Fantasy football managers have spent the first three weeks of the season dodging injuries. Now Week 4 brings a fresh round of questions, and the advice this week centers on one quarterback who has suddenly become a clear choice. Tyler Shough jumps into obvious QB1 territory vs. Falcons, according to the latest Start ‘Em & Sit ‘Em column, and the column also singles out Braelon Allen as the only running back worth trusting across most leagues this week.
Shough’s Clear Case
Shough is the centerpiece of this week’s advice. He faces a Falcons defense, and his matchup comes with a clear path to big numbers. The column does not hedge on him. It calls him an obvious QB1 option.
The situation is simple. Shough gets a favorable matchup, and the column trusts him enough to put him in the top group of quarterbacks available. That means managers looking for a strong streamer or a replacement for an injured starter have a clear target this week.
Running Backs Get Harder
The running back position is where the column spends most of its time warning about injuries. De’Von Achane is lost for the season with a knee injury, and Breece Hall and Travis Etienne are both facing extended absences. Those three losses reshape the backfields for the Dolphins, Jets and Saints.
Braelon Allen at Chicago is the only back the column trusts in most leagues this week. The advice is direct: if you need a running back, Allen is the one to use.
Receptions Are the Story
The column spends significant space on receivers, and the headline feature is Tyler Shough’s jump into obvious QB1 territory vs. Falcons. The matchup is favorable.
The column also follows the same pattern with several injured receivers. Puka Nacua (hip) and Nico Collins (hamstring) returned to practice, and the column hopes both play in Week 4. Justin Jefferson (ankle), Mike Evans (ribs) and Jalen Coker (quadriceps) were all hurt in Week 3, and the column is waiting to find out about all three for Week 4.
| Player | Position | Team | Situation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tyler Shough | Quarterback | vs. Falcons | Obvious QB1 territory |
| Braelon Allen | Running back | at Chicago | Trusted in most leagues |
| Puka Nacua | Receiver | vs. unknown | Returned to practice |
| Nico Collins | Receiver | vs. unknown | Returned to practice |
Injuries Are the Real Story
The column opens with a blunt admission: it is tired of injuries. It lists Baker Mayfield (thumb) being out for three weeks, rookies stepping in for starters, and multiple stars lost for the season.
“I’m tired of all the injuries.”
The column wants to write about players playing great, not headed to the medical tent. But that is not realistic, and the advice acknowledges it. The healthiest teams are likely to be the best teams in the league, the column argues, and that is the reality managers face.
The Bottom Line on Shough
Shough’s path to QB1 territory is straightforward. He gets a favorable matchup, and the column trusts him enough to put him in the top group of quarterbacks available. The column does not hedge this call. It calls him an obvious QB1 option, and that is the clearest signal the advice offers.
The advice on Shough is the strongest single call in the column. It is not a hedgesit. It is a full-throated recommendation for a player whose situation has improved.
What to Do With the Rest
The column’s broader message is caution. Leagues are surviving, not putting up big stat lines. The healthiest rosters may be the best ones.
For managers, the takeaway is simple. Trust Braelon Allen at Chicago. Stream Shough against Atlanta. Avoid the injured receivers until their statuses clear.
The column closes with a wish for healthy bodies coming out of Week 4. That wish is the honest core of the advice: the game is better when players are on the field, and fantasy managers are better off when their rosters are complete.
The advice is practical, not philosophical. It tells you who to start, who to sit, and who to avoid based on what the league has already shown.
Source material: “Fantasy football Week 4 Start 'Em & Sit 'Em: Tyler Shough jumps into obvious QB1 territory vs. Falcons,” CBS Sports.
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