Week 4 Start 'Em, Sit 'Em: Sunday Matchups to Exploit and Avoid

At this point of the year, it doesn't matter where you drafted a player in your fantasy football league. All that matters is who can help your team win.

You don't necessarily want to give up on high-upside stars, especially ones who have established themselves in past seasons. However, you shouldn't be afraid of putting them on the bench in favor of better performers from this season. This isn't overreacting from a few games, but instead moving with the times.

While it's understandable to be hesitant about trusting a potential fluke performer in your lineup, sometimes that is the best play.

Here is a look at some prominent players you should bench if you have better options, as well as some potential sleepers who can put together strong games.

Sit 'Em

Pos.	Player	Team	Opp.
QB	Philip Rivers	San Diego Chargers	CLE
QB	Ryan Tannehill	Miami Dolphins	NYJ
RB	C.J. Anderson	Denver Broncos	MIN
RB	Jeremy Hill	Cincinnati Bengals	KC
RB	Todd Gurley	St. Louis Rams	ARI
WR	Calvin Johnson	Detroit Lions	SEA
WR	Jeremy Maclin	Kansas City Chiefs	CIN
WR	Brandin Cooks	New Orleans Saints	DAL
TE	Jordan Cameron	Miami Dolphins	NYJ

Philip Rivers, QB, San Diego Chargers

Jim Mone/Associated Press

After a huge showing in Week 1 with 403 passing yards against the Detroit Lions, Philip Rivers has cooled down over the past two games. He has struggled taking care of the football (six turnovers this season), and his banged-up offensive line hasn't done him any favors.

ESPN's Kevin Seifert noted how bad the protection has been:

While the upcoming matchup against the Cleveland Browns seems like it would be a good chance to get back on track, the fact is the team is easier to beat against the run (32nd-ranked rushing defense in the NFL) than the pass (15th-ranked pass defense).

Look for rookie running back Melvin Gordon to have a breakout game while Rivers is relegated to more dinks and dunks and few yards or scores.

C.J. Anderson, RB, Denver Broncos

Joe Mahoney/Associated Press

If he's still in your lineup after stinking it up over the past three weeks, it's time to rectify that situation. Many thought C.J. Anderson's three-point effort in standard leagues in Week 1 would be the worst performance of the year, but instead, that is a season-high through three weeks.

Anderson hasn't scored a touchdown yet and has just 74 total rushing yards. That's a number he topped in five of his last six games as a starter a year ago. 

There are a number of reasons for his slow start, including various injuries to his head and ankles that have limited him in each contest. A restructured offensive line has struggled to produce open lanes, while teammate Ronnie Hillman has taken away a bunch of carries.

Not all of these issues can be blamed on Anderson, but none of them provide encouragement that he will turn things around in Week 4. Until he provides more consistent production, he is best served on your bench.

Calvin Johnson, WR, Detroit Lions

Rick Osentoski/Associated Press

It's unlikely you have a better option on your bench, but if you have a deep team you might want to consider benching Calvin Johnson this week. If you are playing daily fantasy, find different receivers to target.

While Johnson still has obvious talent and game-changing ability, the Lions have almost transformed him into a short-yardage possession receiver. Matthew Stafford hasn't been taking risks down the field, and it has affected the Pro Bowl receiver, as noted by ESPN's Michael Rothstein:

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Right now he is averaging 8.33 air yards per target, down 6.55 yards, on average, from last season. Johnson has never had a season in which he has averaged less than 13.45 air yards per target.

His yards per reception, unsurprisingly, are also way down. He's averaging 9.95 yards per catch after not averaging less than 14.55 yards per catch in any other season.

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This isn't likely to change on the road against the Seattle Seahawks, who have the No. 2 pass defense in the NFL. With Kam Chancellor likely set to make a bigger contribution in his second game back, the chances of an open play down the field are even smaller.

The last time Johnson faced the Seahawks was during his best season in 2012, when he finished with an unbelievable 1,964 receiving yards. Against Seattle, he had just three catches for 46 yards. Things have changed since then, but the opposing secondary remains just as strong with the ability to once again shut down one of the top players in the game.

Start 'Em

Pos.	Player	Team	Opp.
QB	Derek Carr	Oakland Raiders	CHI
QB	Andy Dalton	Cincinnati Bengals	KC
RB	Isaiah Crowell	Cleveland Browns	SD
RB	Melvin Gordon	San Diego Chargers	CLE
RB	Thomas Rawls	Seattle Seahawks	DET
WR	Pierre Garcon	Washington Redskins	PHI
WR	James Jones	Green Bay Packers	SF
WR	Rueben Randle	New York Giants	BUF
TE	Larry Donnell	New York Giants	BUF

Derek Carr, QB, Oakland Raiders

After three weeks, it's hard to know which impressive performances were real and which were flukes. Derek Carr has had two outstanding games in a row, but the fact that he is on the Oakland Raiders is cause for hesitation. 

The truth is the second-year passer is on his way toward being a legitimate top-level quarterback.

Head coach Jack Del Rio recently discussed Carr's impressive understanding of the game, per ESPN's Bill Williamson:

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He has a tremendous desire to really understand pressures and protections and that part of it. For a young player, he is advanced in his desire and his appreciation of those things. A lot of guys just want to know where the routes go and where can they throw the ball and how they can use their arm talent, but he's really been a real student of the game in terms of wanting to understand protections and what the issues are and what are his answers.

"

This has led to a lot of success on the field, including 665 passing yards and five touchdowns over the past two games. Combining his talent and awareness with the recent addition of weapons like Amari Cooper and Michael Crabtree, Carr has a chance to be good all year long.

That includes a matchup against the Chicago Bears, who have allowed a league-high 123.8 quarterback rating to opposing teams this season.

Isaiah Crowell, RB, Cleveland Browns

Scott Iskowitz/Getty Images

Although Isaiah Crowell had only 10 carries against the Raiders in Week 3, the good news for fantasy owners is that Duke Johnson Jr. had only three. The rookie will remain involved in the offense, but Crowell has 37 carries on the year to Johnson's 23, meaning the shift of power hasn't taken place yet.

Cleveland also should rely heavily on the rushing attack Sunday against the Chargers, a defense that has been good against the pass but awful against the run. The squad has allowed 23.7 fantasy points per game to opposing running backs this season, with only the Atlanta Falcons ranking worse, according to ESPN.

According to Pro Football Focus, the only run defense with a lower grade than that of the Chargers is the Browns. Considering Crowell won't get a chance to face his own defense unless he is traded, this could be the best chance for a big game he sees all year.

If Cleveland stays in the game and keeps the ball on the ground, Crowell could have a strong showing.

Pierre Garcon, WR, Washington Redskins

Patrick Semansky/Associated Press

With DeSean Jackson still out with a hamstring injury, per ESPN's Britt McHenry, Pierre Garcon remains the only established receiver on the Redskins. As Marcus Thompson of Bay Area News Group joked, quarterback Kirk Cousins looked his way often in Week 3:

Garcon remained inconsistent but still finished with a team high of 12 targets against the New York Giants. Cousins looked toward tight ends and running backs, but no other receiver on the team had more than half that mark.

This is good for the upcoming matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles, because opposing No. 1 receivers have feasted against this secondary. Julio Jones had 141 yards and two touchdowns, Brandon Marshall totaled 109 yards and a score and even Terrance Williams got into the end zone to go with 84 receiving yards.

Cornerback Brandon Maxwell has been inconsistent and could lead to some openings for Garcon over the course of the game. Despite middling numbers to this point, the veteran could be in for a breakout showing in Week 4.

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