By Week 3, the league’s weakest defenses have been established. The Dallas Cowboys, Cincinnati Bengals and Miami Dolphins have all had trouble stopping their opponents, so fantasy managers can use that knowledge when assessing their matchup-based streamers.
Fantasy managers have also learned some key surprising lessons during the early stages of the 2025 NFL season. The Indianapolis Colts have one of the league’s most efficient offenses, the Cleveland Browns defense has actually been effective at stopping the run and the Carolina Panthers have been tougher than expected against quarterbacks.
Will those trends hold up? It’s hard to say for sure, but as long as they do, fantasy managers will want to pay close attention to fantasy contributors in trickier-than-expected matchups.
What should fantasy football afficionados do at each lineup position heading into Week 4? USA TODAY Sports outlines 16 players to start or sit in your fantasy matchups this week.
Fantasy football players to start in Week 4
Quarterbacks
- Jordan Love, Green Bay Packers (at Dallas Cowboys)
The Cowboys have allowed the most fantasy points per game (FPPG) to opposing quarterbacks through three weeks. Love should be able to pass well on a team that has allowed a league-worst 900 passing yards to quarterbacks, so expect him to bounce back after a disappointing Week 3 showing against the Browns.
- Geno Smith, Las Vegas Raiders (vs. Chicago Bears)
The Bears are another leaky pass defense – they have surrendered a league-high eight passing touchdowns to quarterbacks – and Chicago remains without its top cornerback, Jaylon Johnson, because of a groin injury. That should create an opportunity for Smith to build upon the 289 passing yards and three touchdowns he logged in Week 3 against the Commanders.
Running backs
- J.K. Dobbins, Denver Broncos (vs. Cincinnati Bengals)
Dobbins has entrenched himself as the Broncos’ starter in front of RJ Harvey and has out-touched the rookie 45-18 through Week 3. That should position Dobbins to take advantage of a Bengals defense that Jordan Mason just gashed for 116 yards and two touchdowns on 16 carries.
- Nick Chubb, Houston Texans (vs. Tennessee Titans)
Chubb hasn’t found a lot of running room behind Houston’s shaky offensive line, but he should have a good chance to score in Week 4 against Tennessee. The Titans have allowed a league-high five rushing touchdowns to running backs while allowing the third-most points per game league-wide (31.3).
Wide receivers
- Tre Tucker, Las Vegas Raiders (vs. Chicago Bears)
Tucker is fresh off an eight-catch, 145-yard, three-touchdown outing against the Commanders. Now, he gets to face a Bears defense that has allowed the second-most FPPG to wide receivers this season. Tucker has been targeted 17 times by Smith over the last two weeks, so he should see the volume needed to emerge as a quality flex play.
- Keenan Allen, Los Angeles Chargers (at New York Giants)
Allen has been as steady as they come in his return to the Chargers, logging at least 61 yards and a touchdown in each of his three games thus far. Justin Herbert should continue to look his way often against a Giants defense that has surrendered the second-most passing yards to wide receivers (587) in 2025.
Tight end
- Kyle Pitts, Atlanta Falcons (vs. Washington Commanders)
Pitts has been a steady target for Michael Penix Jr. to open the season. He is averaging 6.3 targets per game and has posted at least four catches and 37 yards in each of Atlanta’s first three games. The Commanders have allowed the fourth-most yards to tight ends this season (213) so Pitts should be in for another solid showing.
Defense/special teams:
- Denver Broncos (vs. Cincinnati Bengals)
We all saw what the Minnesota Vikings did to the Joe Burrow-less Bengals in Week 3. The Broncos – who sport a pressure rate of 50.4%, good for second in the NFL – figure to get after Jake Browning frequently and force him into negative plays. That could allow them to rise to the ranks of a top-five defensive unit in Week 4.
Fantasy football players to sit in Week 4
Quarterbacks
- Drake Maye, New England Patriots (vs. Carolina Panthers)
The Panthers may seem like a good matchup, but they have allowed a league-low two total touchdowns to quarterbacks through three weeks. Maye might still be able to rack up some passing yards, but if any of New England’s running backs get going, they may eat into the quarterback’s overall production.
- Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals (vs. Seattle Seahawks)
The Seahawks have allowed the sixth-fewest FPPG to fantasy quarterbacks through three weeks. Murray has run for at least 32 yards in all three of his games, but he has only logged a single touchdown in back-to-back weeks. He remains a high-floor, low-ceiling option at quarterback, so it’s hard to trust him against a defense allowing just 15.7 points per game, second fewest in the NFL.
Running backs
- David Montgomery, Detroit Lions (vs. Cleveland Browns)
The Browns have been excellent against the run so far in 2025. They have allowed a league-low 127 rushing yards to running backs this season on an impressive 2.2 yards per carry average. That may prevent Montgomery, who is splitting carries with Jahmyr Gibbs and isn’t as elusive as his younger counterpart, from getting the yardage necessary to be anything more than a touchdown-dependent flex.
- Cam Skattebo, New York Giants (vs. Los Angeles Chargers)
The good news? Skattebo broke out on ‘Sunday Night Football’ in Week 3, racking up 121 total yards and a touchdown on 16 carries. The bad news? The talented rookie is set to play a Chargers defense that has allowed the third-fewest FPPG to running backs in Week 4.
Could Skattebo get the volume needed to emerge as a quality flex play or low-end RB2? Sure, especially with Tyrone Tracy Jr. out because of a separated shoulder. Still, it’s hard to trust the Giants’ shaky offense, so Skattebo comes with more risk than some of the week’s other flex-level talents.
Wide receivers
- Travis Hunter, Jacksonville Jaguars (at San Francisco 49ers)
Hunter has seen his target share decrease each week and was limited to just one catch for 21 yards last week. He hasn’t yet topped 33 receiving yards in a game this season, so it’s hard to recommend trusting him against a 49ers defense that has allowed the fifth-fewest FPPG to receivers this season.
- Stefon Diggs, New England Patriots (vs. Carolina Panthers)
Diggs had six catches for 57 yards in his Patriots debut but has racked up just seven catches for 55 yards in two games since. The Panthers have performed well against receivers this year while having more issues against tight ends and running backs. Maye might look more in the direction of Hunter Henry and TreVeyon Henderson as a result, making Diggs a questionable flex play at best.
Tight end
- Juwan Johnson, New Orleans Saints (at Buffalo Bills)
Johnson has been a revelation to start the season, but it’s hard to trust him against a Bills team that has allowed just five receptions to tight ends through three weeks. Add in that Spencer Rattler is making another tough road start and this may be a spot in which to fade Johnson, though he could be in line for some garbage-time opportunities.
Defense/special teams:
- Los Angeles Rams (vs. Indianapolis Colts)
The Colts are one of three NFL teams to not commit a turnover during the first three weeks of the season, along with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Buffalo Bills. That – plus Daniel Jones’ 2.69-second time to throw, eighth fastest among NFL quarterbacks – will prevent the Rams from making the big plays needed to be anything more than a middling stream.
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