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Injuries To San Francisco 49ers D/ST Make Them A Risky Week 4 Pick
The San Francisco 49ers' D/ST had back-to-back top-10 finishes to open 2026 but took a step back in Week 3. The 49ers came away with the win against the Cardinals last week but gave up 30 points in the process. In Week 4, the 49ers' defensive line and linebacker corps have been dealt multiple injuries that will tarnish the unit's outlook against the Broncos. Nick Bosa (knee/calf) is out, and three other linemen are listed as out or questionable. Linebackers Dre Greenlaw (quadriceps) and Jaden Duggar (shoulder) are both questionable. When not facing pressure, Bo Nix's EPA per dropback goes from the second-lowest in the NFL to the ninth-highest. With San Francisco's D/ST at risk of getting tied up in a high-scoring affair, fantasy managers might be better served by seeking another unit better suited to sniff out sacks and turnovers in Week 4.
Source: 49ers.com
Source: 49ers.com
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Jeremiyah Love Looking To Build On Big Week 3
Arizona Cardinals running back Jeremiyah Love handled 21 carries for 90 rushing yards and caught all five of his targets for 19 yards and a touchdown in Week 3. After spending Weeks 1 and 2 on the short side of a 60-40 split in snaps with Tyler Allgeier, Love was the unquestioned featured back last week, soaking up nearly two-thirds of the snaps in the backfield and out-touching Allgeier 26-6. Looking ahead to Sunday, Love will face a New York Giants defense that is allowing 4.7 yards per carry and 2.6 rushing yards before contact. Last week, Tony Pollard found 74 yards on 17 attempts against the Giants, and in Week 2, Kyren Williams and Blake Corum combined for 24 carries and 164 rushing yards. Now in the driver's seat of the Cardinals' backfield, Love is projected as an RB1 with a favorable matchup in Week 4 and can be trusted in starting lineups.
Source: NFL.com
Source: NFL.com
Jacoby Brissett A Superflex Candidate In Pass-Happy Offense
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Jacoby Brissett completed 38 of his 52 pass attempts in Week 3, finishing with 280 passing yards, two touchdowns, and no interceptions. Brissett added a rushing touchdown on a goal-line sneak in the 36-30 loss to the 49ers. Brissett is averaging 39 passes per game and 27.3 completions, good for second-most in the league, and has a 70.1% completion rate through three weeks. Brissett has found success by getting rid of the ball quickly and hitting receivers on short routes, which has given him the third-lowest aDOT and time to throw among starting quarterbacks. In Week 4, Arizona faces the New York Giants, who have been susceptible to such passes, offering opponents the third-highest completion rate and fourth-highest EPA per dropback on short routes. Arizona's high passing volume makes Brissett a dark horse streamer and a qualified starter in two-QB setups for Week 4.
Source: NFL.com
Source: NFL.com
Eddy Pineiro Looking To Rebound In Week 4
San Francisco 49ers kicker Eddy Pineiro whiffed on two extra point attempts in Week 3 but converted his other three tries and nailed a 57-yard field goal, his only attempt of the game. Never quite known for being a powerful kicker before coming to San Francisco last season, Pineiro is now 8-for-10 from 50-plus yards in 17 games with the team, compared to 11-for-14 in his 70 previous games with other teams going back to 2019. The 49ers' high-powered offense has given Pineiro the lead in extra point attempts through three weeks with 13, though it has cost him opportunities to attempt field goals. Pineiro could be in for a more productive game in Week 4, in what is expected to be a high-scoring affair with the Denver Broncos. Pineiro is projected as a top-10 option this week and is worthy of a start in fantasy football lineups.
Source: NFL.com
Source: NFL.com
George Kittle A Top Option In Week 4
San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle put any lingering concerns about his Achilles to bed with his performance in Week 3. Kittle played a big role in the 49ers' 36-30 win, catching six of his seven targets for 82 receiving yards and two fourth-quarter touchdowns. Kittle is the most likely candidate to emerge as Brock Purdy's primary target in Week 4, as injuries to San Francisco's wide receiver corps keep piling up. Mike Evans (ribs) is listed as questionable and is considered a game-time decision. His absence would afford Kittle a few extra looks. In Week 4, San Francisco hosts the Denver Broncos, who gave up eight receptions for 62 yards and a touchdown to the Rams' Tyler Higbee last week. In PPR scoring, Kittle is the overall TE5 and is averaging 15.8 fantasy points per game. He is projected as a top-five tight end for Week 4, and should be in starting lineups this weekend.
Source: NFL.com
Source: NFL.com
Deebo Samuel Sr. Could Benefit From Teammates' Injuries
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. made history in Week 3 with his 80-yard touchdown off a lateral from Mike Evans (ribs). Samuel finished that game without receiving a pass from quarterback Brock Purdy, which gave him the dubious honor of having the most receiving yards without a catch in an NFL game. Samuel wasn't even targeted in the game, but he should be more involved in Week 4 against the Broncos, with Mike Evans (ribs) a game-time decision and Demarcus Robinson (ankle) joining De'Zhaun Stribling (ankle) and Christian Kirk (calf) on injured reserve. On paper, Samuel's matchup is not easy, but last week the Rams were able to exploit Denver's secondary to the tune of 390 passing yards. Samuel is projected as a WR3 in Week 4. His explosive play ability and potential for increased involvement in the 49ers' offense make him worth starting on Sunday.
Source: NFL.com
Source: NFL.com
Mike Evans A Risky Start Amid Injury Concerns
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Mike Evans (ribs) is listed as questionable for Week 4 and is considered a game-time decision, per Vic Tafur of The Athletic. Evans took a hard shot to the body on his first target of the game last Sunday and was eventually removed from the game later in the first half after clutching at his side in obvious pain following a broken pass play. Evans missed the 49ers' first two practices of the week but was a limited participant on Friday. If Evans is forced to sit, the offense will have greater focus on George Kittle and Christian McCaffrey, with wide receivers Deebo Samuel Sr., Jordan Watkins, and Jacob Cowing seeing potential boosts as well. Assuming he is active, Evans is projected as a back-end WR3 playing hurt and with a potential matchup against Pat Surtain. Fantasy managers may want to avoid the risk and find an alternative for Week 4.
Source: Vic Tafur - The Athletic
Source: Vic Tafur - The Athletic
Kaelon Black's Playing Time At Risk
San Francisco 49ers running back Kaelon Black saw a healthy 38.5% snap share in the first two games of the season. The 49ers had both contests well in hand early on, allowing them to get Black involved frequently as a means of managing Christian McCaffrey's workload. When the Cardinals proved surprisingly pesky in Week 3, San Francisco leaned on their star at the expense of the rookie, who saw just eight snaps to CMC's 45. That pattern may follow in Week 4, when the 49ers take on the Denver Broncos, who have engineered fourth-quarter comebacks in each of the last two weeks. On the plus side, the Broncos have been soft against the run so far in 2026, giving up the third-highest yards per carry and highest EPA per rush attempt. Black is projected as a borderline RB4/5 for Week 4. Fantasy managers may want to look for an option with more certain playing time before plugging Black into their lineups.
Source: NFL.com
Source: NFL.com
Christian McCaffrey Matches Up Well Against Broncos
San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey is in line for a productive Week 4 when he squares off against the Denver Broncos. So far in 2026, Denver has given up the third-most rushing yards, has the highest EPA allowed per run, and has the most missed tackles in the league. The Broncos defense will also be missing linebacker Dondrea Tillman (hamstring). This makes for an inviting matchup for McCaffrey, who owns the league's fifth-best rushing success rate and the highest average rushing yards before contact among starting running backs. As usual, McCaffrey can be expected to be one of quarterback Brock Purdy's favorite targets. And with Mike Evans (ribs) questionable and expected to be a game-time decision on Sunday, McCaffrey could see his receiving work increase. The Broncos gave up six catches for 70 yards to Kyren Williams last week. McCaffrey is projected as the overall RB6 in Week 4.
Source: NFL.com
Source: NFL.com
Brock Purdy Still In QB1 Mix Despite Injuries To Receiving Corps
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy completed just 15 passes (out of 27 attempts) in Week 3, but he passed for a season-high 297 yards and four touchdowns in the team's 36-30 win over the Cardinals. Purdy is now up to 789 yards on the season, has a 72.3% completion percentage, and a league-leading nine passing touchdowns. Purdy may be without Mike Evans (ribs) in San Francisco's upcoming matchup with the Broncos, as the wide receiver is managing a rib injury sustained last weekend and will be a game-time decision on Sunday. Even without Evans, Purdy should remain an effective fantasy option, as he will still have Deebo Samuel Sr., George Kittle, and Christian McCaffrey at his disposal. Last week, Denver surrendered 390 passing yards and two touchdowns to Matt Stafford. Purdy is the overall QB2 after three weeks and projects as a top-five option in Week 4.
Source: NFL.com
Source: NFL.com
Tyjae Spears Officially Questionable for Road Outing
Tennessee Titans running back Tyjae Spears (ankle) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Baltimore Ravens. Spears started the week as a non-participant but upgraded to limited, then to a full session on Friday. The Louisiana native has dealt with an ankle injury for a few weeks, though it didn't affect his ability to play in the team's Week 3 loss to the Giants. That said, it was Spears' least efficient game of the year thus far. Head coach Robert Saleh didn't seem concerned about the back's status earlier in the week, and a full practice to end the week should signal he has a good chance to suit up. If he does, the Tulane product is nothing more than a desperation long shot against the Ravens in fantasy.
Source: Tennessee Titans
Source: Tennessee Titans
TreVeyon Henderson in Prime Spot to Bounce Back
New England Patriots running back TreVeyon Henderson came back down to earth with an extremely quiet showing last Sunday, but we're still trusting him as a mid-to-low RB2 option ahead of Week 4 against the Buffalo Bills. Henderson had just eight carries for 23 rushing yards (plus one reception) last Sunday. The low volume can be attributed to the fact that New England had nothing going on offense and had to throw the ball more, but that's still something to consider as fantasy managers set their lineup for Week 4. The good news is that, even though Buffalo is favored by seven points, the Bills' defense has been iffy and should give Henderson an opportunity to bounce back after last week's dud. So far, Buffalo's run defense has allowed the seventh-most fantasy points, 10th-most rushing touchdowns, third-most receptions, third-most receiving yards, and second-most receiving touchdowns to opposing running backs in 2026. Game script aside, this matchup presents an extremely encouraging fantasy outlook for Henderson. He ranks as RotoBaller's RB25 in Week 4, but there's no disputing his top-15 upside.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Mason Taylor Deemed Out for Second Straight Game
New York Jets tight end Mason Taylor (thumb) has been ruled out for Sunday's road game against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field. It's no surprise that the 22-year-old will miss a second straight appearance after not practicing since injuring his thumb in the team's 20-17 loss to the Packers in Week 2. The trio of Kenyon Sadiq, Jeremy Ruckert, and Jelani Woods will again divvy up the snaps with the second-year pro set to be inactive. It will be interesting to see how the snap share shakes out when Taylor returns to action. When healthy, he led the room by a solid margin, though that could change if Sadiq's Week 3 breakout weren't a fluke.
Source: New York Jets
Source: New York Jets
Drake Maye Worth Benching Amid Nightmare Start to Season
New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye has endured a nightmare start to the season so far, and he's falling all the way to QB18 in RotoBaller's latest fantasy football rankings for Week 4. Maye had an extremely ugly stat line last week, including 199 passing yards and three turnovers, and he'll now head into an even tougher all-around matchup against the Buffalo Bills. The Bills' defense has been near the middle of the league this year, but we're more concerned about their elite offense and how that might speed Maye up or force him to attempt more passes on Sunday afternoon. If Maye can't keep pace with Josh Allen's squad early, it could be another long day in terms of turnovers and overall scoring. It also doesn't help that the MVP runner-up has been depleted of his top weapon, as he'll go at least two more weeks with AJ Brown (ankle) available. Between the tough divisional matchup and a weakened supporting cast, Maye can be benched in most single-quarterback leagues this week, even if you're replacing him in the lineup with someone you added off the waiver wire.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Kyren Williams Runs Into a Tougher Defense for Week 4
Los Angeles Rams running back Kyren Williams ranks as the overall RB11 in PPR leagues through the first three weeks of the season, but a Week 4 matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles hurts his ceiling and floor in fantasy football. Williams has been a busy pass-catcher in addition to running the ball this season, and he's best known for his work around the goal line. As a result, we're not thrilled that he's facing an Eagles run defense that has allowed the fewest receptions and fewest receiving yards to running backs. This Philadelphia unit has also limited running backs to one rushing touchdown and zero receiving touchdowns through three games. Managers aren't benching Williams on the heels of his 21.8-point (PPR) performance, but it may be necessary to temper expectations at least a little given how well the Eagles have played against the run this year. He's still hanging around as the RB9 in RotoBaller's latest fantasy football rankings for Week 4.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Matthew Stafford Gets His Elite Receiver Back for Week 4
Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford had already been producing high fantasy totals over the last two weeks, and now, his ceiling will soar even higher as he gets his top target back for Week 4 against the Philadelphia Eagles. Superstar wide receiver Puka Nacua has been cleared to play after a two-week absence due to a hip injury. Stafford will now benefit from having the league's best one-two punch in Nacua and Davante Adams. Although Nacua is the bigger name here, Adams filled in admirably with the 25-year-old sidelined. Over the last two weeks, Adams has 15 catches for 332 yards and two touchdowns. The veteran will return to his role as the No. 2 receiver in Los Angeles, but both he and Nacua are still in must-start consideration for Week 4. The same goes for Stafford, who gets to reap the benefits of throwing to some of the best receivers in the NFL. We're also intrigued by this matchup against the Eagles, who have allowed the seventh-most fantasy points to quarterbacks this season. Philadelphia has yet to intercept a pass, and its defense most recently surrendered 247 yards and three total touchdowns to quarterback Case Keenum. The stars are aligning for another big QB1 performance from Stafford in fantasy football.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Davante Adams Remains a Must-Start Despite Teammate's Big Return
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Davante Adams has been playing at an elite level lately, but he might cool off in Week 4 against the Philadelphia Eagles. Teammate Puka Nacua has been cleared to return from his hip injury, dropping Adams back down to second in the pecking order in Los Angeles. It was an elite two-week stretch from Adams, who caught 15 passes for 332 yards and two touchdowns as the de facto alpha receiver for the Rams. Given how well he played with Nacua sidelined, we expect that he'll have no trouble remaining a strong fantasy option in most leagues going forward. After all, this is a high-volume offense that has shown it can support multiple fantasy-relevant receivers. As a result, we're still recommending all managers start Adams in Week 4 against the Eagles. He may not be a WR1 lock, but he has legitimate top-18 appeal at the wide receiver position. He should also benefit from this specific matchup against Philadelphia, which has surrendered the fifth-most touchdowns and 10th-most fantasy points to wide receivers in 2026.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Noah Fant Limited Again on Friday
New Orleans Saints tight end Noah Fant (abdomen) was a limited participant in Friday's practice as the team gears up for a Monday night home matchup against the Atlanta Falcons. That's two limited sessions to start the week for Fant, who has already scored three touchdowns in 2026. While it's unlikely he's been active on many fantasy rosters, the former first-round pick is the current TE14 in PPR formats. Whether that is sustainable remains to be seen, but Fant plays a decent amount of snaps on a high-powered, fast-paced offense and offers some appeal in deep leagues and best ball formats. If the 28-year-old is unable to suit up for Monday's contest, Treyton Welch and Oscar Delp figure to help fill the void behind Juwan Johnson in the Saints' attack.
Source: New Orleans Saints
Source: New Orleans Saints
Puka Nacua an Immediate WR1 in Highly Anticipated Return
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua is immediately back in mid-to-high WR1 territory after being removed from the injury report ahead of Week 4 against the Philadelphia Eagles. Nacua sat out two games due to a hip injury, but he has been cleared to return for a battle between two strong offenses. The 25-year-old hasn't seen the field since the season opener, and a lot has changed for Los Angeles since then. The Rams looked their worst during that Week 1 battle; Matthew Stafford threw for 155 yards and one interception in that game, but 717 yards, six touchdowns, and three interceptions in two games since then. Davante Adams has been filling in admirably for Nacua, but the latter should return to his role as Stafford's favorite target and a must-start fantasy receiver in all leagues, especially with no reported limitations on his workload for Week 4. He'll also benefit from this specific matchup against the Eagles, who have allowed the fifth-most touchdowns and 10th-most fantasy points to wide receivers in 2026.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Javonte Williams Back In RB1 Territory For Difficult Week 4 Matchup
Dallas Cowboys running back Javonte Williams got back on track in Week 3 against the Baltimore Ravens by rushing 19 times for 98 yards and a touchdown and catching two of his three targets for five yards, finishing his day with 18.3 PPR fantasy points. The Cowboys clear RB1 was inefficient in his first two contests, mustering under three yards per carry across those two contests. With elite Cowboys run-blocking guard Tyler Smith (thumb) still out with an injury, Williams played well in Week 3 despite problems along the offensive line. Dallas will travel to Houston for their Week 4 game, though, and the Texans are one of the toughest defenses in the NFL. Williams' receiving role helps, though he doesn't get an impressive amount of volume through the air by any means. This makes him a boom-or-bust low-end RB1 -- he has the volume to avoid the low end of single-digit scoring outings, but not the pass-catching role to propel him to overall RB1 finishes in any given week. Still, Williams should be locked into starting lineups in all fantasy leagues for the Cowboys' next game.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
George Pickens Has Work Cut Out For Him Against Strong Texans Secondary
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens is fresh off his best game of the 2026 season, but it still feels like there's meat left on the bone for fantasy managers who drafted him in the second round of fantasy drafts. His eight catches for 82 yards against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 3 constituted his best game of the season, but he hasn't reached the end zone yet and ranks outside the top-30 fantasy football wide receivers through three games. It's been a far cry from his WR5 overall finish in 2025, in which he eclipsed 25 PPR fantasy points on five separate occasions. A tough matchup with the Houston Texans on the road lies ahead -- they have one of the best pass defense in the NFL in recent times. Pickens matches up well against all but the best cornerbacks in the NFL, and having wide receiver CeeDee Lamb to draw away coverage helps immensely, but he's just a mid-range WR2 with upside for this matchup. He should be started in all leagues anyway, as he's been targeted at a high enough rate that an explosion game feels imminent.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
