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Dontayvion Wicks Falls Flat in Favorable Spot
Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks recorded three catches and 18 yards on five targets in the team's 24-20 home loss to the Los Angeles Rams. Philly's offense struggled on Sunday, totaling 172 yards. It's no surprise, really, considering they were down four starters before the game began. Still, the attack couldn't get anything going after halftime, and no Eagles pass catcher recorded more than three receptions or 33 yards. Wicks' target share has been favorable -- acting as the second option at worst behind teammate DeVonta Smith (hamstring). Moreover, he'll get plenty of opportunities while Smith and tight end Dallas Goedert (knee) are shelved. However, with quarterback Jalen Hurts' erratic play, it's challenging to project Wicks for a reliable weekly floor. He'll get a dream matchup in a porous Jaguars pass defense next weekend in London.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
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Puka Nacua Roasts Eagles' D in Return From Injury
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua caught nine passes for 125 yards in Sunday's 24-20 win over the Philadelphia Eagles. The 25-year-old led all Rams pass catchers in Week 4 in yards, but running back Kyren Williams out-targeted him (13) and out-caught him (10). While it would have been nice to see him score in this one, it's encouraging that he wasn't limited by a groin/hip injury that kept him out of the prior two contests. Moreover, Nacua's return slid teammate Davante Adams back into a tertiary role in the offense, maintaining the former's ludicrous ceiling. Barring any setbacks, the former fifth-round pick of the 2023 NFL Draft will get another smash spot in Week 5 when LA takes on a susceptible Buffalo Bills defense. Nacua will be a high-end WR1.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Darius Cooper Benefits From Increased Role
Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Darius Cooper caught three of seven passes for 33 yards and two touchdowns in the team's 24-20 loss to the Los Angeles Rams. Philadelphia's offense entered Week 4 riddled with injuries, forcing Cooper into a more than 41% snap share for the first time in his career. In fact, the former undrafted free agent fell just a snap behind teammate Dontayvion Wicks (56) for the team lead. His yardage and receptions matched career highs, while his target total set a new high-water mark. It was decent production in a game in which quarterback Jalen Hurts threw for a paltry 93 yards. If fellow wideout DeVonta Smith (hamstring) misses another week, then fantasy managers can turn to Cooper as a nice DFS play. However, the latter is expected to slide back into a depth role once Smith returns. Philadelphia will line up for a date with Jacksonville in London next Sunday.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Marvin Harrison Jr. Scores Touchdown On Lone Catch In Week 4 Loss
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. caught one of his four targets for 12 yards and a touchdown in his team's Week 4 loss to the New York Giants. He was once again a ghostly presence -- or lack of a presence -- on a struggling team that fell to 1-3 on the season. His one catch was on an end zone fade route in which he made a nice over-the-shoulder grab, but it wasn't nearly enough for fantasy managers. 8.2 PPR fantasy points is hardly earth-shattering. Harrison is less of a part of the game script for his team as he was last year. The new coaching staff has repeatedly downplayed concerns about getting him the ball, and the results have been ugly. The matchup doesn't seem to matter, as it's been tight end Trey McBride and wide receiver Michael Wilson who have led the team's pass-catching room. Harrison is a drop candidate in many leagues, and there aren't many in which fantasy managers would benefit from sticking him in starting lineups moving forward unless something big changes with his usage. He remains a WR4 who shouldn't be started until he carves out a bigger slice of his team's target pie. A good chance for a bounce-back is coming in Week 5, though, as the Cardinals will face the Detroit Lions, who have one of the weakest pass defenses in the NFL.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Nico Collins Crushes Expectations With Monster Game In Return
Houston Texans wide receiver Nico Collins absolutely dominated in fantasy football in Week 4, catching seven of his eight targets for 118 yards and two touchdowns. The only negative of his day was that he wasn't targeted more, as he was extremely productive and efficient in a game that turned into a shootout. Texans offensive coordinator Nick Caley is a major cap to Collins' ceiling -- his day could have been much bigger if the offense was force-feeding him the ball. But Caley ensures the ball is spread around to the likes of TE Dalton Schultz and WRs Xavier Hutchinson and Kayshon Boutte rather than hyper-targeting his most explosive playmakers. The results show in the final score, which was another loss for Houston. Their offense looked better than usual against a weak Cowboys defense. Collins was still absolutely dominant, and should continue to be so moving forward, but his production last week was unsustainable long-term on such a paltry amount of targets, considering Collins' talent and the game script. He's still a must-start fantasy WR1 for Week 5, when the Texans will take on the struggling Tennessee Titans.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Jacory Croskey-Merritt Busts in Fantasy Football for Third Game In A Row
Washington Commanders running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt had his third game with just single-digit PPR fantasy points in a row this season. He rushed nine times for 15 yards and caught two of his four targets for 35 yards. The Commanders suffered another injury at quarterback, as backup QB Marcus Mariota (knee) exited the game with a knee injury, leaving third-stringer and rookie Athan Kaliakmanis to serve as signal-caller. It resulted in Washington getting blown out by the opposing Indianapolis Colts, which isn't a huge surprise. WR Terry McLaurin (hamstring) missed the game, so it's no surprise the Commanders couldn't move the ball, which likely contributed to Croskey-Merritt's inefficiency. He's now averaging just 3.0 yards per carry on the season. He looks like the undrafted free agent signing that he is, and it's hard to imagine he keeps his lead RB role for long, but Washington hasn't functioned competently as an organization from a personnel standpoint recently. The Giants will head to Washington to take on the Commanders in Week 5. JCM is a bench candidate -- even as the starter, his ceiling and floor are both extremely low.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Dalton Schultz Posts Another Subpar Performance
Houston Texans tight end Dalton Schultz caught both his targets for nine yards in Sunday's 34-30 home loss to the Dallas Cowboys. The veteran entered Week 4's contest leading Houston in receptions (19), yards (205), and targets (25), but was vastly outperformed by Nico Collins and the wide receiver corps on a day when C.J. Stroud threw for 347 yards. Much of Schultz's production on the season stems from a monster 12-catch, 140-yard outburst against the Bengals in Week 2, and it's looking like that's the aberration for the 2026 campaign -- particularly with Collins back in the picture in his usual target-hog role. The 30-year-old will always be a fringy option at tight end, but his fantasy floor and ceiling take a hit as Houston's WR1 returns to full health. Next up, the Texans face a divisional meeting with the Titans on the road.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Travis Kelce Whisper-Quiet In Close Week 4 Win Over Raiders
Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce was almost invisible in his team's 30-27 thrilling victory over the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 4. After smashing in multiple games to start the season, Kelce only saw four targets in Week 4, catching two of them for 15 yards. Maybe the 37-year-old veteran is no longer at the peak of his abilities as a football player, and is susceptible to strong defensive coverage. The Chiefs don't need him to have a massive game to win, as they have running back Kenneth Walker III, the most productive RB in the NFL, on their side. Kelce faced double coverages all day against Vegas, and they made it a huge part of their game plan defensively against the pass to shut him down. Even when he wasn't double-covered, the Raiders were sound defensively in covering him. Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes II was looking his way early and often, though, so Kelce should bounce back in Week 6. The Chiefs will rest up in Week 5, as they have an early-season bye. One week later, they'll face the Los Angeles Chargers, who Kelce has a history of absolutely destroying. He'll still be a must-start TE1 for that matchup.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Blake Corum A Non-Factor In Rams Comeback Win At Philadelphia
Los Angeles Rams running back Blake Corum took a backseat to his team's lead back, Kyren Williams, in his team's big win over the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 4. The backup carried the ball just five times for 14 yards and caught one of his paltry two targets for seven yards, finishing with 3.1 PPR fantasy points. It was the second time in as many games that he failed to make an impact in fantasy football, and it's not hard to see why when you look at game script and juxtapose it with the usage of these two running backs. When Los Angeles builds a safe lead against a team that isn't putting up much of a fight, they rely on Corum to help them chew the clock down and protect their lead. In crucial moments of close games against tougher opponents, the Rams lean on Williams, as he's a very reliable, high-IQ player that won't make crucial mistakes. He's cleaned up his fumbling issues substantially from two seasons ago, at least if last season is any indication. Corum is best left on the bench for Week 5, as the Rams will take on the Buffalo Bills, one of the NFL's best offenses. They're likely to lean heavily on Williams, as very few leads are safe against Josh Allen and co.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Josh Downs A Massive Fantasy Football Bust in Week 4
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Josh Downs appeared set to have a massive game against the Washington Commanders in Week 4. They have a weak pass defense, and have been ineffective at slowing down opposing wideouts this season. But Downs, despite getting open on multiple occasions, was only targeted four times in Week 4. He caught three of those passes for 16 yards. Colts quarterback Daniel Jones is partly at fault, as he threw only 143 passing yards. His ineffectiveness this season has held back Downs quite a bit. But even WRs Ashton Dulin and Laquon Treadwell topped Downs' targets and yardage marks. His target share of just under 12 percent was miserable for his fantasy production and concerning for his future. Jones just didn't look his way enough, for whatever reason. There isn't much deep analysis to do on Downs' poor game except that he may not get as many looks as fantasy managers would have hoped even when he's separating well from defensive coverage. He's falling down into WR4 territory, and it's hard to be optimistic about his Week 5 matchup with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Kyren Williams Has Monster Game In Comeback Win Over Eagles
Los Angeles Rams running back Kyren Williams had his second-biggest fantasy finish as a pro in his team's Week 4 comeback win over the Philadelphia Eagles, rushing 16 times for 80 yards and two touchdowns and catching 10 of his 13 targets for 67 yards. It was unusual pass-game usage for the RB, as it was easily his career-high in targets, despite him not being an elite pass-catching RB. The rushing volume left a bit to be desired, but the Rams have been dominated by the Eagles ever since Rams head coach Sean McVay began his tenure there. The Eagles dropped back their defenders into coverage at a high rate and left Williams open in the flat and up the middle far too often for receptions. Wide receivers Puka Nacua (hip) and Davante Adams were the major drivers of this defensive game plan, as they are a nightmare for defensive backs to cover. Williams' role as the lead back is safe, though in blowout wins, he often cedes touches to backup RB Blake Corum. This is a load-management system that hurts the RB1's upside when the Rams face bad teams. But in Week 5, they'll face the Buffalo Bills, so that won't be an issue. Start Williams in all leagues -- he has massive upside in competitive Rams games, and the Bills have a long history of being gashed by running backs on the ground and through the air.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Patrick Surtain II Likely Avoided a Long-Term Injury
Denver Broncos cornerback Patrick Surtain II (ankle) likely avoided a long-term injury on Sunday afternoon in Week 4, according to Tom Pelissero of The Ringer. Surtain went down with a non-contact injury, but his Achilles is intact, and the initial round of testing shows that he avoided a worst-case scenario. He will undergo additional testing on Monday to determine the exact severity of his injury and pinpoint a timeline for his return. All in all, it sounds like good news for the former Defensive Player of the Year and two-time First Team All-Pro. The 26-year-old picked off five passes over his last two seasons, and he's up to 21 tackles and one pass defended so far this year. If the injury does still sideline Surtain for a short period of time, we would expect players like Jahdae Barron, Kris Abrams-Draine, and Ja'Quan McMillian to earn more defensive snaps.
Source: Tom Pelissero
Source: Tom Pelissero
Carnell Tate Has Biggest Day As A Pro In Loss
The Tennessee Titans lost yet another game, this time to the Baltimore Ravens by a score of 18-24. But rookie wide receiver Carnell Tate finally produced like a WR1, racking up 145 receiving yards with nine receptions on 12 targets. Tate has been getting open with regularity through his first three games, but the ineffectiveness of quarterback Cam Ward and the lackluster production of the offense have held him back. The Ravens have a strong secondary, but Tate proved why he was a first-round draft pick by getting open at all levels of the field. His target, reception, and yard totals were a season-high for him, and are good news for the future. He fumbled the ball twice, and lost one of those fumbles, so there are areas of his game he can clean up. But he's excellent at slamming on the brakes, which helped him get wide open on multiple catches. He also made strong grabs in tight coverage. A Week 5 matchup with the Houston Texans may make it tough for him to have another big game upcoming, but things are looking up for the rookie as a WR3/flex with upside.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Romeo Doubs Finally Producing as an Alpha Receiver in Fantasy Football
New England Patriots wide receiver Romeo Doubs has been operating as the team's No. 1 wideout since the end of Week 1, but Sunday's Week 4 win over the Buffalo Bills was the first time we saw that increased role truly lead to high-end fantasy production. Doubs led the team in targets (nine) and catches (six), resulting in 58 receiving yards and two touchdowns. We're finally seeing the upside that the Patriots envisioned when they signed Doubs over the offseason, and he's beginning to fill in nicely as the de facto No. 1 receiver with A.J. Brown (ankle) on injured reserve for at least one more week. With that being said, fantasy managers might want to consider selling high on Doubs, because even though he does have one more week as Drake Maye's top target, his volume could dip once Brown returns to action in Week 6 or later.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Kirk Cousins Attempts 52 Passes as Raiders Come Up Short
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Kirk Cousins completed 31 of his 52 pass attempts for 365 passing yards, two touchdowns, and one interception during Sunday's Week 4 loss against the Kansas City Chiefs. He also finished the game without being sacked. It was a very impressive performance from the veteran quarterback, with the lone blemish being the interception. Vegas came up just three points short of the Chiefs in this battle of unbeaten teams, putting Kansas City in sole possession of first place in the AFC West for now. Not only has Cousins been able to support consistent fantasy production from players like Brock Bowers and Ashton Jeanty, but he also has fantasy value of his own, racking up 11 touchdowns through four weeks. He's a sneaky low-end QB1 option heading into Week 5 against the New England Patriots.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Jonathan Taylor Rushes for Two Scores in Big Win Over Commanders
Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor totaled 20 carries, 95 rushing yards, and two rushing touchdowns during Sunday's Week 4 win over the Washington Commanders in London. He also caught one of his four targets for an additional two receiving yards. Taylor has now scored multiple touchdowns in three of his four games this season, and he continues to occupy an every-down role as the undisputed leader of Indianapolis' backfield. The veteran ball-carrier is the focal point of the offense with Alec Pierce (heel) and Keenan Allen (groin) sidelined, but the unit should continue to run through him even after those receivers return. Taylor projects as a high-end RB1 rest-of-season, and he should continue to be started in all leagues ahead of Week 5 against the Pittsburgh Steelers, who just surrendered 96 scrimmage yards and a touchdown to Quinshon Judkins.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Jaylen Wright Remains an Afterthought Following Teammate's Injury
Miami Dolphins running back Jaylen Wright rushed for seven yards on five carries during Sunday's Week 4 loss against the Minnesota Vikings, and he wasn't targeted in the passing game. Entering this week, it seemed like there was a chance Wright could take on a larger role after De'Von Achane (knee) was ruled out for the season. If that was the case, he wasted the opportunity by averaging just 1.4 yards per carry. Meanwhile, teammate Ollie Gordon II exploded for nine carries, 100 rushing yards, and one touchdown (plus two catches), proving that he deserves to be the featured ball-carrier going forward. There may still be some weeks going forward where Wright plays better than Gordon or even logs a couple more touches, but Week 4 showed that Gordon is the running back to roster after Achane's injury. Wright will rank outside the top 36 running backs heading into Week 5 against Cincinnati.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Tyquan Thornton Dislocates His Ankle, Ruled Out Indefinitely
Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Tyquan Thornton (ankle) suffered a dislocated ankle during Sunday's Week 4 win over the Las Vegas Raiders, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com. Thornton hauled in a deep pass, and the initial celebration quickly turned to extreme concern once the severity of his injury became evident. He was quickly taken to the hospital, where doctors fixed his dislocated ankle and gave him permission to fly back to Kansas City with the team. It was encouraging to see the quick turnaround to get him back in Kansas City, but it won't mean much this year. After all, the ankle injury is most likely going to be season-ending. Between the injuries to Thornton and Rashee Rice (hamstring), Kansas City's receiver room is suddenly shorthanded and may look to bolster the position group via free agency or trade.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Zay Flowers Posts Massive Performance in Win
Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers looked unstoppable on the field during Sunday's contest versus the Tennessee Titans. Flowers has been dealing with a hamstring issue, but it didn't appear to impact his performance this weekend. Flowers hauled in eight of his 10 targets for 118 yards and a touchdown in the win. He led the team in receptions, targets, and receiving yards during Sunday's game. When healthy, Flowers is a stud, but his value could take a hit with quarterback Lamar Jackson (ankle) going down in the first half. Jackson was seen in a walking boot following the game, but the team hasn't given much more information yet. Flowers would see his value take a hit if Tyler Huntley is under center during next week's matchup against the Atlanta Falcons.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Malik Nabers is Impressive in Week 4 Victory
New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers put together his best game of the season during Sunday's contest against the Arizona Cardinals. Nabers appears to be finally building some chemistry with quarterback Jameis Winston. The third-year wideout hauled in six of his seven targets for 112 yards and a touchdown in the win. The touchdown came on a 25-yard pass in the second quarter. The expectation was that Nabers would see his value decrease with Jaxson Dart (knee) done for the year. The 23-year-old might be okay with Winston tossing him deep balls. Nabers will have big-play upside against a shaky Washington Commanders defense in Week 5.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
David Montgomery Extremely Inefficient for the Third Week in a Row
Houston Texans running back David Montgomery rushed for just 24 yards on 10 carries during Sunday's Week 4 loss against the Dallas Cowboys. He was also credited with 19 receiving yards (but not a reception) on a hook-and-ladder play. The veteran running back's Week 1 performance, in which he scored three touchdowns, seems to be an anomaly. He hasn't scored a touchdown since then, nor has he posted double-digit fantasy points. The worst part of Montgomery's fantasy profile is his extreme inefficiency, as he has averaged just 2.8 yards per carry this season. Week 4 was particularly bad for Montgomery, who averaged just 2.4 yards per carry against Dallas and has averaged 3.0 or fewer yards per carry in every game this year. As long as the Texans' offense continues to underperform and Woody Marks vultures carries, Montgomery belongs outside the top-36 running back tier for fantasy football.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
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