Ricky Dimon
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Byes were not supposed to begin until Week 5 of this NFL season, but that could change with the suddenly questionable status of the Tennessee Titans vs. Pittsburgh Steelers Week 4 showdown. With cases of COVID-19 having shown up in the Tennessee clubhouse and team activities shut down until at least Saturday, it remains to be seen when the game initially scheduled for Sunday will be played. League officials are still hopeful that it happens during Week 4 (either on Monday or Tuesday).
If it doesn’t, fantasy owners could be left scrambling to the waiver wire earlier than expected. Of course, with so many injuries having ravaged the league through three weeks, the waiver wire was already a popular destination. But if you have guys like Patrick Mahomes, Russell Wilson, or Alvin Kamara on your roster, there may not be as many big decisions to make while setting your lineup.
Let’s take a look at the best players at each position heading into the Week 4 matchups, as well as potential sleepers and players you should either start or sit.
Positional rankings
Quarterbacks
1. Russell Wilson, SEA (@ MIA)
2. Patrick Mahomes, KC (vs. NE)
3. Aaron Rodgers, GB (vs. ATL)
4. Lamar Jackson, BAL (@ WAS)
5. Kyler Murray, ARI (@ CAR)
Running Backs
1. Alvin Kamara, NO (@ DET)
2. Ezekiel Elliott, DAL (vs. CLE)
3. Aaron Jones, GB (vs. ATL)
4. Dalvin Cook, MIN (@ HOU)
5. Clyde Edwards-Helaire, KC (vs. NE)
Most receiving yards through 3 weeks 🏈#RedSea
DeAndre Hopkins – 356#RiseUpATL
Calvin Ridley – 349#Seahawks
DK Metcalf – 297#BillsMafia
Stefon Diggs – 288#Saints
Alvin Kamara – 285 pic.twitter.com/dwX1dfwI8r— Pickswise (@Pickswise) September 30, 2020
Receivers
1. Davante Adams, GB (vs. ATL)
2. Calvin Ridley, ATL (@ GB)
3. DeAndre Hopkins, ARI (@ CAR)
4. Tyler Lockett, SEA (@ MIA)
5. Tyreek Hill, KC (vs. NE)
Tight Ends
1. Travis Kelce, KC (vs. NE)
2. Mark Andrews, BAL (@ WAS)
3. Darren Waller, LV (vs. BUF)
4. Zach Ertz, PHI (@ SF)
5. Hayden Hurst, ATL (@ GB)
Kickers
1. Harrison Butker, KC (vs. NE)
2. Justin Tucker, BAL (@ WAS)
3. Wil Lutz, NO (@ DET)
4. Mason Crosby, GB (vs. ATL)
5. Jason Myers, SEA (@ MIA)
Defense
1. Ravens (@ WAS)
2. Broncos (@ NYJ)
3. Rams (vs. NYG)
4. Buccaneers (vs. LAC)
5. 49ers (vs. PHI)
Sleepers
Jeff Wilson Jr., RB, SF (vs. PHI) – The 49ers lost Raheem Mostert and Tevin Coleman to injuries in Week 2. Jerick McKinnon suffered a rib injury in Week 3. As such, Wilson’s number was called against the Giants and he scored two touchdowns to go along with 69 yards from scrimmage.
James Robinson, RB, JAX (@ CIN) – Robinson has also risen up his team’s depth chart, in part due to Leonard Fournette’s abrupt departure from Jacksonville late in the offseason. In the past two weeks, Robinson has scored six touchdowns. He also caught six passes for 83 yards last Thursday night.
Tee Higgins, WR, CIN (vs. JAX) – The rookie-rookie connection between Joe Burrow and Higgins (who faced each other in the National Championship last season) is taking shape. In Week 2, Higgins had five catches on nine targets for 40 yards and two touchdowns.
Start ‘Em Sit ‘Em
Start ‘Em
Joe Burrow, QB, CIN (vs. JAX) – As mentioned above, things are looking up for Burrow. In the past two games, the reigning Heisman Trophy winner has thrown for 628 yards and five touchdowns with no interceptions. The Jaguars will be in trouble.
Todd Gurley, RB, ATL (@ GB) – The Falcons are the laughingstock of the NFL, and deservedly so. However, don’t let that blind you from the fact that Gurley can still be an effective contributor in fantasy. He has two TDs so far and Falcons vs. Packers should be an absolute shootout.
Odell Beckham, Jr., WR, CLE (@ DAL) – It is true that the connection between Baker Mayfield and Beckham is not great. But the Browns are winning (they are above .500 for the first time since the Stone Age), and that always helps. Dallas is 28th against the pass and has already allowed nine TDs through the air.
Sit ‘Em
Matthew Stafford, QB, DET (vs. NO) – Although the Saints’ defense is nothing special, it also isn’t terrible. Stafford has not reached the 300-yard mark in any game this year and he has been sacked eight times in the past two. The offensive line just can’t be trusted to give him opportunities.
Leonard Fournette, RB, TB (vs. LAC) – You should probably avoid Fournette and Ronald Jones II like the plague. Until one of them gets hurt or unexpectedly becomes ineffective, they will cancel each other out from being bona fide fantasy forces. The Chargers have given up just one TD on the ground in 2020.
Julian Edelman, WR, NE (@ KC) – The Chiefs are fourth in passing defense right now and they are brimming with confidence on that side of the ball (and obviously on offense, too) after putting the clamps down on Lamar Jackson and the Ravens. Edelman had only two receptions on six targets in Week 3.
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