When the Dolphins and Bengals face each other in Cincinnati to begin Week 4 on "Thursday Night Football" (8:15 p.m. ET, Amazon Prime Video), there should be some exciting moments for two of the NFL's top wide receiver corps. The game has a favorable Vegas total of 47 points, meaning there are plenty of "must-starts" and a few guys on the start 'em, sit 'em bubble in season-long fantasy leagues.
One Miami concern is the health of Tua Tagovailoa (back/ankle-questionable) who has been battling multiple injuries on a short week ahead of dueling Joe Burrow as well as possible. The Bengals had a small worry with Joe Mixon (ankle), but he's good to go for the game. Jaylen Waddle (groin) is also "questionable" but currently expected to play.
With all that in mind, here's breaking down the entire start 'em sit 'em picture for Thursday night, including a couple DFS lineup suggestions for FanDuel and DraftKings:
MORE DOLPHINS-BENGALS:
FD Lineup | DK Lineup | Tua update | Waddle update
Dolphins: Who to start or sit in fantasy football on Thursday night
Start: QB Tua Tagovailoa
Tagovailoa (ankle, back) has been a rollercoaster this season, posting one massive QB1 game in Week 2 against the Ravens sandwiched by underwhelming QB2 finishes. He should be somewhere in between this week, assuming he guts it out and doesn't pass the start to Teddy Bridgewater. The Bengals' offense should force Tagovailoa into some volume, and the Dolphins cannot run well at all at the moment.
WEEK 4 FANTASY PICKS: Sleepers | Busts | Start 'em, sit 'em
Sit: RBs Chase Edmonds and Raheem Mostert
Edmonds scored twice last week but had just seven touches for 27 yards following his six touches for 41 yards in Week 2. That's too TD-dependent to trust even as a flex in normal-sized season-long leagues. Mostert got 14 touches in Week 2, which matched his total from Weeks 1 and 3. There's nothing comfortable to see here yet.
WEEK 4 PPR RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kicker
Start: WR Tyreek Hill
Hill was shut down by the Bills' backup defensive backs in the Dolphins' limited offensive exposure, catching just two-of-four targets for 33 yards. He should get back on track with double-digit looks based on game script, and he had some good success against the Bengals' corners as a Chief in last year's playoffs. Expect a short score with 80-100 yards.
WEEK 4 STANDARD RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kicker
Start: WR Jaylen Waddle
Waddle (groin) is the WR3 overall behind only Stefon Diggs and Cooper Kupp over three weeks. He's red hot and locked in with Tagovailoa, emerging as the Deebo Samuel after-the-catch menace of the Dolphins' 49ers-like offense. He should be busy all over the field again for another sound performance as long as his groin injury doesn't keep him out.
WEEK 4 DFS: Best values | Best stacks
Sit: WR Cedrick Wilson Jr. and TE Mike Gesicki
Wilson isn't getting enough usage behind Hill and Waddle. Gesicki is just a TD-or-bust guy, too. Consistently, this is a two-target offense, so unless Waddle is out.
WEEK 4 DFS LINEUPS: FanDuel | DraftKings
Sit: Dolphins D/ST
The Dolphins have just six sacks despite their blitzing ways. They crushed the Patriots in Week 1 but gave up a ton of passing yardage to Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson. That's not a good sign for positive points vs. Joe Burrow.
Sit: K Jason Sanders
Sanders is attached to a much more explosive offense, but the K1 numbers just aren't there to trust.
Bengals: Who to start or sit in fantasy football on Thursday night
Start: QB Joe Burrow
Burrow "got well" in ripping the Jets' weak pressure and coverage in Week 3. He's back to being an elite passer and did well to not succumb as much to the pass rush following two disastrous weeks up front against the Steelers and Cowboys. The Dolphins' blitzing ways will open up the field for him to rip them apart with his three top wide receivers.
Start: RB Joe Mixon
Mixon hasn't been the RB1 for which he was drafted yet with his RB16 status in half-point PPR. He comes into this matchup with an ankle issue, but he can have a key role as a receiver (see Devin Singletary vs. the Dolphins) and has a good chance to return to the end zone. The Dolphins' run defense has been tough, but look for Mixon to take advantage of a positive game script that didn't happen against the Jets.
Start: WR Ja'Marr Chase
Chase will likely see a good bit of Dolphins top cornerback Xavien Howard with no Byron Jones (ankle) available. Howard can be burned downfield at times, and Chase can also give him trouble in open field after the catch.
Start: WR Tee Higgins
Higgins will get the more favorable coverage away from Howard often and can work over Nik Needham. He is a good bet for a red-zone TD along with 75-plus receiving yards.
Start: WR Tyler Boyd
Boyd is coming off a strong game against the Jets, catching four-of-five targets for 104 yards and a TD. The Dolphins are weak in the slot (see Isaiah McKenzie), so Burrow will trust his inside man often. Boyd also has a good chance to dent the end zone after scoring in Weeks 1 and 3.
Sit: TE Hayden Hurst
Hurst isn't the worst idea based on the coverage, but the Dolphins only had trouble vs. Mark Andrews and not Dawson Knox or the Patriots' tight ends.
Sit: Bengals D/ST
Season-long players should be able to do a better given there are plenty of strong streaming options in Week 4, including the Steelers, Vikings and Giants.
Start: K Evan McPherson
McPherson is a middle-pack K1 with his big-money leg and is typically better at home.
Dolphins vs. Bengals: FanDuel single-game lineup
- MVP (1.5X): QB Joe Burrow $15,500
- AnyFLEX: RB Joe Mixon $12,000
- AnyFLEX: WR Tee Higgins $11,500
- AnyFLEX: WR Tyler Boyd $10,000
- AnyFLEX: RB Chase Edmonds $10,500
Burrow has to be the "Captain" here tied to his two weapons and his check-down running back. Edmonds was the best player affordable after doing a Bengals superstack.
Dolphins vs. Bengals: DraftKings Showdown lineup
- Captain (1.5X): QB Joe Burrow $14,400
- FLEX: WR Tyreek Hill $10,800
- FLEX: WR Tee Higgins $8,200
- FLEX: WR Tyler Boyd $7,000
- FLEX: RB Chase Edmonds $6,200
- FLEX: Bengals D/ST $3,200
Here's locking in Burrow again with his No. 2 and No. 3 receivers away from Howard vs. Chase and also getting a good chunk of the opposite side in Hill. Edmonds remains the scoring-based dice roll. Here's also banking on the Bengals' D overachieves vs. Tagovailoa.
