Fantasy Football Week 4: Justin Boone’s Must-Start Shockers and Surprising Sit Picks Revealed!

Alright, here’s the skinny on this week’s fantasy football grind — and believe me, it’s worth your eyeballs. Each week, I sift through the noise to spotlight those hidden gems and the pesky duds, so your lineup doesn’t just survive but thrives. Whether you’re scratching your head wondering whom to bench or chasing that elusive win, I’ve got your back. This isn’t your average, cookie-cutter advice — it’s a fine-tooth comb over your roster with a seasoned eye and a bit of sass, because why not? Dive into the sweet spots and caution flags as we break down who’s heating up and who’s cooling off in Week 4. Trust me, making the right call here might just be the difference between glory and tears. Ready to sharpen your fantasy edge? LEARN MORE

Justin Boone provides a weekly look at undervalued fantasy football players to consider starting this week and potential busts you might want to leave on your bench.

For the rest of your lineup decisions, consult his Week 4 rankings.

Starts

Caleb Williams, QB, Bears

at Raiders

Williams is fresh off finishing as the QB1 overall in fantasy last week, when he dismantled a weak Cowboys defense en route to 298 passing yards, 12 rushing yards and four touchdowns.

He now heads to Las Vegas where he’ll try to keep the momentum going against the Raiders, who just allowed Marcus Mariota to post the sixth-most fantasy points at the position in Week 3.

This isn’t a scary spot for Williams at all, as long as the Bears take care of business in a city that’s filled with distractions. While he’s unlikely to match the career-high four touchdowns he threw last week, Williams should deliver another top-10 fantasy result.

Other QBs to start:

Jordan Love at Cowboys – After struggling versus the tough Browns defense, Love gets the perfect bounce-back spot against the Cowboys. Dallas is giving up the most fantasy points to quarterbacks this year, including 748 passing yards and seven passing touchdowns in the last two games alone.
Bo Nix vs. Bengals – It’s been an up-and-down start to Nix’s sophomore campaign, but he gets a friendly matchup on Monday night, when the Broncos will be 7.5-point favorites at home.

J.K. Dobbins, RB, Broncos

vs. Bengals

Dobbins is the unquestioned lead back in Denver right now and the RB10 in fantasy points per game on the season. He’s also been incredibly consistent with weekly finishes as the RB13, RB15 and RB12.

This week represents another ideal setup against a Bengals defense that’s been the second-easiest matchup for fantasy backs this year. Cincy has given up at least 90 yards from scrimmage and/or a touchdown to five different backs in three weeks.

So, make sure Dobbins is in your lineup as a borderline fantasy RB1 this week.

Other RBs to start:

Jordan Mason at Steelers – Mason was a top-five fantasy running back in his first game in a Vikings uniform without Aaron Jones Sr. in the lineup. The team recognizes the need to lean on their rushing attack at the moment, so expect Mason to be a fantasy RB1 again.
Omarion Hampton at Giants – Najee Harris being out for the season solidifies Hampton’s role as a bell-cow back. It resulted in a top-five fantasy finish for him last week and it wouldn’t be shocking to see him do it again versus the Giants, who are the fourth-most generous defense towards RBs.
Breece Hall at Dolphins – It’s been a quiet couple of weeks since Hall went off in the opener. Matchups played a part, as did the injury to Justin Fields. You can expect Hall to get back on track though, against the Dolphins, who are the fifth-easiest opponent for fantasy backs. He was also the RB8 on the week the last time these two teams squared off in 2024.

Ladd McConkey, WR, Chargers

at Giants

While fantasy managers might be disappointed in McConkey’s early-season production, he remains very involved in the offense. The Chargers just have more target competition with Keenan Allen drinking from the fountain of youth and Quentin Johnston making a deal with the devil to become a quality NFL receiver.

Don’t worry though — McConkey will have spike weeks and this Sunday will be one of them.

The Giants have allowed five different receivers to post at least 100 yards and/or a touchdown against them in the first three weeks. On the season, New York is permitting the second-most fantasy points to wideouts.

You can be sure Justin Herbert wants to get the team’s top pass-catcher his first touchdown of the year and a game where the Chargers are 6-point favorites should provide plenty of opportunity to do so.

McConkey should continue to be viewed as a top-20 fantasy starter.

Other WRs to start:

Emeka Egbuka vs. Eagles – Even in a bad matchup on paper, Egbuka will come through. Mike Evans is sidelined and Chris Godwin will be at less than 100% in his expected return. Egbuka is the Bucs’ No. 1 wideout for the foreseeable future.
Ricky Pearsall vs. Jaguars – Pearsall is third in the league in passing yards after posting his second 100-yard game of the season. The Jaguars are another soft matchup for him to capitalize on.
Jakobi Meyers vs. Bears – Meyers has at least 60 yards in every game this season and now gets a Chicago defense that’s been the third-best matchup for fantasy wideouts.

Hunter Henry, TE, Patriots

vs. Panthers

Henry was someone I highlighted as a quality early-season streamer thanks to his favorable schedule in the opening month.

So far, he’s put up two strong outings sandwiched around one forgettable performance in Week 2. However, he’s coming off an eight-catch, 90-yard, two-touchdown effort and looks like Drake Maye’s most reliable pass-catcher at the moment.

Next up is an encounter with the visiting Panthers, who have given up the eighth-most fantasy points to tight ends this season after allowing the most to the position last year.

Henry is inside my top-10 fantasy tight ends for the week.

Other TEs to start:

Jake Ferguson vs. Packers – Even before CeeDee Lamb went out last week, Ferguson was earning plenty of targets. He now has 26 targets over the last two weeks, turning that into 22 receptions and 160 yards. That’s elite volume regardless of the matchup.
Dalton Kincaid vs. Saints – Even though he’s only playing around 50% of the Bills’ snaps, Kincaid has been productive. He currently sits as the TE3 overall in fppg on the season. He should get more opportunities to score in a game where the Bills are stunning 15.5-point favorites over the Saints.

More Week 4 start-sit advice

Rankings from each Yahoo Fantasy analyst

Consensus Half-PPR Rankings

Consensus PPR Rankings

Trade Value Charts

Sits

Baker Mayfield, QB, Buccaneers

vs. Eagles

Mayfield picked up where he left off last year as a top-10 fantasy quarterback through the first three games. Unfortunately for him, the ongoing offensive line injuries could be exposed this week against a dangerous Eagles front.

The Bucs will also be without star receiver Mike Evans this week, as he recovers from a hamstring injury.

Philly’s defense has been a nightmare matchup for quarterbacks, not allowing any of the three passers they’ve faced to throw for more than 200 yards. This is a scary spot to rely on Mayfield in fantasy.

Other QBs to sit:

Dak Prescott vs. Packers – I fear for Prescott and the Cowboys, who are going up against their old teammate Micah Parsons this week. Even without that added motivation, Green Bay’s defense has held opposing passers to the third-fewest fantasy points this season.
C.J. Stroud vs. Titans – Stroud hasn’t finished inside the top-20 fantasy quarterbacks in any week this season. He isn’t likely to do it here either. The Titans are the eighth-hardest matchup for his position.

Javonte Williams, RB, Cowboys

vs. Packers

Williams is the RB6 in fantasy points per game on the year, so you might not have a better option to play over him this week. I’m just here to caution you that this might be a down game for the overachieving veteran back.

On top of the Parsons’ revenge angle, the Packers defense has allowed the eighth-fewest fantasy points to ball carriers, including shutting down both Lions backs in the opener. Quinshon Judkins had a solid game against them last week, but the Cowboys defense won’t be able to keep this game close the way the Browns did.

We also have to wonder how Dallas’ offense will do in the wake of CeeDee Lamb’s injury. Without their elite top threat, defenses will be able to devote more time and energy to stopping the Cowboys’ rushing attack.

Dallas’ offensive line is banged up, as well. They had already placed center Cooper Beebe on injured reserve and now guard Tyler Booker might be joining him there.

None of this bodes well for Williams’ fantasy outlook.

Other RBs to sit:

David Montgomery vs. Browns – Montgomery is coming off a 164-yard, two-touchdown performance and I’m telling you to bench him. Seems crazy, but the Browns’ run defense is legit. Cleveland hasn’t allowed a back to top 43 yards against them this season.
Isiah Pacheco vs. Ravens – Pacheco has been an ineffective runner in a near-even split with Kareem Hunt. He’s not just a sit, he’s borderline droppable.

DK Metcalf, WR, Steelers

vs. Vikings

Metcalf has only managed 20 yards and 32 yards each of the last two weeks, but he’s salvaged his fantasy days with touchdowns in both contests.

It’s risky to bank on him doing that against the Vikings, who are giving up the fewest fantasy points to receivers this season. Brian Flores’ defense has only allowed one wideout to top 50 yards and have permitted just one TD to the position through three weeks.

Metcalf is a risky WR3 for fantasy in this one.

Other WRs to sit:

Tee Higgins at Broncos – With Joe Burrow out of the picture and the Broncos secondary on tap, this isn’t the spot to play Higgins. He’ll have better games when the matchups are easier, but for now, Higgins is a volatile WR3.
Calvin Ridley at Texans – There’s nothing about Ridley’s play this season that should make you want to put him in your lineup and the Texans aren’t exactly a “get-right” matchup for wideouts.
Chris Godwin Jr. vs. Eagles – Godwin is expected to return to the field this week, but he’s a 29-year-old receiver coming back from multiple ankle surgeries. I’m not interested in taking my chances on a less than 100% Godwin going up against the Eagles.

Zach Ertz, TE, Commanders

at Falcons

Ertz has been a touchdown or bust streamer who flirts with low-end TE1 production often enough to make him a fantasy starter most weeks. This isn’t one of them.

The Falcons are notoriously tough against tight ends and are absolutely stifling the position this year. Atlanta has only given up six catches for 47 yards total to TEs over the first three games.

With Jayden Daniels out again in Week 4, Ertz is best left on your bench.

Other TEs to sit:

Dallas Goedert at Buccaneers – The Bucs have been another tough matchup for tight ends, allowing the sixth-fewest fantasy points to the position. Goedert is in the group of TD-or-bust streamers this week.
Chig Okonkwo at Texans – Okonkwo’s usage is rising, but this isn’t a spot to target him for fantasy. The Texans have been the eighth-most difficult opponent for tight ends this year.