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Week 4 Quarterback Preview: Will Caleb Williams Shine Again?

Top Fantasy QBs for Week 4

Let's break down the key usage notes and matchups that are driving our Week 4 QB Rankings.

Commanders at Falcons

Marcus Mariota, Commanders

Filling in for Jayden Daniels, Mariota posted QB6 numbers last week. He threw for 207 yards and a TD and rushed 6 times for 40 yards and an additional score. This week, Mariota is on the QB2 radar in Atlanta, where the Falcons gave up a rushing TD to Bryce Yong last week and allowed Baker Mayfield and J.J. McCarthy to average 32 yards on the ground in Weeks 1 and 2. 

Michael Penix, Falcons

The season started well for Penix, but two terrible road starts in a row have hurt his stock. Penix was benched last week after completing just half of his 36 throws and tossing a pair of INTs against the Panthers. Perhaps returning home, where the Falcons host a Washington defense that has allowed the ninth-most fantasy points to QBs, will help. For now, Penix is barely in QB2 territory, and his lack of production is hurting Atlanta's pass-catchers. 

Saints at Bills

Josh Allen, Bills

The Bills are implied for a slate-high 31.75 points. Meanwhile, Allen remains a highly productive dual-threat, particularly on the ground. He enters Week 4 with a QB-high eight goal-line rush attempts (and two rushing scores). 

Browns at Lions

Jared Goff, Lions

Goff carries some upside from this range in an interesting matchup with the Browns. Cleveland ranks tops in the league in run defense by DVOA but just 18th against the pass. That said, the first three Browns opponents have all failed to reach 200 passing yards. Joe Burrow, Lamar Jackson, and Jordan Love have combined to average just 147 yards. So perhaps the DVOA metric is simply underrating Cleveland’s pass D to date. Detroit’s offensive strength keeps Goff an others in contention. But this doesn’t look like a high-ceiling spot if you have other attractive plays.

Titans at Texans

C.J. Stroud, Texans

It's getting hard to trust Stroud, even in Superflex formats. Over his last 15 starts, Stroud has produced 15 total TDs, 12 INTs, and the Texans sport a 6-9 record. This week's matchup against Tennessee doesn't appear to be the cure to those ills. The Titans have surrendered the seventh-fewest fantasy points to QBs so far. In two starts against Tennessee last season, Stroud finished as the QB11 and QB31. He's a middling QB2 at best this week and moving forward. 

Panthers at Patriots

Drake Maye, Patriots

Maye has now been a top-12 QB in back-to-back weeks. His rushing ability offers a solid floor (with some upside) and he is throwing TDs near the red zone. With the Patriots’ RBs struggling, look for more Maye. The Panthers haven’t given up a top-20 QB fantasy performance yet, but Maye is the best they have seen. Start him as a low-end QB1.

Bryce Young, Panthers

The Panthers got up early on the Falcons and Bryce Young didn’t have to throw much. He had a rushing TD and ended as a high-end QB3. The offense might be coming together a bit, and the Patriots' defense has been soft against opposing QB. He should be a low end QB2 used in Superflex only.

Chargers at Giants

Justin Herbert, Chargers

Herbert struggled for much of Week 3 against a tough Broncos defense. But he delivered late to finish with 300 yards and one TD for a QB12 fantasy finish. Week 4 brings a MUCH better matchup against the Giants, who rank 23rd in our composite pass defense rankings and 24th in adjusted fantasy points allowed to QBs.

Jaxson Dart, Giants

Dart makes his first NFL start against a tough Chargers defense. Los Angeles ranks fifth in pass defense DVOA, third in Pro Football Focus coverage grade, and has allowed just 5.5 yards per pass attempt. Dart could eventually become a strong QB2 and even a QB1 spot starter, but we'd try not to use him this week.

Eagles at Buccaneers

Jalen Hurts, Eagles

Hurts needed rushing TDs to salvage his fantasy lines the first two weeks. But last Sunday’s comeback win over the Rams marked a big passing rebound. This week pits him against a Tampa Bay defense that not only plays the run better than the pass this year, but has also done so for at least several years. Expect passing more in line with Week 3’s production than the first two games.

Baker Mayfield, Buccaneers

Mayfield should get Chris Godwin back in the same week he loses Mike Evans. That’s good timing for Godwin’s return, but it’s impossible to know just how good a version of Godwin we’ll get in his first action since last October. Throw in a Philly secondary that’s at least strong at the CB spots likely to primarily defend against Godwin and Emeka Egbuka (Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean), and this looks like a week to try to avoid using Mayfield.

Colts at Rams

Daniel Jones, Colts

Jones has finished as a top-12 fantasy QB in all three weeks, with two in the top-five. He may be without deep threat Alec Pierce (concussion) for Sunday’s showdown with the Rams. But Jones remains in the QB1 mix, despite a tough matchup. Entering Week 4, L.A. ranks fifth in pressure rate; fourth in yards allowed per pass attempt.

Matthew Stafford, Rams

The Colts have allowed only 190 passing yards per game, but note that they’ve faced Tua Tagovailoa, Bo Nix, and Cam Ward. They’re also dealing with a key injury to slot CB Kenny Moore (Achilles). Now, they’ll turn to veteran Mike Hilton, who was signed just days ago. Stafford should be able to exploit that mismatch and at least deliver useful QB2 totals in superflex leagues.

Jaguars at 49ers

Brock Purdy, 49ers

After missing two games, Brock Purdy returns to lead the undefeated 49ers in a Week 4 home tilt against the Jaguars. Purdy threw for 277 yards, 2 TDs, and 2 INTs in San Francisco's opener. Still dealing with a toe injury, Purdy may not be as mobile as he usually is, but he should still be able to stand in the pocket and challenge an average Jacksonville defense. View Purdy as a high-end QB2 who you don't have to force into lineups if you have an adequate backup. 

Trevor Lawrence, Jaguars

Lawrence hits the road with only one QB1 performance in three tries (Week 2 at the Bengals). He draws a 49ers pass rush that'll be without star DE Nick Bosa (ACL tear).

Ravens at Chiefs

Lamar Jackson, Ravens

Jackson has been a top-5 fantasy QB in each of the games so far this season, including last week when he only rushed for 13 yards. Jackson has run wild on the Chiefs over the past few years, so expect that rushing number to be better this week. Jackson is a must-start.

Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs

The Chiefs have had Rashee Rice suspended and Xavier Worthy injured for the firs tthree games. It has created a rough start passing once again for Mahomes. But, he has been running the ball more, rushing for 121 yards and two TDs so far this season. Worthy will be back, but may be limited. The Ravens also have struggled against the pass with multiple players missing, allowing 71% completion percentages to both Josh Allen and Jared Goff. Lock Mahomes in as a low-end QB1 who could have the best performance of his season.   

Bears at Raiders

Caleb Williams, Bears

Williams delivered in a plus matchup against the Cowboys last week, finishing second among QBs in fantasy points. He's ranked top-9 in two of three weeks and sits third at the position in total fantasy points. Williams finds another good spot in Week 4 against the Raiders, who rank 27th in our composite pass defense rankings.

Geno Smith, Raiders

Smith bounced back from an ugly Week 2 to throw for 289 yards and three scores against Washington last week. He finished QB4 in fantasy points and also had a QB15 finish in the opener. Smith has a good chance to keep rolling in Week 4 against the Bears. Despite getting the Cowboys without CeeDee Lamb for much of last week's game, Chicago still ranks dead last in adjusted fantasy points allowed to QBs. Vegas' 24.5-point implied total is ninth-highest on the week.

Packers at Cowboys

Jordan Love, Packers

Love goes from facing a Cleveland D ranked third in DVOA and sporting Myles Garrett to a Dallas D that ranks 32nd and sports big question marks on the edges. The Cowboys have been the fourth-best scoring matchup for QBs so far, according to our adjusted fantasy points allowed. That, of course, included banner performances by Russell Wilson and Caleb Williams the past two weeks. Love carries exciting upside in to Week 4.

Dak Prescott, Cowboys

Prescott disappointed in Week 3 against a bad Chicago defense. Even if we choose to pin that on the early-game loss of CeeDee Lamb, that absence will carry throughout this game. And now Dallas faces a Green Bay defense leading the league in DVOA -- with a revenge-minded Micah Parsons on the edge. Try hard to avoid playing Prescott in Week 4.

Jets at Dolphins

Justin Fields, Jets

Fields put in a full practice on Thursday, a signal that he’ll return from a concussion. He’ll carry a QB1 outlook if he’s able to clear protocol; just note that the Jets face Miami on Monday night. The Fins have allowed the second-most fantasy points to QBs through three games.

UPDATE: Fields has been cleared and will start vs. Miami.

Tua Tagovailoa, Dolphins

Early on, the Jets have underwhelmed as a defensive unit. They’re bottom-eight in EPA per play, pressure rate, and Pro Football Focus coverage grade. Now, they’ll play Monday without LB Quincy Williams. Ultimately, Tua’s up-and-down play – which includes fantasy finishes of QB28, QB15, and QB18 – makes him a risky option.

Bengals at Broncos

Bo Nix, Broncos

Nix has struggled through three weeks, averaging just 5.6 yards per pass attempt and ranking dead last in Pro Football Focus passing grade. His last two games have come against tough Colts and Chargers pass defenses. He gets a much softer matchup in Week 4 at home for the Bengals, who rank 20th in pass defense DVOA and 16th in Pro Football Focus pass defense grades. Denver's 25.75-point implied total is fifth-highest on the week. Nix isn't a comfortable QB1 play, but there's plenty of upside in this spot.

Next Up

Best Week 4 Moves From Our Experts: Stash This Defense

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Kevin English, Senior Analyst

Kevin brings 15+ years of experience as a fantasy analyst and mid-stakes competitor across various formats (redraft, best ball, dynasty, DFS). He finished 1st in FantasyPros Draft Accuracy competition in 2024. Kevin's work has been featured in The Mercury News, NBC Sports/Rotoworld, and FantasyPros.