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Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em Week 4: Fantasy QBs
With fantasy football season upon us, the decisions you’re often dreading most is who you’re starting at QB. Who has high risk potential, and who brings the greatest reward? Whether it’s hoping they don’t get injured, or battling poor matchups, a reliable QB is the most key.
And if you’re not lucky enough to have one of the dynamic dual threat QBs in the league, you don’t have a ton of options. Undoubtedly, most fantasy owners will harbor two quarterbacks anyway, even if they’re not elite, but who’s to say someone will always have a great week. Who are you going to start this week? Luckily, we’re here to help.
Sit ‘Em: Teddy Bridgewater vs. Ravens (4:25 p.m. ET, CBS)
•Position Rank: 19
•Last Week’s Points: 14.1
•This Week’s Point Projections: 19.7
Teddy Bridgewater is finally a starter again in the NFL, and he steadily earned Broncos’ fans respect as he had a nice start to the season. Bridgewater is incredibly skilled on his feet, and has pretty good decision making, which makes him a safe QB to start as long as the matchup presents itself. He’s got another tough matchup this week against the Ravens, though.
Start ‘Em: Kirk Cousins vs. Browns (1 p.m. ET, CBS)
•Position Rank: 12
•Last Week’s Points: 28.3
•This Week’s Point Projections: 20.2
Kirk Cousins has had an electric start to the season, and some have already noted some impressive stats he’s accumulated in the early part of the season. He’s proved critics wrong once again, as he’s put up big numbers despite the Vikings poor record. He will have another chance to light up a secondary for the Browns which isn’t necessarily impressive..
Sit ‘Em: Jalen Hurts vs. Chiefs (1 p.m. ET, CBS)
•Position Rank: 10
•Last Week’s Points: 23.8
•This Week’s Point Projections: 24.4
Hurts is another young QB whose true potential has no real ceiling. Hurts wasn’t a great passer last season, but you can already see he’s worked on it significantly in the offseason. How he scores points will be a bit of an uncertainty, but a gamble you may be willing to take. A tough matchup against the uprising Chiefs could present a tough test, however.
Start ‘Em: Matthew Stafford vs. Cardinals (4:05 p.m. ET, FOX)
•Position Rank: 8
•Last Week’s Points: 32.9
•This Week’s Point Projections: 22.1
Matthew Stafford’s true talents are on display on his new team in Los Angeles, as the Rams are seeing their investment paying off already in a short amount of time. We never got to see Stafford’s real potential on the Lions, but we’ve already gotten a glimpse of him slinging the ball effectively the first few weeks, but this matchup against the Cardinals will be a real shootout.
Sit ‘Em: Jimmy Garoppolo vs. Seahawks (4:05 p.m. ET, FOX)
•Position Rank: 23
•Last Week’s Points: 17.2
•This Week’s Point Projections: 18.5
Jimmy Garoppolo has actually looked pretty good in the early stages of the season. He’s had a commanding presence that’s given San Francisco some confidence to start off the season, and if he throws more TDs he’ll become more valuable, but the 49ers offense isn’t there yet – for now. However, the division rival Seahawks are a tough matchup.
Sit ‘Em: Justin Herbert vs. Raiders (8:15 p.m. ET Monday, ESPN)
•Position Rank: 4
•Last Week’s Points: 33.6
•This Week’s Point Projections: 23.7
Chargers’ QB Justin Herbert was one of the most pleasant surprises of all of the 2020 NFL season. With a new coach and OC, Herbert and the Chargers have a lot higher expectations than most are expecting, but Herbert has been nothing short of electric so far to start the season. He did have his hand wrapped after the game, so this may be the week to divert from him against the Raiders.
Sit ‘Em: Ben Roethlisberger vs. Packers (4:25 p.m. ET, CBS)
•Position Rank: 29
•Last Week’s Points: 16.4
•This Week’s Point Projections: 19.8
While people want to throw in the towel on Big Ben, he’s still going to be a factor, because in this league you need someone for positive matchups, and Roethlisberger can throw touchdowns. He’s not operating within the most explosive offense these days, and he’s not as smart with the ball as he once was, so the beginning of the season’s been bleak. Packers don’t provide a favorable matchup either.
Start ‘Em: Baker Mayfield vs. Vikings 1:00 p.m. ET, CBS)
•Position Rank: 18
•Last Week’s Points: 19.4
•This Week’s Point Projections: 19.7
Baker Mayfield is finally starting to settle into the Cleveland offense, and when he gets rolling, he can be a top-10 QB in the league. There’s no reason to doubt his abilities, but he’ll need his full cast of skill players to help out a bit more. Mayfield is the early front-runner in completion percentage, but his matchup against a questionable Vikings secondary is still a good one.
Sit ‘Em: Joe Burrow vs. Jaguars (8:20 p.m. ET, NFL Network)
•Position Rank: 16
•Last Week’s Points: 19.3
•This Week’s Point Projections: 20.0
Everyone’s excited to see Joe Burrow back in action after the knee injury he suffered in 2020, and we saw his flashes of stardom already in the first couple of weeks, so even if he isn’t lighting up the scoreboard each week, he really has a potential to lead his team to victory alongside Ja’marr Chase. And he should have a big week against the Jags.
Start ‘Em: Lamar Jackson vs. Broncos (4:25 p.m. ET, CBS)
•Position Rank: 6
•Last Week’s Points: 22.1
•This Week’s Point Projections: 21.5
Lamar Jackson provides a wealth of talent that was somewhat stifled in 2020 in comparison to his historic showing of 2019, and we’re seeing the Ravens provide Jackson with the tools to help him spread the ball out in the air more. Regardless, this elite, young QB is still a top-5 option, and after his hot start, he should continue his momentum against the Broncos.
Sit ‘Em: Sam Darnold vs. Panthers (1 p.m. ET, FOX)
•Position Rank: 19
•Last Week’s Points: 28.3
•This Week’s Point Projections: 19.2
Sam Darnold is getting new life in Carolina under head coach Adam Gase, and with hopes that he can utilize his new receiving core to boost a subpar offense, the new Panthers hopes to reach closer to 4,000 passing yards and more than 20 touchdowns for the first time in his career. He’s looked real good so far, but a matchup against a stingy Bears D could derail him a bit.
Sit ‘Em: Matt Ryan vs. Football Team (1 p.m. ET, FOX)
•Position Rank: 21
•Last Week’s Points: 18.0
•This Week’s Point Projections: 19.3
The days of Matt Ryan being at the top of his game may be behind us, but he’s a gunslinger at heart, and although Julio Jones is now gone, he’ll still have Calvin Ridley to go deep to. He’s not going to be expected to put up large numbers like in years past, but this week 4 game against the Football Team is one of his tougher defensive matchups all year. Wouldn’t start Ryan this week.
Start ‘Em: Derek Carr vs. Chargers (8:15 p.m. ET Monday, ESPN)
•Position Rank: 14
•Last Week’s Points: 25.1
•This Week’s Point Projections: 21.1
While Derek Carr’s consistency has always been appreciated by fantasy owners, it was tough to grasp his current situation in Las Vegas after the team lost many offensive line members who’ve protected him, and there haven’t been many improvements offensively. But he’s started the season off hot, and this matchup against a Chargers team presents opportunities for him to continue to put up good numbers.
Start ‘Em: Dak Prescott vs. Panthers (8:15 p.m. ET Monday, ESPN)
•Position Rank: 9
•Last Week’s Points: 22.5
•This Week’s Point Projections: 21.1
Dak Prescott really showed the Cowboys why he was such a valuable asset last season before his leg injury, and this year, he picked up right where he left off. He’s got all the tools to be an elite QB in the NFL, and it was extremely promising to see him airing out the ball more. He should have a promising matchup against the Panthers this weekend.
Sit ‘Em: Trevor Lawrence vs. Bengals (8:20 p.m. ET Thursday, NFL Network)
•Position Rank: 24
•Last Week’s Points: 9.6
•This Week’s Point Projections: 18.0
The most recent number 1 pick and highly anticipated future QB of the Jacksonville Jaguars, Lawrence will likely be put on the main stage all year. He’s widely considered to be a smart player with athletic ability and great leadership and feel for an offense, but it’s safe to say he’s not ready to start in terms of fantasy football. It could come at some point later this season, but he’s not worth the risk now.
Start ‘Em: Ryan Tannehill vs. Jets (1 p.m. ET, CBS)
•Position Rank: 13
•Last Week’s Points: 23.4
•This Week’s Point Projections: 18.6
Tannehill flew under the radar last season, as his production was essentially flawless and he made up for in rushing touchdowns for what he lacked in net passing attempts. Regardless of what you think of Tennessee, he now has A.J. Brown and Julio Jones to throw to, so Tannehill should begin producing more than he has the first couple of weeks. But with Derek Henry, it’s a tough choice. He’s got a favorable outlook against the Jets, though.
Start ‘Em: Tom Brady vs. Patriots (8:20 p.m. ET, NBC)
•Position Rank: 7
•Last Week’s Points: 32.4
•This Week’s Point Projections: 28.4
You really can’t say enough about Tom Brady, and the fact that he’s going to be pushing a top-10 QB production slot from a fantasy standpoint at age 44 is remarkable. Again, primed with a cast of great backs and receivers, Brady is back to producing effectively and consistently, and he’s nearly topping the leaderboard. Almost no one looks more comfortable than Brady, but in his first return trip to Foxboro, don’t expect him to be phased by the lights and camera. That’s when he thrives.
Start ‘Em: Jameis Winston vs. Giants (1 p.m. ET, FOX)
•Position Rank: 26
•Last Week’s Points: 14.8
•This Week’s Point Projections: 17.0
No one was expecting a 5-touchdown performance in week 1 from Jameis Winston, but he lit up the scoreboard and looked pretty darn good doing it. While we saw a significant regression from him since, Winston still can be a promising starter assuming the offense can help him get it done. For the Saints, they’ll be looking to rebound against a very beatable Giants team.
Start ‘Em: Russell Wilson vs. 49ers (4:05 p.m. ET, FOX)
•Position Rank: 7
•Last Week’s Points: 19.6
•This Week’s Point Projections: 23.7
Russell Wilson was the clear number one QB in the league the first half of last season, and he returned with that big play ability and silenced skeptical fantasy owners. Never underestimate the dual-threat abilities of Wilson, who already set the pace again in 2021, having a huge passing day in weeks 1 and 2. The 49ers defense has already been exploited, so expect Wilson and his receivers to take deep shots.
Start ‘Em: Kyler Murray vs. Rams (4:05 p.m. ET, FOX)
•Position Rank: 3
•Last Week’s Points: 21.7
•This Week’s Point Projections: 24.9
Kyler Murray’s dual threat nature is exceptional, and a 4,000 yard passing and 1,000 yard rushing season seems well within reach, especially with all the offensive weapons. There’s almost no mistake that Murray will be one of the highest scoring QBs week-to-week in the NFL, he did both of the first two weeks. And his week 4 game against the Rams is a good old west coast shootout.
Start ‘Em: Josh Allen vs. Texans (1 p.m. ET, CBS)
•Position Rank: 1
•Last Week’s Points: 40.8
•This Week’s Point Projections: 27.4
Nobody could have truly predicted just how much growth and impact Josh Allen would have on Buffalo in 2020, but now you’re looking at one of the scariest and most refined offenses in the league, all with the chip on their shoulder to get the job done in 2021. The Bills rebounded after a slow start, and Allen can have another monster showing against the Texans this week.
Start ‘Em: Patrick Mahomes vs. Eagles (1 p.m. ET, CBS)
•Position Rank: 2
•Last Week’s Points: 25.5
•This Week’s Point Projections: 25.4
It’s basically impossible to put anyone other than Mahomes if you have him and have seen what he’s been able to do in Kansas City over the past few seasons. And he shows no signs of stopping. He’s dynamic in every sense of the word, and scoring and points are a “how many”, not an “if”. He’s already off to an electric start to the season, and even the Eagles will have to figure out how to limit his production.
Sit ‘Em: Daniel Jones vs. Saints (1 p.m. ET, FOX)
•Position Rank: 16
•Last Week’s Points: 31.95
•This Week’s Point Projections: 20.6
The jury is still out on Daniel Jones, as he is on the unpredictable side of the analysis, but last year was flat-out not good for the young Giants starter. He’ll have to do much better, and New York is hoping their upgraded receiving corps will provide help for him. We didn’t expect such a lucrative showing from him on the ground, but don’t expect that kind of performance every week. His production should be modest against the Saints.
Sit ‘Em: Jared Goff vs. Bears (1 p.m. ET, FOX)
•Position Rank: 25
•Last Week’s Points: 11.2
•This Week’s Point Projections: 17.4
Jared Goff got beat up in his debut for the Lions, but he still put up some pretty high numbers in the passing game. The big concern for Goff is obviously the offensive line, which doesn’t seem to be at the level it needs to be. He’s managed to continue slinging it, but we wouldn’t bank on him lighting up the scoreboard like that every week. Especially against better defenses like the Bears.
Start ‘Em: Aaron Rodgers vs. Steelers (4:25 p.m. ET, CBS)
•Position Rank: 10
•Last Week’s Points: N/A
•This Week’s Point Projections: 20.9
All you could say after Rodgers and the Packers’ week 1 showing was yikes. Obviously it was a very uncharacteristic performance, but apart from disappointing fantasy owners, Rodgers himself looked back on track, as did the Packers offense in the weeks that followed. Expect the gears to keep turning for Rodgers again in week 4.
Sit ‘Em: Justin Fields vs. Lions (1 p.m. ET, FOX)
•Position Rank: 23
•Last Week’s Points: 4.1
•This Week’s Point Projections: 6.0
Justin Fields isn’t your starter in Chicago, but you can bet after his early week performance he’ll be knocking on the door if Andy Dalton slips up at all. His explosive play mirrors that of the Mahomes and Murrays of the league, and if he shines given the opportunity, he may play a pivotal role that can elevate him from benchwarmer to top-10 fantasy QB, even in 2021. His conflicting time with Dalton makes him uncertain for the time being.
Sit ‘ Em: Trey Lance vs. Packers (1 p.m. ET, FOX)
•Position Rank: 34
•Last Week’s Points: 4.4
•This Week’s Point Projections: 3.7
Despite the lack of clarity on whether or not Lance could become a true number one starter above Jimmy Garropolo, we know there’s almost a definite chance he gets significant time this season, as he already threw a TD in week 1. Regardless of when he plays, having him on your team will only provide opportunity at a huge potential sleeper asset.
Sit ‘Em: Tua Tagovailoa vs. IR (1 p.m. ET, CBS)
•Position Rank: 28
•Last Week’s Points: 0.65
•This Week’s Point Projections: ?
Placed On IR 9/25
Sit ‘Em: Ryan Fitzpatrick vs. IR (1 p.m. ET, CBS)
•Position Rank: N/A
•Last Week’s Points: 0.7
•This Week’s Point Projections: N/A
Ryan Fitzpatrick has been moved to the IR after sustaining a hip injury in week 1.
