One of the most difficult things fantasy managers have to do each week is to set their fantasy lineups. Through the first three weeks of the 2026 NFL season, there have been plenty of disappointing performances. That means starting decisions we thought might have been easy, or no-brainers, no longer are. So then, who do we start? As we embark on Week 4, let’s take a look at some sneaky starts for your fantasy football lineups.
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Sneaky Starts for Week 4 of Fantasy Football
Marcus Mariota, QB, Washington Commanders
No, this isn’t how anyone planned it. Jayden Daniels was supposed to be one of the better quarterbacks in the NFL this season while leading a competitive Commanders’ team. Instead, an elbow injury temporarily derailed that. While there’s a clear downgrade from Daniels to Mariota, does that mean we should simply dismiss the latter?
After all, we are just week to week here, and Mariota is worth a look in Week 4. In Week 3, Mariota completed 19 of 31 passes for 183 yards, but more importantly, three touchdowns. And this week, Mariota gets the benefit of facing an Indianapolis Colts team allowing the third most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks. Stefon Diggs has gotten off to a strong start, and now Terry McLaurin is rolling as well. When combined with other options, Mariota shouldn’t have a shortage of available options in the receiving game.
Daniel Jones, QB, Indianapolis Colts
Pick your preferred side of our first international game of the season. This is a matchup of two teams that struggle to defend the pass as the Commanders are allowing the second most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks.
While Alec Pierce is on the Injured List, Jones still has Joshua Downs, Keenan Allen, and Tyler Warren at his disposal. We’re still waiting for Jones to break out, as, in each week, he’s thrown both a touchdown and an interception. This could be that week takes place. And if it doesn’t, there’s at least a solid floor.
Kenny Gainwell, RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
With Baker Mayfield out for the next few weeks, what do we make of the Tampa Bay offense? At the risk of being blunt, not much at all from undrafted rookie Jalon Daniels.
Bucky Irving has truly taken charge so far this season, with Gainwell taking on a secondary role. Tampa Bay’s new addition has just 10 carries for 21 yards with six catches for another 22 yards. That wouldn’t be good for one game, let alone three. But now, things have changed.
To say that the winless Buccaneers will change their offensive game plan and err on the side of conservatism would be an understatement. That could mean lots of dump-offs in the flat to Gainwell as he looks to find his place in Tampa Bay’s offense.
Alvin Kamara, RB, New Orleans Saints
With Travis Etienne out with a hamstring injury, Kamara is back front and center in New Orleans’ backfield. Of course, Kendre Miller is still very much in the fold, but Kamara has a track record of success and a comfort level with the Saints. He also happens to still be a very good pass catcher, and the thought is that it will be a critical skill set in Week 4.
The Saints are facing an Atlanta Falcons team that’s allowed the fewest points to opposing running backs so far this season. Assuming the Falcons make things difficult for Miller to find room to run, Tyler Shough will likely look to Kamara on screen passes. Kamara will also have a role in the run game, as with Etienne still in the picture, he had nine carries in each of his two games this season. Last week, Kamara averaged four yards a carry, and there should be a reasonable floor this week. Of course, we want him to catch the five passes he did in Week 2 and not the one pass he caught last week.
Check out all of our Week 4 Rankings: Flex Rankings | QB Rankings | RB Rankings | WR Rankings | TE Rankings | MOP Rankings
Michael Wilson, WR, Arizona Cardinals
Trey McBride is the best player in Arizona’s offense. It’s certainly not Marvin Harrison, and Michael Wilson continues to move up the ranks. No longer is it an isolated incident or a potential passing fade like last season; it’s now real.
Despite being targeted seven times in each of the first two weeks of the season, Wilson only had seven catches for 74 yards. He quickly erased that by catching 11 of his 17 targets for 89 yards and a touchdown. We can expect that success to continue as the New York Giants rank in the top half of fantasy points allowed to opposing wide receivers. It’s also apparent that there’s a chemistry between Wilson and Jacoby Brissett.
Carnell Tate, WR, Tennessee Titans
The Titans’ next win this season will be their first. It’s also difficult to find many nice things to say about Cam Ward, and while he’s not perfect, some of it might be a little unfair. Ward is talented, but also raw and inconsistent. Unfortunately, that’s had a downstream impact on Tate. Both Ward and Tate have talent and upside, and maybe we need to treat both with a little more respect. I’m not running out to start Ward on a weekly basis, but Tate does deserve a closer look.
Tate has a good matchup this week against the Baltimore Ravens, and he’s beginning to find his groove within the Tennessee offense. After catching seven of 11 targets for 65 yards in his first two weeks, Tate set career highs across the board last week. To be fair, it wasn’t a high bar, but it’s still notable. In Week 3, Tate caught six of nine targets for 58 yards, and it should only go up from here.
Darren Waller, TE, Carolina Panthers
It’s like Waller is back with the Raiders. Well, at least for two weeks, that is. The rising tide of Bryce Young’s development seems to have lifted all of Carolina’s skill position players. In Week 2, Waller caught two touchdown passes, and last week, he caught five of eight targets for 51 yards.
This week, things should be even better for Waller as he faces a Detroit Lions defense that allows the most fantasy points to opposing tight ends. In Week 3, Kenyon Sadiq broke the 100-yard mark as each of the New York Jets’ tight ends had a touchdown pass. Waller should be no different.
Make sure to check out all of our Week 4 Fantasy Football Rankings and Analysis!
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