What You Need to Know From Week 4

Photo: USA Today Sports

DEN @ NYJ

1. The Jets lost, but Adam Gase still lasted longer than Bill O’Brien this year.
2. Tim Patrick is Brett Rypien’s favorite receiver and he could have lasting value even when Drew Lock returns with the Broncos passing target tree branches getting weaker due to injuries to Noah Fant (ankle) and KJ Hamler (hamstring). If Fant is out for an extended time later this season, remember Albert Okwuegbunam was Lock’s favorite touchdown target in college.
3. Jamison Crowder has been excellent in both of his healthy games and has earned PPR WR3/Flex starter status as long as he’s on the field until he lets us down, even with Joe Flacco possibly starting this week vs. Arizona
4. About Flacco, even though Sam Darnold finished the game, the team may hold him out of Week 5 to give his shoulder time to heal. The Jets could get Le’Veon Bell back this week.
5. Jeff Smith didn’t look out of place on an NFL field and he was reasonably productive, so add him to the emergency play pool, which might become important this year.
6. The Jets are becoming a good bet to give up at least one rushing score a week. Kenyan Drake, we’re waiting...

NO @ DET

1. The Saints backfield is a fantasy goldmine and Alvin Kamara isn’t the only one that can strike it rich. Latavius Murray took advantage of the Lions weak run defense and scored twice, showing something he didn’t last year - the ability to have value in the “Mark Ingram” role even when Kamara is healthy.
2. The Lions appear more willing to give D’Andre Swift touches, and he was fantasy relevant for the second time this year in four games. He still has to swim upstream against the team he plays on, but he’s at least worth stashing to see if he gains momentum.
3. Emmanuel Sanders had his best game to date and appears to be getting on the same page with Drew Brees, who didn’t have any trouble after an early tipped ball interception because the Lions defense was so pathetic. Sanders could have some value even after Thomas returns and should be a solid play against the Chargers defense that just gave up five scores either way.
4. Tre’Quan Smith played up to being a starter in place of Michael Thomas again and has been a bigger fantasy success in his three games than many wide receivers that were drafted to be in our lineups every week. He’ll go back to the waiver wire when Thomas is ready (maybe this week), but keep him on waiver wire speed dial if the Saints suffer any more injuries at wide receiver.
5. Matthew Stafford, Kenny Golladay, and TJ Hockenson weren’t busts against the shorthanded Saints defense, but they didn’t help your team win either. This Lions offense continues to look like one that won’t produce overachievers this year. You can drop Marvin Jones if you are in a roster bind, there’s no fear of missing out here.
6. The Lions defense is an abject failure and let the Saints move the ball way too easily. We will target them after their bye.
7. The Saints like third round pick Adam Trautman, but he wasn’t used in the passing game at all even though Jared Cook was out.

LAC @ TB

1. Austin Ekeler was lost for multiple weeks, but not the whole season with a hamstring injury. The work was split pretty equally between Joshua Kelley and Justin Jackson, but without the starters on the right side of the line, they did nothing against a very tough Bucs run defense. It’s possible that Kelley’s only path to startable value is a Jackson injury (and he’s not known for durability) even though his backfieldmate went down.
2. Ronald Jones II was a strong runner against the Chargers, but he dropped three balls and might be falling out of favor in the passing game for good. Leonard Fournette might not be back in time for Thursday night’s game vs. Chicago, so look for rookie Ke’Shawn Vaughn to get more play in the passing game with a chance to become the most valuable back in this backfield if he can outplay Jones.
3. Tom Brady’s stats weren’t held back by pass interference penalties, dropped balls, or a blowout that put the passing game on ice in the second half. He was massive against a Chargers defense that was missing Chris Harris and Melvin Ingram III and he should be considered one of the best fantasy quarterbacks outside of the obvious 7-8 every week starts going forward.
4. Justin Herbert is the real deal, throwing scores to three undrafted free agents. He has also rescued Keenan Allen’s value in PPR leagues, although Hunter Henry had his first down game as XFL standout and skyscraper-sized Donald Parham got the tight end touchdown. Mike Williams is going to love Herbert’s deep ball when he returns.
5. Scott Miller was healthy enough to play and had his second fantasy relevant game of the season. He’ll continue to float in our emergency play pool, perhaps even after Chris Godwin returns.
6. O.J. Howard went down with an achilles injury, but the meager Bucs tight end target share will still be split between multiple players with Cameron Brate entering stage right.

JAX @ CIN

1. Joe Mixon slammed shut the buy low window with a three touchdown performance that showed what he can do when the Bengals play with a lead. The Jaguars were no pushover against the run coming into this one, but Mixon’s talent reigned supreme.
2. DJ Chark’s return to the lineup made all of the difference for the Jaguars passing game, with an assistant to the Bengals subpar defense. Chark had a huge game that highlighted his toughness and skill and he won’t be on benches until he lets us down, and maybe in back to back games. Gardner Minshew is an upside streamer as long as Chark is out there.
3. Tee Higgins has fully taken over the top outside target role from AJ Green, who is showing no signs of awakening from his slumber.
4. Laviska Shenault got used as a downfield receiver and converted his opportunities in a great sign for his value growth going forward. He shouldn’t be on the waiver wire no matter how short benches are.
5. Drew Sample had a touchdown ripped out of his hands by Myles Jack on a play that Joe Burrow wishes he had back. With a better throw, Sample would have scored and had his second quality fantasy result in three games since CJ Uzomah went down. He’s a fine pickup at tight end if you hate what you have.

MIN @ HOU

1. Losing to the Vikings is enough to get you fired. The hope here is that Bill O’Brien was an obstacle to offensive growth and his outing will free players, especially Deshaun Watson, to be better.
2. Will Fuller is healthy and he is clearly the only target Deshaun Watson is consistently comfortable with. We’ll start him every week he’s on the field and accept the results even when they are disastrous.
3. Adam Thielen restored confidence with a good game against a vulnerable defense in a positive game script. Through three games, his only hit was a game with a long garbage time score.
4. Justin Jefferson’s breakout in Week 3 wasn’t a fluke. He’s giving them the downfield threat they lost when they traded Stefon Diggs to the Bills.
5. Dalvin Cook is a god, but the Texans run defense is also terrible. James Robinson gets them next.
6. Brandin Cooks and Randall Cobb need to do something against the Jaguars or we are probably going to give up on them in redraft leagues even though it might be premature.
7. Duke Johnson Jr was back and he actually had more receptions than David Johnson, so David’s margin of error in lineups just got thinner.
8. Jordan Akins was having a good game before leaving with a concussion. He could still be a solid tight end play in another rough year at the position.

SEA @ MIA

1. Ryan Fitzpatrick’s rushing score saved his fantasy Week 4, but his lack of finished left the Seahawks settling for too many field goals, and the door is probably open for Tua Tagovailoa with the next month. Brian Flores did nothing to dispel the notion that Fitzpatrick’s hold on the job is loosening.
2. Preston Williams and Mike Gesicki were quiet in what was supposed to be a high scoring game. Gesicki got double team treatment at times and may bounce back against San Francisco. Williams just isn’t threatening defenses downfield and he’s a bench stash at best (with dynasty patience) as he is just getting to the one year since his ACL tear milestone
3. 360 and two scores is becoming a ho hum day for Russell Wilson.
4. David Moore had a long play against busted coverage, reminding us that he’s a viable emergency play on the back of Wilson’s efficiency and he should be considered a high ceiling bench stash with Metcalf/Lockett injury upside.
5. Deejay Dallas outplayed Travis Homer in their return to Miami. He is a name to file away with the two backs ahead of him banged up heading into Week 4.
6. Chris Carson had to shrug off a hard hit and concussion check, but emerged healthy enough. Fingers crossed he gets through Week 5 against Minnesota with a bye up next.
7. As long as Fitzpatrick is out there (and it might not be long), it’s clear that Devante Parker is his main man.

CLE @ DAL

1. Nick Chubb went down with a knee injury that will send him to injured reserve. It was a fluke play where he got rolled up on while pass blocking. Kareem Hunt is an instant top 10 back and D’Ernest Johnson should be added after he impressed on limited work after Chubb got hurt. The Cowboys defense is putrid and we’ll see what gives when they face the Giants offense this week, which has been equally putrid.
2. Odell Beckham can still take over a game. He caught scores from Baker Mayfield and Jarvis Landry and iced the game on a 50ish yard end around score that was almost a 15 yard loss that would have made a Cowboys comeback seem inevitable.
3. Dak Prescott is going to break passing yardage records if the Cowboys defense doesn’t improve.
4. Dalton Schultz is an everyweek starting fantasy tight end going forward even though he’s just a guy in NFL receiving tight end terms. Oh, it could have been so beautiful Blake Jarwin.
5. Michael Gallup was down again this week, but he has demonstrated the ceiling to ride out the ups and downs in deeper leagues. Don’t sell low or drop him.
6. Austin Hooper was fantasy relevant for the first time this year, but Harrison Bryant also got enough targets and catches to cement that Hooper’s ceiling is low, and David Njoku is due back soon.
7. Even when his team scores 49 points, Baker Mayfield isn’t going to be a good fantasy quarterback.

ARI @ CAR

1. Kenyan Drake was ineffective in what has been a smash matchup in fantasy for running backs. Chase Edmonds got all of the backfield receptions and it’s fair to wonder who is more valuable in fantasy leagues and whether this backfield split will change.
2. Robby Anderson is getting all of the short routes with yards after catch potential, rendering DJ Moore a mere boom/bust WR3/Flex while Anderson is a high floor WR2.
3. Teddy Bridgewater had his best fantasy game yet, using his legs and continuing to play sound safe football. It’s fair to believe that he and the Panthers offense are getting more comfortable heading into an easy matchup against Atlanta.
4. Mike Davis has staying power, and Reggie Bonnafon will have emergency value until Christian McCaffrey comes back - which could be sooner than later.
5. Kyler Murray and the Cardinals passing game was anemic. He did still complete three touchdowns but DeAndre Hopkins ankle injury had to be affecting the pass offense as a whole. Murray still has a ways to go as a passer, but should bounce back against the Jets this week.

BAL @ WAS

1. Antonio Gibson finally broke the big play that was a hallmark of his limited college tape at Memphis. Washington also seems more willing to get him touches in space while also giving him the primary early down back job. His value is still climbing.
2. Mark Ingram got the short touchdown, but it’s getting more difficult to deny that Gus Edwards is a better option on the bread and butter downhill runs in this offense. Edwards shouldn’t be on the waiver wire in any format.
3. Dwayne Haskins wasn’t the reason Washington lost but he wasn’t going to give them a chance to win either. We’ll see Kyle Allen sooner or later, in what could be very good for Terry McLaurin, who was still very productive against a tough secondary despite coming into the game with a leg injury that caused him to miss practice on Friday.
4. The Ravens offense was once again held back more by the competition not pushing them to score more than themselves, although Lamar Jackson can improve as a deep passer to unlock more of Marquise Brown’s value. Jackson at least broke his first long touchdown run of the season - props to Devin Duvernay and the block that helped finish.
5. Mark Andrews had a ceiling game to remind you why you play him every week after back-to-back floor games. Lamar Jackson is by far the most accurate when he is throwing to Andrews.
6. Logan Thomas had established a firm four catch floor, but that fell through in a matchup that should have given him more work because of the high pass volume and quality corners. He’s droppable.

NYG @ LAR

1. Sean McVay decided to put a banana in our tailpipes by playing Malcolm Brown more than Darrell Henderson even though Henderson was clearly the hot hand coming into this game. Cam Akers is coming back soon to complicate this situation.
2. If it wasn’t for a long catch and run Cooper Kupp touchdown, the Rams offense would have been as uninspiring as the Giants. They are doing better than last year, but they aren’t a top flight fantasy offense despite a great game against the Eagles and great half against the Bills. Remember, they only scored 20 points against the Cowboys.
3. The Giants offense has been truly terrible. They have faced four tough defenses. We will see whether their offense or the Cowboys defense is worse this week.
4. Wayne Gallman looks better than Devonta Freeman, but neither is going to have sustained value in this offense. I wouldn’t spend a roster spot on a Giants back.

BUF @ LV

1. It’s becoming clear that Josh Jacobs hot Week 1 was the aberration, not the norm. He was bottled up again this week and while his passing game work has expanded, it isn’t enough to make him a high floor RB1.
2. Zack Moss’ toe injury didn’t come far enough along to get him back on the field, but Devin Singletary looked good again and should be ahead of Moss when he does return.
3. Josh Allen isn’t slowing down, and neither is Stefon Diggs. Gabriel Davis emergence is splitting the rest of the passing game productive and potentially diluting the usefulness of the secondary options, but Diggs is clearly the alpha.
4. Derek Carr made a few throws reminiscent of the time early in his career when he was viewed as one of the rising stars at quarterback. Henry Ruggs could still be a fantasy stud this year if he gets healthy.

IND @ CHI

1. Jordan Wilkins and Nyheim Hines are playing well enough to keep this a three-headed backfield, and Jonathan Taylor hasn’t broken that long run to put him into RB1 territory yet. Don’t expect that picture to change greatly against Cleveland.
2. Nick Foles is not the answer, at least not against a good defense. Allen Robinson was helped by Foles, but Jimmy Graham and Anthony Miller shouldn’t be in our lineups except as bye/injury depth at best. This will be an inconsistent pass offense, but it could show out well against poor pass defenses.
3. David Montgomery did get some more passing game involvement but this running game just isn’t opening holes for him. He’s a low ceiling RB2 facing a tough Bucs defense this week.
4. The Colts are trusting their offense to win and it is slamming on the brakes of their offensive production. Philip Rivers isn’t pushing things and TY Hilton isn’t playing well enough to overcome the low volume. There’s no reliable play in the Colts passing game.
5. I have unnatural love for Mo Alie-Cox even though he is turning back into a bit player in this offense. No downfield target adds more value to his receptions, so let’s hope the Colts make him more front and center (I’m not holding my breath).

PHI @ SF

1. George Kittle was the 49ers pass offense in a very impressive game that probably makes him the most valuable tight end in fantasy football right now.
2. Jerick McKinnon pulled away from Jeff Wilson and has been both dynamic and productive enough to keep a fantasy relevant role once Raheem Mostert returns, which could be this week.
3. Zach Ertz looked washed up and might not even be startable at this rate. If he comes up small against Pittsburgh, we might be looking elsewhere for our TE1.
4. Deebo Samuel earned a lot of respect with his rookie year performance, but Brandon Aiyuk is drawing wows with his size and athleticism. He scored for the second straight week and will cap Samuel’s upside.
5. Nick Mullens got the hook and turned back into a UDFA third string quarterback. Jimmy Garoppolo can’t get back soon enough.
6. The Eagles offense isn’t going to produce overachievers against decent to good defenses as long their offensive line and wide receiver personnel is decimated by injury. That includes Miles Sanders, although this is no time to sell him.

NE @ KC

1. Damien Harris’s stats were more impressive than his play. He got what was blocked for him on most runs and broke a long one to get over 100 yards. It’s still a three-headed (or four-headed) backfield and when Newton comes back he’s more likely to get the rushing the scores. Harris is worth a decent number of waiver wire bucks, but not a big chunk of your bankroll. Not with most of the 2020 season rollercoaster ride still ahead.
2. It might be a small buy low moment for Clyde Edwards-Helaire after the Patriots stacked him up in the running game repeatedly and he didn’t break any big plays in the passing game. Sooner or later he is going to run wild against an overmatched defense.
3. Mecole Hardman is still close to neck and neck with Demarcus Robinson in snaps, but he scored again and has a fantasy relevant game streak underway heading into a matchup with Raiders.
4. Bill Belichick can still call a good defensive game as he held down Patrick Mahomes II for the second straight matchup after Mahomes owned him in the first two.
5. Brian Hoyer is still one of the worst quarterbacks in the league, and while Jarrett Stidham has more to offer, he also has a lot to learn. With Cam Newton looking iffy for Week 5, it’s going to be a down week for the Patriots passing game against the Broncos.

ATL @ GB

1. Julio Jones left with an aggravated hamstring injury, which probably means he’ll miss Week 5 at a minimum and we’ll want to see him getting in full practices before we truly trust him. Calvin Ridley came with an ankle injury and posted a stunning goose egg. Even Russell Gage was quiet in this one, as Olamide Zaccheaus was the leading receiver. Hayden Hurst could see some more targets shake loose for him while the Falcons wideouts are in disarray.
2. Aaron Rodgers doesn’t need his #1 and #2 receivers to put huge fantasy numbers. He just needs Robert Tonyan Jr, another personal favorite of his whole ruled around the goal line in this one. Tonyan will retain at least low TE1 value even after the bye when Davante Adams should be back.
3. Todd Gurley re-established his hold on the lead back job and scored twice in a performance that might have been more about the Packers run defense that a renewed vigor from Gurley. Either way, Brian Hill can be dropped.
4. Matt Ryan outdoors against a good pass rush without his top two receivers was a recipe for a dud, although there were two offensive scores - they just both went to Gurley. Ryan will be tough to trust until Jones and Ridley are healthy.
5. Jamaal Williams showed his advanced receiving ability and added a lot to a depleted passing game. He’s the injury hedge behind Aaron Jones and he has some desperation play value in PPR to boot. AJ Dillon doesn’t look ready to make an impact.
6. Marquez Valdes-Scantling didn’t make any splash plays but the quality of Rodgers play and Allen Lazard likely being out for multiple weeks after the bye might make Valdes-Scantling worth carrying through the bye in deep leagues.