Start 'Em, Sit 'Em Week 4: Smart Sleepers to Exploit and Lineup Advice

The first three weeks of the 2022 NFL season have taught us a lot of things about various teams and players. A lot of that information is useful to fantasy football managers, as it has made some start/sit decisions much easier.

James Robinson is the Jacksonville Jaguars' clear No. 1 running back ahead of Travis Etienne Jr. Neither Los Angeles Rams RB (Darrell Henderson Jr. or Cam Akers) should be in fantasy lineups. The Chicago Bears' Cole Kmet isn't going to be a breakout tight end—in fact, all of the team's pass-catchers should be avoided at this point.

However, there are some players who remain squarely on the start/sit fence each week. So there are still difficult choices for many managers to make when setting their lineups.

Here's some early advice to help with those start/sit decisions for Week 4.

Even though D'Andre Swift is the Detroit Lions' No. 1 running back, Jamaal Williams has still had plenty of fantasy value this season. Through three games, he has run for four touchdowns, notching two in both Week 1 and Week 3.

Swift has been nursing an ankle injury and is now dealing with a shoulder sprain that has him considered week to week, according to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler. If the 23-year-old misses any substantial time, then Williams will get even more touches than he already has had.

Whether Swift plays or not in Week 4, Williams should be in fantasy lineups. Detroit's run game should have plenty of success against the Seattle Seahawks, which are allowing 157 rushing yards per contest, tied for the second most in the NFL.

After running for 87 yards against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 3, the BYU product could have his first 100-yard game on the ground this season on Sunday (if Swift is out). And there's a good chance he'll get into the end zone again either way.

Clyde Edwards-Helaire is a talented player with a lot of potential, which is why fantasy managers are typically high on him entering the season. However, he isn't getting nearly enough opportunities to be successful.

Through three weeks, the third-year Chiefs running back hasn't received more than eight carries or 12 total touches in a game. He was still effective in Weeks 1 and 2, but in Week 3, he had seven rushing attempts for zero yards and five catches for 39 yards, although he scored his first rushing touchdown of the season.

If Kansas City starts to get the ball in the 23-year-old's hands more, he could start putting up better numbers. But that's unlikely to happen in Week 4, when the Chiefs go on the road to face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, which have the fifth-best run defense in the NFL (79.3 rushing yards allowed per game).

So, this week (and likely for the foreseeable future), it's best to leave Edwards-Helaire on the bench in fantasy. He could still have some flex value when Kansas City has solid matchups, but that isn't the case this week.

For much of his NFL career, DJ Moore has been a hit-or-miss fantasy performer from week to week. But through the first three games of the 2022 season, his production has been down quite a bit (seven catches for 88 yards).

The 25-year-old was still a solid fantasy performer in Week 2, because he had a receiving touchdown in a loss to the New York Giants. But in Week 3, he had his worst performance yet, notching only one six-yard reception and totaling 13 yards on two rushing attempts in a win over the Saints.

Eventually, the Maryland product should break through, especially as he starts to develop more of a connection with new Panthers quarterback Baker Mayfield. He is too talented to not be utilized more, and he should eventually record a greater number of targets.

That could happen in Week 4, when Carolina hosts the Arizona Cardinals, which are allowing the third-most passing yards per game in the NFL (281). Mayfield could put up some bigger numbers, which should bode well for Moore, who is also a safe bet to get into the end zone.

After a disappointing 2021 season with the Chicago Bears, Allen Robinson II signed with the Los Angeles Rams this past offseason. Many thought that would be the change the 29-year-old wide receiver needed to get his career back on track.

That hasn't exactly been the case so far, though. He has only seven catches for 88 yards through three weeks, and his only touchdown came in a Week 2 win over the Atlanta Falcons. He had only two receptions for 23 yards in a Week 3 victory against the Arizona Cardinals.

It's possible Robinson just won't be a worthwhile fantasy contributor anymore at this point in his career. He has quarterback Matthew Stafford throwing him passes and has solid playmakers around him, yet he's still not putting up numbers.

That likely won't change in Week 4, when the Rams go on the road for a Monday night matchup against the San Francisco 49ers. And there are much better options to play at wide receiver and in the flex spot for this week, so put Robinson on the bench.