Fantasy Football 2016: Best NFL Week 4 Lineups, Rankings For FanDuel, DraftKings And More

Bye weeks are a real drag when it comes to fantasy football, especially when you’re just starting to build some serious momentum. Just as rookie quarterback Carson Wentz and the rest of the Philadelphia Eagles offense, as well as Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers, got going in Week 3 they will now be the first two teams to rest up during their byes in Week 4.

The rookie and No. 2 overall draft choice was the sixth-highest scoring fantasy quarterback in Week 3 and going forward could be a viable option for daily fantasy football players. Wentz led the Eagles to a resounding victory in the “Battle of Pennsylvania,” smoking the Pittsburgh Steelers by going 23-for-31 for 301 yards, two touchdown passes and a passer rating of 125.9.

Rodgers, rediscovering the form that made him a perennial MVP candidate, looked even sharper by tossing four touchdowns against the rival Detroit Lions in what wound up being a close game late.

As such, these two quarterbacks’ either improved or surprising play have raised many of their teammates’ fantasy value. Eagles running backs Darren Sproles, Wendell Smallwood, and Kenjon Barner ranked in the top 20 in fantasy points scored at their position in Week 3, while the Packers rejuvenated aerial assault allowed running back Eddie Lacy to post his best game of the season and first 100-yard game since Week 13 last season.

Green Bay receivers Davante Adams and Jordy Nelson were also among the top scorers in Week 3, especially Nelson, thanks to his six receptions for 86 yards, including two touchdown grabs. Nelson’s work is quite encouraging as he comes back from an ACL tear and proves those who drafted him right.

The same can’t, however, be said for Philadelphia’s receivers but that’s because Wentz has shown a preternatural ability to hit whoever’s open. He hit seven different receivers in Week 3 and connected with Sproles on all six of his targets.

It’s certainly an encouraging sign for both Packers and Eagles supporters, and something to keep in mind even during their bye weeks. And even with all those fantasy studs absent, use our rankings for FanDuel, DraftKings, or any other daily fantasy football platform, to find the best combinations and win your league in Week 4.

Byes: Green Bay, Philadelphia

QB

1.Matthew Stafford, Detroit Lions

2.Trevor Siemian, Denver Broncos

3.Joe Flacco, Baltimore Ravens

4.Andrew Luck, Indianapolis Colts

5.Ryan Tannehill, Miami Dolphins

Bonus: Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys

Ameer Abdullah may be gone for the rest of the season, but Stafford’s already debunked the idea he would be in peril without Calvin Johnson as he owns the sixth-best passer rating and is second in the league in passing yardage and touchdowns. He also faces a Bears D riddled with injuries in Week 4, even though Chicago’s 10th against QBs. Siemian’s been very impressive and will still be a cheap option for owners looking to maximize their salary cap at receiver and FLEX. Flacco has Week 4’s best matchup as he hosts a Raiders D allowing roughly 30 points per game to QBs.

RB

1.David Johnson, Arizona Cardinals

2.Spencer Ware, Kansas City Chiefs

3.LeGarrette Blount, New England Patriots

4.DeAngelo Williams, Pittsburgh Steelers

5.Isaiah Crowell, Cleveland Browns

Johnson’s only 11th in rushing yardage so far, but he’s also second among running backs with 169 receiving yards off only 10 receptions and next stares down a Rams D that’s No. 19 in points vs. running backs. Ware’s first among backs in receiving yardage, but if you’re worried about his two lost fumbles, Blount should continue to be a workhorse for New England and its messy quarterback situation. Blount also meets a Bills D allowing 20.45 points a game to RBs, according to Yahoo. And Crowell is miraculously the second-leading rusher in the NFL behind Blount at the moment, and he’s averaging 6.0 yards per carry. Crowell lines up against a Redskins D that allowed 120 rushing yards at 5.7 yards per attempt in Week 3.

WR

1.T.Y. Hilton, Indianapolis Colts

2.Demaryius Thomas, Denver Broncos

3.Kelvin Benjamin, Carolina Panthers

4.Mike Wallace, Baltimore Ravens

5.Doug Baldwin, Seattle Seahawks

Bonus: Terrelle Pryor, Cleveland Browns

Hilton finds himself ranked third in targets, tied for 11th in receptions, and seventh in yards and he’ll get a dilapidated Jacksonville defense allowing 32 points per week to receivers. Thomas is second in targets to teammate Emmanuel Sanders by nine, however, his big play ability downfield and the fact that the Bucs secondary is worse than the Jaguars makes him a valuable pickup in Week 4. Benjamin will not be blanked for the second straight week, while Wallace joins Flacco against an Oakland D surrendering 43.75 points a week to receivers. Russell Wilson’s injury may scare off Baldwin buyers but the matchup against a Jets secondary that’s only better than Oakland’s may be too good to pass up. Meanwhile, Pryor continues to prove he's a renaissance man.

TE

1.Greg Olsen, Carolina Panthers

2.Dennis Pitta, Baltimore Ravens

3.Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs

4.Jordan Reed, Washington Redskins

5.Zach Miller, Chicago Bears

Olsen and Carolina can recover from Week 3’s surprising loss against an Atlanta D that’s allowed the second-most points to tight ends through two games. Pitta may have a big week versus Oakland’s fourth-worst output against opposing tight ends, and Kelce’s Kansas City’s only true receiving threat outside of Ware in the backfield. Reed is fourth among tight ends in receptions and should score his first touchdown of the year on a Browns squad allowing 9.65 points a week to tight ends. Miller was clearly Brian Hoyer’s favorite target and until the latter gets a better in-game hold of the offense the former will continue to be a target machine.

FLEX

1.Latavius Murray, RB, Oakland Raiders

2.Lamar Miller, RB, Houston Texans

3.Emmanuel Sanders, WR, Denver Broncos

4.Jimmy Graham, TE, Seattle Seahawks

5.DeSean Jackson, WR, Washington Redskins

Bonus: Chris Ivory, RB, Jacksonville Jaguars

Murray’s been an unheralded hero in Oakland’s 2-1 start, scoring a touchdown in each of the first three games, and while his rushing yardage isn’t great he does provide about three targets a game. Also, despite its defense’s resurgence, Baltimore’s only 20th against RBs. Miller’s fourth in the league in rushing yardage and expect Houston to lighten Brock Osweiler’s workload and increase Miller’s going forward. And Sanders may be the best WR2 in all of fantasy right now, while Graham’s one of the few things to like about Seattle’s offense even though the matchup is tough against a Jets D ranked ninth against TEs.

Defense

1.Seattle

2.Denver

3.Arizona

4.Cincinnati

5.Minnesota

Seattle draws Ryan Fitzpatrick and the Jets after he threw six interceptions, so the Seahawks will be expensive but maybe the peace of mind is worth the extra salary cap hit? The Broncos face Jameis Winston, who’s tied for second in the league with six interceptions, and Arizona can get back on track against a Rams offense that was very lucky to score 37 points in Week 3. Meanwhile, the Vikings play host to a Giants squad that seems like it’s always on the verge of implosion.