Week 4 has no byes, which makes it the last easy lineup week of the season, but three weeks of data now separate the real matchups from the guesses. Below are the calls at every position for Sunday, Oct. 4 and Monday night, with the number behind each one. Thursday’s Steelers at Browns game is covered on its own page. Half PPR, 12 team leagues; the same calls hold in full PPR unless noted.
Week 4 Start or Sit Board
| Player | Matchup | Call | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jahmyr Gibbs, RB, Lions | at Panthers | Start | Carolina is allowing 193.3 rushing yards per game, last in the NFL, while giving up just 172.3 passing yards, sixth fewest. The Lions’ offense runs through Gibbs this week |
| Aaron Jones, RB, Vikings | vs. Dolphins | Start | Miami is allowing 29.3 fantasy points and 1.00 points per opportunity to running backs, both second most in the league. Jones gets the volume whether or not Justin Jefferson plays |
| Bijan Robinson, RB, Falcons | at Saints (Monday night) | Start | One of the friendliest run matchups on the slate and the usual 20 plus touches. Locked in |
| Jacory Croskey-Merritt, RB, Commanders | vs. Colts (London, 9:30 a.m. ET) | Flex | RB30 at 7.9 points per game so far, but the early London window against Indianapolis is a soft spot. Flex, not RB2 |
| Ollie Gordon II, RB, Dolphins | at Vikings | Flex | The lead back after Achane’s ACL tear, and the volume is real, but Minnesota erased Bucky Irving a week ago. Flex on workload alone |
| Jared Goff, QB, Lions | at Panthers | Flex | Carolina gives up the sixth fewest passing yards and the most rushing yards, so this game is built for Gibbs and David Montgomery, not Goff. Playable, not a must |
| Bo Nix, QB, Broncos | at 49ers | Sit | San Francisco is allowing 9.5 fantasy points per game to quarterbacks, second fewest in the NFL behind only Pittsburgh. Stream someone else |
| Chase Brown, RB, Bengals | vs. Jaguars | Sit | Workload and injury questions have piled up, and the Bengals’ backfield split is not what it was in August. Bench him if you have a comparable option |
| Cowboys running backs | at Texans | Sit | Houston allows 0.47 fantasy points per opportunity, fewest in the league, and 11.8 points per game to running backs, second fewest. Every Dallas back is a sit |
| Mark Andrews, TE, Ravens | vs. Titans | Sit | No touchdown yet this season, and Tennessee has allowed 48 receiving yards and zero touchdowns to tight ends through three weeks |
| Jameson Williams, WR, Lions | at Panthers | Sit | Has not reached double digit fantasy points in a game this season, and the Panthers’ pass defense is the strong half of that unit |
| Derrick Henry, RB, Ravens | vs. Titans | Flex | Scored last week but the usage has slipped. Still a start on touchdown equity at home; temper the expectation |
| Tyler Allgeier, RB, Cardinals | at Giants | Sit | Scoreless yardage with no passing game role. Not a flex |
Injuries That Change the Calls
| Player | Status | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Justin Jefferson, WR, Vikings | Ankle sprain, did not practice Wednesday, day to day | Start him if active against a Dolphins defense that is soft across the board, but have Jordan Addison or a bench pivot ready for the 4:05 p.m. ET kickoff; he has Thursday and Friday to practice before a designation |
| Puka Nacua, WR, Rams | Groin, limited Wednesday, expected to play per Sean McVay | Start him at Philadelphia; Terrance Ferguson (ankle) is likely out, which pushes more targets his way |
| Breece Hall, RB, Jets | Quad, did not practice Wednesday, week to week | Braelon Allen is the start at Chicago |
| Jayden Reed, WR, Packers | Neck, season ending surgery | Drop him; the Packers’ other receivers and Jonnu Smith absorb the targets against Tampa Bay |
| Nico Collins, WR, Texans | Hamstring, returned to practice Wednesday | Trending toward playing against Dallas; a start if he practices fully by Friday |
| Baker Mayfield, QB, Buccaneers | Dislocated thumb, out 3 plus weeks | Downgrade Mike Evans, Chris Godwin and Cade Otton against the Packers |
| De’Von Achane, RB, Dolphins | Torn ACL, out for season | Ollie Gordon II is the every down back; see above |
| Mike Evans, WR, 49ers | Rib, not ruled out | Boom option against Denver if he plays, but the 49ers’ passing game has been run heavy |
How the Board Was Built
Every call above rests on one of three things: fantasy points allowed by position through three weeks, a documented role change from the injury report, or a player’s own usage trend. Matchup numbers move fastest at this point in the season, so the board is refreshed Wednesday after the first practice reports and again Friday. Thursday night’s game has its own page linked below.
Related
Fantasy football rankings Week 4 · Week 4 waiver wire · Week 4 sleepers · Week 3 fantasy points leaders · Steelers vs. Browns Thursday night · NFL Week 4 odds · NFL injury report
Defensive matchup numbers via USA Today’s Week 4 start and sit and RotoBaller’s running back matchups; injuries from the NFL.com news roundup.