In a special edition of the Lineup Spotlight, we provide an in-depth rundown of potential players that can fill holes in your lineup this week. With so many players potentially unavailable for various reasons, many Fantasy leaguers are dipping into their reserves or going back to the waiver wire for viable starting options. We list them at all levels of preference here. It’s your complete guide to Week 4 fantasy survival.
We only list players here who are not considered regular starters, and many of the lower-level types could be available as weekend waiver pickups. At each position, players are listed in order of preference for your lineups. Skill position picks here are based on PPR ranks.
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Week 4 Running Back Spotlights, Streamers, and Fill-Ins
Mike Davis: Maybe you don’t consider him a must-start option, but he is one this week. He has two games already with eight catches, and is one of only two NFL RBs to have accomplished that this year. The Cardinals allow the fifth-most receiving yards to RBs.
Devin Singletary: No team allows more Fantasy Points Per Game or receiving yards to RBs than the Raiders.
Jeff Wilson Jr: In Week 3, he scored twice in a game for the third time in the past two years.
Zack Moss: He should be ready to return to action this week and the matchup is ultra-friendly.
Ronald Jones: He can be a risk for disappointment for sure, but the volume will certainly be there with Leonard Fournette out.
J.K. Dobbins: You never know if any Ravens RB will produce well at any time, but Baltimore should dominate against Washington and the rookie could make some noise in the process.
Devonta Freeman: The matchup doesn’t look too good, but he could catch enough passes out of the backfield to finish with decent fantasy totals.
Chase Edmonds: Carolina allows the second-most FFPG to RBs and the third-most receiving yards. Edmonds can score from anywhere on the field and is a threat to steal some touches near the goal line as both a receiver and runner.
Jordan Howard: The Seattle-Miami game is expected to be high-scoring, and Howard could get a chance to finish off a drive or two with a short scoring run. You could get a line of 10 rushing yards and two TDs, but that is still 13 points.
Brian Hill: The Packers allow the third-most FFPG to RBs. He tore off a 35-yard run last week, too. Add him and keep him because Todd Gurley is always a significant risk to suffer another unfortunate injury.
Week 4 Wide Receiver Spotlights, Streamers, and Fill-Ins
Jarvis Landry: Dallas allows the second-most FFPG to WRs.
John Brown: He is underrated and often overlooked. He is a top WR3 play in Week 4. Brown had 10 catches and two TDs in his first two games and is ready to return from a calf injury.
Robby Anderson: The Cardinals are banged up in the secondary. He is one of four NFC WRs with 20 catches and 275 yards this season.
Sammy Watkins: No team can stop the Chiefs. He is unreliable and boom or bust, but you can take a chance on the “boom” if you need streaming help.
Isaiah Ford: This is the one guy your opponents may miss out on. Ford caught seven passes two weeks ago and secondary WRs have performed very well vs. the Seahawks.
Anthony Miller: Nick Foles does like throwing to slot WRs, as noted by RotoBaller’s Mike Florio.
Greg Ward Jr: The 49ers have injury concerns in the secondary, and the depleted Eagles may turn to Ward for more volume again.
Andy Isabella: If DeAndre Hopkins is out, he should get low-end WR3 consideration.
Randall Cobb: The Vikings rank 29th in FFPG allowed to WRs.
Hunter Renfrow: Injuries at WR make Derek Carr return to him for familiarity
Malik Taylor: This is a desperation special. He could step forward with Allen Lazard out, Davante Adams looking iffy and in a great matchup vs. Atlanta. A nifty DFS play, too.
The King and Jacob Gibbs of SportsLine Share Week 4 Sleeper and Value Plays
Week 4 Quarterback Spotlights, Streamers, and Fill-Ins
Joe Burrow: He leads the AFC in pass attempts and completions. The Jaguars rank 28th in FFPG allowed to QBs.
Baker Mayfield: The Cowboys allow the third-most FFPG to QBs.
Jared Goff: Has anyone noticed he has thrown two or more TD passes in seven of his last eight starts?
Kirk Cousins: A shootout with the Texans is a major possibility.
Teddy Bridgewater: He is actually seventh in the league in passing yards and faces the banged-up Cardinals secondary we have already mentioned. He just needs to throw the ball successfully into the end zone more.
Nick Mullens: He threw for 343 yards last week and the 49ers get George Kittle and Deebo Samuel back. One of the most underrated backup QBs in the NFL.
Week 4 Tight End Spotlights, Streamers, and Fill-Ins
Dalton Schultz: The Browns allow the most FFPG in the AFC to TEs.
Robert Tonyan: He has scored in two consecutive games and the Falcons allow the second-most FFPG to TEs.
Rob Gronkowski: After catching six passes last week, he could be on the verge of his best game with Tampa Bay so far.
Tyler Eifert: It’s a “Revenge Game” vs. the Bengals.
Adam Trautman: The rookie will replace the injured Jared Cook and could get a TD target or two.