It is time for Week 4, and Andy, Mike, and Jason have got us covered! Remember to listen to The Fantasy Footballers podcast, available wherever you listen to your podcasts.
News
James Conner suffered a season-ending ankle injury, with Trey Benson stepping in as the Cardinals’ starter. Najee Harris tore his Achilles on a one-year deal, a devastating blow that could end his career. CeeDee Lamb left early with a likely high ankle sprain and is expected to miss time, while Mike Evans’ hamstring injury may lead to an IR stint. Terry McLaurin exited with a quad injury, and rookie Tyrone Tracy Jr. left Sunday Night Football with a shoulder issue. Mac Jones re-aggravated a PCL injury for the 49ers, opening the door for Brock Purdy’s possible return. Colston Loveland injured his hip, while Noah Fant, Michael Mayer, and Alec Pierce all suffered concussions. Daniel Jones has no multi-TD games this year, but continues vulturing scores in the “Jones Zone.”
Studs
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QBs: Caleb Williams went nuclear against Dallas with 298 yards and four TDs, now pacing for 4,000 yards and 40 scores. He’s the QB2 on the season. Jalen Hurts came in at QB2 for the week, leading a comeback win, while Geno Smith rode three Tre Tucker TDs to finish as QB3. Josh Allen and Marcus Mariota rounded out the top five, with Mariota somehow posting his third top-10 fantasy finish in the last year despite starting just one game. Drake Maye stayed hot, too, sitting inside the season’s top 10 QBs.
RBs: Jonathan Taylor reminded everyone he’s still that guy, finishing as RB1. Jordan Mason scored twice, Omarion Hampton popped for 22 points, and Cam Skattebo became the first RB with 120+ yards and six catches in just his third NFL start. James Cook, Kyren Williams, and Quinshon Judkins also impressed, while Christian McCaffrey continued his absurd usage with 32 opportunities. J.K. Dobbins quietly posted another top-15 week, and the Washington backfield turned into a messy three-way split between Rodriguez, Croskey-Merritt, and McNichols.
WRs: Tre Tucker shockingly led the position, with Courtland Sutton, A.J. Brown, Garrett Wilson, and Nico Collins close behind. Puka Nacua, Rome Odunze, Michael Pittman, and Jaxon Smith-Njigba all kept rolling, while Luther Burden flashed big-play ability. Ladd McConkey’s role shrank with Keenan Allen and Quenton Johnston dominating volume, making him more of a WR3 than draft-day hopes suggested.
TEs: Hunter Henry exploded for two TDs, Dalton Kincaid scored Thursday, and Jake Ferguson vacuumed up 14 targets. T.J. Hockenson finally found the end zone, while Trey McBride stayed reliable with another TD.
Duds
QBs: Jordan Love managed only 12 points against Cleveland’s stingy defense. Dak Prescott threw two picks, lost CeeDee Lamb early, and got benched late. Patrick Mahomes struggled with little help beyond Tyquan Thornton, while Bo Nix barely missed three potential long TDs but still hasn’t topped 206 yards passing. Kyler Murray and Trevor Lawrence both disappointed again, and CJ Stroud’s offense looks broken.
RBs: Chase Brown is historically inefficient, with the fewest rushing yards through three games for any back with 45+ carries. Saquon Barkley, Ashton Jeanty, and Breece Hall all underwhelmed behind poor blocking. Nick Chubb looked sluggish in a timeshare with Woody Marks gaining ground, while D’Andre Swift and Isiah Pacheco both flopped despite decent roles. Rhamondre Stevenson’s two fumbles crushed his day, and TreVeyon Henderson is still stuck in a limited role.
WRs: The Bengals’ passing game is a wasteland: Tee Higgins is borderline unplayable, and Ja’Marr Chase is living on short screens only. Malik Nabers, Wan’Dale Robinson, and Drake London were all sunk by awful QB play, while Brian Thomas Jr. (28% catch rate) is off to a rough start, and Travis Hunter remains unstartable. Marvin Harrison Jr. hasn’t been consistent either, sitting at just a 41% hit rate over 10.5 points. Ladd McConkey’s volume dipped, Deebo Samuel saw only three targets, and Calvin Ridley looks like a drop candidate with Cam Ward flailing.
TEs: Travis Kelce put up just 4 for 26 and doesn’t look like himself. Brock Bowers, Tucker Kraft, Tyler Warren, and Kyle Pitts all let managers down in rough spots. Zach Ertz and Trey McBride lost volume in blowouts, while Dalton Schultz and Hunter Henry both slipped outside the top-20 TEs this week.
News
Tyrone Tracy will miss 2–4 weeks, opening the door for Cam Skattebo, who led the Giants in rushing and receiving last week. Russell Wilson has officially been benched, with rookie Jackson Dart taking over as the Giants’ starting QB against the Chargers. The move should give Malik Nabers and the offense a more hopeful long-term outlook. On the injury front, 49ers star Nick Bosa tore his ACL and is out for the season. CeeDee Lamb is expected to miss about three weeks with a high ankle sprain, while Mike Evans is sidelined multiple weeks with a hamstring. Ja’Tavion Sanders is also out with a high ankle sprain. Zach Charbonnet returned to practice and should be back this week. Titans head coach Brian Callahan gave up play-calling, and the Falcons fired their WRs coach as their offense continues to sputter.
Waiver Wire
RBs: Trey Benson is the top pickup with James Conner out for the season — a potential rest-of-year starter worth 65–80% of FAAB. Emari Demercado has PPR value as Arizona’s passing-down RB. Bhayshul Tuten remains involved and producing behind Etienne. Rookie Ollie Gordon (Dolphins) flashed early and could see more work. Chris Rodriguez Jr. got a start for Washington but is capped in a committee. Woody Marks is trending up in Houston as Nick Chubb fades. Kareem Hunt has goal-line and passing work but remains a TD-dependent flex.
WRs: Tre Tucker is playing nearly every snap for the Raiders and just posted a monster game, and is the top WR add for Andy. Tory Horton (Seahawks rookie) and Troy Franklin (Broncos sophomore) are both emerging with big-play ability and expanding roles. Sterling Shepard steps into a bigger role in Tampa Bay with Mike Evans out, making him a cheap spot-start. Tyquan Thornton is heavily targeted for the Chiefs and nearly had a second TD. Matthew Golden (Packers rookie) is a sneaky start vs Dallas. Luther Burden is a stash for later-season upside.
TEs: Hunter Henry looks like Drake Maye’s go-to with 11 targets last week, making him a top streaming option. Cade Otton is playing 90% of snaps and could see more work with Evans out. Oronde Gadsden (Chargers) is a super-deep name if Will Dissly misses time. Colston Loveland is worth monitoring as he returns from injury.
DSTs: DET (vs CLE, then CIN) are a strong two-week play. LAC gets rookie QB Jaxson Dart in his first start. HOU is a top option vs TEN. NE (vs CAR) and WAS (vs Michael Penix) are also strong streamers.
Check out all the waiver wire rankings on the website and use the ultimate dashboard waiver tool as a FootClan member that is adjusted to your league.
Full Stream Ahead
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Jason: Sam Darnold (vs ARI, Thursday Night)
After a brutal Week 1, Darnold has rebounded with back-to-back strong fantasy games, including a QB11 finish last week in limited action. He’s top 10 in pass success rate, completion %, YPA, and sack rate. With JSN breaking out and Arizona’s defense struggling, Jason tabs him as a plug-and-play streamer.
Mike: Geno Smith (vs CHI)
Smith has already posted two games of 10+ yards per attempt this season – something even Justin Herbert rarely does. Chicago’s secondary just lost Jalen Johnson to surgery, and this matchup is indoors with a 47.5 total. Mike likes Geno to keep slinging it in a prime streaming spot.
Andy: Justin Fields (vs MIA, health dependent)
If he clears concussion protocol, Fields is back on the streaming radar. Miami ranks in the bottom 10 against QBs and is dead last in play success rate allowed. Andy points to the rushing upside combined with a beatable defense as a recipe for a high-ceiling week.
Not Streamable: Dak Prescott
All three Ballers agree you can’t play Dak right now. With CeeDee sidelined, a shaky O-line, and a brutal schedule, he’s a bench stash for now. If you don’t have space to stash him, it’s fine to move on.
Backup Options
Over the last 24 hours on Sleeper, several players have been among the most dropped.
- At QB, Russell Wilson and Jake Browning were let go, but neither is worth caring about. Dak Prescott was also dropped in many leagues; he’s worth stashing until Lamb comes back, if you have the bench space.
- At RB, Dylan Sampson can be ignored, while Rhamondre Stevenson should be scooped up if he was dropped. Tank Bigsby is not worth a roster spot, but Kyle Monangai is a stash candidate. Jaden Blue is too far down the depth chart unless Javonte Williams were to go down.
- At WR, Romeo Doubs should not have been dropped, as he has bounce-back potential. Troy Franklin is a strong add, while Marvin Mims is less appealing. Andrei Iosivas and Jayden Higgins both lack a realistic path to fantasy value.
- At TE, Evan Engram should be held onto, and Harold Fannin should not be dropped after having a big play called back on Sunday.
As for stash picks, Jason highlighted RB Brashard Smith of the Chiefs, noting that the Kansas City backfield is a mess with Pacheco looking sloppy and Hunt past his prime. Smith has shown some juice and could be the next man up. Andy pointed to TE Oronde Gadsden II of the Chargers, who stepped in for Will Dissly. He saw seven targets, caught five for 46 yards, and has intriguing athleticism and pedigree. If Dissly misses more time, Gadsden could have a role. Mike’s stash pick was TE Zach Ertz, who has been widely dropped but was the TE2 before last week. He’s a reliable red-zone weapon, playable even with Marcus Mariota and even better with Jayden Daniels.
News
Terry McLaurin is seeking additional opinions on his quad injury, which may actually be a core muscle issue. That kind of uncertainty, along with multiple consultations, usually signals concern, and he could miss time. Xavier Worthy is expected to return soon for the Chiefs but will play a limited role while wearing a harness, so fantasy managers shouldn’t expect much production right away. Falcons head coach Raheem Morris confirmed Michael Penix Jr. will start in Week 4. The questions reflect the tension Atlanta created by keeping Cousins on the roster.
Trade Targets
Trade Away Candidates:
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Andy: Javonte Williams
He’s had great usage and TDs so far, but with Dallas’ O-line injuries, no CeeDee Lamb, and a brutal upcoming schedule, his value is at its peak. Now’s the time to sell high.
Mike: Jacory Croskey-Merritt
He has flashed explosiveness, but Washington is leaning toward a three-way timeshare. He offers no receiving work, and the schedule gets rough. He could be worth cashing out before value dips.
Jason: AJ Brown
He is still a star, but Philly’s dominant defense and run game lead to disappearing acts. After a monster week, you can package him in a deal to land more consistent value.
Trade For Candidates
Andy: Ashton Jeanty
He is a buy-low rookie RB on the Raiders. Despite the offensive line struggles, he has true bellcow usage, little competition, and room for improvement in both TDs and efficiency.
Mike: Garrett Wilson
He has elite usage and target share, with fewer low-percentage routes and a favorable upcoming schedule. Even with shaky QB play, he carries clear top-12 WR upside.
Jason: Josh Jacobs
He remains a volume king with elite opportunity share, though he hasn’t had a blow-up game yet. With a softer schedule ahead, he projects as a rest-of-season top-5 RB.
TNF Preview
2-1 Seattle at 2-1 Arizona (SEA -1.5, O/U 43.5)
Arizona’s defense has held up well, but their offense is struggling and just lost James Conner for the year. Rookie RB Trey Benson takes over and should slot in as an RB2, while TE Trey McBride remains the focal point. He gets the dream matchup against a Seattle defense that ranks dead last vs TEs. Marvin Harrison Jr. is coming off a brutal game with drops and missed big plays, but the usage still suggests a buy-low opportunity. In fact, Andy proposed a trade to Mike of Zay Flowers for Marv.
On the Seattle side, Kenneth Walker stays locked into lineups despite a tougher Cardinals front, with Zach Charbonnet back healthy but still second fiddle. WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba has emerged as an elite option, while Sam Darnold (Mike’s streamer of the week) remains in play against a beatable secondary. Cooper Kupp and Tory Horton are more dart throws, with Horton the better stash but Kupp the slightly safer spot-start.
Andy had to throw in Justin Fields with Zay Flowers to get Mike to accept his trade for Marvin Harrison Jr. Everyone is happy, and Andy is now relying on his Cardinals IRL and in fantasy.
News
Zach Charbonnet is officially questionable, but logged three full practices, so he is expected to play Thursday night. Jacory Croskey-Merritt missed Wednesday’s practice as a precaution and should return, while Davante Adams sat out with a hamstring issue, though Sean McVay downplayed concerns about his availability. Isaiah Likely was limited in walkthroughs, leaving his Week 4 status unclear, while Xavier Worthy practiced fully but is expected to be eased in with a harness, making him a wait-and-see option for fantasy lineups.
D’Andre Swift and Cole Kmet were limited, Colston Loveland missed practice, and 49ers WRs Ricky Pearsall (knee) and Jauan Jennings also sat out. Pearsall says he’s fine, but with San Francisco, injuries are always a red flag. At QB, both Brock Purdy and Mac Jones were limited, but Purdy is trending toward playing and has been a viable fantasy option in deeper leagues.
Starts of the Week
Andy
QB: Jordan Love (vs DAL)
RB: Omarion Hampton (vs NYG)
WR: Matthew Golden (vs DAL)
TE: TJ Hockenson (vs PIT)
Jason
QB: Caleb Williams (vs LV)
RB: Chuba Hubbard (vs NE)
WR: Davante Adams (vs IND)
TE: Hunter Henry (vs CAR)
Mike
QB: Bo Nix (vs CIN)
RB: J.K. Dobbins (vs CIN)
WR: Jakobi Meyers (vs CHI)
TE: Jake Ferguson (vs NO)
Fantasy Forecast
3-0 MIN at 2-1 PIT (MIN -2.5, O/U 40.5)
Both teams are leaning run-heavy, ranking bottom 10 in pass rate over expectation. Jaylen Warren has quietly been a top-20 RB every week without scoring, and Jordan Mason remains a solid start. Justin Jefferson is still an auto WR1 despite PIT’s scrappy defense, while DK Metcalf faces a nightmare matchup against a MIN secondary that’s number one against wideouts. Rodgers and Wentz squaring off in Ireland adds some chaos, but this one projects ugly for fantasy.
2-1 WAS at 1-2 ATL (WAS -1.5, O/U 45.5)
Marcus Mariota has shown fantasy life when called on, as he will be this week. Terry McLaurin looks doubtful, which boosts Deebo Samuel into must-start territory. Zach Ertz gets a bump as well. The WAS backfield remains a mess, with Bill Croskey and Chris Rodriguez splitting work and Jeremy McNichols soaking up some targets. On the ATL side, Bijan Robinson is automatic, and Drake London has a prime chance for a bounce-back despite lower ADOT.
1-2 NO at 2-1 BUF (BUF -15.5, O/U 47.0)
BUF is a massive home favorite with an implied team total over 31. Josh Allen and James Cook are locked in lineups, but the pass-catching rotation of Keon Coleman, Khalil Shakir, Dalton Kincaid, and Dawson Knox makes for headaches. Kincaid has quietly put up big numbers. For NO, Alvin Kamara’s inefficiency is offset by sheer volume, and Chris Olave is pacing for 209 targets even if his yardage lags. Juwan Johnson is a strong TE start. This one could get lopsided quickly.
1-2 CLE at 3-0 DET (DET -10, O/U 44.5)
DET is a double-digit favorite with an implied total of 27. David Montgomery is downgraded to flex status against a CLE run defense that’s been tough up the middle. Amon-Ra St. Brown remains a set-and-forget WR1, while Jameson Williams continues to lag with a 13% target share. For CLE, Quinshon Judkins’ role is growing, but this is a brutal matchup, while Jerry Jeudy and Cedric Tillman have yet to inspire confidence. Joe Flacco’s still slinging it, so volume keeps the passing game afloat in deeper formats.
0-3 CAR at 0-3 NE (NE -4.5, O/U 42.5)
NE is still sorting through a messy WR group, with Demario Douglas and Kayshon Boutte rotating while rookie Kyle Williams waits for a bigger role. Hunter Henry is a sneaky start at TE. The RB situation is precarious. Rhamondre Stevenson is still trusted, but rookie TreVeyon Henderson is pushing for more snaps. For Carolina, Bryce Young has been shaky on the road, while the WR room is banged up with Xavier Legette, Tetairoa McMillan, and Ja’Tavion Sanders all limited. Chuba Hubbard is Mike’s start of the week with steady volume, and Hunter Renfrow is a desperation flex.
1-2 LAC at 1-2 NYG (LAC -6, O/U 43.5)
Justin Herbert is rising into MVP chatter, and LAC is a six-point road favorite. His weapons remain strong starts across the board. NYG is rolling out rookie Jaxson Dart with Cam Skattebo and Malik Nabers supporting him, and Skattebo has worked his way into flex territory. With NYG implied for under 19 points, expectations should be tempered, but this has “Andy’s Almost Upset of the Week” written all over it.
News
Jayden Daniels’ status took a sharp downturn Friday as he was absent from practice following a limited Thursday session. Vegas reacted, swinging the line from Washington -3 to Atlanta -1.5. Marcus Mariota is expected to start, and he’s a viable streaming option. Bill Croskey, sidelined with a sore knee, was on the field but limited to special teams work. If he sits, Chris Rodriguez projects for increased usage. Terry McLaurin also missed practice; reports confirm no surgery is needed, but he remains unlikely to play this week. In Tampa, Chris Godwin missed Thursday after a full practice on Wednesday as part of his ramp-up schedule. Carolina’s Chuba Hubbard was added late to the injury report with a calf issue, raising Rico Dowdle’s stash appeal. Davante Adams hasn’t practiced this week with a hamstring injury. Jauan Jennings also missed time, and if he’s sidelined, Demarcus Robinson is coming back from suspension this week and straight into the starting lineup. On the positive side, Xavier Worthy and Justin Fields were full participants and are trending toward availability.
Fantasy Forecast
0-3 TEN at 0-3 HOU (HOU -7, O/U 39.5)
Ew. Tennessee is projected for 16.25 points. Fire up the Texans’ defense. Rookie QB Cam Ward has the lowest completion rate in football and has already been sacked 15 times, on pace for a record. Tony Pollard’s still getting 20 touches a game, but temper those expectations. On the flip side, Nick Chubb should have TD chances at home as the Texans’ offense leans run-heavy, though Woody Marks’ growing role is worth watching. Nico Collins is an auto start. Ayomanor is a dart throw if you’re desperate, having scored in back-to-back games. Otherwise, let’s move on, please.
3-0 IND at 2-1 LAR (LAR -3.5, O/U 49.5)
Colts at Rams is shaping up as a marquee matchup, with the week’s highest total at 49.5. The Colts’ offense ranks second in yards per game, with Jonathan Taylor locked in lineups. Jason guarantees an average game from Michael Pittman (exactly 10.3 half PPR points). Rookie TE Tyler Warren has surprisingly led the league in yards after catch, making him a sneaky play, while A.D. Mitchell could step up with Alec Pierce sidelined. For the Rams, Kyren Williams and Puka Nacua are automatic, and Davante Adams’ hamstring needs close monitoring. If active, he’s still startable but carries risk. This one should deliver plenty of fantasy action.
2-1 JAX at 2-1 SF (SF -3, O/U 46.5)
The Jaguars have been uneven, with Travis Etienne carrying the offense while Trevor Lawrence struggles to sync with his receivers. Travis Hunter and Brian Thomas Jr. remain hard to trust until chemistry improves. On the 49ers’ side, Christian McCaffrey’s workload remains absurd (on pace for 437 touches), keeping him locked in as a top play. Demarcus Robinson is one to watch if Jauan Jennings is out. Theo Johnson offers fringe streaming appeal at TE, and Parker Washington had 11 targets last week, and could keep those opportunities if Dyami Brown sits. Nick Bosa is out, so the Jaguars’ offense could get going.
1-2 BAL at 1-2 KC (BAL -2.5, O/U 48.5)
This matchup could become a shootout, with Baltimore’s defense already surrendering over 100 points on the season. Lamar Jackson, Derrick Henry, and Zay Flowers are all locked into lineups. Mark Andrews is playable coming off a big Monday night game. For Kansas City, Patrick Mahomes might have to lean on Travis Kelce despite the lowest target share of his career, while Tyquan Thornton profiles as the most intriguing WR dart throw. Kareem Hunt is a TD-based flex play, but the matchup is tough.
1-2 CHI at 1-2 LV (LV -1.5, O/U 47.5)
Sneaky shootout potential here, with both defenses looking vulnerable. Caleb Williams is worth another look after last week’s flashes, while DJ Moore remains in the WR3/Flex mix despite inconsistency. Rookie Rome Odunze has carved out a startable role, and Brock Bowers is already a lineup lock. D’Andre Swift has only had 11 and 12 touches the last two weeks. For the Raiders, Geno Smith is a viable streamer if available. Jakobi Meyers offers steady volume, and Ashton Jeanty is a risky bet behind a bad offensive line, even against Chicago’s middling run defense. Don’t chase Tre Tucker’s three TD game from last week.
2-1 GB at 1-2 DAL (GB -7, O/U 47.5)
The Cowboys are banged up and will be without CeeDee Lamb, which pushes George Pickens into a high-volume role. Jake Ferguson is a strong start against Green Bay, while Javonte Williams feels more like a floor play in this spot. For the Packers, Josh Jacobs is locked into heavy usage, and Romeo Doubs provides flex-level stability. Green Bay’s offensive balance makes it a guessing game for fantasy, but the combo of Jordan Love and Matthew Golden are both starts of the week for Andy.
0-3 NYJ at 0-3 MIA (MIA -2.5, O/U 45.5)
Justin Fields looks on track to return, giving the Jets a boost on the road. Garrett Wilson is the only auto-start for New York. Miami’s stars remain set-and-forget, with Tyreek Hill and De’Von Achane being demanding targets. Jaylen Waddle is a volatile WR3 but always has splash-play upside. Both backfields should see heavy work if defenses try to limit explosive plays. Darren Waller is on track to make his Miami Debut, but we’ll believe it when we see it.
2-1 CIN at 1-2 DEN (DEN -7.5, O/U 44.5)
The Bengals’ offense continues to sputter without Joe Burrow. Ja’Marr Chase remains the only safe play, while Chase Brown has yet to turn touches into meaningful production. For Denver, Bo Nix and J.K. Dobbins are Mike’s starts of the week. Courtland Sutton provides steady WR2 value, and Franklin is only a deep-play threat in deep leagues. At home, the Broncos should control the pace and lean on their defense. Tee Higgins’ value has plummeted with Jake Browning at the helm.
Good luck in Week 4, FootClan!