Fantasy Football Week 4: Biggest Sleepers at Every Position
Last week, we focused on second chances for recognizable players around the league. Now let’s take a look at opportunities for lesser-known names and bottom-tier quarterbacks with favorable Week 4 fantasy football matchups.
Remember when Geno Smith said people wrote him off, but he didn’t write back after the Seattle Seahawks’ Week 1 win over the Denver Broncos? Well, managers should pencil him into starting lineups for Week 4 because he has a chance to light up one of the league’s most generous defenses.
Though managers will have slim pickings for sleeper running backs this week, a couple of pass-catchers at the position deserve some attention.
At tight end, we wouldn’t recommend Tyler Conklin as the New York Jets prepare for quarterback Zach Wilson's possible return. If the young signal-caller targets Conklin as much as Joe Flacco did between Weeks 1 and 3 (24), the pass-catching tight end should make next week’s list.
For now, anyone who prefers to stream tight ends should look at a more practical option at the position who’s familiar with his starting quarterback.
Take a look at the eight biggest sleeper options for Week 4 in PPR leagues—all available in at least 50 percent of Yahoo leagues as of Wednesday at 10 p.m. ET.
QB Geno Smith at Detroit Lions (11 Percent Rostered)
Geno Smith isn’t the best deep-ball thrower, nor does he offer much in rushing statistics, but the 31-year-old threw for 325 yards, two touchdowns and an interception in a 27-23 loss to the Atlanta Falcons last week. In Week 3, he finished with the seventh-most fantasy points among quarterbacks (19.90).
In a game that may yield a similar final score, Smith will likely have to push the ball downfield to keep pace with the Detroit Lions, who rank second in points scored with the third-most offensive yards. However, the NFC North squad has permitted the third-most fantasy points to quarterbacks this season.
Also, keep in mind that head coach Pete Carroll talked about allowing Smith "more opportunities" to move the ball downfield before the Seahawks’ Week 3 contest.
Smith has the playmakers in DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett to put together another top-10 fantasy stat line in Week 4 with the probability of a high-scoring matchup. Last week, both wideouts accumulated 64-plus receiving yards, and Metcalf scored a touchdown.
QB Jacoby Brissett at Atlanta Falcons (6 Percent Rostered)
Jacoby Brissett isn’t going to excite most fantasy gurus, but he had his best outing of the 2022 season last week against the Pittsburgh Steelers, throwing for 220 yards and two touchdowns.
Even more encouraging, Brissett has a growing rapport with star wideout Amari Cooper, who’s recorded 101 receiving yards in back-to-back contests. Secondly, tight end David Njoku emerged as a contributor versus the Steelers, hauling in nine passes for 89 yards and a touchdown.
Brissett will face the Atlanta Falcons, who allow the fifth-most fantasy points to quarterbacks and surrender the second-most fantasy points to tight ends this season. Based on those statistics, the Cleveland Browns' passing attack could have a lot of success with Brissett targeting Cooper and Njoku downfield.
The Browns may have to keep pace with Atlanta’s productive offense, which ranks ninth in scoring. Cleveland will likely lean on its No. 1-ranked ground attack that features Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt, though Brissett can build on a solid passing performance from the previous week. He has a favorable matchup against a defense that has allowed seven scores through the air and ranks 27th against aerial attacks.
RB J.D. McKissic at Dallas Cowboys (27 Percent Rostered)
Last week, Carson Wentz had little time to look downfield because the Philadelphia Eagles swarmed him, tallying nine sacks. He may not have much time to throw against the Dallas Cowboys, either.
Dallas leads the league in sacks (13) after defensive coordinator Dan Quinn’s unit took down New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones five times in Week 3.
As Wentz did last week, he may have to dump off a lot of quick passes to J.D. McKissic, who recorded six receptions for 32 yards against the Eagles. For the season, he’s second on his team in catches (16) with 131 scrimmage yards.
With a stable pass-catching role and the potential to see more targets Sunday, McKissic can provide a solid boost in the flex position.
Typically, McKissic doesn’t rack up a lot of rushing yards (averaging 15.4 rushing yards per game for his career), but the Cowboys have allowed 152-plus yards on the ground in two out of three contests this season. The third-down back could have a decent outing on the ground as well.
RB Rex Burkhead vs. Los Angeles Chargers (25 Percent Rostered)
Rex Burkhead just won’t go away. In Week 1, he played 71 percent of the offensive snaps but dropped below 42 percent over the last two games. Yet the 32-year-old continues to play a consistent role in the Houston Texans' short passing attack.
Burkhead is tied for second on the team with wideout Nico Collins in targets (16), and he’s second behind wide receiver Brandin Cooks in receptions (11).
Though Burkhead has taken a backseat to rookie fourth-round running back Dameon Pierce, he may handle more carries after the latter fumbled twice (but didn’t lose possession) last week. Regardless, the 10th-year veteran could see a lot of targets if the Texans have to push the ball downfield to keep pace with the Los Angeles Chargers, who will look to bounce back from their 10-point performance in Week 3.
If quarterback Justin Herbert continues to play through a rib injury with minimal issues, the Chargers can score in flurries. Also, they could have five-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Keenan Allen back on the field for the first time since Week 1, as he practiced Wednesday.
For now, Burkhead has a safe role in the Texans offense and could have more value this week with a fair possibility that Houston operates with a negative game script.
WR Richie James vs. Chicago Bears (10 Percent Rostered)
The New York Giants’ passing attack ranks 30th across the NFL, but fantasy managers should consider Richie James because of his potential high target volume this week.
Wideout Sterling Shepard will miss the remainder of the season with a torn ACL. Kenny Golladay has had a rocky start under the Giants’ new coaching staff, playing just 26 offensive snaps over the last two weeks and hauling in two out of five targets for 22 yards through three outings. Darius Slayton has played just 18 offensive snaps this season.
Kadarius Toney (hamstring) and Wan’Dale Robinson (knee) have missed time because of injuries—neither suited up for the previous outing against the Dallas Cowboys. Head coach Brian Daboll said both receivers are “getting closer” to a return, but he didn’t say they would be ready to play Sunday.
Meanwhile, James has emerged as a reliable slot receiver who currently leads the team in catches (14) with 146 receiving yards. He’s caught at least four passes in every game this season, and quarterback Daniel Jones has targeted him at least five times in each of those contests.
Within an underperforming, injury-riddled wide receiver group, James should see a lot of action against the Chicago Bears. Even though he faces a tougher matchup against a defense that ranks 21st in fantasy points allowed to wide receivers, his possible target volume gives receiver-needy managers a decent shot at a double-digit point total in the WR3 or flex spot.
WR Josh Reynolds vs. Seattle Seahawks (2 Percent Rostered)
In Week 4, the Detroit Lions may have to lean on the passing game more than their third-ranked ground attack with running back D’Andre Swift battling a shoulder injury. Head coach Dan Campbell suggested that the third-year tailback could sit out to recover in the next couple of weeks.
Lions’ ascending wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown has an ankle injury that could slow him down in the short term. Even if he plays, the coaching staff may dial back on his snaps. Per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, Detroit will “be cautious” with its lead receiver.
As the Lions’ top two playmakers deal with injuries, Josh Reynolds may handle a bigger role in the team’s upcoming matchup with the Seattle Seahawks. Though he sat out of Wednesday's practice with an ankle injury, Campbell said the wideout "will be OK."
Last week, as St. Brown played through injury, Reynolds had his best game of the 2022 campaign, hauling in six passes for 96 yards. In every contest this season, he’s played at least 72 percent of the offensive snaps.
Remember, Reynolds has a six-year rapport with quarterback Jared Goff that dates back to their time with the Los Angeles Rams. Goff’s familiarity with him could translate to fantasy gold for managers who need help at wide receiver. The Seahawks rank 19th in passing yards allowed, and they’ve surrendered 27 points in back-to-back games.
TE Robert Tonyan vs. New England Patriots (30 Percent Rostered)
In Week 3 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, wide receivers Romeo Doubs and Allen Lazard scored touchdowns, though Robert Tonyan had a busy day, hauling in six out of seven targets for 37 yards. He finished second on the team in receptions and targets behind Doubs.
Fantasy managers should feel encouraged by Tonyan’s snap count, too. Since his return from a torn ACL, he’s seen a steady increase in his role, playing 36 percent of the offensive snaps in the season opener to 40 percent in Week 2 to 58 percent last week.
Tonyan has played five seasons with quarterback Aaron Rodgers, so he could post receiving numbers similar to his 2020 campaign (52 catches for 586 yards and 11 touchdowns) within a passing attack that no longer has a go-to wideout in Davante Adams.
In addition to Tonyan’s past history with Rodgers and his ramp up to a full workload, the Packers will face the New England Patriots, who allow the fourth-most fantasy points to tight ends this season.
TE Ian Thomas vs. Arizona Cardinals (0 Percent Rostered)
Here’s a super sleeper who’s somewhere at the bottom of your free-agent pool with a highly favorable Week 4 matchup.
You’ve probably bypassed Carolina Panthers offensive players not named Christian McCaffrey or DJ Moore, though Ian Thomas deserves some attention as he prepares to face the Arizona Cardinals, who have allowed the most fantasy points to tight ends this season.
In Week 1, Thomas had a decent outing, hauling in two out of three targets for 53 yards. Quarterback Baker Mayfield has targeted him three times in all three games this year, so the fifth-year tight end isn’t invisible in the Panthers offense. He may just need a good matchup to show why the team signed him to a three-year extension back in February.
Thomas popped on the injury report Wednesday with an ankle injury, so keep an eye on his status late in the week.
In every game this season, Thomas has played at least 62 percent of the offensive snaps, so he’s on the field for enough plays to reap the benefits of a promising matchup. If you’re in desperate need of a streaming tight end, he belongs atop your list of options.
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Fantasy points scored against statistics are provided by FantasyPros.
Maurice Moton covers the NFL for Bleacher Report. You can follow him on Twitter @MoeMoton.