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September 30, 2024 • 1hr 14min
Week 4 Studs & Duds + Fantasy Funnels - Fantasy Football Podcast for 9/30
Fantasy Footballers - Fantasy Football Podcast
In this episode of the Fantasy Footballers podcast, hosts Mike Wright, Jason Moore, and Andy Holloway recap Week 4 of the NFL season from a fantasy football perspective. They discuss the key performances, injuries, and takeaways that fantasy managers need to know about. The hosts analyze which defenses are emerging as ones to target or avoid, break down the studs and duds from Week 4, and look ahead to Week 5 waiver wire priorities and matchups to exploit.
Week 4 Studs & Duds + Fantasy Funnels - Fantasy Football Podcast for 9/30
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Key Takeaways
- After 4 weeks, certain defenses are emerging as ones to target or avoid for fantasy purposes:
- Run funnel teams to target: Dallas Cowboys, Buffalo Bills
- Pass funnel teams to target: Jacksonville Jaguars, Minnesota Vikings, Baltimore Ravens
- Teams to target for all positions: Washington Commanders, Indianapolis Colts, Los Angeles Rams
- Several key players suffered injuries, including Christian McCaffrey (expected back by early November), Rashee Rice (feared torn ACL), Jonathan Taylor (high ankle sprain), and Christian Watson (high ankle sprain)
- Jordan Love had a huge fantasy day (389 yards, 4 TDs) despite early struggles, making Packers pass catchers like Romeo Doubs and Jayden Reed viable options
- Baker Mayfield continues to impress and is a viable streaming QB option
- Travis Kelce should see increased targets with Rashee Rice likely out for the season
- Mark Andrews had another disappointing game (0 catches) and is becoming difficult to trust in fantasy lineups
- Rookie WRs Nico Collins and Puka Nacua continue to dominate and look like every-week fantasy starters
Introduction
In this episode of the Fantasy Footballers podcast, hosts Mike Wright, Jason Moore, and Andy Holloway recap Week 4 of the NFL season from a fantasy football perspective. They discuss the key performances, injuries, and takeaways that fantasy managers need to know about. The hosts analyze which defenses are emerging as ones to target or avoid, break down the studs and duds from Week 4, and look ahead to Week 5 waiver wire priorities and matchups to exploit.
Topics Discussed
Defenses to Target or Avoid (7:56)
After 4 weeks of data, the hosts break down which defenses are emerging as ones to target or avoid for fantasy purposes:
- Run funnel teams to target: Dallas Cowboys, Buffalo Bills
- Both teams have struggled to stop the run despite being strong overall defenses
- The Bills in particular have been gashed on the ground by the Cardinals, Dolphins, and Ravens
- Pass funnel teams to target: Jacksonville Jaguars, Minnesota Vikings, Baltimore Ravens
- These teams have been strong against the run but vulnerable through the air
- Opposing QBs and WRs have had success against the Jaguars defense
- Teams to target for all positions: Washington Commanders, Indianapolis Colts, Los Angeles Rams
- These defenses have struggled across the board and can be attacked in all facets
The hosts emphasize using schedule-adjusted points allowed data rather than raw fantasy points allowed to get a more accurate picture of defensive strengths/weaknesses.
Injury News and Updates (14:00)
Several key fantasy-relevant players suffered injuries in Week 4:
- Christian McCaffrey - Expected to miss at least a month and return by early November
- Rashee Rice - Feared to have torn his ACL, likely out for the season
- Jonathan Taylor - Diagnosed with a mild high ankle sprain
- Christian Watson - High ankle sprain, expected to miss multiple weeks
- Anthony Richardson - Hip pointer injury, considered day-to-day
- Raheem Mostert - Not expected to play in Week 5 Monday night game
The hosts discuss the fantasy implications of these injuries and potential waiver wire targets to replace injured players.
Week 4 Studs (25:30)
Quarterbacks (25:35)
- Jordan Love - 389 yards, 4 TDs
- Huge fantasy day despite early struggles
- Makes Packers pass catchers like Romeo Doubs and Jayden Reed viable options
- Baker Mayfield - Continues to impress as QB3 on the week
- "He looks so good. His pocket movement, his connection with Godwin...he just throws it right past [defenders] where it's like Godwin can't see the ball." - Jason Moore
- Justin Fields - 300+ passing yards, 1 passing TD, 2 rushing TDs
- Bounced back after early struggles to nearly lead Bears to comeback win
- Sam Darnold - Another strong performance
- Hosts debate if he can be trusted as a weekly fantasy starter
Running Backs (32:05)
- Derrick Henry - Dominated against the Bills defense
- "Derek Henry always looks like he's jogging...It's like a train. When you watch a train, it looks like it's going slow. Even if it's going 100 miles an hour." - Andy Holloway
- D'Andre Swift - 93 rushing yards, TD, 7 catches for 72 yards
- Hosts warn he may disappoint in Week 5 now that managers will start him
- Alvin Kamara - RB1 through first month in his return from suspension
- Chuba Hubbard - Looked great with Andy Dalton at QB
- Brian Robinson Jr. - 21 carries, 101 yards, TD against Cardinals
Wide Receivers (39:50)
- Nico Collins - On pace for over 2,000 receiving yards
- Only one game under 117 yards so far this season
- Jayden Reed - Benefited from Jordan Love's big day
- Justin Jefferson - 6 catches, 85 yards, TD
- Has scored in all 4 games so far this season
- Mike Evans and CeeDee Lamb - Both had strong bounce-back games
- Josh Downs - 8 catches, 82 yards, TD
- Emerging as viable fantasy option, especially if Anthony Richardson misses time
Tight Ends (45:35)
- Travis Kelce - 7 catches, 89 yards
- Should see increased targets with Rashee Rice likely out for the season
- Dallas Goedert - 7 catches, 62 yards
- Currently the TE1 on the season despite not scoring a TD yet
- Tucker Kraft - Emerging as Packers' top TE over Luke Musgrave
- Taysom Hill - 2 rushing TDs
Week 4 Duds (50:10)
Quarterbacks (50:45)
- Josh Allen and Buffalo Bills offense - Struggled mightily against Ravens
- First time in Allen/Stefon Diggs era Bills have lost by more than 6 points
- Kyler Murray - Disappointing performance against weak Commanders defense
- Only 3 rushing yards after averaging 50+ in previous weeks
- Hosts debate if he can still be trusted as weekly fantasy starter
- Patrick Mahomes - Another mediocre fantasy performance
- Hosts suggest lowering expectations to high-floor QB1 rather than elite option
Running Backs (55:55)
- Breece Hall - 10 carries for 4 yards, 2 catches for 14 yards
- Tough matchup against Broncos defense, but concerning lack of production
- James Cook - Limited work as Bills abandoned run game early
- Cam Akers - Continued struggles in Rams offense
- Rhamondre Stevenson - Fumbled early, limited production
- Hosts still view him as potential buy-low candidate
Wide Receivers (1:01:05)
- Garrett Wilson - Another disappointing game with Zach Wilson at QB
- Hosts debate if he can live up to preseason WR1 expectations
- Brandon Aiyuk - Continued struggles in 49ers offense
- Amari Cooper - Had 80-yard TD called back on questionable holding call
- DJ Moore - Limited production and concerning body language/attitude
Tight Ends (1:12:45)
- Mark Andrews - 0 catches on 1 target
- Third disappointing game out of 4 weeks
- On pace for just 25 catches, 275 yards over 17 games
- Hosts debate if he can be trusted in fantasy lineups going forward
- Kyle Pitts - Another goose egg (0 catches)
- Mike Gesicki - Negative fantasy points
Conclusion
Week 4 provided more clarity on which defenses to target or avoid for fantasy purposes. Several key injuries will shake up lineups and waiver wire priorities heading into Week 5. Rookie wide receivers like Nico Collins and Puka Nacua continue to impress and look like every-week fantasy starters. The tight end position remains a wasteland outside of Travis Kelce, with even elite options like Mark Andrews struggling mightily. Fantasy managers will need to closely monitor injury news and target favorable matchups in Week 5 to overcome the continued volatility across positions.
The hosts emphasize staying active on the waiver wire, potentially targeting Packers pass catchers with Jordan Love's emergence, and being willing to bench previously reliable options like Kyler Murray in tough matchups. With bye weeks approaching and injuries piling up, savvy roster management and matchup exploitation will be key to fantasy success going forward.