As the 2024 NFL season enters into its fourth week, players are starting to reveal their true form. For fantasy football managers, this presents a tricky situation. While some patterns are emerging, it’s still difficult to make decisive calls about rosters. However, smart decisions need to be made now to get ahead in the league.
No one expected Travis Kelce’s struggles with the Chiefs, and Dak Prescott seemed poised to bring major satisfaction to Cowboys fans. On the flip side, few anticipated Baker Mayfield’s resurgence with the Buccaneers or the yardage Alvin Kamara is delivering for the Saints.
Amid this uncertainty, here are our top picks for your NFL Week 4 roster.
Start ‘Em: Who Should You Play?
Derek Carr is on fire. The Saints quarterback outdueled Jalen Hurts in last week’s matchup against the Eagles. Carr faces a struggling Falcons team this week and could easily rack up more than 17 fantasy points.
At running back, the Browns’ Jerome Ford and the Titans’ Tony Pollard are strong options. Ford goes up against a Raiders defense that allows up to 27 points to running backs, while Pollard faces a Dolphins team full of unknowns, potentially allowing him to surpass the 15-point average he’s posted in his first games.
Wide receivers Jaxon Smith-Njigba (Seahawks) and Jayden Reed (Packers) look poised for big numbers this week. JSN has been inconsistent, but his pattern of alternating between good and bad games suggests a strong performance against a Lions team that gives up plenty of points to receivers. Meanwhile, Reed has been a consistent producer and starting him seems like a solid bet, especially as he faces the Vikings.
Tight end Dallas Goedert has been shining with the Eagles in the absence of A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith. Jalen Hurts has relied heavily on Goedert’s hands, and that trend is unlikely to change against the Buccaneers.
Sit ‘Em: Who Should You Bench?
Quarterback Justin Herbert’s injury makes him a risky play. Even if he starts this Sunday against the Chiefs, Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh has shifted focus to the ground game, which limits Herbert’s fantasy production.
If nostalgia led you to draft Ezekiel Elliott, it’s time to bench him. His numbers are on the decline. Running back Tyjae Spears is also taking a back seat with the Titans, playing behind Tony Pollard, making him bench material for now.
Receiver Ladd McConkey finds himself in a similar situation with the Chargers, as Harbaugh has handed more of the offensive load to running back J.K. Dobbins. Tank Dell has been a disappointment at WR for the Texans, who prefer giving the ball to Stefon Diggs, hurting Dell’s fantasy value.
Tight end decisions are more complex. Mark Andrews (Ravens) has been solid, but not at the level expected. Benching him against the Bills might feel risky, but his performance this year has been underwhelming enough to justify it.
