Fantasy Football Rankings: Week 4 Matchups to Consider
With three weeks under our belt, the fantasy season is in full swing! Fantasy managers are either working to distance themselves from the playoff pack or scrambling to figure out how to get their roster back on the right track to the postseason. The best way to have a successful Week 4 starts with reworking your lineup to make sure you’ve got the best matchups possible to maximize your output! Let’s walk through a handful of matchups at each position that could be the difference in how your fantasy week goes.
Always make sure to use the Ballers’ weekly rankings before finalizing your lineup each week!
Quarterbacks
Geno Smith
QB - NYJ
It’s been a back-and-forth start to the season in fantasy for Geno Smith, but the Raiders QB bounced back in Week 3. Smith is currently the QB11 on the season on the heels of a QB4 finish, where he threw 3+ TD passes in a game for just the seventh time in his career. What’s interesting about Geno for fantasy is the 106 passing attempts he’s been given through the first three games, which has landed him in second in the league in passing thus far.
There should be plenty of opportunity for Geno to keep the positive momentum going this week with a matchup against the Bears. Chicago’s defense has allowed the most passing TDs in the league and the 7th-most passing yards through three games. For fantasy, the Bears have allowed a top-12 QB in two of their first three games, including the QB1 overall in Week 2. Until the Raiders find a running game, Geno should be getting plenty of reps in the passing game and should be viewed as a true streaming candidate based on this matchup.
Patrick Mahomes
QB - KC
It’s strange to think of Patrick Mahomes as a matchup-based QB for fantasy, but that’s where we’re at now. Mahomes has actually had a decently strong start to the fantasy season, finishing as the QB6 and QB8 in his first two games before struggling to a QB20 finish last week against the Giants. What plays into fantasy managers’ favor is the lack of a running game the Chiefs have seen in their offense so far this year. Through three games, Kansas City has the 9th-fewest rushing attempts and only one rushing TD. Hopefully, with Mahomes getting some passing weapons back this week and over the coming weeks, that could lead to some classic Mahomes fantasy success.
The matchup for the Chiefs this week should give Mahomes a chance to get back into the top-12 QBs with a visit from the Ravens on the slate. Baltimore’s defense has allowed the 5th-most passing yards in the league this season. What makes this a tougher call for fantasy managers is that, despite giving up yards through the air, the Ravens have only allowed 15+ fantasy points to opposing QBs once this season, and that was Josh Allen’s heroic Week 1 performance. With Xavier Worthy expected to suit up for Kansas City and one of the highest expected point totals of the week, Mahomes’ ceiling will hopefully be higher, but fantasy managers may need to wait and see how this passing attack adapts before penciling him into their lineups.
Running Backs
TreVeyon Henderson
RB - NE
There was plenty of preseason hype that pushed TreVeyon Henderson up in drafts, but he hasn’t been able to return on that draft price yet. What’s complicating things for fantasy managers is the shared backfield that Henderson has found himself in. Through his first three games in the NFL, Henderson has only seen 38% of snaps but is still averaging 46 total yards per week. The light at the end of the tunnel for Henderson could be the three combined fumbles between Antonio Gibson and Rhamondre Stevenson from Week 3. Henderson never fumbled once during his entire collegiate career at Ohio State, so any ball security concerns from the Patriots staff could open the door for more opportunity for the rookie.
An increase in touches for Henderson could come with a great matchup in Week 3 against the Panthers. Carolina’s defense has allowed the 8th-most rushing yards through their first three games of the season, though they have only allowed two rushing TDs. For fantasy, the Panthers have allowed a top-15 RB in two of their first three games. Where Henderson could really add value for fantasy is through the passing game, and over the last two weeks, the Panthers have allowed RBs 11 receptions for 87 yards. If Henderson sees an increase in rushing work, this could be the breakout week for the Patriots’ rookie RB.
Cam Skattebo
RB - NYG
At long last, fantasy managers got to really see what Cam Skattebo could do as the lead RB in the Giants’ offense. For the second straight week, Skattebo led the Giants’ backfield in carries and rushing yards, but the added bonus in Week 3 was the eight targets he turned into six receptions for 61 yards. With an injury to Tyrone Tracy, Skattebo should be taking over the starting RB role in New York alongside rookie QB Jaxon Dart in his first start.
The matchup against the Chargers for Skattebo will be a tough one in his first start. Los Angeles’ defense has been one of the best against the run to start the season, allowing the 9th-fewest rushing yards in the league and just two rushing TDs. Last week against the Broncos was the first time the Chargers allowed more than 11 fantasy points to opposing teams’ RBs and their first time allowing a top-12 RB finish. While there’s plenty of excitement around the changes to the Giants’ offense, this week, fantasy managers might need to temper expectations for Skattebo given the tough matchup.
Nick Chubb
RB - FA
Despite working back from yet another injury, there was plenty of optimism around Nick Chubb in the Texans’ offense based on opportunity alone coming into the season. With Joe Mixon’s status up in the air, Chubb has seen the majority of the RB work for Houston, but the results have been spotty thus far, only finishing as a top-24 RB once so far this season. It’s not just Chubb who’s struggled, though; the Texans’ offense as a whole has gotten off to a slow start, sitting in the bottom 10 of the league in both rushing and passing yards through three weeks.
If Chubb is going to get going for fantasy, a matchup against the Titans should go a long way to help this week. Through their first three games, Tennessee has allowed the 4th-most rushing yards and the most rushing TDs in the league. For fantasy, the Titans have allowed four top-30 RB finishes already this season, including two top-15 finishes. While Chubb’s ceiling isn’t as high as it might have once been, he should be a solid RB2 option this week for fantasy rosters.
Wide Receivers
Ladd McConkey
WR - LAC
Despite the Chargers’ hot start, the beginning of the season has been slow for Ladd McConkey. While McConkey has been on the field plenty, playing 85% of snaps on the season, the production just hasn’t been there for fantasy managers who invested a high pick into the WR during draft season. What should be encouraging, though, is that McConkey is still seeing plenty of targets, though just not at the same rate as Quentin Johnston or Keenan Allen, based on how much more he’s on the field.
To keep the panic alarms from going off for fantasy managers, McConkey has a great matchup this week against the Giants to get back on track. New York’s defense has allowed the 3rd-most receiving yards in the league this season, though 44% of those yards came in Week 2 against the Cowboys. Fantasy WRs have had plenty of success against the Giants, allowing four top-20 WR finishes in their first three games this season. As the leading team in passing yards this season, McConkey should have plenty of opportunity to get back on track this week with a favorable matchup.
Deebo Samuel Sr.
WR - FA
After a trade to Washington this offseason, Deebo Samuel has started hot this season, finishing as a top-24 WR in two of his first three games. The key to Samuel’s early success has been the massive opportunity he’s seen in the Commanders’ offense, averaging nine targets in the two games where he’s been valuable for fantasy. Fantasy managers have even seen some trademark Deebo getting involved in the rushing game, where he’s adding 12 additional yards per game. Week 3 saw Deebo take a step back, though, which might be attributed to the absence of QB Jayden Daniels.
Despite who the QB for Washington is this week, Deebo will have a tough task ahead of him in Week 4 with a trip to Atlanta on tap. The Falcons have allowed the 2nd-fewest passing yards in the league and just two TDs through the air through two games this season. For fantasy, that’s translated into being a tough matchup for WRs, where they’ve only allowed one top-24 WR finish this season. Despite who the QB is for Washington this week, it feels like if Deebo doesn’t find a way to get into the end zone, he might be a disappointment for fantasy managers again this week.
DK Metcalf
WR - PIT
The move to Pittsburgh has had mixed results to start the season for DK Metcalf. While Metcalf has seen a healthy 21% of the Steelers’ targets through their first three games, Pittsburgh’s passing offense has the 8th-fewest passing yards so far this season, so there’s less of that pie to go around. Where Metcalf has traditionally been a huge success for fantasy has been his work around the red zone, but this season, he’s only seen two targets in that all-important portion of the field, though they’ve both turned into TDs.
A trip across the pond to Ireland against the Vikings awaits Metcalf and the Steelers in Week 4, which may not be encouraging for fantasy managers with him on their roster. Through three games this season, Minnesota’s defense has allowed the 3rd-fewest passing yards and just two passing TDs. In fact, the Vikings are the only defense in the league that has allowed fewer than 500 passing yards and two or fewer TDs this season. Over each of the last two weeks, the Vikings have allowed less than 10 fantasy points to opposing teams’ WRs as a whole, which isn’t encouraging for Metcalf’s outlook this week. For fantasy managers who have been relying on DK as a FLEX option or even a WR2 this season, it may be worth finding an alternative this week.
Tight Ends
Mark Andrews
TE - BAL
Up from the grave, Mark Andrews arose in Week 3 after two awful weeks for fantasy. Andrews’ big Monday night saw him finish as the TE2 on the week behind six receptions for 91 yards and two TDs. Those 91 yards are the most that Andrews has had since Week 17 of the 2022 season. What should also be encouraging for fantasy managers is the uptick in red zone targets over the last two weeks, where Andrews has had three passes thrown his direction. It’s that area of the field that Andrews made his living in 2024, scoring 11 total TDs.
If Andrews is going to keep the positive momentum moving forward, he will have a tough task this week against the Chiefs. Kansas City is one of the very best against TEs in the league for fantasy. Through their first three games, the Chiefs’ defense has allowed the 9th-fewest passing yards and just three passing TDs, and none over the last two weeks. They’ve been great against TEs, only allowing a total of 14.4 fantasy points to the position on the season while not allowing a single TE to score a TD. Fantasy managers who are thinking of riding the wave with Andrews should consider other options at TE this week.
Harold Fannin Jr.
TE - CLE
After a hot start to his NFL career, things have cooled off for Browns rookie TE Harold Fannin Jr. Fannin’s debut saw him grab 7 of 9 targets, for 63 receiving yards, and even get a carry for the Cleveland offense. Since then, Fannin has had a difficult time reproducing those numbers, managing just eight receptions for 73 yards in his last two games. What should be encouraging for fantasy managers who invested FAAB in Fannin after Week 1 is that he is still leading the team in receiving yards and receptions, even out-pacing veteran TE David Njoku.
Fannin should have plenty of opportunity for a productive fantasy outing this week against the Lions’ defense. Detroit has allowed the 2nd-most passing TDs in the league this season and has given up 11 passing plays of over 20+ yards, tied for 5th-most in the league. Against TEs, though, the Lions have really only allowed one solid fantasy outing – the aforementioned Mark Andrews just last week. With Fannin likely to stay heavily involved in the Browns offense, fantasy managers will have to hope Fannin can once again volume his way back into the top-12 TEs, or it may be time to let him ride the bench for a bit.