It’s hard to believe we are already in week four of the NFL regular season! We are starting to get to the point in the season where each fantasy football win gets more and more critical. To help you with any tough decisions you may be facing this week, the team at League Winners is back to help guide you with a few players we like this week and a couple whose expectations should be tempered.
Start
Brandon Aiyuk, WR – San Francisco 49’ers (Joe O’Leary)
Is Brandon Aiyuk back in the circle of trust? This one is a little risky, but I’m willing to find out. Aiyuk has seen his snap percentages go up each week, hitting 86% last week versus the Packers. Aiyuk saw a season-high six targets in week three as well. He managed a decent fantasy outing with four receptions for 37 yards and a touchdown (14.5 PPR points).
Aiyuk finds himself in a friendly spot this week at home against a Seattle defense that is really struggling. Seattle is the 23rd ranked pass defense giving up the 7th most passing yards per game. The game boasts the third-highest over-under of the week at 52 points. Now that Brandon Aiyuk appears to be out of Kyle Shanahan’s doghouse, I’m willing to roll the dice on him in this matchup as a flex option.
Corey Davis, WR – New York Jets (Keith James)
I know, the Jets are a dumpster fire on offense. Fantasy football is about the matchups though. Corey Davis started the year on fire, being targeted seven times, catching five balls for 97 yards and two touchdowns. This past week he was targeted ten times for five grabs for 41 yards. Zero plunges. The targets are there. Wilson loves Davis. With the 32nd ranked Titans pass defense coming to town, Davis will be productive. Fire him up.
Chase Edmonds, RB – Arizona Cardinals (Matthew Morris)
It’s not easy starting a running back who has yet to exceed a 66% snap share going against the 11th ranked rushing defense. However, that’s precisely what I’m recommending you do this week. Chase Edmonds is the RB16 in PPR formats despite having yet to find the endzone.
While the Los Angeles Rams matchup looks tough on paper, the Rams defense is surrendering an average of over seven targets per game to the running back position. This plays well into Edmonds’ strength as a pass-catcher. Edmonds has caught 16/17 targets for 121 yards through three weeks and is due to find the endzone. He’s an easy start in half and full PPR in what should be a high-scoring affair.
Anthony Firkser, TE – Tennessee Titans (Thomas Christopher)
Anthony Firkser missed the last two weeks due to injury, but he’s back and completely healthy. That couldn’t come at a better time for the Titans, who will be without Julio Jones and AJ Brown in Week 4 against the Jets. While many suggest that the the WR3/4 will step up and produce, I think Firkser will have the greatest value as a pass-catcher for fantasy football against a Jets team whose linebackers struggle in coverage.
Cordarrelle Patterson, RB – Atlanta Falcons (Jeremy Shulman)
We can’t fade an ascending opportunity monster who looks like he has more burst than the presumed starter in an Arthur Smith offense, can we? CAN WE? We can, apparently, as Cordarrelle Patterson‘s Fantasy Pros ECR is RB42 this week.
Yes, the Falcons face off against the Football Team defense, but they’ve been underwhelming to begin the year. Cordarrelle has been the best Falcons player on the field in the early going, and I expect that’ll continue in week four at home in the dome. If you’ve been playing Patterson, there’s no reason to stop now. If you’ve rostered him but haven’t yet pulled the trigger, now is the time.
Sit
Brandin Cooks, WR – Houston Texans (Joe O’Leary)
Brandin Cooks has been one of the best fantasy football stories of 2021. Cooks has simply been on fire. He’s currently the WR6 overall through three games. In week four, Cooks squares off with an excellent Buffalo Bills defense, and I think expectations need to be tempered.
Bills star cornerback Tre’Davious White is one of the main reasons why. Cooks should see a healthy amount of White on Sunday. White generally doesn’t shadow a ton, but he will when an opponent has a clear-cut number one wide receiver on their team.
Let’s face it folks, Brandin Cooks is all the Texans have on offense. Cooks stands a chance to still deliver a decent floor this week based on the volume he consistently receives, but it’s hard to envision another ceiling game coming in week four. If I have better options in smaller leagues I’m looking elsewhere.
Chase Claypool, WR – Pittsburgh Steelers (Keith James)
As it stands, Diontae Johnson is limited with a knee injury. If Diontae misses another week, Chase Claypool will get the Jaire Alexander treatment from Green Bay. The Steeler’s offense has been abysmal the last two weeks. Ben is old, beat up, and playing behind one of the worst offensive lines in football. I love Claypool’s talent, and he can score over at any moment, but the odds this week will not be in his favor.
Miles Sanders, RB – Philadelphia Eagles (Thomas Christopher)
Miles Sanders is extremely talented, but if the Eagles don’t utilize him, why should you? In Week 3 against the Cowboys, Sanders only had two rushing attempts, despite getting 27 yards on those attempts. With how poorly the Eagles defense has been playing, I expect the Chiefs to get out to a lead early. Playing catchup doesn’t bode well for Sanders, so I will be staying away from him this week.
Daniel Jones, QB – New York Giants (Matthew Morris)
Daniel Jones has taken fantasy football by storm this year. Currently the QB11, Jones has played arguably the best football of his career in 2021. The greatest improvement we’ve seen is in the turnover department, as Jones has yet to throw an interception, and has only one lost fumble in three games.
But week three against the Atlanta Falcons is what could happen if Jones doesn’t score a touchdown; as he left fantasy managers hanging with a 14.5 point performance. This week, he gets a New Orleans defense that has forced seven turnovers and only allowed three touchdowns to the quarterback position. It’s best to leave Jones on the bench this week for a better option.
Derek Carr, QB – Oakland Raiders (Jeremy Shulman)
Derek Carr has been playing lights out, so this take might be a little too bold for most. Still, I’m fading Carr in a matchup against a nearly-elite defense with Derwin James back in the fold, even if a bit injured. I wrote about James’s game-changing ability earlier this week, and I’m not about to back off of that take now against an overachieving offense that I’ve never truly believed in. Do I like Derek Carr? Very much. Do I believe in the Raiders coaches to out scheme a top unit on the road? No, I do not.
