With Thursday Night Football past us, we are officially in Week 4 of the fantasy football season. Last week we saw numerous players devastated by injuries. Let’s hope that this week the health of all players stays intact. To keep you covered week in and week out, The League Winners are here to help you with any start or sit questions you have. Spending the week agonizing over who to start in your flex? Put your mind to rest and rely on us week in, and week out. If you missed last week’s picks, you can see them here.
Start
Elijah Moore, WR – New York Jets (Thomas Christopher)
Elijah Moore has had a slow start to the season. His snap percentages and targets look good, but it hasn’t translated into points for fantasy football. I expect that to change this week. In Week 4, the Jets get back QB Zach Wilson. On top of that, they face a Pittsburgh Steelers defense that gives up the 9th most points to WRs. The Jets pass the ball at the highest clip in the league; and while I expect that to trend down a little, it’s likely they still pass quite a bit on Sunday. I’m trusting Moore in my lineup this week.
Mike Williams, WR – Los Angeles Chargers (Harry Prskalo)
This is a great bounce-back game for this Chargers offense. Last week they were embarrassed by the Jaguars. This week they have their shot to redeem themselves. Keenan Allen is out again and this gives Mike Williams a shot to have a huge game. He has played at least 88% of the snaps, with six or more targets in two games so far. This week he gets to go against the Houston Texans which have allowed the 5th most total yards all year. I highly doubt the Texans stun the Chargers this week, and Mike Williams is poised to have another high scoring day.
Tyler Lockett, WR – Seattle Seahawks (Aaron St. Denis)
The Seahwaks offense has been inconsistent through three weeks, largely due to a putrid offence and inconsistent quarterback play. But after back-to-back solid weeks against the 49ers and the Falcons, Lockett gets to face the Lions; and they are good at one thing; giving up points. This game figures to be another Lions defense-less shootout. DK Metcalf should be shadowed by Detroit’s lock down corner Jeffrey Okudah. Lockett will be a surefire WR2 in the matchup.
Gabriel Davis, WR – Buffalo Bills (Jeremy Shulman)
Gabe the Great is set to smash against a putrid Ravens secondary that has offered up the most fantasy points to WRs over the first three weeks of the season. It doesn’t matter that he only put up 37 yards on 3 catches last week against the Dolphins. I don’t care that his ankle has limited him, and even caused him to miss practice this week. Nor do I care care that Stefon Diggs is tied for the most targets on the season; or that Isaiah McKenzie is coming on – earning 9 targets in Week 3. After a tough loss to Miami, the Bills O is primed to go off. Oh, this game is in Baltimore? I don’t care. Start Davis with supreme confidence.
Jacoby Brissett, QB – Cleveland Browns (Sheldon Hand)
Last week, Jacoby Brissett was the QB13 in fantasy football with 17.9 points. I think he can surpass the 20 point mark this week against a poor Falcons defense. The Falcons have allowed a top 10 passer in each gamet his season. I think Brissett, along with Cooper and Njoku can make it four weeks in a row. In single QB leagues I trust him more than guys like Stafford and Rodgers – who both have tough matchups this week. Start Brissett without fear in all Superflex formats!
Sit
Jakobi Meyers, WR – New England Patriots (Thomas Christopher)
After amassing 13 targets in Week 2, Jakobi Meyers suffered a knee injury and missed Week 3. He’s practiced every day this week, but now he will be without starting QB Mac Jones. With Brian Hoyer at QB, Meyers could get a lot of looks. But the risk of a backup quarterback, a nagging injury, and facing a stout Packers secondary doesn’t give me much confidence in starting Meyers in my fantasy football lineups this week.
DJ Moore, WR – Carolina Panthers (Harry Prskalo)
What a terrible start for Moore throughout the first three weeks. Everyone expected Baker Mayfield would be an upgrade over Sam Darnold, but man has it been bad. Moore has yet to eclipse the 100 yard mark in the entire season, and only has one touchdown to account for. What makes this worse is that he has been on the field at least 97% of the time – and still cannot produce. DJ Moore is currently at WR53 in fantasy football. I am not putting him into any of my starting lineups until he and Baker can show us a connection between the two.
Trevor Lawrence, QB – Jacksonville Jaguars (Aaron St. Denis)
Trevor Lawrence has seen a resurgence of his young career. Through the first three weeks of the season, the Jaguars offense actually looks solid; but the Jags haven’t face a defense like the Eagles. This game figures to bring the Jaguars back down to earth, and T Law could see his share of struggles when facing off against Darius Slay. He ranks outside the top 12 for me this week in fantasy football and can be replaced by several waiver level streamers.
Clyde Edwards-Helaire, RB – Kansas City Chiefs (Jeremy Shulman)
Sometimes fantasy football is not that difficult. For example, the Tampa Bay defense has been stifling this season; allowing the least amount of points to opposing backs. Last week they added Green Bay’s dynamic backfield duo to their hit list, holding Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon to just 68 yards on 24 carries. Read that last line again. Edwards-Helaire has been ultra efficient and highly productive in every game thus far, but I just can’t plug him in this week against a unit that has allowed just 27 points on the season. It’ll be hard, but you gotta keep him on the bench this week.
Brandin Cooks, WR – Houston Texans (Sheldon Hand)
Brandin Cooks has had back-to-back disappointing weeks. Chances are things will continue this week. He is being heavily targeted, but last week he only caught 2 of 7 of his targets. The week before, only 4 of 10. This week he will have J.C. Jackson covering him. There is a chance he gets a ton of catches in a game where the Texans are likely playing from behind, but target volume hasn’t resulted in too much production yet. I’d look to pivot if you have another option. Cooks is currently the fantasy football WR26 on FantasyPros for this week. I’d start Olave, Curtis Samuel, JuJu, Thielen, Elijah Moore, and Aiyuk over him this week, just to name a few.
