Week 4 Quarterback Preview: Is this When Brock Purdy Finally Cools Off?
Top Fantasy QBs for Week 4
Let's break down the key usage notes and matchups that are driving our Week 4 QB Rankings.
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1. Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills
Allen didn't throw a TD in Week 3 (16/26, 204 yards, 2 INTs) but still finished as QB17 thanks to his 2 rushing TDs. He has 6 rushing TDs through three games and is averaging 31.98 points per game, more than 10 points above expectation. New England has been the toughest QB matchup by adjusted fantasy points allowed. Allen is still the QB1 and a must-start.
2. Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens
The Titans have surprisingly allowed the second-fewest QB points through three weeks. But they've had a lot of help. Tennessee benefited from a low-volume passing day by the Jets in Week 1 and then ran into Jameis Winston's ghost in the Week 3 rain. In between, Jalen Hurts landed at QB13 despite throwing a pair of picks and running a (still) disjointed Eagles offense. We'll go ahead and bet on Jackson at home over a yet-unproven Titans D. Even the back issue that limited the start of Jackson's practice week gave way to a full workout by Thursday.
3. Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals
After opening the season with QB21 and QB15 finishes, Burrow delivered his best fantasy outing yet with a QB6 finish in Sunday’s loss to Pittsburgh. The Jags have proven tough on QBs so far, allowing only 2 passing TDs through three weeks. But they’ve faced Deshaun Watson, Bo Nix, and a struggling Drake Maye, so the schedule has helped. Regardless, Burrow belongs in fantasy lineups for what could become a shootout.
4. Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars
Lawrence glides into Week 4 in excellent form. Among 26 QBs with 75+ attempts, he ranks top-12 in completion rate (66.7%), catchable throw rate (77.8%), and yards per attempt (7.6). That’s helped him produce early fantasy finishes at QB7 and QB12. He remains an easy QB1 in the highest over/under of the Week 4 slate (51.5). The Bengals showed their flaws vs. the pass last week, surrendering 292 yards and 3 scores to Aaron Rodgers.
5. Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs
Mahomes was sharp in Week 3, going 20/24 for 246 yards and 2 TDs (1 INT) to finish as QB20. He's averaging 22.9 points per game (seventh) with 7 TDs, 2 INTs, and 8.3 yards per attempt. Las Vegas sits in the middle of the pack as a matchup (14th in favorability). The Chiefs are 4.5-point favorites with a 48-point total, so the scoring environment is solid. Mahomes is a locked-in QB1.
6. Tyler Shough, New Orleans Saints
Shough has been the beneficiary of a high volume passing attack, ranking as the QB3 this season despite a 7.1 adjusted yards per attempt that ranks 22nd among QBs. Fortunately, he's facing a Falcons defense that is allowing the most pass attempts and the fourth most passing yards. With volume expected to remain on his side, Shough projects as a mid-tier QB1 in Week 4.
7. Brock Purdy, San Francisco 49ers
Purdy ranks as the QB2 through the first three weeks, only trailing Josh Allen. Both his 11.3 adjusted yards per attempt and 10.9% pass TD rate lead all QBs. Purdy faces a Broncos defense that is allowing the 17th most points to QBs, but has notably played against Patrick Mahomes, Trevor Lawrence, and Matthew Stafford. He projects as a middling QB1 in Week 4.
8. Jared Goff, Detroit Lions
Goff continues to be an efficient passer with a 70.6% completion rate. Now he faces a Panthers defense that is severely depleted after losing both of their starting cornerbacks to IR. Goff projects as a top-8 option.
9. Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys
Prescott gets a Texans defense that hasn’t lived up to its reputation so far this season. Houston sits 16th in our Pass Defense Power Rankings and 21st in adjusted fantasy points allowed to QBs. This might not be a smash spot for Prescott, but he’s fine to keep in fantasy lineups as a QB1 this week.
10. Bryce Young, Carolina Panthers
Young finished as a QB1, producing 3 pass TDs in each of the first two weeks. After a QB22 finish to Week 3, where he lost his top producing WR Jalen Coker to a quad injury, the fourth-year QB is set up for a bounce back. Coker is possibly back for a matchup against a Lions defense that's allowed the most points to QBs, leaving Young projected for a QB1 finish in Week 4.
11. C.J. Stroud, Houston Texans
WR Nico Collins’ return is a huge boost to Stroud’s fantasy outlook. For his career, Stroud has averaged 7.6 yards per pass attempt with a 4.5% TD rate alongside Collins, vs. 6.8 yards per attempt and a 3.3% TD rate without him. Sunday brings a plus matchup against the Cowboys, who sit 30th in adjusted fantasy points allowed to QBs and dead last in our Pass Defense Power Rankings. Houston’s 25-point implied total is tied for eighth-highest on the week, making Stroud a viable QB1 play this week.
12. Marcus Mariota, Washington Commanders
Mariota made the most of his Week 3 start, going 19/31 for 183 yards and 3 TDs to finish as QB14. He has 4 TDs and no INTs through two games with Jayden Daniels on the sideline with his elbow injury. Washington has leaned on the run with a 51.8% pass rate (23rd), which caps his volume a bit. But the Colts are the fifth-most favorable QB matchup, and the Commanders being underdogs could push more passing. Mariota is a fringe QB1.
13. Jordan Love, Green Bay Packers
Love will remain without WR Jayden Reed, who was recently placed on IR with a neck injury. The QB may benefit from injuries on the other side, with the Bucs dealing with injuries to OLB Rueben Bain Jr. and OLB Yaya Diaby. Tampa Bay has already struggled to get after the QB, ranking 28th in pressure rate. Love’s O-line has struggled, but if they can hold up here, he’ll be positioned for top-15 value.
14. Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams
Stafford's been terrific for fantasy in his two starts on the mainland this year, delivering a pair of top-9 outings even while missing Puka Nacua. His next start comes against a Philly D that just got embarrassed by Case Keenum and should include Nacua's return.
15. Bo Nix, Denver Broncos
Nix dropped to 29th among all QBs with 5.9 adjusted yards per attempt this season following his latest underwhelming passing performance against the Rams. He is averaging a career-low 2.5 rushing points per game coming off last year’s ankle fracture, which has caused his lack of passing production to become more noticeable. Nix faces a 49ers defense that has allowed the eighth-fewest points to QBs this season, giving him a QB2 projection in Week 4.
16. Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles
Hurts has scuffled to a QB14 start in fantasy points per game and now faces the prospect of playing without lead receiver DeVonta Smith. Lean away from the Eagles QB this week if you can.
17. Kyler Murray, Minnesota Vikings
Murray’s first game back from a concussion was rough: 168 yards, 1 TD, and 2 picks on a 51.7% completion rate. But keep in mind that he didn’t have Justin Jefferson (ankle) for the majority of the game. Unfortunately, Jefferson looks very iffy to play ahead of Week 4, which takes significant appeal from Murray despite the nice matchup. The Fins have allowed a huge 9.1 yards per attempt and 2.3 passing TDs per game to enemy QBs.
18. Drake Maye, New England Patriots
Maye's struggles continued in Week 3, when he went 14/25 for 199 yards and 2 INTs to finish as QB32. He now has 6 INTs against just 1 passing TD this season and is scoring 6.42 fewer points per game than his usage suggests. His rushing (15 carries for 82 yards) still gives him a floor. Buffalo is giving up the ninth most points to fantasy QBs, and the Patriots being 6.5-point road underdogs should keep him throwing. Maye is a mid-range QB2 with upside if he can get back to last year’s production.
19. Sam Darnold, Seattle Seahawks
Darnold posted a big fantasy line -- 379 yards, 4 TDs -- in his return from injury. But his team's three turnovers dramatically boosted the passing volume vs. Seattle's norm. He remains a decent mid-range option for deeper leagues against a Chargers D that's been mostly soft through three weeks, but Darnold's nowhere near the must-start that his Week 3 numbers suggest.
20. Jacoby Brissett, Arizona Cardinals
Brissett is coming off his highest scoring game yet, ranking as the QB4 on the week. He was certainly aided by 52 pass attempts, the second highest mark of his career. The only time the Cardinals QB has thrown for more volume was against the 49ers last season. Brissett faces a Giants defense that just lost their top pass rusher, boosting his profile as a fringe QB2.
21. Daniel Jones, Indianapolis Colts
Jones finished as QB30 in Week 3, going 24/36 for 235 yards with a TD and an INT. The volume has been there. Jones ranks 12th with 98 pass attempts, and the Colts are throwing at a 55.6% rate. Efficiency is the problem. He's averaging just 6.23 yards per attempt and 10.45 points per game, more than 4 points per game below his expected output. Washington is the second-most favorable QB matchup by adjusted fantasy points allowed (28.42 per game). That makes Jones a low-end QB2 with streaming appeal this week.
22. Geno Smith, New York Jets
Smith is playing well and turned a prime matchup vs. the Lions into a QB3 finish last week. He gets another fine matchup this Sunday against the Bears, who sit 15th in our Pass Defense Power Rankings and 16th in adjusted fantasy points allowed to QBs. But this game carries less shootout potential than last week’s, keeping Smith out of consideration in 1-QB leagues. He'll also remain without starting WR Adonai Mitchell (finger).
23. Tyson Bagent, Chicago Bears
We're tentatively expecting Bagent, who beat out Case Keenum for the No. 2 job this summer, to start Sunday's game vs. the Jets. HC Ben Johnson proved capable of scheming up a productive outing from a backup QB last week and could do it again this weekend. But Bagent is too unproven to trust outside of 2-QB and superflex leagues.
24. Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers
The Bills tried hard with early turnovers last week to get Herbert back on track, but all he could muster was a third straight fantasy finish outside the top 20. Avoid Herbert at a much tougher Seattle D.
25. Deshaun Watson, Cleveland Browns
Played on Thursday night
