Fantasy: Start, Sit, Stash, Quit - Week 4

SSSQ is a weekly look at under-the-radar fantasy players you should consider starting and potential busts you should leave on your bench. We also identify breakout candidates to stash on your roster and players you can safely cut.

For the rest of your lineup decisions, consult our Week 4 rankings. You can also listen to the Week 4 preview episode of theScore Fantasy Football Podcast.

Start

Jared Goff, Rams

vs. Buccaneers

Goff hasn't been a difference-maker in fantasy through three weeks, but he'll have an opportunity for big totals against an overachieving Buccaneers' defense traveling across the country. Tampa has given up over 300 passing yards to its last two opponents, including a stunning first start for rookie Daniel Jones last week (336 passing yards with two scores, 28 rushing yards with two more TDs). As massive home favorites with one of the highest implied point totals of the week (30), Goff and the Rams should move the ball with ease.

Boone's projection: 309 passing yards, 3 passing TDs

Other QBs to start

• Philip Rivers at Dolphins
• Daniel Jones vs. Redskins
• Matthew Stafford vs. Chiefs

Josh Jacobs, Raiders

at Colts

Jacobs went from our main "sit" recommendation to having his picture in the "start" section just one week later. The rookie is now off the injury report and won't have to contend with the Vikings' stifling run defense. Instead, he'll face the Colts, who are allowing the fifth-most fantasy points to running backs and might be without star middle linebacker Darius Leonard. Raiders head coach Jon Gruden also stated that his team needs to get Jacobs more involved as a pass-catcher, which has been one of the knocks on his fantasy outlook so far. Fire him up confidently as an RB2 this week.

Boone's projection: 84 rushing yards, 21 receiving yards, TD

Other RBs to start

• James White at Bills
• Wayne Gallman vs. Redskins
• Adrian Peterson at Giants

Tyler Boyd, Bengals

at Steelers

John Ross stole some of the early-season headlines in the Bengals' receiving corps, but Boyd has seen double-digit targets in every game this season. Next up are the Steelers, whose struggles against slot receivers in recent years have continued into 2019:

Boyd put up a 7-62-2 stat line in his lone outing against Pittsburgh last year and is set for similar success this time around.

Boone's projection: 91 receiving yards, TD

Other WRs to start

• Christian Kirk vs. Seahawks
• Sterling Shepard vs. Redskins
• Marvin Jones vs. Chiefs

Austin Hooper, Falcons

vs. Titans

The Titans' defense does a lot of things well, but keeping tight ends out of the end zone isn't one of them. Tennessee has permitted three trips to pay dirt by tight ends this season, and Hooper is coming off a two-score game of his own. Hooper also ranks top seven among tight ends in fantasy points, targets, receptions, and receiving yards so far in 2019. Fittingly, he's my No. 7 tight end this week.

Boone's projection: 67 receiving yards, TD

Other TEs to start

• Will Dissly at Cardinals
• Vernon Davis at Giants
• Eric Ebron vs. Raiders

Sit

Tom Brady, Patriots

at Bills

Even at 42 years old, Brady is off to another strong fantasy start as the QB6 over the first three weeks versus a soft schedule that featured the Steelers, Dolphins, and Jets. A road trip to Buffalo will be his hardest challenge yet against a Bills defense that ranks fourth in Football Outsiders' pass-defense DVOA and hasn't given up multiple passing touchdowns in a game this season. Since Sean McDermott's arrival, Brady has finished as the QB30, QB20, QB11, and QB27 in his four matchups with the Bills. With Buffalo being more vulnerable to the run, a heavy dose of Patriots backs could be in New England's game plan.

Boone's projection: 269 passing yards, TD, INT

Other QBs to sit

• Baker Mayfield at Ravens
• Josh Allen vs. Patriots
• Jameis Winston at Rams

David Montgomery, Bears

vs. Vikings

Montgomery's snap percentage has been raised each week and it's come with touch counts of 19 in Week 2 and 16 in Week 3. Though he hasn't cracked 70 rushing yards, that day is coming soon ... just not this week. The Vikings are giving up the seventh-fewest fantasy points to running backs and despite them being slightly less intimidating on the road, Vegas' projected point total of 38 is enough to make you question starting anyone in this game.

Boone's projection: 45 rushing yards, 9 receiving yards

Other RBs to sit

• Frank Gore vs. Patriots
• Peyton Barber at Rams
• Duke Johnson vs. Panthers

Stefon Diggs, Vikings

at Bears

Diggs might be the most underutilized talent in the NFL through three weeks, playing in a Vikings' offense that's throwing a league-low 21 times per game - seven fewer than any other unit. Adam Thielen's volume is also concerning, though he's managed to save himself with touchdown production. Diggs hasn't caught more than three passes or topped 50 yards in any game this year. He's a touchdown-or-bust fantasy play at the moment.

Boone's projection: 39 receiving yards

Other WRs to sit

• Allen Robinson vs. Vikings
• John Brown vs. Patriots
• Tyrell Williams at Colts

Jared Cook, Saints

vs. Cowboys

Tight end is a tough position to suggest "sit" candidates because outside of the top seven or eight options, you're basically just hoping for a touchdown to salvage a decent fantasy day. Cook is another volume victim, as he saw just two targets in Teddy Bridgewater's first start under center. The pass-catching tight end won't be worth fantasy consideration until Drew Brees gets back. Hopefully, you've found a more reliable starter.

Boone's projection: 33 receiving yards

Other TEs to sit

• Trey Burton vs. Vikings
• Jason Witten at Saints
• Tyler Eifert at Steelers

Stash

Parris Campbell, Colts

Campbell was the talk of the Colts' offseason program before a hamstring injury sidelined him in August. Now healthy, his usage should only continue to increase as the season progresses. The rookie has caught all five of his targets for 37 yards and a touchdown this year. With T.Y. Hilton's status in doubt for Week 4, Campbell may even be an under-the-radar flex play this Sunday.

Chase Edmonds, Cardinals

Edmonds is one of the few clear handcuffs in the league who we know would step into a significant workload if the starter, David Johnson, were to miss time. In a Cardinals offense generating the second-most plays per game across the league, Edmonds would be an instant RB2 for fantasy. The sophomore should be stashed everywhere in case that situation arises.

Quit

Tarik Cohen, Bears

Cohen has seen his targets and snaps decline after a surprisingly active Week 1 performance where he was deployed regularly from the slot. With Montgomery already assuming a larger role in this backfield, Cohen is being relegated to more of a gadget player, which we've seen the last two games when he was held under five fantasy points in each. His 73% ownership should come way down.

Kirk Cousins, Vikings

Normally, we wouldn't discuss streamer-level quarterbacks in this section, but Cousins is somehow still owned in 44% of leagues. Given Minnesota's volume issues mentioned in the Diggs' section, Cousins can't be trusted even in good matchups. He shouldn't be rostered outside of two-quarterbacks formats.