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FFL: Week 4 | NFL: Week 4

Packers 'encouraged' QB Jordan Love on field, Sunday start uncertain

Fri Sep 27 3:50pm ET
Field Level Media

Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love practiced all week, inching ever closer to returning to the starting job he yielded to Malik Willis due to a sprained left knee in Week 1.

Love was limited in Friday's practice and continues to wear a brace on his left knee.

"I think any time he's out there, that's encouraging. But again, we'll see," Packers coach Matt LaFleur said Friday.

Willis led the Packers to consecutive wins while Love was out, completing 73.5 percent of his passes for 324 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions. Willis is also averaging 9.5 yards per carry, rushing for 114 yards on 12 carries.

The Minnesota Vikings, who visit Green Bay on Sunday, spent the week preparing for both quarterbacks, defensive coordinator Brian Flores said. He was effusive in praise for LaFleur, saying the Green Bay scheme adopted for Willis appears to be a completely different offense.

"I don't think it's being talked about enough, what's going on over there with Malik Willis," Flores said. "It's impressive to watch."

Minnesota (3-0) gave up a total of 30 points in the first three games of the season and leads the NFL with 16 sacks.

Love said he felt like he was "close" to being ready to start last week at Tennessee. He had four total touchdowns in his last start against the Vikings, including one on the ground.

"I'm trying to push it and I've been trying to get back as fast as I can no matter who the opponent was," Love said.

Packers cornerback Jaire Alexander, likely to be assigned coverage of Vikings star wide receiver Justin Jefferson on Sunday, appears to be less than certain to play this week, too, because of a quad issue. Alexander stayed indoors when the Packers were outside for the majority of Friday's practice.

"That's a concern, for sure. Every time a guy doesn't practice, that's a concern," LaFleur said.

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Hot Plays, Fades and Sleepers: Week 4

Player Notes
Ja'Marr Chase Sep 27 4:30pm ET
Ja'Marr Chase

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase (shoulder) does not carry an injury designation and is set to play on Sunday against the Carolina Panthers. Chase opened the week on Wednesday as a limited participant with a shoulder injury but logged a full practice on Thursday and Friday. Fantasy managers should feel comfortable locking the LSU standout in their lineup as a high-end WR1 for the remainder of the season. After starting the season slowly through the first two weeks, Chase broke out in a big way on Monday night as he caught six passes for 118 yards and two scores against the Washington Commanders.

From RotoBaller

Will Levis Sep 27 4:30pm ET
Will Levis

Tennessee Titans quarterback Will Levis faces the Miami Dolphins in a Week 4 Monday Night Football road showdown. Levis has been on the front page of every NFL meme account due to his not-top ten plays through the first three games of the year. The young quarterback has seen pressure at one of the highest rates in the NFL which has made moving the ball downfield very difficult for this Titans' offense. On the road against a formidable defense with the lowest over/under on the Week is not a good spot for Levis to bounce back. While he did throw for a career high 327 yards last year in an almost identical spot last season, Levis cannot be trusted in any formats as the QB28 through three weeks.

From RotoBaller

Chris Olave Sep 27 4:30pm ET
Chris Olave

New Orleans Saints wide receiver Chris Olave (hamstring) reportedly suffered a hamstring injury during Friday's practice, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. Schefter further noted that the 24-year-old wideout is considered "day-to-day" for the time being. Fantasy managers should pay close attention to the injury report later this afternoon, as it should provide clarity on Olave's status for Sunday's game. Olave has posted back-to-back games of at least 80+ yards and scored his first touchdown of the 2024 season last week against the Philadelphia Eagles. If Olave is able to suit up this weekend, he should be viewed as a high-end WR2.

From RotoBaller

Tony Pollard Sep 27 4:30pm ET
Tony Pollard

Tennessee Titans running back Tony Pollard heads to Miami to face the Dolphins in a Week 4 primetime matchup. After two strong weeks to start the season Pollard took a major step back last week with only 4.4 points in half-PPR scoring. The positives were that he still drew four targets, and managed to out-rush his backfield mate Tyjae Spears for the third consecutive week. With Levis' struggles at the helm of this offense, the Titans may opt to lean on their dynamic RB duo more often, and this coming week against a porous rush defense that just let James Cook go hog-wild, Pollard remains a strong play.

From RotoBaller

Sam LaPorta Sep 27 4:30pm ET
Sam LaPorta

With Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta (ankle) returning to practice on Friday and the Lions playing on Monday night against the Seahawks in Week 4, it makes for a risky proposition to start LaPorta on fantasy teams. The Iowa product has not had a large role in the Lions' offense so far and coming off the injury he could remain a secondary target for Jared Goff against Seattle. LaPorta's season-high in targets was five in Week 1 against the Rams. It is worth monitoring Saturday's practice to make sure he is a participant. If he is, that is a good sign he will be able to suit up after getting in a Friday practice. It is tough to move off of LaPorta and onto another tight end with all the injuries at the position so far this season. It is understandable for fantasy managers to want to pencil in LaPorta for Monday night if he practices on Saturday. But he has yet to show the same target share as last season.

From RotoBaller

DeVonta Smith Sep 27 4:20pm ET
DeVonta Smith

Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith (concussion) will not play this Sunday due to a concussion. The 25-year-old took a hard helmet-to-helmet hit during last weekend's game and will need at least another week to recover from his injury. However, fantasy managers could expect the Alabama product to potentially return in his next game in Week 6 as the Eagles are off next weekend. This weekend, Jahan Dotson and Johnny Wilson should continue to see an increased role in this offense, while No.1 wideout A.J. Brown (hamstring) remains questionable for Sunday's game. Smith has performed very well in the revamped Kellen Moore passing attack this season, averaging 17.0 PPR points per game.

From RotoBaller

Jameson Williams Sep 27 4:20pm ET
Jameson Williams

Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams is coming off a lackluster Week 3 performance at Arizona and should continue to be behind Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jahmyr Gibbs, and David Montgomery in the offensive pecking order as far as touches. What Williams brings, however, is the ability to turn one touch into a big play. His deep-ball threat is there in every game but Seattle has two good corners on the outside in Devon Witherspoon and Riq Woolen. This projects as a tough matchup for Williams as the running back duo figures to be heavily involved and St. Brown should see a majority of the wide receiver targets. So Williams will be reliant on the big play in this matchup making him a somewhat risky option. The upside is certainly there but there is also a low floor.

From RotoBaller

David Montgomery Sep 27 4:10pm ET
David Montgomery

Detroit Lions running back David Montgomery should continue his featured rushing role in the team's backfield in a Week 4 matchup against Seattle on Monday night. Star center Frank Ragnow (pectoral) has already been ruled out, but the Lions' talented offense line should still be able to create holes for the powerful back. Jahmyr Gibbs will be involved in the game plan as well but Montgomery is coming off a game of 23 carries with 105 yards and a touchdown against the Cardinals in Week 3. He also caught three passes in that game. Montgomery has a rushing touchdown in each of the first three games for the Lions and is a good bet to find the end zone again on Monday. He should be locked and loaded as a starting fantasy running back.

From RotoBaller

Bijan Robinson Sep 27 4:10pm ET
Bijan Robinson

Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson (shoulder) logged a full practice on Friday and does not carry an injury designation heading into Sunday's game against the New Orleans Saints. Robinson popped up on Thursday's injury report as a limited participant but returned in full on Friday, suggesting this was a very minor injury. Fantasy managers should feel comfortable locking in Robinson as their RB1 this weekend. The Texas standout scored his first touchdown of the campaign last weekend as he ran for 31 yards with a score and added 21 yards off two catches. Robinson remains one of the top running backs in fantasy due to the elite volume he will see both as a runner and a pass-catcher on a weekly basis.

From RotoBaller

Amon-Ra St. Brown Sep 27 4:10pm ET
Amon-Ra St. Brown

After a quiet Week 1, Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown has started to make some noise again the past two weeks. He saw 18 targets and caught 11 passes for 119 yards in Week 2 against Tampa Bay. In Week 3 at Arizona, St. Brown hauled in seven of his eight targets for 75 yards and a touchdown. He faces a tough matchup against a talented Seahawks secondary on Monday night. But expect St. Brown to move around the formation and be a target for Jared Goff in the middle of the field. He is starting to pick up steam of late and looks like a good play in Week 4. He is a PPR monster because of his heavy involvement. Against a high-powered Seattle offense, this matchup could be high-scoring so there figure to be plenty of opportunities for St. Brown.

From RotoBaller

A.J. Brown Sep 27 4:10pm ET
A.J. Brown

Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown (hamstring) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game. The standout wide receiver returned to practice in a limited capacity on Friday after not participating earlier in the week. Fantasy managers should pay close attention to any updates regarding Brown's status ahead of Sunday's game against Tampa Bay. Brown was sidelined over the past two games due to a hamstring injury and would be a welcomed addition to the offense, as DeVonta Smith (concussion) will not suit up this weekend. If Brown is able to play, fantasy managers should view him as a WR1 with upside. If the 27-year-old misses his third-straight game, Jahan Dotson and Johnny Wilson should serve as the starting wideouts on Sunday.

From RotoBaller

Bradley Chubb Sep 27 4:00pm ET
Bradley Chubb

There is currently no timetable for Miami Dolphins pass-rusher Bradley Chubb (knee), who is eligible to come off the Physically Unable to Perform list next week. "Chubb is in all of our meetings - gives me the feel we will see him at some point this year," defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver said. The fact that Chubb doesn't have a clear timetable yet leads us to believe that he probably won't be officially activated off the PUP list next week. The 28-year-old former Denver Broncos pass-rusher is recovering from a torn ACL in his knee that he suffered in Week 17 of 2023. The Dolphins are holding out hope that he will be able to return to their defense later this season, but it also sounds as though he has plenty of work to do. Chubb probably isn't going to be on the IDP radar this year as he eases his way back onto the field for the Dolphins.

From RotoBaller

Jahmyr Gibbs Sep 27 4:00pm ET
Jahmyr Gibbs

Jahmyr Gibbs has been featured in the Lions' backfield so far this season alongside David Montgomery and that should continue to be the case in Week 4. The versatile running back had a season-high 16 carries against the Cardinals in Week 3 and scored a touchdown on a lateral play after a catch by Amon-Ra St. Brown. He had 20 total touches in Week 2 and 15 touches in Week 1, so expect him to continue to be a focal point of the Lions offense and remain involved in the passing game. As always, Montgomery will be involved as well. But expect the Lions to pound the ball on the ground despite having center Frank Ragnow (pectoral) already ruled out for Monday's game. The absence of Ragnow could hurt the rushing attack but the Lions have a well-balanced offensive line and Gibbs can always fall back on his pass-catching chops out of the backfield. Gibbs should continue to be started with confidence.

From RotoBaller

Jared Goff Sep 27 3:50pm ET
Jared Goff

Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff faces a stiff test with the Seattle Seahawks defense on Monday night. The Seahawks come in with the No. 2 overall defense and No. 1 pass defense in the NFL through three weeks. At the same time, Goff represents the best quarterback the Seahawks will have faced after matching up with Denver's rookie Bo Nix, New England's Jacoby Brissett, and Miami's Skylar Thompson and Tim Boyle. Seattle boasts a strong secondary and Goff has yet to break out through three weeks of this season. Expect a run-heavy focus for the Lions' offense on Monday night with Goff attempting to get the ball to Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams whenever possible against Seattle's tough corners in Devon Witherspoon and Riq Woolen. Goff profiles as a mid-range QB2 in this matchup with better options available.

From RotoBaller

Nico Collins Sep 27 3:40pm ET
Nico Collins

Houston Texans wide receiver Nico Collins (hamstring) popped up on the Week 4 injury report on Thursday and was limited in practice the last two days, but he says he's good to go on Sunday against the division-rival Jacksonville Jaguars. It's good news for Houston's offense with fellow wideout Tank Dell (chest) unlikely to play after missing practice all week. Mid-week additions to the injury report usually aren't a good sign, but the fact that Collins practice on Thursday and Friday give him a good shot to play in Week 4 and see his typical amount of snaps. And with Dell unlikely to play, both Collins and Stefon Diggs have higher ceilings and floors against a Jaguars defense that was torched by the Buffalo Bills in Week 3. Collins, who leads the league through three weeks with 112.7 yards per game, should be locked in as a high-end WR1 this weekend.

From RotoBaller

Anthony Richardson Sep 27 3:30pm ET
Anthony Richardson

Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Alex Highsmith (groin) missed practice all week and has officially been ruled out for the Week 4 game against the Indianapolis Colts. Highsmith injured his groin in the Week 3 win over the Los Angeles Chargers and will miss at least one game. The good news is the 27-year-old is not expected to need surgery, but he could still very well miss multiple games moving forward. Fantasy managers in IDP leagues obviously need to bench Highsmith this week and keep him stashed on the bench until further notice. The impressive Nick Herbig should step into a starting spot in the middle of Pittsburgh's defense on Sunday against the Colts. Even with Highsmith out of action this weekend, the swarming Steelers defense/special teams unit should still be considered a top-five fantasy play against struggling Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson.

From RotoBaller

Jordan Love Sep 27 3:30pm ET
Jordan Love

Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love (knee) was listed as limited for a third straight practice this week on Friday. "Any time he's out there, it's encouraging," head coach Matt LaFleur said. Fantasy managers need to check back soon for Love's official designation heading into Sunday's divisional clash against the Minnesota Vikings at Lambeau Field. LaFleur won't say one way or another if he knows what Love's availability will be on Sunday. Love is trending toward being a game-time decision, but the good news is fantasy managers will know early on Sunday whether he's available or if the Packers will roll with backup Malik Willis for a third straight game. Love is attempting to return from an MCL sprain suffered in the season-opener. The 25-year-old was close to playing in the Week 3 win over the Titans, for what it's worth. Love will be a more volatile QB1 option with potentially limited mobility if he's active.

From RotoBaller

Michael Mayer Sep 27 3:20pm ET
Michael Mayer

Las Vegas Raiders tight end Michael Mayer (personal) has been ruled out for the Week 4 contest on Sunday against the visiting Cleveland Browns. Mayer didn't practice due to a personal matter on Thursday and now will not be with the team at all this weekend. Top receiver Davante Adams (hamstring) has also been ruled out, so Jakobi Meyers and Tre Tucker now figure to be quarterback Gardner Minshew II's top targets in the passing game, as well as rookie tight end Brock Bowers. Harrison Bryant should have a bigger role behind Bowers with Mayer out, but he remains off the fantasy radar. Tucker is worth consideration as a WR4/flex play in deeper fantasy leagues with Adams officially out. It's unclear how long Mayer will be away from the team. The 23-year-old former second-rounder has taken a clear back seat to Bowers and has four catches for 21 yards through three games in 2024.

From RotoBaller

Russell Wilson Sep 27 3:20pm ET
Russell Wilson

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson (calf) was limited in practice all week and will draw yet another questionable tag for the Week 4 meeting against the Indianapolis Colts this Sunday at Lucas Oil Stadium. The Steelers are 3-0 with Justin Fields leading the offense with his arm and legs, so the Steelers have no reason to rush Wilson back from a calf injury that he initially injured in training camp. Even when the 35-year-old veteran signal-caller is considered past his calf injury, he's likely to remain the backup in Pittsburgh as long is Fields is playing well and not turning the ball over. Fields is going to make his fourth straight start against the Colts, with Wilson most likely being inactive again. Wilson has no business being rostered in single-QB leagues at this point.

From RotoBaller

Jordan Addison Sep 27 3:10pm ET
Jordan Addison

Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jordan Addison (ankle) has been cleared to play in Week 4 against the division-rival Green Bay Packers on Sunday at Lambeau Field. Addison injured his ankle in the Week 1 win over the New York Giants and missed the last two games as a result. With no injury designation heading into the weekend, the 22-year-old shouldn't be in danger of seeing a limited snap count and should return to being the WR2 for quarterback Sam Darnold behind All-Pro pass-catcher Justin Jefferson. Addison only had three catches on four targets for 35 yards in Week 1, but he managed 911 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns in 17 games in his rookie season in 2023. The Packers have been middle of the pack in terms of fantasy points allowed to receivers through three weeks. Addison is once again in play as a WR3/flex, while his return hurts Jalen Nailor the most.

From RotoBaller