Week 4 Streamers
30 September 2020 Fantasy Football Opinion
Well, here we are. Week 4. What will be almost 1/3 of the fantasy season has been complete. Hopefully you’re tuning into this article sitting pretty at 3-0 because we’ve led you down the right path. Maybe you’re 0-3 and we’ve been completely terrible to you. However, for the most part, if you’ve checked out the articles and followed me on Twitter (@bsokowoski #shamelessplug) for updates then you’re in contention for a playoff spot. This article is here to get you over that hump, welcome to streamers and sleepers!
Quarterback:
Ryan Fitzpatrick – Miami Dolphins – vs. Seattle
At first site this looks like an absolute massacre of a matchup, until you get down into the numbers. The Seattle Seahawks have given up 1,492 passing yards, averaging 497.3 yards-per-game, and just lost their best member of the secondary in Jamal Adams. Lets be honest though, Jamal Adams has no pass coverage skills unless he’s cracking you on a deep post coming over the middle of the field. He makes flashy plays in run defense and makes hard hits but he’s not a coverage player. Now, onto Fitzpatrick. Oh, you mean QB14 on the season? Averaging 18.5 points? Rostered in only 8.2% of leagues? Yeah, that guy. The ageless wonder is having another season for the books, coming off the massacre of the Jacksonville Jaguars in a MODEST performance of 160/2/0, in route to a 24.7 point performance. Look for the combination of these two things, and a negative game script, to put Fitzmagic in the drivers seat for another 20+ point performance.
Baker Mayfield – Cleveland Browns – @ Dallas
Yikes! What a disaster this must be for me to have to pick a quarterback for the Browns, right? Wrong. This is solely a matchup play for those in desperation mode at quarterback. QB25 on the season, Mayfield is still managing to underwhelm on a Browns team that has a winning record for the first time in 6 years. His best performance to date came against a horrid Bengals team, which he managed 219 yards, 2 touchdowns and a pick. However, the Cowboys may be the remedy to the struggles of Baker Mayfield. The seventh worst defense in the NFL, the cowboys are allowing 277 passing yards per game and the Browns will, assumingly so, be in a negative game script against the juggernaut offense in Dallas. If you’re in desperate need of a big game, look no further than young Baker.
Joe Burrow – Cincinnati Bengals – vs. Jacksonville
Joe Burrow is legit. He is a poised young man under pressure and is up to the test of the big game. In a game that he was sacked eight times by the Eagles defense, Burrow delivered strike after strike against the Philly secondary, totaling 31 completions, 312 yards and two touchdowns while playing turnover free football. In his second consecutive appearance on this list, and second consecutive 300+ yard passing performance, Burrow gets the benefit of going against a sputtering Jacksonville defense that just let Ryan Fitzpatrick run on them like he was 24, fresh out of Harvard, again.
Running Back:
Rex Burkhead – New England Patriots – @ Kansas City
Truthfully, I’m avoiding any running back for the New England Patriots. However, with the absence of James White due to his father’s untimely passing (Rest In Peace), Burkhead took control of the Patriots’ backfield on Sunday. RB16 through 3 weeks, Burkhead was in charge of the goal line carries (6 carries, 49 yards, 2 touchdowns) and is the main pass catcher coming out of the backfield for Cam Newton. Another week without James White could mean big things for Burkhead.
Jeff Wilson – San Francisco 49ers – vs. Philadelphia
Death, taxes and another injury to the 49ers’ backfield. Those are the three certainties in the 2020 NFL season. Fellow backfield mate Jerrick McKinnon went down early with a rib injury and Wilson took over in his stead, producing adequately. Mainly utilized as a pass catching back, Wilson was able to garner 12 carries for 15 yards and a touchdown, while also adding three receptions for 54 yards and a receiving touchdown. If Mostert, McKinnon and Coleman continue on the injury report, Wilson is a must add in all formats.
Carlos Hyde – Seattle Seahawks – @ Miami
If the injury to Chris Carson is one that will linger on the injury report for weeks to come, this is a no-brainer add. Hyde is not the 1,000 yard rusher that he was for the Houston Texans last year due to his place in the backfield (back up to Carson) but, Hyde could return to form if Carson does not play on Sunday. Hyde is a volume running back who wears down defenses with his powerful running style and eventually breaks the long one. If Carson is sidelined in week 4, look for Seattle to utilize Hyde in his absence.
Wide Receiver:
Hunter Renfrow – Las Vegas Raiders – vs. Buffalo
Renfrow made my list of season long stashers in the preseason and I was scoffed at for it. Universally recognized as a lesser receiver than Henry Ruggs III and Bryan Edwards, I already knew it was going to be an uphill battle for Renfrow. Week 3 comes around and guess what? Ruggs and Edwards are both sidelined with injuries. Much like Matthew Berry runs with the Cooper Kupp win that he had, I will run this decision into the ground. Hunter Renfrow in week 3 totaled nine targets, six catches, 84 yards and a touchdown in their loss to New England. Derek Carr has a natural chemistry with Hunter Renfrow and look for that to be on display in week 4 as well.
Tee Higgins – Cincinnati Bengals – vs. Jacksonville
Another player that I will toot my own horn about, I wrote extensively about the abilities of Tee Higgins in the 2020 NFL Draft and it’s finally coming to fruition. Buried in the depth chart behind the likes of A.J. Green and Tyler Boyd, all Higgins needed was a chance and he got it against Philadelphia. Higgins saw nine targets (2nd to Tyler Boyd), had five catches (2nd to Tyler Boyd), 40 yards (3rd to Tyler Boyd, Gio Bernard) and 2 touchdowns (led team) on Sunday. I think you’re seeing a trend develop here. Tee Higgins is taking over for A.J. Green and he is a solid flex streamer this week.
Greg Ward – Philadelphia Eagles – @ San Francisco
Is there anything better than watching your favorite team suffer injury after injury at one of the most critical positions in football? Sure, if you think that fantasy football is your religion, much like myself because then you get to see one of your favorite wide receiver prospects get the opportunities that they have earned for the last two seasons. Greg Ward Jr. has done just that. Without Alshon Jeffery, Desean Jackson, Jalen Reagor, J.J. Arcega-Whiteside and Dallas Goedert, Greg Ward led the Eagles in targets, receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns on Sunday. Let me remind you that Greg Ward was an undrafted free agent quarterback converted wide receiver from the Houston Cougars. His stat-line on Sunday? 8-72-1. It may not be a great offense, but these numbers are great for fantasy football.
Tight End:
Moe Alie-Cox – Indianapolis Colts – @ Chicago
Second straight week that I’m going to say this, why is MAC not more owned in the fantasy community? Sitting at just 13.3% owned among ESPN leagues, Mo Alie-Cox is TE8 in fantasy this season through week 3. Since the injury to Jack Doyle, MAC has 8 receptions, 161 yards and got his first career touchdown reception on Sunday. A middling Phillip Rivers cannot throw the deep ball anymore so look for MAC to continue this trend against Chicago.
Tyler Kroft – Buffalo Bills – @ Las Vegas
No, this is not the sexy pick, as Dawson Knox is more of the receiving tight end in Buffalo. However, in Knox’s place, Kroft had 4 catches for 24 yards and two touchdowns against the Rams last week. Josh Allen trusts him enough to go to him in crucial moments as Kroft caught the game winning touchdown with 15 seconds left in the fourth quarter last week so look for more of the same from Kroft this week in Dawson’s absence.
Greg Olsen – Seattle Seahawks – @ Miami
Is Greg Olsen old reliable anymore? Not a chance. After being let go from the Panthers, Olsen has bounced around from team to team and has found himself a home with quarterback Russell Wilson in Seattle for the season. After being shutout in his week 2 performance, Olsen bounced back in week 3 with a 5-61-0 stat line and finds himself in a favorable matchup against a porous Dolphins defense in week 4. If you’re looking to stream, Olsen is a good option.
Defense/Special Teams:
Los Angeles Rams vs. NYG
Seattle Seahawks @ MIA
New York Jets vs. DEN