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Isaiah Davis or Austin Ekeler? Fantasy football start-sit advice for Week 4
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- Isaiah Davis or Austin Ekeler? Fantasy football start-sit advice for Week 4
Running backs Isaiah Davis and Austin Ekeler became two of the most added fantasy football players of Week 4 after injuries to Jets starter Breece Hall and Commanders back Rachaad White, but only one is worthy of consideration in your lineups.
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Austin Ekeler's Week 4 role vs. Colts
NFL: Washington Commanders at Philadelphia Eagles
Washington Commanders running back Austin Ekeler (30) against the Philadelphia Eagles | Eric Hartline-Imagn Images
Washington signed Ekeler on Monday, and he traveled with the team to London for Sunday's game at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. "We will get him into the mix ," Commanders head coach Dan Quinn said.
White worked as the change-of-pace and receiving back behind Jacory Croskey-Merritt, and the veteran's skill set fits that job better than rookie Kaytron Allen's. Ekeler hasn't played since tearing his Achilles tendon in Week 2 last season, so his snap count could stay modest in his first game back.
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Croskey-Merritt keeps the early-down work, but he has turned 47 carries into 142 yards, an average of 3.0 yards per attempt. With Marcus Mariota making his second start of the season for an injured Jayden Daniels, throws to the backfield should stay part of the plan.
Ekeler is the better Week 4 play between him and Davis because of a safer floor, but does that make him a start? He's my RB69 this week and worth a flier in deeper formats. But a full-fledged start? Probably not, unless you're in a pretty tough spot.
Washington ruled White out of the 9:30 a.m. ET Colts at Commanders game, and the 31-year-old should step into the pass-catching work White leaves against a defense allowing 25.9 fantasy points per game to running backs.
Indianapolis has allowed 342 rushing yards, 131 receiving yards and four rushing touchdowns to running backs through three games, the sixth-most fantasy points to the position. Ekeler fits as a flex in 12-team leagues, especially in formats that reward receptions.
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Where does Isaiah Davis fit now?
NFL: Cleveland Browns at New York Jets
New York Jets running back Isaiah Davis (32) runs against Cleveland Browns cornerback Tyson Campbell (7) | Robert Deutsch-Imagn Images
Hall missed practice all week with a quad injury and was ruled out Friday for the 1 p.m. ET Jets at Bears game. Braelon Allen takes over as the lead back, and Davis is the only other healthy running back on the roster.
The 24-year-old hasn't taken an offensive snap this season, logging 56 special teams snaps through three games after a knee injury cost him most of training camp. Jets head coach Aaron Glenn expects that to change. "[Isaiah will] just have a larger role when it comes to the offense," Glenn said.
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Allen, a 235-pound runner, figures to handle most of the early-down and goal-line carries. That leaves Davis with change-of-pace snaps against a Bears defense allowing 18.8 fantasy points per game to running backs , 15th in the league, and keeps the third-year back on benches in Week 4.
Davis, on the other hand, seems like a player the Jets would like to involve more. With a plus matchup against the Bears, it'll be interesting to see him get more opportunities because of the injury to Hall. But he's capped as a change-of-pace player. Braelon Allen should be locked into at least 16+ touches, leaving table scraps for Davis.
MORE: Fantasy football Week 4 late waiver pickups: Add Emanuel Wilson, Jauan Jennings, Darren Waller
Long-term pick: Isaiah Davis over Ekeler
Ekeler's role likely shrinks once White returns. White's shoulder injury isn't expected to be long-term. Washington faces the Giants in Week 5, with Croskey-Merritt and Kaytron Allen still in the rotation.
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Glenn labeled Hall week-to-week. New York has no third healthy back behind Allen, so Davis keeps a change-of-pace role until Hall returns. Davis becomes the lead option if Allen gets hurt.
Hold Davis in 12-team leagues. Treat Ekeler as a one-week flex, then send him back to waivers once White is cleared.
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