Week 4's "Thursday Night Football" (8:20 p.m. ET, NFL Network) matchup between the potent Bengals and winless Jaguars could be a sneaky shootout. This matchup has a modest Vegas projected total in relation to other games with a 45-point over/under, but with the past two No. 1 overall quarterbacks on the field in Joe Burrow and Trevor Lawrence, there could be plenty of yards and points. Figuring who to start and who to sit so early in the week is never easy, which is why we're here with a mini version of our usual fantasy start 'em, sit 'em lineup advice.
If you don't have any Bengals or Jaguars on your roster, don't worry, we have something for you, too, with our DFS picks for FanDuel and DraftKings single-game slates.
WEEK 4 FANTASY: Start 'em, sit 'em | Sleepers | Busts
Bengals: Who to start or sit in fantasy football on Thursday night
Start: QB Joe Burrow
Burrow falls out of the top-12 QB rankings this week because the game script could be positive, which will lower his usual volume. He still can get to 250 yards passing and multiple TDs with his weapons, though, even minus wide receiver Tee Higgins (shoulder) for a second game. He is playing well in reality and should get a pass-rush and secondary break.
TNF DFS LINEUPS: DK Showdown | FD single game
Start: RB Joe Mixon
Mixon had a great Week 1, meh Week 2, and a solid Week 3. He's right there as the borderline RB1/RB2 you drafted him as. Play him thinking you'll get what you got against the Vikings in a smash spot against a bad Jaguars run defense.
Start: WR Ja'Marr Chase
What drops? Chase is lighting it up with big plays every week, posting four touchdowns while averaging an amazing 20 yards per catch on 11 grabs. This is the best matchup yet, as Burrow is excelling at getting the ball to him deep downfield. He's an ace WR1 this week.
WEEK 4 DFS LINEUPS: DraftKings | FanDuel | Yahoo
Start: WR Tyler Boyd
With no Higgins, Boyd is the big beneficiary with his slot work. After a quiet Week 1, he caught seven-of-nine targets for 73 yards in Week 2 before catching six passes for 36 yards and a TD in Week 3. Trading C.J. Henderson further thins out the Jags secondary and creates a nice matchup for Boyd inside, too.
MORE WEEK 4 DFS: Best stacks | Best values | Lineup Builder
Sit: TE C.J. Uzomah
Uzomah has seen just five targets in three games, recording four catches for 39 yards. He also was blanked against the Steelers in Week 3. The presence of Chase has phased Burrow out of relying much on the tight end in Year 2.
WEEK 4 STANDARD RANKINGS:
Quarterback | Running back | Wide receiver | Tight end | D/ST | Kicker
Start: K Evan McPherson
McPherson is the No. 15 kicker after three weeks. The rookie fifth-rounder from Florida has been strong, making all four field-goal attempts and all eight extra-point attempts. He's also showed a booming leg with 50-yard range. He should get several chances on the Jags.
WEEK 4 PPR RANKINGS:
Quarterback | Running back | Wide receiver | Tight end | D/ST | Kicker
Start: Bengals DST
The Bengals have been much improved with Trey Hendrickson joining Sam Hubbard on the edge pass rush. Their secondary is bad at the corners, but they can make enough plays on the ball to get takeaways. The Jaguars are making plenty of mistakes with Trevor Lawrence and gave up three sacks last week.
Jaguars: Who to start or sit in fantasy football on Thursday night
Sit: QB Trevor Lawrence
Lawrence could find his way to some garbage points in the second half, but the Jaguars should remain grounded in their game plan to take pressure off him. He's made some money, jaw-dropping throws, but he's also forcing the ball into coverage. The yards and TDs will come, but so will more turnovers.
Start: RB James Robinson
Robinson had a "rookie throwback" game to please his fantasy managers against the Cardinals with 20 touches, 134 total yards and a rushing TD. The Bengals run defense is good, but they can give up catches and other production to backs (see Najee Harris in Week 3).
Start: WR DJ Chark Jr.
Not to be overshadowed by fellow LSU product Chase, Chark has caught seven-of-22 targets for 154 yards and two TDs, assuming his true No. 1 role. The Bengals cannot cover him well. He's a WR2.
Start: WR Marvin Jones Jr.
This Junior is also getting the job done. He's caught 17-of-28 targets for 194 yards and two TDs. Keep in mind this is a "revenge game" for the former Bengal, and he has a solid matchup, too. He's also a WR2.
Sit: WR Laviska Shenault Jr.
Shenault hasn't been involved enough in key ways to consider along with the other more senior Juniors. You can do much better at WR3 or FLEX.
Sit: K Matthew Wright
This Josh Lambo (personal) replacement should be given the boot from any roster consideration.
Sit: Jaguars DST
The Jaguars' defense is not good. The Bengals' offense is dangerous. Done and done.
Bengals vs. Jaguars: FanDuel single-game lineup
- MVP (1.5X): WR Ja'Marr Chase $12,500
- AnyFLEX: QB Joe Burrow $15,000
- AnyFLEX: RB James Robinson $12,000
- AnyFLEX: WR DJ Chark Jr. $10,500
- AnyFLEX: WR Tyler Boyd $10,000
Here's our Chase-Burrow stack, also knowing that Boyd will do damage. Robinson with checkdowns and Chark with garbage production downfield make us feel pretty good about this high-scoring fivesome.
Bengals vs. Jaguars: DraftKings Showdown lineup
- Captain (1.5x): WR Ja'Marr Chase $15,300
- FLEX: QB Trevor Lawrence $10,400
- FLEX: WR Tyler Boyd $7,400
- FLEX: WR D.J. Chark Jr. $7,200
- FLEX: Bengals DST $5,600
- FLEX: K Evan McPherson $3,800
Chase, Chark, and Boyd carry over here, but the price points made us go with the cheaper Lawrence over Burrow to have a QB share and still a decent stack with Chark. McPherson has been money and the Bengals should be a decent ROI defensively with big plays.
