Whether you're 0-3, 3-0, or somewhere in between, Week 4 of the fantasy football season is crucial. About a quarter of the 2024 action is in the books, and there are still plenty of tough lineup decisions to be made, thanks to some twists tied to shaky quarterback play, disappearing tight ends, running back injuries, and wide receiver surprises.
Vinnie Iyer is here to help again with another dose of "The Decider", a unique blend of positional rankings and start 'em, sit 'em advice based on matchups, usage, and other factors.
Going beyond the redraft league starts and sits, "The Decider" also includes some DFS picks for different styles of games on DraftKings and FanDuel.
WEEK 4 FANTASY PPR RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers
Fantasy Football Week 4 Start 'Em: Quarterbacks
Regular starts
- Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals (vs. WAS)
- Jayden Daniels, Washington Commanders (at ARI)
- Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills (at BAL)
- Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens (vs. BUF)
- Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles (at TB)
- C.J. Stroud, Houston Texans (vs. JAX)
- Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals (at CAR)
- Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs (at LAC)
Stronger starts
Caleb Williams, Chicago Bears (vs. LAR): He is finally feeling it after getting warmed up in Indy, and the rookie will take it to the Rams' weak pass defense at home.
Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys (at NYG): His history is good in this matchup, and he can get it done with a variety of receivers now.
Justin Fields, Pittsburgh Steelers (at IND): Fields should run around in the open field to follow Williams' success and also keep firing the ball well downfield to his top weapons.
Brock Purdy, San Francisco 49ers (vs. NE): Purdy is being more aggressive and can play well off the run for downfield shots, which works vs. the Patriots back at home.
Geno Smith, Seattle Seahawks (at DET): Smith figures to need to chuck the ball more in a potential high-scoring affair as Seattle has some trouble running on the Lions.
Kirk Cousins, Atlanta Falcons (vs. NO): Cousins is getting locked in more with his talented supporting cast, and he'll overcome a tricky spot to produce at home.
Aaron Rodgers, New York Jets (vs. DEN): Rodgers is playing well off a strong running game and can be good for another 250 yards and 2 TDs working more inside this week.
Deshaun Watson, Cleveland Browns (at LV): It's surprising to have him here, but he got some things cooking last week on the Giants, and the Raiders' pass defense comes in reeling and hurting.
WEEK 4 WAIVER WIRE ADVICE
Full Waiver List | Top Players to Target | How to spend FAAB
DFS pick
Jayden Daniels, Washington Commanders (at ARI, $6,500 on DraftKings, $8,200 on FanDuel): Daniels is the hot hand and legs from Monday night, but the Cardinals present an even easier all-around matchup on the road than the Bengals. Kliff Kingsbury will again help scheme him to have a big day in a revenge game for the OC.
Fantasy Football Week 4 Sit 'Em: Quarterbacks
Weaker starts
Jared Goff, Detroit Lions (vs. SEA): Goff is not playing well overall and faces a tough Mike Macdonald pass defense that can apply pressure and cover well everywhere with the Lions leaning on the run a lot again.
Anthony Richardson, Colts (vs. PIT): You can't play this slumping sophomore vs. T.J. Watt and a sizzling defense coming to town.
Jordan Love, Green Bay Packers (vs. MIN): He should return to start over Malik Willis but steps into a tough spot against a dominant Vikings defense.
Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars (at HOU): He runs into a tough spot against the pass and will be under a lot of duress with his injury-hampered group trying to keep up with Stroud.
Sam Darnold, Minnesota Vikings (if he plays, at GB): Darnold should be good to go with his knee injury, only to face a lower-scoring defensive-minded tilt opposite Love.
Baker Mayfield, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (vs. PHI): Vic Fangio's defense proved to be tricky for Derek Carr, so consider it happening again.
Derek Carr, New Orleans Saints (at ATL): Keep him parked after his clunker as the Falcons' defense can cause confusion for him.
Daniel Jones, New York Giants (vs. DAL): He's tempting because of how he played in Cleveland, but he's a high-risk, limited-reward proposition outside of a need in Superflex.
Andy Dalton, Panthers (vs. CIN): The revenge narrative vs. Burrow is sweet, but the Bengals' defense will be motivated to help get the team in the win column, taking advantage of not facing a dynamic, athletic rookie QB on the road.
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Fantasy Football Week 4 Start 'Em: Running backs
Regular starts
- Saquon Barkley, Philadelphia Eagles (at TB)
- Breece Hall, New York Jets (vs. DEN))
- Jonathan Taylor, Indianapolis Colts (vs. PIT)
- Bijan Robinson, Atlanta Falcons (vs. NO)
- Derrick Henry, Baltimore Ravens (vs. BUF)
- Jordan Mason, San Francisco 49ers (vs. NE)
- Alvin Kamara, New Orleans Saints (at ATL)
- De'Von Achane, Miami Dolphins (vs. TEN)
- Kyren Williams, Los Angeles Rams (at CHI)
- James Cook, Buffalo Bills (at BAL)
- Jahmyr Gibbs, Detroit Lions (vs. SEA)
- Travis Etienne Jr., Jacksonville Jaguars (at HOU)
- Brian Robinson Jr., Washington Commanders (at ARI)
- Aaron Jones, Minnesota Vikings (at GB)
- James Conner, Arizona Cardinals (vs. WAS))
- David Montgomery, Detroit Lions (vs. SEA)
- Rachaad White, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (vs. PHI)
- Zack Moss, Cincinnati Bengals (at CAR)
- J.K. Dobbins, Los Angeles Chargers (vs. KC)
Stronger starts
Devin Singletary, New York Giants (vs. DAL): He's running well since being reunited with Brian Daboll, and the Cowboys are getting gashed.
Zach Charbonnet, Seattle Seahawks (at DET): He remains a strong volume play with Kenneth Walker III shelved.
Tony Pollard, Tennessee Titans (at MIA): Let's give him one more shot in an all-around plus spot.
Najee Harris, Pittsburgh Steelers (at IND): He needs to score to make it work, and that happens here with at least 80 rushing yards.
Jerome Ford, Cleveland Browns (at LV): He remains their best all-around runner without Nick Chubb, and he will get loose in Vegas.
Chuba Hubbard, Carolina Panthers (vs. CIN): The Bengals' run defense is wilting, and Hubbard heated up at the right time on the Raiders.
WEEK 4 FANTASY ROSTER MANAGEMENT ADVICE:
Stock watch | Trade advice | Sleepers | Busts
DFS Picks
Jordan Mason, San Francisco 49ers (at NE, $6,700 on DraftKings, $8,800 on FanDuel): Mason did pretty well against the Rams but didn't quite smash in the late game script, but he'll do that to the Patriots' front.
Breece Hall, New York Jets (vs. DEN, $7,800 on DraftKings, $8,000 on FanDuel): Hall once blew up on the Broncos in his rookie breakout game, and the fond memories plus this matchup points to a massive game.
Fantasy Football Week 4 Sit 'Em: Running backs
Weaker starts
Rhamondre Stevenson, New England Patriots (at SF): He runs into another tough spot, and Antonio Gibson is clouding things.
Josh Jacobs, Green Bay Packers (vs. MIN): He looks slow and washed in relation to their healthy young backs of the moment, and this matchup is brutal.
D'Andre Swift, Chicago Bears (vs. LAR): The tiny dancer keeps struggling with paydirt in the Bears' power attack.
Jaylen Warren, Pittsburgh Steelers (at IND): His value has faded with the running Fields.
Carson Steele, Kansas City Chiefs (at LAC): Cool name, but he won't do much as Remington's long-lost less international cousin.
Zamir White, Las Vegas Raiders (vs. CLE): White is fading to Silver and Black as the team just doesn't give him enough key touches.
Fantasy Football Week 4 Start 'Em: Wide receivers
Regular starts
- CeeDee Lamb, Dallas Cowboys (at NYG)
- Marvin Harrison Jr., Arizona Cardinals (vs. WAS)
- Justin Jefferson, Minnesota Vikings (at GB)
- Amon-Ra St. Brown, Detroit Lions (vs. SEA)
- Ja'Marr Chase, Cincinnati Bengals (at CAR)
- Malik Nabers, New York Giants (vs. DAL)
- Nico Collins, Houston Texans (vs. JAX)
- DK Metcalf, Seattle Seahawks (at DET)
- Mike Evans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (vs. PHI)
- Rashee Rice, Kansas City Chiefs (at.LAC)
- D.J. Moore, Chicago Bears (vs. LAR)
- Amari Cooper, Cleveland Browns (at LV)
- DeVonta Smith, Philadelphia Eagles (if cleared, at TB)
- Davante Adams, Las Vegas Raiders (vs. CLE)
- Tyreek Hill, Miami Dolphins (vs. TEN)
- Chris Olave, New Orleans Saints (at ATL)
- Chris Godwin, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (vs. PHI)
- Brandon Aiyuk, San Francisco 49ers (vs. NE)
- Terry McLaurin, Washington Commanders (at ARI)
- George Pickens, Pittsburgh Steelers (at IND)
- Garrett Wilson, New York Jets (vs. DEN)
- Drake London, Atlanta Falcons (vs. NO)
- Jayden Reed, Green Bay Packers (vs. MIN)
Stronger starts
Stefon Diggs, Houston Texans (vs. JAX): Diggs can crush this secondary like his former Bills teammates did on MNF.
Tank Dell, Houston Texans (vs. JAX): He will join Diggs and Collins in going off against atrocious corners.
Jauan Jennings, San Francisco 49ers (vs. NE): He obviously cools off a lot, but he's still playable in a plus spot.
Diontae Johnson, Carolina Panthers (vs. CIN): Keep rolling with their No. 1 with a better QB against a reeling pass defense.
Tee Higgins, Cincinnati Bengals (at CAR): He should get going back near Clemson to showcase himself for the home team.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Seattle Seahawks (at DET): It's a plus spot for him working off Metcalf.
Rome Odunze, Chicago Bears (vs. LAR): The rookie will keep getting the downfield love from fellow rookie Williams.
Jaylen Waddle, Miami Dolphins (vs. TEN): You still have to go with him, but temper your expectations down to WR3.
DFS picks
Marvin Harrison Jr., Arizona Cardinals (vs. WAS, $7,500 on DraftKings, $8,200 on FanDuel): Maserati Marv has scored the past two weeks after a quiet Week 1, but he's now Murray's clear-cut go-to guy, even more so should Trey McBride (concussion) not play.
Chris Godwin, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (vs. PHI, $6,800 on DraftKings, $7,300 on FanDuel): He's living up to the first half of his last name making clutch plays to please fantasy managers out of his favorite alignment in the slot. And that remains the Eagles' biggest weakness.
Nico Collins, Houston Texans (vs. JAX, $7,200 on DraftKings, $7,700 on FanDuel): All the Texans' wide receivers will be sitting pretty against the Jaguars' secondary, and its massive coverage woes, from deep balls to the end zone.
Fantasy Football Week 4 Sit 'Em: Wide receivers
Weaker starts
Khalil Shakir, Buffalo Bills (at BAL): This matchup will get tighter in the middle for him against a good secondary.
Zay Flowers, Baltimore Ravens (vs. BUF): He faces an even nastier secondary in the same game.
Jameson Williams, Detroit Lions (vs. SEA): You can't go here downfield vs. their corners.
Michael Pittman Jr., Indianapolis Colts (vs. PIT): No thank you in a bad matchup with Richardson struggling badly.
Xavier Worthy, Kansas City Chiefs (at LAC): He's not needed much here in a smash spot for Travis Kelce.
Calvin Ridley, Tennessee Titans (at MIA): Not against Jalen Ramsey and Kendall Fuller on the road.
Rashid Shaheed, New Orleans Saints (at ATL): He's too high risk to go for high reward this week.
Christian Kirk, Jacksonville Jaguars (at HOU): You can't like anything around Lawrence much.
Fantasy Football Week 4 Start 'Em: Tight ends
Must starts
- Sam LaPorta, Detroit Lions (if he plays vs. SEA)
- Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs (at LAC)
- Brock Bowers, Las Vegas Raiders (vs. CLE)
- Trey McBride, Arizona Cardinals (if he plays vs. WAS)
- Dalton Kincaid, Buffalo Bills (at BAL)
- Kyle Pitts, Atlanta Falcons (vs. NO)
Stronger starts
Cole Kmet, Chicago Bears (vs. LAR): He's now feeling it again with Williams after they connected well in the preseason, and he can go off at home in this spot.
Jake Ferguson, Dallas Cowboys (at NYG): He's back and looking good after the knee scare, and the Giants cannot cover him well.
Mark Andrews, Baltimore Ravens (vs. BUF): You gotta keep rolling with him and hope for the best, and the Bills have been giving it up to the position.
Isaiah Likely, Baltimore Ravens (vs. BUF): See Andrews, Mark.
Pat Freiermuth, Pittsburgh Steelers (at IND): The Colts are having some issues with tight ends who can slip out well from inline, and he qualifies for Fields.
Tyler Conklin, New York Jets (vs. DEN): Rodgers trusts him now and will keep working it to him to avoid the Broncos' cornerbacks often.
Dallas Goedert, Philadelphia Eagles (at TB): The matchup is tough, and he won't go nuts again, but he might be a volume-based play at worst because of the wide receiver injuries.
DFS pick
Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs (at. LAC, $5,800 on DraftKings, $7,100 on FanDuel): The Chargers used to somewhat slow him down, but now, in over 18 games against them, he has 100 receptions for 1,223 yards and 9 TDs. He has gone off in the past six meetings with only one disappointment, and he also will be comfortable working against weak tight end coverage with hard-hitting Derwin James suspended for the game.
Fantasy Football Week 4 Sit 'Em: Tight ends
Weaker starts
Hunter Henry, New England Patriots (at SF): The 49ers tend to take away the position with their linebackers and safeties.
Dalton Schultz, Houston Texans (vs. JAX): The matchup isn't bad but this is a game for all three wideouts to go off.
Mike Gesicki, Cincinnati Bengals (at CAR): He's not the worst, but they did check Bowers a bit last week.
Zach Ertz, Washington Commanders (at ARI): Daniels will want to attack more with wideouts outside here.
Noah Fant, Seattle Seahawks (at DET): He cools off as it's more of a wide receiver game for Geno Smith.
Colby Parkinson, Los Angeles Rams (at CHI): Everyone keeps selling him, but there's nothing to buy here with the wide receiver-centric offense, even with the injuries.
Fantasy Football Week 4 Start 'Em: Defense/special teams
Stronger starts
- New York Jets (vs. DEN)
- San Francisco 49ers (vs. NE)
- Pittsburgh Steelers (at IND)
- Chicago Bears (vs. LAR)
- Cleveland Browns (at LV)
- Miami Dolphins (vs. TEN)
Dallas Cowboys (at NYG): The Cowboys should rebound in theory here against Daniel Jones, who will need to pass too often to the Giants' liking.
Kansas City Chiefs (at LAC): They get a break with a shaky QB situation on the road.
Houston Texans (vs. JAX): They can keep the fun going at home vs. a slumping Lawrence.
Minnesota Vikings (at GB): You can't bench them at this point, but they will cool off a little in Lambeau.
Green Bay Packers (vs. MIN): They are playing well for Jeff Hafley, and this can be a sneaky low-scoring slugfest.
Philadelphia Eagles (at TB): Vic Fangio will have the fangs out for Mayfield.
DFS pick
Pittsburgh Steelers (at IND, $3,300 on DraftKings, $4,500 on FanDuel): This was an easy choice against the struggling Richardson, given the sacks and takeaways they can get on the road.
Fantasy Football Week 4 Sit 'Em: Defenses
Weaker starts
Las Vegas Raiders (vs. CLE): You can't go here after that awful effort with Maxx Crosby hurting.
Tennessee Titans (at MIA): It's at trap because the Dolphins can run all over them.
New Orleans Saints (at ATL): This unit will have more trouble on the road.
Buffalo Bills (at BAL): Not against Lamar Jackson.
Baltimore Ravens (vs. BUF): Not against Josh Allen.
Cincinnati Bengals (at CAR): This was good, but now it's not after their defense stunk in Week 3, and the Red Rifle has cleaned up the Panthers.
Get more of Vinnie Iyer's Week 4 fantasy football advice by subscribing to the Locked On Fantasy Football podcast.
