The predominant story from week 4 of the NFL is players from four different teams testing positive for the coronavirus and two games being postponed as a result. Let’s not focus on that. Instead, most teams have made it through 25% of their schedule and have a reasonable idea of what to expect for the rest of the season, which can be drastically different than just a few short weeks ago. After wins over San Francisco and Washington, the Cardinals looked poised to contend but subsequent losses to Detroit and Carolina have followed. Similarly, the vaunted Cowboy’s offense has delivered yet an inept defense has the team at 1-3 (and almost 0-4). On the other hand, Indianapolis lost week 1 to a bad Jaguars team but has responded with wins over the Vikings, Jets and Bears.
Your fantasy team has most likely gone through identical highs and lows and you need to be honest in performing a realistic evaluation at this point. One of the best ways to do so is to look at your points scored and see where that ranks compared to your league-mates’ totals. Another more accurate, more in depth method is to see where your points scored rank in each of the four weeks. It’s common to be lucky with matchups after only a few weeks and referencing total points will give you a better measuring stick.
A final reminder is the waiver wire produces impact players throughout the season. If you missed out on James Robinson or Russell Gage, don’t fret because additional names will emerge. It’s paramount to stay active on waivers and remain aggressive. With that, let’s get into the fantasy-worthy performances from week 4.
A Varied Quarterback Leaderboard
Through 13 of 15 games this week, the top-10 scorers are a combination of big names, mid-tier guys and streaming options. This type of distribution isn’t typical and highlights the ability to find a quality option on a weekly basis.
Dak Prescott leads the way with 37.28 points while other high picks Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson and Kyler Murray also find themselves among the top scorers. Prescott is making a case to join the Jackson and Patrick Mahomes tier thanks to a perfect combination of offensive weapons, rushing ability and a terrible defense. This week’s latest failed comeback bid featured 502 passing yards and 4 TDs. Allen topped 25 points again – he’s done so every week – behind an efficient 288 yards passing and 3 total TDs. Jackson also submitted 25 points, after consecutive weeks below 20, mostly due to a 50-yard rushing TD but also turned in 193 passing yards and 2 aerial scores. Murray managed 23.12 despite only 133 passing yards as a result of 78 yards rushing and 3 TDs through the air, proving he is the clear first option in a good offense.
The other names in the top ten include Tom Brady, Teddy Bridgewater, Sam Darnold, Justin Herbert, Matthew Stafford and Ryan Fitzpatrick. Brady passed for 5 TDs on his way to 32.46 points and has scored 20 points every game except for week 2, when the running game was dominant. Bridgewater’s outburst was fueled by 9 points on the ground, as he’s been consistently average otherwise, and Stafford finds himself in the same situation. Herbert and Fitzpatrick offer upside on a weekly basis as Herbert is averaging nearly 20 FPPG and Fitz has scored at least 21 in three consecutive weeks. Darnold’s performance is most likely a blip and the result of a 46-yard rushing score.
Breakout and Lackluster Performances from Backs
On an overall quiet day from running backs, the big story is Joe Mixon’s 42.1-point performance behind 31 touches for 181 total yards and 3 TDs after scoring only 27.2 through the first three weeks. This completely restored the star’s value and confirmed his involvement in an invigorated Cincinnati offense.
Melvin Gordon, Antonio Gibson and Latavius Murray also had breakout weeks that featured at least 20 points. Gordon scored 25.8 after averaging 13.27 through the first three weeks and this may be the perfect time to sell high with Phillips Lindsay’s impending return. Gibson received a career high 17 touches that he turned into 118 total yards and a rushing score for the third straight week. The rookie appears to be a difference maker and should be locked into line ups moving forward. Not thought of as having much standalone value, Murray proved that he’s more than just the best insurance policy for Alvin Kamara with 14 rushes for 64 yards and 2 scores. Murray is a risky play when Kamara is healthy but can replicate today’s performance with the right game script.
Other obvious names to submit quality weeks include Chris Carson, Mike Davis, Ronald Jones and Devin Singletary. All should be locked into line ups withstanding current circumstances.
No performance was more disappointing than Kenyan Drake’s 3.5 in a favorable matchup against a Carolina defense that has been gashed by the run. While he still has value, it appears to be that of an RB2 until further notice. Fellow early round backs Austin Ekeler and Nick Chubb both departed in their games first halves and scored fewer than five points on the day. Backups Kareem Hunt and Joshua Kelley should already be on rosters but stand to gain value in the interim, especially with Ekeler expected to be out multiple weeks.
Darrell Henderson, Jonathan Taylor, Josh Jacobs and David Johnson also had subpar weeks. Henderson and Taylor are best suited as flex plays rather than RB2s due to their lack of consistency, mostly tied to their limited work as receivers. After statement 2020 debuts, Jacobs and Johnson have averaged only 10 and 11 FPPG the past three weeks and need a quality, reassuring performance.
Under the Radar Receivers Step Up
The statement performance of the week was Odell Beckhams’s 38.4-point explosion, a reminder of his enormous potential and big play ability, but several widely available names contributed solid lines this week. DJ Chark and CeeDee Lamb are most likely on a team in your league, but both need to be added if they somehow aren’t. Chark had an 8/95/2 line while Lamb had a similar 5/79/2 and are clearly featured options in their respective offenses. DeVante Parker, rostered in 91.8% of leagues, also contributed a solid 10/110/0 on a hefty 12 targets.
Readily available names Tim Patrick, Tre’Quan Smith and Scotty Miller deserve more attention. On Thursday, Patrick had a team high 7 targets which resulted in 6 catches for 113 yards and a score and could improve when starter Drew Lock eventually returns. Smith has shown flashes over the past two seasons and did so again today with 4 catches for 54 yards and 2 TDs, although Michael Thomas recovery will knock him down the depth chart. Miller cashed in on Chris Godwin’s absence to produce a 5/83/1 line and should be in the flex conversation whenever Godwin or Mike Evans is banged up.
Below average games came from Marvin Jones, Michael Gallup, T.Y. Hilton, Tyler Lockett, DJ Moore, Robert Woods and DeAndre Hopkins, all of whom are rostered in more than 85% of leagues. Those with Jones, Gallup and Hilton should be worried as the trio has scored below 13 points in eleven of twelve cumulative outings. Lockett and Woods have been feast or famine over the years so a subpar performance every now and then is to be expected. Moore has received a healthy 30 targets over four games, however that’s second on the team to Robbie Anderson’s 34, which was not expected after he was drafted in the third or fourth round of most leagues. Hopkins produced only 11.1 points on a day where Murray struggled to push the ball downfield but remains one of the few elite options at the position.
Closing Comments
If there was any doubt, George Kittle has reestablished himself as tight end 1A. The position is all over the place, and the emergent Dalton Schultz needs to be on rosters in every league. Since taking over for Blake Jarwin, the Stanford product is averaging nearly 16 FPPG on 8 targets yet is rostered in fewer than one third of leagues. Other than the consistent names at the position, the best options at kicker are those facing poor defenses or whose teams have poor defenses themselves, evidenced by Jason Sanders, Brandon McManus, Sam Ficken and Randy Bullock all scoring at least 17 points this week.
