Week 4 Matchups – Fantasy Football Player Spotlights

Every week I dig into the Sunday matchups, highlighting a specific player that I believe will have a big Fantasy Football or DFS week. I typically highlight Fantasy points per game (PPG) allowed as well as different yardage allowed to support my case for different players. I will always have misses, but I have been proud of the hits the last few weeks. Here are some from last week’s article:

• Raheem Mostert – 45.2 Fantasy Points
• Kenneth Walker III – 30.6 Fantasy Points
• Kirk Cousins – 26.7 Fantasy Points
• Sam LaPorta – 22.4 Fantasy Points
• CJ Stroud – 20.6 Fantasy Points
• Stefon Diggs – 19.1 Fantasy Points
• Travis Etienne – 17.8 Fantasy Points
• Miles Sanders – 17.2 Fantasy Points
• Michael Pittman Jr. – 16.7 Fantasy Points

We should be looking to learn from the previous weeks, adjust where we need to on player takes, and then preview the coming week. I do the digging for you and will always back my takes, but it is up to you to set your Fantasy Football or DFS lineups based on how you interpret the information. The simple goal here is to help you win both your Fantasy Football matchups and DFS entries. Let’s get it!

Week 4 Fantasy Football Spotlight

Falcons vs. Jaguars

• Kyle Pitts: I called Kyle Pitts in last week’s article, and am trying one more time for this week to be his big week. The Jaguars allow the fourth most Fantasy PPG to TEs this season. Brevin Jordan scored last week, Travis Kelce scored in Week 2 and Kyle Granson caught four passes for 39 yards in Week 1 against Jacksonville. Pitts is coming off of season highs in snap percentage (78%), targets (nine), receptions (five), and Fantasy Points (8.7). Amazing talent who finally showed signs of usage in Week 3.
• Evan Engram: The Falcons allow the fifth most Fantasy PPG to tight ends this season. Sam LaPorta caught eight passes for 84 yards and a score last week and in Week 1 Hayden Hurst caught five passes for 41 yards and a touchdown as well against Atlanta. Evan Engram has had back-to-back weeks with eight targets and has been trending up in both receiving yards (49-57-67) and Fantasy Points (9.9-11.7-13.7).

Rams vs. Colts

• Matthew Stafford: The Colts currently allow the fourth most Fantasy PPG to quarterbacks and 10th most passing yards per game this season. Lamar Jackson finished with 303 scrimmage yards last week, CJ Stroud threw for 384 yards and two touchdowns in Week 2 and Trevor Lawrence threw for 241 yards with two touchdowns and an interception in Week 1 against the Colts. Matthew Stafford currently ranks second in passing attempts (126) and fourth in passing yards (910) through three weeks, and if he starts throwing more touchdowns it can translate better to Fantasy Football.
• Zack Moss: The Rams are not necessarily a big plus matchup to any specific position, but I wanted to highlight Zack Moss. This is a case of “ride the hot hand” for Fantasy Football, as Moss may be a guy you are juggling in lineups. Moss missed Week 1 but then went on to play 98% and 78% of the snaps the last two weeks with games of 88 and 122 rushing yards. Two total touchdowns the last two weeks, with both weeks resulting in Top 10 Fantasy performances for the running back position.

Ravens vs. Browns

• Zay Flowers: The Browns are one of the worst matchups, if not the single worst matchup in terms of fantasy PPG allowed. Tough to highlight anyone. I looked at last year’s games and Mark Andrews scored 0.40 and then 6.10 Fantasy Points in his two matchups vs. Cleveland, which makes me think he was part of their defensive focus (three catches in both games combined). Zay Flowers currently leads Baltimore with 25 targets on the season, with two games of 10 targets. Flowers has scored double-digit Fantasy Points in all three weeks and opened up Week 1 with 78 receiving yards and 17.7 Fantasy Points.
• Elijah Moore: The Ravens allow the eighth-most Fantasy PPG to wide receivers this season. Michael Pittman Jr. caught nine passes for 77 yards last week, Tee Higgins caught eight passes for 89 yards and two touchdowns in Week 2 and Nico Collins caught six balls for 80 yards in Week 1. Amari Cooper stands out in this matchup, but I want to again highlight Elijah Moore who is trending up. Back-to-back games of nine targets for Moore make it clear he is Deshaun Watson’s #2. 11.8 Fantasy Points last week was a sign of better scoring to come for Moore, who is due for his first big game in Cleveland facing another solid offense to keep up with.

Vikings vs. Panthers

• Alexander Mattison: Carolina allows the third most Fantasy PPG to running backs this season and is tied for fifth in rushing yards per game allowed. Kenneth Walker III rushed for 97 yards and two touchdowns last week, Tony Jones Jr. rushed for two touchdowns in Week 2 and Bijan Robinson combined with Tyler Allgeier in Week 1 for 131 rushing yards and three total touchdowns against the Panthers. Alexander Mattison had a rough first two weeks with efficiency and Fantasy scoring but rushed 20 times for 93 yards last week with five receptions that led to 17.5 Fantasy Points. Cam Akers may appear in his first game as a Viking this week, but I doubt this means he steps into heavy snaps straight away after Mattison’s solid Week 3 performance.
• Adam Thielen: REVENGE GAME! The Vikings allow the third most Fantasy PPG to wide receivers this year and are tied for the seventh most passing yards per game allowed. Keenan Allen and Mike Williams combined for 336 receiving yards last week, DeVonta Smith finished with 131 receiving yards and a touchdown in Week 2 and Mike Evans had 66 receiving yards and a touchdown in Week 1 against the Vikings. Adam Thielen has been targeted 23 times in the last two games, scoring a touchdown a piece the last two weeks with Fantasy scores of 20.4 and then 31.5 points. Another “ride the hot hand” suggestion with a super cool revenge game narrative on top of it. Bryce Young will return as the starting quarterback after missing Week 3.

Bengals vs. Titans

• Ja’Marr Chase: The Titans allow the fourth most Fantasy PPG to wide receivers and fifth most passing yards per game. Amari Cooper caught seven passes for 116 yards and a touchdown last week, Keenan Allen combined with Mike Williams for 194 receiving yards and two touchdowns in Week 2, and Chris Olave caught eight passes for 112 receiving yards in Week 1 against the Titans. Ja’Marr Chase had a slow start the first two weeks, but is coming off of a game he caught 12 of his 15 targets for 141 receiving yards. Chase is lined up to continue in an upward trend, and this can be a great week to pay up in DFS.
• DeAndre Hopkins: The Bengals are not necessarily a plus matchup for wide receivers or passing yards, but we know the script may be forced through the air for the Titans. The only sign of life this season from pass-catchers has been DeAndre Hopkins, who was targeted 13 times Week 1. Hopkins has 12 more targets than any other Titan and may have to be force-fed this weekend.

Buccaneers vs. Saints

• Chris Godwin: The Saints are another team that creates difficulty highlighting anyone for Fantasy Football purposes. What will be focused on is the history of Mike Evans vs. Marshon Lattimore, who have historically treated this matchup like a fight night. Chris Godwin has yet to do anything Fantasy relevant this season but could be lined up to finally put together something with Evans the hot hand and focus of the matchup. Godwin finished 2022 with a career-high 142 targets and is hoping to receive similar looks to Week 2 where Baker Mayfield targeted him eight times.
• Chris Olave: The Buccaneers allow the 11th most Fantasy PPG to wide receivers and the ninth most passing yards per game this season. AJ Brown finished with 131 receiving yards last week, DJ Moore with 104 receiving yards in Week 2 and Justin Jefferson had 150 receiving yards in Week 1 against Tampa Bay. Chris Olave has consistently been targeted and has consistently put up solid receiving numbers with 10-11-11 targets and 112-86-104 receiving yards in the last three games. Jameis Winston could be under center as well, which just might be a boost to the pass-catchers over an injured Derek Carr. 

Dolphins vs. Bills

• Raheem Mostert: The Bills are a tough matchup for Fantasy Football, but I wanted to plug Raheem Mostert to emphasize a note. The note being that the rookie is the shiny piece, but do not forget how good he has been. De’Von Achane nearly broke Fantasy Football last week with over 50 Fantasy Points, but Mostert had the second-best week with 45.2 points himself. Mostert has played 73%-73%-51% of the snaps the last three weeks and has totaled seven touchdowns on the year. 121 rushing yards and 82 rushing yards the last two weeks on a highly efficient 6.72 and 6.31 yards per attempt. Achane can certainly grow, but Mostert will still continue to touch the ball plenty as long as he stays healthy, and has been great.
• James Cook: The Dolphins allow the 9th most Fantasy PPG to running backs and ninth most rushing yards per game. Rhamondre Stevenson rushed for a touchdown in Week 2 and in Week 1 Austin Ekeler combined with Joshua Kelley for 208 rushing yards and two touchdowns.

Broncos vs. Bears

• Javonte Williams: The Bears allow the second most Fantasy PPG to running backs this season. Both Isiah Pacheco and Clyde Edwards-Helaire rushed for a touchdown and Jerick McKinnon scored two receiving touchdowns last week against Chicago. Rachaad White rushed for 73 yards and a touchdown in Week 2 and Aaron Jones scored both a rushing and receiving touchdown in Week 1 against Chicago. Javonte Williams has had a slow start this season, which has been expected coming off of last year’s ACL injury. Williams has touched the ball 17-15-13 times in the last three weeks and has a true opportunity to have his first big game of the year against Chicago and follow that touchdown trend.
• Justin Fields: The Broncos allow the second most Fantasy PPG to quarterbacks this season. Tua Tagovailoa threw for 309 yards and four touchdowns last week, Sam Howell threw for 299 and two touchdowns in Week 2 and in Week 1 Jimmy Garoppolo threw a pair of touchdowns against the Broncos. Justin Fields has been disappointing for Fantasy this season, after scoring the sixth most total points for the position last season. The positive note is that he has two games over 200 yards passing, which matches his amount for that number last year. If the Bears focus their playbook around Fields and get back to scheming him to use his legs more effectively, this would be the perfect “get right” matchup for Fields to have a big fantasy day.

Commanders vs. Eagles

• Logan Thomas: The Eagles are the best Fantasy matchup in PPG allowed to tight ends this season. In Week 1, Hunter Henry scored a touchdown and caught five passes for 56 yards against Philadelphia. Then in Week 2, TJ Hockenson caught seven passes for 66 yards and two touchdowns against the Eagles. Logan Thomas was targeted eight times in Week 1, then scored a touchdown the very next game but left early due to a concussion that held him out last week. Thomas looks to be a big piece of this offense and a potential easy outlet for Sam Howell.
• AJ Brown: The Commanders allow the ninth most Fantasy PPG to wide receivers this season. Stefon Diggs caught eight passes for 111 yards last week against the Commanders. In Week 2 all of Marvin Mims Jr., Courtland Sutton, and Brandon Johson combined for 245 receiving yards and three touchdowns against the Commanders. AJ Brown was targeted 10 times in Week 1 and then 14 times last week, where we saw what we love about him with 131 receiving yards on the day. Great matchup for one of the highest upside wide receivers in the league.

Steelers vs. Texans

• Najee Harris: Houston allows the fifth most Fantasy PPG to running backs this season. Travis Etienne rushed for 88 yards last week, Zack Moss for 88 yards and a touchdown in Week 2, and then three Ravens rushing touchdowns in Week 1 all against the Texans. Rough start to the year for Najee Harris, who has yet to score seven Fantasy Points and is splitting work with Jaylen Waren. The biggest signs from last week are 1) the 19 rushing attempts, which is more than his attempts in Weeks 1 and 2 combined, 2) the 65 rushing yards which is a trend upward, and 3) this specific matchup.
• Tank Dell: The Steelers allow the fifth most Fantasy PPG to wide receivers and the 11th most passing yards per game this season. Davante Adams caught 13 passes for 172 yards and two touchdowns last week, Amari Cooper finished with 90 receiving yards in Week 2 and Brandon Aiyuk caught eight passes for 129 receiving yards and two touchdowns in Week 1 all against Pittsburgh. Tank Dell has been great for Fantasy Football the last two games, finishing with over 20 Fantasy Points in back-to-back weeks. Seven catches on 10 targets for 72 receiving yards and a touchdown in Week 2 and then five catches on seven targets for 145 receiving yards and a touchdown in Week 3. Another case of riding the hot hand while it’s hot.

Raiders vs. Chargers

• Jakobi Meyers: We are unsure if Jimmy Garoppolo will make it out of concussion protocol this week, and if not who between rookie Aidan O’Connell and Brian Hoyer will get the start. The Chargers are the best Fantasy matchup in PPG allowed to wide receivers this season and are the only team in the NFL to allow over 1,000 receiving yards (1,011) so far this season. A lot of this came from Tyreek Hill’s 215 receiving yards from Week 1, but in two of the Charger’s three games they have allowed the second-highest receiving total of opposing teams to hit 78 yards. Jakobi Meyers was targeted 10 times in Week 1, then 12 times in Week 3 after missing Week 2. In both outings, Meyers finished with over 80 receiving yards and he scored twice in Week 1. Davante Adams is such a major part of defensive game plans that a reliable option like Meyers is able to benefit.
• Gerald Everett: The Raiders allow the seventh most Fantasy PPG to tight ends this season. Pat Freiermuth scored a touchdown last week, Dalton Kincaid combined with Dawson Knox (who scored) for eight receptions in Week 2 and then Greg Dulcich combined with Adam Trautman for seven receptions in Week 1 against the Raiders. Mike Williams unfortunately tore his ACL last week, which drew the question of – Joshua Palmer vs. Quentin Johnston. There needs to be more attention to Gerald Everett, who was targeted six times last week and had a career-high 87 targets just last year.

Cardinals vs. 49ers

• James Conner: The 49ers are a tough matchup for Fantasy, but are the least harsh against running backs as they allow the 15th most Fantasy PPG. Matt Breida filling in for Saquon Barkley scored a rushing touchdown last week and Kyren Williams scored both a rushing and receiving touchdown in Week 2 against the 49ers. James Conner has touched the ball 19-23-16 times in the last three weeks and has totaled 62-106-98 rushing yards the last three games. Back-to-back weeks with a rushing touchdown for Conner as well. Tough matchup, but Conner is this team’s workhorse.
• Brock Purdy: The Cardinals allow the eighth most Fantasy PPG to quarterbacks and 12th most passing yards per game this season. Dak Prescott threw for 249 and a touchdown last week, Daniel Jones threw for 321 yards and two touchdowns in Week 2 and Sam Howell threw for 202 yards and a touchdown in Week 1 against the Cardinals. All noted quarterbacks also threw one pick each. Brock Purdy is coming off of a game he threw for 310 yards and two touchdowns, which marks his second game throwing two touchdowns this season. Purdy has yet to turn over the ball through the air.

Patriots vs. Cowboys

• Ezekiel Elliott: The Cowboys are a tough matchup for Fantasy Football this year, but I would feel bad if I did not plug yet another “revenge narrative” here. Ezekiel Elliott vs. his former team that he spent seven seasons with. Rhamondre Stevenson continues to touch the ball and play a higher percentage of the snap than Zeke, but this is looking like a true committee in New England. Zeke is coming off of a more efficient game on the ground than Stevenson in Week 3, where he rushed the ball 16 times for 80 yards. If the Patriots get in a scoring position for someone to punch it in, it would be a true crime if they did not give Zeke a chance to score six against his former team, right?
• Tony Pollard: The Patriots allow the 13th most Fantasy PPG to running backs this season. The standout performance against the Patriots was Raheem Mostert’s 121 rushing yards and two touchdowns in Week 2. Tony Pollard has been consistent for Fantasy Football so far this season with three straight games over 15 Fantasy Points. In Week 1 Pollard scored two touchdowns, in Week 2 he caught seven passes and in Week 3 he finished with a season-high 122 rushing yards. A lot of good signs there that could combine at any time.

Sunday Night Football

Chiefs vs. Jets

• Clyde Edwards-Helaire: Maybe this is some sort of DFS plug here, but seeing as though the Chiefs have scored 36 more points than the Jets through only three weeks makes me feel like this game could be lopsided. Oh, and Zach Wilson leading the way for New York. Clyde Edwards-Helaire carried the ball 15 times in Week 3 for 55 yards and a touchdown in a Chicago beating, and could see the same workload this week.
• Garrett Wilson: I am simply mentioning Garrett Wilson as the only playable Jet, and it feels rough to even play him. Zach Wilson had completed 44/84 passing attempts for just 467 passing yards with two touchdowns and four interceptions. Trevor Siemian was signed and may step in at some point. Wilson has been targeted 17 times in the last two weeks and had 83 yards and a touchdown in Week 2. The Jets are going to have to chase this one through the air, so the hope is he sees 10+ targets and can catch at least half with the hopes of a score.

Week 4 Fantasy Football Rankings: Quarterback | Running Back | Wide Receiver | Tight End | Half-PPR by Position | Flex Rankings | Positional Ranks w/ K & DST | Dynasty | Superflex Dynasty