Fantasy Football Week 4 Rankings, Grades & Start/Sit Advice (2025)

Welcome to Week 4, and welcome to Quick Grades, your weekly companion for start/sit clarity. We’ve combined consensus rankings and projections with The Primer’s matchup analysis to assign letter grades for every fantasy-relevant player, then added concise notes to illuminate the reasoning. Treat the grade as your default stance and the note as your context check.

Let’s make your weekly lineup calls easy. In general, A means start with confidence, C is matchup-dependent, and F is a bench. Scroll for every position’s call, plus key notes that explain the “why” behind the grade. Prefer a curated view of only your roster? Sync your team for a personalized My Primer experience.

Week 4 Quarterback Start/Sit Grades

Spencer Rattler (QB)

Ok, let’s start with the good for Spencer Rattler. He ranks 13th-best in highly accurate throw rate, tenth in catchable target rate, and 12th in hero throw rate. The problem is he is also the QB23 in fantasy points per game, ranking 23rd in passer rating and fifth-worst in turnover-worthy throw rate. He can still put up QB2 numbers because of his passing volume, but I wouldn’t expect more than that. The Bills have held quarterbacks to the third-lowest success rate per dropback, the eighth-fewest yards per attempt, and the fewest passing yards per game.

C.J. Stroud (QB)

Is C.J. Stroud broken? I hope not, but it has been a rough start to the season. Stroud is the QB33 in fantasy points per game. Among 37 qualifying quarterbacks, he ranks 25th in passing yards per game, 20th in yards per attempt, and highly accurate throw rate, 35th in CPOE, and 27th in catchable target rate. He has a possible “get right” matchup this week against Tennessee. The Titans have allowed the 11th-most yards per attempt and the tenth-highest CPOE and success rate per dropback. Stroud should have time to survey the field against a pass defense that has the 12th-lowest pressure rate.

Cam Ward (QB)

Cam Ward is a must-sit until further notice. He is the QB36 in fantasy points per game. Among 37 qualifying quarterbacks, he ranks 36th in yards per attempt, 32nd in passer rating, dead last in highly accurate throw rate, and 34th in catchable target rate. Ward faces a Houston pass defense that’s starting to hit their stride, allowing the 12th-lowest yards per attempt, passer rating, and success rate per dropback.

Jared Goff (QB)

Well…well…well…the Lions aren’t a sagging offense after all. Through three weeks, it looks like all of the Lions’ magic wasn’t just a result of Ben Johnson. Jared Goff is the QB12 in fantasy points per game. Among 37 qualifying passers, he ranks seventh in yards per attempt, sixth in CPOE, and eighth in highly accurate throw rate and catchable target rate. The Lions’ ability to quickly get their offensive line to gel has also been important. Over the last two weeks, Detroit has allowed the eighth-lowest pressure rate, which has been massive for Goff. We’ll see how the Lions’ offensive line holds up against the one-man wrecking crew of Myles Garrett. If they can, Goff should have a nice day. Cleveland has allowed the fifth-most passing touchdowns (tied), the eighth-highest passer rating, and ranks 16th in success rate per dropback.

Marcus Mariota (QB)

Marcus Mariota will be starting again for the Commanders this week. Last week, he was the QB6 in fantasy. He kicked in 40 yards on the ground (six carries) with a rushing score. Mariota was efficient with his passing volume (21 passing attempts), completing 71.4% of his passes with a 118.6 passer rating. He had a strong 76.2% highly accurate throw rate and 85.7% catchable target rate. He’ll have a tougher time this week facing a Falcons’ pass defense that has allowed the fifth-fewest yards per attempt, the fourth-lowest passer rating, and the seventh-lowest CPOE. Without Terry McLaurin and facing a tough matchup, his rushing acumen will have to carry his fantasy production.

Week 4 Wide Receiver Start/Sit Grades

DeVonta Smith (WR)

The Eagles’ passing attack broke out of their funk last week. DeVonta Smith is the WR37 in fantasy points per game, but last week he finished as the WR8 in weekly scoring (PPR). Smith has a 23.4% target share, a 35.9% air-yard share, 1.45 yards per route run (43 receiving yards per game), and a 31.3% first-read share. Smith leads the team with three red zone targets. He’ll face a Tampa Bay secondary that has utilized single high with 52.4% of their defensive snaps. Against single high, he leads the team with a 30.8% target share with 1.31 yards per route run, and a 44.4% first-read share. The per-route efficiency with Smith doesn’t worry me much because the talent is obviously still there. The secondary matchup is quite nice for Smith this week. Smith has run 64.6% of his routes from the slot this season. Tampa Bay has allowed the 11th-most fantasy points per game to slot receivers.

Chris Godwin (WR)

Chris Godwin was listed as a full participant in practice for Wednesday and Friday. I can’t start him this week. There’s no way to project his route share accurately. He’ll likely be eased in for his game of the season, and the matchup is tough, so don’t expect Godwin (who is not 100% yet) to make the most of what could be a limited snap count.

Ladd McConkey (WR)

Ladd McConkey is the WR42 in fantasy points per game. Just take a second and ingest that. This is not what people thought they were getting when they drafted McConkey, but the return of Keenan Allen and the ascension of Quentin Johnston have severely impacted McConkey. The talent hasn’t left McConkey’s body, though. Among 92 qualifying wide receivers, he ranks ninth in separation score and tenth in route win rate. This could be the big game that McConkey believers have been waiting for. McConkey has a 19.4% target share, averaged 54.3 receiving yards per game (1.39 yards per route run), and a 24.7% first-read share (second on the team). The Giants have the fifth-highest single high rate (61.5%) and the highest man coverage rate in the NFL (46.7%). Against single high, McConkey is third on the team with a 19.7% target share and 21.3% first-read share and only 1.35 yards per route run. Against man coverage, McConkey leads the team with a 29% first-read share. The man coverage usage for McConkey tilts the target pie hopefully in his favor, but also the fact that the Giants have bled out production to the slot, and McConkey leads them in slot rate (61.5%). The Giants have allowed the most fantasy points per game and the 14th-highest PPR points per target to the slot.

Wan’Dale Robinson (WR)

Wan’Dale Robinson is still the WR18 in fantasy points per game despite the dud last week. He looks primed for a rebound this week. Robinson has two red zone targets this season. He has a 20% target share averaging 74.3 receiving yards per game (2.28 yards per route run) with a 29.2% first-read share. The Bolts have the eighth-highest two-high rate in the NFL (55.9%). Against two high, his yards per route run has increased to 2.62, and his first-read share has jumped to 33.3%. The Chargers have been quietly terrible against the slot, giving up the sixth-most PPR points per target and the eighth-most fantasy points per game to the position. Dart should lean on Robinson this week.

Brian Thomas Jr. (WR)

Brian Thomas Jr. has had a difficult start to the season as the WR55 in fantasy points per game. He hasn’t surpassed 55 receiving yards in any game and has only three red zone targets, which all came in Week 2. Thomas Jr. has a 21.2% target share, a 36.6% air-yard share, a 23.3% first-read share, and has produced 38.3 receiving yards per game (1.15 yards per route run). It looks like Thomas Jr. is headed toward another sadness-inducing stat line. San Francisco has allowed the 12th-fewest PPR points per target and the fifth-fewest fantasy points per game to perimeter wide receivers.

Travis Hunter (WR)

Travis Hunter‘s offensive snap rate has dropped every week this season, from 63.6% in Week 1 to 52.9% last week. Last week, Hunter’s route share dropped to 58.1% and he saw only a 5% target share with a 7.5 aDOT. With a limited share of the offense and targets getting fed in his direction close to the line, there’s not much here that will inspire optimism. Hunter is a sit until these trends move in the opposite direction.

Week 4 Running Back Start/Sit Grades

Ashton Jeanty (RB)

Ashton Jeanty saw his role rebound some last week. He had 60% of the snaps played with a 41.2% route share. It was nice to see his route share bump back into the 40% range after dipping to 37.5% last week. He still hasn’t seen more than a 9.3% target share in any game, which is ridiculous. Jeanty is averaging 17.4 touches and only 49 total yards as the RB34 in fantasy points per game. The offensive line hasn’t helped him at all, as they have the seventh-lowest yards before contact per attempt. Jeanty has a decent 4.3% explosive run rate and a strong 26% missed tackle rate, so I still believe that better days are ahead for him, and they could start this week. The Bears have allowed the seventh-most rushing yards per game, the fifth-highest explosive run rate, the ninth-highest missed tackle rate, and the highest yards before contact per attempt (3.1!). If the Raiders can keep this game close, Jeanty could easily post his best stat line of the season.

D’Andre Swift (RB)

D’Andre Swift is the RB24 in fantasy points per game, ranking 16th in snap share, tenth in opportunity share, and 15th in weighted opportunities. Swift has averaged 17 touches and 70.7 total yards. His lackluster 12% missed tackle rate and 1.83 yards after contact per attempt aren’t surprising, as he was inefficient last year as well. Volume is the only thing keeping him afloat. Swift is a solid RB2 again this week, facing a Raiders’ run defense that has given up the sixth-most yards after contact per attempt and the tenth-highest missed tackle rate while ranking 17th in stuff rate.

Isiah Pacheco (RB)

Good lawd, how much of a disappointment has Isiah Pacheco been this season? The Chiefs refused to utilize him, and he hasn’t been amazing when they have. He has played 50-58% of the snaps weekly and averaged 9.6 touches and 35 total yards. Pacheco has zero explosive runs and only a 12% missed tackle rate. It has been tough to watch. Pacheco had a wonderful matchup last week, and it didn’t matter. The same is true for this week. Baltimore has given up the third-most rushing yards per game, the highest yards after contact per attempt, and logged the second-lowest stuff rate. If you’re still willing to flex Pacheco again at this point, godspeed.

Javonte Williams (RB)

Javonte Williams is the RB6 in fantasy points per game while averaging 18.6 touches and 95.4 total yards per game. He ranks tenth in snap share, eighth in opportunity share, and 19th in red zone touches. Among 48 qualifying backs, he ranks tenth in explosive run rate and eighth in yards after contact per attempt. Dallas has done a good job of opening up holes for him ranking eighth-best in yards before contact per attempt. Williams will have his work cut out for him this week. Green Bay has been a brick wall for opposing backs giving up the third-fewest rushing yards per game and yards after contact per attempt while having the sixth-highest stuff rate. There’s an avenue for Williams to walk away with a good game if Dallas leans into their gap run game. Williams has the sixth-best yards per carry and the second-best success rate with gap runs. Green Bay has allowed the seventh-highest missed tackle rate and the ninth-highest yards per carry to gap runs. Dallas should lean on Williams this week.

Breece Hall (RB)

Breece Hall is the RB26 in fantasy points per game, averaging 15.4 touches and 78.3 total yards. Hall has averaged 59% of the snaps with a 35.9% route share and a 12.5% target share. Sadly, he has only two of the seven running back red zone rushing attempts, so his touchdown equity in this offense is shaky before we even include the Jets’ mobile quarterbacks. Among 48 qualifying backs, Hall ranks third in explosive run rate and 26th in missed tackles forced per attempt. He should have a wonderful bounce-back game in Week 4 against a Dolphins run defense that has allowed the fifth-most rushing yards per game, the sixth-highest explosive run rate, and the seventh-highest yards after contact per attempt.

J.K. Dobbins (RB)

J.K. Dobbins is the RB12 in fantasy points per game, ranking 15th in red zone touches. He is averaging 15 touches and 78.7 total yards. Last week, Dobbins played a season-high 70.8% of snaps with 52.4% of the rushing attempts and a 46.9% route share. Among 48 qualifying backs, he ranks first in explosive run rate, 14th in missed tackles forced per attempt, and 20th in yards after contact per attempt. Dobbins should have another strong week against a Cincy run defense that has allowed the 12th-most rushing yards per game, the tenth-most yards after contact per attempt, and has the ninth-lowest stuff rate.

Week 4 Tight End Start/Sit Grades

Dalton Kincaid (TE)

Dalton Kincaid is the TE6 in fantasy points per game with two top-four weekly scoring finishes this season (TE4, TE4). He has two red zone targets already (two scores). The biggest issue with Kincaid’s production is that he’s doing it with just a 56.5% route share. He’s compensating for the lack of routes with a 25% target per route run rate, which is great, but I don’t know how sustainable that is. Overall, Kincaid has a 15.8% target share with 2.32 yards per route run (50.3 receiving yards per game) and a 19% first-read share. The Saints have allowed the 12th-highest yards per reception and the 13th-most fantasy points per game to tight ends.

Juwan Johnson (TE)

Juwan Johnson has been a pleasant surprise this season. He is the TE2 in fantasy points per game, ranking second in red zone targets (three), second in targets (28), second in receptions (19), and fifth in receiving yards (176) among tight ends. Johnson has a 23.1% target share (second on the team) with 1.71 yards per route run (58.7 receiving yards per game), and a 28.7% first-read share (second to only Chris Olave). He should still see plenty of volume this week, but Buffalo has shut down opposing tight ends, giving up the fewest receiving yards and yards per reception and the second-fewest fantasy points per game to the position. It’s a small bump for Johnson that Matt Milano will miss this game (pectoral).

Chig Okonkwo (TE)

Chig Okonkwo is the TE19 in fantasy points per game. He was the TE8 in weekly PPR scoring last week, which honestly says more about the state of the tight end position than it does about Okonkwo. Okonkwo has a 16.2% target share, 1.50 yards per route run, and a 17.2% first-read share. He hasn’t seen a red zone target yet and has surpassed 40 receiving yards only once. Okonkwo isn’t on the streaming radar this week. Houston has allowed the ninth-fewest receiving yards and fantasy points per game to tight ends.

Harold Fannin Jr. (TE)

With every passing week, Harold Fannin Jr. looks more like 2024 Isiah Likely. The standout Week 1 performance gets further and further in the rearview. Over the last two weeks, he has averaged only 4.5 targets, four receptions, and 36.5 receiving yards. Fannin Jr. has settled into a 55.5% route share, which isn’t great, while seeing a14% target share (24% target per route run rate) with 45.3 receiving yards per game (1.79 yards per route run) and a 17.9% first-read share. He hasn’t had a red zone target since the one he saw in Week 1. Maybe he has a bounce-back game this week, but it’s tough to bet on. Detroit has allowed the 12th-most receiving yards and the fourth-most fantasy points per game to tight ends.

David Njoku (TE)

David Njoku has been an afterthought this season as the TE22 in fantasy points per game. Njoku hasn’t been a high-end target earner this season. He has only a 13.2% target share despite having a 75.2 % route share. He has only produced 39 receiving yards per game (1.14 yards per route run) with a 15.4% first-read share. Njoku is still searching for his first red zone look of the season. He hasn’t finished higher than TE15 in weekly scoring in any week. Maybe the standout game comes this week, but I doubt it. Detroit has allowed the 12th-most receiving yards and the fourth-most fantasy points per game to tight ends.

Kyle Pitts (TE)

Kyle Pitts is the TE16 in fantasy points per game with one TE1 finish in weekly scoring this season (TE7). He’s a full-time player in the Falcons’ offense with an 87.1% route share, a 17.9% target share, 45 receiving yards per game (1.34 yards per route run), and a 16.9% first-read share. This week, he has another plus schematic matchup. The Commanders have utilized single high with 55.8% of their defensive snaps. Against single-high, Pitts has seen his target share increase to 19.6% and this first-read share stays stable at 16.7%. Pitts could easily be a strong TE1 this season. The Commanders have allowed the highest yards per reception and the tenth-most fantasy points per game to tight ends.

Week 4 Defense / Special Teams Start/Sit Grades

Week 4 Kicker Start/Sit Grades