5 Players With Tough Week 4 Matchups
We all have those superstars on our rosters who should be automatic starters week after week, right? Not so fast. I don’t believe in the old adage “always start your studs”, as it’s sort of lazy and not entirely accurate if you want the most out of your fantasy squad.
In this new column at 4for4, each week I take a look at individual matchups and point out the players who I think could struggle, even if they’re elite. I’m not saying to sit them without question, but as the title goes, these are players with tough matchups, meaning you'll have tough lineup decisions to make.
Week 3 Wrap-up
If you took my advice last week and sat any of the five players mentioned in this column, you made out pretty well with the exception of Terry McLaurin, who scored 19.0 PPR points. Baker Mayfield was QB28 with just 9.7 fantasy points, while running backs Kerryon Johnson and Derrick Henry finished as the RB27 and the RB25, putting up only 11.3 and 11.6 PPR points, respectively. Michael Thomas also underdelivered this week as the WR22.
Week 4 Risky Plays
Nick Chubb @ Ravens
Chubb is an impressive RB12 on the season after three weeks, but he could have some tough sledding this week on the road in Baltimore. The Ravens have allowed the third-least amount of rushing yards in the league so far with an average of just 60.3 per contest and they are ranked 12th in RB aFPA (schedule-adjusted fantasy points allowed). With the plethora of passing options available to Baker Mayfield and an opposing secondary that’s surrendering 37.0 PPR points to wideouts, it wouldn’t be surprising for this game to be more scripted towards the air than the ground.
I know it may be tough to bench Chubb this week with the running back landscape as wonky as it is, but you may want to at least mull it over.
Jameis Winston @ Rams
Winston drafters were rewarded last week in a soft matchup against the Giants, but it might a return to Sadville again in Week 4. The Bucs go on the road to face a Rams defense that boasts one Aaron Donald and tight coverage by Aqib Talib. The Rams rank No. 1 in QB aFPA this season, yielding just 7.6 fantasy points to the position thus far. This could turn out to be a classic Winston game filled with lots of forced mistakes, so you may want to use another quarterback if you have the luxury to do so.
Aaron Jones vs. Eagles
Those of you with Jones on your rosters were saved by two short touchdowns last week, even though he was out-touched by fellow Green Bay back Jamaal Williams. It may be difficult for Jones to get going on Thursday night against an Eagles defense allowing just 57 rushing yards per tilt this season. There’s also the matter of a shoulder injury that limited him in practice earlier this week to monitor. You drafted Jones to play him, but you may want to use caution in Week 4.
Allen Robinson vs. Vikings
He’s the Bears leader in receiving yards (203) and targets (27) but has yet to find the end zone in 2019. Robinson will be mixing it up with Xavier Rhodes frequently this week, which didn’t work out so well for the Bears wideout in last year’s meeting (3-39-0). As talented of a receiver as Robinson is, this week may not be his first end zone dance of the season, therefore you may want to find an alternative to his low floor.
Todd Gurley vs. Buccaneers
No one loves Gurley more than me. Well, I suppose his family and actual friends probably do, but as a UGA grad, he’s very close to my heart. I doubt anyone sits him this week, but the Rams back does have a tough matchup ahead of him. Tampa Bay has been quietly shutting down the run, allowing no more than 7.7 PPR points to any back this season, including Christian McCaffrey, who posted just 7.3 PPR points in Week 2. Sitting Gurley is probably not an option, but just temper your expectations for his output on Sunday.
