Fantasy soccer sit-and-start recommendation ought to all the time be relative and league-dependent. Many begins and sits are apparent too, so we are going to as a substitute concentrate on fringe choices on this column, those that take actual thought. Good luck along with your Week 4 lineups!
New Orleans Saints @ Atlanta Falcons
Begin: Drake London
London ranks third in first-read goal charge since Week 1 when Kirk Cousins was extra restricted. He additionally owns a 35% air yards share and a 60% finish zone goal share over these two video games. Kyle Pitts isn’t commanding targets whereas sporting a zero separation rating towards each zone and man protection. In the meantime, Bijan Robinson is coping with a shoulder damage (and nonetheless trying to find the second top-five weekly fantasy end of his profession). Atlanta can be due for constructive third-down regression, so London is a powerful begin this week.
Cincinnati Bengals @ Carolina Panthers
Begin: Diontae Johnson
Johnson led all broad receivers in anticipated fantasy factors throughout his first begin with Andy Dalton. He noticed a whopping 37.8% goal share after seeing 21.8% with Bryce Younger, who was clearly holding this Dave Canales offense again. Johnson additionally noticed a 44.8% first-read goal charge and a ten.2 aDOT whereas ending with a career-high 122 receiving yards — his first 100-yard sport since Week 13, 2021. He practically had two extra touchdowns Sunday and is tied for the league lead in end-zone targets.
Dalton offered 29 catchable targets in Week 3 after Younger totaled 38 over the primary two video games of the season. Johnson is an elite separator and can see much more targets with Adam Thielen on IR. Throw away Johnson’s stats with Younger (and with Kenny Pickett for that matter), as his fantasy worth dramatically improved with Carolina’s quarterback swap.
Johnson has traditionally seen a giant enhance in manufacturing when his QB isn’t pressured, so the Bengals appear like a great matchup this week. Johnson sat out Thursday’s apply with a groin damage as a precaution on account of area circumstances, however he says he’s good to go.
Los Angeles Rams @ Chicago Bears
Begin: DJ Moore
Moore took a backseat to the rising Rome Odunze final week, however he’s in a great spot Sunday. Keenan Allen is unlikely to be 100% if he’s capable of return from his heel damage, and Odunze was a late-week addition to the damage report with a hip challenge. The Rams are lacking Aaron Donald badly, permitting an NFL-high 9.8 YPA and the second-most fantasy factors to broad receivers this season. Caleb Williams confirmed development final week, and the Bears can’t run the ball. It’s a good setup for Moore (and Odunze if wholesome).
Minnesota Vikings @ Inexperienced Bay Packers
Begin: Aaron Jones
Jones has appeared terrific this season, and he noticed 25 alternatives final week whereas getting stopped on the one-yard line twice. Sam Darnold’s 10.3% TD charge will regress, so extra touchdowns are coming for Jones. He will get a revenge sport this week towards a Packers workforce permitting 4.7 YPC. Inexperienced Bay can be beginning Malik Willis or a compromised Jordan Love towards a surging Brian Flores protection, so sport script may show favorable as properly.
Jacksonville Jaguars @ Houston Texans
Begin: Cam Akers
Akers was shut down (other than a TD catch) by a stout Minnesota run protection final week, however he noticed 12 of 15 RB alternatives earlier than sitting out the fourth quarter of a blowout. Recreation script must be far more favorable this week, with Houston six-point dwelling favorites towards a reeling Jaguars workforce touring throughout a brief week. Joe Mixon and Dameon Pierce look unlikely to return, so Akers must be Houston’s workhorse once more Sunday. Tank Dell additionally seems unlikely to play, and Nico Collins is coping with a hamstring damage, so Akers can be busy.
The Texans have the third-highest implied workforce whole (25.8 factors), and the Jaguars have yielded the fourth-most fantasy factors to working backs this season, so Akers is a fantastic begin this week.
Pittsburgh Steelers @ Indianapolis Colts
Begin: Justin Fields
Fields hasn’t exploded in fantasy but, however he’s enjoying properly sufficient to maintain the beginning job, and large speeding video games are coming. Quantity has been a problem for Fields, however Colts opponents are averaging 25.7 extra performs per sport this season. Fields was a top-four fantasy QB throughout 5 weeks final season, and he solely began and completed 12 video games. There’s actual fantasy upside right here as soon as Pittsburgh’s protection ultimately permits greater than 10 factors in a sport. Fields has averaged essentially the most scrambles per sport since 2020, and he’s traditionally carried out a lot better towards zone defenses, which the Colts have used on the league’s fifth-highest charge. I’ve Fields as a top-eight QB this week.
Nonetheless, Anthony Richardson and Michael Pittman Jr. each deserve bench consideration. Fantasy managers ought to train endurance with Richardson, however he will get one more powerful matchup this week. Pittsburgh has allowed the fewest fantasy factors to quarterbacks whereas recording twice as many picks as TD passes. In the meantime, Pittman noticed simply 5 targets with Josh Downs (31.3% goal charge) again final week, and he’ll seemingly be shadowed by Joey Porter Jr. on Sunday.
Denver Broncos @ New York Jets
Sit: Courtland Sutton & Javonte Williams
Sutton is due for landing regression transferring ahead, however he’ll seemingly be a fair higher buy-low in fantasy after this week. The Jets have allowed the fewest fantasy factors to perimeter receivers this yr, the place Sutton has run 82% of his routes.
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Javonte Williams ought to proceed to see snaps given his go safety, however it’s protected to say he nonetheless hasn’t absolutely recovered from his multi-ligament surgical procedure as hoped. Williams appears gradual and retains slipping whereas attempting to plant on his surgically repaired knee. Tyler Badie (amongst others) appears just like the superior RB in Denver. Williams’ long term of the season has gone for 9 yards, and it got here throughout his first carry of the yr on a play that ought to’ve resulted in a landing.
This matchup can be slow-paced, and the Broncos have the second-lowest implied workforce whole with a lowly 16.0 factors. Sutton and Williams are bench candidates.
Philadelphia Eagles @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Begin: Dallas Goedert
Goedert must be busy once more Sunday with A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith each unlikely to play. Jahan Dotson has been one of many worst goal earners since coming into the league, and Geodert was terrific final week whereas recording a career-high in catches (10) and receiving yards (170). Tight finish manufacturing has been method down, and now Sam LaPorta and Trey McBride are injured. Goedert is my No. 1 tight finish this week.
Mike Evans is in retailer for a giant bounce-back efficiency ought to his well being cooperate.
Washington Commanders @ Arizona Cardinals
Begin: James Conner
Conner is coming off a fantasy dud when the Cardinals had the ball simply 23 minutes, however he will get a a lot simpler matchup this week. The Commanders have allowed the second-most yards per play on protection, together with 5.1 YPC. The Cardinals have the league’s highest projected level whole this week (27.0), and Conner could possibly be even busier than ordinary with Trey McBride seemingly out and Marvin Harrison Jr. coping with a thigh ailment. Conner was a top-10 fantasy again every of the primary two weeks of the season, so he’s a must-start towards a shaky Washington protection that’s touring after enjoying Monday evening.
New England Patriots @ San Francisco 49ers
Begin: Brandon Aiyuk
Aiyuk disillusioned final week, when he took a backseat to Jauan Jennings with Deebo Samuel Sr. and George Kittle out in a extremely favorable matchup. However Aiyuk noticed 10 targets, and Brock Purdy missed him wide-open for a 50+ yard landing. Aiyuk additionally completed with the highest separation win charge of any sport this season final week. He’s lastly in full form after lacking all summer season practices, and Samuel stays out (and Kittle seemingly received’t be 100% if he returns).
Purdy has been improbable this season, and he’s throwing deeper and focusing on his broad receivers greater than ever with Christian McCaffrey sidelined. San Francisco will get the league’s greatest pass-funnel protection this week. Aiyuk could possibly be shadowed by Christian Gonzalez, however the nook is coping with a shoulder damage and isn’t a matchup to maintain Aiyuk out of fantasy lineups. Keep on with BA.
Kansas Metropolis Chiefs @ Los Angeles Chargers
Sit: J.Okay. Dobbins
Dobbins’ weekly backfield share is transferring in the precise route, and he’s impressed whereas coming back from one other damage. However Justin Herbert is questionable to play (and much more questionable to complete if he does) together with his high-ankle sprain, and three L.A. offensive linemen are injured, with LT Joe Alt seemingly out. Recreation script could possibly be an issue, and the Chargers have a lowly implied workforce whole (16.3 factors). Kansas Metropolis is permitting simply 59.0 RB speeding yards per sport and the fourth-fewest fantasy factors to working backs. This can be a week to make use of options to Dobbins if doable.
Cleveland Browns @ Las Vegas Raiders
Sit: Zamir White
White noticed many of the backfield touches final week, however he additionally noticed a season-low 24% of the snaps and ran simply three routes. Recreation script could possibly be completely different this week, however Las Vegas is the worst speeding workforce in soccer. The Raiders are getting an NFL-low 2.8 YPC and the bottom EPA/rush by a important margin. White is hard to belief in fantasy lineups proper now.
Buffalo Payments @ Baltimore Ravens
Begin: Dalton Kincaid
Kincaid has seen a gentle enhance in targets over the primary three video games, together with practically matching final yr’s whole in the long run zone. Tight ends have averaged 10.3 targets, 7.7 catches and 93.3 yards versus the Ravens this season, and that features a matchup with Travis Kelce. Baltimore can be a pass-funnel protection, with opponents sporting a +9% go charge over expectation. The Ravens are permitting a league-low 39.0 RB speeding yards per sport however the second-most fantasy factors to tight ends this season, so Kincaid may escape Sunday.
Tennessee Titans @ Miami Dolphins
Sit: Jaylen Waddle
Waddle has but to see greater than 5 targets in a sport this season, and he’s going to battle to assist fantasy managers whereas Tua Tagovailoa is out (until Tyler Huntley can save us). Waddle has averaged an anemic 33.5 yards with out Tagovailoa, and the Titans have yielded the third-fewest fantasy factors to broad receivers this season. This matchup has one of many lowest over/unders (36.5) of the yr, so Waddle as soon as once more belongs on fantasy benches.
Seattle Seahawks @ Detroit Lions
Begin: Geno Smith
Smith wasn’t wanted a lot final week after Seattle opened with an early 17-3 lead, however he’s performed properly throughout his first yr in Ryan Grubb’s system. The Seahawks may battle to run towards a pass-funnel Lions protection permitting the fewest fantasy factors to working backs this season. Detroit’s offense ought to put up factors at dwelling, so Smith’s quantity must be there whereas enjoying indoors Monday evening; he has a 16:2 TD:INT ratio with a 119.7 Passer Ranking over six dome video games since becoming a member of Seattle.
Smith is a top-12 QB this week.
