RADIO
Week 4 of the NFL season is underway and the Sunday Night Football showdown slate features a fun matchup as the Philadelphia Eagles take on the San Francisco 49ers! This game currently has a 45.5 over/under with the 49ers being favored by 3.5 points.
In this article, I will be providing you with daily fantasy football picks on FanDuel and DraftKings for Sunday Night Football on October 4th, 2020 (Week 4). These lineups can vary from higher-priced players and elite options to lower-priced players and value picks on FanDuel. Lineup construction can differ greatly from FanDuel to DraftKings with the biggest difference being the Captain and MVP slots. On DK, you'll pay 1.5x the salary of a player in order to roster them as your captain while the price doesn't change on FanDuel.
If you have any questions you can follow me on Twitter @jorgepucks and fire away, or sign up for a premium RotoBaller NFL package and chat with myself and other NFL DFS analysts any time you'd like! Now let's break this slate down and make some cash as we get ready for the full Sunday slate of games!
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DFS Quarterbacks
We get a great coaching matchup which also trickles down to what could be good quarterback play for this showdown slate. Carson Wentz has gotten off to a very slow start but some of that could be attributed to the lack of receiving options to start the season. The Eagles have been decimated due to injuries which explains why Wentz and company have gotten off to a slow start. Wentz is throwing 40+ times to start the season but has turned the ball over more times than he has found the end zone which has limited his true upside. San Francisco is limiting opposing teams to just 187 passing yards per game but some of that strong passing defense can be attributed to the opponents they faced so far this season (Jets and Giants specifically).
Nick Mullens will be drawing the start for San Fran this week as Jimmy Garoppolo is still nursing an ankle injury. Mullens had an efficient start during week 3 against the Giants as he completed 25 of his 36 passing attempts for 343 yards and a passing touchdown. In this matchup against Philly, he will have the top targets returning for San Fran in George Kittle and Deebo Samuel which only gives him more of a boost on this showdown slate. The Eagles are allowing opposing quarterbacks to average 19.06 fantasy points per game against them but one thing that stands out is they have allowed six passing touchdowns through the first three games of the season.
Summary: Both quarterbacks make for solid cash plays and tournament plays on this slate. Mullens has the better supporting cast right now but Wentz is the better overall quarterback so using them in the captain roles is certainly viable.
DFS Running Backs
Both teams look to establish the run early on in the game but it could be a tough night on the ground as their opposing defenses rank in the top against opposing running backs. The Eagles finally have Miles Sanders healthy and he has produced two great weeks of work as he has averaged 95 rushing yards per game and has seen 15 pass-catching targets in his two games played. When healthy, Sanders is the bell-cow back and doesn't concede snaps but if he were to give up snaps, Boston Scott would be next in line on the depth chart. With the lack of true receiving options for Philly, Sanders could see an uptick in targets and is viable in all formats while Scott would see limited action.
The running back position has been rough on the 49ers in the early part of the season as Raheem Mostert and Tevin Coleman both suffered injuries in week 2. Jerick McKinnon and Jeff Wilson Jr. are splitting the lead back duties as they have been even in carries and are both getting targets in the passing game. The Eagles run defense has been very good as they are only allowing 84.3 yards per game on the ground so the 49ers running back tandem will have to be involved in the passing game for any upside potential in this matchup.
Summary: Miles Sanders is the safest option at the running back position. He will see volume in both the passing and running game and offers the most upside at the position. McKinnon and Wilson Jr. are viable tournament options as they will be splitting carries throughout the game.
DFS Wide Receivers
Both teams have been hit with the injury bug in the wide receiver department so this will be tricky to navigate. The Eagles will be without Alshon Jeffery, Jalan Reagor, and DeSean Jackson while also labeling J.J. Arcega-Whiteside as doubtful for this Sunday night matchup. This leaves the receiving cupboard really empty as Greg Ward and John Hightower look to fill the receiving void left behind due to injuries. Ward saw 11 targets in his last game against the Bengals and looks to be the best wide receiver option for the Eagles. John Hightower looks to provide good value as he is one of the lower-priced options on Philly but should carry a larger role as he will be thrust into the starting lineup.
San Fran has had its fair share of injuries at the wide receiver position as Tavon Austin, Jalen Hurd, Richie James Jr., and Chris Thompson were all placed on IR. Deebo Samuel has also been on IR but looks to be ready to go for this matchup against Philly. Samuel is an extreme value on DK as he is just $200 which opens up salary for the rest of your lineup. He is a true playmaker for this 49ers squad but it should also be noted that he could be eased back into the offense so he might not assume his full role until later in the season. Brandon Aiyuk had a big game against the Giants as he recorded five catches on eight targets while having three rushing attempts for 31 yards and a rushing touchdown. He will have a prominent role in this offense and will be one of the top receiving options moving forward for San Fran. Kendrick Bourne has seen consistent targets throughout the first three weeks of the season and will continue to be involved in the offense in three-wide receiver sets. Outside of those options, Trent Taylor, Mohamed Sanu, and Dane Pettis round out the receiving group but only have appeal in large multi-entering formats.
Summary: Ward and Aiyuk provide the safest options on this slate at the wide receiver position. Bourne, Hightower, and Arcega-Whiteside are secondary options that are viable in tournaments but could also be squeezed into cash lineups. Taylor, Sanu, and Pettis only warrant consideration in large-field tournaments.
DFS Tight Ends
This game features some of the best pass-catching tight ends in the game which makes them both viable options on this showdown slate. For the Eagles, the tight end group is led by Zach Ertz who has been a top receiving tight end option over the last five seasons. Dallas Goedert landed on the IR which only bodes well for Ertz who should only get more targets moving forward. Ertz is averaging 11.3 DK points per game and is coming off of a season-high 10 targets against the Bengals. Ertz is averaging five catches on eight targets per game and while he has only found the end zone once this season, he is due to the lack of receiving options for this Eagles squad. Behind Kittle on the Eagles depth chart sits Richard Rodgers and newly signed player in Hakeem Butler. Rodgers is a long-time NFL vet that doesn't offer much upside in the passing game while Butler is intriguing as he was a former wide receiver that has now been converted to a tight end. This was a low-risk high upside move that provided the Eagles with more depth at the position.
For San Fran, George Kittle is the go-to man in this offense. He has been out the past several weeks due to a knee injury that was suffered in week 1 against Arizona but seems to be back and good to go for this matchup. Jordan Reed was his backup and saw plenty of action while Kittle was gone as he accrued nine catches on 14 targets while hauling in two passing touchdowns. Jordan Reed suffered a knee sprain that will sideline him for multiple weeks which means Kittle will be thrust back into the main tight end spot now that he is fully healthy. Backing up Kittle is Ross Dwelley who would be considered a long shot tournament play if mass multi entering.
Summary: Both Kittle and Ertz are great plays on this slate. With the lack of true receiving options, both of them operate like the top receivers in their offenses. Dwelley, Rodgers, and Butler are all value plays in tournaments that open up salary for the rest of your lineup.
DFS Defense/Special Teams
Even though San Francisco is banged up, their defense has been doing well as they are holding opponents to 15.3 points per game while limiting opposing offenses to just 304 yards per game which is the third-fewest in the league. With how turnover prone the Eagles have been to start the season, the 49ers Defense is in play. Robbie Gould and Jake Elliott are some of the more reliable kickers in the league and with how injuries have plagued their teams' offenses to start the season, it wouldn't be surprising if the offensive drives stalled out in this game resulting in field goal opportunities on both sides.
Summary: The San Francisco defense has done well despite being hit with injuries and could be in consideration for your lineup builds. Kicking could be crucial in this game which makes both Robbie Gould and Jake Elliott viable for tournament options.
Good luck, RotoBallers, and remember to mix it up and don't be afraid to be different in these large field GPPs!
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