Fantasy Football Start 'Em Sit 'Em: Week 4 lineup advice, best matchups, DFS picks

Let's face it, you didn't expect to be contemplating whether you should start Chuba Hubbard in Week 4. Or Sam Darnold. Or Brandon Aiyuk. Or the Ravens D/ST. We could go on, but you get the point. A lot has already changed since draft day, be it because of injuries, breakouts, or disappointments, and that's causing all sorts of start 'em, sit 'em headaches. Whether you're undefeated, winless, or somewhere in between in season-long leagues, you need the best Week 4 fantasy lineup advice to help you make the tough calls.

As always, SN's Vinnie Iyer, aka "The Decider," is here to help. And just in case you're already sick of your season-long teams and switched to DFS mode, we have some daily picks to click, too. 

WEEK 4 FANTASY: Sleepers | Busts

Fantasy Football Week 4 Start 'Em: Quarterbacks

QB must-starts

1. Josh Allen, Bills (vs. HOU)
2. Tom Brady, Buccaneers (at NE)
3. Russell Wilson, Seahawks (at SF)
4. Kyler Murray, Cardinals (at LAR)
5. Matthew Stafford, Rams (vs. ARI)
6. Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs (at PHI)
7. Justin Herbert, Chargers (vs. LV)
8. Lamar Jackson, Ravens (at DEN)
9. Dak Prescott, Cowboys (vs. CAR)
10. Jalen Hurts, Eagles (vs. KC)
11. Aaron Rodgers, Packers (vs. PIT)

Stronger starts

Kirk Cousins, Vikings (vs. CLE). He's getting it done with his two main receivers and other guys, too, playing well off the running game. This should be another shootout at home.

Ryan Tannehill, Titans (vs. NYJ). Tannehill got in his get-well game against the Colts and should keep rolling as Derrick Henry helps hammer him to another solid day off play-action.

Joe Burrow, Bengals (vs. JAX). He is balling out better coming off the knee injury and will be motivated to prove he's the better No. 1 overall pick in this beautiful TNF matchup at home.

Sam Darnold, Panthers (vs. DAL). He has the keys to a fine offense minus CMC, and there should be some pleasing passing (and maybe running) garbage opposite Prescott.

Justin Fields, Bears (if he starts again, vs. DET). Fields was put in a tough road spot in Cleveland. He should be much better prepared should he get the nod for the Lions in the much friendlier confines of Soldier Field.

DFS bargains

Baker Mayfield, Browns (at MIN, $6,200 on DraftKings, $7,300 on FanDuel). Mayfield looks good with OBJ and should be called upon for multiple scores and maybe 300-plus yards in a sneaky high-scoring affair with Kirk Cousins.

Matt Ryan, Falcons (at WAS, $5,400 on DraftKings, $6,700 on FanDuel). Ryan has been more big miss than hit early because of questionable usage of his weapons, but Washington's defense has been giving poor effort. Ryan could easily bet by on big volume again opposite a potent offense.

Streamer special

Taylor Heinicke, Washington (vs. ATL). Ryan is playable on the cheap, but Heinicke is an ideal one-week plug-and-play, as he'll get the job done with his key weapons at wideout and tight end.

WEEK 4 PPR RANKINGS:
Quarterback | Running back | Wide receiver | Tight end | D/ST | Kicker

Fantasy Football Week 4 Sit 'Em: Quarterbacks

Weaker starts

Derek Carr, Raiders (at LAC). Carr is throwing a ton for big yardage but that changes vs. the Chargers' defense, which is much more vulnerable against the run and can contain his type of downfield targets.

Teddy Bridgewater, Broncos (vs. BAL). Denver finally draws a good team, and Baltimore's defense is on an upward swing after early injuries.

Daniel Jones, Giants (at NO). Too many receiver injuries, too unfavorable of a road matchup.

Trevor Lawrence, Jaguars (at CIN). The Bengals' defense is playing very well, and he's not playing well at all.

Jared Goff, Lions (at CHI). He came crashing down against the Ravens, and it continues here.

Ben Roethlisberger, Steelers (at GB). He might be OK with volume, but his receivers also are hurting and he looks awful.

Deep traps

Jimmy Garoppolo, 49ers (vs. SEA), Jacoby Brissett, Dolphins (vs. IND), Mac Jones, Patriots (vs. TB)

WEEK 4 STANDARD RANKINGS:
Quarterback | Running back | Wide receiver | Tight end | D/ST | Kicker

Fantasy Football Week 4 Start 'Em: Running backs

RB must-starts

1. Derrick Henry, Titans (vs. NYJ)
2. Alvin Kamara, Saints (vs. NYG)
3. Austin Ekeler, Chargers (vs. LV)
4. Nick Chubb, Browns (at MIN)
5. Dalvin Cook, Vikings (if he returns, or Alexander Mattison, vs. CLE)
6. Aaron Jones, Packers (vs. PIT)
7. Jonathan Taylor, Colts (at MIA)
8. Antonio Gibson, Washington (vs. ATL)
9. Joe Mixon, Bengals (vs. JAX)
10. Ezekiel Elliott, Cowboys (vs. CAR)
11. Najee Harris, Steelers (at GB)
12. David Montgomery, Bears (vs. DET)
13. Chris Carson, Seahawks (at SF)
14. Saquon Barkley, Giants (at NO)
15. D'Andre Swfit, Lions (at CHI)
16. Kareem Hunt, Browns (at MIN)
17. Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Chiefs (at PHI)
18. James Robinson, Jaguars (at CIN)

Stronger starts

Chuba Hubbard, Panthers (at DAL). Plug and play CMC's backup in a good enough matchup on the road. He'll get the volume and has the talent.

Miles Sanders, Eagles (vs. KC). Here's a big rebound game as Philly overcorrects to calm down its offense with Jalen Hurts.

Melvin Gordon and Javonte Williams, Broncos (vs. BAL). They keep getting it done together, and Denver will be run heavy in this game with a solid offensive line spot.

Peyton Barber, Raiders (at LAC). There's a good chance he carries the load with Josh Jacobs (toe, ankle) still on the shelf after his strong performance against Miami. The Chargers are most vulnerable against the run because of a smaller front.

Cordarrelle Patterson, Falcons (vs. WAS). Do we believe this will last? No, but he keeps producing and WFT's sudden poor tackling and lack of discipline will be good for him.

Zack Moss and Devin Singletary, Bills (vs. HOU). Both Buffalo backs can bash this opponent with a big second-half lead.

Nyheim Hines, Colts (at MIA). The thorn in side of Jonathan Taylor managers will have standalone value, as the Dolphins' linebackers are bad overall against running backs.

DFS bargains

Sony Michel, Rams (vs. ARI, $5,200 on DraftKings, $5,800 on FanDuel). Michel looked sturdy against a stout Bucs front, and the Cardinals have been giving up digits to all types of backs early.

Trey Sermon, 49ers (vs. SEA, $5,000 on DraftKings, $5,900 on FanDuel). Sermon saved his starting debut with a late TD and gets a solid spot against the Seahawks' wilting run D. His return could be huge should Elijah Mitchell (shoulder) miss another game.

WEEK 4 DFS LINEUPS: DraftKings | FanDuel | Yahoo

Fantasy Football Week 4 Sit 'Em: Running backs

Weaker starts

Damien Harris, Patriots (vs. TB). The game script will be bad, and the matchup already is awful

Myles Gaskin, Dolphins (vs. IND). Malcolm Brown is getting some love because of his skill set, and that will cut into Gaskin again.

Chase Edmonds and James Conner, Cardinals (at LAR). They were strong in ripping the Jaguars, but park them against a much better defense in a pass-heavy shootout.

Mike Davis, Falcons (at WAS). His usage is a mess to the point he needs to buried on your bench.

Tony Pollard, Cowboys (vs. CAR). There's not room for two 'Boys backs to be productive in this spot.

All Buccaneers (at NE). This is a story all about Brady, not the three-headed underwhelming committee.

All Ravens (at DEN). This is getting messy all of a sudden playing off Lamar.

All Texans (at BUF). The Bills' defense is showing how nasty it is overall.

All Jets (at TEN). They're close to freeing Michael Carter but not yet.

MORE WEEK 4 DFS: Best stacks | Best values | Lineup Builder

Fantasy Football Week 4 Start 'Em: Wide receivers

WR must-starts

1. Davante Adams, Packers (vs. PIT)
2. Cooper Kupp, Rams (vs. ARI)
3. Stefon Diggs, Bills (vs. HOU)
4. DK Metcalf, Seahawks (at SF)
5. Tyreek Hill, Chiefs (vs. PHI)
6. Justin Jefferson, Vikings (vs. CLE)\
7. CeeDee Lamb, Cowboys (vs. CAR)
8. Chris Godwin, Buccaneers (at NE)
9. D.J. Moore, Panthers (at DAL)
10. DeAndre Hopkins, Cardinals (at LAR)
11. Calvin Ridley, Falcons (at WAS)
12. Keenan Allen, Chargers (vs. LV)
13. Tyler Lockett, Seahawks (at SF)
14. Adam Thielen, Vikings (vs. CLE)
15. Mike Williams, Chargers (vs. LV)
16. Deebo Samuel, 49ers (vs. SEA)
17. Terry McLaurin, Washington (vs. ATL)
18. Allen Robinson II, Bears (vs. DET)
19. Amari Cooper, Cowboys (vs. CAR)
20. Ja'Marr Chase, Bengals (vs. JAX)
21. Mike Evans, Buccaneers (at NE)
22. Julio Jones, Titans (vs. NYJ)
23. Marquise Brown, Ravens (at DEN)

Stronger starts

Brandin Cooks, Texans (at BUF). Houston should be throwing a ton in the second half, and he can rack up the production from Davis Mills on short passes with a good shot at a late score.

Odell Beckham Jr, Browns (at MIN). OBJ might see some of savvy Patrick Peterson, but that's a good thing given he has his old downfield speed back and PP doesn't.

Chase Claypool, Steelers (at GB). Accept the big plays won't be coming on the regular with bad Big Ben, but he proved he can put together a high-floor outing with volume given the other wideout injuries.

Tyler Boyd, Bengals (vs. JAX). It is hard to expect Tee Higgins to return from his shoulder injury on a short week, so Boyd should remain productive inside vs. the Jags' weak coverage.

Marvin Jones Jr., Jaguars (at CIN). He'll be up for a nice revenge game against his original team.

DJ Chark Jr., Jaguars (at CIN). He can't afford to disappoint with fellow LSU alums Joe Burrow and Ja'Marr Chase on the other side.

Jakobi Meyers, Patriots (vs. TB). The Bucs cannot cover the slot with their corner depletion, so it's another solid day based on volume.

Antonio Brown, Buccaneers (at NE). If he's cleared from the COVID-19 list, you should bank on him scoring on a revenge-game big play from Tom Brady.

Marquez Callaway, Saints (vs. NYG). Here's thinking he will make a big play away from James Bradberry to get into the end zone again.

DFS bargains

Courtland Sutton, Broncos (vs. BAL, $5,700 on DraftKings, $6,300 on FanDuel). Sutton wasn't needed against the Jets, but he can give this secondary problems in what should be a higher-volume passing game.

Robert Woods, Rams (vs. ARI, $5,300 on DraftKings, $6,200 on FanDuel). Woods hasn't gotten the attention from Matthew Stafford, but they need to get him going in a wideout-friendly game overall given the deep shots will be harder to hit in this matchup.

Corey Davis, Jets (vs. TEN, $5,000 on DraftKings, $5,700 on FanDuel). Davis will go back to some of his Week 1 success in revenge-game garbage time against the Titans' overmatched secondary.

Fantasy Football Week 4 Sit 'Em: Wide receivers

Weaker starts

MIchael Pittman Jr., Colts (at MIA). You beat the Dolphins by staying on the ground and not forcing the downfield pass.

DeVonta Smith, Eagles (vs. KC). The rookie is taking some tough lumps early, and that continues here as the focus stays on the tight ends for Jalen Hurts.

JuJu Smith-Schuster, Steelers (if he plays, at GB). He's uninspiring when healthy in dink-and-dunk mode, and this is a so-so matchup at best.

Robby Anderson, Panthers (at DAL). The torch seems like it's being passed already to Terrace Marshall Jr.

Cole Beasley and Emmanuel Sanders, Bills (vs. HOU). Don't go chasing the Week 3 box score, as this seems like an old-school monster Allen-to-Diggs game.

Kenny Golladay, Giants (at NO). There's no reason to celebrate with his hip injury recurrence, and it also seems all of his teammate are hamstrung for Daniel Jones, too.

Brandon Aiyuk, 49ers (vs. SEA). Can't go there yet as it's more Deebo Samuel and George Kittle for the moment.

Tim Patrick, Broncos (vs. BAL). Patrick can't deliver here as well as Courtland Sutton.

Jaylen Waddle, Dolphins (vs. IND). The Colts will do their best to take him away from Jacoby Brissett.

Rondale Moore and Christian Kirk, Cardinals (at LAR). One of them could produce big. One of them might do nothing. Or it could be more of A.J. Green. Start them at your own high risk in a tricky spot.

All Raiders (at LAC). Your guess is as good as ours, and the Chargers can actually contain Hunter Renfrow.

Laviska Shenault Jr., Jaguars. That's a sha-no for a third option from this team.

Deep traps

Mecole Hardman, Chiefs (at PHI), Darnell Mooney, Bears (vs. DET), Nelson Agholor, Patriots (vs. TB)

MORE WEEK 4: Top waiver pickups | FAAB budget planner | Buy-low, sell-high

Fantasy Football Week 4 Start 'Em: Tight ends

TE must-starts

1. Travis Kelce, Chiefs (at PHI)
2. Darren Waller, Raiders (at LAC)
3. Mark Andrews, Ravens (at DEN
4. George Kittle, 49ers (vs. SEA)
5. T.J. Hockenson, Lions (at CHI)
6. Rob Gronkowski, Buccaneers (at NE)
7. Dallas Goedert, Eagles (vs. KC)
8. Logan Thomas, Washington (vs. ATL)
9. Kyle Pitts, Falcons (at WAS)
10. Noah Fant, Broncos (vs. BAL)

Stronger starts

Mike Gesicki, Dolphins (at IND). The QB change to Checkdown Brissett has made him somehow relevant again, and the matchup is good enough.

Dawson Knox, Bills (vs. HOU). Here's calling a third straight game with a TD for the late bloomer.

Hunter Henry, Patriots (vs. TB). Henry should be a bigger part of this passing game, and Mac Jones will have some volume to produce good catches, yards, and a possible garbage TD.

Tyler Conklin, Vikings (vs. CLE). He should stay involved in a strong matchup for his posiiton, as he's coming on filling in for Irv Smith Jr.

Austin Hooper, Browns (at MIN). Hooper will be a key target and is more effective with OBJ back to draw attention stretching the field, pretty much serving Baker Mayfield like Jarvis Landry did.

DFS bargain

Cole Kmet, Bears (vs. DET, $3,000 on DraftKings, $4,800 on FanDuel). Kmet needs more love in the passing game and should get it as the Bears' offense has a get-well game. He produces enough underneath for good enough return at this price.

Fantasy Football Week 4 Sit 'Em: Tight ends

Weaker starts

Robert Tonyan, Packers (vs. PIT). His limited volume is worrisome with only one solid game so far, and Aaron Rodgers should exploit some defensive back weaknesses first.

Tyler Higbee, Rams (vs. ARI). He's been a matchup-based play, and the Cardinals can be roasted more when Matthew Stafford goes after their cornerbacks.

Jared Cook, Chargers (vs. LV). It is another "revenge game," but we're not buying into Justin Herbert needing to use the tight end much again with what his top wideouts are doing.

Dalton Schultz, Cowboys vs. CAR). Don't go chasing that MNF box score against the Eagles. Instead, invest in Travis Kelce in DFS against those same Eagles.

Jonnu Smith, Patriots (vs. TB). Here's feeling a lean toward Hunter Henry against the Buccaneers' questionable tight end defense.

Evan Engram, Giants (at NO). Do you really want to trust him stepping up for Daniel Jones when there's equal risk for a zero?

WEEK 4 NFL PICKS ADVICE: Pick 'em pools | Survivor pools

Fantasy Football Week 4 Start 'Em: Defenses

Defense must-starts

1. Bills (vs. HOU)
2. Buccaneers (at NE)
3. Titans (vs. NYJ)
4. Saints (vs. NYG)
5. Bengals (vs. JAX)
6. Dolphins (vs. IND)
7. Bears (vs. DET)

Stronger starts

Colts (at MIA). They haven't been good, but they should get some big plays vs. former starter Jacoby Brissett with a positive game script.

Giants (at NO). Where there's a Jameis Winston and a decent defense, there's a way to get fantasy points.

Chiefs (at PHI). Jalen Hurts is still making some mistakes, and that should help KC have a good day vs. a banged-up line.

Chargers (vs. LV). Brandon Staley's unit will force that ugly game from Derek Carr, putting many dents in him.

DFS bargain

Packers (vs. PIT, $3,300 on DraftKings, $4,200 on FanDuel). As long as Ben Roethlisberger starts, the defense playing against his weak arm and weaker offensive line can tee off, especially with support from a positive game script thanks to big-time offense.

Fantasy Football Week 4 Sit 'Em: Defenses

Weaker starts

Washington (vs. ATL). It has a lot of talent, but the players are badly underachieving and this may not be a quick fix.

Browns (at MIN). They fall back to earth against a competent NFC North offense.

Ravens (at DEN). The Broncos are too careful with the ball to trust this group on the road.

Rams (vs. ARI), Keep them parked for a shootout with Kyler Murray. Same goes for the Cardinals vs. Matthew Stafford.

Broncos (vs. BAL). Not against Lamar.

Steelers (at GB). Definitely not against A-Rod.

Patriots (vs. TB). Absolutely hell no vs. Tom.

Get more of Vinnie Iyer's in-depth fantasy football advice for Week 4 by subscribing to the Locked On Fantasy Football podcast.