Should I start Jaxson Dart, Justin Fields, Matthew Stafford for Week 4? Fantasy football start 'em, sit 'em picks and recommendations for the 2025 NFL season.
Your quarterback plans can be derailed quickly in fantasy football. Did you start the season with Joe Burrow and J.J. McCarthy as your signal-callers, only to see them sidelined by injury? Or maybe you drafted a guy you assumed would post big numbers, only to see him rack up single-digit points in every contest.
If your quarterback situation hasn't been up to par, you might have checked to see what QBs are out there. In many leagues, Jaxson Dart and Matthew Stafford are widely available on waivers, while Justin Fields is found on waivers in some leagues.
Maybe you already roster these players and are deciding whether to start them in Week 4. Let's break down these quarterbacks for the week to determine whether they belong in your starting lineup or on the bench.
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Should I Start Jaxson Dart for Fantasy Football?
Russell Wilson was demoted after the Giants' 0-3 start, which means we're officially in the Dart era. He'll see his NFL debut in Week 4. The rookie will be fun for New York long-term, but he's not someone fantasy managers should force into their lineups yet.
Dart has the rushing appeal managers look for in a fantasy quarterback. Last season with Ole Miss, he passed for 4,279 yards and 29 touchdowns while posting 495 yards on the ground and three rushing TDs, demonstrating his dual-threat upside. During the preseason, the QB rushed for 52 yards while scoring a TD on the ground. Additionally, he tossed three TDs and no picks in preseason play.
Jaxson Dart’s first preseason touchdown pass: pic.twitter.com/n9QJ37B1rX
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 9, 2025
So yes, he is worth a roster spot (especially in superflex or 2QB leagues where dual-threat QBs don't stay on waivers long). The problem is trusting a rookie QB right away. His first NFL start comes against a tough Chargers defense. He'll have playmakers like Malik Nabers and Wan'Dale Robinson to help bail him out if he struggles, but the offense is still trying to find their rhythm.
They're hoping the Dart experience is the way to get them there, but we shouldn't expect fireworks in his first start. In 1QB leagues, he should find a spot on your bench this week. But in deeper formats, you can take a shot on Dart's rushing floor (if in a bind). For Week 4, Dart should be seen as a "watch and see" QB; a stash with upside.
Should I Start Justin Fields for Fantasy Football?
This one is an easier decision for the week. If Fields clears concussion protocol, he deserves a start. This week's matchup with the Dolphins is a juicy one, as Miami has been soft against the QB position.
Every quarterback the Dolphins battled this season ended the week as a QB1 in fantasy. They've allowed the most rushing TDs to the position (three) along with the fifth-most passing scores. Fields' skill set is ideal for this kind of contest.
Jets injury update from Aaron Glenn
Week to week - Jermaine Johnson and Jarvis Brownlee
Returning - Kene Nwangwu, Josh Reynolds, Tony Adams, Jay Tufele
Justin Fields is practicing today but remains in the concussion protocol.
— Brian Costello (@BrianCoz) September 25, 2025
The 26-year-old reminded managers of his upside in Week 1 when he registered 29.5 fantasy points with a traditional dual-threat line. Fields threw for 218 yards and a touchdown in that one while tacking on an additional 48 rushing yards and two scores on the ground. He did struggle in Week 2 before exiting the game with a concussion, but it's hard to ignore that rushing floor.
The Bears won't play until Monday evening, giving Fields an extra day to clear concussion protocol. Pay attention to his practice status, but if he's active, he needs to start everywhere.
Should I Start Matthew Stafford for Fantasy Football?
Dart is the unknown, Fields is the boom-play guy, and Stafford is the safe play. He's thrown multiple TDs in two of the three contests this year, completing over 66% of his throws. Yet Stafford's fantasy points have been underwhelming this season, at 13 in Week 1, 11 in Week 2, and a paltry eight in Week 3. The 37-year-old has also faced challenging defenses, and it doesn't get easier in Week 4.
The 37-year-old benefits from tossing the ball to weapons Puka Nacua and Davante Adams. He gains a solid floor based purely on his star WRs, even when the offense isn't firing on all cylinders.
Nine's got his name all over the history books. pic.twitter.com/HNWZHyPHlR
— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) September 21, 2025
As referenced earlier, this week's contest with the Colts isn't ideal. Their pass defense has been lights out, giving up the fifth-fewest fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks. It'll be an uphill battle, but Stafford has a track record of getting the job done (even if getting the job done means 12 fantasy points).
In deeper leagues, Stafford is a decent QB2 option. The veteran doesn't provide rushing upside, but he'll get you passing volume. He's rostered in just 36% of Sleeper leagues, meaning he's out there for those in a pinch. In 1QB leagues, you're better off sitting the safe-but-unspectacular Stafford for someone with big-play ability.
Who Should I Start Tool
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Who Should I Start? Who Should I Sit? Some common Week 4 fantasy football lineup decisions are regarding players like Jaxson Dart, Justin Fields, and Matthew Stafford. But not to worry, we are here to help make these decisions and build winning lineups in Week 4. Set your optimal fantasy football lineups for Week 4 of the 2025 NFL season. Our free Who Should I Start? tool will help make your fantasy football lineup decisions. Compare up to four NFL players, and we tell you who to start... all free! Get your winning lineups set, and make the right decisions.
Week 4 Player Decisions. Today's focus is on specific players - Jaxson Dart, Justin Fields, and Matthew Stafford. These are some of the most common searches for fantasy football lineups in Week 4.
Using The Tool. This is a simple tool but very powerful. The first step is to enter the player names that you want to compare. In the first box, search for the first player's name. In the second box, search for the second player's name. Compare up to four NFL players at once, and then click the Who To Start? button to see who the recommended starts are based on weekly fantasy football matchups.
Improvements For Who Should I Start? You may have noticed, our Who Should I Start? tool has gotten an overhaul. We've added lots of great features for you to give you as much information as possible to win your fantasy football matchups each week. You'll see NFL player tiles with headshots and bye weeks, enhanced search results with data to compare, and a slick new interface. We hope you enjoy!
How It Works. Each week, our RotoBaller staff puts together their weekly fantasy football rankings and projections based on their research. That information is the core data that is powering the decision-making in this tool. When you search for player names, you will only see those players who are ranked. If someone is out for the week, they will not appear in the search results.
Scoring Formats. Fantasy football managers play in various types of leagues, and this tool allows you to choose whether it's PPR scoring, Half-PPR scoring, or Standard (Non-PPR) scoring. The second thing you want to do is to select the scoring format. There are three small radio buttons (small circles), so click on the scoring format you prefer. The results may vary based on the scoring format you select.
Popular Week 4 Searches. Curious to see some tough lineup decisions for Week 4 (2025)? Below you will find a list of some popular Who Should I Start? searches that RotoBaller readers are looking at this week. Click any of the links to see the result and recommendation.
Popular Week 4 Searches - Start/Sit Player Comparisons
Below are some popular Week 4 searches and comparisons from our 'Who To Start' tool for Jaxson Dart, Justin Fields, and Matthew Stafford compared to others:
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