It’s Week 4 and you know what that means, that’s right it’s time for the weekly starts and sits article. Once again this article is back to give you the optimal starts and sits for your best lineups. So far it’s been an exciting season and we’ve seen quite a few ups and downs. I’m sure Week 4 won’t disappoint and I’m counting on it being another groundbreaking week in the NFL. I hope you enjoy this edition of the Belly Up starts and sits, and good luck with your Week 4 matchups.

Quarterback

Starts

Baker Mayfield vs Minnesota Vikings

Baker draws the Vikings this week and that should mean another high-scoring affair. Mayfield for the most part has been playing a game manager role, and his lone decent performance came in a shootout against the Chiefs. The Vikings have been a bad defense against the pass and a middle-of-the-road team when it comes to defending the run. This sounds like the game for Mayfield to step up, and with Odell Beckham Jr. coming off a good return game, Baker should be a solid play. My prediction, Baker goes for 320 yards, and 2 TDS.

Derek Carr vs LA Chargers

ELITE throw from Derek Carr 🎯

(via @NFL)pic.twitter.com/ZIlSsGH073

— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) September 26, 2021

I don’t think this has to be said, but I’ll say it anyway. Derek Carr is a legitimate QB1 option in fantasy football. Carr through three weeks leads the league in passing yards with 1,203, at this current pace Carr would end up amassing an NFL record 6,817 yards. While that is unlikely, Carr keeping his current pace against the Chargers doesn’t seem as daunting. While the Chargers have been a surprisingly good defense, Carr has been taking on nothing but good defenses in Baltimore, Pittsburgh, and Miami. This is why I’m not worried about Carr this week, he’s hasn’t had a soft defense yet. My prediction, 350 yards and 3 TDs, as the Fantasy Footballers would say “send in the Carr“.

Sits

Daniel Jones vs New Orleans Saints

Daniel Jones has been impressive in his own right this year. Jones has 4 TDs (2 rushing, 2 passing) and zero interceptions, while he still has struggled with fumbles (3 with only 1 lost). Jones has been putting on his best Lamar Jackson mask to keep his team in their games. If we get rid of the game against the Panthers, where the Saints were missing a couple of key defenders. Their pass defense only allows 1 TD, while picking off 5 passes. This is a defense that tackles well and are turnover creators when they take the field. This worries me when considering starting Jones this week, my prediction is 200 yards, 1 TD, 2 INTs, and a fumble.

Zach Wilson vs Tennessee Titans

Zach Wilson actually draws a sneaky good play against the Titans this week. The problem with Wilson is that he plays for the Jets. This team just doesn’t seem to get it, you need to protect your first-round investments. So far this year Wilson has been sacked 15 times, and when he’s not getting sacked, he’s throwing 7 interceptions. Wilson should have a better week than Week 3, but that really isn’t saying much. My prediction is 250 yards, TD, and 2 INTS.

Running Back

Starts

Chuba Hubbard vs Dallas Cowboys

Chuba seems like a good fit for the “CMC” role in Carolina. While the role requires you to have an ungodly amount of cardio and wears you out after three weeks. The one positive is that it can turn a journeyman RB and make him a fantasy star (Mike Davis). While Dallas on paper is the sixth-best team against the run, it kind of hides the 4.7 yards per carry that this team allows. One thing the Panthers won’t do is stop running the ball, especially if it’s working… *cough *cough… Nick Sirianni. My prediction is a big game for Hubbard, 70 yards rushing and a TD, 5 receptions, 35-50 yards, and a TD.

Antonio Gibson vs Atlanta Falcons

GO, GIBSON, GO.

Antonio Gibson goes for a 73-yard TD! #WashingtonFootball

📺: #WASvsBUF on FOX
📱: NFL app pic.twitter.com/eB6NShoVY2

— NFL (@NFL) September 26, 2021

This is the perfect game for Gibson to get heavily involved in the Football Team’s offense. Gibson needs a game to get himself back on the RB1 track. The Falcons have proven to be a good defense to beat up on, and this looks to be a good matchup for Gibson as the Falcons allow 4.5 YPC. My hope for this game is that Gibson gets his groove back and runs with it for the season. My prediction is Gibson runs wild on the Falcons for 100 rushing yards, TD, and 3-5 receptions for 40 yards.

Sits

Saquon Barkley vs New Orleans Saints

Barkley is coming off another unimpressive game against an easier opponent in the Falcons. Outside of scoring a TD, Barkley averaged 3.19 YPC and the team still has an offensive line problem. Barkley has struggled to get much going outside of a 41 yard run against the Washington Football Team. The Saints boast a defense that is stingy against the run, allowing the third-fewest yards (181) and the second lowest YPC (2.8). My prediction is that Barkley will have a tough game, 30-50 rushing yards, 2-5 receptions, 20 yards.

Ezekiel Elliott vs Carolina Panthers

Elliott is another “stud” running back who is facing a tough challenge this week. After a 95 yard and 2 TD game against the Eagles, Zeke looked great against an injured Eagles defense. Elliott has a different challenge this week, the Panthers have allowed the least amount of yards. This has been a very opportunistic defense with 14 sacks and 3 interceptions. It seems like this will need to be a Dak Prescott game in order for the Cowboys to pick up the win on Sunday. My prediction is 40 yards rushing and a TD.

Wide Receivers

Starts

Christian Kirk vs LA Rams

This year has been everything you want and need from Christian Kirk. He was explosive in Week 1 going for 2 TDs, but these past two weeks have been impressively consistent. Last week Kirk went 7 for 8 for 104 yards, this week he’ll draw Darious Williams who has been good in coverage. Williams hasn’t allowed his receiver matchups to go for over 100 yards but has given up 20 catches to opposing receivers. This seems like a day to play Kirk in your PPR leagues. My prediction is 5-10 receptions for 80+ yards and a TD.

Tim Patrick vs Baltimore Ravens

Respect Tim Patrick. pic.twitter.com/jHsanTxk84

— 𝕃𝕒𝕟𝕕𝕠𝕟🪐🧸 (@EndzonePatrick) October 2, 2021

Patrick has been an absolute fireplug for the Denver offense. Last year when Courtland Sutton went down Patrick put together a 51 catch, 742 yards, and 6 TDs. This year so far with Jerry Jeudy down Patrick has scored a TD in Weeks 1 and 2 while going for 98 yards in Week 3. Look out for Patrick to have a big game, my prediction is 5 receptions for 70 yards and a TD.

Sits

Jaylen Waddle vs Indianapolis Colts

Coming off a weird 12 reception, 58-yard day against the Raiders. Waddle will look to turn those catches into more yards after the catch. He’ll have quite the matchup against the Indianapolis Colts nickel corner Kenny Moore. Other than drawing Cooper Kupp Week 2, Moore has been good this year and should give the rookie a run for his money. Overall the inability of Jacoby Brissett to push the ball downfield will hinder the Dolphins’ performance, and Waddle’s. If he’s not getting 10+ receptions he might be useless in Week 4, my prediction is 5 receptions for 40 yards.

Brandin Cooks vs Buffalo Bills

Cooks is QB-Proof and Texan-proof but this is going to be a difficult challenge for the talented receiver. Tre’Davious White will have the honors of guarding Cooks on Sunday and has been constantly making life difficult for wide receivers this year. White has drawn matchups with Diontae Johnson, Terry McLaurin, and DeVante Parker, while only allowing 9 receptions, 128 yards. Cooks will most likely get the volume to scrounge together a decent day, but you should be cautioned in putting him in any other role than the flex. My prediction, 4 receptions for 60 yards.

Tight End

Starts

Jared Cook vs Las Vegas Raiders

Cook has been limited in his involvement so far but this could be the perfect game to get cook involved. Last week the Raiders gave up 10 receptions to Mike Gesicki and couldn’t seem to find a way to slow him down. While I don’t expect the Chargers to dink and dump their way downfield I do think this is the perfect game to get Cook his first TD of the year. My prediction is cook goes for 4 receptions, 60 yards, and a TD.

Logan Thomas vs Atlanta Falcons

Minus last week’s game against a returning Evan Engram, the Falcons have given up 8 receptions for 81 yards and 3 TDs to opposing tight ends. Thomas has been a consistent play this year, with Taylor Heinicke. Averaging 4 catches a game while reeling in 2 TDs over the first 3 weeks. I’d say Thomas has been a success so far this year and should continue his success on Sunday. My prediction is 4 catches for 50-60 yards and a TD.

Sits

Noah Fant vs Baltimore

Fant hasn’t been nearly as effective as fantasy managers want him to be, and this matchup with the Ravens will be telling of what he can do going forward. The Ravens had a rough time against Travis Kelce and Darren Waller, but last week they held TJ Hockenson to 2 catches and 10 yards. Fant has a chance to have a big game as the Broncos have tons of weapons for the Ravens to cover, but they also have linebackers and safeties who can cover the tight end. My prediction is Fant will reel in 3 passes for 50 yards.

Wildcard Start of the Week

Cole Kmet vs the Detroit Lions

This is something new I wanted to add to my starts and sits articles because I think there’s always a wildcard every week and I wanted to tell you mine. Cole Kmet is looking like a good play this week against the Lions, a team that has given up 12 receptions for 239 yards and a TD to TEs over the 3-week span. One thing that stood out last week was that Kmet played 96 percent of the snaps for the Bears and after a disastrous game against the Browns. The Bears will look to rebound against a soft Lions Defense, My prediction is 4 receptions, 40 yards, and a TD.

Conclusion

Week 4 is upon us and I know we’re all ready for starts and sits article to come out. Let’s get the beers poured the wings fried and the TVs on, but before all that let’s get the lineups set. I hope these starts and sits articles have been helping your team achieve greatness. Let’s win this week and continue to dominate your leagues, cheers!! And look out for future starts and sits from Belly Up, because were here to help you win.

Simbull

Go play the greatest and latest in sports gambling at https://simbull.app/bellyupfantasy. Wall Street meets sports gambling in this innovative app. Simbull brings the fun of being able to play for the long term by purchasing, selling, and trading stocks of your teams. When your teams win, you win a payout. When they lose, you DON’T! The value of your teams’ share is all that matters and it’s easy to use. Just download the Simbull app on your play store and use the promo code BELLYUPFANTASY for a $10 deposit bonus of at least $10 or more. Join the fun of investing in your team for the long haul where the sportsbook edge is put back into your hands as the player. For the latest and most fun in sports gambling, download Simbull and again use the promo code BELLYUPFANTASY for your $10 deposit bonus today! https://simbull.app/bellyupfantasy

If you liked this starts and sits article and want to check out more content like it, visit Belly Up Fantasy. You can also follow me on Twitter.