Heading into the Week 4 of the NFL season, the pack is beginning to separate the good from the bad. This is occurring both at the NFL level and in each individual fantasy football league.
With every little advantage or tip having the potential to give your team the edge, it is important to maximize the margins. One of the worst feelings is making the wrong call on a roster decision in which you leave an underperforming player in your lineup. This feeling is only worsened when a player is on your bench having a career game.
In each of these cases, your alternative options dictate how seriously you should consider putting one of these names on the bench. But here are five typical weekly starters who may not be in line for their best success in Week 4 of the NFL season.
Anthony Richardson (92.1% rostered)
Anthony Richardson ranks 15th in fantasy scoring among quarterbacks based on DraftKings scoring so far this season. He will now face off with a Pittsburgh Steelers team that is allowing the fewest fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks and has produced twice as many interceptions as TD passes allowed.
Richardson continues to play through his growing pains, and has thrown just three passing touchdowns compared to his NFL-worst six interceptions this year. Expect the Florida product to continue to struggle in his decision-making and for this to be a low-scoring overall matchup. The Steelers also rank second in the NFL in time of possession this year.
Continue being patient with Richardson, but don’t expect this to be the week he breaks out.
Jaylen Waddle (94.3% rostered)
The fantasy football outlook for every member of the Miami Dolphins shifted greatly when Tua Tagovailoa suffered another concussion in Week 2. No player has been more impacted more than Jaylen Waddle.
Coming off three consecutive seasons with 1000+ yards receiving, Waddle has just 176 yards through three weeks and has yet to find the end zone. He is averaging just 33.5 yards per game without Tua and will face a Titans team that is holding opposing wide receivers to the third-fewest fantasy points this season.
The Dolphins continue to keep it close to the vest who will be suiting up at quarterback this week, but keep Waddle on the bench until the offense shows life again.
D’Andre Swift (89.5% rostered)
Despite logging an average of 63% of offensive snaps through the first three weeks, the fantasy ceiling of Swift is far lower than many players set to receive fewer opportunities. The Bears starting back has tallied 37 carries on the season which he has converted to just 68 yards. He ranks 42nd in fantasy points scored among all running backs. His 1.8 rushing yards per carry also ranks 153rd among NFL players this year.
The Bears offensive line has struggled to get any sort of push and there are questions about Swift’s vision as a runner. Look for other options this week as the Bears take on the Rams this week.
Courtland Sutton (76.8% rostered)
The Denver Broncos are set to face the New York Jets in search of their second win on the season. New York has allowed the fewest fantasy points to perimeter receivers this season. Expect this to impact Sutton as he runs 82% of his routes on the outside. Denver continues to live through the growing pains of Bo Nix as the rookie figures out the NFL level. Sutton has caught just 12 of the 27 passes thrown his way this year and has only 132 yards receiving on the season.
Expect the Jets defense to make its impact felt and for Sutton to fail to produce much this week.
Rhamondre Stevenson (94.1% rostered)
The Patriots produced an impressive upset in the opening week against the Bengals, but have returned to reality since. In the opening two weeks of the season, Stevenson tallied 46 carries which he converted to 201 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Last week, he had just six total touches for 23 yards.
New England is set to face off with the 49ers this week as the most significant underdogs of the weekend. Don’t expect there to be much opportunity for Stevenson on the ground and look for better options at the running back position.
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I am a promoter at DraftKings and am also an avid fan and user (my username is seanbarnard) and may sometimes play on my personal account in the games that I offer advice on. Although I have expressed my personal view on the games and strategies above, they do not necessarily reflect the view(s) of DraftKings and do not constitute a representation that any particular strategy will guarantee success. All customers should use their own skill and judgment in building lineups. I may also deploy different players and strategies than what I recommend above. I am not an employee of DraftKings and do not have access to any non-public information.
