Eric Karabell
The fourth Sunday of the NFL season featured fairly a little bit of motion and myriad high-scoring performances, beginning with a morning recreation in Dublin, Eire, and ending in Dallas with a recreation that resulted in a tie. Total, six gamers scored 30 PPR factors, together with Los Angeles Rams WR Puka Nacua and Las Vegas Raiders rookie RB Ashton Jeanty. Kansas Metropolis Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes turned again time to throw 4 TD passes.
Nevertheless, the large story in Week 4 was, as soon as once more, an harm. New York Giants star WR Malik Nabers tore the ACL in his proper knee in his group's gorgeous win over the Los Angeles Chargers. QB Jaxson Dart performed effectively. RB Cam Skattebo performed effectively. Fantasy buyers misplaced Nabers — in lots of instances their first-round decide — for the remainder of the 2025 season.
Every Monday, earlier than the present NFL week ends, we'll establish gamers obtainable in a minimum of 50% of ESPN commonplace leagues worthy of your consideration, from commonplace codecs to deeper choices. The NFL is a weekly league, and participant valuation and roles seldom stay stagnant. It doesn't matter the way you purchase gamers to your fantasy rosters, simply that you just get them.
Quarterback
Jaxson Dart, New York Giants (rostered in 21.1% of ESPN leagues): What a Sunday of combined feelings for the Giants. Dart's first begin went effectively sufficient statistically, as he scored 19.84 PPR factors — primarily because of his 54 speeding yards and landing. Nevertheless, he tried solely 20 passes and was below heavy stress. Dart's working capability might make him look, statistically, like New England Patriots sophomore Drake Maye, which is probably particular in fantasy. Dart ought to be a QB2 this season, even with a restricted group of receivers to throw to, now that Nabers is out. No QB1 choices are on bye this week, however fantasy managers ought to add Dart anyway for a Week 5 highway recreation towards the New Orleans Saints … and past.
Sam Darnold, Seattle Seahawks (9.4%): Darnold scored 16.08 PPR factors to open Week 4, a troublesome Thursday win on the highway towards the Arizona Cardinals. He continues to play environment friendly soccer. He is been mistake-free in three of 4 video games and has accomplished 70% of his passes. Darnold faces an overmatched Tampa Bay Buccaneers secondary in Week 5.
Deep-league choices/streamers/random ideas
Minnesota Vikings fill-in Carson Wentz (6.2%) wasn't purported to throw 46 occasions for 350 yards towards the Pittsburgh Steelers Sunday morning in Eire, however the Vikings trailed and the sport script altered. Wentz figures to start out once more Week 5 (in London) towards a troublesome Cleveland Browns protection. We do not anticipate Wentz to throw 46 occasions on this one (he threw solely 20 occasions in a Week 3 victory), however one by no means is aware of. Sophomore J.J. McCarthy (ankle) might or might not reclaim the beginning position when the group returns from its bye in Week 7 towards the Philadelphia Eagles.
Maybe none of the present Browns quarterbacks would have fared effectively Sunday towards the Detroit Lions, however veteran Joe Flacco actually has not been the reply. Underneath fixed stress, Flacco scored 1.26 PPR factors. Not 10.26 factors, however 1.26 factors! Averaging 6.5 PPR factors per recreation shouldn't be getting issues finished for the Browns or fantasy managers. Flacco appears more likely to begin Week 5 in London towards the Vikings, however Oregon product Dillon Gabriel (0.4%) lurks for stashing in SuperFlex codecs after that.
Operating again
Woody Marks, Houston Texans (33.2%): Marks, the fourth-round decide from USC, did not see many probabilities over the primary three weeks, incomes simply 12 speeding makes an attempt, and he turned them into solely 44 yards. He caught two passes. On Sunday, towards the woeful Tennessee Titans, the Texans cut up the work between the rookie and wily veteran Nick Chubb extra evenly. Marks turned his 21 touches into 119 yards and two touchdowns, together with his receiving work. That is 27.9 PPR factors. Chubb scored 8.2 PPR factors. Benefit, Marks.
The Texans actually ought to depend on Marks transferring ahead, beginning in Week 5 towards the Baltimore Ravens, although this will stay a timeshare, and no one appears to know when or if Joe Mixon (foot) will play once more. Marks turns into a viable RB2 choice, even towards the Ravens.
1:03
Ought to fantasy managers contemplate including Kenneth Gainwell?
Eric Karabell presents his fantasy tackle Kenneth Gainwell after his good recreation vs. the Vikings.
Kenneth Gainwell, Pittsburgh Steelers (35.6%): Starter Jaylen Warren (knee) was a shock inactive Sunday morning, and lots of fantasy managers have been merely not ready to take away him from lineups. Others added Gainwell, and have been rewarded with 31.4 PPR factors, the No. 3 RB efficiency from Week 4 (coming into Monday).
Gainwell could also be value including this week despite the fact that the Steelers are on a bye in Week 5, as a result of we should not presume that Warren might be absolutely healed for Week 6 towards the Browns or past. This knee downside might linger. Gainwell hardly ever began over 4 seasons with the Eagles and maybe he lacks the dimensions to deal with a daily position, however what he achieved on Sunday was fairly spectacular.
Deep-league choices/streamers/random ideas
The Seahawks employed a irritating working again timeshare over the primary two weeks between presumed starter Kenneth Walker III and Zach Charbonnet (69.1%). Charbonnet missed Week 3 on account of a foot harm, and lots of managers moved on. That was a mistake. Charbonnet outscored Walker in Week 4 (12.4 PPR factors to 12), and it stays doubtless each working backs will proceed to see ample touches. With a number of high choices on bye in Week 5 (Bijan Robinson, Josh Jacobs), each Seattle choices are playable.
Alvin Kamara buyers needn't fear simply but, however New Orleans Saints backup Kendre Miller (5.6%) turned his 11 speeding makes an attempt into 65 yards and a landing Sunday, for 12.5 PPR factors. Kamara, because of a mere 4 receptions for 2 yards, scored 11.2 PPR factors. The Saints merely (and oddly) are usually not using Kamara correctly within the passing recreation, and if Miller can create a modest timeshare for speeding makes an attempt, this will get attention-grabbing. Additionally, Kamara is 30, so maybe the rebuilding Saints need to see what Miller, 23 and in his third season, can do.
Ravens backup Justice Hill (12.4%) scored 28.7 PPR factors within the group's blowout loss to the Chiefs. That will make him a preferred fantasy add this week, however it is not remotely sustainable with Derrick Henry wholesome. Hill had eight touches, two of which he become touchdowns, together with a garbage-time, 71-yard jaunt within the closing minutes. Hill entered play with 5 carries and minus-7 speeding yards via three video games.
Extensive receiver
Wan'Dale Robinson (54.3%) and Darius Slayton (3.6%), New York Giants: Effectively, somebody must catch the soccer now that Nabers is finished, and these fellows mixed for six receptions on 9 targets Sunday. Robinson is much extra rostered, coming off a season by which he caught 93 passes, although he turned them right into a mere 699 yards and three touchdowns. He averaged 5.0 yards per goal with Daniel Jones, Drew Lock, Tommy DeVito and Tim Boyle throwing the soccer final season. Dart is best and Robinson, speedy out of the slot and never a lot of a downfield risk, ought to be productive. Slayton will get downfield higher, however he does not determine to see main quantity. Regardless, there's a void on this offense. Robinson after which Slayton should see alternative.
Deep-league choices/streamers/random ideas
Indianapolis Colts speedster Adonai Mitchell (1.3%) scored 10.6 PPR factors within the group's loss to the Rams, however it ought to have been far more. Mitchell would have scored a flowery 76-yard landing from QB Daniel Jones however … he fumbled proper earlier than crossing the objective line, seemingly in preparation for celebrating. Nonetheless, Mitchell has abilities, and neither Josh Downs (48.5%) nor Alec Pierce (1.4%) have finished a lot statistically. If the Colts forgive Mitchell for his mind-boggling mistake, maybe a related, deep-league choice lurks, although I nonetheless select Downs.
Fantasy managers made Texans rookie Jayden Higgins (30.2%) one of many most-dropped huge receivers when he caught solely 4 passes over the primary three video games. He caught just one go Sunday, however it was a 24-yard landing. It's doable Higgins, a second-round decide from Iowa State, emerges sooner or later as a weekly quantity risk, however he is not there but. Even Christian Kirk (31.6%), with 10.5 PPR factors in his two video games, is a greater choice within the quick time period.
Tight finish
Dallas Goedert, Philadelphia Eagles (67.8%): Goedert is rostered in additional than 50% of leagues, however he was began in a mere 15.2% of them in Week 4. He tallied a position-leading 19.7 PPR factors, and he has three touchdowns during the last two weeks. Goedert has been a relative disappointment in latest seasons for each manufacturing and well being, however he appears to have a protected position in what has turn into a wildly inconsistent Philadelphia offense.
Brenton Unusual, Jacksonville Jaguars (22.7%): A repeat title from prior weeks, Unusual has six receptions on seven targets over consecutive weeks, which can not look like a lot, however it's fairly good on this offense. Unusual leads the Jaguars with 19 receptions and 192 receiving yards.
Deep-league choices/streamers/random ideas
Jake Tonges (2.5%) boasts a pair of double-digit PPR outings within the first month of the season, as he takes benefit of the George Kittle (hamstring) absence, although Kittle might return in Week 6. Nonetheless, with Kittle out, Tonges stays value a glance in deep leagues for Week 5 towards the Rams.
Bye weeks: Hold these gamers rostered
Bye weeks start in Week 5, with the Atlanta Falcons, Chicago Bears, Inexperienced Bay Packers and Steelers off. Some buyers of Bears WR DJ Moore (93.1%) might want to transfer on since sophomore Rome Odunze has clearly turn into the group's high receiving choice for QB Caleb Williams. Moore averages solely 5 targets per recreation, and he has reached double digit PPR factors in just one recreation. Nonetheless, hold him rostered. The Bears play the Washington Commanders, Ravens and Cincinnati Bengals in October, defenses towards which the Bears ought to thrive.
Exalted Packers rookie Matthew Golden (81.6%) hasn't scored a landing but, however he did attain double-digit PPR factors in each of his final two video games. It's untimely to let Golden hit your league's waiver wire. Half with injured Packers WR Jayden Reed (52.4%) as a substitute.
Fantasy managers might not have room to maintain related TE Kyle Pitts Sr. (65.3%) and tandem RB Tyler Allgeier (35.5%) rostered, however they actually should attempt to take action. Pitts scored 18 PPR factors on Sunday, and he seems to be like a borderline TE1 choice (lastly). Allgeier is without doubt one of the most dependable reserve working backs, and he will get extra quantity than most backups. Attempt to hold each of those fellows in your group.
The Steelers and Packers D/ST items rank among the many 5 most-rostered in ESPN leagues, however since I sometimes don't advocate rostering a couple of D/ST at a time, there is not a must hold both of those items round. Regardless of the addition of Micah Parsons, the Packers D/ST (84.5%) has scored solely 21 PPR factors, tied for simply seventeenth within the league.
Protection
Arizona Cardinals (24.6%): The Cardinals D/ST has reached double-digit fantasy factors in only one recreation (Week 2 towards the Carolina Panthers) and did so primarily due to an early fumble restoration for a landing. The Cardinals host the Titans on Sunday, and people Titans did not rating in Week 4.
Jacksonville Jaguars (7%): It feels harmful to depend on the Jaguars for a Week 5 dwelling recreation with the Chiefs, after seeing what the Chiefs did to the Ravens on Sunday. Then once more, the Jaguars D/ST has scored double-digit PPR factors in three of 4 video games. That's spectacular.
New York Giants (7.2%): The Giants have a variety of different stuff happening, clearly, however the protection performed admirably towards Justin Herbert and the Chargers. In Week 5, the Giants hit the highway towards the Saints. The Saints are usually not an offensive juggernaut. Then once more, one might make the case so as to add the Saints D/ST (0.6%) towards the Giants, too! Go along with the Giants first.
