Week 4 Players I Love in Fantasy Football

Bryce Young, Carolina Panthers

Young currently leads the NFL in passing yards and is averaging 2.33 TDs per game. Up next, a Detroit Lions defense that has allowed the most completions (86), passing yards (979), and total touchdowns (11) to opposing quarterbacks. The Lions are also allowing a league-worst 31.7 points per game. On paper, matchups don’t get much juicier than this.

Others I Like

• Jared Goff, Detroit Lions: That Week 4 matchup with Carolina has shootout written all over it, and we’re just a few weeks removed from the Panthers giving up 59 points.
• C.J. Stroud, Houston Texans: All that preseason talk of an improved defense for the Dallas Cowboys hasn’t taken shape. That unit has allowed seven TDs without an INT and an NFL-high 176 yards rushing to QBs. While Stroud isn’t the nimblest runner, his home matchup in a desperation game against a jet-lagged Dallas team has some potential.
• Jameis Winston, New York Giants: Winston has looked bad thus far, but if there’s a week to unleash him, this might be it. Brock Purdy cooked Arizona’s secondary minus his top four WRs. The arrival of J.J. McCarthy could also light a fire under the veteran.

Running Backs

Bucky Irving, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

It wasn’t just that the Green Bay Packers looked bad defending Bijan Robinson; they struggled with Brian Robinson Jr., too. With Baker Mayfield (thumb) out of action, you can bet the Bucs will try to ape the Atlanta Falcons’ game plan. There’s some risk—Green Bay was mostly solid against Breece Hall, Aaron Jones, and Jordan Mason in the first two games—but the ceiling is high.

Others I Like

• Aaron Jones, Minnesota Vikings: With Mason (thumb) out, Jones is the workhorse. This week, he faces a Miami Dolphins defense that has allowed seven TDs to opposing backs. That’s the most in the NFL.
• TreVeyon Henderson, New England Patriots: The Buffalo Bills are allowing 137 yards and 2.33 TDs per game to running backs through three games. The last time Henderson faced them, he racked up 161 yards and scored twice.
• J.K. Dobbins, San Francisco 49ers: Dobbins hasn’t been overly effective thus far, but he’s getting a lot of touches, and the 49ers’ defense is banged up. It’s not hard to envision Dobbins putting up numbers like Jeremiyah Love (21-90-0) did in Week 3.

Wide Receivers

George Pickens, Dallas Cowboys

Fantasy owners have been waiting for Pickens to awaken from his early-season slumber. Week 3 was a step in the right direction as he caught seven passes for 82 yards in Brazil. Week 4 could be the breakout. The Texans have surrendered 176 yards and 1.67 TDs per game to wideouts through three games, and that includes struggling to check the combination of Josh Downs and Keenan Allen. Speaking of which…

Others I Like

• Josh Downs/Keenan Allen, Indianapolis Colts: After combining for 11 receptions, 140 yards, and a score versus Houston, Downs and Allen square off against the Washington Commanders in Week 4. Washington has given up the most catches and TDs to opposing receivers along with the third-most yards.
• Michael Wilson, Arizona Cardinals: Wilson (11-89-1) had a big day versus the 49ers. He could build on that against the G-Men, which sit in the bottom 10 in both receptions and touchdowns allowed to wideouts.
• DK Metcalf, Pittsburgh Steelers: Metcalf is off to a slow start, and he’s someone the Steelers need to keep engaged. He had a 4-95-1 line in his only meeting with the Cleveland Browns last year, and the Browns are a bottom-five defense in fantasy points allowed to WRs.

Tight Ends

Isaiah Likely, New York Giants

Likely got off to a great start but has seen his momentum stall out with Winston under center. He has a chance to rebound versus the Cardinals, who got absolutely abused by George Kittle in Week 3 for 82 yards and a pair of touchdowns despite the 49ers being devastated by injuries at receiver. This is a good opportunity to get Likely back in your lineup.

Others I Like

• Darren Waller, Carolina Panthers: It’s not a big surprise that the worst pass defense in the NFL is also the worst against tight ends.
• Kyle Pitts, Atlanta Falcons: Pitts was left out of Atlanta’s offensive explosion in Week 2. Maybe this is his week. Only two teams have given up more receiving yards to tight ends this season than the New Orleans Saints.

Defensive Teams

• Buffalo Bills: No team in the NFL has turned the ball over more than the Patriots. With no A.J. Brown (ankle) and Drake Maye struggling right now, Buffalo has a clear path to value.
• Atlanta Falcons: While the Saints do a lot of good things offensively, they’ve also allowed the second-most sacks (10) and are tied for the third-most giveaways (7). This is a risk/reward option.
• Green Bay Packers: The Pack is back (in this section for a third straight week) despite getting shredded last Thursday. While there are no sure things with this group, facing an undrafted rookie in his NFL debut equates to serious potential.