Sanders
RB · CLE vs PIT
Proj pts
7pts
market
Johnson
RB · BUF vs NE
Proj pts
6.8pts
market
Raheim Sanders or Ty Johnson: who should I start in Week 4?
Start Raheim Sanders. Bench Ty Johnson. Raheim Sanders leads at 7.0. Ty Johnson is the first one out, 0.1 short.
Availability & news
Raheim Sanders
Sanders caught his sole target for seven yards, had two rushes for four yards and returned two kickoffs for 50 yards in Sunday's 23-19 win over the Buccaneers.(rotowire, Sep 22, 2026)
Highlights
Pros
- Goal-line back1.0 GL carries/g
- Reliable86% consistency
Cons
- Committee back4% of touches
- Low team total18.0 team total
Pros
- High-scoring spot27.8 team total
Cons
- Committee back8% of touches
- Tough matchupTough · F vs RB
Some recent form, opportunity and matchup figures still lean on the 2025 season (not enough games played this season yet).
Week 4 · Updated Tue 29 Sep, 6:00 AM ET
The widest gap between them, in proportion, is consistency: Sanders 86%, Johnson 20%.
Sanders: “Sanders caught his sole target for seven yards, had two rushes for four yards and returned two kickoffs for 50 yards in Sunday's 23-19 win over the Buccaneers.” — RotoWire, Sep 22, 2026.
Latest game on the card: Sanders 9.1, Johnson 9 (PPR points).
Why Raheim Sanders
Start Raheim Sanders — projects 7.0, a tough matchup vs PIT.
Raheim Sanders projects 7.0 points on a 4.6–7.0 range. The matchup grades as tough against PIT. Usage: carries / game at 6.8. Net: start Raheim Sanders this week.
Working for Sanders: Goal-line back (1.0 GL carries/g), Reliable (86% consistency).
Working against Sanders: Committee back (4% of touches), Low team total (18.0 team total).
Where Sanders leads the head-to-head: Projection (7.0 vs 6.8); Opportunity score (5.8 vs 4.6); Matchup grade (recency weighted) (D vs F); Consistency (86% vs 20%); Bust rate (0% vs 29%); Carries / game (6.8 vs 2.9); Touches / game (7.5 vs 4.4); Opportunity score (exp pts) (5.8 vs 4.6); Grade vs RB (recency weighted) (D vs F).
Why Ty Johnson
Sit Ty Johnson — projects 6.8, a tough matchup vs NE, with a rising role.
Ty Johnson projects 6.8 points on a 5.8–15.2 range. The matchup grades as tough against NE. Usage: carries / game at 2.9. Net: bench Ty Johnson this week.
Working for Johnson: High-scoring spot (27.8 team total).
Working against Johnson: Committee back (8% of touches), Tough matchup (Tough · F vs RB).
Where Johnson leads the head-to-head: Floor (5.8 vs 4.6); Ceiling (15.2 vs 7.0); Touch share (8% vs 4%); Implied team total (27.8 vs 18.0); Last 3 avg (12.1 vs 5.6); Last 5 avg (10.0 vs 5.0); vs season (+0.9 vs -0.3); Boom rate (14% vs 0%); Target share (7% vs 4%); Yards per carry (4.0 vs 3.4); Snap share (30% vs 26%); Goal line carries (6 vs 4); Red zone carries (19 vs 7); Implied total (27.8 vs 18.0).
Recent form
Raheim Sanders's last 5 games: PPR points 4.1, 4.3, 5.6, 2.1, 9.1 (oldest to newest).
Ty Johnson's last 5 games: PPR points 5.8, 7.6, 7.8, 19.6, 9 (oldest to newest).
Sanders has already beaten Johnson's 6.8 projection in 1 of his 5; Johnson has beaten Sanders's 7 in 4 of his 5.
At least 1 of these 5 games was played before the 2026 season.
Matchup
Raheim Sanders (CLE) faces PIT, kickoff Thu 8:15 PM ET. The matchup is rated tough. Betting line: implied team total 18.0, spread +2.5.
Ty Johnson (BUF) faces NE, kickoff Sun 1:00 PM ET. The matchup is rated tough. Betting line: implied team total 27.8, spread -7.0.
What flips it
Sanders's edge is 0.2 points (7 to 6.8). Johnson's ceiling (15.2) clears Sanders's projection, so a big game from Johnson flips it. Sanders's floor (4.6) sits under Johnson's projection, so a quiet game from Sanders flips it too. Confidence in the call: lower.
More start/sit comparisons from this week's PPR projections. Open a pair for the call and the reasoning.
This week's toughest calls
- Tony Pollard or Omarion Hampton12.1 · 12.1
- Quinshon Judkins or Alvin Kamara17.8 · 17.8
- Emanuel Wilson or Jadarian Price9.8 · 9.7
- David Montgomery or Bhayshul Tuten17.1 · 17.0
- Ashton Jeanty or Jeremiyah Love22.6 · 22.4
- Jonathan Taylor or Christian McCaffrey28.4 · 28.2
- More RB start/sit calls (running backs this week)