Fantasy Football 2018: Start or sit for Week 4

Start

Austin Hooper vs. Cincinnati – Welcome to the portion of the program where the talent at the tight end position is extremely top-heavy in fantasy football, making articles like this a walk through the park…if the park was on fire. However, if you’re looking for a tight end to plug and play or to replace a bye week, look no further than Austin Hooper.

Hooper’s value this week is all based on matchup potential, as the Bengals have allowed the third-most receptions to tight ends thus far in 2018, according to ESPN. Although not seen has one of the more legitimate threats on the Falcons, it always helps when your tight end is heavily involved (third on the team in routes ran). The volume keeps Hooper’s potential starting-worthy in week four.

Eric Ebron vs. Houston- I’m finally caving in and giving Ebron the respect he has earned three weeks into the season. Many thought the love-fest between Andrew Luck and Jack Doyle would bleed into this season, yet Luck had other ideas. Ebron has established himself as Luck’s go-to guy in the red zone, leaving big touchdown potential every week.

Ebron, who only trails T.Y. Hilton in targets thus far, has 2-of-5 touchdowns thrown by Luck this season. Ebron does still struggle with capitalizing on opportunities (nice person talk for can’t catch the football) but as long as Luck continues to throw his way, Ebron will be a valued mid-tier tight end in fantasy football.

Sit

Jesse James vs. Baltimore – It was fun to watch Jesse James show what he was capable of in week two. This was all before Vance McDonald returned to full health in week three and showed the world (mostly Chris Conte) why the Steelers traded for him in 2017. McDonald has always been the favored tight end in the passing game, yet injuries and inconsistency plagued him from establishing himself.

Thus the Jesse James show will be a limited program, as Pittsburgh likes to utilize him in run-blocking scenarios and sometimes as a red-zone target. So long as McDonald is healthy, James will lose the snap and route-running battle, leaving little desire to start him in any fantasy lineup. James will see targets as the season goes along, but for the near-future, the position is McDonald’s to lose.

O.J. Howard at Chicago – The numbers say to start Howard, and rightfully so. Howard has produced very nicely the past few weeks, finding himself as the current No. 4 tight end in fantasy football, only behind Travis Kelce, Jared Cook and Zach Ertz. Much of Howard’s start can be attributed to the play of quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick and his hot-start to 2018.

Yet despite a solid stat-line for Howard (six receptions, 72 yards), we saw the Fitzmagic slowly start to disappear on Monday Night Football. It is presumed Fitzpatrick will get the start again despite the return of Jameis Winston as the team heads into Chicago to take on one of the league’s best defenses. As we temper the expectations for Fitzpatrick and this offense, Howard’s production should be included this week.