X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Import Your Leagues
Weekly Rankings
Compare Any Players
Projections
Articles & Tools
Weekly Planner
24x7 News and Alerts

Target Acquired: Surprise Target Grabbers from Week 4 and Possible Breakouts for Week 5

Demetri Raftopoulos examines which NFL wide receivers and tight ends saw a surprisingly high number of targets in Week 4 of the fantasy football season and could become a desirable waiver target and add for Week 5.

Sammy Watkins has been placed on injured reserve with a foot injury and will likely miss the remainder of the 2016 season. This opens up plenty of opportunities for Bills receivers and tight ends to get more involved in the offense. Injuries throw that preverbal wrench into our fantasy plans quite often. A week-to-week, matchup-based option could always help answer that. Paying attention to targets is always important, regardless of how many lead to actual receptions.

Here is a look at the surprise target grabbers from Week 4, and a look at possible breakout options for Week 5 based on the usage they are seeing in the passing game. You can ask me more waiver wire and game day questions on Twitter @DemetriRafto.

Editor's Note: Be sure to check out FantasyAces DFS contests. New users that sign up on Fantasy Aces and make a $20 deposit will receive RotoBaller's full season NFL Premium Pass for free (including Premium DFS), normally a $59.99 value. Expert DFS research, sample lineups, matchup ratings and lots more!

Be sure to check all of our fantasy football rankings for 2025:

 

Surprise Week 4 Target Grabbers

Eddie Royal - Chicago Bears 

Brian Hoyer could very well be the answer for the Chicago Bears, and their young, growing, improving offense. With Jay Cutler sidelined because of a thumb injury, Hoyer capitalized on his spot-start opportunity. Eddie Royal, amidst a Bears offense that totaled 302 receiving yards, capitalized as well.

Royal caught seven passes on seven targets versus the Detroit Lions on Sunday. He led the charge, and team, with 111 receiving yards and a touchdown. His longest reception of the day came on a 64-yard bomb from Hoyer. The two unlikely heroes meshed well on Sunday and head to Indianapolis in Week 5 to face a Colts team that owns the 25th ranked secondary in the league. Royal is a solid WR3 in deep PPR leagues.

 

John Brown - Arizona Cardinals  

The first two weeks of the season did not treat John Brown well, as he only posted two catches, seven targets, and 22 yards against the New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He received some much-needed love Week 3 with his six catches on 11 targets facing the Buffalo Bills.

It wasn't until this past week against the Los Angeles Rams that Brown finally felt some much-deserved appreciation from fantasy owners. Brown reeled in 10 passes on an insane 16 targets, the most of any receiver in Week 4, for 144 yards. While the targets are encouraging, Brown has failed to find the end zone yet this season and could continue to struggle to do so with Drew Stanton likely starting for the Arizona Cardinals in Week 5.

 

Dontrelle Inman  - San Diego Chargers 

Dontrelle Inman led a Chargers receiving unit that received a ton of attention from Philip Rivers in Week 4. Rivers completed 28 passes to six different receivers for 321 yards. Inman was targeted the most out of the group, turning his 11 into seven receptions for 120 yards and a score.

It's difficult to predict the consistency of any Chargers receiver with the absence of Keenan Allen and Antonio Gates, considering a new receiver seemingly breaks out each week. His Week 4 performance wasn't only Inman's best game of the season, but also of his career. Inman will likely come back down to earth this week, but he does have an extremely favorable matchup against an Oakland Raiders team that has surrendered the most fantasy points to wideouts thus far. He's owned in only 2% of Yahoo! Leagues, but that number is likely to go up this week.

 

Possible Week 5 Breakout Options

Hunter Henry - (TE, SD)

With Antonio Gates inactive for the second straight game in Week 4, Hunter Henry stepped in as the Chargers' starting tight end. Henry, like the aforementioned Inman, impressed in an increased role with his four catches for 61 yards and a touchdown. Henry was targeted seven times, and he could be in line for a heavy workload again against the Oakland Raiders in Week 5, if Gates misses his third consecutive contest.

Henry has proved more than capable of excelling in a starting role and has exceeded fantasy projections in back-to-back weeks. The Raiders have only allowed one touchdown to tight ends so far this season, but that might be the only thing they've limited on the defensive side of the ball in 2016. Henry is a solid, no-brainer TE1, just as long as Gates misses action Week 5.

 

Robert Woods - (WR, BUF)

Robert Woods has also taken advantage of an injury, one that was supposed to plague Buffalo's offense. With Sammy Watkins out for two straight weeks, and now likely for the entire season, the Bills offense exploded for 33 points against the Arizona Cardinals, and put up a solid 16 against the previously undefeated New England Patriots. In the center of that offensive production was Robert Woods.

Woods has assumed the team's role of lead receiver and has been targeted 18 times over the two-game span without Watkins. He has yet to reel in a touchdown, but is coming off his best performance of the season (seven catches, 89 yards) against the Pats. He has a favorable matchup against a Rams squad that has relinquished the fifth-most fantasy points to receivers this season, and should again see the bulk of Tyrod Taylor's passes come his way. He's a WR3, specifically in PPR formats.

 

Terrelle Pryor Sr. - (WR, CLE) 

This one is not really much of a surprise considering his recent production, but the Cleveland Browns have a tough matchup against the New England Patriots. It's hard to believe that the Patriots could lose two in a row and that their second would come against the winless Browns. That's not being questioned here. What is being questioned is the capability of New England's defense to stop opposing passing games, specifically in garbage time. We saw Ryan Tannehill look like a beast while his team was down big to the Pats in Week 2. That will likely be the case in Week 5 as well.

We have, surprisingly, seen the Browns play opponents pretty tough this season. They have stayed relevant and hungry in each game, so don't be surprised when Pryor and Cody Kessler hook up for a touchdown and a bunch of completions this Sunday. Pryor is the number one weapon on a Browns team without Corey Coleman. He can catch, run, and pass, providing a ton of versatility to fantasy lineups. Pryor is a WR2.

Other Options: Kyle Rudolph (TE, MIN) vs HOU, Sammie Coates (WR, PIT) vs NYJ, Zach Miller (TE, CHI) @ IND

 


Check out RotoBaller's famous fantasy football draft sleepers and waiver wire pickups list, updated regularly!




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Import Your Leagues
Weekly Rankings
Compare Any Players
Projections
Articles & Tools
Weekly Planner
24x7 News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Obi Toppin

Expected to Miss One Month
Andrew Nembhard

to Miss Third Straight Game Wednesday
Bennedict Mathurin

Out Week-to-Week
Jusuf Nurkić

Jusuf Nurkic Iffy for Wednesday
Zaccharie Risacher

Listed as Probable Against Nets
Jalen Johnson

Considered Probable for Wednesday
Dillon Brooks

to Remain Out Wednesday
Jalen Green

Could Make His Suns Debut Wednesday
Anthony Davis

Expected to Play Wednesday
Jaylen Brown

Listed as Probable for Wednesday
Zion Williamson

Uncertain for Wednesday
Alex Caruso

Returns to Thunder Lineup
Gary Trent Jr.

Available Against Knicks
Cole Anthony

Back in Bucks Lineup Tuesday
Miles McBride

Remains Unavailable Tuesday
Guerschon Yabusele

Unavailable Against Bucks
Karl-Anthony Towns

Good to Go Tuesday
Tre Mann

Available Versus Heat
Simone Fontecchio

Cleared for Action
Norman Powell

Out on Tuesday
Chet Holmgren

Won't Play Tuesday
Adam Gaudette

Could Miss Time
John Klingberg

Ready for Action Tuesday
Warren Foegele

to Miss "Some Time"
George Springer

Not in the Lineup for Game 4 of World Series
Brett Pesce

Expected to Be Out for One Month
Jake Neighbours

to Miss at Least Five Weeks
Hampus Lindholm

Expected to Return Tuesday
Jacob Markstrom

Returns to Devils Crease Tuesday
Quinn Hughes

Sits Out Second Consecutive Game
Malik Nabers

Should be Ready for Start of Next Season
Lamar Jackson

Says he's "Ready to Go Now"
Isiah Pacheco

Week-to-Week With MCL Sprain
Tyler Shough

Named Saints' Starting Quarterback
Drake Batherson

Picks Up Three Points in Monday's Win
Sidney Crosby

Becomes Ninth NHL Player With 1,700 Points
Michael Kesselring

Expected to Make Season Debut Tuesday
Shayne Gostisbehere

Could Return Tuesday
K'Andre Miller

Expected to Remain Out Tuesday
Pyotr Kochetkov

Close to Returning
Kareem Hunt

Scores Twice in Monday Night Win Over Washington
George Springer

Pulled Early in Game 3 With Side Injury
Terry McLaurin

Questionable to Return in Week 8 After Aggravating Quad Injury
Baltimore Orioles

Orioles Finalizing Deal to Hire Craig Albernaz as the Next Manager
William Byron

Dominates at Martinsville and Advances to the Championship Round
Kyle Larson

Advances to the Championship Round After Top-Five Finish
Ryan Blaney

Falls Short of the Victory and Title Contention at Martinsville
Chase Elliott

Eliminated From 2025 Title Contention Despite Strong Martinsville Run
William Nylander

Questionable for Tuesday
Rasmus Sandin

to Miss Third Straight Game
Lamar Jackson

Ravens Expect Lamar Jackson to Play on Thursday Night
Dylan Strome

Ruled Out for Tuesday
Brad Marchand

Won't Play on Tuesday
Alexey Toropchenko

Returns to Blues Lineup
Jake Neighbours

Unavailable Versus Penguins
Robert Thomas

Out on Monday
Michael Carter

Cardinals Release Michael Carter on Monday
Carson Wentz

to Undergo Season-Ending Shoulder Surgery
CFB

Behren Morton Will Start Against Kansas State
Nico Collins

Trending Toward a Week 9 Return
Puka Nacua

Expected to Practice Wednesday, Play in Week 9
CFB

Lane Kiffin Says Money Won't Impact his Decision-Making
Tony Pollard

Reportedly Available for Trade
CFB

Arch Manning in Concussion Protocol, Misses Practice Monday
Brian Thomas Jr.

Jaguars Not Planning on Trading Brian Thomas Jr.
Justin Fields

Jets Non-Committal on Justin Fields as the Starter Going Forward
Christopher Bell

Eliminated From Championship 4 After a Too Conservative Season
Joey Logano

Lack of Championship-Caliber Speed Leads to Elimination
Chase Briscoe

Finishes Last at Martinsville
Denny Hamlin

Don't Think Denny Hamlin's Engine Failure Affects his Championship Prospects
Cam Skattebo

Out for the Season With Dislocated Ankle
Ciryl Gane

Fight With Tom Aspinall Ends In No-Contest
Ciryl Gane

Tom Aspinall Vs. Ciryl Gane Ends in No-Contest
Virna Jandiroba

Suffers Unanimous-Decision Loss
Mackenzie Dern

Wins Vacant Strawweight Title
Mario Bautista

Gets Outclassed
Umar Nurmagomedov

Gets Back In The Win Column
Jailton Almeida

Drops Decision
Alexander Volkov

Wins Split Decision At UFC 321
Azamat Murzakanov

Remains Undefeated
Aleksandar Rakic

Suffers First-Round Knockout
Tucker Kraft

Dominates With 143 Yards, Two Touchdowns on Sunday Night
Troy Franklin

Explodes for Two Touchdowns Against Cowboys
J.K. Dobbins

Breaks 100 Yards Again but Doesn't Find the End Zone
Bo Nix

has a Season-Best Four Passing Touchdowns
Jalen Hurts

Matches Career High With Four Touchdown Passes in Week 8
RJ Harvey

R.J. Harvey Breaks Out With Three Touchdowns in Week 8
Chris Buescher

Is Chris Buescher A Playable DFS option for Martinsville?
Ryan Preece

is an Intriguing DFS Option For Martinsville
Daniel Suarez

May be Worth Rostering in DFS for Martinsville
Austin Dillon

Is Austin Dillon Worth Rostering in DFS for Martinsville This week?
Christopher Bell

Kyle Larson Should Advance to Championship 4
Joey Logano

Don't Expect Joey Logano to Significantly Contend for Championship 4
William Byron

A DFS Must-Start Due to Lap-Leader Points
Ross Chastain

Hail Melon Nostalgia Masks Ross Chastain's Martinsville Mediocrity
Josh Berry

a Top Contender for DFS Place-Differential Points
Brad Keselowski

an Intriguing Martinsville Option
Shane Van Gisbergen

Now Competent on Ovals, but Don't Start Him Here
Kyle Busch

Qualifies Well but Probably Won't Have Staying Power
Carson Hocevar

Lack of Finesse Makes Him a Risky Martinsville Pick
Bryce Harper

Phillies Aren't Planning to Trade Bryce Harper
Bo Bichette

Starting at Second, Batting Cleanup in Game 1 of World Series
Bo Bichette

Makes World Series Roster
Ciryl Gane

Scheduled For A Title Fight
Tom Aspinall

Set for First Official Title Defense
Mackenzie Dern

Can Become The New Strawweight Champion
Virna Jandiroba

Set For UFC 321 Co-Main Event
Mario Bautista

Aims To Extend His Win Streak
MMA

Umar Numagomedov A Favorite At UFC 321
Jailton Almeida

Hopes To Get A Title Shot With A Win
Alexander Volkov

Looks To Get Back In The Win Column
Azamat Murzakanov

Looks To Remain Undefeated
Aleksandar Rakic

In Dire Need Of Victory
CFB

Texas Tech QB Will Hammond Will Start vs. Oklahoma State Saturday
CFB

Kansas State RB Dylan Edwards Out For Sunflower Showdown
CFB

Arizona State WR Jordyn Tyson Will Not Play In Week 9
Zack Wheeler

Could be Ready for Opening Day in 2026
William Contreras

Could Need Finger Surgery
CFB

Utah QB Devon Dampier Listed as Questionable on Big 12 Injury Report

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP