Identifying Week 4 sleepers and avoiding potential duds can make all the difference for your team. Whether you’re looking for under-the-radar players poised for a breakout or trying to dodge early-season letdowns, our team of Featured Pros has you covered. In this article, we’ll dive into the key players you should start and those you might want to bench based on expert insights and analysis.
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Week 4 Fantasy Football Start/Sit Advice
Sleepers
Which player outside of the top 100 in the FantasyPros flex rankings is a good sleeper start, and why do you think he has upside this week?
Michael Wilson (WR – ARI)
“Star tight end Trey McBride is unlikely to make it back this week from concussion protocol, and wide receiver Michael Wilson, who caught eight balls from Kyler Murray in Week 3, once again stands to play a featured role in what should be a shootout against the Washington Commanders.”
– Neema Hodjat (Real GM)
“I like Michael Wilson’s chances this week to see decent volume and find the end zone against a bottom-of-the-barrel Commanders secondary. Wilson has looked good this season so far, and there’s a solid chance that McBride is out, if not very limited, in this one. I’m not overthinking it here, though I actually prefer Wilson to Greg Dortch, given his frame and usage in the red zone. I’m flexing Wilson this week and looking for WR2 upside, despite my very lofty ranking of teammate Marvin Harrison Jr.”
– Jeremy Shulman (Fantasy Football Universe)
Tutu Atwell (WR – LAR)
“Tutu Atwell is a great spot start this week for the Los Angeles Rams if you’re looking for some upside. With Puka and Kupp still on the shelf, Tutu has a proven connection with Stafford and the best ability to separate among the receivers there. We saw the upside last week, leading the team with 93 receiving yards, and I could see that being a necessity against a tougher Bears defense.”
– Shawn Gill (Super Fantasy Bros)
Josh Downs (WR – IND)
“If you have rostered Josh Downs, you’re probably looking for someone who can give you the confidence to flex him. I’m here to tell you that this is the week to fire him up. After an explosive rookie season, Downs missed the opening two games of this year due to an ankle injury. Last week, he returned to five targets, three receptions, and 22 yards. Although that might not sound impressive, that was 25% of Anthony Richardson‘s pass attempts. This week, the Colts face a Steelers team that has struggled against slot receivers. With T.J. Watt and company hunting down Richardson, I think there will be plenty of slot targets, making Downs a top 36 play this week.”
– Ellis Johnson (RotoBaller)
Roschon Johnson (RB – CHI)
“Coach Sark called Roschon Johnson his Lieutenant during his tenure at Texas. He might be finally leading this Bears backfield, as health allowed him to play his best game as a pro last week. His rushing and receiving grades for the week were solid, and his overall grades were near the top of the league, in line with bigger-name runners Jonathan Taylor and Jahmyr Gibbs, who also had good games. Roschon caught four of five targets, and his pass blocking is a strength. Facing the Rams’ defense this week, the matchups are good across all the Bears’ skill positions and an offense that showed some growth last week vs the Colts. Roschon’s role should continue to do so as well.”
– Justin Jaksa (Dr. Roto)
Allen Lazard (WR – NYJ)
“Allen Lazard is an appealing flex option in Week 4, especially for fantasy players with multiple injuries at the wide receiver position. The veteran is the WR14 over the first three weeks, averaging 12.8 half-point PPR fantasy points per game. He has outscored Garrett Wilson despite seeing 10 fewer targets this year (26 vs. 16). Lazard has Aaron Rodgers’ trust, especially when it comes to finding the end zone, accounting for a team-high three receiving touchdowns, including half of Rodgers. With Wilson likely shut down by Patrick Surtain this week, fantasy players should expect the future Hall of Fame quarterback to lean on Lazard, especially with Mike Williams still getting up to speed.”
– Mike Fanelli (FantasyPros)
Duds
Which player inside the top 40 in the FantasyPros flex rankings is likely to disappoint fantasy managers this week?
J.K. Dobbins (RB – LAC)
“Chargers’ running back JK Dobbins found another coach named Harbaugh who could finally properly utilize him, as we’ve seen in the early start to the 2024 season. That being said, this week ain’t it. The Chargers limp into their Week 4 matchup against the powerhouse Kansas City Chiefs with a hobbled Justin Herbert – assuming he even plays. While Dobbins is a capable receiver, the Chargers have only used him sparingly in that role. With the game script expected to require lots of passing for the Chargers (i.e., catching up to the Chiefs), this is not the best week for Dobbins.”
– Neema Hodjat (Real GM)
“Chargers RB J.K. Dobbins’s return has obviously been one of the best stories in the NFL this season. He has played well after a comeback from a serious injury. It was tough sledding for him last week vs. Pittsburgh, and now he has to go up against a Chiefs Defense that grades near the top of the NFL vs. the run and that we just watched on Sunday Night pretty much contains Falcons star RB Bijan Robinson. Chargers are 8-point underdogs, so that could further limit the running game if they get behind vs. Patrick Mahomes and right now, we don’t know about the status of QB Justin Herbert’s high ankle injury, which puts further doubt on the Chargers’ offense as a whole.”
– Justin Jaksa (Dr. Roto)
“This week, JK Dobbins is without his sensational rookie LT Joe Alt and his sensational veteran QB Justin Herbert, and he is facing a sensational front and overall defense in Kansas City. The one thing Dobbins has going for him is volume, and the other thing he has going for him is a home game. Neither will matter in this one. I’m looking for Dobbins to post another sub-par line in this one. He’s a mid-range RB3 for me this week.”
– Jeremy Shulman (Fantasy Football Universe)
“J.K. Dobbins was outstanding over the first two weeks, averaging 133 rushing and 20.5 half-point PPR fantasy points per game over the first two weeks, posting a 9.9 yards per attempt average against two awful run defenses. Unfortunately, he struggled in Week 3 when facing the Pittsburgh Steelers, totaling 44 rushing yards, 6.9 fantasy points, and 2.9 yards per attempt. The former Ohio State star has another unfriendly matchup on Sunday against the Kansas City Chiefs, who have held running backs to the fifth-fewest fantasy points per game (14.3). Dobbins will likely see a stacked box on most snaps in this game with Justin Herbert either unable to play or playing at well below 100%.”
– Mike Fanelli (FantasyPros)
Garrett Wilson (WR – NYJ)
“Unfortunately, Garrett Wilson is someone who will lack upside again this week. This one feels obvious, but Pat Surtain II continues to be a lockdown corner for Denver and a major anchor for that defense. Garrett has been okay thus far, but we could be in for an even bigger disappointment this week as he will be followed all over the field by PS2. You most likely will have to start him, but temper your expectations for upside this week.”
– Shawn Gill (Super Fantasy Bros)
Josh Jacobs (RB – GB)
“I expect Josh Jacobs’ disappointing fantasy season to continue this week. Despite having the 3rd most rushing attempts, Jacobs is the RB28. Even with Jordan Love hopefully returning this week, the Vikings are not a great matchup. The Purple Scandinavians have allowed the second-fewest rushing attempts and third-fewest rushing yards to the RB position, with an average of 86 total yards per game. Considering Jacobs has seen his snap share decrease each week (73%, 67%, 52%) and only one target in his last two games, it may be tough sledding for the veteran in this divisional matchup.”
– Ellis Johnson (RotoBaller)
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