Fantasy Football Week 4 Running Back Who Should I Start? Quinshon Judkins, Chuba Hubbard, and More

Since joining the lineup in Week 2, rookie running back Quinshon Judkins has led the backfield in Cleveland, putting him squarely on the fantasy football radar and gaining him ownership in essentially every league.

Because he wasn't drafted as a starter, his status as a player among that group brings plenty of lineup decisions. You're benching someone you drafted ahead of him to put him in your lineup. That uncertainty has led to Judkins showing up all over our FantasySP Who Should I Start? tool.

Let's look at Judkins then do a head-to-head quick-hit start/sit with five of the guys he has been compared to most on the start/sit tool. Most stats are from NFL.com.

Use FantasySP's Who Should I Start? tool each week to compare players and help make your toughest lineup decisions.

Quinshon Judkins, Cleveland Browns @ Detroit Lions

After missing Week 1, Judkins played 20 snaps in Week 2 behind Jerome Ford's 35. Despite the snap disparity, Judkins had more carries (10 to 6) and touches (13 to 11) than the veteran.

Judkins overtook every aspect of the backfield in Week 3, playing 36 snaps to 29 total for Ford and Dylan Sampson and handling 18 of the 19 carries, with Sampson taking the other one. Ford did catch four passes for 10 yards, while Judkins had just one reception. It's likely that's how the touches will be distributed going forward, with Judkins dominating the carries and Ford as a pass-catching option.

Taking clear lead back status makes Judkins worthy of fantasy consideration every week. He was an early second-round pick, so it makes sense that the Browns saw him as an instant contributor who would take over a weak spot on the roster.

The matchup falls toward the middle, probably a little below average. The Lions have allowed the 17th-most yards per rush attempt and ninth-least fantasy points to running backs. It was a similar story last season; Detroit has generally been a little better than average at limiting touchdowns and receiving yards to backs over the past few seasons.

Judkins is a decent player to consider this week. He is likely to lead the backfield, but this could also turn into a high-scoring game that causes the Browns to throw more, and that might limit Judkins. He's a flex player with a little RB2 upside.

Chase Brown, Cincinnati Bengals vs. Denver Broncos

It has been a dreadful start for Brown. He's averaging just 31 rushing yards per game on 2.0 yards per carry. He has scored a touchdown and added eight receptions for 43 yards, but it's been a rough go for Brown, who ranks outside the top 30 running backs.

Denver has a very tough defense overall, particularly against the pass. They have allowed the second-fewest yards per rush attempt and are slightly better than average against RBs from a fantasy perspective. I'm not excited about attacking the Broncos with anyone.

Advice: Start Quinshon Judkins over Chase Brown.

Chuba Hubbard, Carolina Panthers @ New England Patriots

The Pats are a bit of an oddity: they have given up the second-fewest yards per rush attempt but the eighth-most fantasy points to running backs. That generally means the opposing team's backs are either scoring a lot of touchdowns or doing a lot of receiving work:

• Week 1: Ashton Jeanty scored a touchdown with just 38 yards on 19 carries.
• Week 2: De'Von Achane caught eight passes for 92 yards and a touchdown. He had just 30 yards on 11 carries.
• Week 3: Pittsburgh's Jaylen Warren and Kenneth Gainwell combine for just 2.9 yards per carry but also six receptions and 44 yards.

So, that's how New England is holding down backs in the run game but allowing them to excel in fantasy football. Hubbard has averaged fewer than two receptions in his career and around three per game the past two seasons, when he was mostly a full-time starter. Hubbard is an average runner who is worse than average in the passing game.

Advice: Start Quinshon Judkins over Chuba Hubbard. Hubbard is also dealing with a calf injury, and though he's likely to play, there's a little worry of aggravating that issue.

Ashton Jeanty, Las Vegas Raiders vs. Chicago Bears

At the beginning of the season, this one would seem obvious. Jeanty was being drafted in the first or second round and was seen as a plug-and-play weekly starter, an RB1. It has NOT gone that way. Jeanty is averaging less than 50 total yards per game and has scored just one touchdown, ranking around RB30.

The matchup is a good one here, though, and might let Jeanty find his first real success. Chicago has allowed the sixth-most yards per rush attempt and the seventh-most fantasy points to running backs. I'm looking to attack the Bears with both rushers and pass catchers.

Advice: Because of the upside, start Ashton Jeanty over Quinshon Judkins, but it's closer than you'd think.

Alvin Kamara, New Orleans Saints @ Buffalo Bills

This is a different level of back. Jeanty was supposed to the be in the space occupied by Kamara and other stars. The Saints back has been a fantasy fixture for nearly a decade and keeps producing. Kamara is averaging close to 80 total yards per game, and the only thing that might hold him back is a subpar offense that limits his scoring chances.

Buffalo has been torn apart by the running game this season. The Bills have allowed 6.2 yards per rush attempt, nearly a full yard more than anyone else; they have also given up the third-most fantasy points to running backs. We think of Buffalo as a good defense, but they have been gashed by the run.

Advice: Start Alvin Kamara over Quinshon Judkins.

David Montgomery, Detroit Lions vs. Cleveland Browns

Opposing Judkins is Montgomery, who is still a fantasy-relevant player despite playing behind one of the top running backs in fantasy; it shows how good Detroit really is offensively. Montgomery has gotten better each game:

• Week 1 @ Packers: 11 carries for 25 yards (2.3 per attempt).
• Week 2 vs. Bears: 11 carries for 57 yards (5.2 per attempt) and a touchdown.
• Week 3 @ Ravens: 12 carries for 151 yards (12.6 per attempt) and two touchdowns.

He'll average out somewhere in the middle and be a decent fantasy option to consider each week.

The matchup here is a tough one. Cleveland has given up the fewest yards per rush attempt and the fourth-fewest fantasy points to RBs. Two of the highest rush averages they have given up have been to Lamar Jackson and Jordan Love; Cleveland has absolutely shut down running backs.

Advice: Start Quinshon Judkins over David Montgomery. Montgomery is one of my favorite players to bench this week.