their fourth straight season ranking top six in the percentage of opponent run plays with more defenders than blockers in the box. Kelvin Sheppard mostly looks similar to Aaron Glenn so far, using stacked boxes and man-to-man coverage much more often than most modern defensive playcallers. 

• Other Tough Matchups: Derrick Henry (at KC), Jonathan Taylor (at LAR), Jaylen Warren (vs. MIN)

Wide Receivers 👎

• Marvin Harrison (vs. SEA) — 72% started

Start Instead —  DeVonta Smith (at TB), DJ Moore (at LV), Keenan Allen (at NYG)

Harrison struggled in two matchups with Mike McDaniel's defense last year, catching seven of 14 targets for 96 scoreless yards. That was about his norm for much of the season, and there hasn't been clear progress so far in Year 2, with Harrison averaging just 47.4 yards and 5.7 targets per game. I do think he'll improve those numbers as the season progresses, just not to an extent commensurate with his top-40 ADP. And don't expect it to happen this week, facing a defense that's getting healthier after overcoming some key injuries the past few weeks.

• Chris Godwin (vs. PHI) — 4% started

Start Instead — Elic Ayomanor (at HOU), Darnell Mooney (vs. WAS), Christian Kirk (vs. TEN)

Godwin was a full practice participant Wednesday, likely setting him up for his 2025 debut this Sunday. It might be tempting to pencil him in for a large target share with Mike Evans now sidelined, but we don't even know what Godwin's snap count will look like. Given the severity of the ankle injury and length of Godwin's subsequent rehab, it won't come as any surprise if he starts off in a part-time role. It also won't be surprising if he lacks his usual explosiveness for most or all of this season, making it difficult to approach last year's prolific production even if the Bucs continue to deal with multiple other injuries at wide receiver. A matchup with the Super Bowl champions and their excellent secondary should end any misguided notion of rolling the dice on Godwin's workload in the first game back.

• Other Tough Matchups: Ja'Marr Chase & Tee Higgins (at DEN); DK Metcalf & Calvin Austin (vs. MIN); Calvin Ridley (at HOU); Rashid Shaheed (at BUF)

Tight Ends 👎

• Mark Andrews (at KC) — 56% started

Start Instead — Juwan Johnson (at BUF), Hunter Henry (vs. CAR), Harold Fannin (at DET)

Andrews looked great Sunday night against the Lions in a two-TD performance, but his target share for the season is still just 13.3 percent, down from 15.1 percent last year (a number that was already flirting with danger). And that's without fellow Ravens tight end Isaiah Likely, who could make his 2025 debut this week. Even if Likely doesn't play, Andrews will have a tough matchup. His six career games against Steve Spagnuolo's defense, including playoffs, have yielded receiving lines of 2-14-0, 2-15-0, 5-57-0, 3-22-0, 3-15-0 and 0-0-0. That's about as ugly as it gets, unless you've seen his numbers against the other AFC heavyweight.

• Other Tough Matchups: Sam LaPorta (vs. CLE), Juwan Johnson (at BUF)

Streaming Picks

For Shallow Leagues (Under 60 Percent Rostered)

QB Geno Smith (vs. CHI)

RB Kareem Hunt (vs. BAL)

RB Woody Marks (vs. TEN)

WR Tre Tucker (vs. CHI)

WR Darnell Mooney (vs. WAS)

WR Troy Franklin (vs. CIN)

WR Christian Kirk (vs. TEN)

TE Harold Fannin (at DET)

K Matt Prater (vs. NO)

K Cam Little (at SF)

K Spencer Shrader (at LAR)

D/ST Patriots (vs. CAR)

For Medium-depth Leagues (Under 35 Percent Rostered)

QB Jaxson Dart (vs. LAC)

RB Chris Rodriguez (at ATL)

WR Tyquan Thornton (vs. BAL)

WR Elic Ayomanor (at HOU)

TE Brenton Strange (at SF)

K Matt Gay (at ATL)

K Brandon McManus (at DAL)

D/ST Commanders (at ATL)

For Deep Leagues (Under 10 Percent Rostered)

QB Carson Wentz (at PIT)

QB Marcus Mariota (at DET)*

RB Emari Demercado (vs. SEA)

RB Justice Hill (at KC)

WR KaVontae Turpin (vs. GB)

WR Tory Horton (at ARZ)

WR Dontayvion Wicks (at DAL)

WR Sterling Shepard (vs. PHI)

WR Demarcus Robinson (vs. JAX)*

WR Parker Washington (at SF)

TE Tyler Higbee (vs. IND)

K Will Reichard (at PIT)

K Cairo Santos (at LV)

D/ST Dolphins (vs. NYJ)