Each week, I take a look at the full NFL slate of games and identify who should have a big Fantasy Football week due to their matchup. This involves digging through Fantasy PPG (points per game) allowed to a position, yardage allowed, potential game scripts, changes in roles, player performances, trends, and other details in combination. There will always be hits and misses, but I take pride in having an actual process and being able to give context to my takes. We “Play 2 Win” here. Let’s get it!
More Fantasy Football Fun!: | Sneaky Starts | Fantasy Football Waiver Wire | Weekly Sleepers & Streamers | Starts & Sits | Skrip’s Week Winners | Players You Can Drop | NFL DFS | NFL Player Props | IDP Analysis | Bold Predictions | Re-Draft Trade Targets | Survivor Picks | NFL Injury Report | Dynasty Trade Targets | Dynasty Risers and Fallers | Weekly Rankings | Game Previews
Weekly Winners for Fantasy Football – Week 4
Bryce Young vs. DET
Bryce Young has been one of the more pleasant surprises for Fantasy Football this season, especially the opening two weeks with scores of 31.4 and 24.1 Fantasy Points. Young threw three touchdowns across the first two weeks and has produced eight total. Young’s 939 passing yards lead the NFL, which is 313 per game. Big upside.
Up next for Young is a Lions defense in Week 4 that allows the most Fantasy PPG to quarterbacks and has also allowed the most passing yards this season (299.3 per game). This matchup is one you look for when you have an opposing offense that will force the game script to have plenty of passing while having an extremely friendly defense through the air. Roll out Bryce with confidence.
Marcus Mariota vs. IND
Marcus Mariota stepped in for an injured Jayden Daniels in Week 2 for 45% of the snaps and produced 111 yards and a passing touchdown while completing 68.8% of his passes. In Week 3, against a perceived strong Seahawks defense, Mariota finished 19.31 for 183 passing yards, three passing touchdowns, 11 rushing yards, and 20.4 Fantasy Points. A very impressive day for a veteran we have seen produce well for Fantasy Football as a Commander.
Up next for Mariota in Week 4 is a Colts defense that allows the fifth-most Fantasy PPG to quarterbacks and the third-most passing yards this season (276 per game). Mariota found three different Commanders for touchdowns last week and can thrive in this matchup with an underrated set of weapons.
Matthew Stafford vs. PHI
Matthew Stafford started the season with a dud for Fantasy Football, but then produced 27 and 21 Fantasy Points the next two weeks. Across the last two weeks of football, Stafford has produced a six-to-three touchdown-to-interception ratio, racked up 327 then 390 passing yards, and finished with a solid 71% completion rate in Week 2. Clear upside while missing Puka Nacua, who may be back for Week 4.
Stafford will face an Eagles defense in Week 4 that just got torched by another veteran quarterback in Case Keenum on Monday. The Eagles rank sixth in Fantasy PPG allowed to quarterbacks through three games this season. This matchup features two good offenses on paper, which can mean plenty of positive Fantasy outcomes by the end of the game.
Bucky Irving vs. GB
Bucky Irving has been trending downward from 20.3 to 13 to 7.8 fantasy points in the first three weeks, but we have positives to note from what we have seen so far. 93 total yards and a touchdown in Week 1, seven receptions in Week 1, 89 rushing yards in Week 2, and 15+ touches in all three games.
Jalon Daniels, the Buccaneers’ rookie quarterback, is set to start in place of an injured Baker Mayfield in Week 4. This change at quarterback to an inexperienced one could further emphasize running the ball and giving Bucky plenty of touches in this matchup. The Packers are also allowing the second-most Fantasy PPG to running backs and the fifth-most rushing yards this season (138.7 per game). The situation calls for plenty of Bucky volume in Week 4, and the matchup should mean a bounce-back day.
D’Andre Swift vs. NYJ
Swift opened up the season on fire with 134 total yards and three touchdowns in Week 1 for 32.4 Fantasy Points, but cooled down the next two weeks. The positive about the last two weeks is 84 rushing yards in Week 3, the receiving upside flash in Week 2 with five catches for 54 yards, along with touching the ball 21 and then 22 times in those games. The preseason fear of Kyle Monangai creating an even split has been far off so far this season, with Swift operating as the clear RB1 for Chicago.
Swift will face a Jets defense in Week 4 that allows the ninth-most Fantasy PPG to running backs so far this season. Chicago will roll out either Tyson Bagent or Case Keenum at quarterback with Caleb Williams out, which can even further emphasize their playmaking, dual-threat running back this week. Swift should earn plenty of work and is primed for a bounce-back Fantasy Football week.
TreVeyon Henderson vs. BUF
After missing Week 1, TreVeyon Henderson came back in Week 2 to rush 16 times for 76 yards and a touchdown, which was 13.6 Fantasy Points. A 16-to-seven touch difference between Henderson and Rhamondre Stevenson was an important note, but the work shifted 10 to nine in touches the next week. A 60% snap share shifted to 37% from Week 2 to Week 3 for Hendo due to game script, which, combined with his backfield split with Rhamondre, can mean murky weeks. We do know that Henderson is explosive, as we saw that in Week 2 and a handful of times last season.
One of those explosive games last season came in Week 15 against the Bills, who Henderson faces this week. In that game, Henderson rushed 14 times for 148 yards (10.6 YPA) and two touchdowns, with an additional 13 yards through the air. The Bills are currently allowing the fourth-most Fantasy PPG to running backs this season, which could potentially mean another big game for Henderson against the Bills, as long as the game script does not get out of hand.
Aaron Jones vs. MIA
Aaron Jones scored a rushing touchdown in Week 1, racked up 105 rushing yards in Week 2, and caught five balls for 34 yards in Week 3. A 10.0 to 10.5 to 14.2 fantasy-point trend is in the right direction, with signs of upside in various departments. With Jordan Mason on the IR, Jones has also finished the last two weeks with 23 and 22 touches, which is a workhorse role for the veteran.
Jones will face a Dolphins defense in Week 4 that allows the most Fantasy PPG to running backs this season so far. The Dolphins could finish the season with the worst record in the NFL, which can create plenty of weekly positive rushing game scripts. Jones should earn plenty of work in this one and is a great candidate to punch in a touchdown this weekend.
Tetairoa McMillan vs. DET
Tetairoa McMillan racked up 75 then 101 yards in the opening two weeks on 18 targets, but had a dud of a Week 3 with just two catches for 17 yards. Bryce Young is having a breakout season and is currently leading the NFL in passing yards, so better days are ahead for Tet. Jalen Coker is also dealing with an injury, which can further emphasize the volume in Week 4 for McMillan. Last year’s Offensive Rookie of the Year is primed for a bounce-back week, which can be his biggest Fantasy week of the season.
McMillan will face a Lions defense in Week 4 that allows the fourth-most Fantasy PPG to wide receivers and the most passing yards so far this season. The game script against a solid Lions offense should emphasize plenty of passing, which can set up McMillan for a huge Week 4 with how friendly the Detroit defense has been. Week 4 should be McMillan’s best game of the season for Fantasy purposes.
Malik Nabers vs. ARI
Malik Nabers came into Week 3 with a shoulder injury, but ultimately played a season-high 78% of the snaps. The rise from 52% to 74% to 78% is encouraging for a guy coming off of a major injury. Nabers finished with six receptions for 69 yards in Week 1, and five receptions for 26 yards in Week 3. We have yet to see an expected Fantasy Football week out of Nabers, but a favorable matchup in Week 4 for a guy trending up could be the perfect timing for one.
Nabers will face a Cardinals defense that allows the second-most Fantasy PPG to wide receivers and the 10th-most passing yards this season so far. This matchup could be a much more favorable one for Jameis Winston to really connect with Nabers, whom he targeted six times last week.
George Pickens vs. HOU
George Pickens has been slowly rising in the opening three weeks. Six to eight to 11 targets, three to six to seven catches, 28 to 40 to 82 yards, and 5.8 to 10 to 15.2 Fantasy Points. Pickens has yet to score a touchdown, but we know that will come with his connection to Dak Prescott that we saw during Pickens’ breakout year last season. CeeDee Lamb drawing the likely Derek Stingley Jr. coverage should also mean a bump in looks for Pickens from Dak this coming week.
The Texans allow the third-most Fantasy PPG to wide receivers and the seventh-most passing yards this season. We saw elite upside last year from Pickens in this Cowboys system, so a slow start should not bring too much worry for him to soon have his biggest Fantasy Football week. Which should be in Week 4, in a solid matchup, for a guy trending upward.
Josh Downs vs. WSH
Josh Downs has earned 20 targets across the last two weeks (nine then 11), and produced 72 then 77 yards with them. His 14.2 and 12.7 Fantasy Points have not been huge weeks, but show he is a big-play or touchdown away from having a week everyone will talk about. Tyler Warren and Keenan Allen have been important factors for this Colts offense with Alec Pierce on the IR, but Downs looks like the premier target and WR1 of this team. Bigger games to come.
Downs will face a Commanders defense in Week 4 that allows the most Fantasy PPG to wide receivers and the second-most passing yards this season. With the volume coming in steadily, in a very wide receiver matchup, Downs is a smash play in Week 4 and a guy who can have a season-high week for Fantasy Football.
DK Metcalf vs. CLE
DK Metcalf opened up the season with 19 targets across the first two weeks of football, and then scored a touchdown in Week 3. Metcalf has yet to produce more than 40 yards, but the signs for volume and touchdown scoring are good ones to have moving forward, as the yards will come. Aaron Rodgers is also coming off a game where he racked up 292 passing yards and three touchdowns, which shows some juice left for the veteran quarterback.
Metcalf will face a Browns defense in Week 4 that is allowing the sixth-most Fantasy PPG to wide receivers so far this season. Metcalf only played in one of the two matchups against the Browns last year, but in the game he did play, he finished with 95 yards and a touchdown. The Steelers and Browns are both 2-1 in the AFC North, so this will be an important one for the Rodgers-to-Metcalf connection.
Tyler Warren vs. WSH
Tyler Warren opened up the first two weeks of football with a receiving touchdown in each game. Warren then went on to tie his Week 1 + Week 2 total in receptions in Week 3 with nine catches on 10 targets for 55 yards. 14.4 and 14.7 fantasy points in the last two games have been solid scoring for the sophomore, and the trend from five to seven to 10 targets is great to note. Especially with targets freed up by Alec Pierce, who is currently on the IR.
Warren can continue his 14+ point stretch in Week 4 against a Commanders defense that allows the second-most Fantasy PPG to tight ends and also the second-most passing yards this season. The touchdown upside paired with a volume increase makes Warren an extremely smart start in such a smash matchup for Week 4.
Juwan Johnson vs. ATL
Juwan Johnson is coming off of a huge week where he caught all eight targets for 53 yards and two touchdowns for 23.3 Fantasy Points. Johnson’s connection to Tyler Shough has made him one of the most reliable tight ends in Fantasy Football to start the year. Johnson has scored three touchdowns this season so far and has three straight games over 50 receiving yards with double-digit Fantasy Points in all of them.
Johnson will face a Falcons defense in Week 4 that allows the seventh-most Fantasy PPG to tight ends and the fourth-most passing yards this season so far. Johnson is the fifth-most (tied) targeted tight end so far this season and should earn plenty of looks in a smash matchup this week, with his touchdown upside.
Darren Waller vs. DET
Darren Waller had a touchdown called back in Week 1, scored a pair of touchdowns in Week 2, and earned eight targets in Week 3. Positive signs for the veteran tight end in his new home, attached to Bryce Young, who is having a breakout season. 18.3 and then 10.1 Fantasy Points for Waller across the last two games. The bump in usage last week is a very important note, especially with Jalen Coker dealing with an injury this week.
Waller will face a Lions defense in Week 4 that allows the most Fantasy PPG to tight ends and also allows the most passing yards so far this season. The game script against a good Detroit offense should emphasize the ball through the air, so that on top of the recent usage and a smash matchup should mean a good Waller week.
Make sure to check out all of our Week 4 Fantasy Football Rankings and Analysis!
Fantrax is one of the fastest-growing fantasy sites in the fantasy sports industry, and we’re not stopping anytime soon. We are the most customizable, easy-to-use, and feature-rich platform in the industry, offering the greatest fantasy experience for your dynasty, keeper, redraft, and best ball leagues. Fantasy sports doesn’t sleep, and neither does Fantrax, with seasons running 365 days a year. Take your fantasy leagues to the next level now at Fantrax.com!
