Fantasy Football Week 4 Rankings, Grades & Start/Sit Advice (2024)

Welcome to Week 4, friends. As always, we’re here to provide you with some fantasy football Quick Grades (or Start/Sit Grades, if you prefer) for the week.

We tapped into our consensus projections and rankings and Derek Brown’s weekly Primer to generate this week’s Quick Grades. See below for the results and accompanying notes.

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Week 4 Quarterback Start/Sit Grades

Derek Carr (QB)

The train had to go off the tracks at some point this season. I’ll be honest: I didn’t expect it to be this quick or against the Eagles last week, but it happened. Carr fell apart with 142 passing yards, a 56% completion rate, and 5.6 yards per attempt. He finished as the QB25 in fantasy as he was under duress on 48% of his dropbacks (fifth-highest rate in Week 3). Even after that horrendous game, he still ranks first in yards per attempt, third in passer rating, and second in CPOE and fantasy points per dropback. Carr has another tough test this week. Atlanta has allowed the sixth-lowest yards per attempt, the eighth-fewest passing yards per game, and the 12th-fewest fantasy points per game to passing. Carr won’t be able to draw upon his play-action superpowers, either (seventh in play-action dropbacks). Atlanta has faced the most play-action passing attempts this season while holding offenses to the eighth-lowest play-action yards per attempt (zero play-action passing touchdowns).

Kirk Cousins (QB)

Cousins has been performing as a lackluster QB2 this season. He’s the QB27 in fantasy points per game. Among 31 qualifying quarterbacks, he ranks 18th in CPOE, 15th in yards per attempt, and 17th in fantasy points per dropback. Cousins likely continues that type of fantasy output this week. New Orleans has allowed only one passing touchdown this season. They have held passers to the 11th-fewest fantasy points passing, the seventh-lowest success rate per dropback, and the fifth-lowest EPA per dropback.

Justin Fields (QB)

Fields might be the QB20 in fantasy points per game for the season, but he finished as the QB12 in fantasy last week. Among 35 qualifying quarterbacks, he ranks 11th in CPOE and 14th in passer rating and fantasy points per dropback. He has been throwing underneath a ton, ranking 24th in yards per attempt and 31st in aDOT. That’s not great, but outside of George Pickens and Pat Freiermuth, this passing offense lacks weapons. Fields has a wonderful matchup this week, which should result in another QB1 outing. Indy has allowed the 10th-highest yards per attempt, the 11th-highest passer rating and passing yards per game, and the third-highest CPOE. Add a great passing matchup on top of Fields rushing upside, and we could get a smash game from him. Fields ranks top five among quarterbacks in carries, red zone carries, and rushing touchdowns. He is also eighth in rushing yards per game.

Anthony Richardson (QB)

Richardson’s QB4 finish in fantasy seems like a distant memory for most right now after his QB21 and QB31 finishes over the last two weeks. Growing pains were always likely part of the deal with Richardson for 2024. While his rushing has been present, it hasn’t been to the levels we hoped. He still ranks top-six among quarterbacks in carries per game (sixth), rushing yards per game (fifth), and red zone carries per game (sixth). Among 35 qualifying quarterbacks, Richardson does rank eighth in yards per attempt, but after that, it gets ugly fast as he’s 33rd in CPOE, 31st in highly accurate throw rate, and he has the highest off-target throw rate. Richardson retains QB1 status barely this week because of his rushing ability, but it’s a tough matchup for him as a passer. Pittsburgh has allowed the 13th-lowest yards per attempt, the third-lowest CPOE, and the fourth-lowest success rate and EPA per dropback.

Sam Darnold (QB)

Darnold has been nothing short of amazing this season. He’s the QB4 in fantasy points per game, ranking fifth in yards per attempt, fourth in passer rating, ninth in CPOE, and 12th in highly accurate throw rate. It’s amazing what a good coordinator and scheme can do for a player. Darnold is in the midst of reviving his NFL career. If you want a feel-good story each NFL season, Danold’s should be front and center. Darnold should keep the feel-good train rolling down the tracks this week. The Packers’ pass defense has been exploitable this season. They have allowed the 12th-highest yards per attempt, the fifth-most passing touchdowns, the eighth-most passing yards per game, and the 12th-highest success rate per dropback.

Joe Burrow (QB)

Burrow struggled out the gate before turning it on recently as the QB12 in fantasy points per game. Among 35 qualifying quarterbacks, he is 20th in yards per attempt, fifth in CPOE, 14th in highly accurate throw rate, and 19th in fantasy points per dropback. Burrow should enjoy another QB1 outing this week against a Carolina pass defense that has allowed the ninth-highest yards per attempt, the second-most passing touchdowns (tied), the third-highest success rate per dropback, and the sixth-highest EPA per dropback.

Andy Dalton (QB)

Dalton hopped off the bench to assume the starting job in Carolina last week, and he performed admirably. He was the QB8 in fantasy last week. Among 35 qualifying quarterbacks, he ranks seventh in yards per attempt, third in passer rating, 18th in CPOE, and first in highly accurate throw rate. We’ll see if Dalton can build upon last week as he stares down what suddenly looks like a shaky Cincy pass defense. The Bengals have allowed the 12th-highest yards per attempt, the seventh-highest passer rating, the second-highest CPOE, and the fifth-highest success rate per dropback.

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Week 4 Wide Receiver Start/Sit Grades

Tee Higgins (WR)

Higgins didn’t look limited at all in his first game back. He had a 95% route share with a 15.8% target share, a 25.2% air-yard share, 1.00 YPRR, and a 26.1% first-read share. Higgins led the team with two end zone targets. Higgins will run about 88% of his routes against Jaycee Horn (62.5% catch rate and 88.0 passer rating) and Mike Jackson (66.7% catch rate and 86.3 passer rating). Carolina has allowed the third-highest PPR points per target and the seventh-most receiving yards per game to perimeter wide receivers.

Diontae Johnson (WR)

Thank you, Andy Dalton. Last week was the version of Diontae Johnson that we thought we were getting this season. He finished the week as the WR6 in fantasy with a 35.1% target share, a 59.1% air-yard share, 3.49 YPRR, and a 44.8% first-read share. Look for Dalton to continue to feed his WR1 this week. Johnson leads the team with five end zone targets. Johnson will run about 80% of his routes against Cam Taylor-Britt (50% catch rate and 95.8 passer rating) and Dax Hill (73% catch rate and 124.4 passer rating). The Bengals have allowed the second-highest PPR points per target to perimeter wide receivers.

Andrei Iosivas (WR)

Iosivas saw a big uptick in his effectiveness in Week 3. Yes, partially, this was due to facing the Commanders’ secondary, but also, it was related to him finally playing the slot role that we were promised this season with the return of Tee Higgins. Iosivas had an 18.4% target share, 1.68 YPRR, and a 13% first-read share. He was a distant third option in the passing attack, fighting with Mike Gesicki (13% first-read share) for first-read targets. Iosivas will run about 84% of his routes against Troy Hill (80% catch rate and 80.0 passer rating). Carolina ranks 17th in PPR points per target allowed to slot receivers.

Allen Lazard (WR)

Lazard has been a happy surprise with Rodgers back. He is the WR18 in fantasy with a 17% target share, a 26.9% air-yard share, 1.80 YPRR, and a 19.7% first-read share. Lazard is tied for the team lead with five red zone targets. With Garrett Wilson likely getting shadowed by Patrick Surtain, Lazard could see more targets this week. Denver has the fifth-highest rate of single high this season (61.7%). Lazard’s market share is relatively unchanged against single-high, but his YPRR has climbed to 2.19. If Surtain is following Wilson around all day, Lazard likely matches up with Riley Moss (75% catch rate and 111.5 passer rating) for most of the game. He’s a strong flex play again this week.

Courtland Sutton (WR)

Only Sutton and Lil’Jordan Humphrey managed route shares of at least 52% last week with Denver. Sutton was at 69.2% (led the team). Sutton remains the target hog in this offense with a 23% target share, a 43.8% air-yard share, 1.32 YPRR, and a 29.1% first-read share. He leads the team with five end-zone targets. The problem for Sutton remains target quality. Only 57.7% of his targets have been deemed catchable. Sutton is a must-sit this week. He’ll run about 82% of his routes against Sauce Gardner (70% catch rate and 137.9 passer rating) and D.J. Reed (60% catch rate and 77.1 passer rating). The Jets have allowed the seventh-lowest PPR points per target to perimeter wide receivers.

Mike Williams (WR)

Last week, Williams had only a 50% route share with an 11.4% target share, a 19.4% air-yard share, 1.70 YPRR, and a 19% first-read share. Williams remains a stash that needs his snap share and usage to bump up just a tad more before we start having the conversation about him being a viable fantasy option weekly.

Tyler Conklin (WR)

Last week, Conklin popped off with 93 receiving yards, a 17.1% target share, a 32.8% air-yard share, and 2.91 YPRR as the TE4 for the week. We have a long history of Conklin being a middling TE2, so you can miss me with any breakout talk. The best stat from that game that speaks to the flukey nature of that usage is his 4.8% first-read share. Conklin wasn’t getting priority usage in this offense. It was Rodgers surveying the field and finding Conklin as a tertiary option in the passing attack. Don’t forget Conklin had only two receptions and 16 receiving yards combined from the first two games of this season. Denver has held tight ends to the seventh-lowest yards per reception and the 14th-fewest receiving yards per game.

Week 4 Running Back Start/Sit Grades

Brian Robinson Jr. (RB)

Robinson Jr. is the RB18 in fantasy points per game averaging 16.7 touches and 87.4 total yards. Last week with Austin Ekeler leaving with a concussion, he played a season-high 76% of the snaps. With Ekeler out, Robinson Jr. could get near bellcow usage in Week 4. Among 50 qualifying backs, he ranks tenth in explosive run rate and yards after contact per attempt. He has shown well in limited opportunities as a receiver this season. Among 42 qualifying backs, he ranks 10th in YPRR and 19th in TPRR. Robinson will need the extra checkdowns this week as he faces a surprisingly tough Arizona run defense. The Cardinals have yielded the ninth-lowest explosive run rate, the 13th-lowest missed tackle rate, the 10th-lowest gap rushing success rate, and the sixth-lowest gap yards per carry (Robinson 51% gap).

Zamir White (RB)

Well, last week effectively snuffed out the hope candle for White. Last week, in a smash matchup on the ground, White played his lowest snap count of the season (22%) with 10 carries for 34 yards. White played 71.4% of the rushing snaps but fell short in the passing game (8.9% of snaps) and in the red zone (25% of snaps). The Raiders have the eighth-most snaps when trailing this season, which is burying White’s usage. He also has been disappointing as an early down hammer. Among 50 qualifying backs, he has ranked 42nd in missed tackles forced per attempt and 39th in yards after contact per attempt. It has been a tough scene, no matter how you analyze it. The Browns have been a tougher run defense this season, allowing the 12th-lowest explosive run rate, the 11th-lowest missed tackle rate, and the 13th-fewest rushing yards per game (tied). White is droppable at this point.

J.K. Dobbins (RB)

Dobbins has played at least 58% of the snaps in two of his three games this season, averaging 16.3 touches and 108 total yards. He is the RB14 in fantasy points per game. Among 50 qualifying backs, he ranks fourth in explosive run rate, sixth in missed tackles forced per attempt, and 24th in yards after contact per attempt. The mauling offensive line that he has been running behind is battered, which will affect him in Week 4. Dobbins looks to have a tough Week 4 upcoming against a Chiefs’ run defense that has held rushers in check with the seventh-lowest explosive run rate, the ninth-lowest missed tackle rate, and the eighth-lowest yards after contact per attempt.

Carson Steele (RB)

Steele was the clear lead back last week for Kansas City with a 64% snap rate, 77% of the rushing snaps, 55% of the passing down snaps, and 67% of the red zone snaps. He finished with 18 touches and 74 total yards as the RB36 for the week. Among 50 qualifying backs, he ranks 24th in missed tackles forced per attempt and 22nd in yards after contact per attempt. Steele has a horrible matchup this week on the ground, so he’ll need a touchdown to likely pay off this week. The Chargers have allowed the eighth-lowest explosive run rate, the fifth-lowest missed tackle rate, the sixth-fewest rushing yards per game, and the second-lowest rushing success rate.

Samaje Perine (RB)

Last week, Perine played only 38% of the snaps with nine touches, 40 total yards, and a 33% red zone snap rate. With a horrible matchup on the ground this week for the Chiefs and Perine looking like the clear RB2 on this depth chart, he’s not startable. The Chargers have allowed the eighth-lowest explosive run rate, the fifth-lowest missed tackle rate, the sixth-fewest rushing yards per game, and the second-lowest rushing success rate. Perine is even droppable depending upon your waiver wire options, as Kareem Hunt could eventually eat into Perine’s role.

Gus Edwards (RB)

Edwards saw his snap share fall to 35% last week with only three carries for nine yards. This week’s state line might not be too much better. This is Dobbins’ backfield and we could see Kimani Vidal start to eat into Edwards’ workload in the coming weeks. Edwards is droppable.

Tony Pollard (RB)

The Titans abandoned the run last week against one of the best-rushing matchups on the board. Does it make any sense? No, but it happened. Pollard has played at least 61% of the snaps in every game this season while averaging 16.7 touches and 75 total yards. Among 50 qualifying backs, Pollard ranks 20th in explosive run rate and 18th in yards after contact per attempt. He remains the clear lead back for Tennessee with a 58% passing down snap share and an 81% snap rate in the red zone. Pollard has another easy route to fantasy success in Week 4 if the Titans decide to run the ball. Miami has allowed the fourth-highest rushing touchdown rate and missed tackle rate and the 12th-highest yards after contact per attempt.

Aaron Jones (RB)

I was told all offseason that Jones was “too old” and “too injury prone.” Well, he looks pretty pretty good so far this season. Jones is the RB10 in fantasy, averaging 18 touches and 108.3 total yards. Among 49 qualifying backs, he ranks eighth in explosive run rate, ninth in missed tackles forced per attempt, and second in yards after contact per attempt. Yeah, those are good numbers, people. Tell me he isn’t motivated to face the Packers and put up a monster stat line in Week 4. Jones should have the opportunity to do it this week. Green Bay has allowed the third-highest explosive run rate, the fourth-highest yards after contact per attempt, and the 13th-highest yard per carry to zone runs (Jones 55% zone).

Week 4 Tight End Start/Sit Grades

Tucker Kraft (TE)

Kraft remains Green Bay’s starting tight end. Last week, he got dinged up in the game, so his route share dropped to 40%, but he still led Luke Musgrave (36%). Overall, this season, Kraft has had a 50% route share with an 11.8% target share, 1.93 YPRR, and a 7.7% first-read share. The volume and first-read share are problems, but the matchup is pretty good for Kraft. Minnesota has allowed the 13th-highest yards per reception and the eighth-most fantasy points per game to tight ends. Kraft is a low-end matchup-based streamer this week.

Cole Kmet (TE)

Last week, Kmet had a 58% route share (finally seeing more routes than Gerald Everett) while drawing a 21.2% target share, a 20.6% first read share, and producing 2.94 YPRR with 97 receiving yards. He should be a prominent target again this week for Williams against a vulnerable Rams defense. Los Angeles has allowed the third-most fantasy points per game and the fourth-most receiving yards to tight ends. Fire up Kmet as a TE1 this week.

Colby Parkinson (TE)

Parkinson again finds himself in the low-end streaming area code of tight ends this week. He has been the clear full-time guy for the Rams with an 83% route share, but he hasn’t drawn much volume with only an 11.8% target share, 0.86 YPRR, and a 10.8% first-read share. The Bears are a favorable matchup for tight ends. They have faced the sixth-fewest targets to the position per game, but they have allowed the 10th-most fantasy points per game and the eighth-highest yards per reception.

Cade Otton (TE)

Last week, with Patrick Surtain following Mike Evans on half of his routes, Otton saw a bump in work. He had a 24% target share, 1.62 YPRR, and a 29.4% first-read share. I don’t think that holds into Week 4. Otton likely returns to the role he saw in the first two games of the season when he only had an 8.2% target share, 0.11 YPRR, and a 10.5% first-read share. Philly has allowed the third-fewest fantasy points per game and the fourth-fewest receiving yards to tight ends.

Mike Gesicki (TE)

Over the last two games, Gesicki has been the TE6 in fantasy points per game, earning an 18.9% target share, with a 52% route share, 3.21 YPRR, and a 22.9% first-read share. Now, Gesicki did see his first-read share fall to 13% last week with Higgins back in the lineup, but he maintained a 51.2% route share with a 13.2% target share. He could see those target share numbers swing back in his direction this week against a Carolina Panthers defense that has allowed the eight-most receiving yard and the second-most fantasy points per game to tight ends.

Zach Ertz (TE)

Ertz is the TE11 in fantasy points per game with a 70% route share, a 17.1% target share, 1.80 YPRR, and a 19.6% first-read share (second to only Terry McLaurin). Among 42 qualifying tight ends, he is 11th in separation and sixth in route win rate. These are all crazy stats, I know, considering our thoughts regarding Ertz in the offseason. Ertz should produce TE1 numbers again in Week 4 against an Arizona defense that has faced the seventh-fewest tight end targets but has relinquished the highest yards per reception to the position.

Hunter Henry (TE)

The Patriots continue to screw around with the personnel usage. After Henry went off in Week 2, the Patriots decided to cut his route share as he fell to 57.1% with only an 11.5% target share, 0.45 YPRR, and a 10% first-read share. Until the Patriots decide to commit to using their best players weekly, it’s tough to trust Henry. The 49ers have also been tough against tight ends, so it’s an easy matchup to cross Henry off your streamer board. San Francisco has allowed the third-fewest fantasy points per game and the fourth-fewest receiving yards to tight ends.

Travis Kelce (TE)

Panic! Did someone say panic? It’s getting close. If not time to press the panic button on the future Hall of Famer. Kelce’s usage hasn’t been the problem so much as his efficiency. He has handled a 69% route share which isn’t great, but it’s not damning either. The problem is he has only earned a 12% target share, an 18.8% air-yard share, and a 14.5% first-read share with 0.96 YPRR. These are run-of-the-mill replacement-level numbers in the tight-end world. No, I didn’t think we’d be here, but it is what it is. I hope that Kelce can flip the switch at some point, but we have to consider that the switch might be superglued in the off position. It’s unlikely to happen this week as the Bolts have held tight ends to the 14th-fewest fantasy points per game and the sixth-lowest yards per reception.

Mark Andrews (TE)

WHAT ARE WE DOING BALTIMORE? Seriously. Last week, Andrews had only a 23.5% route share and one target. I understand they wanted to go run-heavy, but when arguably your best-receiving threat is fifth in route share, there’s a big problem here. So what do we do with Andrews for fantasy? Unfortunately, most people don’t have better starting options at tight end, and the entire position is a wasteland, so if you have to start him, I get it. In the previous two games, Andrews at least had a 69% route share, but he still only managed a 9.3% target share, 1.05 YPRR, a 13.3% first-read share, and 6.3 fantasy points per game. None of this is good. Now, Andrews faces a Bills defense that has yielded the fifth-lowest yards per reception to tight ends and ranks 18th in receiving yards per game allowed despite facing the third-most tight end targets per game. Andrews is benchable. It just depends on who your options are.

Isaiah Likely (TE)

Remember when people were dropping half their FAAB for Likely after Week 1? Fun times, right? Since Week 2, Likely has had a 40% route share, an 8.2% target share, 1.36 YPRR, and an 8.6% first-read share. Yeah, none of these equal a startable tight end for fantasy purposes. Now add in that Buffalo has shut down tight ends and Likely should be parked on benches this week. The Bills defense has yielded the fifth-lowest yards per reception to tight ends and ranks 18th in receiving yards per game allowed despite facing the third-most tight end targets per game.

Week 4 Defense / Special Teams Start/Sit Grades

Week 4 Kicker Start/Sit Grades