Fantasy Football Week 4: Start’em / Sit’em
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Last week: 16-10-5, Season: 54-33-13 (62%)
Week 3 Picks Recap:
Another solid but unspectacular week. I’m OK with a 62% clip, but I want to do better for my readers out there.
My start’em picks were barely adequate (7-6-4) but I hit big on Devonta Freeman (+29). Kendall Wright (+14), and Cam Newton (+13). Unfortunately I was way off on Terrance Williams (-8), Isaiah Crowell (-7), and Tyler Eifert (-8) though Eifert was robbed of a TD by a bogus call from the review booth.
My sit’em picks were much better (9-4-1) with usual suspect Colin Kaepernick crapping the bed (-14), Matt Stafford (-8) proving he is as overrated as I’ve been saying for the last two years, and Roddy White (-8) being just as over the hill as I stated in last week’s post. I thought Chris Johnson was over the hill as well, but he proved me wrong with a monster game (+16). I was also off on a couple other old guys, James Jones (+11) & Owen Daniels (+5).
Week 4 Picks:
Note: Only players started in less than 75% of Yahoo leagues will be eligible for the start’em category. The purpose of this column is advice on players that might not be every week starters. I’ll usually list at least one “Deep Sleeper” pick for players started in less than 10% of Yahoo leagues who I think are under-projected.
I’m listing players in the start’em category that I think will do better than the point total that Yahoo projects, but I’m not wasting any time with players who are projected at 4 points and are going to score 6. Every player listed in the start’em category has a good shot to score double-digit fantasy points on that specific week. Ten points or more is my baseline for a successful week (standard scoring rules) and if I list someone as a start’em recommendation, I’m confident they are hitting double-digits. On the sit’em side, I try to focus on players that Yahoo projects as starting caliber but I think will let you down that week.
If you have questions about specific players, hit me up on Twitter or in the comment section and I will get back to you before this weekends games. Good luck in your fantasy match-ups this week and go Bears!
Start’em
Quarterback
Cam Newton, @TB (63%, 19) – I was down on Cam last season, but he looks healthier this year and is basically a 1-man offense for the Panthers. He’s surrounded by less talent at receiver and on the O-line than any other QB in the league, which has forced him to run more. He’s averaging over 10 carries per game and already has two rushing TDs. Newton should have another big game against a vulnerable Bucs D.
Tyrod Taylor, NYG (25%, 16) – It’s getting harder to consider Taylor a fluke after three solid games including the best game of his career last Sunday. The Giants D has been a sieve so far this year and Taylor could have another 20+ fantasy line.
Derek Carr, @CHI (15%, 15) – Two consecutive 300+ yard games, a 5 TD / 1 INT ratio, and a match-up against a Bears D that has struggled to stop anyone this year. I’m starting him in two leagues Sunday.