FANTASY PLAYS: Keep eyes on Gordon, Baldwin, other injuries
Week 4 in fantasy football has us glued to injury reports again. We need to monitor the status of key players like Doug Baldwin and Melvin Gordon who are dealing with nagging injuries, and may not be healthy enough to put in starting lineups this week.
If you need to replace a player limited by injuries, or are just having a hard time deciding who to start this week, we've identified favorable matchups you should consider.
START 'EM
Quarterback
- Jared Goff, Los Angeles Rams at Dallas
Injuries have forced the Cowboys' shaky pass defense to rely on young, inexperienced alternatives. Goff has been flourishing under Rams head coach Sean McVay. He leads an offense that's scored the most points in the NFL, and has the weaponry that can take advantage of the Cowboys' defensive struggles.
- Trevor Siemian, Denver vs. Oakland
Siemian faces a Raiders secondary whose mediocrity was exposed by Washington's Week 3 performance of 365 passing yards and three TDs. The Broncos should be able to run the ball against the Raiders, which will likely create opportunities for their passing attack. Despite a lackluster Week 3 performance, Siemian has scored the ninth most fantasy points among quarterbacks this season. He should bounce back playing at home, where he's thrown 11 touchdowns and just four interceptions in his last five games.
Running back
- Christian McCaffrey, Carolina at New England
With TE Greg Olsen out for the season and Kelvin Benjamin nursing a knee injury, Panthers QB Cam Newton is running out of able-bodied receivers. McCaffrey is a pass catching specialist who excels in point-per-reception (PPR) scoring formats. Newton targeted him 11 times in Week 3 and McCaffrey responded with nine receptions and 101 receiving yards. He'll be highly targeted in Week 4 against the Patriots, who've allowed 253 receiving yards and two receiving touchdowns to running backs this season.
- Javorius "Buck" Allen, Baltimore vs. Pittsburgh
Allen leads the Ravens RBs in carries, and can also catch the ball out of the backfield. He faces a Steelers defense that's yielded the third most receptions (23) to RBs. The Steelers have given up the fifth most fantasy points per game (FPPG) and an average of 4.4 rushing yards per carry (YPC) to opposing RBs.
Wide receiver
- Golden Tate, Detroit at Minnesota
The Vikings have allowed the second most FPPG and the most receptions (49) and receiving yards (644) to WRs. Tate leads the Lions in receiving targets (27), receptions (21) and receiving yards (190).
- Sterling Shepard, New York Giants at Tampa Bay
Odell Beckham Jr. is clearly the Giants' No. 1 receiver, however Shepard already has 22 targets and 200 receiving yards through Week 3. Shepard is third in the league with six red zone targets this season, according to Pro Football Reference . The Buccaneers defense has been decimated by injuries, and has given up the most FPPG to wide receivers.
- Marqise Lee, Jacksonville at New York Jets
Despite the fact that the Jaguars are a run-first team, Lee will be one of QB Blake Bortles' most reliable targets. He has a favorable matchup against the Jets, who've given up five TDs to wide receivers.
Tight end
- Cameron Brate, Tampa Bay vs. New York Giants
The Giants have given up a touchdown to a tight end in each of their first three games this year, and the third most FPPG to TEs. Brate continues to be one of QB Jameis Winston's trusted receiving options.
- Jesse James, Pittsburgh at Baltimore
Jaguars TE Marcedes Lewis' three TD Week 3 performance against the Ravens came just one week after Baltimore surrendered 108 receiving yards and a TD to Browns tight ends. James has four red zone targets thus far this season.
SIT 'EM
Quarterback
- Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh at Baltimore
Roethlisberger's recent stat lines have been undeniably worse when he plays on the road. Last season his passer rating in home games was 116.87, while on the road it was 78.4, and in Chicago last week, the Bears held him to just 235 passing yards. Roethlisberger's Week 4 matchup has him facing the Ravens, who've yielded the fourth fewest FPPG to QBs this season.
Running back
- Ameer Abdullah, Detroit at Minnesota
Abdullah has rushed for just 3.5 YPC, and hasn't scored a TD this season. Coincidentally the Vikings have yet to allow a TD to an RB, and have held their opponents to an average of just over 62 rushing yards per game this season.
- Isaiah Crowell, Cleveland vs. Cincinnati
Crowell has rushed for just 2.9 YPC this season. His yards after contact has fallen from 3.2 last season, to just 1.6 in 2017. Bengals LB Vontaze Burfict, who's a run stuffer, will make his season debut in Week 4, which does not bode well for Crowell.
Wide receiver
- Amari Cooper, Oakland at Denver
In two career starts in Denver, Cooper has a total of four catches for 39 yards and just one TD. Cooper leads the league in dropped passes, and is the 51st best WR in both standard and PPR scoring formats, when total Fantasy points are taken into account.
Tight end
- Evan Engram, New York Giants at Tampa Bay
The Buccaneers are tied for having given up the second least FPPG to TEs this season. They held Kyle Rudolph to just one catch in Week 3, and have yet to surrender a TD to a tight end.
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This column was provided to The Associated Press by the Fantasy Sports Network, http://FNTSY.com