This article is part of our Start vs. Sit series.
CFF Start vs. Sit: Players to Start, Players to Bench for Week 4
We're a few weeks into the college football season now. Have we learned some things? Sure. For example, assuming Anthony Richardson was the next big thing in college football based on one game was a bit extreme. Those of us who like a little more data were perhaps not as quick to react, but the reality of college football is that the data on hand is never as much as we would like. Still, if you look at the numbers, assess the matchups, and wrap your head around a given week of college football, you can still find fantasy glory. Here are my recommendations for players to start, and to sit, for Week 4.
AAC Starts and Sits
START
Holton Ahlers, QB, East Carolina vs. Navy
Ahlers has had issues with interceptions in the past, and he did open the year with two picks. However, in his last two games he's avoided turnovers, and now he has seven passing touchdowns through three contests. Navy, meanwhile, is looking absolutely brutal this year. The Midshipmen are last in passing yards allowed per game.
SIT
Steven Anderson, RB, Tulsa at Mississippi
Anderson was given the opportunity to be the lead back for Tulsa, and he has four touchdowns through three games. However, he's also average 3.7 yards per carry, and four touchdowns is already a career-high for Anderson. Ole Miss has been crushing it defensively, ranking in the
CFF Start vs. Sit: Players to Start, Players to Bench for Week 4
We're a few weeks into the college football season now. Have we learned some things? Sure. For example, assuming Anthony Richardson was the next big thing in college football based on one game was a bit extreme. Those of us who like a little more data were perhaps not as quick to react, but the reality of college football is that the data on hand is never as much as we would like. Still, if you look at the numbers, assess the matchups, and wrap your head around a given week of college football, you can still find fantasy glory. Here are my recommendations for players to start, and to sit, for Week 4.
AAC Starts and Sits
START
Holton Ahlers, QB, East Carolina vs. Navy
Ahlers has had issues with interceptions in the past, and he did open the year with two picks. However, in his last two games he's avoided turnovers, and now he has seven passing touchdowns through three contests. Navy, meanwhile, is looking absolutely brutal this year. The Midshipmen are last in passing yards allowed per game.
SIT
Steven Anderson, RB, Tulsa at Mississippi
Anderson was given the opportunity to be the lead back for Tulsa, and he has four touchdowns through three games. However, he's also average 3.7 yards per carry, and four touchdowns is already a career-high for Anderson. Ole Miss has been crushing it defensively, ranking in the top seven in both points and rushing yards allowed per game (and 11th in defensive SP+).
ACC Starts and Sits
START
Demie Sumo-Karngbaye, RB, NC State vs. UConn
DSK and Jordan Houston are both getting their touches, but Sumo-Karngbaye is coming off a game that turned heads. He had a touchdown on the ground and through the air. Mostly, though, this is about a matchup with UConn. Blake Corum just rushed for five touchdowns against the Huskies, who remain one of the worst teams in the FBS. There's room for multiple backs to rack up stats in this matchup for NC State.
SIT
Sam Hartman, QB, Wake Forest vs. Clemson
Last year Hartman put up impressive numbers, but there is one game that sticks out like a sore thumb. That day, he only had one touchdown, one pick, and rushed for minus-37 yards with a lost fumble. That game? It was against Clemson. The Tigers lost their defensive coordinator and some talent, but the defense is still formidable and that's enough for me to be concerned about Hartman in Week 4.
Big 12 Starts and Sits
START
Jalon Daniels, QB, Kansas vs. Duke
In this battle of unexpected 3-0 teams, Daniels is the clear star. He's has thrown for seven touchdowns against one interception and has also rushed for 237 yards and three scores. Duke shut out Temple in its first game, but in its second game it allowed 23 points to a Northwestern team that just lost to an FCS squad and 20 points to North Carolina A&T.
SIT
Deuce Vaughn, RB, Kansas State at Oklahoma
Even keeping Vaughn in check is a relative term. Last week, he rushed for 81 yards on 20 carries and had eight catches for 30 yards. The Sooners are now coached by the aforementioned Venables and has allowed only 10 points and 118.3 rushing yards per contest.
Big Ten Starts and Sits
START
Nicholas Singleton, RB, Penn State vs. Central Michigan
Singleton is everything that was promised. The true freshman has averaged a staggering 11.2 yards per attempt and scored four touchdowns. Imagine if he gets more than 10 carries in a game finally! Central Michigan has allowed 48.0 points per game against FBS teams. Penn State is getting wise to Singleton's skills, and he should get more and more opportunities.
SIT
Rakim Jarrett, WR, Maryland at Michigan
Last season, Jarrett had 62 catches for 829 yards and five touchdowns, and he started this year with six catches for 110 yards. However, over the last two weeks he has five catches for 86 yards. Michigan is currently ranked third in passing yards allowed per game, and it has also allowed a mere 5.7 points per contest.
Conference USA Starts and Sits
START
Daewood Davis, WR, Western Kentucky vs. FIU
The shifts in the Western Kentucky passing game have fallen in favor of Davis. He's been targeted 25 times through three games and has racked up 16 catches for 279 yards and two touchdowns. Florida International is last in SP+. Not just defensively, but altogether. The crew at FIU is by all accounts a brutal squad with a porous defense.
SIT
Frank Peasant, RB, MTSU at Miami (FL)
Peasant came out of nowhere to tally 215 rushing yards and five touchdowns over his last two games. I say he came out of nowhere, though, because last season he had all of 79 carries for 303 yards and three touchdowns. I don't think Peasant can keep this up. Miami, meanwhile, may have lost to Texas A&M, but it was not because of its defense. The Hurricanes rank ninth in rushing yards allowed per game.
MAC Starts and Sits
START
Carson Steele, RB, Ball State at Georgia Southern
After a tough opener at Tennessee, Steele has been tearing it up. Over the last two weeks he has 51 carries for 298 yards with a touchdown in each game. Clay Helton's Georgia Southern squad may have gotten Scott Frost fired, but against FBS opponents its allowed 272.5 rushing yards per contest.
SIT
Marquez Cooper, RB, Kent State at Georgia
Cooper is probably dying to get to the conference schedule. This matchup with Georgia finishes off a non-conference slate that included road trips to Washington and Oklahoma as well. Until further notice, the Bulldogs are an "Abandon all hope, ye who enter here" matchup that you should avoid at all costs.
Mountain West Starts and Sits
START
Dedrick Parson, RB, Hawaii at NMSU
It's a bleak time for Hawaii, but Parson is at least finding the end zone. He's rushed for four touchdowns thus far, and last season he totaled nine touchdowns. NMSU is one of the only teams on Hawaii's level in terms of a lack of quality. The Aggies have allowed 219.3 rushing yards per game versus FBS teams and ranks 116th defensively in SP+.
SIT
Geordon Porter, WR, New Mexico at LSU
Porter, an Arizona State transfer, got some attention for tallying a touchdown in each of his first two games as a Lobo. Then, last week, he had a mere two catches for 13 yards against UTEP. Which will be more indicative of his future? I don't know, but I do know I don't trust a New Mexico receiver on the road in Death Valley.
Pac-12 Starts and Sits
START
Keegan Jones, RB, UCLA at Colorado
Zach Charbonnet is the lead back for the Bruins, but he's ranked too highly for recommending him to be all that illuminating. However, Jones is getting his touches, to the point of nearly being at a tandem level with the Michigan transfer. Jones has 140 yards and a touchdown on the ground, but also six catches for 87 yards and a score through the air. The thing is, Colorado may be the worst Power Five team. The Buffaloes are also last in rushing yards allowed per game.
SIT
Elijhah Badger, WR, Arizona State vs. Utah
Herm Edwards is gone, but you can't always expect a team to get some oomph from a coach firing. Look no further than Nebraska for that. Badger has been a ton target for the Sun Devils, notching 17 catches for 217 yards and a touchdown. Utah is seventh in passing yards allowed per game, decidedly tougher than, say, Northern Arizona or Eastern Michigan.
SEC Starts and Sits
START
MarShawn Lloyd, RB, South Carolina vs. Charlotte
Maybe Lloyd is the way forward for South Carolina's offense, as Spencer Rattler clearly is not. Lloyd only has 75 yards rushing, but with two touchdowns. It's important to note the tough early schedule with games against Arkansas and Georgia in that sample. Lloyd also has 10 catches for 107 yards and a score. Charlotte is 118th in rushing yards allowed per game and 124th in passing yards given up per contest, giving a chance for Lloyd to do damage on the ground and through the air.
SIT
KJ Jefferson, QB, Arkansas at Texas A&M
The defense for the Aggies has not been the issue. They rank third in defensive SP+. They have allowed all of 23 points through three games. Jimbo Fisher may have questions about his offense, but his defense is locked in. That doesn't bode well for Jefferson.
Sun Belt Starts and Sits
START
Ali Jennings, WR, Old Dominion vs. Arkansas State
The Monarchs are in their first season in the Sun Belt, and Jennings is helping to carry the offense in the move. He has 20 catches for 419 yards and four touchdowns, and also 32 targets. Through three games, that's robust production. Arkansas State was last in rushing yards allowed per contest last season, but this year it has decided to change things up. The Red Wolves have allowed 365.0 passing yards per game.
SIT
Camerun Peoples, RB, Appalachian State vs. James Madison
Peoples has gotten a chance to carry the run game with Nate Noel out. It's possible Noel will return from his ankle injury, but even if not, I'm not sure about this matchup. James Madison is new to the FBS, but so far its defense has been stellar. Let's see if it can keep that going.
