Fantasy Football: Start or sit for NFL Week 4

Fantasy football starts and sits for Week 4 of the 2020 NFL season.

Week 4 of the 2020 NFL season is here and, with about a quarter of the fantasy football regular season in the books, managers may have to cut ties with underperforming players and realize that what they believed was a slump may be the new normal, especially for players with high name value.

It is also during this part of the season that you will see rookies become more acclimated with their new teams and begin to step into bigger roles. In Week 3, we saw first-round wide receiver draft picks Justin Jefferson and Brandon Aiyuk both put up strong weeks for the first time.

All that considered, here are the players that you should have confidence starting, and those who should be on your bench in Week 4.

Note: All fantasy stats info via Fantasy Pros.

Fantasy Football Starts for Week 4

QB Jared Goff, Los Angeles (vs. New York)

Goff has had a strong start to the season and currently sits as the QB9 through three weeks. In Week 4, he draws a plus matchup against the New York Giants, who just allowed Nick Mullens to throw for 343 yards against them in Week 3.

There is always the possibility a running back scores the first few touchdowns and the lead gets out of hand before Goff can rack up the fantasy points, but he still offers an extremely high floor with a good chance to put up a QB1 week.

Projection: 297 yards, 3 touchdowns, 12 rushing yards, 25.1 fantasy points. 

QB Matthew Stafford, Detroit (vs. New Orleans)

Stafford has put up mediocre stat lines thus far and is yet to throw for 300 yards or three touchdowns three weeks into the season. With Kenny Golladay nearing full health and a game against a soft New Orleans defense that is likely to be a high-scoring affair, I think he has a chance to hit both of those thresholds.

Projection: 348 yards, 3 touchdowns, interception, 24.9 fantasy points. 

RB Kenyan Drake, Arizona (vs. Carolina)

Drake is a definite candidate for the biggest underperformer thus far and is currently sitting as the RB24 despite being drafted on average as the RB10. However, he is still fifth in the league in rushing attempts and draws a matchup against Carolina, one of the worst rushing defenses in the league.

If Drake fails to put up a strong performance in Week 4, he may permanently exit the RB1 conversation but with his talent and opportunity, he is due for a big game.

Projection: 121 total yards, 2 receptions, 1 touchdown, 19.1 fantasy points. 

RB Mike Davis, Carolina (vs. Arizona)

Davis put up a strong performance in McCaffrey’s absence, totaling 91 yards and a touchdown on 21 touches. His involvement in the passing game is incredibly promising, as he has seen 17 targets in the past two weeks. Look for that passing game workload to only grow bigger as Carolina projects to be playing from behind against a potent Arizona offense.

Projection: 92 total yards, 8 receptions, 1 touchdown, 19.2 fantasy points. 

WR Devante Parker, Miami (vs. Seattle)

Three weeks into the season and Parker has yet to crack 69 receiving yards, though that looks likely to change in Week 4. Seattle may be the most desirable opponent for fantasy wide receivers, as they offer the combination of a weak defense with a game script that will lead to nearly every team playing from behind.

Projection: 7 receptions 124 yards, 1 touchdown, 21.9 fantasy points. 

TE T.J. Hockenson, Detroit (vs. New Orleans)

Despite not having had any huge games, Hockenson is currently the TE8 on the season. This number looks to only go up in Week 4, as he draws a matchup against New Orleans, who has given up the most fantasy points to tight ends so far. I like Hockenson’s chances to find the end zone in what should be a shootout.

Projection: 5 receptions, 70 yards, 1 touchdown, 15.5 fantasy points. 

Fantasy Football Sits for Week 4

QB Tom Brady, Tampa Bay (vs. Los Angeles)

Brady has been another underwhelming player this year who people still tend to view as an auto-start because of the name value. However, through three weeks he is currently sitting as the QB16 and just lost his top receiver Chris Godwin to a hamstring injury.

With his lack of rushing and overall considering he is only the QB19 in passing yards, he almost needs to throw three touchdowns to have a fantasy-relevant week.

Projection: 243 yards, 2 touchdowns, interception, 16.7 fantasy points. 

RB Mark Ingram, Baltimore (vs. Washington)

Through three weeks, Ingram has 4 total targets and 26 rushing attempts. On the season, he has been outscored by the likes of Brian Hill, Jeff Wilson Jr, and even teammate J.K Dobbins. If Ingram did not have the name value and history, he would likely be on waivers. While I don’t necessarily advise dropping him, he is clearly in a three-way timeshare and should be treated as such.

Projection: 59 total yards, 2 receptions, 6.9 fantasy points. 

WR T.Y. Hilton, Indianapolis (vs. Chicago)

Indianapolis receivers seem to keep getting injured, with Parris Campbell and Michael Pittman Jr both out for extended periods of time. However, T.Y Hilton has been as uninvolved as ever, with Rivers much more inclined to spread the ball around than his previous quarterbacks.

In Week 4, he draws a tough matchup against Chicago. And even though he has shown in the past he is a boom-bust receiver, he needs to remain on your bench until he proves he is capable of booming this season.

Projection: 4 receptions, 64 yards, 8.4 fantasy points. 

TE Jared Cook, New Orleans (vs. Detroit)

Even with Michael Thomas out, Jared Cook has not been able to take the next step as a weekly TE1 thus far. He is also battling a groin injury and could battle a snap count if he were to suit up.

However, with Drew Brees also averaging a historically low average depth of the target, it’s best to look elsewhere at the tight end position this week.

Projection: 3 receptions, 38 yards, 5.3 fantasy points.