Start 'Em, Sit 'Em Week 4: Final Review Before Thursday Night Football

With Thursday Night Football nearly upon us, this edition of Start 'Em, Sit 'Em will have a bit of a TNF flair. Spoiler alert: You're going to want to start most of your fantasy options from this game. We'll review a few below.

But because there's only one game Thursday, we'll also take a look at a few other intriguing players this week, namely a few guys poised to disappoint. Let's get to it!

Start 'Em: Kirk Cousins, QB, Washington

Oh, let's see. In relief duty of Robert Griffin III in Week 2, Cousins finished with 18 fantasy points. In Week 3 against the Philadelphia Eagles, he tallied 27. Now he faces a New York Giants defense that is allowing 17.7 fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks per week, 26th in the NFL.

He has a deep threat in DeSean Jackson, a reliable target in Pierre Garcon, an offensive system that lets him air it out and a solid running game to lean on if the passing game isn't clicking right off the bat. Cousins is saying all the right things too, such as this excerpt via Rick Snider of The Washington Post:

"

I think more than anything it just takes good preparation, good attention to detail and just having a good understanding of where guys are going to be and where you need to be and the timing of plays. I have always said, I can’t run by them, I can’t throw it through them, so I have got to know where they are going to be and the only way I can do that is through good preparation.

"

There might be a quarterback controversy once RG3 returns, but there's no controversy for fantasy owners when it comes to Cousins.

He's a solid QB1 this week, folks. Get him in those starting lineups.

Sit 'Em: Alex Smith, QB, Kansas City Chiefs

Maybe you are a Peyton Manning, Russell Wilson or Andy Dalton owner and you're searching for a capable QB2 to fill in this week. Maybe you've noticed that Alex Smith threw for three touchdown passes last week and recalled that he was a pretty decent QB2 a year ago. Maybe you're thinking you can get some points out of him this week too.

Think again, my friends.

For starters, we don't even know if he'll have his best option in the passing game, Jamaal Charles, back in action for this contest. That's right—his best option in the passing game is a running back, at least until Andy Reid dedicates himself to consistently making the talented Travis Kelce a priority in the game plan.

For another thing, Smith's 18 fantasy points in Week 3 are mitigated by the fact that he had just 23 total fantasy points coming in the first two weeks. With a dearth of options in the passing game, his numbers in the first two weeks are more reflective of his fantasy upside, not Week 3.

And let's not forget that the Chiefs are playing the New England Patriots this week, a team giving up just 7.3 fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks per week, easily tops in the NFL. Sure, they've faced Ryan Tannehill, Matt Cassel and Derek Carr, but this is still an excellent pass defense. 

Smith will struggle big time in Week 4, and so will you if you start him.

Start 'Em: Rashad Jennings, RB, New York Giants

Al Bello/Getty Images

Unstoppable force, meet immovable object. Rashad Jennings has been excellent thus far this season, and his 46 fantasy points are fifth among running backs. But Washington's defense has been just as good against the run and is allowing just seven fantasy points to opposing running backs per week, second in the NFL.

So why choose the unstoppable force?

For starters, running back is such a mess this week between byes, injuries and committees that you don't really have a choice but to start a player like Jennings who has produced thus far. As well, the Giants have shown that they will stick with the running game to avoid relying on a shaky passing attack, which has led to 68 carries for Jennings, second only to the 75 rushing attempts for DeMarco Murray.

Jennings also has 95 yards this year on eight catches—and had 36 receptions for 292 yards a year ago—so even if he faces tough sledding in the running game, he can be utilized as an option in the passing game and could add a few tough points in that regard.

I understand the hesitation to start Jennings this week, but you should ignore it. He now has eight or more fantasy points in nine of his last 11 games. That makes him worth trusting this week.

Sit 'Em: Chris Ivory and Chris Johnson, RB, New York Jets

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First of all, of this pair Chris Ivory has proved to have more value. He has more fantasy points, more rushing yards, more touchdowns and more receiving yards on the year. Chris Johnson may be the Jets "starter," but Ivory is the player you want to own.

He isn't the player you want to start this week, however. The Detroit Lions are allowing just 11 fantasy points to opposing running backs per week, sixth in the NFL, and their defensive line has been dominant.

So as if the committee approach the Jets have taken wasn't concerning enough for owners of either Ivory or Johnson, they also have a brutal matchup this week. Stay away from this pair, folks.

Start 'Em: Victor Cruz, WR, New York Giants

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Victor Cruz had eight fantasy points total in the first two games of the season. In Week 3 he finally exploded, scoring 16 points for his anxious owners.

He should keep Cruzing along (groan) this week against a Washington secondary that is allowing 24.7 fantasy points to opposing wide receivers per week, 27th in the NFL. Washington also just lost top cornerback DeAngelo Hall for the season after he ruptured his Achilles tendon, so it's even more vulnerable in the secondary now.

In other words, I'm banking on Week 3 being the norm for Cruz, not his first two weeks.

Sit 'Em: Keenan Allen, WR, San Diego Chargers

Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images

Remember when Keenan Allen was one of the biggest surprises in fantasy a year ago, finishing his rookie year with 71 receptions for 1,046 yards and eight touchdowns?

Boy, do those days seem far away.

After three games Allen has just 12 receptions for 109 yards on 17 targets, good for nine fantasy points. He's currently tied for second on the Chargers in receptions, fourth in receiving yards and third in targets. Suffice to say, his owners have probably had enough.

Yes, he drew some tough matchups early in the season. Yes, he was battling a groin injury this past week. And yes, a matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars and their 32nd-ranked pass defense seems tasty on paper.

But remember, the Jaguars are also 32nd in the NFL against the run, and a week ago the Chargers fed Donald Brown the ball 31 times. It wouldn't be shocking if the Chargers leaned on the run as much as possible, and it also wouldn't be surprising if Philip Rivers continued to spread the ball around to targets like Antonio Gates, Eddie Royal, Malcom Floyd and Brown.

If Allen doesn't have a big week against Jacksonville, his fantasy owners could be in for a rough season. Given his slow start, I wouldn't risk starting him until he began to resemble the dominant rookie from a season ago.

All point totals and points-against statistics via ESPN standard scoring leagues. 

Hit me up on Twitter—I'll answer your fantasy questions and make some corny jokes too. It's more fun than Andy Dalton and Johnny Manziel playing receiver.