Trashman’s Fantasy Fallout Going Into Week 4 of the 2023 NFL Season

The hits keep coming as important players hit the dirt, but all we can do is move forward in the face of adversity. This is where the trashy thrive! This is the fantasy fallout going into Week 4 of the NFL season…

 

Colts – 22 @ Ravens – 19

• Zack Moss(32/145/1) notched a massive touch count in an impressive Colts win. Jonathan Taylor is slated to return in Wk5, but Moss is a must start until that happens. He’s still available in 20% of leagues.

 

• WR Josh Downs(8/57) seems to have jumped the lackluster Alec Pierce(3/43) in the depth chart. The rookie speedster actually led the Colts in targets(12). He’s more of a PPR asset, but Downs is available in 98% of leagues and his arrow is pointing up. 

 

• Anthony Richardson(concussion) is targeting a Wk4 return to action and is an easy start, even against a resurgent Rams team. If he can’t go, Gardner Minshew is a capable backup, and your Colts starters should be fine. 

 

• Melvin Gordon(12/55) had an alarming amount of touches on Sunday – He actually led the backfield – Gus Edwards(11/51) owners can’t be thrilled. Kenyan Drake(3/31) even made an appearance. Justice Hill(foot) was out and may be able to return this week, throwing the whole situation back into chaos. Edwards still seems like the safest bet, but I’m hands off all Ravens backs this week when they’ll face a Browns front that just held Derrick Henry to 20 yards. 

 

Titans – 3 @ Browns – 27

• As you can tell from the score, there’s nothing much to say about the Titans offense in this one. They’ll look to bounce back against a middling Bengals defense this week . Tyjae Spears(8/9) did have 8 touches, and that’s encouraging, but he was able to do absolutely nothing with them behind his porous O-line. 

 

• It was a mixed back for the Browns running game. Jerome Ford(12/40/2) scored twice, but he was actually the least effective back on the ground, averaging just 1.8 YPC, while Pierre Strong(6/27) averaged 4.5 YPC and Kareem Hunt(7/35) had 2.6 YPC. The game was well in hand when Strong got most of his action though, so this is still Ford’s job to lose. 

 

• Elijah Moore(12/48) led Browns pass catchers in targets(9) and even logged 3 carries. A rising PPR asset, Moore is still available in 34% of leagues. 

 

Broncos – 20 @ Dolphins – 70

• Marvin Mims(3/73) had a decent line once again, behind Courtland Sutton(8/91/1) and Jerry Jeudy(5/81), but he still only had 3 catches on 5 targets. He  actually might be worth a deep league flex, outside of 1 pt PPR leagues, against the Bears this week. 

 

• Ok, the Dolphins scored 70, so we have to take the box score with a grain of salt. That being said, De’Von Achane(22/233/4) had a coming out party that may go unrivaled this season. Yes, much of it occurred when the game was already out of hand, but the genie is out of the bottle. Raheem Mostert(20/142/4) had a line that would have been the talk of the day if not for Achane’s though, so he’s still the lead RB in most respects. Achane is available in 59% of leagues for this week only. 

 

Patriots – 15 @ Jets – 10

• The Pats went run heavy in this one, and Ezekiel Elliott(17/87) was the main beneficiary, out gaining Rhamondre Stevenson(20/62). Elliott makes for an intriguing flex in a revenge game against his former team this week. The Cowboys defend the run well, but they showed some chinks in their armor against Arizona in Wk3. 

 

• TE Pharoah Brown came out of nowhere to post a 2/71/1 line, but he only had 2 targets on the day. I’d like to see it again before considering him anywhere. 

 

• The Jets offense is anemic with Zach Wilson under center, as we expected. HC Saleh said he’d continue to be the starter this against KC, so prepare yourself for that. Garrett Wilson(5/48, 9 tgt) is the only Jets pass-catcher worth flexing, though both Dalvin Cook(11/30) and Breece Hall(13/27) are viable based on their touches. 

 

Bills – 37 @ Commanders – 3

• Latavius Murray(6/21/1) scored for the 2nd straight week against Washington. Arguably the goal line back in Buffalo now, Murray will be TD dependent, but he could find himself in position to score often this week against Miami, in what should be a high point total. Honestly, if you own any Bill, you should probably find a way to get them in your lineup this week. 

 

• Hate to say it, but Antonio Gibson(5/24) is borderline droppable at this point. In any case, you can’t rely on him this week against Philly. 

 

• John Bates(2/12, 8 tgt) gets more snaps, but Cole Turner(4/35, 7 tgt – team high) seems to be favored in passing situations. If Logan Thomas can’t go this week, Turner could have a decent line against the Eagles. 

 

Falcons – 6 @ Lions – 20

• Kyle Pitts(5/41, 9 tgt) finally had a decent line, in PPR only, but Jonnu Smith(5/37, 8 tgt) was right there with him again. They both have a chance to do damage against a lagging Jags defense in Wk3.

 

• Sam LaPorta’s(8/84/1) targets have gone up each week thus far(5,6,11). He’s got  the toughest SOS for TEs in the league, but his target share makes him a weekly start in the no man’s land that is the TE landscape this season. 

 

• Jahmyr Gibbs(18/82) didn’t find the end-zone, but he had a strong showing in his first starting contest. With the Lions playing on a short week, it seems there’s a good chance David Montgomery sits again, leaving Gibbs in good spot versus a beatable Packers run front. 

 

Saints – 17 @ Packers – 18

• He didn’t find much room, but Kendre Miller(10/34) led the Saints backfield in carries and will likely work as the no.2 behind Alvin Kamara when he returns this week. 

 

• Derek Carr injured his shoulder and is day-to-day. Jameis Winston relieved Carr and had the Saints in position to win the game, if not for the kicker’s shank in the closing seconds. Winston’s arm might actually open some things up for the Saints passing game this week, should Carr sit. 

 

• We’ve now seen the depths of Rashid Shaheed’s(1/0, 2 tgt) floor, outside of return yardage leagues. He’s an unreliable flex outside of that format. 

 

• Despite certain members of RW nation’s hatred towards Romeo Doubs(5/73/1), he remains one of Jordan Love’s favorite red-zone targets. With 3 TDs on the season, he makes for a reasonable flex against a flexible Lions secondary this week, even if Christian Watson returns to the field. 

 

• Aj Dillon(11/33) has been absolute trash, even with Aaron Jones sidelined. Even if Jones can’t go in this short week, I’m fading Dillon, as he’s not enough of an asset in the passing game. 

 

Texans – 37 @ Jaguars – 17

• Dameon Pierce(17/59/1) saved his day with a score, but Devin Singletary(11/44) crept up in touches. Pierce has been pretty inefficient these first 3 weeks of the season, but to his credit he’s had a murderer’s row of run defenses. He’ll have his best matchup of the season thus far this week against the Steelers. If he can’t make the most of this opportunity, we may have to consider Singeltary’s future prospects more seriously. 

 

• I’ll continue to take my victory lap on my Tank Dell(5/145/1) take, as the dynamic rookie continues to ascend into the fantasy stratosphere. He’s well on his way to fulfilling my preseason  assertion that he’ll lead the Texans in receiving this season. He’s still only 37% owned, but this might be your last week to get him off waivers. 

 

• With teams putting their best corners on Calvin Ridley(3/40) after his Wk1 eruption, Christian Kirk(5/54/1) is getting his due. With the Jags facing another solid secondary in the Falcons this week, we could see more of the same. 

 

Chargers – 28 @ Vikings – 24

• Joshua Kelley’s(12/17) Wk2 performance(13/39) could be excused on account of the Titans boasting the 2nd best run defense in the league, but his Wk3 clunker is unforgivable.  We could see Isaiah Spiller see more work this week.

 

• Mike Williams(7/121/1) suffered a knee injury that could have him out for some time. Josh Palmer(4/66/1) is the immediate beneficiary, but rookie Quentin Johnston(2/10) will see more action as well. Both are reasonable flexes, in that order of relevance, this week against Vegas. 

 

• TE Gerald Everett(6/30) saw more targets, but TE Donald Parham(2/4/2) scored twice. In the wake of a potential lengthy absence for Williams, both TEs could retain some value as streamers. 

 

• Alexander Mattison(25/125) had his best game of the season in an attempt to retain his starting job with Cam Akers looming in the background. Akers wasn’t active this week, but he’ll probably see considerable action as soon as this week’s matchup with Carolina. They’ve both proven themselves to be underwhelming lead backs thus far, so we could see them cancel each other out fantasy wise. I’m not excited about the prospects of either back. 

 

Panthers – 27 @ Seahawks – 37

• Andy Dalton(34/361/2) proved himself fantasy productive, despite losing the game, peppering Adam Thielen(11/145/1, 14 tgt) and DJ Chark(4/86/1, 11 tgt) with targets. Thielen and Chark are available in 50% and 90% of leagues, so there’s a good chance you can grab one of them for this week’s potentially viable matchup with a burnable Vikings secondary. 

 

• RB Zach Charbonnet(10/45) saw a high in touches(10) on Sunday, almost scoring in the process. Ken Walker(21/156/2) still out performed him considerably though. We could see plenty of them both this week against the Giants, so Charbonnet should be added, if not started, this week. 

 

• Rookie WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba(1/10) is ceding targets to the Seahawks TEs. He’s bench material until we see something out of him. 

 

Cowboys – 16 @ Cardinals – 28

• What a difference a good O-line makes. The Cowboys were minus 3 starters, including Zach Martin, and it showed, capitalizing only once in 5 visits to the red-zone. Michael Gallup(6/92) popped on 7 targets though, and could have busy Wk3, as the Pats will undoubtedly focus on stifling CeeDee Lamb. 

 

• Rookie WR Michael Wilson(2/98) only had 2 targets on the day, but he’s proving himself to be a valuable big play asset for the Cardinals. Look for him to get more involved moving forward. 

 

• Rondale Moore(7/62/1) had a solid line as well, though most of his action came as a runner. He won’t find the sledding to be easy against a 49ers defense that is used to practicing against Deebo Samuel. 

 

Bears – 10 @ Chiefs – 41

• The Bears imploded before our eyes after a tumultuous week for their team off the field. They need to reevaluate their entire operation. It was nice though to see Roschon Johnson(10/49) start and lead the backfield, catching both of his targets. He’ll continue to get more work, as the Bears try to right this ship. 

 

• Clyde Edwards-Helaire(16/57/1) rivaled Isiah Pacheco(17/78/1) on the ground Sunday, but the Chiefs probably won’t find themselves in the same position against the more formidable Jets this week. Even Jerick McKinnon(3/19/2) scored twice in this one, so we have to take this game with a grain of salt. 

 

• Rashee Rice(5/59, 7 tgt) almost caught his 2nd TD of the season and was 2nd to Travis Kelce in targets. Pat Mahomes likes to spread the ball around, but Rice seems to be rising in the ranks in KC. He’s worth grabbing in deeper formats. 

 

Steelers – 23 @ Raiders – 18

• Jaylen Warren(11/52) continues to see more work in the passing game, and he averaged more YPC(3.6) than Najee Harris(3.4 YPC) in this one. He makes for a deep league PPR flex this week against a Houston team that’s easier to run on than to pass. 

 

• 2nd year WR Calvin Austin(2/72/1) is averaging 5 targets per game this season, emerging as a big play option for the Steelers. With Diontae Johnson now on IR, Austin could offer some upside in his absence. 

 

• Jakobi Meyers(7/85) had a strong PPR line, even with Davante Adams(13/172/2) going nuclear. Available in 31% of leagues, Meyers is well worth adding where you can still find him.