Whether you’re off to a start of 3-0, 0-3, or anywhere in between–there is a lot of fantasy football left to be played as we enter Week 4 of the regular season. If the season has not gone the way you planned it would you’re not alone. We have officially entered the crucial stretch of the year that will determine whether or not we are playoff-bound. So, let’s get right to it.
Here are 10 tips that you should know heading into Week 4:
1. Tom Brady is the QB1
Not sure how this always happens but every time we doubt QB Tom Brady we end up regretting it. Through the season’s first three weeks he has the most fantasy points by any player. In Week 4 he takes a trip to Foxborough to take on his former team. He’s also going out there following a loss to the Rams.
The only thing better than a regular GOAT is a pissed-off GOAT. Expect him to put his hatred for former head coach Bill Belichick into every pass he attempts.
2. The Saints are good against the run
So Saquon Barkley finally paid off as your RB1 in Week 3. Fire him up as a must-start in Week 4, right? Well, not so fast. The Saints rank top five in the league allowing just 60.3 rush yards per game.
The good news is Saquon finally got involved in the passing game with six catches for 43 yards last week. If you have him you are probably in no position to bench him. Just temper expectations and realize he is more of an RB2 this week.
3. Something’s got to give in Dallas
The Panthers are the No. 1 team in the league defending the pass by allowing just 146 passing yards per game. The Cowboys are top ten in the league passing for 277 yards per game. Somethings got to give in this matchup.
I’d put my money on QB Dak Prescott and company having a nice day at home against the Panthers. Carolina will be without its’ first-round draft pick CB Jaycee Horn. Prescott should be able to have a nice day tossing the ball to WRs Amari Cooper and CeeDee Lamb.
4. Steelers can’t run, Najee is still a must-start
In last week’s edition of “10 tips to know” I predicted RB Najee Harris’ breakout game. However, I was wrong about how he’d get it done. Najee couldn’t get anything going in the running game but more than made up for it with 14 receptions for 102 yards.
QB Ben Roethlisberger’s arm appears to be shot. Not only that but he could be without his top-two receivers Diontae Johnson and JuJu Smith-Schuster. The Steelers are averaging just 53 yards on the ground per game which is the worst in the NFL. Najee is still a must-start in point-per-reception (PPR) leagues as he continues to haul in Big Ben’s dump-off passes.
5. Henry Ruggs is a sneaky FLEX play
Don’t look now but the Raiders lead the league in passing yards per game. With starting RB Josh Jacobs injured to start the year, head coach Jon Gruden has completely turned the keys over to QB Derek Carr.
In the last two games, WR Henry Ruggs has hauled in nine catches for 191 yards and a score. He is currently WR30 on the season which is well within the range of starting him in fantasy. They get the Chargers on Monday Night Football this week and will likely need to keep passing all game to keep up.
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6. Nyheim Hines and Jonathan Taylor split touches
It’s been a weird start to the year for those who roster RB Jonathan Taylor in fantasy football. Taylor was supposed to take the next step in his sophomore season but has yet to do so.
Last week, backup RB Nyheim Hines received the same amount of touches as Taylor (11). Hines turned his into 18 fantasy points in PPR leagues while Taylor only scored nine. This week the Colts play the Dolphins which is a good matchup for both RBs. It will be interesting to see if Taylor can emerge as the RB1 he was supposed to be this week.
7. DJ Moore to the moon
Panthers’ WR DJ Moore has seen 11 or more targets in back-to-back weeks. The best pass-catching RB in the game, Christian McCaffrey, is set to miss a few weeks. This makes DJ Moore a must-start WR1 for the foreseeable future.
The one area that Moore has struggled in is scoring touchdowns. Besides that, he has the mark of a fantasy WR1 written all over him. In Week 4, he faces a Cowboys defense that has given up the second-most passing yards in the league.
8. Eagles set up to run
The Eagles face off against the Chiefs this week at home. Kansas City has given up the second-most rushing yards in the NFL through three weeks. Expect QB Jalen Hurts and RB Miles Sanders to run wild in this one.
Sanders has had a rough start to the year and currently sits at the RB25 spot. Hurts has taken some of the rushing opportunities away from him but if there was ever a week for him to break out it would be this one.
9. Matchup of the week
How about two? Both featuring the NFC West teams. The Cardinals take on the Rams in Inglewood and the Seahawks take on the 49ers in Santa Clara.
Both of these games will have major fantasy implications. Sit back and enjoy.
10. Defense to stream
The Packers are a sneaky defense that I am running this week against the Steelers. As alluded to before Ben Roethlisberger is washed. Pittsburgh has a banged-up offense that really can’t move the ball.
If you enjoyed this article, then you’re in luck! Be on the lookout for weekly installments of “10 tips to know” throughout the season. Feel free to follow me on Twitter @jaltorfer1. Any and all feedback is welcome.
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