Fantasy Overview - Week 4

• Drew Brees, NO - The Saints don't have their top receiver Michael Thomas, and it shows. Passes to wide receivers have dropped way down since his ankle injury. As a whole, the Saints wide receiver corps is getting 41% of their target share (third-fewest in the league). Passes are getting funneled to Alvin Kamara because he's the only one who consistently does anything with them. Brees should be able to bounce back, especially when Thomas returns, provided he has no lingering issues with his ankle.

Running back

• Kareem Hunt, CLE - Is there a running back in the league that is doing more with his touches than Kareem Hunt? He has scored in each of the last two games, including twice in Week 2. He's still platooning with Nick Chubb, but it's becoming more and more difficult to leave him on your bench. If you have him, he's proving that he's worth starting.
  
  
• Darrell Henderson, LAR - The Malcolm Brown flash came and went. Henderson has shown that he can be a more effective rusher and he may have a case against Cam Akers when he returns from a rib injury. Akers is showing signs of still being green when it comes to field vision and decision-making. If Henderson continues to play well, Akers' rise to stardom may have to wait.
  
  
• Myles Gaskin, MIA - The Dolphins elected to give Gaskin the opportunity for an increase in touches and he has delivered. He has not found the end zone yet, and that's probably why he isn't higher than 22 on the PPR rankings. He does have 15 receptions for 91 yards to go with 38 rushes. His workload is on the rise and so far he is showing he belongs in your fantasy lineups.
  
  
• Mike Davis, CAR - The Panthers replacement at running back for the injured Christian McCaffrey is doing McCaffrey-like things on the field. Davis may not be the rusher that McCaffrey is, but he's getting similar looks. He also has 16 catches over the last six quarters. More of the same is expected and he could carve out a role, even if small, when McCaffrey does return sometime in October. For now, Davis is worthy of starting each week.
  
  
• David Montgomery, CHI - The injury to Tarik Cohen has opened the door for David Montgomery to see an increase in targets as the team's primary back. The move to Nick Foles could also lead to an increase in check downs. The biggest beneficiary to Cohen's injury is Montgomery based on the current depth chart in Chicago.

Needle pointing down

• Todd Gurley is #28 in PPR rankings and he is fighting Brian Hill for carries, including meaningful carries. Gurley has scored twice, but he has only three receptions and his yardage totals are meager. His needle is pointing down and the presence of Hill is a concern for Gurley owners going forward. If Gurley doesn't produce well in the next game or two, we may see even more of a carry-share in Atlanta.
  
  
• Kenyan Drake and Joe Mixon (CIN and ARI). Both backs have started slow out of the gate, but that doesn't necessarily mean the sky is falling. Both have over 50 carries and the closest teammate to carries has 12 and 2 carries for Arizona and Cincinnati respectively. There is some concern because their lack of production on those carries is yielding little success, thus making the decision to start them more of a challenge. The tide could turn any given week. Both backs have had success in the league in the past. Their needles may be pointing down right now, but that could change quickly.

Wide Receiver

• Allen Lazard, GB - The Packers' top receiver is DaVante Adams, however, Allen Lazard is doing his best to earn secondary targets and as long as Aaron Rodgers is sustaining success, there will be fantasy points for him. Update - news came out midweek that Lazard has an abdominal core injury. He did not practice Thursday and is likely out for Week 4.
  
  
• Gabriel Davis, BUF - Gabe Davis was turning heads in training camp and so far it is translating to the regular season. John Brown may be out with a calf injury that could shelve him on IR. As a result, look for Davis to see an increase in snaps, targets, and production on one of the more prolific offenses in the league. Update - Brown practiced Thursday and is questionable to play Week 4.
  
  
• Mike Evans, TB - Chris Godwin came back too soon from a hamstring injury, and now he's going to sit out longer to get healed. As a result, Mike Evans will be relied on more in his absence. Scotty Miller and/or Justin Watson also have the chance to benefit while Godwin is out.
  
  
• Justin Jefferson, MIN - The Vikings rookie receiver had his breakout game last week and it is becoming clear that the team wants to get him more involved. Jefferson has the talent and ability to be a difference-maker and we are starting to see it on the field.
  
  
• Tee Higgins, CIN - Tyler Boyd is the top target in Cincinnati, but Tee Higgins isn't far behind. A.J. Green is still a big part of the offense but we are getting to the point where it's difficult to trust Green any given week. Higgins is the future and we could see his rise in the offense this year.
  
  
• Zach Pascal, IND - The injuries to Parris Campbell and Michael Pittman give Zach Pascal a chance at more involvement in the Colts offense, at least until Week 6.

Needle pointing down

• Other than players with injuries, it's too soon to label a receiver a bust. T.Y. Hilton is struggling to produce, but he's more than capable of rebounding. The same goes for Marvin Jones, D.J. Moore, Marquise Brown, etc. These names are to be watched, but it's too soon to take action.

Tight end

What stands out?

20 fantasy points separate the #2 tight end from #17. Any player is capable of taking a jump in the rankings over the next few weeks. Every year we see new names in the top 10 and 2020 is no different. Jonnu Smith #2, Noah Fant #3, Mike Gesicki #5, Tyler Higbee #6, Jimmy Graham #7, and Dalton Schultz #10 are all surprises compared to where they were drafted or ranked preseason.

Players I like moving forward

• Mo Alie-Cox, IND - Alie-Cox is showing that he belongs as a big piece in the Colts offense. Jack Doyle is running more routes, but Alie-Cox is producing more. It's only a matter of time before he overtakes Doyle.
  
  
• Zach Ertz, PHI - The injury to Dallas Goedert means Zach Ertz will see the majority of tight end targets in his absence. So far, Ertz has been quiet, but the likelihood of that changing is high.
  
  
• Eric Ebron, PIT - Last week we saw what Ebron is capable of in the Steelers offense. He started slow but there is a path for Ebron to see an increase in targets in the coming weeks, especially with injuries mounting to the receiving corps.
  
  
• Jimmy Graham, CHI - Graham is healthy and he's making plays. More are coming with Nick Foles under center. Cole Kmet is the future in Chicago, but Graham is the present.

Players I'm shying away from

• Jared Cook, NO - Jared Cook is one year removed from 9 touchdowns but he looks like a different player. He is not seeing enough looks even with Michael Thomas absent from the offense.
  
  
• Chris Herndon, NYJ - The Jets have scored 4 touchdowns in three games. Herndon is at best a bench stash who could become more if Adam Gase is relieved of his coaching duties.
  
  
• Evan Engram, NYG - The Giants have scored fewer than the Jets (3 touchdowns). Their offense is on life support, but at least they have an easier schedule coming up. Engram, among others, is struggling to sustain fantasy appeal.