Fantasy Football 2018: Start or sit for Week 4

Start

Ryan Tannehill at New England – So, there’s a lot of things in my life I thought I would never have to do, and suggesting Ryan Tannehill be played against the New England Patriots definitely ranks up there on that list. What’s more surprising: Tannehill leading the Dolphins to a 3-0 record, or the Patriots folding like a lawn-chair on defense en route to a 1-2 record? Tannehill quietly finds himself ranked just outside the top ten tier of fantasy quarterback play, averaging a steady 25 fantasy points per outing.

The Patriots defense ranks in the bottom quarter of the league, allowing nearly 418 yards per game on defense, 271 of those coming through the air. Perhaps expecting a victory for the Dolphins in Week 4 might be a stretch, but with recent QB performances (quarterbacks average nearly 27 ppg vs. New England’s defense) showing promise, Tannehill finds himself in borderline start territory for Week 4, throwing multiple touchdowns in all three games thus far.

Baker Mayfield at Oakland – I’ve snuck into the conductor’s room of the Baker Mayfield hype-train, and fully expect to keep things moving as Mayfield and company roll into Oakland to play a Raiders defense that can’t seem to get to the quarterback (31st in the league in pressures, according to ESPN) or simply stop quarterbacks (23.3 ppg allowed to quarterbacks).

Mayfield showed a lot of promise when he entered last week’s Thursday night game, going 17-of-23 for 201 yards in about one half of football against a considerably better Jets defense. Baker has a lot of things working him, as he benefits from playing behind a solid offensive line with legitimate weapons. Additionally, his playmaking and mobility make him a wildcard for defenses, who don’t have the benefit of a lot of film on the former-Sooner. Don’t be the guy that doubts Baker Mayfield — we’ve seen that movie before.

Sit

Kirk Cousins at Los Angeles (Rams) – Captain Kirk came crashing down to earth with the rest of the Minnesota Vikings after what has to be the wildest upset of the year thus far, losing 27-6 at home to the Bills. Cousins amassed a mere 12 points on the virtual gridiron, turning the ball over three times. A fourth-quarter touchdown saved an otherwise extremely poor fantasy day. Last season, Cousins ran into a less-talented Rams defense, only salvaging 179 yards and one touchdown.

Fast-forward to 2018, where the Rams tout a top-two defense as they allow under 200 yards per game through the air along with 12 points per game. The upside clearly isn’t alive in this matchup, despite reports Dalvin Cook may be able to suit up. On a short week traveling to Los Angeles, I’ll roll the dice on Cousins not performing to expectations following an embarrassing loss to Buffalo.

Carson Wentz at Tennessee – Wentz’s debut went about as well as expected for Eagles fans, who ultimately got the win in a tough battle with the Indianapolis Colts. Wentz’s stat-line wasn’t as pretty as some of the passes he was tossing, going 25-of-37 for 255 yards along with one touchdown and interception apiece to his name. It’s clear the rust is still there, as Wentz is still working himself back to form.

A Week 4 visit at Tennessee will provide Wentz his first true defensive test, as the Titans allow just a shade under 17 points a game, touting one of the league’s stingiest defenses. Should this matchup be five weeks from now and at home with all of his weapons at his disposal, I’d be more confident in Wentz’s abilities. However, until Wentz can prove his rehab process is officially behind him, I’ll roll with the home team and good defense.