You have lineup questions, we have lineup answers -- at least we hope so. Start 'Em, Sit 'Em is here to help fantasy managers make difficult roster decisions. And you know what is a good move? Starting Justin Jefferson. But that's too obvious, so you won't see such simple analysis here. Instead, we're exploring more debatable situations. And if you can't find a player you are looking for, please check out the latest NFL Fantasy lineup rankings. Unless otherwise noted, all stats come from NFL Pro, Next Gen Stats or NFL Research.
Start 'Em
Daniels has made just three NFL starts, but he's already shown that he brings a relatively safe floor and a very high ceiling. He now has 161 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns, which explains how he's been able to score 28 fantasy points in two of three games. His rushing ability gives him top-five upside every week, especially when he's facing a favorable matchup like this one. The Cardinals allowed Josh Allen to score two rushing touchdowns in the season opener, and they gave up multiple passing scores to both Allen in Week 1 and Jared Goff in Week 3. Daniels is quickly becoming a must-start fantasy option.
For three and a half quarters last week, things looked bleak for Prescott -- and then he exploded. My bad for recommending that you sitting him. Now I'm telling you Prescott must be started against New York in Week 4. The last time he faced the Giants, in Week 10 last season, he threw for 404 yards and four touchdowns. He has three career games with at least 385 yards against them. He also has three games with four passing touchdowns and six with at least three. Simply put, Dak has Big Blue's their number. And aside from a strong showing against the Browns' makeshift offensive line in Week 3, this Giants defense has shown us it is not really something to fear this season. Prescott is a must-start option this week.
Week 3 was disappointing for Mayfield and basically any Bucs player not named Chris Godwin (who, by the way, is a must-start). But one bad game does not erase the fact that Mayfield was the QB1 in fantasy points through Week 2, and I expect him to bounce back against the Eagles. Yes, Philly did limit Derek Carr last Sunday, but the Eagles also allowed multiple passing touchdowns in each of their first two games. Between the weapons Mayfield has at his disposal and an uptick in his running production this season, he remains in play. And for those who believe in the predictive power of past matchups, Mayfield threw for 337 and three touchdowns against Philly in the 2023 playoffs.
We're not even a month into the regular season, but Darnold is already making a strong case for breakout player of the year. After throwing for four touchdowns against the Texans last week, he now has a league-leading eight TD passes, and he's the QB4 in fantasy points after three weeks. In other words, Darnold is on fire, and his fit in Kevin O'Connell's system provides reason enough to believe he can keep this going. Start him over big-name QBs like Aaron Rodgers, Trevor Lawrence, Matthew Stafford and Kirk Cousins.
Smith started Week 3 off hot, and then ... well, he did not have to throw much after that. Facing little fight from the Tua-less Dolphins, the Seahawks went into cruise control en route to an easy victory. Ironically, both of Smith's picks came on tipped passes behind the line of scrimmage. That won't happen again. But Seattle won't be able to coast in Week 4, either -- not on the road against the Lions. Matthew Stafford topped 300 yards against Detroit in Week 1, and Baker Mayfield finished as a top-five fantasy QB against the Lions in Week 2. Kyler Murray didn't have a huge fantasy day last Sunday, but then again, he did leave a lot of throws on the field. This game will be indoors, and it will likely feature Geno and Co. trying to match Detroit for points. That elevates Smith to a start this week. I also considered Justin Fields, whom I like a lot as a sleeper this week, for this spot.
Sit 'Em
This one is a little spicy, I know. I'm not saying the guy is a must-sit, but it's OK for those Richardson owners who are in a 10-team league or have another trustworthy QB on their roster to get away from him this week. Richardson has suffered turnover problems, reflected by his league-high six interceptions, which includes five picks in his last two games. After averaging 26 fantasy PPG in his first three full NFL games, he has scored just 15 in his last two combined. He is in a stretch of the Colts' schedule that features tough defenses, and this week presents his most imposing matchup yet, going against T.J. Watt and the Steelers. Richardson's ceiling is always high due to his rushing ability, but his floor this week would be a single-digit scoring day in fantasy. That said, those who don't have a stake in Richardson might want to buy low now if possible, as there will be plenty of weeks to start him moving forward.
Williams is coming off his best game as a pro, but his production came largely because Chicago was purely in catch-up mode in the loss to the Colts, and Williams was forced to throw over 50 times. I wouldn't bank on that game script again this week. On paper, the Rams and their 32nd-ranked defense look like a good matchup for the Bears, but are we sure Williams and the offense can take advantage? Plus, Williams hasn't run much, so if he contributes in fantasy, it will have to be through the air. It's worth taking a shot on the Bears' receivers in this one, but I would maintain a wait-and-see approach with Williams. (NOTE: I was originally going to list Justin Herbert here, but with his status up in the air thanks to a high ankle sprain, I pivoted. If you have Herbert, sit him this week.)
Lawrence couldn't even play his way into a good fantasy outing during garbage time in Monday's shellacking by the Bills. He finished with a season-low 9.4 fantasy points, and he has yet to reach 14 fantasy points in a game this season. Lawrence has just two passing touchdowns, and his season high in passing yards is 220. You just cannot trust a QB producing like that. The Texans might have been shredded by the Vikings last week, but Lawrence threw just two touchdown passes (with two interceptions) in two games against them last season. There is no way I would roll with him here, given what we have seen so far.
Last week, Stafford and the Rams mounted a thrilling come-from-behind victory over the Niners -- but in terms of fantasy output, it was another lackluster day for the QB, who threw for just 221 yards and a touchdown, finishing with fewer than 15 fantasy points for a third straight week. He has just two passing touchdowns on the season. As long as Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua are sidelined, it is too difficult to trust this passing attack. This is especially so against the Bears, who have allowed the seventh-fewest passing yards in the NFL this season and only two touchdowns, while snagging four interceptions. It's Kyren Williams or bust for the Rams right now.
The Saints' offense received plenty of love in the first two weeks, but do not overlook the team's defense. On the season, New Orleans has allowed just one passing touchdown (compared to five interceptions) and a 67.8 passer rating, which is the third-lowest mark in the NFL. Plus, it does not look like Cousins is fully back to being his old self after last year's Achilles injury. He missed a number of throws short in Week 3, and he's topped 15 fantasy points just once so far this season. This could be a scrappy divisional game, and I would find another option.
