Week 4 Start 'Em, Sit 'Em: Advice on Fantasy Football Stars to Play or Bench
Week 4 of the 2022 NFL season brings with it a fresh batch of start-or-sit debates.
Should you ride the off-the-radar player who's on a heater, or trust the higher regarded talent who's off to a slow start? Do you side with ability over everything, or are you tempted to pounce on that juicy matchup against a vulnerable defense?
These are always among the hardest questions to tackle in fantasy football, but we'll do our best with some start-or-sit recommendations.
Start: Joe Burrow, QB, Cincinnati Bengals (vs. Miami Dolphins)
Hopefully, you resisted the temptation to panic amid a sluggish start by Joe Burrow. If you did, you started reaping the rewards of that decision last week and should expect to do the same Thursday night.
His first two contests were marred by constant pressure and some questionable decision-making. He managed just three touchdown throws against four interceptions while being sacked 13 times. He righted the ship against the New York Jets, though, throwing for 275 yards and three scores without giving up an interception and while being sacked only twice.
The Dolphins might be off to a 3-0 start, but their pass defense is vulnerable. So far, they have allowed the second-most passing yards per game (297.7) while recording just six sacks and a single interception. In other words, even if Burrow is throwing early and often to keep pace with Miami's offense, he should be able to produce a clean stat sheet.
Sit: Kirk Cousins, QB, Minnesota Vikings (at New Orleans Saints)
Kirk Cousins was solid (not spectacular) in Weeks 1 and 3 and abysmal in Week 2, when he threw three interceptions and never completed a 20-yard pass. Clearly, the rule of patterns says it's time to sit Cousins, right?
Believe it or not, this analysis actually goes deeper than that. Cousins hasn't looked great early, and neither has this entire offense. Justin Jefferson has slowed considerably since a monster season-opener. The running game hasn't produced a 20-yard rush yet, and Dalvin Cook is stuck on a single score.
The Vikings have the talent to eventually get things back on track, but doing it against a defense like New Orleans'—and in a setting as unique as London—just doesn't seem feasible. The Saints have allowed the fifth-fewest passing yards (183.7 per game) and are tied for the fewest touchdown passes against (two).
Start: Dameon Pierce, RB, Houston Texans (vs. Los Angeles Chargers)
Dameon Pierce looked like the Texans' most dynamic running back in the preseason, but the Texans still handled him with kid gloves in Week 1 (11 carries and a single target). They have since corrected that mistake.
Pierce has 35 carries for 149 yards and a score in the two contests since. He has also caught all three of his targets in this stretch for another 29 yards. There is a chance he could be even more involved in the aerial attack going forward, so this elevated workload might not even be as good as it gets.
He should keep the good times rolling this weekend, as he'll tussle with a Chargers defense allowing the fifth-most fantasy points to running backs, per Yahoo Sports.
J.K. Dobbins, RB, Balitmore Ravens (vs. Buffalo Bills)
After missing all of 2021 and the first two games of the 2022 season, J.K. Dobbins returned to action last weekend for the Ravens. It was, objectively speaking, awesome to see.
It wasn't, however, particularly relevant for fantasy purposes. He wound up with seven carries and two catches for 40 yards and no scores. Baltimore found more explosion in the running game from both Lamar Jackson (11 carries for 107 yards and a touchdown) and Justice Hill (six for 60). While you could perhaps chalk Dobbins' quiet outing up to rust, that doesn't help if he's still rusty for this contest.
This matchup won't help, either. The Bills have allowed the third-fewest fantasy points to running backs, rank second in rushing yards surrendered per game and are tied for second in yards per carry against.