Everyone knows you’re starting guys like Jahmyr Gibbs, Bijan Robinson, Ja’Marr Chase, and the other elite fantasy stars every single week. This article isn’t about them.
I’m talking about the players who may not have been automatic starts when you drafted them or maybe even players you’ve picked up off waivers. Still, heading into Week 4, the combination of matchup, opportunity, usage, and injuries makes them impossible to leave on your bench.
These are the must-starts — the players I’m putting in my lineup without hesitation, even if their name doesn’t carry the same weight as the usual fantasy studs.
No overthinking. If you have these guys, start them.
Must-Start – Jacoby Brissett
Since the summer, I’ve been a huge advocate of waiting on quarterback in drafts and even streaming the position based on matchups.
This is exactly why.
Jacoby Brissett against the Giants is a perfect streaming spot.
Brissett just threw for 280 yards and two touchdowns on 52 attempts against San Francisco in Week 3, while adding a rushing touchdown he snuck at the goal. He finished QB4 for the week! More importantly, the volume has been there. Through three games, he has already attempted 117 passes and has thrown 4 passing TDs.
The matchup is what makes this even more appealing.
The Giants have allowed the 14th-highest passing success rate, seventh-highest CPOE, 10th-most fantasy points per dropback, and sixth-highest EPA per dropback entering Week 4. There are several injuries on this Giants defense, and I think everyone is a must-start, except Marvin Harrison Jr.
Brissett doesn’t need another 52-attempt game to pay off.
Give me something closer to 30-35 attempts with 200+ yards and a couple touchdowns, and we’re already looking at a very usable fantasy performance.
This is what late-round QB streaming is supposed to look like.
Brissett is a completely obvious start if you’re dealing with QB injuries or bad matchups.
Must-Start – Braelon Allen
This one is all about opportunity. Breece Hall is out for Week 4’s contest.
Hall suffered a quad injury in Week 3 and is considered week-to-week, leaving Braelon Allen in line to take over the Jets’ backfield.
And we already got a glimpse of what that looks like.
Before Hall exited against Detroit, he handled 13 of the Jets’ 14 running back opportunities. Once Hall left, Allen played every offensive snap over the Jets’ final two drives and handled essentially every backup touch.
Allen finished with 4 carries for 14 yards and 3 receptions, but the important number is the workload he received once Hall was gone. The Jets were trailing, and they treated him as a 3-down workhorse, which I expect this week in the absence of Adonai Mitchell and Mason Taylor as well in the passing game.
There was no committee with Isaiah Davis. There was no rotation, which could potentially change, but as of right now, Braelon Allen was the guy.
That matters even more because Allen had already been involved in passing situations before Hall’s injury and was getting goal-line work. There’s a legit path to Allen seeing 18-22+ touches this week.
And that’s enough volume for me to feel much better about Allen than some of the other questionable RB situations this week.
I’d rather start Braelon Allen over Javonte Williams, Omarion Hampton, or the New England backfield.
We’re not chasing a breakout here.
We’re chasing bell-cow opportunity.
Braelon Allen is a completely obvious start.
Must- Start – Michael Wilson
The Jacoby Brissett–Michael Wilson connection is officially alive again.
And at this point, I’m not waiting for another week to believe it.
Wilson exploded in Week 3 with:
11 receptions 89 receiving yards 1 TD 17 targets
That’s not a fluky stat line. That’s elite volume.
Wilson played 94% of Arizona’s offensive snaps, ran a route on 96% of Brissett’s dropbacks, and commanded a ridiculous 34% target share.
Through three weeks, Wilson has now seen 31 targets, and his target share has climbed every single week:
18.9% → 26.9% → 34.0%
He also owns 41% of Arizona’s air yards through three games.
Meanwhile, Marvin Harrison Jr. saw just 5 targets in Week 3 despite Brissett throwing 52 passes, finishing with 3 catches for 40 yards.
At this point, I don’t care what Harrison’s draft pedigree is. He’s irrelevant for fantasy purposes until the usage changes.
Wilson is the receiver Brissett is consistently looking for besides Trey McBride, and the volume has become very hard to ignore.
Michael Wilson is a completely obvious start.
Must-Start – Kenyon Sadiq
Okay, maybe this really is the Jets and Cardinals article.
But I’m not forcing it.
Kenyon Sadiq earned this one.
The rookie exploded against Detroit in Week 3, catching 7 of 8 targets for 105 yards and a touchdown.
The usage was just as impressive as the box score.
Sadiq ran 26 routes, a 56.5% route rate, while commanding a 21.6% target share. He generated 4.20 yards per route run, saw two deep targets, and finished with 78 air yards.
That’s exactly what I want to see from a young ascending tight end.
And the opportunity should continue this week.
Adonai Mitchell is dealing with a finger injury, while Mason Taylor is also dealing with an injury, leaving Sadiq positioned to operate as one of the Jets’ primary passing-game options.
The matchup is also better than it might look on paper.
Chicago has allowed the 10th-most yards per target to tight ends this season, and Sadiq is exactly the type of player who can exploit that weakness because of his athleticism and ability to create plays downfield.
The Bears’ defense has improved recently, but I’m not letting that scare me away from a rookie who just posted 105 yards and a touchdown on eight targets while seeing legitimate downfield usage.
Sadiq isn’t just a touchdown-dependent tight end anymore.
The routes, targets, air yards, and injuries around him have created a real role.
And in a week where tight end can be ugly, I’m starting the explosive rookie.
Kenyon Sadiq is a completely obvious start.
Must-Start Players for Week 4
QB — Jacoby Brissett
RB — Braelon Allen
WR — Michael Wilson
TE — Kenyon Sadiq
Volume + opportunity + matchup.
We’re looking at players whose Week 3 usage and Week 4 circumstances have created roles that are too good to ignore.
Set the lineup.
Move on.
