RADIO
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
Christian Watson Takes Backseat to Several Teammates in Win
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson had a relatively quiet performance during Sunday's Week 4 win against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Watson finished the victory with a very modest three catches for 47 yards. The 27-year-old posted new season-low marks in targets, catches, and yards, and this was also his first game of 2026 without a touchdown. He actually led the Packers in receiving yards, but he had fewer catches than tight end Tucker Kraft and running back MarShawn Lloyd. He was also out-produced by fellow wide receiver Matthew Golden, who caught three of seven targets for 21 yards and a touchdown. We don't expect Watson to post too many more duds like this one, but that doesn't eliminate the fact that this was an incredibly disappointing result for fantasy managers. Fortunately, he has the capability to bounce back as a high-end WR2 or low-end WR1 against the Chicago Bears in next week's divisional battle.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Tank Bigsby Leaves Early During Week 4 Loss
Philadelphia Eagles running back Tank Bigsby (undisclosed) left Sunday's game against the Los Angeles Rams with only a few minutes left in the fourth quarter, per Ashlyn Sullivan. It's unclear what is going on with Bigsby, but he walked to the locker room under his own power with three minutes left in the game. This is never good to hear, especially with running back Saquon Barkley (hamstring) leaving early during this game. Bigsby carried the ball 14 times for 55 yards in the loss to the Rams. Will Shipley could be looking at an expanded role if Barkley or Bigsby are unable to play in Week 5.
Source: Ashlyn Sullivan
Source: Ashlyn Sullivan
Emanuel Wilson Scores a Pair of Touchdowns in Workhorse Role
Seattle Seahawks running back Emanuel Wilson totaled 21 carries, 81 rushing yards, three catches, 39 receiving yards, and two touchdowns during Sunday's Week 4 win over the Los Angeles Chargers. Wilson stepped up as the Seahawks' every-down back after Jadarian Price (chest) was placed on injured reserve. He has now logged 20+ carries in two of his last three games, and he has proven to be very capable of handling a large workload. It will be interesting to see how this backfield shakes out going forward. On one hand, we have no doubt that Wilson could lead the way and rank as a fringe RB2 in fantasy football. On the other hand, the Seahawks have been linked to free agent running back Joe Mixon as a potential Price replacement, and projected No. 1 running back Zach Charbonnet (knee) is eligible to return from injured reserve as early as this upcoming week. Wilson has some short-term appeal in redraft leagues, but his floor will drop pretty quickly once Charbonnet returns to action.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
