Week 3 brought chaos, injuries, and a few surprise fantasy heroes, which means Week 4 of the 2025 NFL season presents a new set of critical lineup decisions. With international games, pivotal divisional matchups, and a handful of star players dealing with tough defenses or lingering injuries, setting your roster is trickier than ever.
Are you benching that underperforming veteran for a high-upside rookie? Is it time to fade a big name with a brutal matchup?
I’ve analyzed every game to give you the comprehensive start ’em, sit ’em analysis you need to dominate your league and secure a crucial victory this week.
Start ‘em
Quarterbacks
Justin Herbert (Los Angeles Chargers): He faces the New York Giants, who have been a favorable matchup for opposing quarterbacks, and the Chargers are expected to be in a pass-heavy game script.
Geno Smith (Las Vegas Raiders): Smith gets a high-upside matchup against the Chicago Bears’ defense, which ranks near the bottom of the league in passing yards and scoring allowed.
Brock Purdy (San Francisco 49ers): Returning from injury against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Purdy should benefit from the 49ers’ efficient offensive system and his elite supporting cast.
Bo Nix (Denver Broncos): The sophomore draws a favorable primetime matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals, whose pass defense ranks among the worst in the NFL.
Jordan Love (Green Bay Packers): Love has a promising outlook against a Dallas Cowboys defense that has been surprisingly generous to fantasy quarterbacks through the first three weeks.
Running Backs
Josh Jacobs (Green Bay Packers): He is set up for high volume and red zone opportunities against a mid-tier Dallas Cowboys run defense.
Omarion Hampton (Los Angeles Chargers): As the likely sole workhorse back, Hampton projects for high volume against a porous New York Giants run defense.
Ashton Jeanty (Las Vegas Raiders): Jeanty has a favorable matchup against a Chicago Bears defense that is struggling against the run, allowing way too many yards before contact per attempt.
Tony Pollard (Tennessee Titans): Pollard continues to command high volume and a significant snap share, which he will leverage against a Houston Texans defense allowing a high missed tackle rate.
Alvin Kamara (New Orleans Saints): He is a strong play against a Buffalo Bills run defense that has allowed the most rushing yards per game and a high explosive run rate.
Wide Receivers
Jakobi Meyers (Las Vegas Raiders): Meyers is poised for a target volume spike against the Chicago Bears’ defense, which allows a bunch of points per target to slot receivers.
Tetairoa McMillan (Carolina Panthers): McMillan is a strong perimeter play against a New England Patriots secondary that has been porous against outside wide receivers.
Drake London (Atlanta Falcons): London is a good start against a banged-up Washington Commanders defense that may spend a significant amount of time on the field.
Rome Odunze (Chicago Bears): The breakout receiver is positioned for another big outing against a Las Vegas Raiders defense that is allowing among the most fantasy points to the position.
Ladd McConkey (Los Angeles Chargers): McConkey is set to bounce back against a New York Giants defense that ranks near the bottom in EPA per dropback allowed.
Tight Ends
Jake Ferguson (Dallas Cowboys): With CeeDee Lamb expected to miss time, Ferguson’s target share should remain elite as the Cowboys’ primary safety blanket.
Tucker Kraft (Green Bay Packers): Kraft has ascended to an elite fantasy tight end rank and will look to continue his productive usage against the Dallas Cowboys.
Hunter Henry (New England Patriots): Henry is a strong start based on his consistently high target share and a plus matchup against a susceptible Carolina Panthers secondary.
Dalton Kincaid (Buffalo Bills): Kincaid, the Bills’ vital piece in the passing game, has a favorable draw against a New Orleans Saints defense with exploitable slot coverage.
T.J. Hockenson (Minnesota Vikings): Hockenson’s recent usage spike makes him a confident start against a Pittsburgh Steelers defense that has yielded points to tight ends.
Sit ‘em
Quarterbacks
Drake Maye (New England Patriots): Maye faces a surprisingly tough Carolina Panthers defense that has been a stingy unit against opposing passing attacks this season.
Dak Prescott (Dallas Cowboys): Prescott is missing key weapons like CeeDee Lamb and multiple offensive linemen, leading to limited upside against a Green Bay Packers defense that has been one of the league’s best against quarterbacks.
Jared Goff (Detroit Lions): Goff has a difficult matchup against a Browns defense that upset the Packers last week and can bring the pressure.
Daniel Jones (Indianapolis Colts): While the Colts offense has been improved, Jones faces a tough road matchup against an above-average Los Angeles Rams defense that has forced turnovers and created pressure.
Matthew Stafford (Los Angeles Rams): Stafford has yet to post a big fantasy game this season, and the Colts’ defense is playing well enough to keep this from becoming the high-scoring affair he needs.
Running Backs
Cam Skattebo (New York Giants): Despite projected volume, Skattebo is a sit against a Los Angeles Chargers defense that ranks in the top half of the league in fantasy points allowed to running backs and will look to control the Giants’ struggling offense.
Chuba Hubbard (Carolina Panthers): Hubbard has an inefficient rushing profile and an uncertain injury status (calf), making him a risky play against a New England Patriots defense that has been excellent against the run.
Javonte Williams (Dallas Cowboys): Williams faces a difficult matchup against a stingy Green Bay Packers run defense that has allowed the third-fewest rushing yards per game this season.
Quinshon Judkins (Cleveland Browns): The Browns’ offense is struggling to support Judkins’ rushing floor, and he is a sit against a Detroit Lions defense that is a top-five fantasy defense.
Jacory Croskey-Merritt (Washington Commanders): Croskey-Merritt is a risky start due to being questionable with a knee injury and an ugly timeshare situation.
Wide Receivers
George Pickens (Dallas Cowboys): Pickens is a combustible personality thrust into an alpha role due to CeeDee Lamb’s injury, a role he couldn’t handle in Pittsburgh and against a defense that is awfully tough.
Deebo Samuel (Washington Commanders): Despite high target volume, Samuel’s fantasy floor is limited by playing in a struggling Commanders offense against a solid Atlanta Falcons defense.
Brian Thomas Jr. (Jacksonville Jaguars): Thomas is a bench candidate due to a concerning lack of chemistry with Trevor Lawrence and facing the tough San Francisco 49ers defense.
Calvin Ridley (Tennessee Titans): Ridley has been inefficient with his targets in the Titans’ low-scoring offense and could be shadowed against the Houston Texans.
Chris Olave (New Orleans Saints): Olave’s volume has not translated into receiving yards, and he faces a difficult matchup on the road against the tough Buffalo Bills defense.
Tight Ends
Mark Andrews (Baltimore Ravens): Andrews faces a difficult matchup on the road against a Kansas City Chiefs defense that has limited tight end fantasy production.
Dallas Goedert (Philadelphia Eagles): Goedert is a touchdown-dependent play as his target share has been inconsistent in the Eagles’ offense, which is expected to lean on the run game against the Buccaneers.
Zach Ertz (Washington Commanders): Ertz’s fantasy floor is tied to a struggling Commanders offense that has a low implied total against the Atlanta Falcons.
Chig Okonkwo (Tennessee Titans): Despite high utilization, Okonkwo has a low average depth of target and has yet to see a red zone target, limiting his touchdown upside against the Houston Texans.
Juwan Johnson (New Orleans Saints): Johnson faces a difficult matchup against a top-tier Buffalo Bills defense that ranks highly in limiting fantasy production to the tight end position.
