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Dynasty $125 - FFL: Week 4 | NFL: Week 4

Lineup Prep: Super Bowl

Wed Feb 7 8:43am ET
By JEFF PAUR
Sr Fantasy Writer

Related photo caption below

Pacheco is playing at high level


Not sure about you, but there is not a better weekend in sports than Super Bowl weekend. It is as good as it gets. Just everything involved with it is so much fun. I am so looking forward to it all this weekend. Let’s hope it is a good game and lives up to the hype. Now for my random thoughts for the week. . . .

I will give you my pick for the game right off the bat. I think it will be a close game, but look for the Chiefs to squeak it out. I think the experience factor plays a difference here in the end, especially when it comes to the quarterback position. Patrick Mahomes has been outstanding during the playoffs and think he has a huge advantage over Brock Purdy. Plus, the Chiefs defense has been outstanding lately, completely shutting down the opponent. I don’t see them shutting down the 49ers high-powered offense, but think they will cause Purdy problems. I’m going with a Chiefs 31-27 victory.

If you still don’t have any fantasy teams alive in the playoffs, consider playing our fun pickem contests. We have tons of options available to play with for the Super Bowl. I wanted to give you a few of my favorite pickem plays for the big game. Give me Travis Kelce more than 70.5-receiving yards. Kelce has 71-plus yards all three of his playoff games and is coming off arguably his best game of the season. And the 49ers struggled to stop the tight end last week, seeing Sam LaPorta rack up the receptions and yards. I also like Brandon Aiyuk less than 61.5-receiving yards. Aiyuk has failed to hit that mark two of three games and has just three catches each of his last three games. Lastly, I like Deebo Samuel more than 79.5-rushing and receiving yards. Samuel had 11 touches his last game and was a huge part of the offense. I look for the 49ers to get him involved early and often, giving him good potential to rack up some total yards.

I’m not sure how I feel about the Commanders hiring of Kliff Kingsbury. His offenses were fine in Arizona, but not as explosive as many thought and he struggled some using Caleb Williams last year at USC. I think the Commanders would have been better served keeping Eric Bieniemy as their offensive coordinator. I thought he did a great job with the offense last year in Washington all things considered. I’m not convinced Kingsbury is going to be an upgrade.

On a different subject, can we stop teasing and showing parts of the Super Bowl commercials before the game? I mean part of the fun of the game is the commercials. They are always entertaining and a part of the event. But now, you see parts of the commercials before the game, ruining the surprise. C’mon people. Let’s stop this tradition right now.

We had our first TFC draft of the 2024 season last night. And in a surprise move, the first pick of the draft was Breece Hall. And we also saw Sam LaPorta get picked before Travis Kelce. It is always interesting to see how these early drafts shake out. A lot is going to change between now and the start of next season, but trends are starting now. In this draft, four running backs were picked in the first round compared to eight receivers. And the quarterback position looks as deep as ever with guys like Jordan Love getting picked in Round 11. Brock Purdy and Kirk Cousins also went very late.

News and Notes: The Chargers hired Greg Roman as their new offensive coordinator. Roman tends to be more run heavy when it comes to play calling. . . . .Former Texans and Patriots running back Rex Burkhead announced his retirement from the NFL on Tuesday. 

HOT PLAYS

Isiah Pacheco, RB, Chiefs. Pacheco has taken his game to new heights during the Chiefs playoff run. He has at least 15 fantasy points four straight games and found the end zone seven consecutive games. He even has 20-plus carries two of three games, getting a big workload in the Chiefs offense. Expect more of the same this week from Pacheco. The 49ers allowed 182-rushing yards to the Lions their last game and allowed 135-plus rushing yards each of their two playoff games.

Travis Kelce, TE, Chiefs. Kelce has looked like a different player during these playoffs than the regular season. He had 11 receptions his last game and at least five catches all three playoff games. He has 14-plus fantasy points all three games. He has really elevated his game after a ho-hum second half of the season. Look for him to be the focal point of the Chiefs passing game once again this week. And San Francisco couldn’t contain Sam LaPorta in the Championship game, allowing him to get nine receptions for 97 yards. The Packers tight ends had six receptions and a touchdown in the 49ers other playoff game.

COLD PLAYS 

Brandon Aiyuk, WR, 49ers. Aiyuk did score a touchdown his last game, which was a big positive, but he had just three receptions. He has just three cathodes three straight games. He has were than 40 yards two of three. And with the Chiefs secondary clamping down on receivers right not, it could be more of the same for Aiyuk this week. He could be held in check once again.

Jerick McKinnon, RB, Chiefs. McKinnon is expected to make his long-awaited return this week, returning from a groin injury. He has not played since Week 15. Just remember he has not reached double-digit touches in a single game this year. Pacheco is the lead back in this offense and will get most of the work at running back. McKinnon played great during the Chiefs playoff run last season, but this is a new year. Plus, McKinnon has not played in several weeks, so you have to wonder how much he is even on the field. He will be a big risk to use for fantasy owners.

SLEEPERS

Jauan Jennings, WR, 49ers. There are always surprise players in the Super Bowl, so why not Jennings. He could draw the most favorable matchups in coverage for the 49ers receiver options. And he has looked good in the playoffs, having six receptions for 69 yards in two games. He played 42 percent of the snaps last week - even with Deebo Samuel back in the lineup. Jennings might get a big play or two in this one, making him an intriguing fantasy play. 

Marquez Valdes-Scantling, WR, Chiefs. Valdes-Scantling had the game-clinching reception in the Championship game, making a sliding catch on third down to clinch the game. He finished with two receptions for 38 yards. But he played a season-high 83 percent of the snaps in that game, which is encouraging. If he is on the field that much again this week, his reception and yardage totals could rise in what might be a high-scoring game.

High/Low Scoring Games

Each week we will take a look at some of the high and low scoring games for the coming week. In high scoring affairs, get your marginal players on those teams in your lineup to take advantage of the possible points barrage. And in the low scoring games, keep those marginal players on the bench and make sure to have your defenses involved in those contests.

High Scoring Games: Chiefs/49ers.

Low Scoring Games: None.

Jeff Paur is a two-time finalist for FSWA Fantasy Football Writer of the Year and won the FSWA award for Best Fantasy Football Article on the Web in 2011. He also was the most accurate expert in 2012, winning the FSTA Fantasy Football Accuracy Award. If you have any questions for Jeff, email him at jeff@rtsports.com. Follow Jeff on Twitter @jeffpaur.

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Hot Plays, Fades and Sleepers: Week 4

Player Notes
Tyler Johnson Sep 28 12:50am ET
Tyler Johnson

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Tyler Johnson caught three of his four targets for 20 yards in the Week 3 victory over the 49ers. The 26-year-old logged 29 offensive snaps on the day, with Demarcus Robinson and Tutu Atwell getting more work. However, he couldn't get anything going. While Puka Nacua (knee) and Cooper Kupp (ankle) will remain out in Week 4 versus the Chicago Bears, Johnson shouldn't be anywhere near a fantasy lineup.

From RotoBaller

Colby Parkinson Sep 28 12:40am ET
Colby Parkinson

Los Angeles Rams tight end Colby Parkinson finished the Week 3 win over the 49ers by amassing three catches for 21 yards. While Cooper Kupp (ankle) and Puka Nacua (knee) were sidelined, Parkinson couldn't take advantage. With Kupp and Nacua out again for the Week 4 matchup with the Bears, targets are up for grabs. Of course, Kyren Williams will be the preferred offensive option for the Rams. However, Parkinson, Demarcus Robinson, Tutu Atwell, Tyler Johnson, and Jordan Whittington have a chance to see more attention from Matthew Stafford. It's anyone's guess who the signal-caller will look to the most versus Chicago, so Parkinson is hard to trust in any fantasy lineup, especially since he has only eight catches this season.

From RotoBaller

Brenton Strange Sep 28 12:40am ET
Brenton Strange

Jacksonville Jaguars tight end Brenton Strange will start in place of the injured Evan Engram for the third straight week against the Houston Texans. He has done solidly since being thrust into the starting role, catching five of 11 targets for 77 yards and a touchdown in two games. While those numbers don't jump off the page, they are solid fantasy numbers for a tight end, a position ravaged with injuries and underperforming players. It would be outlandish to say Strange is a TE1, but fantasy managers can do much worse. So far, the Texans have only allowed three points per game to tight ends, but they've also faced the Vikings, Bears, and Colts, so it's hard to say how good they really are at defending tight ends. While it is hard to trust him, as long as Engram remains out, Strange is a fine play at tight end for desperate fantasy managers.

From RotoBaller

Tutu Atwell Sep 28 12:30am ET
Tutu Atwell

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Tutu Atwell had a team-high four catches for 93 yards in the Week 3 win over the 49ers. With Cooper Kupp (ankle) and Puka Nacua (knee) sidelined again for Sunday's meeting with the Chicago Bears, there is room for others to step up. Without question, Kyren Williams will get all the work he can handle. However, Atwell has earned the trust of his coaching staff, meaning he could see more than the 43 offensive snaps he had versus San Francisco. With that in mind, he's arguably the top wideout on the roster from a talent standpoint, so he warrants at least flex consideration for fantasy managers in Week 4.

From RotoBaller

Josh Allen Sep 28 12:20am ET
Josh Allen

The Baltimore Ravens defense/special teams hasn't been as stout and hasn't churned out as many turnovers as everyone comes to expect every season. They've only produced two interceptions and one fumble recovery so far while giving up 25 points or more in each of their first three games. While they looked good for three quarters against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 3, they melted down in the fourth and ended up allowing 23 points in the second half alone. In Week 4, they'll take on a red-hot Buffalo Bills offense that has looked like an unstoppable train over the last two weeks. The Ravens give up an average of 40.4 fantasy points per game to opposing wide receiver groups in PPR formats, and Josh Allen has made it seem like losing Stefon Diggs meant nothing. Fantasy managers may want to look for a better matchup when it comes to streaming defenses, because they look like they could really struggle to contain the Bills' offense.

From RotoBaller

Hayden Hurst Sep 28 12:20am ET
Hayden Hurst

Los Angeles Chargers tight end Hayden Hurst (Achilles) doesn't carry an injury designation ahead of Sunday's AFC West matchup with the Chiefs. The veteran was on the injury report before the Week 3 meeting with the Steelers because of an ankle injury. While he was on the field for that one, he finished with just two catches for 15 yards. With only five receptions in the first three games of the 2024-25 campaign, Hurst likely isn't on many fantasy rosters. As such, he should not be starting in Week 4.

From RotoBaller

Noah Fant Sep 28 12:10am ET
Noah Fant

Seattle Seahawks tight end Noah Fant (toe) was limited during Friday's practice. The 26-year-old has battled the toe injury all season but has still played, so he will likely be out there on Monday night in Detroit. He had a rough start to the 2024-25 campaign, totaling just three receptions in Seattle's first two contests. However, he caught all six targets for 60 yards in Week 3 versus the Miami Dolphins. After such a performance, fantasy managers in some formats consider him a starting tight end in Week 4. Still, Fant hard to trust, especially since it's been over a year since he's found his way into the end zone.

From RotoBaller

Justin Tucker Sep 27 11:50pm ET
Justin Tucker

Baltimore Ravens kicker Justin Tucker has finally shown signs of slowing down this season, much to the surprise of fantasy managers and football fans everywhere. The star kicker clocks in as the K18 to start the season and has already missed three of his eight field goal attempts so far. Week 3 didn't do him any favors as he missed his lone field goal attempt and made four extra points. His Week 4 opponent, the Buffalo Bills, are one of the tougher teams in the early part of this season as they've allowed the sixth-fewest fantasy points to opposing kickers. The opposing kickers are only averaging 5.7 fantasy points against them right now, and if Tucker continues to miss field goals that he used to make, John Harbaugh and company may start going for it on fourth down more often. Fantasy managers will want to proceed with caution when it comes to starting Tucker this week.

From RotoBaller

Isaiah Likely Sep 27 11:40pm ET
Isaiah Likely

Baltimore Ravens tight end Isaiah Likely is in the same boat as Mark Andrews, which sounds like it should be a good thing if it's based on last season, but in reality, it makes the lives of fantasy managers very difficult. Head coach John Harbaugh talked about Andrews and the tight end group having more of a rotational squad that will see more or less time based on matchup and game plan. That means we could see a big Likely week, such as Week 1, and then we could see a game where the two TEs get two targets and four yards combined like Week 3. The inconsistency of either tight end's targets and playing time makes them both harder to trust in Week 4 against a stout passing defense like the Buffalo Bills. After Likely's big performance in Week 1, he finished as the TE22 and TE51 the last two weeks, respectively. Likely comes in as a low-end TE2, which is more of a risky dart throw if any fantasy managers need to start him in this matchup.

From RotoBaller

Demarcus Robinson Sep 27 11:00pm ET
Demarcus Robinson

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Demarcus Robinson will square off against a tough Chicago Bears defense on the road in Week 4. Robinson will have his work cut out for him in this one, as he'll take on one of the league's better pass defenses through three weeks. LA has one of the highest pass rates in the NFL (tenth), but quarterback Matthew Stafford has thrown just two touchdowns across the team's first three matchups, and it will be tough to trust any Rams wideout this week. The 30-year-old veteran is probably the best bet of the Rams' pass catchers regarding volume, as he has the second-most targets on the team (15) behind Cooper Kupp's (ankle) 27. However, he won't be a recommended option -- even with the team still without Kupp and Puka Nacua (knee). The Florida product has seen four targets in each of his last two contests but turned them into just three catches for 82 yards. Consistency could be hard to come by again, as Stafford spreads the ball around quite a bit without his superstar wideouts. Robinson is RotoBaller's PPR WR54 in this week's rankings.

From RotoBaller

Mark Andrews Sep 27 11:00pm ET
Mark Andrews

Baltimore Ravens tight end Mark Andrews has been one of the most disappointing players for fantasy managers in the early goings of this season. He was once one of the set-it-and-forget-it type of tight ends, and he's now found his way on most teams' benches. To make matters worse, head coach John Harbaugh talked about how the tight ends are going to on more of a rotational type of role, and they'll all see more or less time depending on matchups and game plans. That turned into Andrews only being on the field 33% of the time in their last game against the Dallas Cowboys. Against a tougher pass defense in the Buffalo Bills, it doesn't seem to be the best-case scenario for an Andrews breakout game. At this rate, Andrews is hovering around TE2 territory until he separates himself from the rest of the Ravens' tight ends. Outside of deeper leagues, it's probably best to find a tight end that will consistently run routes and be on the field.

From RotoBaller

Zay Flowers Sep 27 10:50pm ET
Zay Flowers

Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers is one of the most targeted pass-catchers in the NFL through three weeks, yet he clocks in as the WR31 in half-PPR formats. He has been targeted 25 times which is enough for 13th out of all pass-catchers. The issue is that his yards per target (5.9), yards per game (49.3), and catch percentage (64.0) are all lower than his totals from last year. Yes, that's a small sample size, but he's on pace to receive almost 40 more targets than he did last season. Now, he'll go up against the Buffalo Bills who have one of the better pass defenses in the league so far. They've only allowed 8.2 yards per target (third fewest), and have only given up three receiving touchdowns. In fact, the longest passing play they've given up is 24 yards. Flowers will likely continue getting targets and touches in all sorts of ways as the offense has manufactured it, but he'll have a tougher time turning that into fantasy points, which is why he's hovering around a low-end WR2 for this contest.

From RotoBaller

Kyren Williams Sep 27 10:40pm ET
Kyren Williams

Los Angeles Rams running back Kyren Williams is in another smash spot this Sunday when his team travels to Chicago to square off against the Bears. The third-year back is fresh off his best game of the season, when he totaled 116 yards and three touchdowns on 26 touches. Fantasy managers can again expect a massive workload for the former fifth-round pick with quarterback Matthew Stafford down his top two receiving options -- wideouts Puka Nacua (knee) and Cooper Kupp (ankle). The Bears' defense has been no slouch against the run this year, ranking just outside the league's top half regarding yardage allowed. However, they've let up the fourth-most touchdowns on the ground (4) and the eighth-most rushing first downs (22). Additionally, Williams is in no danger of ceding work to his backups, as he has handily out-snapped the combination of Blake Corum and Ronnie Rivers 164-to-24 through three games. He'll be the engine that drives the LA offense once again this week and ranks as RotoBaller's PPR RB5 in Week 4's rankings.

From RotoBaller

Derrick Henry Sep 27 10:40pm ET
Derrick Henry

Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry looked like a man amongst boys again when he gashed the Dallas Cowboys for 151 yards and two touchdowns on the ground. The King was showing off the incredible stiff arm while proving that age is just a number. Now, Henry and the Ravens shift focus to the Buffalo Bills in Week 4 who have given up the ninth-most yards per carry so far with 4.7. With that being said, they've only given up one rushing touchdown and that comes down to the fact that they have only been in one close game so far. James Conner put up 83 total yards and a score against this defense while De'Von Achane had 96 yards on the ground and Travis Etienne Jr. had 6.2 yards per carry. Henry should be considered an RB1 heading into this matchup, as his ceiling heavily depends on how the Ravens play if they go down early.

From RotoBaller

Lamar Jackson Sep 27 10:30pm ET
Lamar Jackson

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson is the QB4 on the season through three weeks and is on track for just shy of 4,000 passing yards and 1,500 rushing yards if he can maintain his averages for 17 games. He even boasts his lowest interception percentage yet, but unfortunately has the lowest touchdown-throwing percentage as well in this sample size. In Week 4, he draws a bit of a tougher test as the Ravens take on the Buffalo Bills who only allow 5.1 yards per pass attempt and have only given up three touchdowns through the air versus four interceptions. However, they give up the ninth-most yards per carry, which would keep Jackson in the QB1 conversation. It's unlikely that this game would turn into a blowout and keep the ball in Derrick Henry and Justice Hill's hands, so Jackson should get more opportunities through the air. Fantasy managers can still consider him a must start, even in a tougher matchup.

From RotoBaller

Matthew Stafford Sep 27 10:20pm ET
Matthew Stafford

Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford doesn't project as a viable fantasy option this Sunday in the team's road tilt against the Chicago Bears. The veteran signal-caller was able to eclipse the 300-yard mark in Week 1 when he tossed 317 and a score against the Lions in Detroit, but he hasn't produced much since. It isn't shocking, though, considering he's been sans Puka Nacua (knee) and Cooper Kupp (ankle) -- his top two options. Since the matchup against Detroit, the 36-year-old has combined for 437 yards and one touchdown -- failing to throw multiple scores in a game or surpass 221 yards. Additionally, Chicago's defense has been one of the better against the pass this season, allowing just 495 yards and two passing touchdowns through the first three weeks. Expect LA to rely heavily on running back Kyren Williams again, with tight end Colby Parkinson and wide receivers Tutu Atwell, Demarcus Robinson, and Tyler Johnson supplementing in the passing game. Despite Los Angeles ranking in the top ten in team pass percentage, the former first-overall pick will be a low-end QB2 for the contest.

From RotoBaller

Jonathan Mingo Sep 27 9:50pm ET
Jonathan Mingo

Carolina Panthers wide receiver Jonathan Mingo could see his usage tick up in Week 4 when the team hosts the Cincinnati Bengals. Mingo was already set for a more significant role, with wide receiver Adam Thielen (hamstring) heading to injured reserve. Now, the second-year wideout could be an even more prominent target, with Diontae Johnson (groin) turning up on the team's injury report after missing Thursday's practice. Johnson did log a limited session on Friday, but he's listed as questionable ahead of Sunday's matchup. Fellow wideout Xavier Legette is also projected to pick up some slack in the Panthers' passing attack. Even before Thielen's injury, Mingo was the next man up, as he had the third-most WR snaps on the team after Week 2. It remains to be seen if quarterback Andy Dalton will attempt nearly 40 passes again (37), but if he does and Johnson is not at 100%, Mingo would have the opportunity to post a productive line. Cincinnati's defense hasn't let up a ton of yardage through the air thus far, but they have been quite porous on the ground -- allowing the eighth-most rush yards in the league. Mingo projects as a low-end FLEX with upside for the affair.

From RotoBaller

Skylar Thompson Sep 27 9:30pm ET
Skylar Thompson

Miami Dolphins quarterback Skylar Thompson (ribs) was listed as limited in the team's Friday practice. It's the second practice in a row he's been designated as such. While the news that he has been able to participate in some fashion is at least encouraging, reports out of Thursday's practice were not exactly glowing. Thompson was seen with a brace under his pads and did not take many throws. Additionally, head coach Mike McDaniel has yet to be inclined to name a starter for Miami's Week 4 matchup against the Tennessee Titans. His lack of a decision is partly due to his desire to gain a competitive edge, but maybe he is holding off to see if the 27-year-old can make enough progress to suit up. Perhaps this is a pain management issue for the former seventh-round pick. Regardless, he'll have one more chance to positively affect his status ahead of this week's contest in the team's final practice on Saturday. If he cannot play, either Tyler Huntley or Tim Boyle will get the start for the Fins. It is believed Huntley will be named the starter. However, fantasy managers will want to monitor this situation for a few more days.

From RotoBaller

Bo Nix Sep 27 9:00pm ET
Bo Nix

The New York Jets defense draws a great matchup at home against the Denver Broncos in Week 4. The Broncos have struggled on offense this season, ranking 23rd in points per game and 26th in yards per game through three weeks. The Jets boast one of the more talented defenses in the league and find themselves in a great spot against rookie quarterback Bo Nix in front of their home crowd. With New York installed as 7.5-point home favorites in a game with a low 39.5 over/under, fantasy gamers should start the Jets defense with confidence heading into Week 4.

From RotoBaller

Tyler Conklin Sep 27 8:50pm ET
Tyler Conklin

New York Jets tight end Tyler Conklin had his best game of the season in Week 3, catching five passes for 93 yards in a win over the New England Patriots. Conklin will look to stay hot in a home game against the Denver Broncos in Week 4. The Broncos have been vulnerable against tight ends this season, allowing the 11th-most fantasy points per game to the position through three weeks. On the other hand, Denver has been extremely tough on wide receivers, allowing the second-fewest fantasy points per game. As such, the Jets could look to lean on Conklin when they take to the air in Week 4, making him an interesting option as an upside TE2 for fantasy managers.

From RotoBaller