Week 4 Fantasy Football PPR Rankings & Projections: Deshaun Watson Finally Gets A Solid Matchup

After three weeks of play, we have a lot of interesting top-scoring options, and most of them do not even find the top ten each week because of what we expect out of them. Jared Goff has been a top ten fantasy quarterback so far, while James Robinson is a top-eight PPR running back. Robby Anderson has also found form in Carolina and is a top 15 fantasy wideout right now. Fantasy football scoring is at an all-time high and we knew we were going to be in for an irregular year given what 2020 has brought us so far. Heading into Week 4 it is not as appealing of a slate as last week, but still plenty of guys in good spots.

Week 4 Quarterback Rankings

Joe Burrow makes his first appearance inside the top ten this season and has been a top ten fantasy quarterback through the first three weeks. The volume is going to continue to be heavy and that bodes well for fantasy production. He has six total touchdowns through two games and this is by far the most friendly defense he will face this week. Jacksonville has allowed the 6th most fantasy points per game to opposing quarterbacks so far this season. This was going to be a defense to target.

Houston comes into this week with a big zero in the win column as the schedule has been brutal facing Kansas City, Baltimore, and Pittsburgh. Deshaun Watson will finally get a good matchup against the Vikings, who were down two cornerbacks last week. Even if they return this secondary is one to target and I expect Watson to put out his first big game of the year.

Russell Wilson and Kyler Murray continue to be top options and Wilson is on pace for about 107 passing touchdowns. Seattle goes up against Miami which is another great matchup for this offense. Wilson and his core of receivers with Tyler Lockett and the DK Metcalf are just a force. Murray’s rushing numbers continue to push him over the top even with a week where he didn’t throw the ball all that well. Murray is a top-five fantasy quarterback.

A sneaky top ten player this week is Jared Goff. He is completing 70% of his passes this season and has thrown for the 7th most passing yards through three weeks. With a great matchup against the Giants who just allowed the 49ers b-team to put up 30+ on them. This Rams team isn’t getting enough talk from a fantasy perspective.

Week 4 Running Backs Rankings

Alvin Kamara is ready to follow up on his Sunday night blowup game this week as he gets the Lions defense. Detroit continues to be one of the worst teams against the run and Kamara’s usage is just about where it was pre-injury and he looks great. Kamara has 31 targets through three games and the touchdown production is back up with six. The Lions have allowed the 7th most fantasy points per game to opposing backs. Both James Robinson and Joe Mixon have top ten upside this week. Both the Bengals and the Jaguars defense is easy to target with opposing backs. Mixon has been a bit quiet, where Robinson is top ten in PPR scoring so far this season.

Kenyan Drake was a dud against Detroit but he gets another great matchup against the Panthers. Carolina has allowed over 500 yards to opposing running backs this season. The seven touchdowns are also piling in. Dalvin Cook is coming off a monster game and will roll into Houston where they have allowed the fourth-most fantasy points to running backs this season. Cook is in a great spot to go off as is David Johnson who gets this Vikings defense that has struggled against both the run and the pass so far this season.

There are some tougher matchups this week that make me pause at a few major names. The Steelers defense has allowed just 121 rushing yards through three games and Derrick Henry is up next. Henry was able to produce in Week 3 but the volume has been there in each week. You are obviously starting him but it could be a grind it out style game. The Patriots are still a strong defense against the run and Clyde Edwards-Helaire is someone I am a little hesitant on. Miles Sanders is in a tough spot but the defense isn’t as strong with the injuries and Sanders has 38 carries through two weeks and also has 16 targets. The volume will carry him.

Week 4 Wide Receivers Rankings

If you are playing Seattle at all this season, expect some shootouts. DeVante Parker gets a Seattle defense that has already allowed over 1,000 yards to wide receivers and 76 receptions. Both Preston Williams and Parker get a huge bump this week. The same goes for the Seattle guys, as Tyler Lockett and DK Metcalf continue to be stellar options due to the volume and Russell Wilson playing out of his mind. This is going to be another high scoring game. Targeting matchups, if Will Fuller has a breakout game in him, it is against the Vikings secondary that has allowed the 4th most fantasy points to opposing wideouts. Brandin Cooks doesn’t have that ceiling but is in a better spot than last week. Adam Thielen and Justin Jefferson get a Texans secondary that is average at best.

Cleveland’s secondary remains banged up and the Cowboys wide receivers are some of the best in the business. It was a Michael Gallup blowup, but Amari Cooper remains the most targeted in the Cowboys offense and has been quietly producing big numbers. On the flip side of this game, Odell Beckham and Jarvis Landry are interesting names. The Cowboys secondary is not good, at least not yet, and right now you can target wideouts against them. Terry McLaurin is going to have a tough spot this week going up against the Ravens secondary. The garbage time volume might help, but the Ravens are generally not a team I want to pick on. Corey Davis and if AJ Brown can return, they will get a secondary that is not one to pick on. Pittsburgh ranks second against the pass this season and this goes back to last season.

Week 4 Tight Ends Rankings

This position is pretty ugly after a few weeks with Jimmy Graham and Mo Alie-Cox are both top eight in scoring. Noah Fant is the name that doesn’t surprise me being so high as he has 21 targets through three games and has over 30 PPR points. I like Fant a lot even with the erratic quarterback play. It is also not a bad matchup against the Jets. His former college teammate, TJ Hockenson, is 8th in scoring. His tempered scoring is up there given the injuries and underperforming names so far. Mike Gesicki is in a sneaky good spot this week with the Seahawks struggling to defend just about everyone. Mark Andrews and Darren Waller are the more notable names in great spots this week. The Bills defense is tough but Waller is still going to see a ton of volume against them. Andrews gets the Washington matchup.

Week 4 Kicker Rankings

It continues to be the usual suspects at the kicker rankings as they continue to produce. We are focusing on the high scoring games and teams. The Saints-Lions game is prime for kickers. Matt Prater and Wil Lutz are both top ten kickers after three games. Younghoe Koo is a name that is usually here but he will miss the next few weeks. Randy Bullock makes a jump who is currently 4th in fantasy points but with Joe Burrow moving the ball, Bullock is getting a lot more volume. Justin Tucker is the top option with the Ravens projected to score an absurd amount of points this week. Zane Gonzalez and Joey Slye are both top kickers this season and both these teams move the ball and have bottom half defenses.

Week 4 Defense Rankings

Baltimore checks in this week as the top option going up against Washington. It is a short week for Baltimore but this Washington team just lacks weapons and will have to keep throwing to keep up with Washington. Baltimore has held offenses to just 232 yards through the air and 94 on the ground. This is before the Chiefs game so I expect those numbers to go up. While the Bears are making a change at quarterback, but that doesn’t mean much to me here. The Colts defense continues to face below-average offense, which bodes well for their fantasy upside. They have forced six turnovers and have had nine sacks through the first three games.

The Rams struggled on the defensive side in Week 3 but this is a great bounce back spot against the Giants. New York have allowed the 7th most fantasy points per game to opposing defenses so far this season. They have allowed seven turnovers and nine sacks. The Giants have also scored just 38 points through three games.