Making the right start ’em, sit ’em decisions can be the difference between winning and losing your fantasy football matchup each week. Throughout the 2026 NFL season, we’ll break down the best fantasy football starts and sits at quarterback, running back, wide receiver, tight end, defense, and kicker. Using matchups, usage trends, advanced stats, injuries, and scoring opportunities, this weekly Start ’Em, Sit ’Em guide will highlight the players you should trust in your lineup and the ones you may want to leave on the bench.
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Quarterbacks to Start
Patrick Mahomes KC
Patrick Mahomes is beginning to look considerably more like the fantasy quarterback we expected entering the season. Through three games, he’s completed 67 of 98 passes for 812 yards, seven touchdowns, and two interceptions while averaging 8.3 yards per attempt with a 108.9 passer rating. The advanced numbers are arguably even more encouraging. According to PFF, Mahomes owns a 90.2 passing grade with six big-time throws and only one turnover-worthy play. The biggest turning point came against Indianapolis in Week 2, when Mahomes threw 47 times for 382 yards and three touchdowns, and he followed that by completing 20 of 24 passes for 246 yards and two scores against Miami. This isn’t simply a quarterback surviving on touchdown efficiency; Mahomes is playing some of his best football again.
Las Vegas has actually defended the pass reasonably well overall, allowing 200.3 passing yards per game through three weeks, so I’m not starting Mahomes because this is some obvious cupcake matchup. The more interesting weakness has come when opponents reach scoring position. PFF has the Raiders ranked 31st in red-zone touchdown rate allowed, which lines up extremely well with a Kansas City offense that’s been willing to put the ball in Mahomes’ hands near the goal line. There’s also a massive history of Mahomes producing in this matchup: his 36 career touchdown passes, 4,427 passing yards, and 42 completions of at least 25 yards against Las Vegas are all his highest totals against any single opponent. The Raiders are playing considerably better defense this season, but Mahomes is also back to playing at an elite level. With seven touchdowns against only two interceptions and a 90.2 PFF passing grade through three games, I’m treating him as a clear QB1 in Week 4.
Bryce Young CAR
I’m going directly back to Bryce Young despite the disappointing Week 3 fantasy result. Young has completed 72 of 121 passes for an NFL-leading 939 yards, seven touchdowns, and only two interceptions through three games. He opened the season with 361 yards and three passing touchdowns against Chicago before throwing for 287 yards and three scores against Atlanta. Even in his worst fantasy performance against Cleveland, Young still threw for 291 yards on 48 attempts. Carolina has become extremely aggressive through the air, and Young has now reached at least 287 passing yards in every game. That’s a dramatically different fantasy profile from the low-volume quarterback we’ve seen during stretches of his career.
Detroit is exactly the matchup where I’m willing to chase that volume. The Lions have allowed opponents to complete 86 of 124 passes for 979 yards and nine touchdowns through three games. That’s a 69.4% completion rate, 7.9 yards per attempt, and a 110.2 opposing passer rating, while they’ve also surrendered 16 completions of at least 20 yards and four of 40-plus. The secondary remains depleted with Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph sidelined entering Week 4, while Avonte Maddox suffered a season-ending foot injury. There is some injury-related risk on Carolina’s side as well: Jalen Coker left last week’s game with a quad injury, and Young himself played through a lower-body issue, so both situations need to be monitored. Assuming Young is cleared to play without a meaningful limitation, we’re getting the NFL’s current passing-yardage leader against a defense that has already surrendered nine passing touchdowns. He’s one of my favorite Week 4 quarterback starts.
Matthew Stafford LAR
Matthew Stafford has quietly put together one of the NFL’s highest-volume passing profiles through three weeks. He’s completed 67 of 111 passes for 872 yards, six touchdowns, and four interceptions while averaging 7.9 yards per attempt. The Rams aren’t hiding him behind the running game, either. Stafford is averaging 37 attempts per game and just threw 55 times against San Francisco, completing 30 passes for 390 yards and two touchdowns. Stafford obviously doesn’t provide the rushing production that can rescue a mediocre passing performance, so volume is especially important when we’re evaluating him for fantasy. Right now, Sean McVay is giving him enough opportunities to compensate for that limitation.
Philadelphia isn’t a matchup I’m calling easy, but I actually like the expected game environment more than the raw matchup. The Rams are going on the road against an Eagles offense capable of putting pressure on Los Angeles to remain aggressive for four quarters rather than allowing McVay to protect Stafford with a conservative game plan. We’ve already seen the Rams trust him with extreme passing volume when game script demands it, and he has enough downfield weaponry to turn those opportunities into chunk plays. The interceptions create some volatility, and that’s why I don’t have Stafford in the same tier as Mahomes this week. But for managers deciding between borderline QB1 options, the combination of 37 attempts per game, 872 passing yards through three weeks, and a matchup that could require sustained passing volume makes Stafford a strong Week 4 start.
Quarterbacks to Sit
Drake Maye NE
I’m not willing to keep starting Drake Maye based on what he did in 2025 while the 2026 offense is giving us completely different information. Through three games, Maye has thrown for only 585 yards with one touchdown and six interceptions across 98 dropbacks. PFF has charted him with only two big-time throws compared with nine turnover-worthy plays, while his 36.6 passing grade ranks 35th among 36 qualified quarterbacks. Week 3 was the breaking point: Maye completed 14 of 25 passes for 199 yards with no touchdowns and two interceptions against Jacksonville while also losing a fumble. That’s three turnovers without producing a touchdown in a 35-6 loss, and he’s now sitting on a 1:6 passing touchdown-to-interception ratio through three games.
The matchup becomes particularly concerning because Buffalo owns PFF’s third-highest pressure rate, while Maye ranks 32nd in passing grade under pressure. That’s a terrible combination for a quarterback already struggling with turnover-worthy plays. Buffalo isn’t completely impenetrable through the air, so this isn’t simply a matchup-based fade, and Maye’s rushing ability still gives him another path toward fantasy production. My concern is what happens when Buffalo consistently forces him to operate from disrupted pockets. A quarterback with one passing touchdown, six interceptions, and nine turnover-worthy plays now gets one of the NFL’s better pressure units on the road. Until Maye shows us that his decision-making and efficiency are stabilizing, I’m sitting him in one-quarterback leagues.
Jalen Hurts PHI
Sitting Jalen Hurts is uncomfortable because his rushing and goal-line usage can erase a mediocre passing day with one play, but the underlying passing production has been trending in the wrong direction. Hurts has completed 56 of 87 passes for 620 yards, five touchdowns, and three interceptions through three games. More concerning is the weekly progression. After producing 203 passing yards and three touchdowns against Washington, he went for 264 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions against Tennessee before falling to 153 passing yards, zero passing touchdowns, and an interception against Chicago. His fantasy production has declined along with it, making this a difficult week to simply trust the name.
The Rams are also a particularly difficult opponent for a quarterback trying to rediscover his passing efficiency. Los Angeles ranks third in defensive EPA per pass and second in yards per attempt allowed through three weeks, while consistently limiting explosive passing production. Hurts can obviously destroy a sit recommendation with his legs, and that’s why I’m not pretending he suddenly belongs on waivers or should be benched for any random streamer. The rushing and goal-line role means his floor and ceiling operate differently from almost every other quarterback. But if I have another legitimate QB1 option with a significantly better matchup, I’m willing to pivot this week. The passing floor has fallen sharply, and Los Angeles presents the toughest matchup he’s faced so far.
Bo Nix DEN
Bo Nix’s three-touchdown performance against the Rams looks considerably better in the fantasy box score than his overall passing performance did. He completed only 17 of 34 passes for 186 yards, two touchdowns and an interception, with his rushing touchdown helping turn an inefficient passing day into a strong fantasy result. Through three games, Nix has completed 56 of 93 attempts for 605 yards, four passing touchdowns and three interceptions. PFF has graded him 34th of 36 qualified quarterbacks overall and 33rd as a passer while charting eight turnover-worthy plays against only four big-time throws. His 7.4-yard average depth of target isn’t especially conservative, either, so we can’t simply blame the lack of yardage on Denver building an ultra-short passing offense.
San Francisco is dealing with defensive injuries, which prevents this from being an automatic fade based solely on the opponent. The bigger issue is that Nix hasn’t given me enough efficient quarterback play to chase last week’s fantasy score. He’s averaging only 201.7 passing yards per game and has thrown an interception in all three games. PFF currently projects him for 221 passing yards, 1.4 passing touchdowns, and 15.9 fantasy points while ranking him QB18 for Week 4. His rushing touchdown last week reminds us that he has another path to fantasy production, but PFF has charted only three scramble yards from him through three games. Unless I’m playing in a Superflex or two-quarterback league, I’d rather use a quarterback whose Week 4 ceiling isn’t so dependent on touchdowns overcoming mediocre passing efficiency.
Running Backs to Start
Braelon Allen NYJ
Braelon Allen becomes one of my favorite Week 4 running back starts if Breece Hall is unable to play. Hall suffered a thigh/quad injury late against Detroit, received encouraging MRI results but is considered week-to-week, and has remained out of practice entering Week 4. Allen stepped into the backfield after Hall went down, putting him in position for a significant workload increase if Hall can’t return against Chicago. Allen hasn’t had enough volume through three weeks for his season-long production to tell us much, but this recommendation is about how dramatically his opportunity could change. Assuming Hall remains out, Allen would have a realistic path toward 15-plus opportunities.
The matchup is exactly where I’d be willing to bet on that increased workload. Chicago has already shown it can be attacked on the ground, and the Jets shouldn’t need Allen to suddenly become Breece Hall as a receiver for him to return fantasy value. At his size, Allen also gives New York a natural early-down and short-yardage option, which creates touchdown upside if the Jets can sustain drives. The biggest thing to monitor is Hall’s status because this recommendation changes considerably if he’s unexpectedly active. But if Hall is ruled out, I’m not waiting a week to see what Allen’s expanded role looks like. The combination of additional carries, potential goal-line work, and a favorable matchup puts him firmly in my starting lineup.
Aaron Jones Sr. MIN
Aaron Jones’ workload over the past two weeks has quietly become one of the strongest reasons to trust him in Week 4. He carried 23 times for 105 yards in Week 2 and followed that with 17 carries for 58 yards against Tampa Bay while catching all five of his targets for another 34 yards. That’s 92 scrimmage yards on 22 opportunities in Week 3 after receiving 23 carries the previous week. Across those two games, Jones has handled 46 combined carries and targets, showing that Minnesota is comfortable leaning on him as both a runner and receiver rather than treating him as a player who needs perfect efficiency to produce.
Miami has also been one of the NFL’s most favorable matchups for opposing running backs through three weeks, which makes this an excellent spot to keep chasing that workload. What I particularly like about Jones is that his receiving involvement gives him protection against game script. If Minnesota controls the game, he has already shown us 20-carry upside. If the Vikings are forced into more passing situations, five receptions last week showed us another path to fantasy points. We’re getting a back with consecutive weeks of substantial opportunity against a defense that has struggled to contain the position. Jones belongs in lineups as a strong RB2 with legitimate upside beyond that.
Jacory Croskey-Merritt WAS
Jacory Croskey-Merritt didn’t reward fantasy managers who started him last week, but I’m considerably more interested in the workload than the 36 rushing yards. He handled a season-high 19 carries after receiving 16 in Week 1 and 12 in Week 2, bringing him to 47 carries for 142 yards through three games. That’s only 3.0 yards per carry, so I’m not pretending the efficiency has been good. The important development is that Washington continues giving him opportunities. Croskey-Merritt enters Week 4 with the strongest claim to the lead rushing role after handling a season-high 19 carries last week.
There are moving pieces in this backfield that prevent me from calling the workload completely secure. Austin Ekeler has returned to the picture, while Rachaad White is dealing with a shoulder injury. But that uncertainty doesn’t erase what Washington showed us last week. Croskey-Merritt received 19 rushing attempts, and now he gets an Indianapolis defense that has been vulnerable on the ground and has struggled to consistently prevent opponents from sustaining offense. I’m willing to bet on the volume before the efficiency catches up. If he gets another 15-20 carries, he doesn’t need to be spectacular to produce a usable fantasy week, and any goal-line opportunities would give him a considerably higher ceiling.
Running Backs to Sit
Omarion Hampton LAC
Omarion Hampton has gone from someone I was comfortable trusting early in the season to one of the more concerning running back situations entering Week 4. Hampton still handled 15 carries for 56 yards against Buffalo last week, but the underlying usage was considerably more concerning than the box score. Hampton and Keaton Mitchell played nearly identical snap totals, while Mitchell received eight carries and was considerably more involved in the passing-game portion of the offense. Hampton still held the advantage in rushing volume, so I’m not calling this a completely even backfield yet. But we’re no longer looking at the clean feature-back workload that would allow us to overlook an inefficient or difficult matchup.
And Seattle is not where I want to test whether Hampton can overcome reduced playing time. The Seahawks have been one of the NFL’s toughest rushing matchups through three weeks, ranking among the league leaders in rushing defense and rushing success rate allowed. That puts considerably more pressure on Hampton to either score a touchdown or regain some of the passing-down work Mitchell has begun taking. The talent hasn’t suddenly disappeared, and 15 carries last week keeps Hampton involved enough that I wouldn’t call him an automatic bench in every league. But between the increasingly legitimate committee and one of the more difficult rushing matchups on the slate, I’m lowering expectations considerably and would rather use a back with a more secure path to 15-plus touches.
Rhamondre Stevenson and TreVeyon Henderson NE
I’m grouping Rhamondre Stevenson and TreVeyon Henderson together because the biggest problem isn’t either player’s talent. It’s that New England hasn’t given us a backfield structure I trust enough for fantasy. Stevenson played 33 offensive snaps last week, accounting for just over half of the offense, but finished with only seven carries and three targets. Henderson played 23 snaps, received eight carries and drew one target. Even in a game where New England desperately needed offensive production, neither back separated himself enough from the other to establish the type of workload we want from a weekly fantasy starter.
Buffalo doesn’t need to be an elite run defense for this to be a bad fantasy setup. The problem is combining uncertain workload with an offense that could again be forced away from a balanced approach. If New England falls behind, we’re left guessing which back gets passing-down opportunities. If the game stays competitive, we’re still dealing with Stevenson and Henderson dividing early-down work. Henderson remains the player I’d rather roster because of the upside if his role eventually grows, but that doesn’t mean I need to start him before the growth actually happens. Until one of these backs establishes a substantially larger share of the snaps, touches or high-value opportunities, I’m keeping both on the bench in normal formats.
David Montgomery HOU
David Montgomery is easily the most uncomfortable sit of this group because the matchup itself is actually favorable. Through three games, Montgomery has 37 carries for only 103 yards, averaging 2.8 yards per carry, although he’s already scored three total touchdowns. The workload has also started moving in a direction that concerns me. In Week 3, Montgomery still led Woody Marks in playing time and touches, finishing with 11 carries for 33 yards and two receptions for 15 yards, while Marks had five carries for 15 yards and caught one pass for six yards. The bigger development came near the goal line, where Houston gave Marks a carry from the one-yard line, and he converted it for a touchdown. One play doesn’t mean Marks has suddenly taken over the high-value work, but that’s exactly the type of touch Montgomery needs to maintain if he’s going to overcome his inefficient rushing production.
Dallas makes this a difficult sit because the Cowboys have allowed 539 rushing yards at 5.0 yards per carry through three games, and opposing running backs have averaged more than 114 rushing yards per game against them. That’s why this isn’t a matchup fade whatsoever. I’m betting against Montgomery’s current role being strong enough to fully capitalize on it. Recent reporting indicates Houston is considering changing how it distributes its backfield workload between Montgomery and Marks, which becomes particularly concerning when Montgomery is averaging only 2.8 yards per carry, and Marks has already started receiving valuable goal-line work. Montgomery can absolutely punish this call with a touchdown against a vulnerable Dallas run defense, but if I have another legitimate RB2 option with a more secure workload, I’m willing to sit him until we get a clearer picture of how much Houston intends to expand Marks’ role.
Wide Receivers to Start
Luther Burden CHI
Luther Burden’s role has finally started matching the talent, and that’s enough for me to trust him again in Week 4. Burden led Chicago with 11 targets last week, catching seven passes for 61 yards and a touchdown against Philadelphia. More importantly, the underlying usage is beginning to separate him from the rest of this receiving corps. Burden owns a 23.5% target share, leads Chicago with a 32.8% first-read target share, and has already drawn six red-zone targets. He’s producing 1.95 yards per route run and has become the receiver Chicago is actively trying to involve rather than simply another player rotating through the offense. PFF currently projects him for 9.2 targets, six receptions, and 62.3 yards this week, which gives us a good indication of how substantially his role has changed.
The Jets are the part that makes this recommendation more interesting because this isn’t actually an easy overall passing matchup. New York enters Week 4 ranked second in total defense, and its secondary has allowed the seventh-fewest yards per target to perimeter receivers. But Burden’s usage gives him a better path around that strength. The Jets have played two-high coverage on 65.4% of their defensive snaps, the fifth-highest rate in football, and Burden was targeted on 36% of his routes against two-high looks last week. He’s also being used closer to the formation rather than surviving entirely as a boundary receiver, while New York ranks only 15th in yards per target allowed to slot receivers. This is a case where I’m betting on target concentration more than blindly attacking the defense. If Burden remains around double-digit targets with his first-read and red-zone involvement, he’s done enough to earn WR2/flex consideration even in a matchup that looks difficult at first glance.
Stefon Diggs WAS
Stefon Diggs has quietly re-established the type of target-earning profile we want from a weekly fantasy starter. He’s sitting around a 22-24% target share depending on the provider, while Fantasy Points has him at 24.3% with 0.45 fantasy points per route run. They also have him at 1.82 yards per route run with four red-zone targets, three deep targets, and a 25.4% first-read share. His route participation hasn’t been elite; Sharp Football has him running a route on only 65.2% of Washington’s dropbacks, but he’s being targeted on 29.3% of the routes he actually runs. That’s the number that keeps me interested. Diggs doesn’t need a 90% route rate if he’s continuing to command the football at that frequency.
Indianapolis is where the matchup becomes especially appealing. Diggs has played 62.7% of his snaps from the slot, and the Colts have allowed slot receivers to catch 18 of 21 targets for 315 yards, a league-high yardage total through three weeks. Indianapolis slot corner Justin Walley has also struggled individually, allowing 0.40 fantasy points per route run while being targeted on nearly 18% of the routes run against him. PFF has Walley graded 90th among 99 qualified cornerbacks in coverage and credits quarterbacks with a 154.3 passer rating when targeting him. Diggs has also been particularly productive against man coverage, drawing a target on a team-high 37.5% of those routes while producing 2.25 yards per route run. This isn’t just a generic “bad secondary” argument; Diggs’ alignment and coverage production directly attack one of Indianapolis’ biggest weaknesses. He’s a strong Week 4 start.
Keenan Allen IND
Keenan Allen is coming off exactly the type of performance I wanted to see before putting him back into starting lineups. He caught six of nine targets for 63 yards and a touchdown against Houston, giving him 13 receptions on 20 targets for 100 yards and a touchdown through three games. The season-long efficiency isn’t spectacular, only 7.7 yards per reception and a 6.5-yard average depth of target, but that’s not why we’re starting Allen. Allen ran a route on 75.6% of Daniel Jones’ dropbacks last week and commanded a season-high 25.7% target share. He’s also drawn three red-zone targets and owns a 26% first-read share. That’s exactly the type of short-area, volume-based role that can become extremely valuable in PPR formats.
The Commanders have allowed opposing wide receivers to catch 74.2% of their targets while surrendering 9.2 yards per target and a 9.7% touchdown rate. That touchdown rate ranks 31st, and Washington has already allowed six touchdowns to wide receivers through three games. The alignment matchup is also favorable for Allen. He played 53.8% of his Week 3 snaps out wide, and Washington has allowed the fifth-most yards per target and second-most fantasy points per opportunity to perimeter receivers. Allen isn’t suddenly going to become a vertical weapon, but he doesn’t need to. Nine targets in this matchup could easily turn into another six- or seven-catch performance, and the Commanders’ problems preventing WR touchdowns add considerably more ceiling than Allen’s shallow target profile normally gives him. Allen was limited in practice this week, so his status is worth monitoring before locking him into lineups. Assuming he’s active without significant restrictions, he’s a strong PPR WR2/flex for me this week.
Wide Receivers to Sit
Emeka Egbuka TB
Emeka Egbuka has been usable without really giving us a breakout performance yet. Through three games, he’s caught 13 passes for 141 yards and one touchdown, averaging 10.8 yards per reception. His weekly receiving lines have been 5/63, 3/16/1, and 5/62, so he’s produced a usable score each week without exceeding 63 receiving yards in a game. That’s not horrible production, but the fantasy ceiling hasn’t been particularly impressive. Tampa Bay’s passing offense is also struggling to create explosive production overall, with Baker Mayfield sitting at 615 passing yards and an 80.0 passer rating through three games. Egbuka currently leads the Buccaneers in both receptions and receiving yards, so this isn’t a role-based panic button; it’s a question of whether that role provides enough upside in a week where we have stronger alternatives.
I do want to be careful with the matchup because Green Bay isn’t an obvious “WR shutdown” defense based purely on fantasy points allowed. That’s why my concern here is more about Egbuka’s current offensive environment and ceiling than pretending the Packers have been impenetrable. Green Bay has enough secondary talent to make Tampa Bay work underneath, while Egbuka has produced only one reception of 20-plus yards through three games. Tampa Bay’s passing environment was already limiting Egbuka’s ceiling, and with Baker Mayfield out this week, it throws another factor into the equation. I’m not treating Egbuka as an automatic bench in deep leagues, but in standard 10- or 12-team formats I’m willing to move away from a receiver averaging 47 yards per game until either Tampa Bay’s passing efficiency improves or his individual target profile starts creating more explosive production.
Deebo Samuel Sr. SF
Deebo Samuel’s raw efficiency looks excellent through three weeks, but the underlying volume makes this a dangerous week to chase it. He’s caught nine of 11 targets for 159 yards and two touchdowns, averaging 17.7 yards per reception despite an average depth of target of only 3.6 yards. PFF has credited him with 124 yards after the catch, meaning nearly 78% of his receiving production has come after the ball reached his hands. That’s classic Deebo, and it’s also why I’m never going to call him a talent-based sit. The concern is that 11 targets through three games gives him almost no margin for error. His fantasy production has depended on extreme efficiency, touchdowns, and explosive yards after the catch rather than stable weekly receiving volume.
Denver is exactly the defense where I’m less willing to bet on that efficiency continuing. The Broncos have been one of the stingier defenses against wide receivers through three weeks, with Patrick Surtain II anchoring a secondary capable of matching physical receivers without dramatically altering its coverage structure. Deebo’s manufactured touches can help him avoid a pure shadow matchup, but his 3.6-yard aDOT means we’re asking him to repeatedly create after the catch against a defense built to limit those opportunities. With only 11 targets through three games, I’m not comfortable depending on another touchdown or huge YAC play to save the fantasy line. He’s still capable of breaking a play that makes this look wrong, but the combination of limited receiving volume and a difficult matchup makes him someone I’m willing to sit when I have another legitimate starting option.
Rome Odunze CHI
Rome Odunze is becoming increasingly difficult to trust because this is no longer just a one-game production problem. Through three weeks, he’s caught only eight passes for 139 yards and has yet to score a touchdown. He finished with three catches for 44 yards on six targets against Philadelphia, but even that modest target total placed him behind other Chicago pass catchers. The underlying role is more concerning than the box score: Odunze owns only a 13.3% target share and 13.1% first-read share while producing 1.72 yards per route run. Even though he’s remained heavily involved from a route standpoint, running a route on roughly 89% of Chicago’s dropbacks over the past two games, he’s averaging barely more than four targets per game. That’s exactly the profile I don’t want to chase simply because a player is technically on the field for almost every passing play.
The Jets make that volume problem even more concerning. New York uses two-high coverage at a 65.4% rate, fifth-highest in the NFL, and Odunze’s target rate falls from 18% overall to 14% against two-high while his yards per route run drops from 2.00 to 1.38. He’s also primarily operating on the perimeter, where the Jets have allowed the seventh-fewest yards per target through three weeks. That contrasts directly with Burden, whose role gives Chicago a better way to attack inside and underneath. The matchup therefore compounds a problem that already exists in Odunze’s underlying usage: he isn’t commanding enough targets or first reads to give us much margin for error against a secondary that has been particularly difficult on perimeter receivers. Until those shares start moving back toward the top of this offense, he’s a player I’m comfortable sitting in Week 4.
Tight Ends to Start
Isaiah Likely NYG
I’m going right back to Isaiah Likely despite last week’s disappointing performance against Tennessee. Likely caught only two of five targets for 13 yards, but one bad game isn’t enough for me to completely move away from him. More importantly, the opportunity didn’t completely disappear even though the production did. Tight end is volatile enough that I’m much more interested in whether a player continues getting opportunities than overreacting to one game where those targets didn’t turn into fantasy points. Likely has already shown us that he can be a productive part of this Giants passing offense, and I’m giving him another week before treating the Tennessee performance as something more concerning.
Arizona gives Likely an opportunity to bounce back, and we just watched Trey McBride command 11 targets against this defense last week, catching nine for 75 yards. I’m obviously not comparing Likely’s role directly to McBride’s, but it reinforces that there are opportunities available to tight ends in this matchup. Jameis Winston is expected to start again for New York, which at least gives us some continuity after Likely drew five targets from this offense last week. I’m not expecting a massive target share or pretending the Week 3 production wasn’t disappointing, but that’s not what we need from a borderline TE1. If Likely remains around five-plus targets and converts a few more of those opportunities, there’s enough here for me to go back to him in Week 4.
Darren Waller CAR
Darren Waller is becoming considerably easier to trust as Carolina continues expanding his role. He has eight catches for 84 yards over the past two games, including five receptions for 51 yards on eight targets against Cleveland last week. His season line is now 10 receptions for 112 yards and two touchdowns, with both scores coming in Week 2. More importantly, the eight targets last week are exactly the type of usage that gets my attention at tight end. I don’t need Waller to suddenly return to the massive target shares he commanded earlier in his career. If Carolina continues giving him a legitimate role in the middle of the field and near the goal line, there’s enough here for him to become a weekly fantasy option.
Detroit is also one of the best possible matchups to test whether this role is here to stay. The Lions have allowed tight ends to catch 29 passes for 351 yards and six touchdowns through three games, with the position scoring twice against them in every game. That matchup becomes especially appealing after Waller just commanded eight targets. Carolina’s receiving corps is also dealing with injuries, with Jalen Coker battling a quad issue and Xavier Legette missing last week with a knee injury, which could further consolidate opportunities if either remains limited or unavailable. There’s still some risk because Waller’s role is growing rather than completely established, but I’m comfortable taking that risk here. Another six-to-eight targets against a defense that has already surrendered six touchdowns to tight ends would put Waller in an excellent position for another productive week.
Brenton Strange JAX
Brenton Strange hasn’t done enough through three games for me to pretend this recommendation is based on dominant production. What I do like is that we finally saw the target volume move in the right direction last week. Strange drew five targets against New England and turned them into three receptions for 32 yards, giving us our first real indication that his role in this passing game could be expanding. He’s still competing with several legitimate receiving options for Trevor Lawrence’s attention, so I’m not expecting Strange to suddenly become a focal point of the offense. But at tight end, I don’t necessarily need that if we’re getting four-to-six opportunities in the right matchup.
And Cincinnati is exactly the type of matchup where I want to find out whether that Week 3 usage can carry over. The Bengals were one of the NFL’s most favorable matchups for fantasy tight ends last season, and the position remains one I’m comfortable attacking against this defense. This is different from Waller, where I’m becoming increasingly interested in the player and the expanding role independent of the opponent. Strange is much more of a matchup-based start, and I’m completely fine admitting that. Tight end gets thin quickly once we move beyond the obvious weekly starters, and I’d rather chase a player coming off a season-high five targets in a matchup I’m comfortable attacking than hope a similarly ranked option finds a touchdown in a more difficult spot. Strange is one of my preferred Week 4 streaming options.
Tight Ends to Sit
Dalton Schultz HOU
Dalton Schultz is probably the most uncomfortable tight end sit of this group because the season-long fantasy production looks considerably better than the role did last week. Schultz owns a 20.7% target share with 2.09 yards per route run and a 21% first-read share, but a massive portion of his production came during his Week 2 eruption with Nico Collins unavailable. Schultz saw 14 targets in that game and looked like a legitimate focal point of Houston’s passing offense. Last week was dramatically different. He caught all three of his targets for 30 yards, while his route participation fell to 64.5% after sitting at 74.6% during the Week 2 breakout. That’s a meaningful enough change for me to question whether we’re actually getting the role his season-long production suggests.
The frustrating part is that Dallas is actually a good matchup for tight ends, so this isn’t a matchup-based sit whatsoever. My concern is what happens to Schultz’s opportunity if Nico Collins returns. Collins returned to practice in a limited capacity Wednesday after missing the previous two games. Potentially adding Houston’s clear No. 1 receiver back into the target distribution, combined with Schultz’s reduced route participation last week, makes me considerably less comfortable chasing the Week 2 breakout. Schultz can absolutely punish this call because the matchup is favorable, but I’m betting against him immediately returning to double-digit targets once Houston’s receiving corps gets healthier. If I have another legitimate starting option, I’d rather sit Schultz until we see whether last week’s reduced role was temporary or the beginning of a more concerning trend.
Kyle Pitts ATL
At this point, I need Kyle Pitts to actually show me something before I’m willing to keep putting him into fantasy lineups. Through three games, Pitts has two receptions for 20 total yards. He was held without a catch in Week 1, caught one pass for 15 yards in Week 2, and followed that with one reception for five yards on two targets against Green Bay last week. Those aren’t numbers where I’m looking for reasons to remain patient simply because we know what Pitts is capable of athletically. Atlanta has Drake London and Bijan Robinson commanding touches, and Pitts simply hasn’t been a meaningful part of the passing offense. Until that changes, his name carries considerably more fantasy value than his actual 2026 role does.
What makes this especially telling is that New Orleans isn’t a matchup that would normally scare me away from using a tight end. There is absolutely a path where Pitts finally gets more involved and makes this recommendation look bad, but I’m still not chasing it. A favorable matchup only matters if the player is being given enough opportunities to exploit it, and we haven’t seen anything close to that through three games. I’d rather be a week late on the breakout than continue starting him based on what we think his role should eventually become. Until Atlanta starts actively involving him in the passing game, Pitts belongs on my bench.
Jake Ferguson DAL
Jake Ferguson’s fantasy production looks considerably better than the receiving yardage he’s actually generated through three weeks. He has nine catches for 72 yards and three touchdowns, meaning scoring has done a lot of the work in keeping him fantasy relevant. That doesn’t make the touchdowns meaningless, because goal-line involvement is extremely valuable at tight end, but it does make Ferguson more dependent on finding the end zone than I’d like from an automatic starter. He hasn’t exceeded 43 receiving yards in a game, so if the touchdown disappears, there hasn’t been enough volume or yardage underneath it to consistently protect his fantasy floor.
Houston is exactly the type of matchup where I’m less comfortable betting on another touchdown bailing out the receiving line. The Texans haven’t allowed a receiving touchdown to a tight end through three games, which creates a problem when so much of Ferguson’s early fantasy value has come from scoring. This isn’t me saying Houston completely eliminates the position or that Ferguson suddenly has no long-term value. My concern is simply what his fantasy line looks like if he doesn’t score his fourth touchdown in four games. Ferguson has only 72 receiving yards through three weeks, leaving him heavily reliant on touchdowns for usable fantasy production. I’d rather use a tight end with a clearer path to targets and yardage this week than depend on Ferguson finding the end zone again.
DEF to Start
New Orleans Saints
New Orleans hasn’t been the type of defense I’m looking to blindly start every week, but this is much more about the matchup than pretending the Saints have suddenly become an elite fantasy unit. The encouraging part is that New Orleans has been able to generate pressure, recording eight sacks through three games. That gives this defense a path toward fantasy production even if it doesn’t completely shut down the opposing offense. Atlanta finally broke through offensively last week, scoring 35 points against Green Bay after producing only 16 total points across its first two games. Michael Penix Jr. looked considerably better in his return, while Bijan Robinson and Drake London gave the Falcons the explosive production that had been missing. That performance deserves respect, but I’m also not ready to let one game completely erase what we saw from this offense over the first two weeks.
That’s why I’m comfortable taking a chance on New Orleans at home. Atlanta’s Week 3 explosion was its first consistently productive offensive performance of the season, and now Penix gets a Saints defense that has shown it can create pressure through three games. That’s important because I don’t need New Orleans to completely shut down Robinson or London for this start to work. A few sacks combined with one or two turnover opportunities would be enough to give the Saints a useful fantasy floor, especially if the offense can keep the game competitive and prevent Atlanta from leaning entirely on the run. This isn’t the safest defensive start of the week, but if I’m streaming the position, New Orleans has enough sack upside in this matchup to make them one of my preferred options.
Green Bay Packers
Green Bay is coming off its worst defensive performance of the season, allowing Atlanta to score 35 points while Bijan Robinson and Drake London repeatedly created explosive plays. I’m not going to pretend that performance wasn’t concerning, but I’m also not throwing out what this defense showed over the first two weeks because of one bad Thursday night. The Packers have seven sacks and two interceptions through three games, so there has still been enough pressure and turnover production to give us fantasy upside. More importantly, the situation they’re walking into this week is dramatically different from the one they just faced against Atlanta.
Baker Mayfield is out with a dislocated thumb, leaving rookie Jalon Daniels to make his first NFL start for Tampa Bay. Daniels attempted only three passes after replacing Mayfield last week, completing none of them and throwing an interception on a Hail Mary. Now his first start comes against a Green Bay defense that already has seven sacks through three games. Tampa Bay can try to protect Daniels with the running game and shorter throws, but if Green Bay can establish a lead and force the rookie into obvious passing situations, the opportunities for sacks and turnovers should increase considerably. That’s enough for me to go right back to the Packers after last week’s disappointment.
Buffalo Bills
Buffalo is one of my favorite defensive starts this week because New England continues giving opposing defenses exactly the type of opportunities we’re looking for. The Bills have nine sacks through three games, and the pass rush should have another chance to create problems against an offense that has already allowed nine sacks. Buffalo hasn’t been dominant in every defensive category, but that’s less important to me when we’re talking about fantasy D/ST. Sacks and turnovers are what can separate a useful fantasy performance from a defense that simply limits yardage, and Buffalo has a path toward both in this matchup.
Drake Maye is the biggest reason I’m willing to trust them. Maye turned the ball over three more times against Jacksonville last week, throwing two interceptions and losing a fumble in New England’s 35-6 loss. He’s now responsible for seven turnovers through three games, while the Patriots are averaging only 12 points per game. That’s a combination I want to attack. Buffalo’s offense can also contribute to the game script if Josh Allen and company establish an early lead and force New England to throw more aggressively. Maye still has enough talent and rushing ability to make plays, but until the turnovers slow down, I’m comfortable continuing to start fantasy defenses against this Patriots offense.
DEF to Sit
Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia is a defense I’m much more comfortable holding than starting this week. The Eagles have plenty of defensive talent, but the fantasy production hasn’t followed through three games. They’ve recorded only three sacks and have yet to intercept a pass, leaving them without two of the easiest paths toward a ceiling performance at D/ST. That doesn’t mean Philadelphia is suddenly a bad real-life defense. It means we’re being asked to start a unit that hasn’t created many splash plays in a week where the opponent makes finding those plays considerably more difficult.
The Rams are the problem. Matthew Stafford has thrown for 872 yards and six touchdowns through three games, and Los Angeles has already produced multiple 500-yard offensive performances. Stafford has thrown four interceptions, so there is some turnover upside here, but Sean McVay’s offense can create problems without giving Philadelphia many clean pass-rush opportunities. This is one of those situations where the Eagles could play perfectly respectable defense and still give us a mediocre fantasy score. With only three sacks and no interceptions through three games, I’m not forcing them into my lineup against one of the league’s more dangerous passing attacks.
Denver Broncos
Sitting Denver is uncomfortable because the defense itself has been producing exactly the type of plays we want for fantasy. The Broncos have eight sacks through three games, tied near the top of the league, and their four interceptions are among the NFL’s best totals. That’s a strong profile, and this isn’t a case where I’m suddenly questioning the quality of Denver’s defense. If anything, the first three weeks have reinforced why this is a unit I’m comfortable holding through difficult matchups rather than dropping whenever the schedule gets tougher.
I just don’t like the matchup with San Francisco enough to chase the season-long production. Brock Purdy has thrown nine touchdowns against only one interception while completing more than 72% of his passes through three games, and the 49ers have enough weapons to make life difficult even for an excellent defense. Christian McCaffrey, George Kittle, and the rest of this offense can also punish aggressive defenses without requiring Purdy to repeatedly hold the football and expose himself to pressure. Denver’s pass rush and secondary always give it a chance to create a big play, so I’m certainly not dropping this defense. But against a quarterback with a 9:1 touchdown-to-interception ratio, I’d rather stream a unit facing an offense giving us a clearer path toward sacks and turnovers.
New England Patriots
New England’s actual defensive performance has been considerably better than its 1-2 record suggests. The Patriots are allowing only 278.3 yards and 17 points per game through three weeks, while their seven sacks show they can still generate pressure. That’s why this isn’t me calling New England a bad defense. The bigger issue with fantasy D/ST is that matchup can matter just as much as overall defensive quality, and this is about as difficult of a spot as we can give them.
Buffalo enters Week 4 averaging 33.7 points and more than 400 yards of offense per game. Josh Allen has already thrown for 786 yards and five touchdowns while adding six rushing scores, and James Cook has 346 rushing yards at 6.0 yards per carry. That gives New England very few obvious weaknesses to attack. The Patriots could play solid defense for stretches and still give up enough points and yardage to limit their fantasy ceiling, especially if Buffalo protects the football. New England will have much better spots later in the season. On the road against one of the NFL’s highest-scoring offenses, I’m keeping the Patriots on the bench.
Kickers to Start
Will Reichard MIN
Will Reichard has become one of the easiest kickers to trust through three weeks because Minnesota continues giving him opportunities and he hasn’t wasted them. Reichard is a perfect 7-for-7 on field goals this season, including three makes in each of the past two games. He also showed off the range again last week, connecting from 56 yards against Tampa Bay after making from 49 the week before. That’s what I want from a fantasy kicker: an offense capable of consistently crossing midfield combined with a kicker who can turn stalled drives into points from well beyond 50 yards.
Miami gives me no reason to move away from him. Reichard has attempted seven field goals through three games, and his range means the Vikings don’t necessarily need to reach the red zone before he’s in scoring position. He’s already produced multiple field goals in consecutive weeks, and now he gets another home matchup where Minnesota should have opportunities to put points on the board. Kicker can be extremely volatile week to week, but Reichard’s combination of accuracy, range, and opportunity makes him one of my preferred Week 4 starts.
Trey Smack GB
Trey Smack’s Week 3 fantasy line was disappointing, but I’m much more interested in what he showed during the first two games. Smack made all five of his field-goal attempts over that stretch, including a 59-yarder in Week 1, before having his only attempt blocked against Atlanta last week. The range is clearly there, and Green Bay has already trusted him with multiple attempts in two of its first three games. I’m not moving away from that profile because one kick was blocked in a game where the entire Packers offense struggled.
Tampa Bay is a good spot for Green Bay’s offense to rebound, especially with Baker Mayfield unavailable on the other side. If the Packers can control more of the game with rookie Jalon Daniels starting for Tampa Bay, Smack should have a better chance to benefit from sustained drives and favorable field position. Jordan Love and the Packers don’t need to score touchdowns every time they cross midfield for this start to work. Smack has already shown that Green Bay is comfortable letting him attempt long field goals, and that range gives him legitimate upside whenever drives stall outside the red zone.
Spencer Shrader IND
Spencer Shrader has quietly been one of the best fantasy kickers through three weeks. He’s a perfect 8-for-8 on field goals, and last week was his biggest performance yet, making all four attempts against Houston with two coming from beyond 50 yards. He also hit three field goals against Kansas City the week before, meaning Indianapolis has now given him seven attempts over its past two games. That’s the type of volume I’m looking to chase at kicker, especially when the player has already shown he can convert from long range.
Washington gives Shrader another opportunity to keep that going. Indianapolis has given him seven field-goal attempts over the past two games, which is exactly the type of opportunity I’m looking for at kicker. He’s already 8-for-8 through three games and has made four field goals from 40-plus yards over the past two weeks, including two from beyond 50 yards against Houston. There is one serious situation to monitor before locking him into lineups: Shrader aggravated a groin injury during pregame warmups last week. Indianapolis remains encouraged about his Week 4 availability, but I want confirmation that he’s active before starting him. Assuming he’s cleared to kick, the recent combination of volume and range keeps him firmly in my Week 4 lineup.
Kickers to Sit
Chase McLaughlin TB
Chase McLaughlin has actually been excellent through three weeks, which makes this a situation where I’m fading the offensive environment rather than the kicker. He’s made all nine of his field-goal attempts this season, including kicks from 51, 59, and 54 yards. Tampa Bay has repeatedly given him opportunities, and McLaughlin has taken advantage of them. If Baker Mayfield were healthy, there would be very little reason for me to move away from a kicker producing at that level.
Mayfield’s thumb injury changes the equation considerably. Rookie Jalon Daniels is making his first NFL start against Green Bay after going 0-for-3 in relief last week, and now we’re asking Tampa Bay to consistently move the football far enough for McLaughlin to remain involved. McLaughlin’s range gives him some protection because the Buccaneers don’t need to reach the red zone for him to score, but even a great kicker needs his offense to cross midfield. With a rookie quarterback making his first start against a Packers defense that already has seven sacks, I’m lowering expectations and would rather chase a kicker attached to a more stable offense.
Cameron Dicker LAC
Cameron Dicker finally gave fantasy managers some production last week, making three of four field-goal attempts against Buffalo after an almost nonexistent role over the first two games. The problem is that one productive week doesn’t completely erase what we saw before it. Dicker didn’t attempt a field goal in Week 1 and missed his only attempt in Week 2, meaning last week’s four opportunities account for 80% of his field-goal attempts this season. He’s now 3-for-5 overall, and the Chargers simply haven’t given us a consistent enough kicking environment to make him someone I want to automatically start.
Seattle doesn’t make me more interested in chasing last week’s performance. This is a difficult road matchup, and there’s a real possibility Los Angeles again struggles to consistently move into scoring range. Dicker is a talented kicker, so this isn’t about doubting his ability. It’s about opportunity. One game with four attempts doesn’t outweigh two weeks where he received only one combined field-goal opportunity. Until the Chargers show they can consistently put Dicker in position for multiple attempts, I’d rather use a kicker attached to a more reliable scoring environment.
Tyler Bass BUF
Tyler Bass is attached to one of the highest-scoring offenses in football, but that hasn’t translated into consistent field-goal volume. Buffalo is averaging 33.7 points per game, yet Bass has attempted only four field goals through three weeks. He didn’t attempt one at all against Detroit in Week 2 and received only one attempt against the Chargers last week. The Bills are scoring plenty of points; they’re just finishing too many of those drives with touchdowns for Bass to consistently benefit.
New England is another matchup where that could become a problem. Buffalo enters as one of the league’s most productive offenses, while the Patriots have allowed only 17 points per game through three weeks. That creates two potential outcomes I don’t particularly love for Bass: either Buffalo continues finishing drives with touchdowns, or New England’s defense succeeds in limiting the number of scoring possessions altogether. Bass obviously has upside whenever Josh Allen is moving the offense this efficiently, but kicker production depends on drives ending in a very specific area of the field. With only four field-goal attempts through three games, I’d rather chase a kicker receiving more consistent opportunities.
