Week 4 Fantasy Rankings
29 September 2020 Fantasy Football Opinion
Another interesting week in the 2020 NFL season. Week 3 gave us late game heroics, tragic let downs and even an over-time tie (Thanks, Eagles *scowling emoji*). All of these add up to what was an interesting fantasy week as well. No surprise here but, Patrick Mahomes led all scorers in week 3 pouring in a 41 point performance. The most surprising though? How about Fitzmagic finding his former self with a 25 point game? Or Jared Goff leading a second half surge for the Rams offense, scoring 28.2 points? Then there was the ugly. Kenyan Drake, someone I was very high on against a horrid Lions front seven, scored only 8 points. If your name wasn’t Deandre Hopkins on the Cardinals offense, you struggled in week 3. Kyler Murray did have a great fantasy day but, was shattered by his three turnovers. Another QB’s praise that I was singing going into week 3? Gardner Minshew. If you follow me on Twitter (@bsokowoski. #ShamelessPlug), you knew that I was extremely high on the Minshew/Cole Sr. stack in all formats last week. The results, you asked? 15 total points combined. Thursday Night Football was my worst nightmare and I am owning that one still. Regardless, this is a new week and we are on to bigger and brighter things in Week 4. Below are my rankings, along with some notes on some interesting fantasy matchups.
Quarterback:
- Russell Wilson @ Miami
- Patrick Mahomes @ New England
- Aaron Rodgers vs. Atlanta
- Josh Allen @ Las Vegas
- Deshaun Watson vs. Minnesota
- Dak Prescott vs. Cleveland
- Kyler Murray @ Carolina
- Ben Roethlisberger @ Tennessee
- Lamar Jackson @ Washington
- Jared Goff vs. New York (G)
- Matt Ryan vs. Green Bay
- Matthew Stafford vs. New Orleans
Notes:
-Life after Deandre Hopkins has not been kind to Deshaun Watson. He has yet to post a top 10 weekly fantasy finish and his 12 carries are outside of the top 10 for QB’s. Going up against the third worst defense in the NFL, allowing 292.3 passing yards per game, should help fix that.
-Career rejuvenation for Aaron Rodgers? Rodgers, currently QB6, has yet to give the football away through week 3. Rodgers should eclipse the 1,000 yard passing mark (currently at 887) in week 4 and currently has a 9/0 TD/INT ration. Going against a horrendous Falcons pass defense who has let up two straight late leads and has already given up 1,000 (1,051) yards through the air this season, look for elite Rodgers to continue.
-The reigning MVP of the NFL is QB13 this year? You read that correctly. Not only is Lamar not playing up to MVP caliber, he isn’t even standing out against his fellow quarterbacks. Quarterbacks that have outscored Jackson through week 3 includes Ryan Tannehill, Jared Goff, Cam Newton and rookie Joe Burrow. Coming off a week where he didn’t even pass for 100 yards against a mediocre Kansas City pass defense, Lamar gets a slight bump down as he looks to realign to his MVP ways against a stout Washington pass rush.
Running Back:
- Dalvin Cook @ Houston
- Alvin Kamara @ Detroit
- Ezekiel Elliott vs. Cleveland
- Aaron Jones vs. Atlanta
- Nick Chubb @ Dallas
- James Conner @ Tennessee
- Jonathon Taylor @ Chicago
- Austin Ekeler @ Tampa Bay
- Josh Jacobs @ Buffalo
- James Robinson @ Cincinnati
- Clyde Edwards-Helaire vs. New England
- Derrick Henry vs. Pittsburgh
- David Johnson vs. Minnesota
- Kareem Hunt @ Dallas
- Joe Mixon vs. Jacksonville
- Kenyan Drake @ Carolina
- Miles Sanders @ San Francisco
- Melvin Gordon @ New York (J)
- Mike Davis @ Arizona
- Darrell Henderson vs. New York (G)
- Mark Ingram @ Washington
- David Montgomery @ Indianapolis
- Devin Singletary @ Las Vegas
- Carlos Hyde @ Miami
Notes:
-To date, James Robinson currently ranks as the RB5 in fantasy. His performances include a 9.5 point debut against a stout Colts defense, 20.5 and 27.9 points through 3 weeks, averaging 19.3 points per game. Starting the year as an undrafted rookie longshot, Robinson proved his worth and camp and made the Jags 53. Due to the uncertainty in the Jaguars backfield, Robinson also started his fantasy career as an undrafted waiver addition to most teams. Now solidifying his role as the all-purpose back to own in Jacksonville, Robinson may just be this years league winning difference maker.
-How is Cleveland sustaining two starting caliber running backs? Not even starting caliber, Kareem Hunt is sitting 0.1 points outside of being a fantasy RB1 in 12 person leagues. We all thought that the more Kareem Hunt, the less Nick Chubb we’d see. Little did we know, Kevin Stefanski was the perfect coach to align with these two budding stars, as Chubb currently sits as RB6 and Hunt as RB14.
-Mike Davis is the running back to own in Carolina. Davis assumed the three down duties as CMC sits on the sideline with a high ankle sprain and did not disappoint. I said this little nugget on the 4th and Jawn kick off show last Sunday (every Sunday beginning at 9:30 A.M. #ShamelessPlug), when Mike Davis has been given at least eight touches in a game, he has averaged 15.1 fantasy points. Lock Mike Davis in this week.
Wide Receivers:
- Deandre Hopkins @ Carolina
- Tyler Lockett @ Miami
- Calvin Ridley @ Green Bay
- Tyreek Hill vs. New England
- Mike Evans vs. Los Angeles ©
- Davante Adams vs. Atlanta
- Michael Thomas @ Detroit
- Amari Cooper vs. Cleveland
- Kenny Golladay @ New Orleans
- K. Metcalf @ Miami
- Robert Woods vs. New York (G)
- Julio Jones @ Green Bay
- Adam Thielen @ Houston
- Cooper Kupp vs. New York (G)
- Stefon Diggs @ Las Vegas
- Odell Beckham Jr. @ Dallas
- Allen Lazard @ Atlanta
- Tyler Boyd vs. Jacksonville
- Juju Smith-Schuster @ Tennessee
- Allen Robinson vs. Indianapolis
- Julian Edelman @ Kansas City
- CeeDee Lamb vs. Cleveland
- Will Fuller IV vs. Minnesota
- Jarvis Landry @ Dallas
Notes:
-It’s time to start putting Tyler Lockett and Calvin Ridley among the elite fantasy receivers in the NFL. Even without Julio Jones on the field in week 3, Ridley totaled 5 receptions and 110 yards on his way to a 15.2 point performance. Currently sitting as the WR1 in fantasy, Ridley is averaging 24.3 points per game. Yes, 15.2 points HURT his average. Who is sitting right behind him as WR2? Tyler Lockett. As Russell Wilson goes, Tyler Lockett will go because he is Russ’ #1 target. His lowest performance to this point? An 8 catch, 92 yard, 13.2 point performance in week 1. His 33.5 point performance in week 3 led the way for all wide receivers.
-There are several injuries to monitor in my rankings that could make them adjust drastically. For example, Davante Adams is an elite talent. Even after sitting out week 3, he still sits as WR15. However, a huge bump will be given to Allen Lazard if he does not play. Lazard totaled 6 catches, 146 yards and a touchdown in week 3 against a formidable Saints secondary. Monitor Julio, Davante and Michael Thomas as the week progresses.
-Mike Evans will get another chance to prove he is still the top target in Tampa Bay this week, while Chris Godwin is sidelined after reinjuring himself. Evans has not seen the target volume that he was accustomed to with Jameis Winston throwing the ball but has still managed to produce a touchdown reception in each game this season. However, there’s no comparison between the splits of Godwin playing and not playing. Evans with Godwin on the field? 3 catches, 4 yards, 3 touchdowns. Evans without Godwin on the field? 7 catches, 104 yards, 1 touchdown. Yes, it’s that drastic. Also, the Chargers will short-term IR Chris Harris Jr. this week.
Tight End:
- Travis Kelce vs. New England
- Mark Andrews @ Washington
- George Kittle vs. Philadelphia
- Noah Fant vs. New York (J)
- Tyler Higbee vs. New York (G)
- Zach Ertz @ San Francisco
- Hunter Henry @ Tampa Bay
- Mo Alie-Cox @ Chicago
- Hayden Hurst @ Green Bay
- Jonnu Smith vs. Pittsburgh
- Jared Cook @ Detroit
- Eric Ebron @ Tennessee
Notes:
-It’s no secret who the top tight end in fantasy football is this year. Travis Kelce has been the most reliable tight end in football for what seems like 3-4 years now. Behind TE1 though? Jonnu Smith sits as the TE2, Noah Fant is TE3, and Tyler Higbee is TE4. Smith is averaging 14.2 fantasy points per game in an offense that is down A.J. Brown and has not had prime Derrick Henry until week 3. Going against the #1 defense in the NFL though in Pittsburgh, something has to give.
-Where did Zach Ertz go? One who was once thought of as the elite of tight ends in fantasy football, Ertz has pulled a disappearing act on us through week 3. Currently sitting as TE14, Ertz is averaging just 8.8 points per game and is behind teammate Dallas Goedert, even only one spot, for total points this season. Do not look for Zach Ertz to return to form against the second toughest defense against tight ends this season in San Francisco.
-Mo Alie-Cox. Please get used to me writing his name this season as he seems to be the only reliable Colts pass catcher this season. Currently sitting as TE8, MAC has produced steady numbers in Jack Doyle’s stead. In his two weeks starting since the Doyle injury, MAC has had 8 catches, 161 yards and a touchdown while piling up 27.1 points. Additionally, Jack Doyle is not the true threat of the tight end room anymore. Games it took Doyle to have a 100+ yard game? 49. Games it took Mo Alie-Cox to do the same? 2.
Finally, we’ve arrived to the best part of this rankings article, DEFENSIVE START OF THE WEEK BABY! We even have TWO for you this week. Coming off a down week against a Rams offense with a TON of firepower, the Buffalo Bills get the first nod of the week. Going against a Raiders offense that is mediocre at best, the Bills should be able to slow down Josh Jacobs enough to make this offense one dimensional and put the ball in average-at-best, check down king of the west, Derek Carr’s hands and make you your waiver claim worth it. Additionally, look for the Houston Texans’ D/ST to get back on track against a putrid Minnesota Vikings offense. (But still start Dalvin Cook).