Fantasy Football Start 'Em, Sit 'Em: Week 4 Running Backs

Week 4 start 'em and sit 'em recommendations for the running back position from senior fantasy football expert Michael Fabiano.

Start 'Em & Sit 'Em is the ultimate weekly look at the NFL matchups and how they'll affect your fantasy football team. Fantasy superstars such as Patrick Mahomes and Alvin Kamara will not be featured in this column. All player matchups are based on a PPR scoring system.

Be sure to check out my Week 4 PPR rankings before finalizing any lineup decisions or if your league has special scoring rules, sign up for SI Fantasy+ for customized rankings. Members also get access to myself and our team of high-stakes winners all week long to answer your specific fantasy questions.

Week 4 Start 'Em, Sit 'Em
QUARTERBACKS | RUNNING BACKS | WIDE RECEIVERS | TIGHT ENDS | KICKERS | TEAM DEFENSES

MORE: Week 4 Rankings, Articles, Reports & Tools Hub

Week 4 Start 'Em: Running Backs 

Start of the Week

Kenyan Drake at Panthers

If at first you don’t succeed; try, try, try again! So, while Drake didn’t work out as the Week 3 Start of the Week, I’m going back to well in a plus matchup at Carolina. No team has allowed more fantasy points to running backs since last season, and only the Raiders have given up more points to the position in 2020. Backs have the most receptions (32) and have averaged the third-most scrimmage yards (188.3) when facing the Panthers less-than-ferocious defense. I love Drake this week.

Start ‘Em

James Robinson at Bengals

Robinson has been an absolute steal in drafts or off the waiver wire, averaging nearly 18 touches and over 20 fantasy points per game this season. He's in a great spot to continue that success in Week 4, as the Jaguars head to the Queen City to face the Bengals. Their defense has struggled against the run, allowing 155.3 rushing yards and the fifth-most fantasy points to enemy running backs. Cincinnati has also allowed the most rushing yards after first contact (280).

Darrell Henderson vs. Giants

It looks like we have some clarity in the Rams backfield, as Henderson has had 35 touches over the last two weeks. Malcolm Brown has just 18 touches in that time. Henderson has also just flat out looked great, averaging a stout 6.1 yards per rush while also averaging the 11th-most fantasy points (19.5) among backs in that time. He should continue to roll against the Giants, who have allowed a total of eight runs of 10-plus yards and the ninth-most fantasy points to enemy runners.

Devin Singletary at Raiders

Singletary had a nice outing last week with Zack Moss on the shelf, scoring 16.1 fantasy points while leading Buffalo's backfield in snaps (55) and touches (17). While his stock will depend on whether or not Moss can return, Singletary does have a nice matchup against Las Vegas. After three weeks, their run defense has allowed 133.3 rushing yards, six rushing touchdowns, and the most points to opposing running backs. Consider Singletary a viable No. 2 runner or flex starter.

Mike Davis vs. Cardinals

Davis looked good in his first game as the top back for the Panthers, playing 39 snaps while handling 21 touches and seeing nine targets. He now has a Christian McCaffrey-ish 17 targets in the last two games. Davis should keep on rolling this week, as he goes up against a Cardinals defense that’s allowed the third-most receiving yards and nearly 29 fantasy points per game to running backs. Also, Teddy Bridgewater ranks tied for sixth among quarterbacks in targeted runners.

More Starts

• David Johnson vs. Vikings
• Jerick McKinnon vs. Eagles
• Kareem Hunt at Cowboys

DFS Bargains

• Darrell Henderson vs. Giants (DraftKings: $5,800)
• Mike Davis vs. Cardinals (DraftKings: $5,700)
• David Johnson vs. Vikings (DraftKings: $5,600)

This is proving to be a wild fantasy season and it's no time to panic. Michael Fabiano and our team of high-stakes winners are here to help answer your waiver, trade and starting lineup questions in our Premium Football Chat. It's time to join the club! Become a member of SI Fantasy+ for as low as 34 cents a day!

Week 4 Sit 'Em: Running Backs

Sit of the Week

Mark Ingram at Football Team

Remember last season when Ingram was an absolute stud? Well, a lot has changed. The veteran finds himself smack dab in the middle of a three-headed backfield committee that’s seen him lose work to both J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards. While Ingram leads the trio in touches (28), he’s averaging 8.7 attempts and is sharing red-zone work with Dobbins. Washington’s defense hasn’t been great against backs, but it has allowed just 123.7 scrimmage yards a game to the position.

Sit ‘Em

Antonio Gibson vs. Ravens

As much as I’m a fan of Gibson, who has scored in each of his last two games, this week’s matchup against the Ravens is hard to ignore. This defense has been tough on enemy running backs dating back to last season, allowing an average of just 18.7 fantasy points per game to the position. Gibson still isn’t seeing a featured back’s snap totals (26 in Week 3) or touches (12 in Week 3) either, so green-lighting him this week is clearly difficult. At best, he'll be a risk-reward flex starter.

Joshua Kelley at Buccaneers

It seemed like the entire fantasy football community was in on Kelley last week, and for good reason. Unfortunately, the rookie was unable to exploit a great matchup against Carolina while Austin Ekeler dominated the touches. Kelley has a much tougher matchup ahead, as the Chargers head to Tampa Bay to face a Buccaneers defense that’s allowed the third-fewest rushing yards and just 2.8 yards per rush to opposing running backs this season. Keep him on the sidelines.

Sony Michel at Chiefs

Michel is coming off a solid performance, rushing for 117 yards in a win over the Raiders. Of course, a huge chunk of his yards came on two runs (38, 48 yards), and Michel still isn't seeing a ton of snaps or touches on a week-to-week basis. Rex Burkhead is the New England running back to start in fantasy until James White returns to the team. So while the Chiefs haven’t been “formidable” versus runners after three weeks, I see Michel as a simple case of chasing fantasy points.

Devonta Freeman at Rams

Freeman was a hot name off the waiver wire last week, and he was eased into the offense with 15 snaps and five touches. I'm not sure how much more work he'll see in Week 4, but a committee with Wayne Gallman and Dion Lewis remains possible. Game script can also be a big issue for Freeman and the Giants back this week, as their offense is a train wreck, and their defense is worse. For now, Freeman and his Big Apple backfield mates should be on the fantasy sidelines.

More Sits

• D’Andre Swift vs. Saints
• Myles Gaskin vs. Seahawks
• Nyheim Hines at Bears

DFS Fades

• Myles Gaskin vs. Seahawks (DraftKings: $5,000)
• Mark Ingram II at Football Team (DraftKings: $5,700)
• Leonard Fournette vs. Chargers (DraftKings: $5,600)

BETTOR'S DREAM: Up to $1,000 Sign Up Bonus at DraftKings Sportsbook

Michael Fabiano is an award-winning fantasy football analyst on Sports Illustrated and a member of the Fantasy Sports Writers Association (FSWA) Hall of Fame. You can follow Michael on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram for the latest news and analysis!

Join our all-new SI Fantasy+ Member Club!

Subscribe to SI Fantasy+ and you'll have our check-cashing, high-stakes experts on standby ready to answer all your questions! Head over to our Members-Only Football chat anytime, especially on Sunday morning, to submit those last-minute "who do I start" questions! Learn more about the SI Fantasy+ advantage.