Advertisement

Week 4 fantasy football rankings: Expect a vintage performance from Rodgers

If you like lots of scoring, it looks like Week 4 is going to give you exactly what you want.

As it stands, eight of the 15 games on the board feature an over-under total higher than 50 points. That’s absolutely ridiculous. It’s certainly a great sign that this upcoming slate of games will be filled with fantasy points, something I think we all agree is good news.

Below are my half-point PPR fantasy football rankings for Week 4.

Note: These rankings have been made to reflect the postponed matchup between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Tennessee Titans.

QB

1. Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers (vs. Atlanta Falcons)

Oh how I was wrong about Rodgers. In my very first weekly rankings blog of the year, I had the Packers QB ranked 20th and wrote this:

Not used to seeing Rodgers this low amongst QB rankings, but it’s hard to justify him being any higher. [...] The Packers are a team under head coach Matt LaFleur that wants to run the ball. Green Bay is also starting the season largely with the same group of wide receivers which were a problem spot on the team in 2019 outside of Davante Adams.

Although Green Bay ranks bottom-10 (8th) in pass-play frequency, Rodgers has been wildly efficient and finished as QB8 last week despite not having Adams in the lineup.

He’s tossed nine touchdown passes already, something he didn’t do until Week 7 last season. This week he draws the Falcons, who are allowing 34.1 fantasy points per game to QBs this season, the most of any team in the NFL. The Monday night game also features an over-under total of 57.5 points, the highest number on the board.

2. Russell Wilson, Seattle Seahawks (at Miami Dolphins)

#LetRussCook

3. Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens (at Washington Football Team)

I feel bad for the Football Team because they are going to get one angry Ravens squad on Sunday. Jackson’s 2020 hasn’t gotten off to the same start as last year. At this point in 2019, Jackson had already accumulated 85.8 fantasy points and was fantasy’s QB2. Thus far, Jackson has totalled 59.24 fantasy points and is QB13. After a poor performance in a losing effort to the Kansas City Chiefs on Monday Night Football, I expect Jackson and the Ravens to bounce back against a Washington defense allowing 7.00 yards per carry on 10 rushing attempts to QBs through Week 3.

4. Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys (vs. Cleveland Browns)

5. Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs (vs. New England Patriots)

Due to Patriots QB Cam Newton’s positive COVID-19 test, it seems likely the game will be moved to Tuesday night. Continue to monitor this situation closely.

6. Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills (at Las Vegas Raiders)

7. Deshaun Watson, Houston Texans (vs. Minnesota Vikings)

For the first time in 2020, Watson gets a plus matchup against a Vikings secondary that is allowing 8.3 yards per attempt, tied for the highest total in the NFL. Houston’s schedule to start the year — at Kansas City, vs. Baltimore and at Pittsburgh — is about as difficult of a three-game stretch you’ll see this year. A home date against Minnesota, who’s surrendering an average of 34 points per-game is a great get-right spot.

8. Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals (at Carolina Panthers)

9. Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons (at Green Bay Packers)

10. Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals (vs. Jacksonville Jaguars)

Despite facing immense pressure from opposing pass rushers, Burrow has shown why he was taken first overall by the Bengals. His 4.6 completion percentage above expectation ranks seventh, while his 821 passing yards are the ninth-most in the league. In Week 4 Burrow battles the Jaguars, who may just be one of the best matchups for opposing QBs. Over the past two weeks, Jacksonville has surrendered the sixth-most fantasy points to passers (51.46) despite facing a league-low 44 passing attempts during that stretch.

11. Matt Stafford, Detroit Lions (vs. New Orleans Saints)

12. Jared Goff, Los Angeles Rams (vs. New York Giants)

13. Gardner Minshew, Jacksonville Jaguars (at Cincinnati Bengals)

Minshew disappointed many people last week when he put up a stinker against the Dolphins on Thursday Night Football. Visibly, the offense looked out of sorts without No. 1 wide receiver D.J. Chark Jr. in the lineup. Chark Jr. returned to practice (limited) on Wednesday, which is a good sign regarding his availability this week. His potential return agaisnt the Bengals is a major boost for Minshew. Although Cincinnati hasn’t necessarily been torched through the air thus far, they did face the second-fewest passing attempts through the first two weeks and have faced two of the NFL’s run-heaviest teams (Chargers and Browns) thus far. I expect Minshew to move the ball against this defense.

14. Ryan Fitzpatrick, Miami Dolphins (vs. Seattle Seahawks)

15. Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints (at Detroit Lions)

16. Kirk Cousins, Minnesota Vikings (at Houston Texans)

17. Baker Mayfield, Cleveland Browns (at Dallas Cowboys)

18. Carson Wentz, Philadelphia Eagles (at San Francisco 49ers)

19. Tom Brady, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (vs. Los Angeles Chargers)

20. Nick Foles, Chicago Bears (vs. Indianapolis Colts)

21. Teddy Bridgewater, Carolina Panthers (vs. Arizona Cardinals)

22. Sam Darnold, New York Jets (vs. Denver Broncos) (Played Thursday night)

23. Derek Carr, Las Vegas Raiders (vs. Buffalo Bills)

24. Nick Mullens, San Francisco 49ers (vs. Philadelphia Eagles)

25. Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers (at Tampa Bay Buccaneers)

26. Philip Rivers, Indianapolis Colts (at Chicago Bears)

27. Daniel Jones, New York Giants (at Los Angeles Rams)

28. Brett Rypien, Denver Broncos (at New York Jets) (Played Thursday night)

29. Brian Hoyer, New England Patriots (at Kansas City Chiefs)

Due to Patriots Newton’s positive COVID-19 test, it seems likely the game will be moved to Tuesday night. Continue to monitor this situation closely.

30. Dwayne Haskins, Washington Football Team (vs. Baltimore Ravens)

RB

1. Alvin Kamara, New Orleans Saints (at Detroit Lions)

2. Aaron Jones, Green Bay Packers (vs. Atlanta Falcons)

3. Dalvin Cook, Minnesota Vikings (at Houston Texans)

4. Ezekiel Elliott, Dallas Cowboys (vs. Cleveland Browns)

5. Kenyan Drake, Arizona Cardinals (at Carolina Panthers)

Considering he was typically a second-round pick, Drake’s fantasy production hasn’t been great thus far. He’s RB24 in fantasy football through three weeks, and there’s two things hindering his production. The first is QB Kyler Murray’s increased involvement in the run game. Through three games, Murray has already matched the number of rushing TDs he scored last year (4). Additionally, Drake isn’t seeing the same usage in the passing game. Last year, Drake corralled 50 receptions. He only has five in three games in 2020, which puts him on a 27-reception pace. The spot this week against the Panthers, who are surrendering 37.5 fantasy points per game to running backs, is a great opportunity to bounce back.

6. Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Kansas City Chiefs (vs. New England Patriots)

Due to Newton’s positive COVID-19 test, it seems likely the game will be moved to Tuesday night. Continue to monitor this situation closely.

7. Miles Sanders, Philadelphia Eagles (at San Francisco 49ers)

Sanders has been receiving workhorse-like usage over the past two weeks, appearing on 77.8 percent of the Eagles’ offensive snaps while receiving the majority of the team’s red-zone rushing attempts. This week he faces off against a 49ers defense which has been ravaged by injuries. Although San Francisco’s rushing defense ranks well through three weeks, they haven’t really been tested. In Week 2 they battled the Jets who were without RB Le’Veon Bell and in Week 3 they battled the Giants sans RB Saquon Barkley.

8. Josh Jacobs, Las Vegas Raiders (vs. Buffalo Bills)

9. Jonathan Taylor, Indianapolis Colts (at Chicago Bears)

It’s no secret the Colts want to run the ball in 2020. Opposing defenses know it and that’s why Taylor has faced eight or more defenders in the box on 29.17 percent of his runs this year, the fifth-highest total of any RB. That will obviously make things difficult for anyone, but especially a rookie getting comfortable adjusting to a lead back role. In Week 4, he battles a Bears defense that’s been beatable on the ground so far, allowing 4.93 yards per carry through Week 3, the eighth-most of any team in the NFL.

10. David Johnson, Houston Texans (vs. Minnesota Vikings)

Johnson’s schedule to start the season was absolutely brutal. This week, however, he gets a favorable matchup at home against the Vikings. Minnesota has allowed 26.3 fantasy points per game to RBs, tied for the seventh-most of any team. Johnson’s also one of the very few RBs seeing featured back volume, appearing on 90.3 percent of the Texans’ offensive snaps, second only to Ezekiel Elliott. These two factors should have Johnson finishing the week with RB1 numbers.

11. Austin Ekeler, Los Angeles Chargers (at Tampa Bay Buccaneers)

12. Nick Chubb, Cleveland Browns (at Dallas Cowboys)

13. James Robinson, Jacksonville Jaguars (at Cincinnati Bengals)

14. Darrell Henderson, Los Angeles Rams (vs. New York Giants)

15. Devin Singletary, Buffalo Bills (at Las Vegas Raiders)

In the first two games of the season, Singletary out-snapped Zack Moss 85-67 and out-touched him 26-20. Singletary looked great in Week 3 without Moss, handling 13 carries for 71 yards while adding four receptions for 50 yards. The issue with Singletary is that despite having 11 red-zone touches, he hasn't found the end zone yet. It’s hard to pencil him in for a touchdown with QB Josh Allen at the helm and Moss potentially returning this week. Week 4 does offer a great matchup against the Raiders who have allowed the most fantasy points per game (40.2) to running backs this season.

16. Melvin Gordon, Denver Broncos (at New York Jets) (Played Thursday)

Phillip Lindsay (turf toe) is considered unlikely to play on Thursday Night Football, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. If he’s out, Gordon will continue seeing the bulk of the Broncos’ RB snaps.

17. David Montgomery, Chicago Bears (vs. Indianapolis Colts)

18. Kareem Hunt, Cleveland Browns (at Dallas Cowboys)

Hunt (groin) is questionable to play in Week 4.

19. Chris Carson, Seattle Seahawks (at Miami Dolphins)

Carson (knee) is questionable to play in Week 4. If he’s not able to suit up, RB Carlos Hyde will likely start in his place.

20. Ronald Jones, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (vs. Los Angeles Chargers)

Buccaneers head coach Bruce Arians “wasn’t optimistic” about RB Leonard Fournette’s chances of suiting up this weekend, per Alex Marvez of SiriusXM NFL Network Radio. This is obviously a situation to monitor until game time, but it seems likely Jones won’t have to worry about Fournette this weekend.

21. Mike Davis, Carolina Panthers (vs. Arizona Cardinals)

22. Myles Gaskin, Miami Dolphins (vs. Seattle Seahawks)

23. Joe Mixon, Cincinnati Bengals (vs. Jacksonville Jaguars)

Mixon (chest) is questionable to play in Week 4.

24. Todd Gurley, Atlanta Falcons (at Green Bay Packers)

25. Jerick McKinnon, San Francisco 49ers (vs. Philadelphia Eagles)

26. Antonio Gibson, Washington Football Team (vs. Baltimore Ravens)

27. Adrian Peterson, Detroit Lions (vs. New Orleans Saints)

28. Jeff Wilson Jr., San Francisco 49ers (vs. Philadelphia Eagles)

29. J.K. Dobbins, Baltimore Ravens (at Washington Football Team)

30. Mark Ingram, Baltimore Ravens (at Washington Football Team)

WR

1. Davante Adams, Green Bay Packers (vs. Atlanta Falcons)

Adams is a game-time decision for Monday Night Football. If he suits up, he’s the top WR this week.

2. DeAndre Hopkins, Arizona Cardinals (at Carolina Panthers)

Hopkins (ankle) will be a game-time decision for Week 4.

3. Calvin Ridley, Atlanta Falcons (at Green Bay Packers)

Ridley (ankle) is questionable to play in Week 4.

4. Allen Robinson, Chicago Bears (vs. Indianapolis Colts)

Finally, A-Rob has a quarterback we can feel somewhat confident about. After Mitch Trubisky played himself out of the starting job against the Falcons, Nick Foles stepped in and looked competent. He and Robinson connected on a 37-yard TD pass and there’s reason to believe Foles can more consistently deliver the ball to the team’s No. 1 WR.

5. Tyreek Hill, Kansas City Chiefs (vs. New England Patriots)

Due to Newton’s positive COVID-19 test, it seems likely the game will be moved to Tuesday night. Continue to monitor this situation closely.

6. D.K. Metcalf, Seattle Seahawks (at Miami Dolphins)

Please, no more of this.

7. Amari Cooper, Dallas Cowboys (vs. Cleveland Browns)

8. Julio Jones, Atlanta Falcons (at Green Bay Packers)

Jones (hamstring) is questionable to play Monday night against the Packers.

9. Tyler Lockett, Seattle Seahawks (at Miami Dolphins)

10. Stefon Diggs, Buffalo Bills (at Las Vegas Raiders)

Diggs was mostly held in check last Sunday by Rams CB Jalen Ramsey. This weekend he draws the Raiders, and although Las Vegas has allowed the third-fewest fantasy points per game to WRs, they’ve faced just one top-10 passing offense in the Panthers, whose receivers lit them up for 35.60 fantasy points. I expect Diggs to hover right around top-10 production at his position this week.

11. D.J. Moore, Carolina Panthers (vs. Arizona Cardinals)

12. Adam Thielen, Minnesota Vikings (at Houston Texans)

13. Mike Evans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (vs. Los Angeles Chargers)

Teammate WR Chris Godwin (hamstring) will be out in Week 4. With that, I’d like to see QB Tom Brady and Evans establish more of a connection. Outside of the team’s Week 2 victory over the Panthers, Evans has posted just three receptions for four yards. It helps that each of those were in the end zone, but fantasy managers who selected Evans likely don’t want his performances hinged on whether he scores a TD or not.

14. Robert Woods, Los Angeles Rams (vs. New York Giants)

15. Cooper Kupp, Los Angeles Rams (vs. New York Giants)

16. Kenny Golladay, Detroit Lions (vs. New Orleans Saints)

Golladay rewarded fantasy managers who started him last week, finishing with a 6-57-1 line in his first game of the season. He’ll benefit from not having to battle Saints CB Marshon Lattimore, who was ruled out with a hamstring injury. Teams have been able to pass on the Saints with some success, as they've allowed 252.0 passing yards per-game, the 13th most in the NFL.

17. DeVante Parker, Miami Dolphins (vs. Seattle Seahawks)

If you have a WR with a pulse going up against the Seahawks, you’re starting them. Seattle has allowed 60.5 fantasy points per game to opposing WRs, far and away the most of any team in the NFL. Parker is not on the injury report this week which means he should be full-go this Sunday. Against the Jaguars on Thursday, he received half of the Dolphins’ wide receiver targets (5).

18. Odell Beckham Jr., Cleveland Browns (at Dallas Cowboys)

19. Will Fuller V, Houston Texans (vs. Minnesota Vikings)

20. Marquise Brown, Baltimore Ravens (at Washington Football Team)

“Hollywood” hasn’t topped 50 yards in either of his past two games, but I think there’s a good chance he bounces back against the Football Team. Brown has 36.72 percent of the Ravens’ total air yards and leads all of the team’s wide receivers with 18 targets, which means he’s still heavily involved in the offense. Don’t give up on Brown just yet.

21. D.J. Chark Jr., Jacksonville Jaguars (at Cincinnati Bengals)

22. Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Green Bay Packers (vs. Atlanta Falcons)

23. Terry McLaurin, Washington Football Team (vs. Baltimore Ravens)

McLaurin (thigh) is questionable to play in Week 4.

24. Tyler Boyd, Cincinnati Bengals (vs. Jacksonville Jaguars)

25. Keenan Allen, Los Angeles Chargers (at Tampa Bay Buccaneers)

26. CeeDee Lamb, Dallas Cowboys (vs. Cleveland Browns)

27. Michael Gallup, Dallas Cowboys (vs. Cleveland Browns)

28. Julian Edelman, New England Patriots (at Kansas City Chiefs)

Due to Newton’s positive COVID-19 test, it seems likely the game will be moved to Tuesday night. Continue to monitor this situation closely.

29. Jerry Jeudy, Denver Broncos (at New York Jets)

30. Jarvis Landry, Cleveland Browns (at Dallas Cowboys)

TE

1. George Kittle, San Francisco 49ers (vs. Philadelphia Eagles)

Kittle will be making his return to San Francisco’s lineup this week. The Eagles have struggled to cover TEs, surrendering four touchdowns to the position thus far. He is clearly the 49ers’ No. 1 passing option with WR Deebo Samuel (foot) returning, but not in a full capacity.

2. Mark Andrews, Baltimore Ravens (at Washington Football Team)

I’m not letting Andrews’ drop-filled performance against the Chiefs influence my rankings. Andrews is still one of the elite options at the position and a focal point in Baltimore’s offense. The matchup against the Football Team, who have allowed three touchdowns to tight ends through Week 3, is pretty good.

3. Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs (vs. New England Patriots)

Due to Newton’s positive COVID-19 test, it seems likely the game will be moved to Tuesday night. Continue to monitor this situation closely.

4. Zach Ertz, Philadelphia Eagles (at San Francisco 49ers)

With teammate Dallas Goedert on IR with an ankle injury, Ertz is back to being a high-end play at the position. The Eagles’ current lack of receiving options will make Ertz a centrepiece of the team’s offensive attack.

5. Darren Waller, Las Vegas Raiders (vs. Buffalo Bills)

6. Mike Gesicki, Miami Dolphins (vs. Seattle Seahawks)

Tight ends haven’t performed well against the Seahawks, but Gesicki isn’t your typical TE. Of his 116 snaps, Gesicki has lined up in the slot or outside on 91 of those plays. That makes Gesicki more receiver than TE, and as mentioned earlier, the Seahawks have allowed the most fantasy points by a mile to receivers thus far. Gesicki is locked in as a TE1 this week.

7. T.J. Hockenson, Detroit Lions (vs. New Orleans Saints)

8. Tyler Higbee, Los Angeles Rams (vs. New York Giants)

9. Hunter Henry, Los Angeles Chargers (at Tampa Bay Buccaneers)

10. Noah Fant, Denver Broncos (at New York Jets) (Played Thursday)

11. Evan Engram, New York Giants (at Los Angeles Rams)

12. Mo Alie-Cox, Indianapolis Colts (at Chicago Bears)

The Colts are dealing with injuries to WR Parris Campbell and WR Michael Pittman Jr., which means the team is lacking options in the passing game. Alie-Cox thus far has been a reliable target for QB Philip Rivers. Despite having only 11 targets, Alie-Cox is tied for fourth among TEs in receiving yards (181). Earlier this week, Colts offensive coordinator Nick Sirianni emphasized the need to keep Alie-Cox involved.

13. Hayden Hurst, Atlanta Falcons (at Green Bay Packers)

14. Austin Hooper, Cleveland Browns (at Dallas Cowboys)

15. Jimmy Graham, Chicago Bears (vs. Indianapolis Colts)

16. Tyler Eifert, Jacksonville Jaguars (at Cincinnati Bengals)

Revenge game alert!

17. Dalton Schultz, Dallas Cowboys (vs. Cleveland Browns)

18. Drew Sample, Cincinnati Bengals (vs. Jacksonville Jaguars)

19. Logan Thomas, Washington Football Team (vs. Baltimore Ravens)

20. Robert Tonyan, Green Bay Packers (vs. Atlanta Falcons)

DEF

1. Baltimore Ravens (at Washington Football Team)

2. Los Angeles Rams (vs. New York Giants)

3. Denver Broncos (at New York Jets) (Played Thursday)

4. Kansas City Chiefs (vs. New England Patriots)

5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (vs. Los Angeles Chargers)

6. Buffalo Bills (at Las Vegas Raiders)

7. San Francisco 49ers (vs. Philadelphia Eagles)

8. Los Angeles Chargers (at Tampa Bay Buccaneers)

9. New York Jets (vs. Denver Broncos) (Played Thursday)

10. Chicago Bears (vs. Indianapolis Colts)

11. Indianapolis Colts (at Chicago Bears)

12. Arizona Cardinals (at Carolina Panthers)

13. New Orleans Saints (at Detroit Lions)

14. Dallas Cowboys (vs. Cleveland Browns)

15. Seattle Seahawks (at Miami Dolphins)

16. Green Bay Packers (vs. Atlanta Falcons)

17. Houston Texans (vs. Minnesota Vikings)

18. Philadelphia Eagles (at San Francisco 49ers)

19. Cincinnati Bengals (vs. Jacksonville Jaguars)

20. Jacksonville Jaguars (at Cincinnati Bengals)

K

1. Justin Tucker, Baltimore Ravens (at Washington Football Team)

2. Harrison Butker, Kansas City Chiefs (vs. New England Patriots)

3. Mason Crosby, Green Bay Packers (vs. Atlanta Falcons)

4. Wil Lutz, New Orleans Saints (at Detroit Lions)

5. Jason Myers, Seattle Seahawks (at Miami Dolphins)

6. Rodrigo Blankenship, Indianapolis Colts (at Chicago Bears)

7. Greg Zuerlein, Dallas Cowboys (vs. Cleveland Browns)

8. Matt Prater, Detroit Lions (vs. New Orleans Saints)

9. Zane Gonzalez, Arizona Cardinals (at Carolina Panthers)

10. Sam Sloman, Los Angeles Rams (vs. New York Giants)

11. Ka’imi Fairbairn, Houston Texans (vs. Minnesota Vikings)

12. Joey Slye, Carolina Panthers (vs. Arizona Cardinals)

13. Ryan Succop, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (vs. Los Angeles Chargers)

14. Nick Folk, New England Patriots (at Kansas City Chiefs)

15. Robbie Gould, San Francisco 49ers (vs. Philadelphia Eagles)

16. Dan Bailey, Minnesota Vikings (at Houston Texans)

17. Jason Sanders, Miami Dolphins (vs. Seattle Seahawks)

18. Tyler Bass, Buffalo Bills (at Las Vegas Raiders)

19. Daniel Carlson, Las Vegas Raiders (vs. Buffalo Bills)

20. Michael Badgley, Las Angeles Chargers (vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers)

More fantasy coverage from Yahoo Sports