Week 4
Back in January, I viewed Week 4 as the Milhouse section of the schedule. It seemed like a dud, with very few upset chances and 16 very predictable outcomes. After last weekend, though, *insert fart noise* who even knows anymore. To wrap up September, here are some more weekly rankings. As always, these have your standard PPR league formats in mind.
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Quarterbacks
And in this week’s edition of things that make you go “hmm,” Carson Palmer ranks third in passing yards behind only Aaron Rodgers and Tom Brady. He’s owned in all of 19% of leagues and is facing a 49ers team that allowed 292 yards and 3 TDs to Jared Goff last week. Palmer is worth an add if you’re unfortunately still paired with Philip Rivers, but the Cardinals’ offensive line has allowed the fourth most hits on their QB, don’t forget. The good times are rolling now, but when the tougher defenses appear on the schedule, be wary.
| Rank | Player | Team | Opponent |
| 1 | Aaron Rodgers | GB | vs. CHI |
| 2 | Tom Brady | NE | vs. CAR |
| 3 | Matt Ryan | ATL | vs. BUF |
| 4 | Drew Brees | NO | @MIA |
| 5 | Matthew Stafford | DET | @MIN |
| 6 | Kirk Cousins | WAS | @KC |
| 7 | Russell Wilson | SEA | vs. IND |
| 8 | Jameis Winston | TB | vs. NYG |
| 9 | Dak Prescott | DAL | vs. LAR |
| 10 | Ben Roethlisberger | PIT | @BAL |
| 11 | Carson Wentz | PHI | @LAC |
| 12 | Marcus Mariota | TEN | @HOU |
| 13 | Derek Carr | OAK | @DEN |
| 14 | Andy Dalton | CIN | @CLE |
| 15 | Alex Smith | KC | vs. WAS |
| 16 | Cam Newton (Q) | CAR | @NE |
| 17 | Joe Flacco | BAL | vs. PIT |
| 18 | Tyrod Taylor | BUF | @ATL |
| 19 | Carson Palmer | ARI | vs. SF |
| 20 | Philip Rivers | LAC | vs. PHI |
| 21 | Eli Manning | NYG | @TB |
| 22 | DeShaun Watson | HOU | vs. TEN |
| 23 | Jared Goff | LAR | @DAL |
| 24 | Case Keenum | MIN | vs. DET |
| 25 | Trevor Siemian | DEN | vs. OAK |
| 26 | Jay Cutler | MIA | vs. NO |
| 27 | DeShone Kizer | CLE | vs. CIN |
| 28 | Brian Hoyer | SF | @ARI |
| 29 | Blake Bortles | JAC | @NYJ |
| 30 | Jacoby Brissett | IND | @SEA |
| 31 | Josh McCown | NYJ | vs. JAC |
| 32 | Mike Glennon | CHI | @GB |
Running Backs
DeMarco Murray has landed. It took only three weeks, but we finally saw a 100+ yard performance last Sunday against the Seahawks. The Titans face another tough defense this week in Houston. Tennessee’s approach last week was to split the carries, as Derrick Henry saw one fewer handoff than Murray did. It’s safe to assume the Titans will roll with this same approach in Week 4, but don’t expect another 75-yard rush from Murray this week. The Texans have allowed zero runs of 20 yards or more this season.
| Rank | Player | Team | Opponent |
| 1 | DeVonta Freeman | ATL | vs. BUF |
| 2 | Le’Veon Bell | PIT | @BAL |
| 3 | Todd Gurley | LAR | @DAL |
| 4 | Kareem Hunt | KC | vs. WAS |
| 5 | Melvin Gordon (Q) | LAC | vs. PHI |
| 6 | Ezekiel Elliott | DAL | vs. LAR |
| 7 | Dalvin Cook | MIN | vs. DET |
| 8 | Jordan Howard | CHI | @GB |
| 9 | Leonard Fournette | JAC | @NYJ |
| 10 | LeSean McCoy | BUF | @ATL |
| 11 | Carlos Hyde | SF | @ARI |
| 12 | DeMarco Murray | TEN | @HOU |
| 13 | Jay Ajayi (Q) | MIA | vs. NO |
| 14 | Lamar Miller | HOU | vs. TEN |
| 15 | Christian McCaffrey | CAR | @NE |
| 16 | Marshawn Lynch | OAK | @DEN |
| 17 | Mark Ingram | NO | @MIA |
| 18 | Ty Montgomery | GB | vs. CHI |
| 19 | C.J. Anderson | DEN | vs. OAK |
| 20 | Mike Gillislee | NE | vs. CAR |
| 21 | Chris Thompson | WAS | @KC |
| 22 | Joe Mixon | CIN | @CLE |
| 23 | Jacquizz Rodgers | TB | vs. NYG |
| 24 | Isaiah Crowell (Q) | CLE | vs. CIN |
| 25 | Chris Carson | SEA | vs. IND |
| 26 | Tarik Cohen | CHI | @GB |
| 27 | Bilal Powell | NYJ | vs. JAC |
| 28 | Theo Riddick | DET | @MIN |
| 29 | LeGarrette Blount | PHI | @LAR |
| 30 | Duke Johnson Jr. (Q) | CLE | vs. CIN |
| 31 | Frank Gore | IND | @SEA |
| 32 | Jonathan Stewart | CAR | @NE |
| 33 | Ameer Abdullah | DET | @MIN |
| 34 | Alvin Kamara | NO | @MIA |
| 35 | Terrance West | BAL | vs. PIT |
| 36 | Jamaal Charles | DEN | vs. OAK |
| 37 | Derrick Henry | TEN | @HOU |
| 38 | Tevin Coleman | ATL | vs. BUF |
| 39 | Rob Kelley (Q) | WAS | @KC |
| 40 | James White | NE | vs. CAR |
| 41 | Wendell Smallwood | PHI | @LAC |
| 42 | Andre Ellington | ARI | vs. SF |
| 43 | C.J. Prosise | SEA | vs. IND |
| 44 | Chris Johnson | ARI | vs. SF |
| 45 | Adrian Peterson | NO | @MIA |
| 46 | D’Onta Foreman | HOU | vs. TEN |
| 47 | Alex Collins | BAL | vs. PIT |
| 48 | Giovani Bernard (Q) | CIN | @CLE |
| 49 | Mike Tolbert | BUF | @ATL |
| 50 | Rex Burkhead | NE | vs. CAR |
| 51 | Kerwynn Williams | ARI | vs. SF |
| 52 | Orleans Darkwa | JAC | @NYJ |
| 53 | Robert Turbin | IND | @SEA |
| 54 | Charcandrick West | NYG | @TB |
| 55 | Chris Ivory | JAC | @NYJ |
| 56 | Latavius Murray | MIN | vs. DET |
| 57 | Corey Grant | JAC | @NYJ |
Wide Receivers
You have to like all of the Saints’ receivers against the Dolphins this week, or wait, do you? This seems like a pretty fair fight on paper, but don’t let last week’s blowout against the Jets fool you. The Dolphins’ defense isn’t that bad, and in fact, they have actually allowed the second-fewest completions and the seventh-fewest passing yards this season. It’s nice to see Michael Thomas and Drew Brees on the same page, especially on deep routes. Thomas will likely draw CB Xavien Howard this week, a matchup that could be 50/50 all day.
| Rank | Player | Team | Opponent |
| 1 | Julio Jones (Q) | ATL | vs. BUF |
| 2 | Antonio Brown | PIT | @BAL |
| 3 | A.J. Green | CIN | @CLE |
| 4 | Odell Beckham Jr. | NYG | @TB |
| 5 | Jordy Nelson | GB | vs. CHI |
| 6 | Michael Thomas | NO | @MIA |
| 7 | Mike Evans | TB | vs. NYG |
| 8 | Brandin Cooks | NE | vs. CAR |
| 9 | Dez Bryant | DAL | vs. LAR |
| 10 | Demaryius Thomas | DEN | vs. OAK |
| 11 | Doug Baldwin (Q) | SEA | vs. IND |
| 12 | Larry Fitzgerald | ARI | vs. SF |
| 13 | Amari Cooper | OAK | @DEN |
| 14 | Stefon Diggs | MIN | vs. DET |
| 15 | DeAndre Hopkins | HOU | vs. TEN |
| 16 | Keenan Allen | LAC | vs. PHI |
| 17 | Tyreek Hill | KC | vs. WAS |
| 18 | Terrelle Pryor | WAS | @KC |
| 19 | Devante Adams | GB | vs. CHI |
| 20 | Chris Hogan | NE | vs. CAR |
| 21 | Emmanuel Sanders | DEN | vs. OAK |
| 22 | Alshon Jeffery | PHI | @LAC |
| 23 | Jarvis Landry | MIA | vs. NO |
| 24 | Michael Crabtree (Q) | OAK | @DEN |
| 25 | Sammy Watkins (Q) | LAR | @DAL |
| 26 | Golden Tate | DET | @MIN |
| 27 | T.Y. Hilton | IND | @SEA |
| 28 | Martavis Bryant (Q) | PIT | @BAL |
| 29 | Adam Thielen | MIN | vs. DET |
| 30 | Pierre Garcon | SF | @ARI |
| 31 | DeVante Parker | MIA | vs. NO |
| 32 | Jeremy Maclin | BAL | vs. PIT |
| 33 | Jordan Matthews | BUF | @ATL |
| 34 | Kelvin Benjamin (Q) | CAR | @NE |
| 35 | Nelson Agholor | PHI | @LAC |
| 36 | Randall Cobb (Q) | GB | vs. CHI |
| 37 | Jamison Crowder | WAS | @KC |
| 38 | DeSean Jackson | TB | vs. NYG |
| 39 | Rishard Matthews | TEN | @HOU |
| 40 | Mohamed Sanu | ATL | vs. DET |
| 41 | Eric Decker | TEN | @HOU |
| 42 | Willie Snead | NO | @MIA |
| 43 | Jermaine Kearse | NYJ | @JAC |
| 44 | Ted Ginn Jr. | NO | @MIA |
| 45 | Tyrell Williams | LAC | PHI |
| 46 | Devin Funchess | CAR | @NE |
| 47 | Marvin Jones | DET | @MIN |
| 48 | Danny Amendola (Q) | NE | vs. CAR |
| 49 | Sterling Shepard | NYG | @TB |
| 50 | Marquise Lee | JAC | @NYJ |
| 51 | Brandon Marshall | NYG | @TB |
| 52 | Kenny Britt | CLE | vs. CIN |
| 53 | J.J. Nelson | ARI | vs. SF |
| 54 | Robert Woods | LAR | @DAL |
| 55 | Cooper Kupp | LAR | @DAL |
| 56 | Allen Hurns | JAC | @NYJ |
| 57 | Kenny Golladay (Q) | DET | @MIN |
| 58 | Jaron Brown | ARI | vs.SF |
| 59 | Zay Jones | BUF | @ATL |
| 60 | Tyler Lockett | SEA | vs. IND |
Tight Ends
Ugh, now we’re into the dregs. I’d love to know the percentage of proposed trades for tight ends across all leagues this week, because I’m sure most of you are scrambling. Anyway, I think it’s fair to expect another big day from Jimmy Graham on Sunday. The Colts defense has allowed an average of 283.7 yards per game this season and has also allowed the most plays of 20 yards or more. Doug Baldwin is downplaying his groin injury, but his status for Sunday night is still up in the air. That spells potential trouble for Russell Wilson’s No. 1 downfield threat, but Baldwin’s absence would mean a larger target share for Graham.
| Rank | Player | Team | Opponent |
| 1 | Rob Gronkowski | NE | vs. CAR |
| 2 | Travis Kelce | KC | vs. WAS |
| 3 | Jimmy Graham | SEA | vs. IND |
| 4 | Zach Ertz | PHI | @LAC |
| 5 | Kyle Rudolph | MIN | vs. DET |
| 6 | Delanie Walker (Q) | TEN | @HOU |
| 7 | Jordan Reed (Q) | WAS | @KC |
| 8 | Coby Fleener | NO | @MIA |
| 9 | Jason Witten | DAL | vs. LAR |
| 10 | Martellus Bennett | GB | vs. CHI |
| 11 | Jared Cook | OAK | @DEN |
| 12 | Evan Engram | NYG | @TB |
| 13 | Jack Doyle (Q) | IND | @SEA |
| 14 | Austin Hooper | ATL | vs. BUF |
| 14 | Eric Ebron | DET | @MIN |
| 15 | Jesse James | PIT | @BAL |
| 16 | Zach Miller | CHI | @GB |
| 17 | Hunter Henry | LAC | vs. PHI |
| 18 | Cameron Brate | TB | vs. NYG |
| 19 | Julius Thomas | MIA | vs. NO |
| 20 | Antonio Gates | LAC | vs. PHI |
| 21 | Charles Clay | BUF | @ATL |
| 22 | Ryan Griffin | HOU | vs. TEN |
| 23 | David Njoku | CLE | vs. CIN |
| 24 | Benjamin Watson | BAL | vs. PIT |
| 25 | Austin Seferian-Jenkins | NYJ | vs. JAC |
Defense/ST
| Rank | Team | Opponent |
| 1 | Seattle Seahawks | vs. IND |
| 2 | Arizona Cardinals | vs. SF |
| 3 | Denver Broncos | vs. OAK |
| 4 | Kansas City Chiefs | vs. WAS |
| 5 | Jacksonville Jaguars | @NYJ |
| 6 | Pittsburgh Steelers | @BAL |
| 7 | Minnesota Vikings | vs. DET |
| 8 | New England Patriots | vs. CAR |
| 9 | Baltimore Ravens | vs. PIT |
| 10 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | vs. NYG |
Kickers
| Rank | Player | Team | Opponent |
| 1 | Matt Bryant | ATL | vs. BUF |
| 2 | Justin Tucker | BAL | vs. PIT |
| 3 | Dan Bailey | DAL | vs. LAR |
| 4 | Stephen Gostkowski | NE | vs. CAR |
| 5 | Mason Crosby | GB | vs. CHI |
| 6 | Wil Lutz | NO | @MIA |
| 7 | Blair Walsh | SEA | vs. IND |
| 8 | Matt Prater | DET | @MIN |
| 9 | Dustin Hopkins | WAS | @KC |
| 10 | Jake Elliot | PHI | @LAC |