Hot Fire Fantasy Football Questions: Week 4
Our “Hot Fire Fantasy Questions” series takes a look at Week 4 following up recent news, fantasy performances, and implications for owners moving forward. Our Hot Fire contributors from our Fantasy Footballers writing staff includes Matt Okada (@FantasySensei), Ryan Weisse (@TheFantasyFive) and Kyle Borgognoni (@kyle_borg).
Make sure you listen to today’s podcast to get Andy, Mike, and Jason’s reactions from all the Week 4 action.
1. Which injury from Week 4 is most catastrophic for fantasy owners?
Dalvin Cook
It’s got to be Dalvin Cook, as he is probably the most valuable and it sounds like his season is over. His draft price was pretty high, but this hurts even more for the owners who traded for Cook in recent weeks, as they probably paid a top-10 price. Additionally, attempts to replace Cook may be the least effective, as nearly Latavius Murray nor Jerick McKinnon is likely to come close to fully absorbing Cook’s role or production. -Matt Okada
This is devastating. I detailed last week that Cook’s workload was basically at near Le’Veon Bell-esque levels and that the TDs were about to start piling in. A non-contact injury hurts even more and will leave owners at “what could’ve been”? I’m feeling it this week as Cook was looking like a surefire RB1 the rest of the year in my main league. You can’t be as excited about picking up Latavius Murray but RB injuries are bound to happen. It just hurts that much more when it isn’t the other guy but you. –Kyle Borgognoni
Julio Jones
Julio’s injury, if serious, will be the worst for owners because of how many owners might be affected. The Falcons offense looked deflated. Matt Ryan did next to nothing, the running game was slowed down, and nobody stepped up as a pass catcher. Owners of Ryan, Freeman, Coleman, and of course, Jones are going to face difficulties if Julio misses much time. –Ryan Weisse
2. Which Week 4 break-through PPR RB would you want most ROS: Alvin Kamara, Duke Johnson, Amber Abdullah or Andre Ellington?
Alvin Kamara
Give me all of the Alvin Kamara. This is an offense that caters to pass catching backs and Kamara is fitting right in. He only rushed 5 times this week but should finish as a top 10 RB after reeling all 10 of his targets for 71 yards and a TD. –Ryan Weisse
The “Kamaro” was in high gear seeing 10 targets and corralling 10 receptions as the clear pass catching option in London. If he’s going to see this type of usage in an offense that throws to the RB more than any other team, he looks like he’s a solid FLEX in PPR formats with the ability to step in and provide RB2 production when needed. Kamara also showcased some between-the-tackles ability so don’t just put him in the Danny Woodhead category. He’s a valuable asset if you picked him up off the waiver wire. –Kyle Borgognoni
Duke Johnson
It’s close between Duke and Abdullah. Abdullah could be the more reliable week-to-week start as his team’s de facto No. 1, but with the way things are going in Cleveland, Duke could quickly assume that level of offensive involvement anyway. Duke also has higher PPR upside, considering his consistent work running routes. Give me Duke by a hair. –Matt Okada
3. Who let fantasy owners down the most in Week 4?
Antonio Brown
This guy is a virtual lock for 10 PPR points per week (at the minimum), but put up a 7.4 point stinker with only 34 yards in Week 4. Granted, the Ravens secondary is good (unlike the rest of their team), and when Le’Veon Bell gets 35 carries there’s going to be less fantasy goodness for everyone else in the offense. Still, Brown was outscored by Bell, Martavis Bryant, and Juju Smith-Schuster in this game, a disappointment rarely seen from the superstar. -Matt Okada
Marshawn Lynch
I can’t imagine anybody is happy with Marshawn Lynch right now. Beast Mode probably cost you a 2nd or 3rd round pick and he went for 12 yards in Week 4. 6 yards in each half. He has 30 yards over the last 2 weeks. Why is he on this team? Why is he on my team? –Ryan Weisse
Dustin Bradford/ Getty Images
Sammy Watkins
After blowing up last week on Thursday night football and being cleared from concussion protocol, Watkins looked ready to build on his steady, increasing rapport with Jared Goff against a beatable Cowboys secondary. He was started in 68% of Yahoo leagues, an almost 40% increase from the previous week. He let owners down not seeing a single target(!) in the first half and finishing with a lowly line of 1 catch for 17 yards. Ouch. It’s going to be hard to trust him next week against Seattle. –Kyle Borgognoni
4.Give us your favorite fantasy stat line of the week and why.
Todd Gurley
121 yards on 23 carries and 94 yards and a TD on seven catches. I mean. Holy mackerel. I was incredibly high on Gurley coming into the season, drafting him in all of my main leagues and even nabbing myself a jersey. To see him putting up No. 1 RB numbers through these first four weeks is incredibly satisfying, and Week 4 was icing on the cake. If you hear an analyst preaching to “sell Gurley now,” don’t. His involvement in the passing game is on Le’Veon Bell levels, and he will get 20 touches a week no matter the game script. Schedule, schmedule people, Gurley is matchup-proof and a lock for top-5 production at this point. -Matt Okada
Greg “The Leg” Zuerlein
I know… second week in a row and I’m bringing up a kicker. But when you score 27 points(!) you basically are a buzzsaw for fantasy owners to run into. I mean in PPR leagues he outscored every single WR in fantasy… ALL of THEM. Getting 7 FGs (including 4 from 40-yards) and 2 PATs is a Christmas miracle. But it’s not random when you consider he’s on the highest scoring team (35.5 ppg) and entered Week 4 with the most kicks (field goals and extra points) converted in the league. In other words, we should’ve seen a blow-up coming.
Going into the Sunday night game, 4 RBs caught 9+ balls this week (Kamara, James White, Andre Ellington, and Duke Johnson. Only one WR, DeAndre Hopkins, pulled that off this week. Do not ignore the pass catching backs. -Ryan Weisse