That’s another week in the books, and another three bullseyes for you if you needed our advice. Last week we hit on Andy Dalton, Brock Purdy, and Joe Burrow (although Burrow is probably too good to be considered a sleeper). But we’re forgetting about the past. It’s time to look to the future. We know winning your leagues takes a lot of work. But don’t fear! FantraxHQ is doing the work for you. Whether it’s matchups to exploit, injury replacements, or flat-out hot takes, we’ve got your fix. In this article, we’ll highlight three potential quarterback sleepers and streamers for NFL Week 4 that could help you win your matchups.
Week 4 Quarterback Sleepers and Streamers
Caleb Williams, Chicago Bears
I was low on all of the rookie QBs in my rankings to start the season. And so far, I feel pretty vindicated in that. Preseason is almost never an indicator of success for rookie QBs, as the defenses are far less complex than they will see in the regular season. On top of that, they are playing with (and against) backup-level talent. We are currently three games into the season and Caleb Williams has thrown for 630 yards passing, 2 TDs, and 6 Ints. Not quite the start many were hoping for when they dubbed him “Patrick Mahomes-esque”.
This week the Bears will be lining up against the LA Rams, and I believe this matchup offers Williams the best chance to shine, so far this season. To start, the Bears have a top-five offensive line in the league when it comes to getting push. At 1.51 yards before contact (according to PFF), they are only behind Detroit, Baltimore, San Francisco, and Green Bay’s offensive line. The Rams’ defensive line is the 8th worst in the league. This means that Caleb Williams is going to have plenty of time in the pocket to get well past his 1st and 2nd reads.
Further, Williams has started to develop a rapport with a couple of his receivers. Of the two TDs thrown in his career, they both came last week vs. the Colts. Rome Odunze stood out with six catches for 112 yards and a TD. Cole Kmet joined the TD party as well, with ten catches and just under 100 yards receiving. The TE matchup this week is particularly exciting as the Rams’ Rozeboom is one of the worst cover linebackers in the league, according to PFF’s 41 rating. With Kmet as Williams’ favorite target so far, and LA’s poor defense, Williams is primed for a breakout game.
Taylor Heinicke, LA Chargers
I may be jumping the gun here as it has not been announced that Heinicke is the starter for this week’s matchup vs. the Chiefs, but last week, Herbert was questionable to start the game and ended up leaving the game injured. I would expect the Chargers to be cautious with their franchise QB. As a lifelong Washington fan, I’m excited to tell you about my guy Taylor Heinicke. You’re in for a treat:
He’s no longer a fresh face at 31 years old, but Heinicke still possesses the elusivity and speed that he boasted out of ODU. His 40-yard dash time was 84th percentile in his draft class, and the Chargers will need that, considering they have the 11th-worst offensive line in the league. But guess what…the Chiefs have the 10th worst defensive line in the league at generating push, so Heinicke will have time to make multiple reads, which he will need every bit of, considering that this is his second team in as many seasons. His best years came with Washington from 2020-2022, where he started 24 games and threw for 5300 yards, 33 TDs, and 21 Ints. He also rushed for just under 500 yards in his tenure with Washington.
In the NBA, there are guys like Jamal Crawford who are certified scorers, but they spend their careers coming off the bench because that is their job. It is their label. To me, Heinicke is the NFL equivalent of that. Heinicke is a starting-caliber quarterback. But he will always come off of the bench for the rest of his career, no matter how well he plays. The interceptions will frustrate you, but he’s going to be able to move the ball down the field, and he’s going to be able to score TDs. He knows what he’s doing, and you can feel comfortable streaming him if his number is called.
Will Levis, Tennessee Titans
Will Levis has had his moments this season. Moments that make you think that the Titans might have their franchise quarterback. He’s also had moments that make him look like a fan snuck onto the field with pads on, and stole a snap. While that last statement might have been a little harsh, Levis’ viability as a streamer this week is more about how terrible the Miami Dolphins look without Tua. Last week, the Dolphins scored three points vs. the Seahawks. Skyler Thompson threw for 100 yards on 19 attempts and was so bad, they put the third-string QB (Tim Boyle) in to replace him. The offense couldn’t get going with either guy.
You’d think the Dolphins would’ve addressed the backup QB problem considering Tua’s concussion risk, but they haven’t. It doesn’t matter that Achane is the most electric running back in the league. The Titans can stack the box. It doesn’t matter that Tyreek Hill is one of the most electric WRs in the league. The Dolphins offense is too dependent on timing, for the backup QBs to get him the ball. Miami’s offense is going to have enough punts and three-and-outs without Tua, that Levis is going to get plenty of possessions to rack up fantasy points. Even if he doesn’t play well. Matchups matter. Levis has his best matchup of the season.
Got a beef with Bradlee’s Week 4 Quarterback Sleepers and Streamers? Let him hear about it in the comments below!