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FFL: Week 4 | NFL: Week 4

Draft Day Winners and Losers

Mon Apr 29 11:53am ET
By JEFF PAUR
Sr Fantasy Writer

Related photo caption below

White should be lead back


The draft is always so exciting, seeing where all the players get picked. But after the draft, the big issue is figuring out what it all means for their fantasy value. We thought it would be a good idea to look at some of the biggest fantasy winners and losers from draft day. These are some of the players that were picked but also some of the guys that were already on rosters, seeing their fantasy value get impacted from the draft. Adjust your rankings accordingly!

WINNERS

Bryce Young, QB, Panthers. The Panthers did a great job of getting Young some much needed offensive help. The team took a receiver, running back and tight end in three of the first four rounds of the draft. Carolina already added Diontae Johnson this offseason, so the receiver corps should be much better after getting Xavier Legette in the first round. The receivers got very little separation last year, so it was hard to gauge Young. He needed help and got some this offseason. Carolina also took a possible franchise running back in Jonathon Brooks and hopefully a solid starting tight end in Ja’Tavion Sanders. Things are looking up for Young and this offense.

Xavier Worthy, WR, Chiefs. Worthy could not have landed in a much better spot. He heads to one of the best offenses in football that has some openings at receiver, especially with the status of Rashee Rice a bit up in the air. Worthy has electric speed and the Chiefs should find plenty of ways to utilize that. He could be the new Tyreek Hill for this offense. Look for Worthy to make an impact right away.

Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Cowboys. Maybe one of the biggest surprises of the draft was the Cowboys not addressing their running back spot. Instead, the team signed Elliott after the draft. He is likely to be the starter in this top offense. He might not rack up the yards of past seasons, but has big touchdown potential in this offense. Elliott seems a pretty sure bet to get double-digit touchdowns. He could be a solid No. 2 for fantasy teams.

Jonathon Brooks, RB, Panthers. Brooks is returning from a major knee injury and could be slowed a little early in the season, but once he is back healthy look for him to the three-down back for the Panthers. He lands in a great spot for playing time, having little top talent to compete with for playing time. Brooks could really get the volume in this offense. He is our top rookie fantasy back.

Zamir White, RB, Raiders. Many thought the Raiders were another team that could address their running back spot during the draft, but that didn’t happen. They used a sixth-round pick on Dylan Laube, but he is not expected to challenge White for that starter’s job. It sure seems the Raiders are comfortable with White as their lead back. He has a chance to get a lot of touches in year two. His stock is going up.

Ladd McConkey, WR, Chargers. The Chargers need help at receiver and McConkey helps fill that need. It would not surprise if he quickly became Justin Herbert’s favorite target in the passing game. We really like his chances to rack up the weekly looks in this offense. Someone has to fill the Keenan Allen void and McConkey seems the best bet out of the options at receiver for the Chargers.

Keon Coleman, WR, Bills. Coleman is another rookie receiver that lands in a great spot for playing time. The departure of Stefon Diggs leaves a big opening for the Bills. Coleman could help fill that void. He has great size for the position and could be a top red-zone threat from day one for Buffalo. Coleman should get his chances from the get go, giving him a high ceiling for the coming year.

LOSERS

Raheem Mostert, RB, Dolphins. Mostert had a monster season last year and helped many fantasy teams to championships. He is going to have a very hard time repeating, especially after the Dolphins picked Jaylen Wright in the fourth round. Wright is a speed back similar to Mostert but a lot younger with less wear on his tires. Remember, Mostert is 32 years old. He might end up falling to third on the depth chart after the addition of Wright.

Rome Odunze, WR, Bears. Odunze is a super talented player that could be a star in the NFL. But for his year, you have to worry about him being up and down. He has two really good receivers ahead of him on the depth chart in DJ Moore and Keenan Allen. This is going to limit the ceiling of Odunze. He will be a much better fantasy player in a few more seasons. For now, expect erratic production from the talented rookie.

Kyren Williams, RB, Rams. Williams remains the lead back for the Rams and is coming off a breakout season. But the Rams picked Blake Corum in the third round. He is going to be a factor in the offense. He might get put a huge dent in Williams’ workload but the big concern is the goal-line work. Corum is more of a between the tackles runner that does well on short-yardage work. He could end up stealing some touchdowns from Williams, hurting his fantasy value.

Michael Mayer, TE, Raiders. Mayer was a second-round pick for the Raiders last year and showed well at times his rookie season. The Raiders couldn’t pass on the talented Brock Browers in this year’s draft, though. This move absolutely kills the fantasy value of Mayer. He is going to play second fiddle to Browers, getting few weekly looks. Browers is the clear tight end to own in this offense.

Ricky Pearsall, WR, 49ers. Pearsall is a talented pass catcher that can get in and out of his breaks in a hurry. He is a really good fit for the slot and could fill that role for the 49ers his rookie season. The problem is he has some of the top talent in all of football to compete with for targets. He could really be up and down his rookie season. He will look better in a year or two when he has a more defined role and less to compete with at receiver. His rookie season could be a tough one to gauge for fantasy owners.

Malik Nabers, WR, Giants. Many considered Nabers the top receiver in this year’s draft. He is super talented with a high fantasy ceiling. The problem for Nabers is he got drafted by the Giants, a team that really struggled offensively last year. Plus, he has Daniel Jones throwing him passes. This is not a great landing spot for the talented Nabers. Jones needs to make some big strides this season if Nabers hopes to reach his potential. We aren’t sure that happens.

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
T.J. Watt Sep 28 3:10am ET
T.J. Watt

The Pittsburgh Steelers have been stout defensively this season, surrendering the fewest yards and points per contest in the NFL. They are primed for further success at home against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 4. Although Indianapolis' offense has scored a respectable amount of points through three weeks, Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson currently leads the league in interceptions thrown. If running back Jonathan Taylor struggles against a Steelers defense allowing the second-fewest rushing yards per game, Richardson could be forced to throw the ball while dealing with immense pressure from DPOY favorite T.J. Watt. Fantasy managers should lock Pittsburgh's DST into lineups of all shapes and sizes on Sunday.

From RotoBaller

Chris Boswell Sep 28 3:00am ET
Chris Boswell

Pittsburgh Steelers kicker Chris Boswell has been very productive to start the 2024 campaign and will look to keep rolling against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 4. While Pittsburgh's offense is not necessarily firing on all cylinders, the Steelers' defense has been dominant, often leaving the offense little work to do to get within Boswell's range. He may not offer the same weekly upside as a kicker on a team with a more potent offense, but Boswell is about as steady as they come. For what it's worth, the Colts are tied for the fifth-most fantasy points per game allowed to kickers this season, and with Indianapolis giving up the second-most offensive yards in the league, fantasy managers can start Boswell with confidence on Sunday.

From RotoBaller

Isaac Guerendo Sep 28 3:00am ET
Isaac Guerendo

San Francisco 49ers rookie running back Isaac Guerendo will look to build on a modest increase in usage in Week 4 when the team hosts the New England Patriots. Last week against the Rams in Los Angeles, Guerendo took five carries for 19 yards and zero passing targets. The fourth-round pick saw his offensive snap count grow to 10 after combining for four total in his first two games. It's very unlikely that Guerendo will become usable for fantasy players in mainstream leagues without an injury to Mason, given head coach Kyle Shanahan's tendency to use his main back as a bell cow. In Week 4 Guerendo should remain on fantasy benches. However, he represents nearly as good an injury stash as any in the league, so managers who can afford to hold, should.

From RotoBaller

Cam Little Sep 28 3:00am ET
Cam Little

Jacksonville Jaguars kicker Cam Little is not a great starting option against the Houston Texans in Week 4. The Jaguars offense has struggled to start the year, putting up just 40 points through three games. The rookie kicker has nailed four out of five kicks so far, with his one miss coming from 43 yards. He hasn't had many opportunities to kick field goals with the offense struggling, but he has shown he has the leg to nail kicks over 50 yards. If the offense were to show improvement in Week 4, Little could become a decent fantasy option, as the offense on paper should be getting into field goal range more often. For now though, with just 18 fantasy points through three games, the upside for Little as a fantasy kicker does not seem to be there. Until the offense improves, Little is best left off of fantasy rosters in Week 4.

From RotoBaller

Pat Freiermuth Sep 28 2:40am ET
Pat Freiermuth

Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Pat Freiermuth is yet to find the end zone or surpass 40 yards receiving in a contest in 2024 but still offers reliability against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 4. The fourth-year pro is the only tight end in the NFL to catch at least four passes in every game this season. While it is fair to have concerns regarding Freiermuth's lack of touchdown upside, it is difficult to ignore consistent involvement at a position that has been so devoid of fantasy production as of late. The Colts have surrendered the seventh-most fantasy points per game to opposing tight ends, making this a matchup Freiermuth can take advantage of. The 25-year-old can be trusted as a low-end starting option on Sunday.

From RotoBaller

Brian Thomas Jr. Sep 28 2:30am ET
Brian Thomas Jr.

Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. has shown to be a reliable receiver heading into Week 4 against the Houston Texans. The rookie receiver has 11 receptions for 189 yards and a touchdown so far. In an offense struggling to do much, BTJ has stood out as a rookie who can be a good NFL receiver and improve as the season goes along. His big-play ability is his main strength, which he showed off in Week 2 with two catches for 94 yards, but he also can win in shorter areas. Against the Buffalo Bills on Monday Night Football, he put up 5 catches for 48 yards, a solid output given the team only scored 10 points and got blown out. In a matchup with the Texans, the secondary has been solid to start the year, but BTJ has the talent to take advantage as long as Trevor Lawrence can get him the ball. Fantasy managers should feel good about starting Brian Thomas Jr. in their flex spots in Week 4.

From RotoBaller

Jordan Mason Sep 28 2:30am ET
Jordan Mason

San Francisco 49ers running back Jordan Mason will take on the New England Patriots in a home interconference matchup on Sunday. Last week, Mason was disappointing for fantasy managers, coming into the game against the Rams in Los Angeles as a Top-5 consensus RB but finishing as the RB25 with 9.8 half-PPR points. It was the first time in the young season that Mason failed to reach the end zone. New England's run defense has been decent, ranking as the 13th-toughest matchup for opposing running backs in half-PPR. In LA last week the 49ers also worked rookie Isaac Guerendo into the mix, handing him five carries for 19 yards after only getting one total carry in San Francisco's first two games. It seems unlikely that number would grow much this week given how head coach Kyle Shanahan tends to ride his lead back, but the development is worth noting. Deebo Samuel (calf), also has a chance of returning and peeling off a handful of carries as well. Nevertheless, Mason has done an excellent job filling in for Christian McCaffrey (Achilles) so far in this run-centric, potent offense, which puts him right in the thick of the RB1 ranks again in Week 4.

From RotoBaller

George Pickens Sep 28 2:20am ET
George Pickens

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens has been relatively quiet for fantasy purposes so far in 2024 and will look to turn things around against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 4. Pickens once again led the Steelers in targets last week but was outshined by Calvin Austin III, who scored a 55-yard touchdown. Because of his ability to make plays downfield, Pickens is always a viable fantasy option, but his upside is even more solidified this week with the Colts surrendering the sixth-most fantasy points per contest to opposing wideouts. As quarterback Justin Fields continues to get comfortable in Pittsburgh's offense, it's clear that Pickens will be his most reliable option. His guaranteed opportunities and high ceiling make Pickens an incredibly appealing fantasy WR2 this week.

From RotoBaller

Najee Harris Sep 28 2:10am ET
Najee Harris

Pittsburgh Steelers running back Najee Harris has handled the sixth-most rushing attempts through three weeks and should see plenty of opportunities against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 4. With Jaylen Warren (knee) officially out for Sunday's contest, Harris is in line for even more work both on the ground and as a pass-catcher. Although Cordarrelle Patterson is likely to get involved, it's worth noting that Harris was targeted five times by quarterback Justin Fields last week. The Colts have surrendered the most rushing yards in the NFL this season, making Harris even more appealing for fantasy purposes. Fantasy managers can confidently roll with Harris as an RB2 with upside this week.

From RotoBaller

Gabriel Davis Sep 28 2:00am ET
Gabriel Davis

Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Gabe Davis serves as his usual boom-or-bust self in Week 4 against the Houston Texans. Davis has been earning targets but not turning them into much, going down in yardage each of the first three games. He also hasn't recorded more than three receptions. Last week against his former team in what could have been a revenge game, he disappointed, putting up just two receptions for 18 yards. Until the Jaguars offense improves, it will be hard to support multiple receiving options on a weekly basis. As a deep threat, it is extra hard to be fantasy relevant. The receiving core is wide open for someone to step up, but after three games that seems more likely to be Brian Thomas Jr., Christian Kirk, or even Evan Engram when he comes back from injury. Davis is best left on benches in Week 4 against the Texans.

From RotoBaller

Justin Fields Sep 28 1:50am ET
Justin Fields

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Justin Fields has led the team to three straight wins and will look for similar success in a home matchup with the Indianapolis Colts. The Colts are surrendering the second-most total yards of offense and have been vulnerable against fantasy quarterbacks so far this season. With how dominant Pittsburgh's defense has been, it's difficult to expect an abundance of points in this contest, but Fields can get the job done for fantasy purposes as a threat through the air and on the ground. He is averaging over nine carries per game and scored his first rushing touchdown of the campaign last week. Fantasy managers should view Fields as a low-end QB1 or high-end QB2 this Sunday.

From RotoBaller

Hunter Henry Sep 28 1:40am ET
Hunter Henry

New England Patriots tight end Hunter Henry should be avoided in most fantasy leagues ahead of Week 4 versus the San Francisco 49ers. Henry's production has been inconsistent through three games this year. He did catch eight passes for 109 yards in Week 2, but outside of that contest, he's averaging just two catches and 14 yards per week. Fantasy managers can't bank on Henry exploding again this Sunday and should instead prepare for a lower-volume performance. A very unfavorable matchup also awaits Henry as the Niners have allowed the fewest fantasy points to opposing tight ends. They've also surrendered the fewest receptions, fewest touchdowns, and second-fewest receiving yards to the position. Needless to say, the stars are not aligning for Henry this week. With several key factors working against him, the veteran tight end can be benched in most leagues.

From RotoBaller

Joey Slye Sep 28 1:40am ET
Joey Slye

New England Patriots kicker Joey Slye isn't worth rostering in fantasy football ahead of Week 4 versus the San Francisco 49ers. Slye is having one of his better seasons so far in terms of accuracy, converting all three extra points and going 6-for-7 on field goals. However, a lack of opportunities has made it difficult to trust the veteran leg. The Patriots' offense is regarded as one of the worst in the league and will continue to have trouble reaching scoring range in Week 4, especially against a stingy 49ers defense. In fact, Slye wouldn't be the first kicker to struggle against this San Francisco unit. The Niners have allowed the 10th-fewest fantasy points to kickers this season, a mark that includes zero field goals from beyond 50 yards. The Patriots' subpar offense and the 49ers' impressive defense combine to keep Slye off the radar ahead of Sunday's contest.

From RotoBaller

Demario Douglas Sep 28 1:30am ET
Demario Douglas

New England Patriots wide receiver Demario Douglas has emerged as one of the team's more sought-after waiver wire additions ahead of his Week 4 clash with the San Francisco 49ers. The second-year pass-catcher was not involved nearly as much as expected through the first two games, but veteran quarterback Jacoby Brissett made it up to him with seven completions for 69 yards in Week 3 this year. The Patriots enter Sunday's game as 10.5-point underdogs, which means they may need to adopt a pass-heavy approach so that they can keep pace with the 49ers and focus on their own time of possession. Douglas figures to be one of Brissett's preferred options in the passing game going forward. He ranks as a WR3/FLEX in leagues with at least 14 teams.

From RotoBaller

Antonio Gibson Sep 28 1:20am ET
Antonio Gibson

New England Patriots running back Antonio Gibson has earned additional attention in fantasy football leagues ahead of his Week 4 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers. Gibson is coming off an intriguing Week 3 in which he had two more touches and 14 more scrimmage yards than Rhamondre Stevenson. He also offers ball security, which Stevenson can't necessarily echo given that he has three fumbles in 2024, lost a fumble last week, and was in the previous coaching staff's dog house for ball security issues. While Stevenson did play more snaps than Gibson last week, neither hit 50 percent. Reduced volume in an unproductive offense like the Patriots' makes it tough to trust Gibson in fantasy football this week, but he's absolutely worth monitoring as a potential low-end RB3 in case he continues to carve out opportunities.

From RotoBaller

Christian Kirk Sep 28 1:20am ET
Christian Kirk

Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Christian Kirk is back to fantasy relevance in Week 4 against the Houston Texans. Kirk only caught two passes in the first two weeks, but in Week 3 against the Buffalo Bills, he caught eight of 10 targets for 79 yards. Kirk isn't much of a deep threat or red zone threat compared to teammates Gabe Davis and Brian Thomas Jr., but he makes up for it in the short and intermediate areas of the field, making him more of an asset in PPR leagues. While it was tough to trust him going into Week 3 against a good Bills secondary, his bounce-back performance should mean fantasy managers can at least consider Kirk for their starting lineup this week. The Houston secondary has been decent so far this season, but just as against the Bills, someone needs to catch passes for the Jaguars if they are playing catchup for most of the game. Kirk is a fine flex play in Week 4, especially in PPR leagues.

From RotoBaller

Jacoby Brissett Sep 28 1:10am ET
Jacoby Brissett

New England Patriots quarterback Jacoby Brissett should be left on waivers in most fantasy leagues ahead of his Week 4 clash with the San Francisco 49ers. The Patriots hoped Brissett could help transition them into the Drake Maye era by opening the season as the starter, playing clean football, and eventually turning over the reins to the No. 3 pick. So far, that has come to fruition as Brissett won the job in Week 1 and has completed 42 passes for 368 yards, one touchdown, and zero interceptions since then. He hasn't been asked to throw much at all, which has limited his big-play ability. However, he's done a good job taking care of the football, tallying zero turnovers so far. Sacks, on the other hand, have been an issue for the veteran. New England's porous offensive line has allowed Brissett to be taken down nine times this year, including five in Week 3 against the New York Jets. To put it simply, the Patriots are letting Brissett take the dirty work under center until they feel Maye is ready to get game action. We saw the rookie make his NFL debut in the waning minutes of the Jets game, and the expectation is that he'll continue to see more opportunities going forward as he gets acclimated to an NFL style of play. In the interim, Brissett remains the starting quarterback in this run-heavy offense. This week, he's a fantasy QB3 against a 49ers defense that has allowed the sixth-fewest completions this year.

From RotoBaller

Rhamondre Stevenson Sep 28 1:10am ET
Rhamondre Stevenson

New England Patriots running back Rhamondre Stevenson is suddenly difficult to trust in fantasy football following his quiet outing against the New York Jets in Week 3. The Patriots' lead back tallied just 23 yards in the contest, and his job doesn't get any easier ahead of Week 4 versus the San Francisco 49ers. The Niners' defense has merely ranked near the middle of the league in opportunities, yards, and fantasy points allowed to running backs, but even the pure game script alone could be enough to keep Stevenson from having a solid fantasy performance. San Francisco is currently favored by 10.5 points. If they get an early lead, they will run the ball to drain the clock and reduce opportunities for the Patriots' playmakers. Similarly, in that scenario, New England would feel more pressure to pass the football and take the ball out of their running back's hands. All of these factors ultimately lead to Stevenson ranking just inside the top 24 fantasy running backs with a low floor and a high ceiling.

From RotoBaller

Brock Purdy Sep 28 1:00am ET
Brock Purdy

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy will look to get back into the win column when the team hosts the New England Patriots on Sunday. Last week versus the Rams in Los Angeles, Purdy had his first 2024 performance above fantasy projections, finishing as the overall QB5 by throwing for 292 yards, three touchdowns, and chipping in 41 yards rushing -- the second-highest total of his career. New England's pass defense has been mediocre this year, producing mixed results against Joe Burrow, Geno Smith, and Aaron Rodgers thus far. They sit at 17th in the NFL in fantasy points allowed to quarterbacks with 15.7 per game in Yahoo default scoring. Purdy is expected to get tight end George Kittle (hamstring) back after missing last week, but wide receiver Deebo Samuel (calf) is questionable after logging limited practices on Thursday and Friday while running back Christian McCaffrey (Achilles) still sits on Injured Reserve. Purdy himself had some minor back soreness coming out of last week's game but doesn't carry an injury designation after practicing in full from Wednesday onward. He'll be a back-end QB1 at home in Week 4.

From RotoBaller

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