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NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 4 – TE/DEF/ST

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

Early bird special! Use code EBIRD15 at checkout to save 15%.

The tight end position is looking ugly across the league. Another one of the top players there will be sidelined this week as Evan Engram is out with a knee injury. Add in Jordan Reed and Redskins on their bye week and it’s slim pickings for Week 4. Let’s dive into the schedule and examine some players, and defenses/special teams, to target or avoid as you create your DFS entry. Don’t forget to sign up for our Newsletter and try our Playerlab tool, where you can filter the stats that matter the most and help build a winning entry on FanDuel and DraftKings.

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NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 4 - TE/DEF/ST

Zach Ertz vs. Tennessee Titans
Stadium – Nissan Stadium
FanDuel = $7,000
DraftKings = $6,200

In what has been a volatile position this year, Ertz has stood out as one of the few reliable tight ends. He’s received at least 10 targets in all three games, although he is still looking for his first touchdown. After three straight seasons with at least 800 receiving yards, Ertz is well on his way to hitting that threshold again with 215 yards so far.

The Eagles have been banged up at wide receiver and even if Alshon Jeffery does return this week, they are still going to rely heavily on Ertz. Carson Wentz was a little rusty in Week 3 in his first game since returning from a torn ACL, but he’ll continue to improve with each passing week. The Titans have great numbers against opposing tight ends, but they faced three teams with poor options at the position in the Dolphins, Texans, and Jaguars. Look for Ertz to give them plenty of trouble.

Trey Burton vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Stadium – Soldier Field
FanDuel = $5,600
DraftKings = $3,900

Burton left the Eagles to take over as the top tight end for the Bears this year and received plenty of hype as a breakout fantasy candidate. Things haven’t gone well for him so far, catching nine of 15 targets for 90 yards and a touchdown. Part of the problem has been the play of quarterback Mitch Trubisky, who is only averaging 197 passing yards per game and has more interceptions (three) than touchdowns (two).

If you want to look at the bright side, Burton’s 15 targets are third-most on the team behind Allen Robinson and Taylor Gabriel, so he’s clearly an important part of the offense. If there is ever a week for him to have a big performance, it could come in this game against the Bucs, who have allowed the most receptions (25) and receiving yards (329) to tight ends so far.

Jacksonville Jaguars vs. New York Jets
Stadium – TIAA Bank Field
FanDuel = $5,200
DraftKings = $4,100

The Jaguars continue to get after the quarterback, totaling seven sacks across three games. They only have one interception on the year, but they have recovered two fumbles and held two of their three opponents to 15 points or fewer. In their toughest matchup against the Patriots, they limited them to 20 points while pulling off a big win at home.

It would be nice to see the Jaguars creating more turnovers, but their ability to accumulate sacks makes them a defense to target more often than not. Week 4 brings a great matchup against a Jets team that has seen rookie quarterback Sam Darnold throw five interceptions compared to three touchdowns. The Jaguars are the most expensive option at the position, but for good reason.

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NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 4 - TE/DEF/ST

Tyler Eifert vs. Atlanta Falcons
Stadium – Mercedes-Benz Stadium
FanDuel = $4,600
DraftKings = $3,800

Eifert certainly has talent, but injuries have left him unable to reach his full potential. He played 10 games over the last two seasons combined and hasn’t played more than 13 games in a year since his rookie campaign 2013. The Bengals have taken a cautious approach with his return and he’s been able to stay healthy through the first three weeks. His best performance came last week against the Panthers, catching six of eight targets for 74 yards.

Part of the season for Eifert’s production in Week 3 was because wide receiver A.J. Green didn’t play in the second half due to injury. Eifert had only seven total targets in the first two weeks. There is still a reason to be optimistic about his chances to provide value Sunday based on this matchup against a Falcons defense that has been decimated by injuries. This game could turn into a shootout, making Eifert an intriguing option.

Rhett Ellison vs. New Orleans Saints
Stadium – MetLife Stadium
FanDuel = $4,100
DraftKings = $2,700

The loss of Engram is significant for the Giants. They have a lot of weapons on offense, but Engram still received 12 targets across their first two games. After he went down last week, Ellison stepped in as the Giants primary tight end. He played 87% of their snaps, catching all three of his targets for 39 yards and a touchdown.

Ellison is known for his blocking abilities, but he also caught 75% of the passes thrown his way last year. Engram didn’t play in the final game last season, a contest in which Ellison caught five of six targets for 63 yards. At this cheap price, Ellison is worth a look in tournament play if you want to load up at running back and wide receiver.

Seattle Seahawks vs. Arizona Cardinals
Stadium – State Farm Stadium
FanDuel = $4,400
DraftKings = $3,200

The Seahawks defense has lost a lot of players from the “Legion of Boom” era, but that hasn’t stopped them from recording seven interceptions this season. They have also chipped in eight sacks, although two of the three games they have played came against subpar offenses in the Bears and Cowboys.

They’ll face another low-scoring team Sunday as the Cardinals have only posted 20 points through three weeks. Sam Bradford has looked terrible, leading the team to name Josh Rosen the starting quarterback for Week 4. Rosen could experience some growing pains and the Cardinals offensive play calling has been questionable, to say the least, making the Seahawks a viable candidate if you don’t want to pay up for the Jaguars.

PLAYERS TO AVOID

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 4 - TE/DEF/ST

George Kittle vs. Los Angeles Chargers
Stadium – StubHub Center
FanDuel = $5,700
DraftKings = $4,200

The 49ers have lost arguably their two best players on offense already with Jerick McKinnon and Jimmy Garoppolo both done for the year with torn ACL’s. C.J. Beathard takes over at quarterback for Week 4 and he was anything but special last season, averaging 204.3 passing yards and throwing six interceptions across seven games. There may still be occasions where Kittle can be productive, but I’d take a wait-and-see approach for the first week with Beathard running the offense.

Houston Texans vs. Indianapolis Colts
Stadium – Lucas Oil Stadium
FanDuel = $4,200
DraftKings = $2,700

Few teams looked as inept offensively over the first two weeks as the Giants. They have plenty of talent, but a poor offensive line and the diminishing play of Eli Manning had put them in a 0-2 hole. They played much better against the Texans in Week 3, scoring 27 points in route to their first win of the year. Considering they lost Engram in the second quarter, it was an even more impressive feat. The Texans have allowed at least 20 points in each game this season and only have one interception, leaving them with limited upside on the road against the Colts.

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 4 – Wide Receivers

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

Early bird special! Use code EBIRD15 at checkout to save 15%.

Although the Redskins and Panthers are both on a bye for Week 4, it doesn’t really have a significant impact in terms of viable wide receiver options in DFS as neither team’s wide receiver corps has been overly productive. Let’s dive into the schedule and examine some players to target, and some to possibly avoid, as you create your entry. Don’t forget to sign up for our Newsletter and try our Playerlab tool, where you can filter the stats that matter the most and help build a winning entry on FanDuel and DraftKings.

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NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 4 - Wide Receivers

A.J. Green vs. Atlanta Falcons
Stadium – Mercedes-Benz Stadium
FanDuel = $8,500
DraftKings = $7,500

Green suffered groin and hip injuries that forced him to exit Sunday’s game against the Panthers. He was on pace for another big performance, hauling in five of eight targets for 58 yards in the first half. The good news is that Green was already listed as a limited participant in Wednesday’s practice and is fine according to coach Marvin Lewis.

Despite only playing in the first half Sunday, Green has received at least eight targets in all three games this season. After scoring eight touchdowns total in 2017, he already has four this season. The poor play of quarterback Andy Dalton had a negative impact on Green’s numbers last year, but Dalton has turned things around, averaging 286.7 passing yards per game this year compared to 207.5 yards per game in 2017. The Falcons are tied for the seventh-most receiving yards allowed through three weeks, leaving Green with a high floor once again.

Keenan Allen vs. San Francisco 49ers
Stadium – StubHub Center
FanDuel = $8,100
DraftKings = $8,300

Allen had his worst game of the season in Week 3, catching only three of seven targets for 44 yards. He had caught at least 72.7% of his targets in both of the first two games and this was the first time he failed to top at least 50 receiving yards since Week 10 last year. Don’t read too much into this performance, though, as it came against a tough Rams secondary that has been one of the stingiest in the NFL.

While he had an extremely difficult matchup last week, things swing back in his favor against the 49ers. The 49ers have allowed the fifth-most receiving yards per game and are tied for the second-most passing touchdowns allowed. Allen did sit out Wednesday’s practice with a knee injury that flared up late in last week’s game, but his absence was likely just precautionary. He should be on the field Sunday, so don’t hesitate to add him to your lineup.

Davante Adams vs. Buffalo Bills
Stadium – Lambeau Field
FanDuel = $8,000
DraftKings = $7,800

Adams and the Packers have faced three tough defenses this year as the Bears, Vikings, and Redskins are all in the top half of the league in terms of fewest receiving yards allowed. Adams has yet to reach 100 yards in a game as a result, but he has been targeted at least eight times and hauled in a touchdown in all three contests.

Quarterback Aaron Rodgers is still battling through a knee injury, but it really hasn’t resulted in a significant impact in Adams’ value. The Packers don’t run the ball much either as they have the third-fewest rushing attempts in the league. Adams is their clear top receiving option and should get all the targets he can handle Sunday. The Bills defense was excellent at home against the Vikings last week, but don’t expect them to have similar success at Lambeau Field

GPP TOURNAMENT OPTIONS

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 4 - Wide Receivers

Jarvis Landry vs. Oakland Raiders
Stadium – Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
FanDuel = $7,000
DraftKings = $7,400

Landry was a target monster for the Dolphins last year with his 161 targets tieing him for the third-most in the league. He did score nine touchdowns, but his 8.8 yards-per-reception resulted in him failing to reach 1,000 receiving yards despite his heavy involvement. Volume certainly hasn’t been a concern since joining the Browns as his 37 targets rank sixth in the league. He’s been able to convert it into more yardage, though, with an average of 13.9 yards-per-reception.

With Josh Gordon now in New England, Landry is the unquestioned top receiving option for the Browns. Their offense wasn’t exactly explosive over the first two weeks, but the switch to Baker Mayfield at quarterback showed some promise that they could be more productive moving forward. The Raiders have allowed the second-highest yards-per-reception (14.5) this year, giving Landry a high ceiling for your entry.

Sterling Shepard vs. New Orleans Saints
Stadium – MetLife Stadium
FanDuel = $6,200
DraftKings = $4,900

The Giants offense finally came to life in Week 3, scoring 27 points against the Texans. They made a change at right tackle by benching Ereck Flowers for Chad Wheeler and while Wheeler had his problems, the offensive line seemed to play better, overall. Manning having added time to operate helped Shepard have his best game of the season, catching six of seven targets for 80 yards and a touchdown.

Another factor that helped Shepard be more productive was the loss of tight end Evan Engram to a knee injury. Engram has already been ruled out for Week 4 and is listed as week-to-week moving forward, which should result in a significant boost to Shepard’s value. The Saints have allowed the third-most receiving yards in the league this year and just lost cornerback Patrick Robinson for the season. The Giants may be forced to throw a lot to keep up with the Saints offense, giving Shepard plenty of upside with Engram sidelined.

Tyler Boyd vs. Atlanta Falcons
Stadium – Mercedes-Benz Stadium
FanDuel = $5,800
DraftKings = $4,600

The Bengals have been searching for a receiver to take some pressure off of Green and may have found their man in Boyd. Boyd was limited to 10 games last year due to a knee injury and finished with just 22 receptions and 225 yards on 32 targets. The former second-round pick in the 2016 Draft got off to a quiet start Week 1 as well with three receptions on five targets for 26 yards. However, he’s been excellent the last two weeks, catching 12 of 16 total targets for 223 yards and two touchdowns.

Week 3 brought his best performance of the year with 132 yards, but some of that was due to the fact that Green didn’t play in the second half. That being said, Boyd still has a significant role in this offense. The Falcons defense is riddled with injuries, resulting in them allowing 28.3 points per game. They have a high powered offense as well, so there could be plenty of points put on the board by both teams. Even with Green likely back in the fold, Boyd has value at this price.

Kenny Golladay vs. Dallas Cowboys
Stadium – AT&T Stadium
FanDuel = $5,800
DraftKings = $6,500

The Lions have one of the most talented wide receiver trios in the league in Golden Tate, Marvin Jones Jr., and Golladay. Although Golladay is listed third on their depth chart, he could be the most talented of the group. He’s certainly heavily involved in the offense, receiving at least seven targets in all three contests this year. He’s made the most of his opportunities, too, with 19 receptions, 256 yards, and two touchdowns.

The Lions can support three fantasy-relevant receivers because they have a pass-heavy offense and a lack of quality receiving options at tight end. Eric Ebron received 86 targets as a member of the Lions last year, but since he departed for the Colts, Luke Wilson now leads the team’s tight end group with five targets through three contests. Golladay is a better bargain on FanDuel than he is DraftKings, but he still has plenty of upside on both sites.

PLAYERS TO AVOID

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 4 - Wide Receivers

Doug Baldwin vs. Arizona Cardinals
Stadium – State Farm Stadium
FanDuel = $7,200
DraftKings = $5,500

Baldwin suffered a knee injury Week 1 and has not played since. The Seahawks desperately need him to return and have to be encouraged that he practiced on a limited basis Wednesday. When he first suffered the injury, his original timeline for a return was two to four weeks. When healthy, Baldwin has shown he can put up impressive numbers. He’s clearly their top receiving option, but even if he does return Sunday, it might be best to wait at least another week before using him in DFS to make sure he’s completely healthy.

Marquise Goodwin vs. Los Angeles Chargers
Stadium – StubHub Center
FanDuel = $5,500
DraftKings = $4,800

I was as high as anyone on Goodwin heading into this season, but his outlook isn’t nearly as bright now that the 49ers lost Jimmy Garoppolo to a torn ACL. C.J. Beathard will take over at quarterback, which will be his second starting stint with the team. In seven games last year, Beathard averaged 204.3 passing yards and threw just four touchdowns compared to six interceptions. Expect their offense to take a significant step backward with him at the helm.

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 4 – Running Backs

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

Early bird special! Use code EBIRD15 at checkout to save 15%.

The Panthers and Redskins will be the first two teams with bye weeks this season, meaning Christian McCaffrey, Adrian Peterson and Chris Thompson all won’t be available for your DFS entry in Week 4. However, there are still some great matchups to exploit, so let’s dig into the position to see where you can gain an edge. Don’t forget to sign up for our Newsletter and try our Playerlab tool, where you can filter the stats that matter the most and help build a winning entry on FanDuel and DraftKings.

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NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 4 - Running Backs

Alvin Kamara vs. New York Giants
Stadium – MetLife Stadium
FanDuel = $9,100
DraftKings = $9,600

Kamara is certainly not your traditional running back. He’s averaged 3.8 yards-per-carry through the first three weeks, totaling 141 yards and two touchdowns on the ground. His big impact comes in the passing attack as he already has 30 receptions on 38 targets for 289 yards and a touchdown. Not only has he received the most targets of any running back in football, but he has the fourth-most targets overall behind only Adam Thielen (44), Antonio Brown (42) and his teammate Michael Thomas (40).

This will be the last game of Mark Ingram’s suspension to start the season, so there is no question that Kamara will receive a heavy workload once again. With the number of passes he gets thrown his way, he has an extremely high floor. This is also a good matchup against a Giants defense that has allowed 165 receiving yards and three receiving touchdowns to running backs through the first three weeks. Kamara won’t come cheap, but he should be worth it.

Ezekiel Elliott vs. Detroit Lions
Stadium – AT&T Stadium
FanDuel = $8,200
DraftKings = $7,700

The Cowboys are severely lacking talent at wide receiver, squarely putting the offense on the shoulders of Elliott. Their offensive line isn’t as formidable as it has been in recent seasons, but Elliott is still averaging 5.7 yards-per-carry and has two rushing touchdowns this season. He hasn’t been able to rack up many receiving yards, but he has already received 18 targets after getting 38 targets over 10 games in 2017.

Although his touchdown upside is limited based on the Cowboys’ offensive struggles, this is a great matchup for Elliott. The Lions have been awful against the run, allowing a league-high 5.4 yards-per-carry. The Lions also have a high-powered offense, so the Cowboys would be wise to lean heavily on Elliott in attempt to eat up the clock and keep the ball out of Matthew Stafford’s hands.

Giovani Bernard vs. Atlanta Falcons
Stadium – Mercedes-Benz Stadium
FanDuel = $6,400
DraftKings = $6,300

Bernard filled the role of lead running back for the Bengals in Week 3 with Joe Mixon sidelined due to a knee injury. He came through with a well-rounded performance, rushing 12 times for 61 yards and a touchdown while catching five of nine targets for 25 yards. Wide receiver Tyler Boyd was the only other Bengal to receive a carry in this game and Bernard’s nine targets also lead the team.

Mixon is expected to be out again for Week 4, leaving Bernard with a great opportunity to provide value. The Falcons defense has been decimated by injuries and has already lost linebacker Deion Jones and safeties Keanu Neal and Ricardo Allen. Over the last two weeks, they have allowed 29 receptions and 226 receiving yards to opposing running backs. Bernard isn’t overly expensive, either, making him a great player to build your lineup around.

GPP TOURNAMENT OPTIONS

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 4 - Running Backs

Lamar Miller vs. Indianapolis Colts
Stadium – Lucas Oil Stadium
FanDuel = $6,500
DraftKings = $5,000

Miller found tough sledding against the Giants in Week 3, rushing 10 times for only 10 yards. He was still able to salvage his afternoon, though, by hauling in five of six targets for 41 yards and a touchdown. He was running well heading into that game, averaging 4.9 yards-per-carry against the Patriots and Titans over his first two contests. The Giants do have a great run-stuffer Damon Harrison in the middle of their defensive line, so it wasn’t exactly a great matchup for Miller on Sunday.

Things swing back in Miller’s favor this week against a Colts run defense that allowed 142 rushing yards last week to the combination of Corey Clement, Wendell Smallwood, and Josh Adams. They struggled against Mixon in Week 1, allowing him to rush for 95 yards on only 17 carries. Miller doesn’t have much competition for carries behind him, so he could be worth the risk at this reasonable price on both sites.

Chris Carson vs. Arizona Cardinals
Stadium – State Farm Stadium
FanDuel = $6,400
DraftKings = $4,600

The Seahawks have had a murky running back situation to start the year. Carson only totaled 13 carries over the first two games, but he averaged 5.8 yards-per-carry. They handed the reins over to him last week against the Cowboys and he cashed in with 102 yards and a touchdown on 32 attempts. Rashaad Penny, his main competition for carries, had only three attempts for five yards.

It can be tough to gauge head coach Pete Carroll, but Carson figures to be the lead back for Week 4 based on his performance Sunday. It also shouldn’t go unnoticed that they had success running the ball last week in what was the first game of the season for offensive guard D.J. Fluker, who is very good in the running game. The Cardinals have allowed 131.3 rushing yards per game and five rushing touchdowns so far this season, making Carson an intriguing option to consider.

Marshawn Lynch vs. Cleveland Browns
Stadium – Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
FanDuel = $6,400
DraftKings = $4,800

Lynch hasn’t had any eye-opening performances yet this season, averaging 56.7 rushing yards per contest. He hasn’t provided much value in the passing game, either, catching six of seven targets for 33 yards. The one positive to latch on to is that he has scored a touchdown in each contest.  He already has 10 rushing attempts inside the red zone, which is good for fourth in the league behind Todd Gurley, Alvin Kamara and Adrian Peterson.

The Browns do have an improving defense and have allowed just 3.7 yards-per-carry this season, but they have given up four scores on the ground. Although Derek Carr has already thrown five interceptions, he has been able to move the ball up and down the field by averaging 312 passing yards per game. He only has two touchdown passes, though, as the Raiders have shown they prefer to turn to Lynch when they have the ball in close. Lynch might be hard pressed to rush for 100 yards in this game, but he has a good chance of reaching the end zone.

Aaron Jones vs. Buffalo Bills
Stadium – Lambeau Field
FanDuel = $5,500
DraftKings = $4,100

Jones made his season debut Week 3 after missing the first two games due to a suspension. The Packers didn’t have many rushing attempts since they got down big and had to play catch up, but Jones did lead the team in rushing attempts (six) and rushing yards (42). He showed promise in limited action last year, as well, averaging 5.5 yards-per-carry on 81 attempts. If you are looking for a downside with Jones, though, it’s that he’s clearly a secondary option catching passes out of the backfield behind Ty Montgomery.

The Bills came out of nowhere to put a hurting on the Vikings last week, but don’t expect similar results on the road at Lambeau Field. If the Packers race out to an early lead, they could be run-heavy down the stretch. The Bills have also allowed four rushing touchdowns this year, continuing a trend from last season where they couldn’t keep opposing running backs out of the end zone. Jones might see more carries in this contest, making him someone to at least consider at this cheap price in tournament play.

PLAYERS TO AVOID

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 4 - Running Backs

Isaiah Crowell vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
Stadium – TIAA Bank Field
FanDuel = $6,400
DraftKings = $3,700

Crowell got a bit of revenge against his former team in the Browns with two rushing touchdowns Thursday. He already has four touchdowns for the season after scoring just twice all of last season. The problem is he only averaged 2.5 yards-per-carry the last two weeks and gets a tough matchup against the vaunted Jaguars defense Sunday. I think his 102-yard performance in Week 1 is more of an outlier than anything else, so I’d stay away from using Crowell in this contest.

Peyton Barber vs. Chicago Bears
Stadium – Soldier Field
FanDuel = $6,000
DraftKings = $3,800

Barber has seen his carries decrease in each of the first three games, bottoming out at eight carries for 33 yards on Monday night. The Bucs gave him 16 carries in Week 2, but he came away with only 22 yards. Their offense is clearly built around their talented wide receiver trio of Mike Evans, DeSean Jackson and Chris Godwin, who have all been extremely productive with Ryan Fitzpatrick at the helm. Don’t expect them to rely too much on their rushing attack Sunday against a Bears team that has allowed an average of 3.4 yards-per-carry and has yet to allow a rushing touchdown.

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 4 – Quarterbacks

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

Early bird special! Use code EBIRD15 at checkout to save 15%.

After three weeks of a full schedule, Week 4 brings two teams on a bye with the Redskins and the Panthers getting an early breather. The Chiefs also play on Monday, taking their high-flying offensive weapons out of the equation if you playing the main Sunday slate in DFS. However, there are still plenty of great matchups to take advantage of at the quarterback position. Let’s examine some players to target and avoid as you craft your entry. Don’t forget to sign up for our Newsletter and try our Playerlab tool, where you can filter the stats that matter the most and help build a winning entry on FanDuel and DraftKings.

CASH CONTEST OPTIONS

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 4 - Quarterbacks

Aaron Rodgers vs. Buffalo Bills
Stadium – Lambeau Field
FanDuel = $8,500
DraftKings = $6,800

Last year, Rodgers threw for at least 300 yards in each of the first three games of this season. Through the first three weeks of 2018, Rodgers has yet to reach that mark. He continued to battle through a knee injury Sunday against the Redskins, throwing for 265 yards and two touchdowns. Although his yardage totals haven’t been great, he does have six touchdown passes and has yet to throw an interception.

Rodgers is certainly not going to be completely healthy again Sunday, but he could be in line for one of his best performances of the year. The Bills pulled off a miraculous upset against the Vikings last week, but that game was at home. Playing on the road in Lambeau Field is a completely different story. The Bills have allowed seven touchdown passes and recorded only one interception through the first three weeks, setting up Rodgers with a high floor in this contest.

Matt Ryan vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Stadium – Mercedes-Benz Stadium
FanDuel = $8,100
DraftKings = $6,100

Ryan’s season started with a whimper, registering 251 yards, one interception and no touchdowns Week 1 on the road against the Eagles. To say he’s bounced back well would be an understatement. In the last two games, Ryan has thrown for 646 yards, seven touchdowns and has even chipped in two rushing touchdowns. He completed just 48.8% of his passes in Week 1 but has completed 77.8% of his passes since.

Week 4 brings a third-straight home game for Ryan and the Falcons. They’ll face a Bengals defense that has allowed the seventh-most fantasy points per game to opposing quarterbacks through the first three weeks. The Bengals didn’t exactly get lit up by Cam Newton last week, but the Panthers offense is built around their running game, which is not the case for the Falcons. Their wide receiver trio of Julio Jones, Calvin Ridley, and Mohamed Sanu can cause a lot of problems for opposing defenses, so don’t hesitate to roll with Ryan for your entry.

Philip Rivers vs. San Francisco 49ers
Stadium – StubHub Center
FanDuel = $7,800
DraftKings = $6,500

Sunday’s game against the Rams wasn’t pretty for Rivers, who completed 18 of 30 passes for 226 yards. He still threw two touchdown passes and avoided being intercepted, but it wasn’t all that surprising that he didn’t have a banner day against a tough Rams defense that has allowed the fewest fantasy points per game to opposing quarterbacks. The two touchdown passes by Rivers were the first they had allowed this year.

Things swing back in Rivers’ favor for Week 4 against a 49ers team that is still reeling from the loss of their franchise quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo to a torn in ACL. Their defense was torched in that contest, allowing Patrick Mahomes to rack up 314 yards and three touchdowns. The 49ers have now allowed eight touchdown passes and are still looking for their first interception. They will be short-handed in the secondary with Richard Sherman already ruled out due to a calf injury, potentially setting up Rivers for a productive afternoon.

GPP TOURNAMENT OPTIONS

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 4 - Quarterbacks

Andy Dalton vs. Atlanta Falcons
Stadium – Mercedes-Benz Stadium
FanDuel = $7,400
DraftKings = $5,400

Dalton provided a mixed-bag against the Panthers in Week 3. While his 352 passing yards and two touchdowns look nice, he also threw four interceptions in the Bengals first loss of the year. His yardage total was boosted by his 46 pass attempts, which marked his second consecutive week with at least 40 attempts. He threw at least 40 passes in a game only two times all of last season.

The Bengals have a much easier matchup Sunday against a Falcons defense that is missing several key players due to injury, including linebacker Deion Jones and safeties Keanu Neal and Ricardo Allen. They have allowed 731 passing yards and six passing touchdowns to quarterbacks over the last two games, leaving Dalton as an excellent option in tournament play based on his upside.

Baker Mayfield vs. Oakland Raiders
Stadium – Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
FanDuel = $6,900
DraftKings = $5,300

The Browns finally ended their long losing streak and basically did so on the shoulders of Mayfield, who came in at quarterback after Tyrod Taylor left Thursday’s game due to a concussion. Although Mayfield didn’t throw a touchdown, he completed 17 of 23 passes for 201 yards and added some much-needed life to their offense. The Browns have already named Mayfield as the starting quarterback for Week 4, a job he should hold onto for the rest of the season, barring injury.

Playing on the road on the West Coast isn’t exactly ideal for a rookie quarterback’s first career start, but the Raiders don’t have an imposing defense. The trading of Khalil Mack has significantly hurt their pass rush as they have only three sacks through the first three weeks., which is the fewest in the NFL. Their lack of pressure has only resulted in one interception, as well. Don’t be surprised if Mayfield thrives in this game.

Ryan Tannehill vs. New England Patriots
Stadium – Gillette Stadium
FanDuel = $6,800
DraftKings = $5,500

Who would have thought that heading into this AFC East matchup that the Dolphins would be 3-0 while the Patriots would be 1-2? A lot of the Dolphins success can be attributed to Tannehill, who has completed at least 71.4% of his passes and thrown at least two touchdowns in each of the first three weeks. He’s also provided some value with his legs, rushing 15 times for 74 yards.

While the Dolphins’ start has been impressive, this will be by far their toughest task of the season facing the Patriots on the road. It might not be all that bad for Tannehill and their offense, though, since the Patriots have allowed 25.7 points per game across the first three weeks. The Dolphins are finally completely healthy at wide receiver, too, with DeVante Parker returning last week. I don’t think Tannehill has as high of a ceiling as Dalton and Mayfield do, but he can still provide value at this price.

PLAYERS TO AVOID

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 4 - Quarterbacks

Carson Wentz vs. Tennessee Titans
Stadium – Nissan Stadium
FanDuel = $7,300
DraftKings = $5,800

Wentz made his first start of the season Sunday, completing his return from a torn ACL suffered last year. He wasn’t great, but he wasn’t awful either, throwing for 255 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. It certainly didn’t help his cause that the Eagles were missing two of their top three wide receivers in Alshon Jeffery and Mike Wallace. They were also without Jay Ajayi and Darren Sproles in their backfield. Ajayi and Sproles are expected to return for Week 4 and Jeffery might make his season debut, as well, which would certainly be a boost for their offense. That being said, Wentz is still coming off a long layoff, so it might be wise to spend your money elsewhere.

Derek Carr vs. Cleveland Browns
Stadium – Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
FanDuel = $7,000
DraftKings = $5,100

The Raiders are a mess. They have led at the half in each of their first three games, but don’t have a win to show for it. Carr has posted a 76.6% completion rate and is averaging 312 passing yards per game, which would both be career-highs. However, he’s turned that into only two touchdown passes and he has five interceptions. The Browns defense has been much improved and has allowed the second-fewest fantasy points per game to opposing quarterbacks. That’s especially impressive when you consider they have faced the Steelers and Saints already. Stay away from Carr when crafting your lineup.

MLB Fantasy Baseball Schedule Analysis for Week 4

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

MLB Fantasy Baseball Schedule Analysis for Week 4

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The weather continues to wreak havoc on baseball, but the best we can do is plan for the scheduled week ahead. If you are playing in a head-to-head fantasy league, using starting pitchers that have two starts in a week can give you a significant edge over your opponent. He are some starters who will each start two games in the week ahead that you should either target or avoid for your lineup.

Starters With Favorable Matchups

MLB Fantasy Baseball Schedule Analysis for Week 4

Patrick Corbin, Arizona Diamondbacks: vs. SF, vs. SD

Corbin is off to a stellar start in 2018, posting a 2.45 ERA, 0.93 WHIP, and 14.2 K/9 through three starts. His FIP is even better at 1.97 and it’s not like he’s been getting lucky as opponents have a .306 BABIP so far. His career K/9 is just 8.0 though, so don’t expect him to be able to keep up this insane strikeout rate. The good news this week is he gets two starts at home, so no need to worry about any weather issues at Chase Field. He also gets two excellent matchups, especially his first start against the Giants, who have scored the third-fewest runs (46) in baseball so far.

Luis Severino, New York Yankees: vs. MIA, vs. TOR

The Red Sox touched up Severino for five runs in his last start, but he still recorded six strikeouts in that game and has a 10.0 K/9 through three starts. He emerged as one of the elite pitchers in baseball in 2017, finishing with a 2.98 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 10.7 K/9. He allowed just 2.4 BB/9 and held opponents to a 29.4% hard-hit rate. As long as the weather holds up, Monday brings a start against the lowly Marlins, who are batting just .227 with eight home runs as a team. His second start comes against a Blue Jays lineup with much more power, but he held them to one hit while recording seven strikeouts on Opening Day.

Lance McCullers Jr., Houston Astros: at SEA, at CWS

Don’t read too much into McCullers’ 7.71 ERA, a lot of that was because he allowed eight runs in 3.2 innings in his last start against the Twins. Opponents also have an insanely high .485 BABIP against him. His FIP sits at 3.77 and he’s been an excellent source for strikeouts with a 14.8 K/9. He posted a K/9 of at least 10 in both of the last two seasons. He also does a great job keeping hitters in the park with a career 0.7 HR/9. If you were thinking about benching him based on his last blowup, don’t be. He should rebound in a big way with this two-start week.

Francisco Liriano, Detroit Tigers: vs. BAL, vs. KC

Liriano made the rebuilding Tigers rotation out of spring training and has a sparkling 2.13 ERA and 0.95 WHIP through two starts. With a 4.16 FIP and paltry 5.0 K/9 though, he screams regression candidate. While it’s coming at some point, you might be able to squeeze two more good starts out of him this week. First, he’ll face the Orioles, who have the most strikeouts (177) and second-lowest team batting average (.216) in baseball. Then he’ll take on a Royals lineup that has scored the fewest runs (39) in baseball. Most of their better hitters are left-handed as well, which is good news for Liriano since he held lefties to a .286 wOBA in 2017. Still available in 89% of Yahoo! leagues, Liriano is a viable streaming option for Week 4.

Starters to Avoid

MLB Fantasy Baseball Schedule Analysis for Week 4

David Price, Boston Red Sox: at LAA, at OAK

Price left his last start against the Yankees after feeling “a sensation” in his left hand. He said he hasn’t experienced any issues since, but it is a bit concerning considering he dealt with an elbow issue last year. When healthy, Price is really tough on lefties, holding them to a .228 wOBA in 2017. Righties game him more trouble though, posting a .301 wOBA. The Angels and Athletics both have a lot of good right-handed hitters who perform well against lefties, so I wouldn’t be surprised if Price struggles this week.

Tyler Chatwood, Chicago Cubs: vs. STL, at COL

Chatwood is not off to a good start with his new team, posting a 4.91 ERA and 1.82 WHIP through two starts. Opponents do have a .364 BABIP though while posting just a 17.6% hard-hit rate, so expect his numbers to improve as the season moves on. I was very high on him heading into the season and still am, but not in Week 4. The Cardinals are in the top-10 in the league in runs scored and his second start of the week brings his old nemesis Coors Field. He was awful pitching there as a member of the Rockies last year, recording a 6.01 ERA in 70.1 innings. Put him on your bench this week.

Zack Wheeler, New York Mets: vs. WAS, at ATL

The Mets are on cloud nine right now after a 12-2 start. Their pitching has been a big reason for their success with a league-best 2.58 team ERA. Wheeler’s first start of the season couldn’t have gone much better, allowing one run on two hits to go along with seven strikeouts in seven innings. However, it came against the Marlins. He’ll face two much tougher lineups this week, especially a Braves team that has scored the fourth-most runs (82) and is hitting for the fourth-highest average (.270) in baseball. Wheeler might provide value at times this season, but buyer beware for Week 4.