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

Game Info

Kickoff: Sunday, September 29th at 4:05 pm EST

Location: L. A. Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, CA 

Betting Odds: LAR -10.5, 50.5 Total via Oddsshark

Network: FOX

Sleeper Spotlight: Ronald Jones

 

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

 

Quarterback:

• Jameis Winston (Sit)

 

Jameis Winston had a fantastic 25-point performance last week against the Giants but don’t get too excited just yet. The Giants have been making every quarterback they face look great. This week should be much tougher for Winston on the road going up against a defense that is only allowing 7.4 quarterback fantasy points per game so far this year. That stat alone should be enough to sit Jameis this week. I’ll be keeping an eye on him though, mainly because I’m starting to get concerned that Winston is having trouble targeting multiple receivers per game. Don’t expect much from him this week. If you need a quarterback there should be better options on the waiver wire. 

 

Running Backs:

• Peyton Barber (Sit)
• Ronald Jones (Sit)
• Dare Ogunbowale (Sit, Drop)

 

I was tasked with watching the Buccaneers game last week so I saw every snap. All I can say with confidence is that I have no idea what is going on in this backfield. It looked like Peyton Barber was the go-to guy last week but then Ronald Jones kept getting more and more snaps later in the second half. To make things even more confusing, offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich gave Jones six straight carries on one drive, then put Barber on the field as soon as the Buccaneers made it to the red zone. Yes, Jones had the better stat line, but that was mainly due to his one huge catch-and-run where the defensive scheme was set far back to prevent a big touchdown play before the half. The play itself was a bit flukey. I’m sitting this fantasy headache for now, especially against a solid Rams defense. Dare Ogunbowale is still only used in a few passing situations per game. He’s droppable in all leagues. 

 

Wide Receivers/ Tight Ends:

• Mike Evans (Start, WR2)
• Chris Godwin (Start, WR2)
• O.J. Howard (Sit if you have better options, TE2)
• Cameron Brate (Sit)
• Breshad Perriman (Sit, Drop)

 

It was comforting to see Mike Evans finally get some elite wide receiver production last week but I wouldn’t expect much this week against a Rams team that is top-four in pass defense so far this year. That being said, Evans is a second-round talent and you likely don’t have better options with higher upside. Evans is still the big-play guy on the Buccaneers and Winston could launch one to him at any time. Chris Godwin had a quiet Week 3 after he had great performances in his first two weeks. He’s still a great fantasy option but I’m beginning to wonder how well this offense can spread the ball around. The Buccaneers receivers have been inconsistent this year. I want to see Jameis giving multiple receivers a healthy stat line. That’s partly why I have Godwin and Evans both listed as WR2 this week. Given what we’ve seen so far, it’s likely only one of them produces this week.

 

O.J. Howard had a much better game last week against the Giants. He finally got some targets and it seemed like Jameis was looking his way often. I think Howard should bounce back eventually but I’m not sure this is the week for it to happen. At best, I think he will become pretty touchdown-dependent this year. Howard would have put up a respectable 15 points had he come down with his target in the end zone. Last week was encouraging but it’s still got to be hard putting your faith in Howard this week against a Rams defense that’s currently top-10 against tight ends this year. Cameron Brate and Breshad Perriman are both barely getting any targets and are unlikely to become fantasy relevant this year.

 

Los Angeles Rams

 

Quarterback:

• Jared Goff (Sit, QB2)

 

Jared Goff is rarely a sexy fantasy option. There, I said it. Usually, stuff like this is a no-brainer. A good quarterback on a good team usually is a consistent fantasy option, but that’s just not the way Goff and the Rams play ball. He gets the football to his guys in open space and lets them make the play. Goff is never going to be a Mahomes-type player that chucks the ball for 300 yards in the first half. He can be a good start if you can settle for his floor and don’t have better options, but he isn’t going single-handedly win you many weeks. Goff struggles the most when defenses bring the pressure early and often, something the Buccaneers have done often this year (the Panthers game comes to mind). Do I think the Bucs front four will completely shut down Goff? Hell no, but I do think the Buccaneers can bring some pressure and force Goff to make some silly mistakes, limiting his upside. 

 

Running Backs:

• Todd Gurley II (Start, RB2)
• Malcolm Brown (Sit)

 

Todd Gurley owners: What do you do on Sunday morning? I’m legitimately curious. Do you smash your head against the wall? Turn to drink? Because Todd Gurley would have already cost me a liver transplant if he was on my team. I mean, where do I start? People drafted him in the first round so they likely need to start him, but his usage has been bizarre. Sure, many didn’t expect Gurley to be the workhorse he was last year, but just four receptions over the first three games of the season is not a good sign at all. Ram’s running backs have seen 7.7% of the team’s targets this year, and no other team is below 10%. Gurley’s four points last week is pathetic for a first-round pick. You likely need to start him but I wouldn’t get very excited for this week. The Buccaneers’ defense has been surprisingly good against the run. They are top-six so far this year. Malcolm Brown is getting less and less work. He’s looking like a possible high-upside stash if Gurley goes down but it doesn’t seem like he will be startable unless that happens. 

 

Wide Receivers/ Tight Ends:

• Brandin Cooks (Start, WR2)
• Cooper Kupp (Start, WR1)
• Robert Woods (Sit, FLEX at best)
• Gerald Everett (Sit)

 

I’m liking Brandin Cooks more and more with each week. His targets have been trending upwards and he should be a viable week-to-week player if his production stays the same. I’m still kicking myself for missing out on Cooper Kupp this year, who’s leading the Rams’ receivers in catches, targets, and yards. It seems like he’s bouncing back just fine after his season-ending knee injury last year. I’m expecting good things from Kupp going up against a middling Buccaneers secondary. 

 

Hopefully, Robert Woods can get more involved this week. His targets haven’t been very impressive the past two weeks and I’m beginning to wonder if he is officially the third option in the Rams’ passing attack. Woods usually gets a carry or two which can help his stats a bit, but it’s tough to put him into your lineup hoping for one of his “boom” performances. Unfortunately, Gerald Everett isn’t getting enough work to warrant any fantasy attention.

-Ryan Kruse (@ryanpkruse)