Week 4 of the NFL fantasy football season is here, and several highly drafted rookies are finally starting to show why they generated so much hype.
But as some rookies earn bigger roles in fantasy lineups, others are trending in the wrong direction. This week's NFL Fantasy Football Rookie Start ’Em, Sit ’Em breaks down which rookies belong in your lineup, who should head to the bench and one former top-five pick who may finally be ready to break out.
NFL fantasy football rookie starts for Week 4
Start ’Em: Jeremiyah Love
The matchup: This week, the Arizona Cardinals are facing the depleted New York Giants. New York will be without star defensive end Brian Burns, who suffered a torn ACL last week. The Giants have also given up the tenth-most fantasy points to running backs so far this year.
Why I'm starting him: Love was trusted to play a big role in Arizona's close loss to the San Francisco 49ers last week. It was a big step up for the 2026 No. 3 overall pick in terms of snaps and carries. Love outsnapped teammate Tyler Allgeier 56-31 and received significantly more carries, 21-2.
Keep in mind that Love suffered a high-ankle sprain in the preseason, so it makes sense that his workload is increasing as the season moves along. And to see the coaching staff give him the extra work in a close divisional game means they trust him and his ankle.
Fantasy outlook: RB2
Start ’Em: Kenyon Sadiq
The matchup: The New York Jets will face the Chicago Bears in Week 4. Chicago is actually coming off back-to-back performances in which it allowed single-digit points. They're also giving up the sixth-fewest fantasy points to tight ends this season.
Why I'm starting him: If Sadiq is on your roster, don't let the matchup scare you. Things are trending towards Adonai Mitchell and Mason Taylor both being out again in Week 4. Sadiq was second on the team in targets with those players out against the Lions.
Sadiq is also dealing with an injury after getting banged up against Detroit, so fantasy managers will want to monitor his status heading into the weekend.
What I really liked about Sadiq's game against Detroit was how New York used him. On his eight targets, he was lined up all over the field and ran several different kinds of routes. He took 17 snaps inline, 16 from the slot, four on the outside and even one in the backfield. He was targeted downfield and as a check-down option.
That versatility, along with the explosiveness he showed on the touchdown, is why he was a first-round pick and why he should be in lineups this weekend if he's healthy.
Fantasy Outlook: TE1
Start ’Em: Denzel Boston
The matchup: The Cleveland Browns are facing the Pittsburgh Steelers on Thursday night this week. Pittsburgh has been one of the better pass defenses this season, allowing fewer than 200 yards per game through the air and the seventh-fewest fantasy points to wide receivers.
That said, Pittsburgh is going through some changes in its secondary. Star cornerback Joey Porter Jr. was traded to the Dallas Cowboys this week, although he had yet to play this season because of a back injury. Defensive backs Jalen Ramsey, Brandin Echols and Jamel Dean were all nicked up during the game against Cincinnati last week. And Asante Samuel Jr. was replaced by rookie Daylen Everette during the game after struggling against the size of Cincinnati's receivers.
Why I'm starting him: Denzel Boston has proven himself to be a mainstay in lineups until proven otherwise. From a fantasy perspective, he is a top-20 wide receiver, well within WR2 status, and he leads all rookies in receiving yards.
Boston is Cleveland's No. 1 receiver in snaps and receiving yards and is tied for first in first downs and touchdowns. By just about every measure, he's become their top receiving option. A short week at home against Pittsburgh, coming off a tough divisional matchup, is a good recipe for Cleveland and Boston to keep rolling.
Fantasy Outlook: WR2
NFL fantasy football rookie sits for Week 4
Sit 'Em: Jadarian Price
The matchup: The Seattle Seahawks are facing the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 4. The Chargers have been average against the run this year. They are 14th in fantasy points allowed to running backs and 12th in rushing yards allowed.
Why I'm sitting him: For the second game in a row, Jadarian Price lost a fumble to the opposing team. The difference in Week 3 was what happened afterward.
Price got the first three carries of the game against Washington, as we predicted. But on the third carry, which came on the first play of Seattle's second drive, he lost a fumble. That was with 11:06 left in the first quarter. Price didn't carry the ball again until the third quarter, when he got just two more carries for the rest of the game.
Five carries for 15 yards and a short leash aren't exactly encouraging, especially against a Chargers run defense that forced a fumble from James Cook last week. It's best to sit Price for a week and see how Seattle handles its backfield.
Fantasy Outlook: Bench/stash
Sit 'Em: KC Concepcion
The matchup: While the matchup against the Steelers has pros and cons that work more in favor of Denzel Boston, this is a tougher matchup for his teammate, KC Concepcion. Pittsburgh is using Jalen Ramsey as its primary slot corner, which would be a tough matchup for Concepcion. And if Ramsey can't go, Asante Samuel Jr. would likely draw the assignment, and he's played well, for the most part, this year.
Why I'm sitting him: Aside from the matchup, Concepcion hasn't turned his opportunities into real production just yet. Despite leading all rookies and the Browns in targets, he has just 80 yards and no touchdowns this season. And last week, despite setting season highs in snaps and targets, he turned those opportunities into just two catches for 9 yards.
We've also seen tight end Harold Fannin get more involved lately. Each week, he's seen his targets and receptions go up, and he caught two touchdowns last week. If Fannin continues to increase his production and Boston is already the established WR1, we could see Concepcion take a backseat.
Fantasy Outlook: Bench/stash
Sit 'Em: Chris Bell
The matchup: The Miami Dolphins are facing the Minnesota Vikings this week. Despite being the No. 2 scoring defense in the NFL, they are just the 11th-best defense in passing yards allowed and have given up the 12th-most fantasy points to wide receivers.
Why I'm sitting him: Chris Bell had his breakout performance last week against the Chiefs, catching four passes on eight targets for 67 yards. But even with the favorable matchup, I have concerns.
Bell's Week 3 breakout was encouraging, but repeating that production could be difficult now that Minnesota has a full game of film on what Miami's offense looks like without Caleb Douglas. Despite his larger-than-expected role in the offense through two weeks, Bell didn't become the team's top target until Douglas was out with an injury.
There is also the quarterback situation to consider. Minnesota defensive coordinator Brian Flores can make life difficult on opposing quarterbacks, and Malik Willis making his fourth start of the season against this defense would make me nervous as a fantasy manager.
And finally, Miami just lost star running back De'Von Achane to a torn ACL. Without Achane commanding attention out of the backfield, Minnesota can put even more focus on Bell and the passing game.
Make sure you have Bell on your roster, but do your best not to count on him in your lineup this week.
Fantasy Outlook: Bench/stash
Rookie sleeper of the week: Carnell Tate
The matchup: The Tennessee Titans are facing the Baltimore Ravens in Week 4. Baltimore is giving up the 11th-most fantasy points to wide receivers so far this season.
Why he's my sleeper: Tate had his own breakout game last week against the New York Giants when he had season highs in targets, receptions, and yards.
Aside from the raw numbers of six catches on nine targets for 58 yards, I was encouraged by the types of targets Tate was getting and when they were coming. Tate saw multiple targets on third down and in the red zone, two high-value situations that show the Titans are beginning to trust him.
The first few weeks were so rough for Tate and the Titans that it can be easy to forget he was the No. 4 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. The talent and pedigree are there, so it makes sense that his production could increase as he gets more comfortable in the offense.
Despite the perception of the matchup against Baltimore, Tate has worked his way back into FLEX consideration for fantasy managers who need him this week.
Fantasy outlook: FLEX
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