Injury hits just keep on coming for fantasy football managers during the 2026 NFL season.
In Week 2, several prominent quarterbacks went down with significant injuries, including one that knocked New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart out for the season. Week 3 saw several prominent running backs get hurt, with De'Von Achane suffering a season-ending ACL tear
while Breece Hall and Travis Etienne Jr. are also battling maladies that could sideline them.That will force fantasy football managers to rely on their depth as they look to make difficult start 'em, sit 'em decisions in Week 4.
The good news? With three weeks of data under their belts, fantasy managers will have a better idea of which matchups are the best for streaming options.
Who can
you start and sit in fantasy football for Week 4 of the 2026 NFL season? USA TODAY Sports outlines eight players to start and eight to sit:
Fantasy football players to start in Week 4
Quarterbacks
- Kyler Murray, Minnesota Vikings (vs. Miami Dolphins)
Murray is still getting his feet wet with the Vikings, but he gets a favorable matchup in Week 4. The Dolphins have allowed an average of 231 passing yards per game and eight total touchdowns to the position. Kevin O'Connell may view this as an opportunity to work out the kinks in Minnesota's Murray-led passing attack, which could lead the 29-year-old to have his first multi-touchdown day of the season.
- Marcus Mariota, Washington Commanders (vs. Indianapolis Colts)
There's a non-zero chance Jayden Daniels (elbow) is able to suit up for Week 4. However, if he can't, Mariota will be a great play against a Colts team allowing the fifth-most fantasy points per game (FPPG) to quarterbacks. Mariota just threw for 183 yards and three touchdowns against a loaded Seahawks defense, so he should be well positioned to expose a weaker Indianapolis stop unit.
Running backs
- Braelon Allen, New York Jets (at Chicago Bears)
Breece Hall is dealing with a thigh injury so his status for Week 4 is murky. If Hall misses time, Allen would slot into New York's lead-back role and would get a chance to face a Bears defense allowing 117 rushing yards per game. That, plus Allen's likely role as a goal-line hammer, will give him RB2 upside.
- J.K. Dobbins, Denver Broncos (at San Francisco 49ers)
Dobbins is averaging just 3.5 yards per carry but is facing a 49ers defense dealing with countless injuries to its defensive line. The 49ers just allowed Jeremiyah Love to rack up 109 scrimmage yards and a touchdown against them, so Dobbins could be in line for a solid day if he continues to get a high-volume of touches in Denver's offense.
Wide receivers
- Jordan Addison, Minnesota Vikings (vs. Miami Dolphins)
Justin Jefferson is dealing with an ankle injury and may not play in Week 4 because of it. That will open the door for Addison to serve as Minnesota's No. 1 receiver in a favorable matchup with the Dolphins. Fire him up as a clear-cut WR2 who could emerge as a top-15 play this week.
- Keenan Allen, Indianapolis Colts (vs. Washington Commanders)
Allen established himself as the Colts' clear-cut No. 2 receiver with Alec Pierce out of the lineup by catching 6 of 9 targets against the Texans for 63 yards and a touchdown. Next up for the 34-year-old will be a Week 4 date with a Commanders defense that has allowed the most FPPG to receivers this season. Allen should emerge as a quality flex play in that matchup.
Tight end
- Kyle Pitts, Atlanta Falcons (at New Orleans Saints)
This is Pitts' last stand, at least for fantasy purposes. He only has two catches for 20 yards across his first three games but he should do better against a Saints defense that has allowed 25 receptions to tight ends this season, second-most in the league. If he can't deliver in this matchup, it will be safe to drop him, in all likelihood.
Defense/special teams
- Seattle Seahawks (vs. Los Angeles Chargers)
Don't be scared off by the Seahawks' lackluster showing against Mariota and the Commanders. Mike Macdonald's stop unit is still strong and is in a favorable matchup against a struggling Chargers offense. Justin Herbert has been sacked multiple times in all three games this season and has tossed at least one interception each time out, giving Seattle's defense a high floor playing at home.
Fantasy football players to sit in Week 4
Quarterbacks
- Kirk Cousins, Las Vegas Raiders (vs. Kansas City Chiefs)
Cousins has thrown three touchdowns in each of his first three games with the Raiders. Fantasy managers hoping to see him post similar production against the Chiefs may be disappointed, as Kansas City has allowed the fewest FPPG to opposing quarterbacks this season, and just two total passing touchdowns across three games.
- Jared Goff, Detroit Lions (at Carolina Panthers)
The Lions have an explosive, high-scoring offense, but their matchup with the Panthers looks more favorable for Jahmyr Gibbs than it does Goff. The Panthers are allowing just 172.3 passing yards per game, sixth-fewest in the NFL, while their 193.3 rushing yards per game surrendered ranks dead-last. Goff could still post low-end QB1 numbers, but his upside is capped.
Running backs
- Ollie Gordon II, Miami Dolphins (at Minnesota Vikings)
Gordon may be in line to take a lion's share of the Dolphins' running back snaps after Achane's season-ending ACL tear, but his matchup against the Vikings is a tough one. Brian Flores' blitz-happy defense has allowed the fourth-fewest FPPG to running backs this season and just 3.5 yards per carry, which should give it a unit a chance to significantly slow a shaky Dolphins offense.
- Alvin Kamara, New Orleans Saints (vs. Atlanta Falcons)
Kamara may see a larger role as Travis Etienne deals with a hamstring injury, but the veteran is facing a Falcons defense that has allowed the fewest FPPG to running backs this season. Kamara will also be splitting touches with Kendre Miller and, potentially, CJ Donaldson on the goal line, so it's best to see how New Orleans' rotation looks before blindly putting faith in Kamara to produce.
Wide receivers
- Emeka Egbuka, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (vs. Green Bay Packers)
Egbuka has been a steady fantasy contributor this season, but he hasn't emerged as the top-tier weapon many who selected him early were hoping. Now, he will be tasked with remaining productive as undrafted rookie Jalon Daniels draws into the lineup to replace Baker Mayfield. Daniels could perform well, but it's probably better to wait and see what he can do before starting Egbuka.
- Jameson Williams, Detroit Lions (at Carolina Panthers)
Williams hasn't yet logged more than four catches or 49 yards in a game this season. That seems unlikely to change against a Panthers team that is allowing the second-fewest FPPG to receivers, especially since Carolina's defense will incentivize a run-heavy game plan for Detroit.
Tight end
- Mark Andrews, Baltimore Ravens (vs. Tennessee Titans)
Andrews has been reasonably productive to start the season, but he hasn't yet found the end-zone. That seems unlikely to change against a Titans defense that has surrendered just 48 yards and no touchdowns to tight ends thus far in 2026.
Defense/special teams
- Houston Texans (vs. Dallas Cowboys)
The Texans haven't yet lived up to the hype defensively, as they are surrendering a middle-of-the-pack 25 points per game this season while creating just three takeaways. Houston's sack floor is solid, but in what could be a shootout against a great Dallas offense, it's hard to recommend trusting the Texans as an upper-echelon play.
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Fantasy football Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em: 16 players to start or sit in Week 4
