Start vs. Sit: Players to Start, Players to Bench for Week 4

The conference matchups are starting to happen more and more, and the FCS games are popping up on the schedule less. That changes the landscape for making recommendations regards who to start and who to sit. It's already Week 4 and we've learned some things. I'm taking what I've learned and put it into these recommendations.

AAC

START

Josh Johnson, WR, Tulsa vs. Arkansas State

Keylon Stokes didn't play last week with an undisclosed issue, and his availability will impact Johnson's upside. Without Stokes on the field against Ohio State, though, Johnson caught eight passes for 149 yards and a touchdown. Even if Stokes does return, Johnson is stepping into an easy matchup. Arkansas State has allowed a whopping 407.5 passing yards per game to FBS teams.

SIT

Cameron Carroll, RB, Tulane vs. UAB

Last year Carroll rushed for 741 yards and 12 touchdowns which caused excitement coming into this season. However, that was on only 122 carries in 12 games. Carroll didn't touch the ball a ton, and indeed so far this year he only has 28 carries in three contests. Facing Georgia has skewed UAB's numbers for this season. Last year the Blazers ranked 39th in rushing yards allowed per game and 15th in points allowed per game.

ACC

START

Kenny Pickett, QB, Pitt vs. New Hampshire

The Panthers lost last week, but Pickett threw for 382 yards and six touchdowns in defeat. On the season he's passed for 10 touchdowns against one interception, and he's completing 71.2 percent of his passes as well. Pickett gets to face an FCS team in New Hampshire, which should keep his hot start to the season going.

SIT

Zonovan Knight, RB, NC State vs. Clemson

There are questions about Clemson's offense, but not so much with its defense. After all, the Tigers rank third in points allowed per contest. While I am less enthused about the Clemson offense than I have been in a while, anybody going against this defense still concerns me, and that includes Knight.

Big 12

START

Quentin Johnston, WR, TCU vs. SMU

The Horned Frogs have only played in two games so far, and one of them was against Duquesne so we can't take a ton from that. However, Johnston did catch five passes for 92 yards and two touchdowns against Cal. SMU is scoring a ton of points, but it also just allowed Louisiana Tech to score 37 against them. The Mustangs have allowed 367.5 passing yards per game to FBS teams as well.

SIT

Jaylen Warren, RB, Oklahoma State vs. Kansas State

Warren took the lead back job by the reins last week by rushing for 218 yards and two touchdowns against Boise State. That did take 32 carries, though. Kansas State should prove a tougher challenge. The Wildcats current rank first in rushing yards allowed per game at a mere 32.0.

Big Ten

START

Tyler Goodson, RB, Iowa vs. Colorado State

Iowa is a team that leans on defense and running the ball, and that means giving the ball to Goodson in this case. He's had 19, 21, and 22 carries across his three outings this year. Goodson just tore through Kent State for 153 yards and three touchdowns. Meanwhile, Colorado State gave up 42 points to South Dakota State and 24 points to Vanderbilt. I don't know which of those is worse.

SIT

Bo Melton, WR, Rutgers at Michigan

Melton gets a lot of love in the Rutgers passing game. He's already notched 20 receptions through three games, tallying 224 yards in the process. That being said, so far the Scarlet Knights have played Temple, Syracuse, and Delaware. A visit to the Big House and to a Michigan team that ranks 25th in passing yards allowed per game is a different story.

Conference USA

START

Zakhari Franklin, WR, UTSA at Memphis

Memphis isn't going to allow over 500 passing yards per game all season I assume. Even so, those kinds of numbers definitely catch my eye. This is especially true because Franklin is a real under-the-radar receiver in college football. He's caught a touchdown in every game this year and hasn't had fewer than 77 yards in 2021 as well.

SIT

Frank Gore, RB, Southern Miss at Alabama

Sure, the Crimson Tide may be a half-step behind where they have been the last couple of years. Even so, this is still Alabama. You don't start a Conference USA player against the Tide's defense. While Gore did get off to a strong start to the season, with a backup quarterback under center last week against Troy the opposing defense could focus on Gore, who was held to 31 yards rushing.

MAC

START

Kevin Marks, RB, Buffalo at Old Dominion

Last year Marks rushed for 741 yards and seven touchdowns in seven games even with Jarret Patterson around. Now Patterson is gone and Marks is the lead back. So far he's tallied 221 yards and three touchdowns. Old Dominion didn't play at all last season and so far has given up 42 points to Wake Forest and 45 points to Liberty.

SIT

La'Darius Jefferson, RB, Western Michigan vs. San Jose State

After being kept relatively in check by Michigan, Jefferson has definitely picked it up the last couple of weeks. Although, his only 100-yard game so far was against FCS school Illinois State. Things with the Broncos are a little messy right now, as head coach Tim Lester just tested positive for COVID-19. San Jose State ranks 62nd in rushing yards allowed per game, which is middling, but that's mostly because of a road game against USC. The Spartans were pretty stingy last year.

Mountain West

START

Sean Chambers, QB, Wyoming at UConn

Connecticut! I know it's on the road but still…Connecticut! The Huskies are in the bottom 30 in points, rushing yards, and passing yards allowed. Bill Connelly's SP+ over at ESPN says they could end up the worst team ever by that measure. Chambers doesn't get to air the ball out a ton, but he has four passing touchdowns and two rushing touchdowns and is a legitimate threat with his legs.

SIT

Hank Bachmeier, QB, Boise State at Utah State

Credit Boise State for not playing a cupcake yet this season (though being at home against UTEP is maybe on the borderline of cupcakery), so we have seen Bachmeier against legitimate competition. Having said that, in his starts against UCF and Oklahoma State, Bachmeier has thrown three touchdowns against two interceptions and he doesn't run the ball at all. He's also had some issues with turnovers, and now he's on the road against an undefeated Utah State team that ranks 41st in passing yards allowed per game.

Pac-12

START

CJ Verdell, RB, Oregon vs. Arizona

Verdell got something close to a day off against Stony Brook after being the running back to prove to us that Ohio State's defense isn't what it has been in the past. Even so, he gained 54 yards on 11 carries and added 34 yards and a touchdown through the air. Arizona just lost to Northern Arizona. It gave up 38 points to San Diego State. My only worry is another light day of work from Verdell, but he should get more touches than he did against an FCS team.

SIT

Jarek Broussard, RB, Colorado at Arizona State

Broussard had a breakout campaign for the Buffaloes in 2020, but he's hit a roadblock in 2021. The back got banged up against Texas A&M two weeks ago, and while he played against Minnesota he was held to five carries for eight yards. That has me worried about his health. Arizona State's defense has looked good so far, taking carry of easy challenges from Southern Utah and UNLV at home. Colorado may be a bit tougher, but only slightly.

SEC

START

Jameson Williams, WR, Alabama vs. Southern Miss

John Metchie is the big name for the Tide, but this is a team that has been able to sustain multiple receivers putting up strong numbers for a while. Williams is getting plenty of opportunity as he has 19 targets, 11 receptions, and two touchdowns. This is a chance for Alabama to get everything firing on all cylinders after a tough game against Florida. I expect a lot of points from the Crimson Tide here against a Conference USA squad.

SIT

Treylon Burks, WR, Arkansas vs. Texas A&M

First, though Arkansas is the "home" team here, this game is taking place at AT&T Stadium, home of the Dallas Cowboys. Second, Texas A&M has totally shut down passing offenses this season. The Aggies have allowed a mere 77.0 passing yards per contest against three FBS teams. That's impressive no matter who the competition is.

Sun Belt

START

Taylor Powell, QB, Troy at ULM

Hey, you know Kentucky? The team that has spent years relying on running the ball and has struggled in the passing game for seemingly forever? That Kentucky team tossed for 419 yards against Louisiana-Monroe in its opener. Powell, a Mizzou transfer, is coming off his best career game, throwing for 255 yards and two touchdowns against Southern Miss. I think he could take things to another level here.

SIT

Destin Coates, RB, Georgia State at Auburn

Coates might be on thin ice with the Panthers coaching staff. He was caught from behind and lost a fumble on a 64-yard run last week against Charlotte and spent the rest of the game on the bench. Even if he gets his usual playing time, Auburn is going to be looking to right the ship after a tough loss to Penn State. The Tigers will be taking those frustrations out on Coates and company.