Week 4: For the Love of COVID
Week 4 was off to a rocky start, but we made it! Let’s go through a 4-EYED RECAP of Week 4, where we take a quick look back at some notable players, including IDPs. Here. We. GOOOOO!
Quarterback: Justin Herbert
| Format | Fantasy Points Scored | Avg FPPG |
| FanDuel (0.5PPR) | 24.00 | 21.00 |
Seriously, that GIF looks like Justin Herbert joined a late 90s boy band that shot its introductory music video with futuristic footballs. You are…my fiiiiire, Justin. In Week 4, Justin Herbert said bye, bye, bye to the critics. It’s the hardest thing I’ll ever have to do: to look you in the eyes and stop this gimmick to get back to fantasy football.
Herbert went 20 of 25 passing for 290 yards, 3 TDs and an interception on the Chargers’ final drive. He added 5 rushes for 14 yards for a very respectable 24 fantasy points, likely finishing as a QB1 this week. Despite losing the game, Herbert had a fantastic showing against a top-tier Tampa Bay defense, including a top-4 pass rush as ranked by Pro Football Focus. His rapport with Pro Bowl wide receiver Keenan Allen continues to grow. In Herbert’s first three games, he has targeted Allen at least 10 times in each game with a whopping 41 targets. So long as Allen is healthy, Herbert should only continue to build his confidence as an NFL passer.
Perhaps more important, Herbert’s upcoming schedule is VERY appealing. Over the next four weeks, he faces plus match-ups against the Saints, Jets, Dolphins and Jaguars. Not to get ahead of ourselves, but Herbert’s playoff weeks (14-16) are against the Falcons, Raiders and Broncos. I drive myself crazy thinking of Herbert’s fantasy potential. (Last 90s boy band pun. This I promise you.)
Honorable Mention: Teddy Bridgewater posted 27.24 fantasy points against the Cardinals. Don’t look now, but Teddy B. has posted 19+ fantasy points in 2 of 4 games. Consider him a streaming option in plus match-ups.
Running Back: Kenyan Drake
| Format | Fantasy Points Scored | Avg FPPG |
| Non-PPR | 3.5 | 8.4 |
| FanDuel (0.5PPR) | 3.5 | 9.0 |
| PPR | 3.5 | 9.6 |
Wrong Drake. However, the Degrassi star averages only 9 fewer fantasy points per game in half-PPR scoring than the Arizona running back. In Week 4, Kenyan Drake rushed 13 times for 35 yards, adding zero receptions on zero targets. Is it time for Drake owners to go into full-on panic mode and sell Drake for pennies on the dollar?
True, his fellow Arizona running back Chase Edmonds saw 5 receptions on 6 targets, including one for a TD. But Edmonds saw only 4 carries. As my colleague Jonathan wrote last week, going into Sunday, Drake had 54 carries (5th most among RBs) while Edmonds had just 12 carries. Through the first three weeks, Drake had been on the field 61% of the time, 14th among RBs, whereas Edmonds saw only 33% of snaps.
You certainly expected more against the league’s worst ranked run defense according to PFF. Next up are the NY Jets, which gave up 100+ yards to Melvin Gordon. It appears Drake owners don’t have the workhorse, rock-solid RB1 they hoped for. But panic dumping Drake now will likely lead to seller’s remorse. If Drake can’t get it done against the Jets, consider hitting the eject button.
Honorable Mention: Latavius Murray rushed 14 times for 64 yards and 2 TDs and added 1 reception on 2 targets for another 19 yards. Both of Murray’s TDs came on 3rd and goal and he was inches away from scoring a 3rd TD on his 19-yard reception. Consider Murray as a flex with RB2 upside in the right match-up. Or just make a point to read Todd’s 4-EYED MATCHUPS each week, where he called for Murray’s break-out game against the Lions.
Wide Receiver: Michael Gallup
| Format | Fantasy Points Scored | Avg FPPG |
| Non-PPR | 2.9 | 8.4 |
| FanDuel (0.5PPR) | 3.9 | 10.0 |
| PPR | 4.9 | 11.6 |
I’m glad one of us can laugh about this, Michael Gallup. Putting up a stat line of 2 receptions on 5 targets for 40 yards does not amuse me or other fantasy managers. To make it worse, your rookie wide receiver teammate, CeeDee Lamb, posted 20+ fantasy points with 79 receiving yards and 2 TDs.
Has CeeDee Lamb usurped Gallup as the WR2 role in this high powered offense? Lamb has seen more targets than Gallup (29 vs. 24). But, going into Sunday, Gallup’s points per target (10.5) was 5th best among WRs and much higher than Lamb’s points per target (6.3). According to NFL Next Gen Stats, Gallup also had the third-highest average air yards per target among WRs (17.4) and well above Lamb’s average (9.0).
Next up for the Cowboys are the Giants, Cardinals, Washington Football Team and Eagles, each of which (except the Football Team) ranks in the bottom half of the league in terms of defensive pass coverage. Despite Gallup’s favorable schedule, it will be hard to put him into your line up until we see at least one more solid outing.
Honorable Mention: Odell Beckham Jr. finally, FINALLY had the game fantasy managers hoped for. He snagged 5 balls on 8 targets for 81 yards and 2 TDs (including one from Jarvis Landry) and rushed for 73 yards on 2 attempts, including an impressive 50-yard game-clinching TD run. See, all we needed to fix the OBJ-Baker Mayfield chemistry was to get the ball to OBJ without involving Baker Mayfield. Alternatively, Kevin Stefanski decided it was time to manufacture touches for his most talented receiver. Either way, it will be hard to keep OBJ on your bench after this game. But temper expectations.
Tight End: Dalton Schultz
| Format | Fantasy Points Scored | Avg FPPG |
| Non-PPR | 13.2 | 8.0 |
| FanDuel (0.5PPR) | 15.2 | 10.2 |
| PPR | 17.2 | 12.5 |
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As an Eagles fan, I despise writing about Cowboys players. As a fantasy fan, HOW BOUT ‘DEM COWBOYS! (Ugh, I feel gross.) But should I be so faux enthused for Dalton Schultz? Barring some unimaginable tight end explosion (tehehe), the Cowboys tight end will finish as a top-10 TE this week. He finished with 4 catches on 8 targets for 72 yards and 1 TD.
Now, the cold shower. Going into Sunday, Schultz was only on the field for 71.4% of snaps, 14th best among TEs. He was seeing 3.1 fantasy points per target, 26th best among TEs. Even with Sunday’s performance, Schultz’s usage and production have been inconsistent. In half-PPR scoring, here are his stat lines per week: 1.6, 17.3, 6.8 and 15.2 fantasy points. Yes, that averages to be 10.2 fantasy points per game, but you only got that half the time.
PFF has ranked Schultz as the 32nd best TE in terms of offense. Never fear. PFF also ranked him as the 9th best TE…for run blocking. Schultz can get you points, but he’s far from “set-it and forget-it”. Mind the gap. Also, Schlutz totally looks like Drago in this picture. Mind the Drago.
Honorable Mention: George Kittle caught 15 of 15 targets for 183 yards and 1 TD with Nick Mullins and CJ Beathard chucking the ball. That is…there are no words. Otherwise, this week reminded me of the TE wasteland that was 2019. If you don’t have an elite TE, chase the TDs.
Defensive Lineman: Yannick Ngakoue
| Format | Fantasy Points Scored | Avg FPPG |
| FantasyPros | 11.50 | 7.375 |
Why so serious? Since Yannick Ngakoue signed with the Vikings, he just wants to put a smile on opposing quarterbacks’ faces. For the third straight week, Yannick posted a sack. In Week 4, he upped his tackle numbers to 5 tackles (all solo). Since completely goosing you in Week 1, Yannick has scored no less than 9 fantasy points in a game. Remember that Yannick was traded to the Vikings days before the season started, so he may have finally found his groove. The Vikings face Russell Wilson next week, who has already been sacked 11 times in 4 games, and Matt Ryan in Week 6, who may drop back to pass 75 times. Grab Yannick if he’s still on waivers.
Defensive Back: Marlon Humphrey
| Format | Fantasy Points Scored | Avg FPPG |
| FantasyPros | 16.25 | 12.31 |
Cornerbacks aren’t usually fantasy relevant, particularly shutdown cornerbacks that typically see fewer passes thrown their way. What if you had a stud cornerback in Marcus Peters on the other side of the field and you play with the lead because you have Lamar Jackson at QB? Enter Marlon Humphrey and his 16.25 fantasy points in Week 4. Humphrey posted 9 tackles (8 solo, 1 assisted), 1 pass defended and 1 forced fumble. He only has 1 interception on the season and has never had more than 3 interceptions in a season. But he can rack up tackles. When Peters joined the Ravens last year, Humphrey nearly doubled his career high in tackles from 37 to 65. Humphrey is a deep IDP league play for sure. With bye weeks not far away (and the unpredictable COVID byes), keep an eye on Humphrey as a solid bye week fill-in or depth piece.
Linebacker: Jon Bostic
| Format | Fantasy Points Scored | Avg FPPG |
| FantasyPros | 15.00 | 23.875 |
Jorge nailed it in this week’s 4-EYED STARTS & SITS. Jon Bostic, the veteran linebacker, appears to have found a fantasy home in Washington. In Week 4, he wracked up 14 tackles (6 solo, 8 assisted). In four weeks, Bostic already has 37 tackles and 2 sacks. As part of the formidable Washington Football Team defensive front that will be playing in tight games or from behind, Bostic should continue to see plenty of opportunities to tackle opposing running backs. Bostic should be a starter in more IDP formats. Look for him on the waiver wire in yours.