Week 4 Fantasy Football Start 'Em, Sit 'Em

If one thing is for certain in fantasy football, it's that nothing is certain.

At quarterback, the top two players after three games are who we thought they'd be. But few predicted Caleb Williams of the Bears and Daniel Jones of the Colts would rank as the No. 3 and No. 4 quarterbacks, respectively, after three weeks.

Most running back rankings were expected, except for the surprising rise of Javonte Williams (Cowboys), who sits at No. 7.

The top-10 at wide receiver contains two members of the Los Angeles Chargers, and neither is Ladd McConkey. The leaderboard at tight end is a Who's Who of unfamiliar names.

We're here to help you with your team selections by pointing out which players could have good weeks and who may not.

Author's Note: "Starts" have a started percentage at NFL.com of less than 60 percent or do not exceed a maximum DFS salary threshold at DraftKings. "Sits" have a started percentage over 70 percent or exceed a minimum salary threshold. "Sleepers" have a started percentage of less than 30 percent or don't exceed an even lower salary threshold.

Quarterbacks

AP Photo/Kamil Krzaczynski

Bears QB Caleb Williams

Start 'Em

Bo Nix, Denver Broncos (vs. CIN) [DraftKings DFS Value: $5,600]

Nix hasn't been as productive as fantasy managers expected this season—the second-year pro ranks 20th in fantasy points among QBs after three weeks. A home date with a Cincinnati Bengals team that ranks 25th in pass defense this season should provide him with a nice "get right" spot.

Caleb Williams, Chicago Bears (at LV) [DraftKings DFS Value: $5,800]

Williams was named NFC Defensive Player of the Week after torching the Dallas Cowboys for 298 yards and four touchdowns. He and the Bears should keep rolling Sunday against a Raiders team that has struggled defensively this season, ranking 24th in the league against the pass.

Sit 'Em

Jared Goff, Detroit Lions (vs. CLE) [DraftKings DFS Value: $6,400]

As well have the Lions have played the past two weeks, Goff has only had one big fantasy outing this season: Week 2 against the Bears. He's not going to have that kind of success at home Sunday against a smothering Cleveland Browns defense allowing just 204.3 yards of offense per game.

Baker Mayfield, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (vs. PHI) [DraftKings DFS Value: $6,500]

The Buccaneers are 3-0, and Mayfield ranks a respectable ninth in fantasy points among quarterbacks three games in. But the Eagles are surrendering just 185.7 yards per game through the air, and he could be without the services of both Mike Evans and Chris Godwin this weekend.

Sleeper

Geno Smith, Las Vegas Raiders (vs. CHI) [DraftKings DFS Value: $5,400]

Smith was a sneaky-good fantasy option in last week's loss to the Washington Commanders, throwing for 289 yards and three touchdowns. Look for him to make it two solid outings in a row against a Bears team allowing the third-most fantasy points to quarterbacks this season.

Running Backs

AP Photo/Adam Hunger

Jets RB Breece Hall

Start 'Em

Breece Hall, New York Jets (at MIA) [DraftKings DFS Value: $5,700]

After back-to-back pedestrian outings, Hall barely ranks inside the top-25 fantasy running backs for the season. The Dolphins should be a can't-miss cure for what ails him—Miami has been gashed for 145 yards per game on the ground and leads the AFC in PPR points allowed to running backs.

TreVeyon Henderson, New England Patriots (vs. CAR) [DraftKings DFS Value: $5,200]

After Rhamondre Stevenson put the ball on the ground twice last week, Henderson could see his heaviest workload of the season against the Panthers. Carolina's run defense is better than last year's abysmal unit, but the run defense is still allowing almost 140 yards per game.

Sit 'Em

Chase Brown, Cincinnati Bengals (at DEN) [DraftKings DFS Value: $6,600]

Brown has been atrocious this season—he's averaging two yards a carry for the season and had 10 totes for all of three yards last week against the Minnesota Vikings. Until Brown shows some kinds of life, he needs to be stapled to fantasy benches—especially on the road against a good Denver defense.

Jahmyr Gibbs, Detroit Lions (vs. CLE) [DraftKings DFS Value: $7,700]

Unless your backfield depth is completely ridiculous, sitting Gibbs in Week 4 isn't a realistic option. But the Browns are surrendering just 57.3 rushing yards per game, and the team has shut down Chase Brown of the Bengals, Derrick Henry of the Ravens and Josh Jacobs of the Packers.

Sleeper

Chris Rodriguez Jr., Washington Commanders (at ATL) [DraftKings DFS Value: $4,200]

Rodriguez had more carries (11) last week than rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt, and with Croskey-Merritt questionable for Week 4 with a knee injury, Rodriguez could get even more early-down work this week against the Falcons. The matchup isn't great, but waiver plays in the backfield are already getting precariously thin.

Wide Receivers

AP Photo/John Raoux

Jaguars WR Brian Thomas Jr.

Start 'Em

Keenan Allen, Los Angeles Chargers (at NYG) [DraftKings DFS Value: $5,300]

Much to the chagrin of fantasy managers who drafted Ladd McConkey early, it's Allen who leads the Chargers in targets, receptions and touchdown catches. His hot streak will continue Sunday against a New York Giants team surrendering the second-most PPR points to wide receivers this year.

Jakobi Meyers, Las Vegas Raiders (vs. CHI) [DraftKings DFS Value: $5,400]

Meyers has yet to find the end zone this season, but the 28-year-old has had over a dozen PPR points in two of three games this season. Sunday, Meyers and the Raiders host a Bears team that ranks 27th in the league against the pass and has given up the third-most PPR points to wideouts in 2025.

Sit 'Em

George Pickens, Dallas Cowboys (vs. GB) [DraftKings DFS Value: $6,300]

With CeeDee Lamb sidelined by a high-ankle sprain, Pickens is the No. 1 receiver for the Cowboys for the foreseeable future. That should mean more targets, but it will also mean additional defensive attention from a Packers secondary surrendering the fifth-fewest fantasy points to wide receivers.

Brian Thomas Jr., Jacksonville Jaguars (at SF) [DraftKings DFS Value: $6,100]

Thomas' stats for the season look like one game from his outstanding rookie year: seven catches for 115 yards over three games. Now he heads west to battle a 49ers defense allowing just 162 passing yards per game and the sixth-fewest PPR points to wide receivers this season.

Sleeper

Romeo Doubs, Green Bay Packers (at DAL) [DraftKings DFS Value: $4,500]

Packers quarterback Jordan Love has spread the ball around a lot with Jayden Reed sidelined. Doubs only has seven catches for the season, but he's averaging over 17 yards per reception, has a touchdown grab and takes on a porous Dallas defense in Week 4 allowing a league-high 288 passing yards per game.

Tight Ends

AP Photo/Greg M. Cooper

Patriots TE Hunter Henry

Start 'Em

Hunter Henry, New England Patriots (vs. CAR) [DraftKings DFS Value: $4,000]

Henry exploded last week against the Pittsburgh Steelers, catching eight of 11 targets for 90 yards and a pair of touchdowns. He's not going to match that output against the Panthers, but Carolina has been a plus matchup for tight ends, giving up the eighth-most PPR points to the position.

T.J. Hockenson, Minnesota Vikings (at PIT) [DraftKings DFS Value: $3,900]

Hockenson had his first solid fantasy outing of the season in last week's blowout win over the Cincinnati Bengals, reeling in five passes for 49 yards and a touchdown. He'll make it two in a row Sunday in Dublin, as the Steelers have surrendered the most PPR points in the AFC to tight ends in 2025.

Sit 'Em

Mark Andrews, Baltimore Ravens (at KC) [DraftKings DFS Value: $4,300]

Andrews' six grabs for 91 yards and a pair of touchdowns last week against the Detroit Lions was one of the biggest stat lines of the week among tight ends. But it was also a one-off. This week, the Ravens head to Arrowhead to take on a Chiefs team giving up the third-fewest PPR points to tight ends.

Juwan Johnson, New Orleans Saints (at BUF) [DraftKings DFS Value: $4,200]

There haven't been many bright spots for the woeful Saints, but Johnson has been one—he ranks second in fantasy points among tight ends after three games. But a tumble down those rankings is coming, as the Bills have surrendered less than five PPR points per game to tight ends in 2025.

Sleeper

Oronde Gadsden II, Los Angeles Chargers (at NYG) [DraftKings DFS Value: $2,500]

Gadsden made his NFL debut in last week's win over the Denver Broncos, catching five of seven targets for 46 yards. The athletic field-stretcher should see his role grow in the Los Angeles offense moving forward, and the Giants rank just outside the top 10 in fantasy points allowed to tight ends this season.

Team Defenses

AP Photo/Greg M. Cooper

Steelers EDGE T.J. Watt

Start 'Em

Houston Texans Defense (vs. TEN) [DraftKings DFS Value: $3,400]

The Texans have mostly been hot garbage this season, but the defense has played much better than the offense. Houston edge-rushers Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter should tee off against a miserable Tennessee offensive line that leads the league in sacks allowed after three games.

Pittsburgh Steelers Defense (vs. MIN) [DraftKings DFS Value: $3,100]

Pittsburgh is playing very un-Steelers-like on defense—the team has surrendered the fifth-most yards per game in the league this year. But the Vikings have also given up the sixth-most fantasy points to team defenses, and T.J. Watt vs. Carson Wentz sounds like a showdown that will end with the latter flat on his back.

Sit 'Em

Los Angeles Rams Defense (vs. IND) [DraftKings DFS Value: $2,900]

The Rams have an underrated defense and one of the best front fours in the league in Jared Verse, Byron Young, Kobie Turner and Braden Fiske. But those defenders must attempt what hasn't been easy this year: limiting quarterback Daniel Jones.

San Francisco 49ers Defense (vs. JAX) [DraftKings DFS Value: $3,200]

The 49ers have been solid defensively this season, ranking fourth in total defense and third in points allowed. But while the Jacksonville Jaguars are the least impressive 2-1 team in the NFL, they haven't given up fantasy points to opposing defenses—22nd in the league in that regard.

Sleeper

Tennessee Titans Defense (at HOU) [DraftKings DFS Value: $2,300]

This has little to do with a Titans team that ranks 27th in total defense, 30th in scoring defense and has just two sacks in three games. The Texans have been equally putrid on the other side of the ball. Houston is 29th in total offense, dead-last in scoring and ninth in fantasy points allowed to team defenses.

Gary Davenport is a two-time Fantasy Sports Writers Association Football Writer of the Year. Follow Gary on X at @IDPGodfather.