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Week 4 Sits And Starts - Sorensen's Matchup Analysis

I hope your Week 4 starter wasn't Ryan Tannehill or Andy Dalton-- though neither one played absolutely horribly, neither played amazingly. Thankfully, none of the top QBs of this young season was on display in Thursday night’s showcase.

But this week, everyone's fear is now starting: bye weeks. Our first victims are the Philadelphia Eagles and Green Bay Packers. This means that Aaron Rodgers and rookie Carson Wentz are not available. Rodgers is coming off a four-TD game against the Detroit Lions. Wentz is coming off a dismantling of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Both turned in reasonable performances, and now they are forced to your bench.

So, who is left for you to start this week?

Be sure to check all of our fantasy football rankings for 2025:

*Remember: These columns do not include your every-week starters. For this week, players like Drew Brees, Cam Newton and Andrew Luck are not considered. This article goes deeper than that.

Editor's Note: Be sure to check out FantasyAces DFS contests for Week 4. New users that sign up on Fantasy Aces and make a $20 deposit will receive RotoBaller's full season NFL Premium Pass for free (including Premium DFS), normally a $59.99 value. Expert DFS research, sample lineups, matchup ratings and lots more!

 

Best Start Possible - Kirk Cousins v. CLE 

Three passing TDs along with 319 yards. Roughly 20 fantasy points. Yes, he threw two interceptions, but that was the production Miami Dolphins QB Ryan Tannehill put up against the Browns DEF last week. This week, Cleveland has to stop Cousins. While Cousins (989 passing yards, 3 TDs, 3 INTs) has not started as hot as he finished last season, he still has a strong arm and numerous weapons to throw to in the likes of Jordan Reed, Pierre Garcon, Desean Jackson and Jamison Crowder. Cleveland does not have the man power, or talent, to stop or slow down that many weapons. That mixed with the team’s struggling running attack means that Cousins should throw the ball over 40 times, once again.

*In 2012, Cousins’ only start against the Browns, he threw for 329 yards, two TDs and an INT, which would have been good for roughly 23 fantasy points.

 

Quality Start - Trevor Siemian @ TB 

Who is this guy? Does he have the talent to continue to win? After throwing only one TD in the first two games of the season, he goes off for FOUR TDs against the Bengals in Cincinnati. Now, he goes up against a Tampa Bay Defense that just surrendered 190 yards and two TDs to Case Keenum and Tavon Austin. St. Louis does not have the weapons on the outside like Denver does. Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders should feast on rookie DB Vernon Hargreaves and old-man Brent Grimes. Expect a great game from Siemian in his fourth career start.

 

Worst Possible Start - Ryan Fitzpatrick v. SEA 

This guy has to have the lowest confidence and self-esteem in the NFL going into Week 4. Against the Kansas City Chiefs, Fitzpatrick threw for the most interceptions in a game since Peyton Manning threw six against the San Diego Chargers in November 2007. Knowing that could shake anyone’s confidence. Looking to this week, Fitz-“Magic” has not shown much magic against the Seattle Seahawks in the past. In his two career games against the Seahawks, one with the Bills and one with the Titans, Fitz has averaged less than 200 yards passing to go with 0.5 TDs per game. This goes along with the two INTs he has thrown in each match. In both games, his team failed to produce more than 17 points.

 

Not a Good Start - Tyrod Taylor @ NE 

Taylor is currently 18th in fantasy points among QBs. Not the greatest, but with bye weeks in Week 4 for Aaron Rodgers and Carson Wents, some may consider Taylor as a fill-in. They think his running ability make him worthy of a start, kind of a poor-man’s Cam Newton. Please do not play Taylor this week. He is currently averaging roughly 175 passing yards per game and a TD. Yes, he has 112 rushing yards so far, but 49 of them came on one carry against the Cardinals. Even if the team is leading, like they did in their 33-18 win against Arizona, the team will hand the ball off to LeSean McCoy to milk the clock. If the team is forced to throw it, Taylor is without the team’s top weapon on the outside, Sammy Watkins. All signs point to a weak outing for Taylor.

Next week, we return to the best, deepest and currently, the most confusing position so far this season: running backs.

*Have a player or position question you would like me to talk about? Follow me on Twitter @JSorensen119 and let me know.




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REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Jusuf Nurkić

Jusuf Nurkic Out of Action Thursday
Terance Mann

Available Versus Utah
Kirill Marchenko

Returns From Four-Game Absence
De'Anthony Melton

to be Capped at 20 Minutes on Thursday
Carter Verhaeghe

Ready to Return Thursday
Scott Wedgewood

Skips Thursday's Game
Paolo Banchero

Upgraded to Questionable for Friday Night
Danila Yurov

Misses Second Straight Game
CFB

Billy Napier Finalizing Deal to Become James Madison's New Head Coach
Andrei Vasilevskiy

Unavailable Thursday
CFB

Buster Faulkner Set to Become Florida's New Offensive Coordinator
Dereck Lively II

to Seek "Multiple Opinions" on Right Foot Treatment
David Pastrnak

Still Out Thursday
Ryan McDonagh

Lightning Sign Ryan McDonagh to Three-Year Extension
Trayce Jackson-Davis

Set to Suit Up Thursday
Ja Morant

Considered Day-to-Day
Tee Higgins

Ready to Return After Full Practice?
Jimmy Butler III

Sidelined Thursday
Jayden Daniels

Practices in Full on Thursday
Jaylen Brown

Ruled Out Thursday Against the Wizards
Lamar Jackson

Expected to Play Against Steelers
Quentin Grimes

Is Ready to Return on Thursday
Deshaun Watson

Not Expected to Play This Year
Paul George

Will Not Play Against the Warriors
Joel Embiid

Upgraded to Questionable for Thursday
CFB

Joe Sloan Expected to be Kentucky's New Offensive Coordinator
Justin Herbert

Chargers "Really Optimistic" That Justin Herbert Will Play on Monday
Michael Porter Jr.

Will Not Play Thursday
CFB

Lane Kiffin Working to Keep Defensive Coordinator Blake Baker at LSU
Noa Essengue

Out for the Season
Mike Evans

has "Real Chance" to Return in Week 14
Giannis Antetokounmpo

Expected To Miss 2-4 Weeks
Amon-Ra St. Brown

Realistic Expectation is for Amon-Ra St. Brown to Return Next Week
Jalen Carter

Won't Play in Week 14 After Having Shoulder Surgeries
Justin Herbert

Expected to Practice Either Thursday or Friday
Mike Evans

Practicing Again Thursday
Jusuf Nurkić

Jusuf Nurkic Questionable With Rib Contusion
Marcus Smart

Sidelined Thursday Against Raptors
Los Angeles Clippers

Chris Paul Set To Part Ways With Clippers
CFB

Brian Daboll a Candidate for Penn State Head-Coaching Job?
Yves Missi

Sidelined vs. Wolves
Quentin Grimes

Uncertain To Play Against Golden State
Bilal Coulibaly

Likely Out Multiple Weeks With Oblique Strain
Karel Vejmelka

Records Impressive Shutout
JJ Peterka

Rocks Ducks With Four-Point Effort
Cole Caufield

Extends Point Streak With Power-Play Assist
Matvei Michkov

Delivers Two Assists Wednesday
Jake Oettinger

Grabs Fourth Consecutive Victory With Shutout
Ryan Leonard

Tallies Four Points in Wednesday's Win
Cam York

Exits Win Early
Kyren Williams

Expected to Play in Week 14
Davante Adams

Expected to Play Despite Missing Wednesday's Practice
Kyle Tucker

Visits With Blue Jays
Woody Marks

Texans Say Woody Marks Will be Fine
Rasmus Ristolainen

to Miss at Least One More Week
Drew Doughty

Logs Full Practice Wednesday
Emilio Pagán

Reds Bring Back Closer Emilio Pagan on Two-Year Deal
Jeff Skinner

Remains Sidelined Wednesday
Petr Mrazek

Out 2-3 Weeks
Tyler Seguin

Likely Done for the Season
Neal Pionk

Returns to Jets Lineup
J.J. McCarthy

Practices in Full, on Track to Return in Week 14
Cedric Mullins

Rays Agree on One-Year Deal
Mark Andrews

Agrees to Three-Year Extension With Ravens
Freddy Peralta

Brewers Considering Trading Freddy Peralta
Kyle Schwarber

Reds Serious About Adding Kyle Schwarber in Free Agency?
Amon-Ra St. Brown

Officially Questionable for Thursday Night
Omarion Hampton

"on Track and Looking Good" for Week 14
CFB

Brent Key Signing Five-Year Deal to Remain at Georgia Tech
Joey Bosa

Week-to-Week With Hamstring Injury
Bryce Young

Panthers Expected to Pick Up Bryce Young's Fifth-Year Option
Deshaun Watson

Browns Opening Practice Window for Deshaun Watson
CFB

Brian Hartline Expected to Land USF Head-Coaching Job
CFB

Collin Klein Expected to be Top Target for Kansas State if Head-Coach Job Opens
CFB

Chris Klieman Considering Stepping Down at Kansas State
Aaron Rodgers

Appears to be Healthier Heading into Week 14
Alexander Wennberg

a Game-Time Call Wednesday
CFB

D.J. Durkin Staying at Auburn Under Alex Golesh
CFB

Charlie Weis Jr. Permitted to Coach Ole Miss Offense in College Football Playoff
CFB

Five-Star Quarterback Jared Curtis Flips Commitment From Georgia to Vanderbilt
CFB

Florida Hiring Brad White as Defensive Coordinator
Kyle Schwarber

Giants Have Checked in on Kyle Schwarber
Willson Contreras

Willing to Waive his Full No-Trade Clause?
Edwin Díaz

Mets Still Interested in Re-Signing Edwin Diaz
Devin Williams

Agrees to Three-Year Deal With Mets
Cole Ragans

Red Sox Targeting Cole Ragans in a Trade?
CFB

Kentucky Hires Oregon Offensive Coordinator Will Stein As Head Coach
CFB

Kalani Sitake the Top Target for Penn State Coaching Job
CFB

Josh Heupel Says He's Not a Candidate for Penn State Head Coach Job
CFB

Will Stein, Brian Hartline the Top Candidates for Kentucky Job?
CFB

Nebraska Fires Defensive Coordinator John Butler After One Season
CFB

UCLA Expected to Hire Bob Chesney as Next Head Coach
CFB

Lane Kiffin to Make $13 Million Salary, Ties Kirby Smart
CFB

Buster Faulkner, Joey Halzle Candidates for Florida Offensive Coordinator Job?
Zack Wheeler

Likely to Return in May
Ryan Helsley

Agrees to Two-Year Deal With Orioles

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