Trashman’s Fantasy Fallout Going Into Week 4 of the 2024 NFL Season

Fantasy often hurts, but it reallydoesn’t have to. Let’s take the pain and turn it into profit one week at a time! Here’s the fallout going into Week 4 of the NFL season…

 

Patriots – 3 @ Jets – 24

• DeMario Douglas(7/69) finally put up decent numbers as the “no.1” WR in New England, commanding a team leading 9 targets. It wasn’t a monster, but we’ll take it. Unfortunately he probably wasn’t in too many lineups due to his paltry showings in WK1 and WK2. He’ll have his best matchup yet against the 49ers this week, so consider him.

 

• Antonio Gibson(8/37) flirted with double-digit touches(8) again this week, though he didn’t have the box score to validate them. Still he outgained Rhamondre Stevenson(6/23) and looks to be an integral part of this offense moving forward.

 

• Braelon Allen(14/63) had another solid, double-digit touch effort on Thursday, out gaining

Breece Hall(20/83/1) on the ground by a yard. He’s becoming something of a 1B to Hall’s 1A and needs to be owned in most formats.

 

• TE Tyler Conklin(5/93) had the best game of his short season, coming in 2nd in targets to only Garrett Wilson(9). Conklin has had to face 3 top five defenses in a row to start the season, but things get much easier here on out. He’s a solid streamer this week.

 

• Allen Lazard(3/48/1) isn’t going anywhere. Aaron Rodgers trusts him and looks for him in the red-zone. Pick him up in deeper formats.

 

Giants – 25 @ Browns – 17

• Wan’Dale Robinson(7/61) continues to assert himself as the only Giants pass-catcher other than Malik Nabers(8/78/2) that should be owned in fantasy right now. He’s been a solid PPR play every week this season so far, and he should continue to produce against Dallas this week.

 

• No one on the Browns other than Amari Cooper did anything of note on Sunday. It should be noted that Jordan Akins(4/29) did have 7 targets though and could be in line for similar looks in WK4, if David Njoku continues to sit.

 

Packers – 30 @ Titans – 4

• RB Emanuel Wilson(14/85/1) had a stellar day on your bench, but most of it happened after the game was in hand. The Packers will face much stiffer competition in the Vikings this week, and if Wilson produces then, we might have a deep league flex on our hands.

 

• Jordan Love is slated to return in WK4, but if he can’t go for some reason, Malik Willis(13/202/1) (6/73/1 on the ground) has been doing an excellent job in his absence. The matchup versus the Vikings is a tough one though, so I wouldn’t advise playing him unless you have to.

 

• DeAndre Hopkins(6/73/1) finally lived up to his no.1 WR billing, leading the team in targets(7) in the process. To his credit, he has been recovering from a knee injury and only played 45% of snaps this game even. If he’s been dropped in your league, go get him.

 

Bears – 16 @ Colts – 21

• Roschon Johnson(12/62) came out of nowhere to get 12 touches, coming eerily close to D’Andre Swift‘s(15/42) 15 touches. Johnson was more effective with those touches as well. Johnson got a leg up with Travis Homer out with a finger injury, but he may have worked his way into more regular snaps. Swift hasn’t done anything to cement himself as a lead back, so Johnson has some juice going into WK4.

 

• Rookie WR Rome Odunze(6/112/1) and TE Cole Kmet(10/97/1) both benefited from Keenan Allen‘s absence, with both players getting 11 targets a piece. Despite the loss, the Bears offense showed signs of life and will have their best matchup of the young season against the Rams this week. Even if Allen returns, these two are in play.

 

• Hesitant to use his legs, Anthony Richardson(10/167/0/2) is leaving fantasy owners in the lurch. He’s not an advised start against the Steelers top 2 ranked QB defense this week. In fact, it’s going to be hard to use any Colts other than Jonathan Taylor this week.

 

Texans- 7 @ Vikings – 34

• Cam Akers(10/29/1) salvaged his day with a TD reception but was otherwise pretty silent the rest of the day. It’s the same old Akers in a new uniform. If Joe Mixon can’t return this week, Akers would have an easier time versus Jacksonville, but temper your expectations.

 

• Arguably the most TD dependent player in the league, Jailen Nailor(3/31/1) continued his TD streak, making it 3 straight weeks finding the endzone. He’s yet to get more than 4 looks in a game, but he gets the looks that count in the red-zone. If Jordan Addison is sidelined again this week, Nailor is worth a deep flex.

 

• Sam Darnold has thrown for a league leading 8 TDs this season, and he’s still owned in less than 30% of leagues. He’s questionable this week with a bone bruise, but he should be fine to go. Either way, he needs to be owned in all formats, as the Vikings look like real contenders.

 

Eagles – 15 @ Saints – 12

• There really isn’t much to be gleaned here from the Philly side of things, as the only players of consequence are owned in over 90% of leagues. As long as AJ Brown sits, Dallas Goedert(10/170) is a must start in today’s barren TE landscape.

 

• As much as I’m generally nonplussed by Carr for fantasy purposes, he’s been excellent outside of this past week. What’s more is that his schedule is cherry with ATL, KC and TB up next. They are all top 10 matchups for opposing QBs right now

 

• Rashid Shaheed didn’t catch any of his 5 targets, laying a goose egg after 2 monster weeks to start the season. This is the problem depending on a player who hasn’t seen more than 5 targets in a game. The definition of boom or bust, Shaeheed will be a shaky play against a stingy Falcons secondary in WK4.

 

Chargers – 10 @ Steelers – 16

• The Chargers are a team predicated on the run, and the Steelers are a team predicated on stopping it. It didn’t help the Chargers’ chances that Justin Herbert left the game with an injured ankle. With star rookie tackle Joe Alt ailing as well, things aren’t looking up for LA against KC’s top 4 ranked run defense in WK4. At least we don’t have to worry about who to play between Gus Edwards(3/9) and JK Dobbins(18/54) anymore.

 

• Because of the stifling run defense of KC this week, the Chargers might have to depend on their pass-catchers more than usual. Quentin Johnston(2/44/1), who’s scored 3 TDs in the past 2 weeks will make for an intriguing option. He seems to be a lot more confident than he was last year, and he’s making catches that he would’ve dropped a season ago.

 

• Calvin Austin III(4/95/1) broke out in WK 3, catching 4 of his 5 targets on the day. He hadn’t topped 2 targets in either of the previous games this season, so it’ll take at least another performance like this to seriously consider putting him in lineups.

 

Broncos – 26 @ Buccaneers – 7

• Tyler Badie(9/70) had the best game of any Denver RB on Sunday. A former Senior Bowl standout, who is smallish but effective, Badie could end up getting more run based on this performance. He’s a player to watch, as Javonte Williams isn’t doing much to maintain his hold on the lead job.

 

• Bucky Irving(12/84) has been better than Rachaad White(11/35) this season, so it shouldn’t surprise anyone that HC Todd Bowles said that he’d “earned more snaps going forward”. You might want to try selling White before your league mates start to notice a shift. Pick up Irving where you can.

 

• TE Cade Otton(7/47) had his best game thus far this season, catching 7 of his 8 targets. The Bucs have a bevy of capable targets, so Otton is not guaranteed to see similar looks this week, but with the Eagles up next, he could see considerable action.

 

Panthers – 36 @ Raiders – 22

• The rising tide lifts all ships, and Andy Dalton(26/319/3) was a tidal wave for Carolina on Sunday. As much as I want Bryce Young to thrive in the NFL, it’s probably not going to be with the Panthers, and that’s OK. Dalton’s arrival is a boon for Carolina skill players. He’ll get a revenge game against Cincy this week.

 

• With a passing game that now demanded respect, Chuba Hubbard(26/169/1) was able to find running lanes all day against the Raiders. It’s only a matter of time before Jonathan Brooks comes along and complicates things, but Hubbard needs to be in lineups for now.

 

• Adam Thielen(3/40/1) was having himself a day, before a hamstring injury forced him from the game. Hamstrings are tricky to deal with, so don’t be surprised if we don’t know his status until right before the game this week. If he can’t go, Xavier Legette would be an intriguing play in Andy Dalton’s revenge narrative.

 

• Gardner Minshew‘s(18/214/1/1) middling play this season got him pulled from the game in favor of Aidan O’Connell(9/82/1), who looked sharper during the time he was in. No word yet who will start this week, but one has to think O’Connell makes for a better fantasy bet.

 

• Rookie Tre Tucker(7/96/1) led the Raiders in receiving in a game they trailed heavily from the half. Tucker projects as more of your Rashid Shaheed type deep threat, but the use is encouraging. He needs to be owned in dynasty and keeper formats.

 

Dolphins – 3 @ Seahawks – 24

• The Dolphins were just as inept as we thought they’d be with Skylar Thompson under center, but he didn’t even make it out of the game unscathed(chest). Tim Boyle is the immediate backup, but we have to hope that Tyler Huntley can get up to speed quick enough to man the offense. He’s the best hope of getting any significant fantasy output from Dolphins skill players.

 

• Zach Charbonnet(21/107/2) has been useful the past few weeks, but Ken Walker has already been seen back at practice. Throw in the fact that Seattle is playing Detroit, who boasts the best run defense in football this week, and you have a situation that you might want to avoid in fantasy. I’m only playing Charbonnet if Walker is out.

 

Ravens – 28 @ Cowboys – 25

• Different runner, same Dallas run defense from last week. Derrick Henry(26/174/2) embarrassed the Cowboys just like Alvin Kamara did the week before. So effective was Henry, that no other Ravens player had to do much to seal a win. Rashod Bateman(3/28/1) did have the best day for a Ravens pass-catcher, but as a whole the output was meager on that end.

 

• Mark Andrews and Isaiah Likely seem to have canceled each other out. It’s good for the team but bad for fantasy.

 

• Jalen Tolbert(3/42/1) may soon usurp the no.2 role in Dallas from Brandin Cooks(2/16). He needs to be owned in most formats.

 

49ers – 24 @ Cardinals – 27

• Kudos to those of you brave enough to use Jauan Jennings(11/175/3) in WK3. If he does happen to still be on your waivers, as is the case in about 70% of leagues, make sure he isn’t, come Wednesday morning.

 

• All the Rams substitute starters hovered around the same target share, but it was Tutu Atwell(4/93) who managed to have a decent fantasy outcome. He’s the Rams WR to target in waivers this week, and he’s available in most leagues(98%).

.

 

Lions – 20 @ Cardinals – 13

• It was a strange outcome for Jameson Williams(1/9), who’d gone gangbusters the past 2 weeks. He’ll be boom or bust from time to time, but I’m not too worried about him.

 

• I AM worried about Sam LaPorta(2/36) though, as he’s yet to have a significant fantasy day this season, and he had to be carted off the field with an ankle injury on Sunday. He returned on a limited basis, but he’s anything but certain to play this week. That might be a good thing, as it was beginning to get painful to have to feel like you have to use every week, despite his lack of production.

 

• Michael Wilson‘s(8/64) team leading 9 targets seem to be an unlikely repeat occurrence in WK4, but he does have a string of soft secondaries up ahead. He starts off with the league worst Commanders this week, so he’s worth a look in deep leagues and DFS.

 

Chiefs – 22 @ Falcons – 17

• Carson Steele(18/74) looked decent in his first starting appearance, picking up extra yards where he could. Samaje Perine(9/40) was used more as a change of pace/passing down back, so Steele is the more valuable player moving forward – That is, until/unless Kareem Hunt makes his way onto the field.

 

• Darnell Mooney(8/66) posted another strong PPR line on Sunday night, after the 3/88/1 line he posted in WK2. Effectively the no.2 WR in the Falcons offense, Mooney deserves a long look in PPR formats. He’ll face a worse than middle of the pack Saints secondary this week.