Fantasy: Start, Sit, Stash, Quit - Week 4
SSSQ is a weekly look at the under-the-radar fantasy players you should consider starting and the potential busts you should leave on your bench. We also identify breakout candidates to stash on your roster and players you can safely cut. For the rest of your lineup decisions, consult our weekly rankings.
Start
Ben Roethlisberger, QB, Steelers
vs. Buccaneers
Fresh off surrendering 56 points to the Atlanta Falcons on national television, the 0-3 Tampa Bay Buccaneers travel to Pittsburgh to face a Steelers team that just thrashed one of the NFL's best defenses on the road in Carolina. You're obviously starting Antonio Brown and Le'Veon Bell this week - both are top-five players at their respective positions right now - but Roethlisberger, Heath Miller and Markus Wheaton are also well worth a start, especially considering how many teams are on a bye.
Fearless prediction: 286 yards passing, 2 TDs
Lamar Miller, RB, Dolphins
at Raiders (London)
Injuries to their linebacking corps have the Oakland Raiders staring down the prospect of starting Khalil Mack, Kaluka Maiava and Bojay Filimoeatu against the Miami Dolphins. That's ugly. The Dolphins are losing faith in quarterback Ryan Tannehill, so look for them to pound the ball on the ground all afternoon (or evening, technically, since this game is overseas). Miller is in line for a big day.
Fearless prediction: 96 yards rushing, 28 yards receiving, TD
Steve Smith, WR, Ravens
vs. Panthers
You can't sit Smith in a date with his old team. "Revenge" games typically produce inflated fantasy numbers, and there's no player in the league likely to play with more of an edge this weekend than Smith.
Fearless prediction: 111 yards receiving, TD
Antonio Gates, TE, Chargers
vs. Jaguars
Owners who grabbed Gates off waivers after his three-touchdown performance in Week 2 were disappointed by his one-catch, eight-yard follow-up last week against the Buffalo Bills. We'll probably never see another three-touchdown game from Gates, but look for him to be heavily involved in the San Diego Chargers' offense against the woeful Jacksonville Jaguars.
Fearless prediction: 65 yards receiving, TD
Sit
Cam Newton, QB, Panthers
at Ravens
Newton is clearly playing through some pain, and head coach Ron Rivera benched him late in the Carolina Panthers' Week 3 loss to protect him from further injury. The Baltimore Ravens will smell blood in the water and tee off on Newton. Jonathan Stewart is hurt and DeAngelo Williams is no longer a serious threat to defenses, so the Ravens will be able to drop back into coverage and nullify Kelvin Benjamin, the Panthers' best offensive weapon. A healthy Newton could exploit this with his legs, but it may be several more weeks before we see him rushing regularly.
Joique Bell, RB, Lions
at Jets
The New York Jets' defense is bad at a lot of things, but stuffing the run is not one of them. Through three weeks, the Jets have held every opposing rusher to 43 or fewer yards - and that's with elite RB1s Eddie Lacy and Matt Forte on the schedule. Both Bell and Reggie Bush will struggle to find running lanes, but Bell offers the least upside of the two because Bush can do some damage out of the slot.
Andre Johnson, WR, Texans
vs. Bills
Johnson hasn't scored a touchdown in 10 games, yet is still considered a WR1 in the fantasy community. Those days are behind him, thanks to a combination of age and horrific quarterback play in Houston. The Bills secondary looks like an enticing fantasy matchup, but Johnson deserves a place on your bench until he shows us something.
Jason Witten, TE, Cowboys
vs. Saints
Witten isn't among the top 25 tight ends in standard scoring through three weeks, and there isn't much reason to be optimistic he'll improve his standing. He's still getting targeted in the passing game, but he doesn't have the speed to do much with his targets. You're better off rolling with a young tight end with upside like Travis Kelce or Zach Ertz.
Stash
Marvin Jones, WR, Bengals
The Cincinnati Bengals are on a bye in Week 4 and Jones is tentatively expected to make his 2014 debut after that. He should immediately step into a starting job in a highly-efficient Bengals offense. Jones is a red-zone threat who often sees single coverage because defenses shade to A.J. Green's side of the field. Stash him now if you have a roster spot to spare - he'll be a popular waiver wire add next week.
Branden Oliver, RB, Chargers
Danny Woodhead is out for the season, Ryan Mathews is out for another month or so, and Donald Brown just rushed for a paltry 62 yards on 31 carries in his first game as the Chargers' feature back. UDFA Oliver will see some touches in relief of Brown and it's far from inconceivable that he'll soon pass the veteran on the depth chart.
Darrin Reaves, RB, Panthers
Another backfield decimated by injuries is in Carolina. Mike Tolbert has a fractured leg and Jonathan Stewart has a severe knee injury (believed to be an MCL tear). DeAngelo Williams is rounding back to full health, but he's 31 years old and no longer offers much in the way of explosion or shifty moves. Like Oliver in San Diego, UDFA Reaves could be the best option the team has by default.
Quit
Jonathan Stewart, RB, Panthers
Stewart teased fantasy owners when he scored multiple touchdowns in the preseason. He took things even further when Williams went down with an injury, leaving Stewart as the unquestioned starter on a Panthers team that appeared poised to pound the rock. Alas, things ended as they always do with Stewart, with the former first-round pick sitting on the bench with ice on a limb. The Panthers haven't been forthcoming about Stewart's newest ailment, but it seems to be an MCL injury and he should miss a month or longer. Cut bait.
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