Sit/Start Week 4: Reviewing All Fantasy Relevant Players In Every Single Game

Game Info

Kickoff: Sunday, October 2nd, 1:00 PM ET

Location: Metlife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ

Betting Odds: NY -3, 39.5 total via PFF.com

Network: FOX

Writer: Chuck Steele (ChuckSteele_T2T on Twitter)

Chicago Bears

Quarterbacks

Justin Fields (Sit)

Justin Fields entered this season expecting to take the next step for the Chicago Bears and be able to lead fantasy teams into the playoffs with confidence. Sporting a 2-1 record you’d think he’s done that, right? Think again. This season, Fields started out meh in a washed-out game, and it has only gotten worse since. Fields has only thrown 45 passing attempts for 297 yards in the Bears’ first three games this year, averaging out to only 15 attempts and 99 yards per game. It’s Fields’ rushing upside that brings his real fantasy value, and even that has yet to take off for the Bears, with him averaging only 31.6 yards per game. Going into Week 4, Fields will put the Bears’ 2-1 record up against the 2-1 Giants, who come ranked 12th in fantasy points allowed per game, ranking 14th in points to the quarterback position. It’s going to be hard for Fields to find any sort of passing success in this game. With how little the team has been throwing and in a game where defenses look to take control, Justin Fields should stay on the fantasy bench this Sunday against the New York Giants defense.

Running Backs

David Montgomery (Sit/Injured), Khalil Herbert (Start, RB1/RB2)

David Montgomery suffered an injury to his right knee/ankle last Sunday. As we still wait for the verdict of Montgomery’s injury extent, one thing is for sure: He belongs on the fantasy bench. I can’t imagine he’s active this week, with talks around town being that this may be a multi-week absence for the starting back. Even if he manages to suit up, with having such a proven successful backup in Khalil Herbert who just went off for 157 yards and two scores on 20 carries, it’s hard to imagine the staff giving Montgomery the bulk of the touches. Speaking of Herbert, fire him up in your lineups. The Giants may perform well overall as a defense, but have given up an average of 20.93 points per game to opposing running backs, the sixth most allowed this year. In a game where the Bears will more than likely stick to their recent game plan of pounding the rock, Khalil Herbert should be able to find success in this one, especially if the Giants are once again without their run-stuffing defensive linemen Leonard Williams.

Wide Receivers/ Tight Ends

Darnell Mooney (Sit), Equanimeous St. Brown (Sit),  Cole Kmet (Sit) 

Let’s just say this here, all of the Bears’ wide receivers are must-sits. Darnell Mooney came into this season looking to be the main guy for Chicago’s receiving corps, only to be the main guy from said corps to let us down. He leads the team in targets, but has only brought in four receptions for far on the year for 27 yards. Equanimeous St. Brown is the one leading the yardage category for the team, however, but his 77 yards in three games doesn’t even deserve thought for your roster, let alone a lineup. Being the team that has thrown the least amount in the league results in the wide receivers who produce the least, and going up against the 6th best defense in points allowed to wideouts, you steer clear of any Chicago wideouts, especially with tight ends like Cole Kmet averaging less than one reception per game.

New York Giants

Quarterbacks

Daniel Jones (Sit/QB2)

Daniel Jones is always a roll of the dice with his wide range of outcomes in performance, but for this week, he is a sit candidate with an upside of QB2 for the week. Danny Dimes faces a Chicago defense that on average allows only 12.04 points per game to the opposing quarterbacks. In the past two games, Jones has thrown over 30 attempts in each game and has failed to record over 200 yards in either game and only coming away with one touchdown. Losing Sterling Shepard and having their big-money wide receiver Kenny Golladay not living up to even a quarter of his expectations puts a burden on Jones moving forward. Jones will be dependent on his rushing yards, and with a lack of production from the wideouts and the latest injury to Shepard, you might see an uptick in rushes from Jones, but nothing on the level of our elite scrambling quarterbacks. Saquon Barkley has been the only bright spot on this offense, and until someone steps up for the offense, that might be the only light for Giants.

Running Backs

Saquon Barkley (Start, RB1)

To the delight of Giants fans and anyone who may have got a discount on Saquon Barkley in the draft, it’s safe to say the former second overall pick is back to form. Barkley is THE RB1 on the year so far, notching 22.6 points per game. He gets a juicy matchup against the Bears who have given up the eight-most points to fantasy running backs at an average of 20.63 per game. In times where the Giants lack consistent wideout production, they not only lean on Barkley on the ground who has a total of 317 rushing yards in three games but also through the air. Getting a target share that comes second in the team with active players with 20%, at 5 targets per contest, with a catch rate of 81%. With the ability to take it to the house from anywhere on the field, at any point in the game, set Barkley into your starting lineups, and don’t look back.

Wide Receivers/ Tight Ends

Kadarius Toney (Sit), Kenny Golladay (Sit), Richie James (Flex), Daniel Bellinger(Sit), Wan’Dale Robinson (Sit) Sterling Shepard(Injured)

The Giants wideouts were a group that in the offseason people were excited for. The exciting, year-two jump people expected for Kadarius Toney has come down and so far seems to be shattering lineups. The inability to get on the field, or even stay healthy when he does, has been a concern. At risk to miss another game in Week 4, Toney can stay seated on the bench. Kenny Golladay called for some more involvement and when Danny Dimes went to answer him, Golladay dropped the call. He has disappeared since signing with the Giants in 2021. Since joining the team, he has only scored points worthy of a Flex spot six times out of the 17 games he suited up for the Giants. That’s not what you want to see when you are brought in to lead as a true WR1. Golladay is a sit this week. Richie James is now the leader in target shares for the Giants since losing Sterling Shepard for the season on a non-contact play. Even when Shepard was active, James was looked at with consistency by Daniel Jones, getting 14 targets in three games so far for the G-Men. The loss of Shepard should only help increase his target share of 21.8%. Having three Flex-worthy weeks so far in the year, I expect that trend to continue being Daniel Jones’s most sought-after target. Consider James a Flex option this week versus Chicago.  Rookie second round pick Wan’Dale Robinson missed the last two games, and did not practice Wednesday afternoon. The outlook for Sunday is not looking good, however on the chance he suits up, Robinson should be benched until he comes out and shows his role in this Giants passing game.