Start 'Em, Sit 'Em Week 4: Advice for Fringe Flex Fantasy Football Starters

The bye weeks are beginning, and injuries are piling up, which makes setting your fantasy football lineup for Week 4 harder than ever. Make sure you make the right choice when it comes to fringe starters.

There were some big performances this past weekend from middling players such as Joseph Randle, Devonta Freeman and Alfred Blue, although one great showing doesn't necessarily guarantee success going forward. It's important to evaluate each set of games separately and not get caught up in the haze of "I told you so" from last week.  

Here is a look at the borderline fantasy options to start and sit for the upcoming slate.

Start 'Em

Pos.	Player	Team	Opp.
QB	Joe Flacco	Baltimore Ravens	PIT
QB	Derek Carr	Oakland Raiders	CHI
RB	Melvin Gordon	San Diego Chargers	CLE
RB	Mark Ingram	New Orleans Saints	DAL
RB	Frank Gore	Indianapolis Colts	JAX
WR	Jordan Matthews	Philadelphia Eagles	WAS
WR	Donte Moncrief	Indianapolis Colts	JAX
WR	Michael Crabtree	Oakland Raiders	CHI
TE	Charles Clay	Buffalo Bills	NYG
TE	Martellus Bennett	Chicago Bears	CHI

Joe Flacco, QB, Baltimore Ravens

Patrick Semansky/Associated Press

Without an effective run game, the Ravens appear likely to throw the ball quite a bit this season. After a poor Week 1 showing, Joe Flacco has exploded for 746 yards and four touchdowns on 64-of-94 passing over the last two games.

Although this hasn't helped Baltimore avoid an 0-3 start, this could only make Flacco more aggressive Thursday night against the rival Pittsburgh Steelers.

That Steelers secondary has also proved to be a bit porous so far this year as it attempts to replace a lot of veteran talent from the past few seasons. Opposing quarterbacks currently have a rating of 108.8 against this defense, which ranks fourth-worst in the NFL.

Whether he is on waivers or on your bench, Flacco could be a useful fantasy starter.

Melvin Gordon, RB, San Diego Chargers

After three games, Melvin Gordon has done little to turn heads. The running back has been solid but only managed 190 rushing yards and zero touchdowns. Still, his teammate believes the first-round pick has a bright future.

Offensive tackle Chris Hairston gave his assessment on Gordon last week, per Michael Gehlken of the San Diego Union-Tribune:

"

He's special. There's no doubt about that. The more carries we get him, the better situations we can stay in so we can get him the ball and get him rolling, it'll do nothing but help us. That guy is going to be special from here to the end of the season to as far along as he wants to do this.

[...]

There's never a time he's not trying to get better at something.

"

His talent and work ethic might finally allow him a breakout performance in Week 4 against the Cleveland Browns, who have allowed the most rushing yards in the NFL to this point. With an expected 15-20 carries, Gordon could have a huge game.

Jordan Matthews, WR, Philadelphia Eagles

There are reasons to be concerned about Jordan Matthews through three weeks, as Bleacher Report's Jason Cole noted:

On the other hand, the Eagles simply don't have anyone else to take away targets. Matthews leads the team with 22 catches and 231 yards through three weeks, with running back Darren Sproles ranking second in both categories. In fact, no other wide receiver was even targeted in Week 3, and none of them has more than four catches on the season.

Matthews is going to stay heavily involved in the Philadelphia offense whether he catches the balls or not. With enough volume, the production will eventually come. You should stick with him in your fantasy lineup.

Sit 'Em

Pos.	Player	Team	Opp.
QB	Ryan Tannehill	Miami Dolphins	NYJ
QB	Colin Kaepernick	San Francisco 49ers	GB
RB	Chris Johnson	Arizona Cardinals	HOU
RB	Lamar Miller	Miami Dolphins	NYJ
RB	Jeremy Hill	Cincinnati Bengals	KC
WR	Marques Colston	New Orleans Saints	DAL
WR	Golden Tate	Detroit Lions	SEA
WR	Travis Benjamin	Cleveland Browns	SD
TE	Heath Miller	Pittsburgh Steelers	BAL
TE	Kyle Rudolph	Minnesota Vikings	DEN

Ryan Tannehill, QB, Miami Dolphins

Wilfredo Lee/Associated Press

While he ended up with respectable numbers, Ryan Tannehill didn't have a good performance in Week 3 against the Buffalo Bills. He had three interceptions and only managed to add two touchdowns in garbage time after the game was well in hand.

Although these statistics all count the same in fantasy football, it's tough to trust a repeat performance.

Things will get even tougher in Week 4 against a New York Jets defense that not only can create pressure up front, but also shut down receivers with an excellent secondary. This defense hasn't allowed any of its three opposing quarterbacks to reach double-digit fantasy points (including Andrew Luck), and Tannehill doesn't appear likely to change that based on his recent play.

Just remember to get him out of your lineup before the 9:30 a.m. ET start time.

Chris Johnson, RB, Arizona Cardinals

Yes, he did have 27 fantasy points in standard leagues in Week 3, totaling 150 yards from scrimmage with two touchdowns. He has been heavily involved with the impressive Cardinals offense over the past two weeks and isn't likely to just disappear.

However, starting running back Andre Ellington is expected to return in Week 4, according to Mike Jurecki of Fox Sports Radio:

Even if Johnson doesn't directly go to the bench, Ellington will certainly take away a large portion of the carries. With these two and rookie David Johnson also expected to be involved, none of the trio is a safe option in fantasy until we know how the touches will be divided.    

Against a strong St. Louis Rams defensive line, it doesn't appear worth the risk.

Marques Colston, WR, New Orleans Saints

Luke McCown played well in Drew Brees' absence, but it is clearly a huge step down for the Saints' passing attack. The offense simply doesn't score enough points to provide fantasy value for multiple receivers, and Marques Colston is quickly moving down the depth chart.

Not only has Brandin Cooks established himself as the go-to option among receivers, but players such as Brandon Coleman, Willie Snead and others have shared targets. Colston is no longer the threat he once was, and his usage has reflected that.

Even if you need a bye-week fill-in for Julian Edelman or Kendall Wright, there are likely better options on the waiver wire.

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