Fantasy football Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em: 16 players to start or sit in Week 4

The 2024 fantasy football season has been one of the most unpredictable of all-time. Who could've guessed that Jauan Jennings would break out for three touchdowns in one game after having only scored two over the last two years? We've seen a myriad of unprecedented performances already, both good and bad, and that makes trying to pick the correct players to start in your fantasy lineup incredibly difficult.

Cole Kmet earned 10 receptions on your bench? You really going to start him now? Jahmyr Gibbs earned fewer carries and less passing work than David Montgomery? Is that going to happen every week? James Conner only had one reception against Detroit? Will he get more involved in the Cardinals' aerial attack? There are a lot of questions that don't have solid answers heading into Week 4, but the most reliable source of information is still the matchup.

Here are eight players to start in Week 4 and eight more to sit.

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Players to start in Week 4:

Quarterbacks:

• Justin Fields, PIT

Over the last two weeks, the Indianapolis Colts have allowed the Green Bay Packers to run all over them and allowed Caleb Williams to put up 17 fantasy points. Now, they make like Miley Cyrus and get the best of both worlds: a mobile former Chicago Bear. The Indy defense is having a very difficult time stopping the run, and as it stands, Justin Fields has had no trouble scoring touchdowns with his feet. It would not be shocking to see Fields trot into the endzone again this weekend.

• Baker Mayfield, TB

Prior to Week 3, the Philadelphia Eagles' defense was getting carved up left and right. Baker Mayfield and the Bucs are going to be playing with a massive chip on their shoulders after losing to the Denver Broncos by nearly 20 points. Furthermore, Eagles' cornerback Darius Slay sustained an injury during their win over New Orleans. That should give Mayfield far more options if Slay is unable to suit up.

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Running Backs:

• Najee Harris, PIT

For all the same reasons as Fields, Harris is a great play this week. While the Bears' D'Andre Swift may have struggled on the ground in Week 3, the Colts' gameplan likely revolved around limiting the Bears' ground attack and forcing Caleb Williams to beat them. While they could employ a similar strategy against Pittsburgh, the Steelers' offense has proven more capable of pushing the ball downfield than Chicago. That plan would likely backfire. Harris is the clear-cut RB1 in Pittsburgh, and that's enough to feast when playing Indianapolis.

• Bucky Irving, TB

If there was ever a time for Irving to officially overtake Rachaad White on the Bucs' depth chart, it would be now. A week after outcarrying White for the first time, the Bucs now face one of the worst run defenses in the NFL. While the Buccaneers may still be inclined to start White in this game, any hint of ineffectiveness or any sort of early deficit should give Irving a larger role.

• Rhamondre Stevenson, NE

The 49ers' defense has shown its true form this year. They cannot stop the run. Three straight weeks now, running backs have scored at least one touchdown, and while New England is the least effective offense the Niners have faced so far, the Niners' run defense should be bet against until they can prove otherwise.

Wide Receivers:

• Diontae Johnson, CAR

With the Bryce Young experiment over in Carolina, the Panthers' offense took massive leaps forward against Las Vegas. Even better, Diontae Johnson emerged as the clear-cut WR1, especially with Adam Thielen battling injury. Although the Bengals have not been bad against wide receivers on the season, this should be a much closer game than the Panthers experienced in Week 3, which could mean even more targets for Johnson, and he had 14 on Sunday.

Tight Ends:

• Zach Ertz, WSH

The Arizona Cardinals are and have long been atrocious at defending against tight ends. While they have shown signs of improvement this year, limiting both Dalton Kincaid and Colby Parkinson through two weeks, they took a step back toward the norm in Week 3.

Even after Detroit's Sam LaPorta left Sunday's game with injury, the Lions' backup tight end Brock Wright still racked up four receptions and 34 yards. With how horrendous the tight end position has been in fantasy this year, even a 7.4 PPR performance would be worth starting at this point. Ertz has been one of quarterback Jayden Daniels' favorite targets early on. He'll likely surpass that total.

• Jake Ferguson, DAL

Much like the Arizona Cardinals, the New York Giants have not been good against tight ends to start the year. Even with David Njoku out in Week 3, the Giants still surrendered seven targets and four receptions to Jordan Akins. Ferguson is fresh off an 11-target outing against Baltimore. While that type of workload should not be expected, Ferguson should have a sizable role against New York.

Players to sit in Week 4:

Quarterbacks:

• Geno Smith, SEA

The Detroit Lions have suddenly turned into one of the most complete defenses in the NFL this year. Kyler Murray had been playing spectacularly heading into Week 2, but he was held in check by Detroit's defense on Sunday. Geno Smith is in the same boat. He may be playing well, but Detroit seems to be a momentum-stopper at the moment. Even in their lone loss of the season to Tampa Bay, Baker Mayfield was held to 185 yards and only one touchdown.

• Anthony Richardson, IND

Richardson has been a massive disappointment to start the 2024 season, and if you were hoping he'd turn it around in Week 4, a matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers would beg to differ. Pittsburgh's defense looks like one of the best in the NFL early on, and until Richardson proves capable of completing difficult passes, he's not worth putting in your starting lineups.

Running Backs:

• Kenneth Walker/Zach Charbonnet, SEA

It's still unclear whether or not Kenneth Walker will be available in Week 4, but regardless of who the Seahawks are starting at running back this weekend, you should not start them. The Pittsburgh defense just held J.K. Dobbins to his worst performance of the season, just 44 yards on 15 carries. A week prior, they limited Javonte Williams and Jaleel McLaughlin to 23 yards on 14 carries. In Week 1, they held Bijan Robinson to under four yards a carry.

It's clear the Steelers know how to prevent teams from pushing the ball downfield on the ground. Even if Walker is healthy, the Seahawks will likely face similar struggles.

• J.K. Dobbins, LAC

The Los Angeles Chargers will face the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 4, and if there is one thing the Chiefs are good at, it's preventing teams from getting strong performances from their top offensive options. In Week 1, Mark Andrews was irrelevant. In Week 2, Ja'Marr Chase was held in check. In Week 3, Bijan Robinson's impact was minimalized.

The Chargers clearly love Dobbins, and while he is talented, he's not talented enough to overcome a defensive gameplan designed to stop him.

Wide Receivers:

• Courtland Sutton, DEN

Sutton may be coming off his best performance of the year, but one decent week from Bo Nix isn't enough to start Sutton with confidence, especially with the Broncos set to take on the New York Jets in Week 4. Sutton will likely be shadowed by Sauce Gardner, which means Sutton is in for a quiet day.

• Tyreek Hill, MIA

It hurts to say, but until Tua Tagovailoa returns, the Miami wide receivers are probably not worth starting, but that is especially true in Week 4 when the Dolphins play the Tennessee Titans. L'Jarius Sneed has been spectacular for Tennessee, holding Garrett Wilson to less than 60 yards in Week 2 and holding DJ Moore to under 40 yards in Week 1. Hill has the explosiveness to take any pass to the house, and let's be real, there's no world where you are benching your first-round pick, but if you have a deep team, and can afford it, it's definitely a move you should consider.

• Michael Pittman Jr., IND

This isn't just a move to make in Week 4. This is a move for the foreseeable future. Through three weeks, Pittman has recorded just 11 receptions and 88 yards. His connection with quarterback Anthony Richardson has just not developed like we had hoped. Furthermore, a matchup with the daunted Steelers' defense does not bode well for a breakout this weekend.

Tight Ends:

• Cole Kmet, CHI

Coming off a 10-reception performance, Kmet may be an enticing play in Week 4, but should Keenan Allen return this weekend, Kmet will be a massive bust. Allen and Kmet serve similar roles in the Chicago passing game, and prior to Allen's injury, he'd earned 11 targets in just one game.

So long as Allen is out, Kmet could be worth a start, but with Allen likely to return this weekend, Kmet will see his workload drop significantly.

Fantasy football waiver wire Week 4: 5 players you need to consider picking up

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Fantasy football Week 4: 16 NFL players to start or sit