Who joined the ranks of the must-start running backs last week? James Robinson definitely did, as did Mike Davis, and Darrell Henderson probably did, too. It's always good when that list expands, but it still isn't enough to cover every spot in every Fantasy league — per our consensus expert ranks, Henderson is RB17 for Week 4.
There just aren't enough running backs for everyone to be satisfied, especially when you've got slow starters like Kenyan Drake and Joe Mixon — not to mention all of the injuries, plus guys like Leonard Fournette, Antonio Gibson, and Mark Ingram still stuck in playing time battles. Playing the waiver wire is always a must, and so is playing the matchups.
Jamey Eisenberg's Start 'Em & Sit 'Em calls for running backs are here for Week 4 to help sort through it. And don't forget to check out Heath Cummings' running back preview for more help with matchup notes, numbers to know, and more.
Start 'Em & Sit 'Em: QB | RB | WR
Running Backs
Robinson has been one of the best stories in 2020, and he continues to improve each week. He had a career-high six receptions for 83 yards in Week 3 against Miami, along with 11 carries for 46 yards and two touchdowns. And that was after he ran for 102 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries in Week 2 at Tennessee. He should have another big game in Week 4 against the Bengals, who allow the fifth-most Fantasy points to opposing running backs this year.
| ||||||||||||||||||
Davis held his own in starting for the injured Christian McCaffrey (ankle) in Week 3 at the Chargers with 13 carries for 46 yards, as well as eight catches for 45 yards and a touchdown on nine targets. He now has 16 catches for 119 yards on 17 targets in the past two games, and he should be starting in all PPR leagues. This week, Davis is facing a Cardinals defense that has already allowed two receiving touchdowns to running backs and three guys to score at least 12.0 PPR points this year.
| ||||||||||||||||||
Even though it appears like Zack Moss (toe) is back this week for the Bills, I'm still starting Singletary in all leagues with confidence given the matchup with the Raiders. Moss should also have the chance to play well as a flex since the Raiders allow the most Fantasy points to opposing running backs. Now, part of that comes from facing Christian McCaffrey and Alvin Kamara to open the season, but the Patriots also had two running backs (Rex Burkhead and Sony Michel) score at least 15.0 PPR points against Las Vegas last week. Singletary has yet to score a touchdown this season, but that could happen this week. And coming off a game with 121 total yards on 17 total touches — with Moss sidelined — will hopefully keep Singletary heavily involved in a good matchup. He's a quality No. 2 running back in all leagues.
| ||||||||||||||||||
Minnesota's run defense has been bad this season, and Johnson should be able to have a strong game this week at home. Aaron Jones, Jonathan Taylor and Derrick Henry have all scored against the Vikings, with Taylor and Henry each rushing for 100 yards in the past two weeks. Johnson has struggled his past two games against Baltimore and Pittsburgh with a combined 24 carries for 57 yards and a touchdown, as well as four catches for 39 yards on seven targets. But most running backs would struggle against those defenses. Johnson should be thrilled with the easier matchup this week.
| ||||||||||||||||||
If the Browns are chasing points this week on the road, we might see the best of Hunt, especially in the passing game. While he does have two receiving scores in the past two games against Cincinnati and Washington, he only has four catches for 33 yards on five targets over that span. However, in Week 1 at Baltimore, Hunt had four catches on six targets when the Browns were trailing. He will continue to work in tandem with Nick Chubb, which lowers the ceiling for Hunt in all leagues, but I expect his receiving stats to trend up this week at Dallas.
|
We're going through every matchup on the schedule for Week 4 on the Fantasy Football Today podcast. Subscribe at Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts:
He's from Washington and grew up in a suburb of Seattle, so this game should be exciting for Gaskin, even though it's in Miami. He's been great through three games in PPR with 15 catches on 16 targets, and he's had at least 82 total yards in each of the past two weeks against Buffalo and Jacksonville. Seattle is also top 10 in most receptions allowed to running backs this year.
| ||||||||||||||||||
Now that McKinnon is healthy you should be able to start him as a No. 2 running back in all leagues against the Eagles. He left Week 3 at the Giants with a rib injury, but he's been practicing in full and should lead the 49ers in touches. Jeff Wilson will also have a role and work in tandem with McKinnon with Raheem Mostert (knee) out, but McKinnon should have the most production. Against the Giants, McKinnon had 14 carries for 38 yards and a touchdown, as well as three catches for 39 yards on four targets. Wilson, who had 12 carries for 15 yards and a touchdown, along with three catches for 54 yards and a touchdown against the Giants, is worth using as a flex option.
| ||||||||||||||||||
With the news that Leonard Fournette (ankle) is out, this should be a good week for Jones. Maybe even a great week. The duo of Jones and Fournette has combined for at least 24 total touches each game. Hopefully, all of that work goes to Jones, although LeSean McCoy could take on a bigger role. It's not an easy matchup against the Chargers, who have yet to allow a rushing touchdown or someone over 70 rushing yards. But Jones still qualifies as a low-end starter this week given his increased workload.
| ||||||||||||||||||
Gore could be useful in Week 4 against Denver at home. The Broncos are traveling across the country on a short week, and they just lost defensive tackle Jurrell Casey (biceps). Gore is getting plenty of work since Le'Veon Bell (hamstring) went down with 36 carries in the past two games, but he only has 120 yards and no touchdowns to show for it, with just one catch for 5 yards. However, this could be a week he performs well if you need a flex option in deeper leagues.
|
Kelley was obviously a letdown in Week 3 as the Start of the Week. Instead of beating up on Carolina, he had eight carries for 43 yards and a fumble, as well as two catches for 9 yards on two targets. He should continue to play well in tandem with Austin Ekeler moving forward, but I don't like him this week at Tampa Bay. The Buccaneers are tremendous against the run, and Kelley should struggle again. Ekeler, however, is worth trusting given his role in the passing game, so don't worry about starting him.
| ||||||||||||||||||
We'll see if Freeman has a bigger role for the Giants this week after making his debut with the team in Week 3 against San Francisco. He only had five carries for 10 yards against the 49ers, and he can't be trusted yet by Fantasy managers heading into Week 4 at the Rams. Hopefully, the best is yet to come for Freeman, but I'm skeptical to trust him. Continue to stash him for now, but another bad game or two could send Freeman back to the waiver wire in most formats.
| ||||||||||||||||||
Gibson continues to do a nice job for the Washington Football Team and Fantasy managers, and he's scored 12 PPR points in each of the past two games. He has two touchdowns over that span, and he had a new career high with three catches in Week 3 at Cleveland. But this week he should be kept on your bench in most formats with a matchup against the Ravens, especially since Baltimore was embarrassed on national TV by Kansas City last week. This could get ugly for the Washington Football Team, and Gibson should struggle in this matchup.
| ||||||||||||||||||
Peterson is coming off a strong game in Week 3 at Arizona with 22 carries for 75 yards, as well as one catch for 10 yards. We'll see if he can handle another heavy workload against the Saints, but I'm skeptical. Peterson could be in trouble if the Lions are chasing points this week since that's when D'Andre Swift has a bigger role. And Peterson has yet to score a touchdown this year. The Saints have allowed two rushing touchdowns in the past two games against Jalen Richard and Aaron Jones, but I expect Peterson to struggle in this matchup, even in a revenge game.
|
Gurley did a nice job in Week 3 against Chicago with 14 carries for 80 yards and a touchdown, as well as one catch for 2 yards, but I'm still concerned about calling him a must-start Fantasy option. He only has three catches for 3 yards on the season on seven targets, and he's starting to lose work to Brian Hill, who played 34 percent of the snaps against the Bears compared to 51 percent for Gurley. The Packers were crushed by Alvin Kamara in Week 3 in the passing game, but no running back has gained 60 rushing yards against Green Bay this year, including Dalvin Cook in Week 1. If Gurley doesn't score, his Fantasy production could be minimal, and he's a flex option at best this week.
|
So who should you start and sit this week? And which surprising quarterback could lead you to victory? Visit SportsLine now to get Week 4 rankings for every position, plus see which QB is going to come out of nowhere to crack the top 10, all from the model that out-performed experts big-time last season.