Fantasy: Start, Sit, Stash, Quit - Week 4
SSSQ is a weekly look at under-the-radar fantasy players to 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
Justin Herbert, Chargers
vs. Raiders
Fantasy managers who anticipated a sophomore slump for last year's rookie phenom Herbert might have felt vindicated through the first two weeks.
He finished as the QB26 in both those games, but it wasn't indicative of his performance. The 23-year-old threw for 675 yards combined in those outings. He just didn't deliver the touchdowns that would've given him huge fantasy numbers.
Thankfully, the Chargers star made up for it with four TD tosses versus the Chiefs last Sunday.
While the Raiders, Herbert's next opponent, have made significant strides on the defensive side of the ball this year, their early-season performances have come against a shorthanded Ravens squad, a declining Ben Roethlisberger, and a backup in Jacoby Brissett.
Herbert hit their defense up for 640 yards and four scores in their two previous encounters, and he's poised to get the best of them yet again.
Boone's projection: 324 passing yards, 3 passing TDs, 17 rushing yards
Other QBs to start
- Jalen Hurts vs. Chiefs
- Sam Darnold at Cowboys
- Taylor Heinicke at Falcons
Jonathan Taylor, Colts
at Dolphins
Taylor has been a bit of a disappointment through three games, in part due to the wave of injuries that's impacted teammates like quarterback Carson Wentz and offensive linemen Quenton Nelson and Braden Smith.
However, the biggest thing missing has been trips to the end zone. Despite being tied for second in red-zone touches this season, Taylor has yet to cross the goal line.
Fortunately, this week's matchup is against the Dolphins, who are allowing the second-most fantasy points to running backs, including five total touchdowns to the position.
Damien Harris, Devin Singletary, and Peyton Barber each eclipsed 90 yards from scrimmage against Miami, and Taylor will keep that trend going in Week 4.
Boone's projection: 107 rushing yards, 12 receiving yards, TD
Other RBs to start
- Zack Moss vs. Texans
- Chris Carson at 49ers
- Leonard Fournette at Patriots
Robert Woods, Rams
vs. Cardinals
As someone who ranked Woods ahead of Cooper Kupp entering the season, it's been tough watching the latter dominate the stat sheet over his teammate.
Kupp has scored more fantasy points (91.2) than anyone this campaign, including quarterbacks. But we've seen this happen, where Kupp begins the season hot before defenses adjust and things tilt in Woods' favor.
Though there's no guarantee that'll happen again this time, Woods' usage as a full-time player in one of the league's best offenses suggests a rebound is inevitable.
We believe that'll begin in Week 4 when he squares off with a Cardinals secondary giving up the 10th-most fantasy points to wideouts.
As Dwain McFarland of Pro Football Focus pointed out during the latest episode of theScore Fantasy Football Podcast, the strength of Arizona's defense rests in its linebackers and safeties. The Cardinals are most vulnerable on the outside, where Woods should have plenty of opportunities for a get-right game.
Boone's projection: 84 receiving yards, TD, 9 rushing yards
Other WRs to start
- Deebo Samuel vs. Seahawks
- Corey Davis vs. Titans
- Jakobi Meyers vs. Buccaneers
Logan Thomas, Washington
at Falcons
While he's well behind the elite options at his position, Thomas has been the model of consistency this season, finishing as the TE8, TE13, and TE10 in the first three contests.
A friendly schedule has helped his cause, but another easy matchup awaits in the Falcons, who have permitted the seventh-most fantasy points to tight ends. Atlanta has given up big days to the two top-10 fantasy starters it's gone up against in Rob Gronkowski and Dallas Goedert.
Expect Mr. Consistency to deliver once again with his best stat line so far this year.
Boone's projection: 68 receiving yards, TD
Other TEs to start
- Rob Gronkowski at Patriots
- Noah Fant vs. Ravens
- Dawson Knox vs. Texans
Sit
Ryan Tannehill, Titans
at Jets
Just when Tannehill was getting into a rhythm, his two star wideouts A.J. Brown and Julio Jones suffered hamstring injuries that could keep them out for Week 4 and maybe beyond.
He's also about to take on a Jets defense showing clear signs of being a run funnel. New York is the fourth-easiest matchup for fantasy backs but the third-hardest opponent for fantasy quarterbacks.
With the Titans entering this game as 7-point favorites, the game script should write itself. Expect a heavy dose of Derrick Henry to cover for a depleted receiving corps led by Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, Chester Rogers, and Josh Reynolds.
Put Tannehill on your bench until he gets his weapons back.
Boone's projection: 243 passing yards, 0 TDs, 0 INTs, 14 rushing yards
Other QBs to sit
- Daniel Jones at Saints
- Matt Ryan vs. Washington
- Ben Roethlisberger at Packers
Damien Harris, Patriots
vs. Buccaneers
Harris' involvement in the receiving game may expand, with James White expected to miss the rest of the year. However, the most likely scenario would see the Pats fill the pass-catching role with some combination of J.J. Taylor, Rhamondre Stevenson, or veteran special teamer Brandon Bolden.
That means Harris will have to continue to make his mark on the ground, and that's a serious problem when going up against the Bucs' defense.
Tampa has limited teams to the fourth-fewest rushing yards on the year while giving up only one rushing touchdown in the opening three weeks.
Harris is also coming off his worst performance of the season with eight touches for just 11 yards.
Running back depth can be hard to come by in 2021, but you hopefully have better options with more upside in Week 4.
Boone's projection: 39 rushing yards, 8 receiving yards
Other RBs to sit
- Mike Davis vs. Washington
- Ty'Son Williams at Broncos
- James Conner at Rams
Kenny Golladay, Giants
at Saints
With Sterling Shepard and Darius Slayton likely sidelined for this week's game, one would think Golladay is in a prime position to produce.
Sadly, the matchup with the Saints might prevent that. New Orleans has been a top-six unit in Football Outsiders' pass defense DVOA and is especially stingy on the outside.
With Golladay being the last man standing, the Saints might ask Marshon Lattimore, their top cover man, to shadow him - further complicating his fantasy outlook.
When you add that to the fact Daniel Jones is throwing downfield at the lowest rate in the NFL, it's hard to feel good about putting Golladay in your lineup.
Boone's projection: 52 receiving yards
Other WRs to sit
- Marquise Brown at Broncos
- Michael Pittman at Dolphins
- JuJu Smith-Schuster at Packers
Mike Gesicki, Dolphins
vs. Colts
If you believe Gesicki's 10-catch, 86-yard effort last week is here to stay, then you haven't been paying attention.
He also had a monster early-season performance in 2020 with eight catches, 130 yards, and a touchdown. Then he was held to 15 yards or less in four of the next five outings.
This is what Gesicki does. Injuries to teammates sparked the few quality stretches he's produced. Otherwise, it's random and infrequent blow-up games like he put up in Week 3.
The Colts also present a problem for him this week since they haven't let a tight end post more than 37 yards this year.
Boone's projection: 28 receiving yards
Other TEs to sit
- Robert Tonyan vs. Steelers
- Austin Hooper at Vikings
- Dalton Schultz vs. Panthers
Stash
J.J. Taylor, Patriots
Taylor is the most likely candidate to replace James White as the pass-catching specialist in New England's backfield.
Before getting hurt, White was off to a very strong start with 12 receptions and 94 yards on 13 targets over the first two games.
If Taylor can assume most of that work, he could turn into a flex-worthy fantasy option in PPR formats.
Just remember, this is the unpredictable Patriots we're talking about, so add Taylor as a pure stash until we get more information about how Bill Belichick plans to deploy his backs.
Pat Freiermuth, Steelers
There's a shift taking place in the Steelers' tight end room. While veteran Eric Ebron hasn't caught a pass since Week 1, his rookie teammate Freiermuth has received nine targets over the last two weeks, turning them into seven catches, 58 yards, and a touchdown.
Those are hardly numbers to get too excited about, but Freiermuth could enter the conversation as a fantasy starter if we continue down this path.
This week will be telling as Pittsburgh's receiving corps is dealing with multiple injuries. Even if Diontae Johnson (knee), Chase Claypool (hamstring), and JuJu Smith-Schuster (ribs) can suit up, the team might need to rely on their tight ends more than usual.
Freiermuth may become a short-range safety blanket for Ben Roethlisberger, whose arm strength is rapidly evaporating in front of our eyes.
Quit
Jonnu Smith, Patriots
Smith admittedly had one of the worst performances of his career last week, catching just one of his six targets for four yards.
Teammate Hunter Henry vastly outproduced him, which isn't surprising considering Henry has run a route on 67% of Mac Jones' dropbacks this year to just 37% for Smith.
It's unclear if there's an injury holding Smith back, but it's obvious he doesn't need to occupy a spot on your roster.
Aside from bye weeks, you shouldn't be carrying two tight ends on your team at this point in the season anyway - and it's impossible to trust him as your starter.