Setting your fantasy football lineups each week can be hard. Below are some good plays for Week 4, as well as some guys you should consider avoiding based on matchups, injuries and trends:
Who to Start
— Russell Wilson, Seattle Seahawks at Arizona Cardinals (QB): Wilson was the top quarterback in fantasy for Week 3 after scoring two rushing touchdowns on 51 yards and two passing touchdowns on 406 yards. He is poised to have another standout game against a Cardinals defense that just allowed four touchdowns to Panthers backup quarterback Kyle Allen.
— Sterling Shepard, New York Giants vs. Washington Redskins (WR): After spending a week in the concussion protocol, Shepard returned in impressive fashion against the Buccaneers and crested the 100-yard receiving mark. He caught seven passes and a touchdown, and also had 21 rushing yards. The decision to bench Eli Manning in favor of Daniel Jones helps the entire Giants offense and should be particularly beneficial to their receiving corps. They square off against a Redskins team coming off short rest that was exposed by the Bears and quarterback Mitch Trubisky on “Monday Night Football.”
— Terry McLaurin, Washington Redskins at New York Giants (WR): McLaurin has been the solitary bright spot in an otherwise dismal season for the Redskins. The rookie reeled in six of his eight targets on Monday for 70 yards and a touchdown and has scored in every game thus far. He should face little resistance from a Giants secondary that was exposed by a passing attack led by Jameis Winston and Mike Evans in Week 3.
— Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Green Bay Packers vs. Philadelphia Eagles (WR): A popular waiver add in shallower leagues and for good reason: Valdes-Scantling had six catches, 99 yards and a touchdown against Denver and has a favorable matchup against the Eagles in Week 4. He has surpassed Geronimo Allison as the No. 2 receiver in Green Bay and should be considered a WR3 with upside.
— Austin Ekeler, Los Angeles Chargers at Miami Dolphins (RB): In spite of a relatively quiet game in Week 3 against the Texans, Ekeler led the team in rushing with nine carries on 36 yards and seven catches for 45 yards. Start Ekeler (and all Chargers) in a cupcake matchup in Miami this week.
— Kerryon Johnson, Detroit Lions vs. Kansas City Chiefs (RB): Johnson averaged a mere 1.8 yards per carry in Philadelphia in Week 3, but did pick up his first rushing touchdown of the year. This is a great spot for him to bounce back against a permeable Chiefs defense that allowed three rushing touchdowns to Mark Ingram and one to Lamar Jackson last week. He is a borderline RB1 with upside.
— Darren Waller, Oakland Raiders at Indianapolis Colts (TE): Waller did not score last week, but he still managed to have a monster game against the Vikings. He caught 13 of 14 targets for 134 yards and should keep the momentum going opposite a Colts secondary that pales in comparison to the Vikings.
— Green Bay Packers D/ST vs. Philadelphia Eagles: A much-improved Packers defense has allowed fewer than 12 points a game on average and has 12 sacks, four interceptions and four fumbles recovered on the season. They should be able to keep Philadelphia in check with a bevy of Eagles skill-position players on the injury report. Even if quarterback Carson Wentz has his full arsenal of weapons for Thursday’s game, expect to see lights-out coverage from cornerbacks Jaire Alexander and Kevin King.
— Zane Gonzalez, Arizona Cardinals vs. Seattle Seahawks (K): Reliable kickers are becoming harder and harder to come by, which makes Gonzalez’s perfect streak (9-for-9 on field goals, 3-for-3 on extra points) to start the season an impressive feat. He should continue to see ample kicking opportunities under coach Kliff Kingsbury’s fast-paced Air Raid offense.
Who to Sit
— Baker Mayfield, Cleveland Browns at Baltimore Ravens (QB): The Browns are off to a shaky start following blockbuster offseason acquisitions and copious preseason hype. Mayfield’s inability to make plays under pressure is not helped by a very weak offensive line, but what we have seen of coach Freddie Kitchens’ offense and play-calling has not sparked joy. His woes continued versus the Rams in Week 3 and he seems to be trending in the wrong direction. He has an unfavorable matchup against the Ravens on the road this week and there are a number of waiver-wire caliber quarterbacks that can be started over him.
— Emmanuel Sanders, Denver Broncos vs. Jacksonville Jaguars (WR): Sanders put up a dud in Green Bay with two catches for 10 yards after scoring a touchdown in each of the first two games. He will face a strong Jaguars defense this week. Expect quarterback Joe Flacco and his receivers to struggle versus a well-rested Jacksonville pass rush that accrued nine sacks and a recovered fumble on Thursday night.
— Alshon Jeffery, Philadelphia Eagles at Green Bay Packers (WR): Eagles coach Doug Pederson expects Jeffery to play this Thursday against the Packers after missing the last two games due to a calf injury. Looming health issues aside, wide receivers DeSean Jackson and J.J. Arcega-Whiteside are also banged up, which means he will likely draw heavy coverage from a formidable Green Bay secondary.
— Devin Singletary, Buffalo Bills vs. New England Patriots (RB): Singletary exited the second game of the season with a hamstring injury and subsequently missed Week 3. Bills coach Sean McDermott said that he is “moving in a positive direction,” but he will face a Patriots defense that has yet to allow a single offensive touchdown this season. At less than full strength in a tough matchup, sit Singletary if you have other flex options.
— Devonta Freeman, Atlanta Falcons vs. Tennessee Titans (RB): Freeman rushed 16 times for 88 yards against the Colts following two frustrating outings to start the season. He has yet to get into the end zone and may have a hard time doing so against the Titans. Their defense did little from a fantasy perspective last week, but they were able to quell running back Leonard Fournette for most of the evening. Freeman is still a RB2, but temper expectations amid a less than ideal matchup.
— O.J. Howard, Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Los Angeles Rams (TE): Howard has only been targeted nine times this season. He had 66 yards last week after zero yards in Week 2 and 32 yards in Week 1. He is an unreliable start this week on the road against the Rams, who have allowed the ninth-fewest fantasy points to tight ends this season.
— Denver Broncos D/ST vs. Jacksonville Jaguars: The Broncos defense has been abysmal for fantasy this year. They have yet to record a single sack or takeaway and cannot be started against the Jaguars, who appear reinvigorated with the emergence of quarterback Gardner Minshew.
— Matt Prater, Detroit Lions vs. Kansas City Chiefs (K): In theory, there should be plenty of scoring opportunities for the Lions in this game, but Prater already has missed two field goals and one extra point this season. Consider picking up another kicker until Prater’s accuracy improves.