Three weeks have passed in your fantasy football season, and there’s a good chance things are beginning to take shape in the standings.
No matter where you are ranked, there’s still plenty of time to turn things around, but words such as loyalty and patience have to be thrown out of the window. If you are near the bottom of a league, you have to start turning things around soon because a two- or three-game deficit can expand awfully quickly.
So if you are currently staring at your roster mindlessly, unsure of who exactly should get the start at some of your most important positions for Week 4, maybe this can help you out a bit.
Let’s take a look at which players you should start and which should sit for this upcoming week.
Quarterback
Start Matt Ryan vs. Houston Texans
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan has started his 2015 season well, averaging 18.3 points per week in his first three outings. His partnership with wide receiver Julio Jones is starting to look unstoppable as the Falcons are set to face the Houston Texans on Sunday.
Houston is tied for fourth worst in fantasy by allowing 20.0 points per week against quarterbacks, which means Ryan could be set for a solid day.
NFL.com’s Michael Fabiano further gives reason as to why you should start Ryan. In his last four games against teams from the AFC, Ryan has thrown for eight touchdowns and averaged 330.75 passing yards per game.
Sit Matt Stafford vs. Seattle Seahawks
It hasn’t been a great start to the season for Detroit Lions quarterback Matt Stafford. In two of his three starts, he’s failed to record over 13 points. Last week, he put up just nine against the Denver Broncos.
He’s ranked 21st among all quarterbacks in points earned this season, and lining up against a Seattle Seahawks defense in Week 4 doesn’t seem like his standing will improve.
Add the fact that Detroit is going to be in a raucous environment in Seattle, and it might be best to keep him on the bench this week.
Running Back
Start Joseph Randle vs. New Orleans Saints
If you told me at the beginning of the season that Joseph Randle would be the fourth-best fantasy running back through three weeks, I would have laughed at you.
But Randle used a huge 27-point Week 3 against the Atlanta Falcons to reward those owners who took a chance on him in the later rounds of the draft.
With Brandon Weeden filling in for Tony Romo under center, I would think Randle is going to get a healthy dose of touches against the Saints.
Even though New Orleans has allowed just two touchdowns to running backs this season, it has allowed the seventh-most yards on the ground. Randle should put up close to 100 total yards, and if he can find his way into the end zone, fantasy owners are looking at an 18-20-point game.
Sit Alfred Morris vs. Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles haven’t given up a touchdown to a running back all season and are averaging just 74 yards allowed on the ground per game.
That doesn’t bode well for the Washington Redskins rushing game. I would say it wouldn’t bode well for Alfred Morris, but the back who was expected to be the starter is now just a part of a trio of rushers with Matt Jones and Chris Thompson getting touches.
Morris has yet to find the end zone this year, and it doesn’t seem like he will this week either. All signs are pointing to a down game for all three of Washington’s rushers. So my advice would be to stay away.
Wide Receiver
Start Amari Cooper vs. Chicago Bears
Of the 290 yards that Amari Cooper has racked up this season, 243 of them have come in the past two games. In points-per-reception leagues, he’s been a valuable addition, recording 15 receptions in Weeks 2 and 3.
The rookie has been just one of the pleasant surprises of the 2-1 Raiders this season, who are taking on a Chicago Bears team that can only be described as a mess.
Cooper will be catching passes against a secondary that has given up the fourth-most points to wide receivers this season. He’s shown great chemistry with Derek Carr, and I don’t anticipate the pair slowing down in Week 4.
Sit Jarvis Landry vs. New York Jets
Miami Dolphins wide receiver Jarvis Landry actually has the same number of points as Cooper in standard leagues. It’s his 24 receptions that have made him so valuable in PPR leagues.
For those owners in standard leagues, Landry has underwhelmed as Miami’s top wideout has not recorded a single receiving touchdown. While this kind of output would not be bad for a second wide receiver or a player in the flex, someone who was regarded as highly as Landry is expected put up more.
Add the fact that he is most likely going to be guarded by Darrelle Revis, and it might be a good idea to leave Landry on the bench for Week 4.
Tight End
Start Jordan Reed vs. Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia has been locking down on tight ends all season, allowing just six fantasy points in its first three games against that position.
Then again, other than a banged-up Jason Witten, the Eagles haven’t played teams that exactly look a lot at their tight ends in the Falcons and Jets.
Reed is tied with Witten for fifth place in fantasy points among tight ends and has developed into a primary target in the Redskins offense. He’s been targeted 26 times in three games this season.
While it will be a tough matchup for Reed, if Cousins continues to throw his way, he might be able to put together a decent day.
Sit Heath Miller vs. Baltimore Ravens
After eight and nine points respectively in his first two games, Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Heath Miller put up just one point against the St. Louis Rams in Week 3.
It isn’t going to get any easier for Miller. The Ravens have given up just one point to tight ends this year, and they seem to have Miller’s number. According to Fabiano, in his last 15 games against the Ravens, Miller has just two touchdowns.
Add the loss of Ben Roethlisberger under center, and the familiarity of throwing to a big target disappears as Michael Vick will try to figure out a way to run the Steelers offense. I can’t see Miller factoring in much.
All stats courtesy of ESPN.com
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