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

Finding the right player to start in the right circumstance is key to winning fantasy matchups and ensuring managers a shot at their league championship.

Through three weeks of the NFL, where nothing has been a certainty and inconsistent play has been the norm from more than a few top performers, it is more important than ever to start the right player at one position, sit the right one at another, and put one's self in the best position to win.

Ahead of Week 4, find out who has earned your trust and a spot in the starting lineup and which high-profile players should take a seat.

Jake Ferguson was a nonfactor for the Dallas Cowboys through the first two weeks of the 2024 season, but against Baltimore on Sunday, he caught six of 11 balls for 95 yards and finished fourth at his position.

He has yet to find the endzone this season, but against a New York Giants team that has not been good against tight ends, he has the potential to be a major factor for fantasy managers.

The Giants have allowed 13 receptions on 17 targets and 138 yards to opposing tight ends. With the defense likely to be focused on slowing CeeDee Lamb, and the running game proving to be nonexistent through three games, Ferguson should see several targets from quarterback Dak Prescott.

Should he replicate or improve upon his performance against Baltimore when the Cowboys travel to East Rutherford, New Jersey, on Thursday night, Ferguson could rank among the top five tight ends again.

Preseason prognosticators ranked Anthony Richardson among the top fantasy quarterbacks in the league, and through Week 1, it looked like they were right to do so.

On just nine completions, he tallied 212 yards, two touchdowns, an interception, and a third score on the ground.

In the second and third weeks, though, he has finished 21st and 31st, respectively, while throwing one touchdown to five interceptions. He has been far from good, teetering on abysmal.

That is unlikely to change against a smothering Pittsburgh defense.

The Steelers allow the fewest points to opposing quarterbacks (8.17 through three games) and while Richardson's ability to run and extend plays may help him evade some of the pressure, the swarming TJ Watt will have him in eyesight all day long.

Sit Richardson this week.

He might be worth bringing back into the starting lineup against the Jaguars in Week 5, but he is going to need to be more consistent and turn the ball over less to win over managers.

Justin Fields is becoming more comfortable in the Pittsburgh offense under Arthur Smith with every passing week, as evidenced by him going 25-32 for 245 yards and a passing touchdown while scoring another on the ground in Week 3 against the Los Angeles Chargers.

In Week 4, he faces an Indianapolis Colts team susceptible to the run, having allowed 62 yards on 11 carries to opposing quarterbacks and 409 yards on 101 attempts by running backs.

Fields has no problem scoring with his feet, having scored 15 rushing touchdowns in his NFL career.

Couple that with his improved passing against a Colts defense already giving up 16.32 points to opposing quarterbacks, and you have a player who has the potential to be one of the top performers on Sunday.

If he can capitalize on his recent play (two touchdowns in two games), and continue evolving as a thrower, there is reason to believe Fields can be in that top tier of fantasy QBs by season's end.

J.K. Dobbins has been a stud for the Chargers, ranking third in rushing yards with 310 yards. He finished in the top four among running backs in the first two weeks of the season before running into the brick wall that is the Pittsburgh Steelers defense in Week 3.

Dobbins finished with 15 carries for 44 yards and three receptions for just 10 yards.

Things do not figure to improve for the fourth-year player against a Kansas City Chiefs team that has surrendered the third-fewest fantasy points to opposing running backs with 15.77.

The Chiefs have allowed just 177 yards on 53 carries, enough for 3.3 yards per carry.

The defending Super Bowl champions have limited the best offensive weapon on each team they play.

Considering Chargers coach John Harbaugh prefers a run-first offense, it stands to reason that Andy Reid and the Chiefs coaching staff will focus on taking away a weapon like Dobbins and force their division foes to throw the ball to win.

Sit Dobbins this week and start him again in Week 5 against a Broncos team more susceptible to the run than the world champs.

All stats via FantasyPros unless otherwise noted.