Week 4 Rankings: Standard | PPR
The Packers and Eagles just had two of the best offensive performances in Week 3, but Week 4 will lead to zero Fantasy points from the players on those teams. That's because Green Bay and Philadelphia are the first two teams on a bye this season.
That means no Aaron Rodgers, Eddie Lacy or Jordy Nelson to start this week -- or Randall Cobb to sit. And the Carson Wentz phenomenon will be put on hold until Week 5, so hopefully he stays hot. We'll also be without Jordan Matthews and be left wondering what's going on with Ryan Mathews and his injured ankle.
Also, as usual, the injury bug bit us again in Week 3. Willie Snead (toe), Sammy Watkins (foot), Delanie Walker (hamstring) and Rashad Jennings (hand) were surprise inactives, and we lost Jeremy Langford (ankle) and Shane Vereen (triceps) for extended periods of time. We're also waiting to find out if Russell Wilson (knee), Dez Bryant (knee) and Michael Floyd (concussion) will play this week, among others.
On the bright side, some players emerged who we were hopeful for and mentioned previously in this column (Jordan Howard, Jamison Crowder and Kyle Rudolph). And there were others who took advantage of a newfound opportunity (Terrelle Pryor and Michael Thomas) and could be successful moving forward.
We have plenty of names to cover heading into Week 4, and this will be another busy week on the waiver wire.
Quarterback
Names of note on bye: Aaron Rodgers and Carson Wentz
Injuries of note: Russell Wilson (knee)
Priority list
* - Add these players in this order, and they are owned in 65 percent of leagues or less on CBS Sports.
Flacco was a letdown in Week 3 with a good matchup at Jacksonville, but he failed to throw a touchdown with two interceptions and was saved by a rushing touchdown. The Ravens were playing their second consecutive game on the road, and it will benefit Flacco and his teammates to return to Baltimore. Oakland also has to make the long trip to the East Coast for a 1 p.m. start, which is difficult. And even though the Raiders shut down Marcus Mariota last week on the road, this is their second consecutive road game. Oakland also allowed seven passing touchdowns in the first two games. Flacco is a great streaming option this week.
- Dak Prescott (58 percent): He scored 24 FPTS vs. CHI and SF allowed 6 pass TDs in the past 2 games.
- Carson Wentz (38 percent): Maybe he's for real. He has at least 23 FPTS in two of three games so far.
- Brian Hoyer (3 percent): He faces a DET defense that has allowed at least 2 pass TDs in every game.
- Trevor Siemian (12 percent): He played great vs. CIN with 36 FPTS. Can he do it again at TB this week?
Drop list
* - If you need to make a move, these are players you can drop for this week.
- Tyrod Taylor (75 percent): Without Watkins at 100 percent there's no way you can trust Taylor.
- Ryan Fitzpatrick (55 percent): He had six interceptions at KC and now faces SEA. No thanks.
- Alex Smith (43 percent): There's little upside here, including a matchup at PIT in Week 4.
Running backs
Names of note on bye: Eddie Lacy, Ryan Mathews and Darren Sproles
Injuries of note: Thomas Rawls (leg), Rashad Jennings (hand), Jeremy Langford (ankle), Shane Vereen (triceps), Ryan Mathews (ankle)
Priority list
* - Add these players in this order, and they are owned in 65 percent of leagues or less on CBS Sports.
Howard was going to see a bigger role for the Bears before Langford hurt his ankle at Dallas in Week 3, but we found out after the game that Langford could miss 4-6 weeks. That should allow Howard to get the majority of touches for the Bears, and he could lock down the starting job after Langford struggled in the first two games of the season. Howard will still have the same problems Langford dealt with, including an inconsistent offensive line and an offense that will likely trail most weeks. But he can play on all downs, and Langford did get two scoring chances in each of the first two games, which he converted for touchdowns. Howard also draws a favorable matchup this week against the Lions and is worth starting as a No. 2 running back or flex. He is worth about 15 percent of your FAAB budget this week.
- Dwayne Washington (49 percent): CHI has allowed four rushing TDs in the past two games.
- Kenneth Dixon (35 percent): When healthy he should take over as the main RB in BAL.
- Cameron Artis-Payne (54 percent): He's the main RB to own in CAR while Stewart is out.
- Orleans Darkwa (2 percent): With Vereen's season over and Jennings hurt, he could get a lot of work.
- Wendell Smallwood (3 percent): If Mathews has to miss any time, Smallwood could be big in PHI.
- Kenyan Drake (42 percent): He'll start again in Week 4 with Foster out but it will be tough at CIN.
- Darren Sproles (47 percent): He was great in Week 3 but those games don't happen often enough.
- Dion Lewis (31 percent): Now might be a good time to stash him if you have an extra roster spot.
Drop list
* - If you need to make a move, these are players you can drop for this week.
- Jeremy Langford (98 percent): He's injured and could lose his job. He's not worth holding right now.
- Justin Forsett (77 percent): We hope when Dixon debuts that BAL puts Forsett on the bench.
- Adrian Peterson (72 percent): He is unlikely to help you in the Fantasy season. It's safe to cut him.
Wide receivers
Names of note on bye: Jordy Nelson, Randall Cobb and Jordan Matthews
Injuries of note: Sammy Watkins (foot), Dez Bryant (knee), Michael Floyd (concussion), Willie Snead (toe), Mohamed Sanu (shoulder), Eli Rogers (toe), Corey Coleman (hand)
Priority list
* - Add these players in this order, and they are owned in 65 percent of leagues or less on CBS Sports.
Pryor did it all for Cleveland in Week 3 at Miami because the Browns were down to third-string quarterback Cody Kessler and without their top two receivers in Coleman and Josh Gordon (suspension). The former quarterback at Ohio State was 3-of-5 passing for 35 yards, he had four carries for 21 yards and a touchdown and had 14 targets for eight catches and 144 yards. We don't know if this kind of usage will continue (he played 78 offensive snaps), and he will definitely lose targets once Gordon is active in Week 5. But if he can continue to play some quarterback and be as multi-faceted as we saw against the Dolphins then his Fantasy production could be quite good. He also has a favorable matchup in Week 4 at Washington. Pryor is worth about 10 percent of your FAAB budget this week.
- Michael Thomas (64 percent): He was great vs. ATL without Snead and could stay hot if Snead sits.
- Cole Beasley (34 percent): Dak loves him. He leads DAL in targets (25), catches (20) and yards (213).
- Jamison Crowder (12 percent): He leads WAS in targets (25), catches (16) and receiving TDs (2).
- Steve Smith (49 percent): He could be shaking off the rust after he had eight catches for 87 yards at JAC.
- Chris Hogan (44 percent): Brady returns in Week 5 and Hogan could take off from there. Get him now.
- Adam Humphries (1 percent): He had nine receptions for 100 yards vs. LAR and is outplaying Vincent Jackson.
- Kenny Stills (17 percent): He's still a factor even with DeVante Parker's re-emergence.
Drop list
* - If you need to make a move, these are players you can drop for this week.
- Allen Hurns (92 percent): It's looking like last year was a fluke for Hurns with no TDs in three games.
- Golden Tate (92 percent): Tate is being outplayed by Anquan Boldin and has just 94 yards on the year.
- Tyler Lockett (88 percent): No targets in Week 3 and Jimmy Graham was great. And Wilson is hurt.
- Tajae Sharpe (81 percent): The opportunity is there but not the stats. This offense lowers his upside.
- Mohamed Sanu (69 percent): One good game, one bad game and now hurt. He's not worth stashing.
Tight ends
Names of note on bye: Zach Ertz and Jared Cook
Injuries of note: Delanie Walker (hamstring), Antonio Gates (hamstring), Jared Cook (ankle), Jordan Cameron (concussion), Virgil Green (calf), Vance McDonald (hip)
Priority list
* - Add these players in this order, and they are owned in 65 percent of leagues or less on CBS Sports.
Rudolph has done a nice job this season, especially the last two games with Sam Bradford. He started the year with four catches for 65 yards on eight targets at Tennessee with Shaun Hill at quarterback, and then he had three catches for 31 yards and a touchdown vs. Green Bay on eight targets in Week 2 in Bradford's first start, and seven catches for 70 yards and a touchdown at Carolina in Week 3 on 10 targets. It's great to see the Vikings feature him in the passing game with at least eight targets a week, and he's the second-best receiving threat behind Stefon Diggs. The 10 targets also came in the first outing without Peterson. This week, Rudolph faces a Giants defense that hasn't allowed a touchdown to a tight end, including matchups with Jason Witten, Coby Fleener and Jordan Reed. But we still plan on starting Rudolph, who is worth about 10 percent of your FAAB budget. He could be a No. 1 Fantasy tight end the rest of the year.
- Cameron Brate (3 percent): He's the man with Austin Seferian-Jenkins gone and it showed in Week 3.
- Zach Miller (38 percent): Hopefully his two-TD game in Week 3 was a prelude of things to come.
- Jack Doyle (16 percent): So far he's been better than Dwayne Allen in all three games this year.
- Hunter Henry (27 percent): He had five catches for 76 yards and a fumble with Gates out in Week 3.
- Ryan Griffin (0 percent): PPR owners should take note since he had eight catches in Week 3.
- Garrett Celek (1 percent): He benefits if McDonald is out and DAL just gave up 2 TDs to Miller.
- Jace Amaro (0 percent): If Walker is out again then he's worth a look in deeper leagues.
Drop list
* - If you need to make a move, these are players you can drop for this week.
- Antonio Gates (83 percent): Old and hurt is a bad combination. Just start streaming if he's your guy.
- Gary Barnidge (71 percent): We rejoice now when he posts a line of 5-66. That might be his ceiling.
- Jacob Tamme (68 percent): There's still some value in PPR leagues, but he's back with the streamers.
DST streamers
* - If you need a DST for this week, these teams have favorable matchups are worth starting.
K streamers
* - If you need a kicker for this week, these guys have favorable matchups are worth starting.
- Dustin Hopkins (15 percent) vs. CLE
- Matt Prater (27 percent) at CHI
- Jason Myers (11 percent) vs. IND (in London)
