Derek Carr or Geno Smith: Week 4 Fantasy Football Start 'Em Sit 'Em picks

Welcome to Week 4 of fantasy football where, after a round of games that saw Baker Mayfield and Derek Carr struggle to sustain the numbers they put up the first two weeks, we're right back down to reality.

Several QBs including Dak Prescott put up some impressive numbers but one of the most quietly impressive names was Geno Smith, who led the Seattle Seahawks to a comfortable 24-3 win over the Miami Dolphins. So what does Week 4 hold in store for Smith, whose stock is on the rise, and Carr, whose stock has taken a bit of a hit?

NFL: Philadelphia Eagles at New Orleans Saints - Source: Imagn

Derek Carr fantasy outlook

After putting up a total of 91 points through two weeks of football, the New Orleans Saints were given a reality check by the Philadelphia Eagles, who held the offense to 12 points last Sunday. The matchup favored Carr but having lost center Erick McCoy to a groin injury (McCoy will now miss 6-8 weeks of action), the Saints failed to make it count. Carr managed to throw just one touchdown last week, going 14-of-25 for 142 yards.

This week, the Saints will go up against the Atlanta Falcons and that's not a matchup Carr is likely to be allowed to exploit. Cornerback A.J. Terrell and safeties Justin Simmons and Jessie Bates have ensured Atlanta doesn't let QBs get away with slinging it to the receivers. Carr is also nursing a groin injury, though he was a full participant in practice on Thursday. All things considered, I don't like this matchup for the Saints offense.

Geno Smith fantasy outlook

Now here's a matchup we like. If Carr will find life difficult against the Falcons, Geno Smith should theoretically fare better against the Detroit Lions on Monday Night Football.

The Lions defense hasn't been the tightest and their secondary has struggled against receivers all season. Bottom line, it's leaky. Smith should have plenty of time to get things going for Jaxon Smith-Njigba and DK Metcalf on Monday night at Ford Field. There's not much more to say about Smith other than the fact that this matchup could very well get the best out of him.

---

Derek Carr or Geno Smith: Final verdict

Sportskeeda's Who Should I Start analyzer is higher on Carr than Smith this week but I'm not so sure.

Derek Carr or Geno Smith: Week 4 fantasy projection

Based on three weeks of evidence, this Lions defense has struggled mightily. I don't see that changing against a fluid Seattle offense with an efficient Smith under center.