Footballguys Fantasy Football Show – Week 4 Starts, Sits, and Sleepers (Sept. 25, 2025)

Episode Overview

Hosts Alfredo Brown and Dave Kluge dive into Week 4 of the 2025 Fantasy Football season, discussing key start/sit decisions and sleeper picks. With their signature blend of expert analysis and playful banter, the hosts break down players with league-winning upside, highlight favorable matchups, and debate tricky flex calls. They focus on actionable insights for managers adjusting lineups and address the state of several important NFL offenses and defenses.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

Starts of the Week

1. Justin Fields vs. Miami Dolphins

Speaker: Dave Kluge
Timestamp: 05:20

• Dave ranks Fields as QB8 for Week 4, noting his volatility but strong upside, especially when healthy.
• Miami gives up the second-most fantasy points to quarterbacks and is fifth-worst against running backs—a key stat for dual-threat QBs like Fields.

  "If you've got Justin Fields, you got to get him in your own lineup." (06:14, Dave)

• Both hosts agree Fields is a must-start if cleared from the concussion protocol.

2. Jacoby Myers vs. Chicago Bears

Speaker: Alfredo Brown
Timestamp: 08:11

• Calls this a "smash matchup," citing Chicago's decimated secondary—missing both starting corners and allowing big games to opposing WRs.

  "This is the guy that if you have him, I'm not holding back. This could be a big blow up game for him." (09:21, Alfredo)

• Myers rates as the clear top Vegas WR; hosts debate deeper Vegas options but stress Myers’ reliability.

3. DeAndre Swift (Likely Philadelphia) vs. Raiders

Speaker: Dave Kluge
Timestamp: 10:36

• Surprised by low consensus rankings (RB28), Dave has Swift at RB15 citing elite usage metrics: top-20 in all key opportunity stats.
• Points to high game total (4th-highest O/U this week) and bounce-back/TD potential.

  "You've got to look at the usage and it's been there and it's only a matter of time before the production follows." (11:42, Dave)

4. Trevion Henderson (New England Patriots) at Carolina Panthers

Speaker: Alfredo Brown
Timestamp: 13:03

• Notes the high passing rates of both teams and Henderson’s pass-catching talent.
• Patriots RB job in flux: Stevenson fumbled twice, Henderson is showing security and upside.

  "If we got other running backs here coughing up the football, Trevion Henderson, he takes care of the football." (15:21, Dave)

• Henderson’s zero collegiate fumbles signal trustworthiness and upside.

5. Jordan Addison (Minnesota Vikings) vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

Speaker: Dave Kluge
Timestamp: 16:00

• Returns from suspension, projected as WR29 but with WR2/3 upside.
• The hosts debate the risk (Addison’s role, travel to Ireland) but agree he was drafted to be a starter and should not be benched based solely on suspension discount.

  "This guy would have been a starter and he got a discount because of the suspension." (16:47, Dave)

6. TJ Hockenson (Minnesota Vikings)

Speaker: Alfredo Brown
Timestamp: 17:36

• Stresses that Carson Wentz (at QB) favors the TE and that Minnesota’s pass volume is low, but Hockenson’s 30% target share makes him too valuable to sit.

  "Hockenson doesn't even need volume. He just simply needs efficiency." (18:02, Alfredo)

Sits of the Week

1. Tee Higgins (Cincinnati Bengals) vs. Denver Broncos

Speaker: Dave Kluge
Timestamp: 20:45

• Ranked outside the top 36 WRs ("benchable"); mentions difficult matchup, Browning at QB, and recent poor performance.

  "Tee Higgins is very much so a touchdown or bust wide receiver four right now." (21:10, Dave)

2. DK Metcalf (Pittsburgh Steelers) vs. Vikings

Speaker: Alfredo Brown
Timestamp: 23:06

• Last two weeks: 6 catches for 52 yards; not a top-24 WR in any week.

• Minnesota allows the fewest fantasy points to WRs; both teams play slow, low-volume offenses.

• Sees the game as having "a few big plays," making DK a risky, TD-dependent flex.

  "You're hoping, you're begging for a touchdown and I don't know that you're going to get that continuously week after week." (23:55, Alfredo)

• Both hosts agree: If forced, start DK over Higgins, but both are outside strong WR/Flex consideration.

Sleeper/Streamer Picks

1. Christian Kirk (Houston Texans) vs. Tennessee Titans

Speaker: Dave Kluge
Timestamp: 26:13

• Played almost exclusively from the slot, saw eight targets in his first week back, despite weak box score line.
• High route participation and target rate (28% of routes); should benefit from a quick passing game.

  "The usage has been there and that gets me excited. So I've got Christian Kirk ahead of T. Higgins ... this week." (28:10, Dave)

• Admits C.J. Stroud’s struggles are the main risk factor.

2. Elijah I.O. Manor (Tennessee Titans) vs. Houston Texans

Speaker: Alfredo Brown
Timestamp: 28:35

• Highlighted as a rookie outperforming Calvin Ridley in nearly every efficiency metric.
• Catches all the Titans’ passing TDs so far and should draw softer coverage with attention on Ridley.

  "All of the teams receiving touchdowns have gone to I.O. Manor two for two. He leads the team in end zone targets." (29:23, Alfredo)

• Hosts agree he is already (or soon will be) the Titans' WR1.

Additional Insights and Memorable Moments

• On Miami’s New Jerseys:
  Amusing discussion about Miami's "rivalry" black jerseys—hosts debate love/hate and compare to Vice City/Heat jersey fandom.
  (07:10-08:01)

• On Offensive Line Play & Caleb Williams:
  Dave on Bears’ improved OL:

  "To see my quarterback in a clean jersey, that's unheard of...zero sacks, I think, is the biggest takeaway." (12:20, Dave)

• On Rookie Depth in 2025 Draft Class:
  Both note the surprising early contributions of late-round rookies like Cam Skattebo, Tori Horton, and I.O. Manor, while more hyped rookies lag.
  (30:02 - 31:45)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Start/Sit Format Introduction: 04:24
• Justin Fields Analysis: 05:20
• Jacoby Myers Analysis: 08:01
• DeAndre Swift Analysis: 10:36
• Trevion Henderson Case: 13:03
• Jordan Addison Talk: 16:00
• TJ Hockenson Value: 17:36
• Tee Higgins Sit: 20:45
• DK Metcalf Sit: 23:06
• Christian Kirk Sleeper: 26:13
• IO Manor Sleeper: 28:35

Notable Quotes

• On Justin Fields:

  "We know who Justin Fields is. Like he's going to have really good games and he's going to have really bad games ... if he's starting, I'm putting him in my lineup without thinking twice." (05:35, Dave Kluge)

• On Late-Round Rookie Sleepers:

  "We kept talking about... how many of these rookies we're talking about right now that are really buzzing were not the highly drafted guys..." (30:02, Dave Kluge)

Conclusion

This week’s show emphasized actionable lineup advice, especially for managers navigating injuries, underperformance, or uncertainty at flex positions. Alfredo and Dave broke down matchups in detail, supported their recommendations with both stats and context, and reflected on the fast-evolving 2025 landscape—where new WRs are emerging and established names (Tee Higgins, DK Metcalf) are taking a back seat. Their analysis is approachable, humor-tinged, and rooted in careful evaluation of team tendencies and player histories.

To get custom rankings and projections tuned for your specific league, check out Footballguys.com.

"The best part about our rankings is that they're completely customizable to your league settings... it'll actually change our rankings specifically for your league." (32:54, Dave Kluge)

For more insights and to stay ahead of the competition, tune in to the Footballguys Fantasy Football Show each week!