It's Week 4 of the 2024 NFL season; one of the weirdest seasons in recent memory. With many unexpected "good" and "bad" teams, there are also some unexpected fantasy football standouts this season, along with some general busts that have disappointed relative to their ADP entering the season. We here at 4QWI are here to weave through the nuance and confusion this season and set you right entering a pivotal Week 4 matchup. As always, WE. GOT. YOU.
Like last year, we will go ahead and leave out the effective matchup-proof picks such as Justin Jefferson and Josh Allen. Let's jump in.
Quarterbacks: @jvr1210
Start: Jayden Daniels @ Arizona Cardinals (Sunday, 9/29 @ 4:05 PM EST)
Jayden Daniels is starting to look like the best QB out of the draft this year. I’ve started to see some comparisons to the Jayden Daniels and Caleb Williams situation, similar to the Bryce Young and C.J. Stroud situation. I don’t know if I’d go that far yet, but Daniels has been very impressive out of the gate.
Daniels is currently sitting as the QB2 through 3 weeks, with 2 passing TDs, 3 rushing TDs, and 150+ rushing yards thus far. In Week 4 he will match up against the Cardinals defense, who currently ranks 23rd against opposing fantasy QBs and has allowed 2 rushing TDs to opposing QBs on the year. This should be a favorable matchup for Daniels to use his legs to put up another impressive fantasy outing.
Start: Sam Darnold @ Green Bay Packers (Sunday, 9/29 @ 1:00 PM EST)
Going into this year I never would have thought I would be putting Sam Darnold's name next to the word start, but here we are. Sam Darnold has faced the Giants, the 49ers, and the Texans. 2 out of 3 of these teams have a solid defense. In his past two games against the 49ers and Texans, Darnold has 440 passing yards and 6 passing TDs. Through 3 weeks Darnold is currently the 4th best fantasy QB. Darnold and the Vikings being this good has been nothing short of a miracle, but I’m a believer. Green Bay has been decent against QBs this year as they are currently the 11th ranked fantasy defense but Darnold should have plenty of opportunities to continue to play well in this week's game against their division rival.
Sit: Anthony Richardson vs. Pittsburgh Steelers (Sunday, 9/29 @ 1:00 PM EST)
Things have been weird for Richardson this year. He has shown flashes of brilliance, like when he threw a 60 yard dot to Alec Pierce in Week 1. Unfortunately, Richardson has made mistakes more consistently than he has made brilliant plays, with 6 INTs through 3 games this year. Richardson also hasn’t gotten much done with his legs in the Colts last couple of games, with just 51 rushing yards on 12 attempts in Weeks 2 and 3.
In Week 4 Richardson will face the Steelers defense, who currently have allowed the least amount of fantasy points to opposing QBs. The Steelers have held opposing teams to 550 passing yards and 2 passing TDs while racking up 5 INTs through their first 3 games. This game has nightmare potential written all over it for the sophomore QB and you may be better off leaving him on your bench this week.
Sit: Kirk Cousins vs. New Orleans Saints (Sunday, 9/29 @ 1:00 PM EST)
Kirk Cousins hasn’t quite found his stride yet with the Falcons, and I wouldn’t expect him to in Week 4. Through his first 3 games in a Falcons uniform, Kirk has thrown for 626 yards, 4 TDs to 3 INTs, and boasts a QBR of 49.1. All of these add up to Kirk Cousins being the 22nd-best fantasy QB through Week 3. Things don’t get much better for Kirk in Week 4, who will face off against his new division rival the New Orleans Saints. The Saints have allowed the 8th least amount of points to opposing QBs thus far. Furthermore, opposing QBs have only thrown 1 TD against the Saints in 2024, while throwing 5 INTs and racking up a QBR of 67.8. To say the least, opposing QBs have struggled to get much of anything going against the Saints, with Cousins also struggling to get much of anything going through his first 3 weeks, I wouldn’t expect much out of him in Week 4.
Running Backs: @spechty49
Start: Aaron Jones @ Green Bay Packers (Sunday, 9/29 @ 1 PM EST)
I’m buying in to the revenge game. I think he wants it bad. Not only that the Packers D have already ceded big games to backs this season when playing the Eagles and the Colts. Jordan Love or not I think the Vikings can go hit for hit or more likely find a good lead to allow Jones some extra work. Perhaps even scripting extra work against his former team.
Start: Tony Pollard @ Miami Dolphins (MNF, 9/30 @ 7:30 PM EST)
A no Tua Dolphins offense means any team will be able to stick in a game with them. Even Will Levis. Maybe. The Titans abandoned the run last week which I can’t imagine they will have to do this week. On top of the dolphins defense just being bad against the run. Bottom 5 in the league against backs. Pollard might be in line for a decent bounce back!
Start: Devin Singletary vs. Dallas Cowboys (TNF, 9/26 @ 8:15 PM EST)
Death. Taxes. And the Cowboys interior defense getting shredded by running backs. A dismal 32nd against opposing RBs is the Boys Defense. Putrid. Singletary is no Kamara or Henry but the squishy defense lines up any back for a good game. Singletary being one of the few bright spots on this offense, I would expect him to see some serious work as the Giants most likely will game plan to attack the middle of this defense.
Sit: Kenneth Walker/Zach Charbonnet @ Detroit Lions (MNF, 9/30 @ 8:15 PM EST)
Kenneth Walker runs angry. Which means he gets hurt. But he’s also one of the real cowbell backs when healthy. Sadly he isn’t healthy. Even if he doesn’t return this week I would A: Not expect much against this stupendous Lions Run D. B: Expect a workhorse type load on a back who has missed multiple weeks. Especially with Charbonnet having such good weeks in his absence.
Sit: Rachaad White vs. Philadelphia Eagles (Sunday, 9/30 @ 1:00 PM EST)
The numbers last week prove it. The poor man has lost his job. Bucky didn’t smoke him in carries but the efficiency was not comparable. Bucky Irving ran for 9/70 while White had 6/16. Yikes. Even against a middling rush defense I think that we will see Bucky take over even more this coming week.
Wide Receivers: @Endydoe
Start: DJ Moore vs. Los Angeles Rams (Sunday, 9/29 @ 1:00 PM EST)
We've steadily seen DJ More build a rapport with 2024 first-overall pick Caleb Williams as the season has gone on. 26 targets over three games has yielded 19/167/0 splits for Moore. That said, he seems especially primed to have a true breakout game this season in a delicious home matchup against the Los Angeles Rams. The Rams just let Jajuan Jennings massacre their secondary last week, and to date they are allowing the 3rd most points to opposing Wide Receivers in ESPN PPR leagues this season. Moore is in position for his first WR1 game of the season.
Start: Khalil Shakir @ Baltimore Ravens (SNF, 9/29 @ 8:20 PM EST)
Some general questions about the Bills WR room persisted as the season was beginning, but it appears Shakir has shaken out as Josh Allen's new favorite target. With 14/168/2 splits over three games, Shakir has had a strong start to the season and is poised for another good showing against the Ravens who are allowing 5th most fantasy points to opposing WRs, as well as the most passing yards per game in the league. Shakir is a strong flex play at minimum this week.
Sit: Xavier Worthy @ Los Angeles Chargers (Sunday, 9/29 @ 4:25 PM EST)
Worthy seemed ready to become the best rookie in fantasy football after his sensational Week 1 performance, but he has since cooled down considerably. In his past two games, Worthy has only turned around 9.2 points in standard PPR leagues. He and the Chiefs are on the road against the Chargers this week, and LAC are allowing just 175.3 passing yards per game. Worthy stays on the bench this week until we see more.
Sit: Michael Pittman Jr. vs. Pittsburgh Steelers (Sunday, 9/29 @ 1:00 PM EST)
YES SIR. Piggybacking off of Brett's sage-like advice to bench MPJ last week, I will be saying the same. The Pittman/Anthony Richardson connection has not looked great thus far, and Pittman boasts just 11 receptions for 88 yards this season. Hash. Brown. Garbo. The Colts host the grit and grind Steelers, with another 16-10 game on the horizon. I hate Michael Pittman, and you should too in Week 4.
Tight Ends: @Endydoe
Start: Mike Gesicki @ Carolina Panthers (Sunday, 9/29 @ 1:00 PM EST)
In a land of few, Mike Gesicki is enjoying a solid season with the Bengals after floundering with the Patriots in 2023. In what is one of the best storyline-based games of the entire 2024 season, Gesicki and Cincinnati take on former-Bengal Andy Dalton and the rejuvenated Carolina Panthers. I expect a higher-scoring game, and Gesicki can capitalize on the growing comfort Joe Sheisty has with him against a Panthers defense allowing the 4th most ESPN PPR points to Tight Ends this season. 14 targets for 11/138 in his last two games and the matchup both combine to make Gesicki a solid start. Why not.
Start: Kyle Pitts vs. New Orleans Saints (Sunday, 9/29 @ 1:00 PM EST)
We used to pray for times like these. Kyle Pitts might actually be a good fantasy asset this season and as he builds upon his relationship with Kirko, they have an exciting matchup against the visiting New Orleans Saints to look forward to this weekend. The Saints, despite their tenacity on the defensive end this season, have allowed the 5th most fantasy points to opposing Tight Ends, so we may just see Pitts have another strong showing.
Sit: Zach Ertz @ Arizona Cardinals (Sunday, 9/29 @ 4:05 PM EST)
In his 12th NFL season, Zach Ertz respectfully continues to be a steady hand with the unexpectedly hot Washington Commanders, but the fantasy upside is minimal in a matchup against his former team in Arizona. The Cardinals have been one of the better defenses against Tight Ends thus far in the season, allowing 0 touchdowns and the 10th least points to the position. Ertz should be on your roster, but look elsewhere for this matchup.
D/STs: @BreTT_Shevlin
Start: Cleveland Browns @ Las Vegas Raiders (Sunday, 9/29 @ 4:25 PM EST)
I think this is finally the week you can start the Browns defense and feel confident about them. In many leagues the Browns defense was the first defense off the board, but have been middle of the pack in terms of scoring so far. After Antonio Pierce calling out the Raiders team for a lack of effort last week, I think this is a good spot for the Browns to be able to capitalize on the disfunction. The Raiders offense has looked inept so far and I don’t think it’s as much of a coaching issue as it is a personnel issue.
Start: New England Patriots @ San Francisco 49ers (Sunday, 9/29 @ 4:05 PM EST)
I know.. I know… kind of a hot take. This is gonna sound biased because we’re all patriots fans here, but I trust coach Mayo to come up with a good defensive scheme to shut down San Francisco. Christian Gonzalez is lock down against whoever his matchup is which we will assume is Aiyuk in this scenario. Aiyuk is now taken out. The patriots then double team Jauan Jennings and press him at the line of scrimmage not allowing anything easy. That pretty much leaves Jordan Mason and George Kittle left with the latter still suffering from hamstring tightness and currently questionable to play. With the injuries sustained to San Francisco’s offense the Patriots are a high floor option to start this week.
Sit: Cincinnati Bengals @ Carolina Panthers (Sunday, 9/29 @ 1:00 PM EST)
The red rocket Andy Dalton going up against his former team in this one. Dalton has something to prove in this game and based off what he did last week I would simply stay away from this matchup. If Bryce Young were playing this would be a different story, but I think it’s time we finally put some respect on Andy’s name. 26/37 319 yards, 3 TD’s with a QB rating of 123.6 last week. Obviously losing Adam Thielen hurts, but you could find better options than Cincinnati this week.
Sit: Green Bay Packers vs Minnesota Vikings (Sunday, 9/29 @ 1:00 PM EST)
I realize the Packers defense has looked really good so far, but so have the Vikings as a whole. Sam Darnold has been very impressive and has been without his top Tight End TJ Hockenson and his 2nd best receiver Jordan Addison since the 2nd half of week 1. I’m sure Aaron Jones would love to have a big game against his former team as well which is why I foresee both teams putting up a lot of points in this contest as both are averaging over 25 a game thus far.
Kickers: @BreTT_Shevlin
Start: Chris Boswell (Pittsburgh Steelers) @ Indianapolis Colts (Sunday, 9/29 @ 1:00 PM EST)
Boswell has 11 field goal attempts through 3 games so far this season and has converted on 10 of those, the lone miss being from 62 yards. If Fields can continue to play efficiently, Mike Tomlin knows how to grind out victories even if he has to rely on his kicker. Boswell is a guy I would look into picking up as he’s available in about 75% of ESPN leagues right now. Don’t expect a repeat performance from week 1, but he should be due for another double digit performance at least.
Start: Cairo Santos (Chicago Bears) vs. Los Angeles Rams (Sunday, 9/29 @ 1:00 PM EST)
Santos faces a Rams team that is currently giving up the 2nd most points in the league. Despite the Bears offensive line struggles, I still expected more from Caleb Williams and last week he showed me a little something. If the Bears can get the run game going, I think things open up a lot more for Caleb to hit his playmakers and push the ball down the field more. Cairo has been one of the most accurate kickers in the NFL since signing with Chicago so he’s always a safe bet especially in his home stadium.
Sit: Jake Bates (Detroit Lions) vs. Seattle Seahawks (MNF, 9/30 @ 8:15 PM EST)
I actually just dropped this guy in one of my fantasy leagues and I don’t feel great about his long term potential. As a former UFL standout many projected Brandon Aubrey upside for him. The reason I’m skeptical is because I think the Lions offense is just too damn good and with how often Dan Campbell likes to go for it on 4th down, it doesn’t make sense rostering a kicker from this team despite being one of the more high powered offense’s in the NFL.
Sit: Justin Tucker (Baltimore Ravens) vs. Buffalo Bills (SNF, 9/29 @ 8:20 PM EST)
Look, I’m guessing if you drafted Justin Tucker you most likely don’t have another kicker on your bench to sub out. But to our good friend Tom who drafted Justin Tucker 9th round 108 overall, I just wanna say Justin Tucker is no longer the fantasy kicker goat. At age 34 we’re starting to see the decline of Tucker as he’s missed three field goals so far which is just unheard of from the likes of him. I guess what I’m trying to say here, is if you have a Tom in your league maybe try and shop him via trade or just keep a close eye on the waiver wire.
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