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FFL: Week 4 | NFL: Week 4

Chargers QB Justin Herbert (ankle) questionable vs. Chiefs

Fri Sep 27 8:08pm ET
Field Level Media

Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (ankle) is questionable for Sunday's game against the visiting Kansas City Chiefs in Los Angeles.

Herbert was a limited participant in practice for the third straight day on Friday. He is dealing with a high-ankle sprain he reaggravated during the Chargers' 20-10 loss last Sunday at the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Los Angeles (2-1) has a bye following Sunday's game, but Herbert told reporters Wednesday he intended to play against Kansas City (3-0) instead of buying an extra week of rest.

"That was part of the conversation," Herbert said on potentially sitting out Sunday. "I don't think that's the way we're heading."

The fifth-year quarterback has completed 67.2 percent of his passes and thrown for 399 yards with four touchdowns and one interception in three starts this season for the Chargers.

Taylor Heinicke (29 career starts) completed both of his pass attempts for 24 yards in relief of Herbert last Sunday. Easton Stick (four starts) is also an option if Herbert can't go.

Whoever lines up under center for Los Angeles on Sunday will have to manage without starting left tackle Rashawn Slater, who was ruled out with a pectoral injury. Rookie right tackle Joe Alt is questionable with a sprained MCL.

Defensively, the Chargers will be without star edge rusher Joey Bosa (hip) and linebacker Junior Colson (hamstring).

Wide receiver Derius Davis and defensive back Deane Leonard are questionable with hamstring issues, while corner Kristian Fulton (knee) and defensive back Ja'Sir Taylor (fibula) are also questionable.

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Hot Plays, Fades and Sleepers: Week 4

Player Notes
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

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