| | | | Sunday, October 3, 2021 | | We've got some pretty significant injuries to keep an eye on for Week 4, and the Fantasy Football Today team is here to help make sure you've got your best lineup locked in this morning. Adam Aizer and Heath Cummings updated you on the latest news and answered some start/sit questions on this morning's FFT podcast, and Jamey Eisenberg, Dave Richard, and Heath are on CBS Sports HQ live right now until kickoff to answer your questions and keep you updated on all of the news you need to know on the FFT live show. | | Make sure you check both out, but if you want more direct answers to your questions, I've got two more ways for you to win: Go to Twitter and use the hashtag "#AskFFT", where our whole team will be answering questions all morning; and go to the FFT YouTube channel to chat with Adam and I from 11:30 until kickoff. We'll be there right up until kickoff answering as many questions as we can, so make sure you're in the chat early to get your questions in. | | Here's the rest of our preview content to get you ready: | | | | Week 4 Start 'Em & Sit 'Em: QB | RB | WRStarts, sits and sleepers for every game Cheat sheets: PPR | Non-PPRWeek 4 Position Previews: QB | RB | WR | TEMy Week 4 Rankings: Flex Top 150 | QB | RB | WR | TE | | | | Week 4 Injury Report | | | | Quarterbacks | Lamar Jackson (back) -- Jackson missed practice early in the week but was a full-go during Friday's session and he is fully expected to play Sunday against the Broncos. He remains a must-start Fantasy option.
Carson Wentz (ankles) -- Wentz is expected to tough out Sunday's game against the Dolphins, just as he did last week, with reports indicating he feels better than he did leading up to the previous game. You should avoid him for Fantasy if you can, and expectations for his offensive weapons should remain low. Andy Dalton (knee) -- Dalton is doubtful for Sunday against the Lions, and Justin Fields is expected to start in this one. It could be his last start if Dalton is able to return next week, but maybe Fields can put some pressure on the coaching staff with a breakout performance. | | Running backs | Dalvin Cook (ankle) -- Cook is expected to play Sunday against the Browns. He got through a week of limited practices without issue, and I'm expecting he'll play something like his usual role. It's possible the Vikings limit his reps coming off the injury, but when he's active, they tend to ride him. He's a top-five Fantasy RB for me this week; I can't run the risk of sitting him. Alexander Mattison is just a low-end flex option.Josh Jacobs (toe) -- Jacobs is questionable for Monday's game against the Chargers, and it isn't clear at this point whether he is more likely than not to play, which means you probably have to sit him if you don't have anyone else playing Monday to swap in. If you want to have a choice, consider picking up Peyton Barber, who rushed for 111 yards with Jacobs out last week, or put Jacobs in the flex and add someone like Hunter Renfrow or Bryan Edwards and make the swap if Jacobs is inactive. If Jacobs plays, he would be ranked around 20th at RB for me. Christian McCaffrey (hamstring) -- As expected, McCaffrey is out for Sunday's game against the Cowboys, pushing Chuba Hubbard into an expected starting role. Hubbard is a top-20 RB for me in PPR, while Royce Freeman could have a complementary role as well. Jonathan Taylor (knee) -- Taylor is expected to play Sunday against the Dolphins after dealing with fluid buildup and swelling in his knee earlier in the week. Keep an eye on this one leading up to inactives, but plan on starting Taylor at this point. If he doesn't play, Nyheim Hines would be a top-20 Fantasy RB and Marlon Mack might have a more significant role in the running game. Antonio Gibson (shin) -- Gibson is expected to play Sunday against the Falcons despite a questionable tag. Unless there is a pre-game setback, expect to have Gibson in Washington's lineup -- and yours.Darrell Henderson (ribs) -- Henderson is expected to play Sunday against the Cardinals after a one-game absence, but it'll be interesting to see what his workload is. Sean McVay talked about needing to limit Henderson's reps in the offseason to keep him healthy, and then gave him a huge workload through two games before he got hurt. Will Sony Michel mix into the running game a bit more? That wouldn't be great for Henderson's value, and I'm viewing him more in the RB 2 range for this game with questions about his usage.
Melvin Gordon (ribs/lower leg) -- Gordon is questionable but expected to play against the Ravens. He's not inside of my top 30 at RB, and neither is Javonte Williams. Elijah Mitchell (shoulder) -- Mitchell is not expected to start Sunday against the Seahawks, according to early morning reports. Trey Sermon will start again for the 49ers, and while he wasn't impressive in Week 3, he did find the end zone, and should have a good chance to do so again, given the 49ers success running the ball. He's a low-end RB2 option. D'Andre Swift (groin) -- Swift remains limited at practice but is not expected to miss Week 4 against the Bears. He has been dealing with this issue since training camp, but has played very well in spite of it and remains a must-start option.Giovani Bernard (knee) -- Bernard is out for Sunday's game against the Patriots. Leonard Fournette seems more likely to take on an increased role in the passing game than Ronald Jones, though second-year back Ke'Shawn Vaughn is likely to be active and could see some playing time in this one as well. Fournette is the only one I would consider starting. | | Wide receivers | A.J. Brown/Julio Jones (hamstring) -- Brown and Jones are both out for Week 4 against the Jets. Chester Rogers, Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, and Josh Reynolds will all likely see increased roles this week, but I wouldn't want to start any of them outside of DFS. Chase Claypool (hamstring) -- Claypool is out for Sunday's game against the Packers after his mid-week injury. Diontae Johnson (knee) and JuJu Smith-Schuster (ribs) are expected to return for this one, and Johnson is close to a top-20 WR for me, while Smith-Schuster is more like a top-30 guy with Claypool out.
Tyler Lockett (hip) -- Lockett was able to progress to a full participation in Friday's practice and should be good to go for the matchup against the 49ers. Sterling Shepard/Darius Slayton (hamstring) -- Both Shepard and Slayton have been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Saints after missing practice all week. We could see an increased role for Kadarius Toney and Collin Johnson this week, and don't overlook Evan Engram as a tight end sleeper if you need someone there. Curtis Samuel (groin) -- Samuel is expected to be active against the Falcons on Sunday, after missing the first three games with an injury that has limited him since May. He has a lot of potential to be a very good option in this passing game and is worth rostering anywhere he is available, but you don't want to rely on him until he proves healthy and productive.Elijah Moore (concussion) -- Moore is out for Week 4 against the Titans. Jamison Crowder and Denzel Mims are expected to be active for the first time Sunday, while Keelan Cole figures to slide into the starting lineup on the outside. Crowder is the guy to play if you need someone for PPR Darnell Mooney (groin) -- Mooney is questionable for Sunday's game against the Lions after being limited in practice all week, but he played through the injury last week, so he should be able to do the same. He's not a recommended starter outside of deeper leagues where you might start four WR. Marquez Valdes-Scantling (hamstring) -- Valdes-Scantling was placed on IR Saturday, so he'll miss the next three games with his injury. Allen Lazard figures to step up as the team's primary deep threat with MVS out. Russell Gage (ankle) -- Gage is out for Sunday's game against Washington. Olamide Zaccheaus will likely see an increased role, but he's just a desperation play or DFS target. | | Tight ends | | Rob Gronkowski (ribs) -- Apparently Gronkowski did suffer fractured ribs in Week 3 and will miss at least Sunday night's game against the Patriots. He could miss multiple weeks after that, too. O.J. Howard has a chance to emerge as a useful Fantasy option in Gronkowski's absence, while Cameron Brate will also see more snaps.George Kittle (calf) -- Kittle only got in a limited practice Friday but is expected to play against the Seahawks on Sunday. He reportedly told teammates he would be good to go in this one throughout the week, so as long as he avoids a setback Sunday, he should be good to go -- and he should be in your lineups coming off his best game of the young season. Jack Doyle (back) -- Doyle is questionable for Sunday against the Dolphins. He managed just a limited practice Friday, and Mo Alie-Cox is likely to take on a larger role if Doyle is out or limited.Gerald Everett (COVID) -- Everett seems unlikely to play in Week 4, which could make Will Dissly one of the more interesting streamers or DFS pivots this week. Anthony Firkser (knee) -- Firkser has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Colts. | | | | #AskFFT Start/Sit mailbag | | Send your questions to Chris.Towers@CBSi.com to be included in next week's newsletters. Here are some of the big questions I've received for Week 4: | | Todd: Should I start Clyde Edwards-Helaire or Chuba Hubbard in PPR? | | Hubbard is one of the running backs we're receiving a lot of questions about, which makes sense -- we've never seen him start, we don't know exactly what his role is going to be, and if he isn't the primary pass-catcher, how good can he be against the Cowboys? But I'm expecting him to be the lead back, including in the passing game, and that's enough to land him inside of my top 20 at RB. I do have Edwards-Helaire ranked slightly ahead of him, however, so I would still go with the relative veteran -- though I do think Hubbard's expected passing game gives him more upside, so he might be the better play if you're an underdog. | | Carl: Which two WR should I start? Antonio Brown, Emmanuel Sanders, Devonta Smith, or Henry Ruggs. | | There are going to be a lot of sub-optimal WR pairings in Fantasy this week due to the number of injuries, and this looks like a pretty typical selection you might have to choose from. With Brown back from the COVID list and Gronkowski out, I'm ranking him as a top-30 WR, so he's the first choice. It comes down to Smith vs. Sanders for me, and I have them back-to-back in my rankings -- with Smith 31 and Sanders 32. Smith is the better play as Jalen Hurts' clear lead target, especially if you think Hurts is set for a big game against the Chiefs. But it's close. | | Trad: Torn on whether to start Tom Brady or Justin Herbert? | | Having two elite QBs can seem like a good problem to have, but you're seeing the limitations of it here. How could you sit Brady? Well, I have Herbert ranked as a top-six QB this week while Brady is QB8. It isn't a huge gap between them at all -- in fact, it's more like a coin flip -- but I would probably go with Herbert over Brady. I like the game set up for Herbert more -- the Patriots are going to do everything they can to limit possessions against the Buccaneers, while both the Chargers and Raiders have been aggressive throwing the ball and could have a shootout on their hands. I wouldn't feel good about sitting Brady, obviously, but I would do it. But you should really try to trade one, because there aren't going to be many weeks where you're likely to feel good about sitting either. | | Suanne: Would you play Cordarrelle Patterson or Tim Patrick in .5PPR? | | I like Patrick quite a bit -- he has been extremely efficient whenever he's been involved in the offense, and he figures to remain a consistent fixture until Jerry Jeudy is healthy. But I do have Patterson ranked higher this week, so he's the one I would go with. I worry at some point the Falcons are going to find themselves in a game script where they just lean on Mike Davis, but it hasn't happened yet, and Patterson has been a consistent presence in both the running and passing games, so I'll stick with him over Patrick, regardless of format. | | DWP: Pick one WR and a Flex: Brandon Aiyuk, Mike Davis, Tim Patrick, and Melvin Gordon? | | I would go with Davis and Patrick in this one. At this point, it feels like you're basically just hoping for a touchdown with either of the Broncos' running backs, given the time share, whereas Davis' passing game role makes him a more reliable option. Patrick over Aiyuk is more of a question for me, because I do think at some point Aiyuk could have a huge breakout game -- and a game where they might be in a shootout and Kittle isn't 100% could be that game. But I feel better about what I've seen from Patrick so far. | | Updated rankings | | Here are my latest rankings as of 11:30 a.m.: | | Quarterback | | Patrick MahomesJosh AllenKyler MurrayLamar JacksonJustin HerbertMatthew StaffordDak PrescottTom BradyJalen HurtsRussell Wilson Aaron RodgersDerek CarrKirk CousinsSam DarnoldTaylor HeinickeJoe BurrowBaker MayfieldTeddy BridgewaterDaniel JonesJustin FieldsMatt Ryan Jimmy GaroppoloRyan TannehillJacoby BrissettJameis WinstonTrevor LawrenceJared GoffBen RoethlisbergerMac JonesCarson WentzZach WilsonDavis Mills | | Running back | | Derrick HenryDalvin CookAlvin KamaraAustin EkelerJoe MixonNajee Harris -Aaron JonesD'Andre SwiftSaquon BarkleyNick Chubb Antonio GibsonJonathan TaylorEzekiel ElliottChris CarsonJames RobinsonClyde Edwards-HelaireDavid MontgomeryChase EdmondsChuba HubbardMike DavisMyles Gaskin Josh JacobsMiles SandersCordarrelle PattersonLeonard FournetteKareem HuntNyheim HinesJamaal WilliamsDarrell HendersonTrey SermonDevin Singletary Michael CarterMelvin GordonTony PollardJavonte WilliamsZack MossKenyan DrakeTy'Son WilliamsDamien HarrisSony MichelJ.D. McKissicLatavius Murray Kenneth GainwellBrandon BoldenJames ConnerMark IngramTy JohnsonRonald JonesAJ DillonJeremy McNicholsTony JonesCarlos HydeAlexander Mattison Phillip LindsayDarrel WilliamsSalvon AhmedMalcolm BrownDamien WilliamsDevontae BookerSamaje Perine | | Wide receivers | | Davante AdamsTyreek HillCooper KuppCeeDee LambStefon DiggsJustin JeffersonD.K. MetcalfKeenan AllenMike WilliamsTyler Lockett Amari CooperCalvin RidleyD.J. MooreDeAndre HopkinsTerry McLaurinChris GodwinRobert WoodsDeebo SamuelCourtland SuttonMike EvansBrandin Cooks Odell BeckhamDiontae JohnsonTyler BoydJa'Marr ChaseAdam ThielenAllen RobinsonMarquise BrownAntonio BrownKenny GolladayDeVonta SmithEmmanuel Sanders Michael PittmanTim PatrickJaylen WaddleJakobi MeyersCole BeasleyMecole HardmanMarvin JonesCorey DavisBrandon AiyukJuJu Smith-SchusterRobby Anderson Hunter RenfrowHenry RuggsLaviska ShenaultRondale MooreChristian KirkSammy WatkinsDJ CharkAJ GreenJalen ReagorDevante ParkerBraxton Berrios Darnell MooneyAllen LazardBryan EdwardsWill FullerZach PascalTerrace Marshall Jr.James Washington | | Tight end | | Travis KelceDarren WallerGeorge KittleT.J. HockensonMark AndrewsLogan ThomasNoah FantKyle PittsTyler HigbeeDalton Schultz Dallas GoedertTyler ConklinEvan EngramJared CookRobert TonyanMike GesickiAustin HooperO.J. HowardDawson KnoxJonnu SmithHunter Henry Blake JarwinWill DisslyZach ErtzCole KmetJuwan JohnsonAdam TrautmanEric EbronTommy TrembleCameron Brate | | | | | | | | Destination Porto on P+ | | $100,000 Pick'em Contest | Destination Porto: The Unimaginable Journey provides an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at journalist Guilllem Balague's months-long travels across Europe amid a devastating pandemic as he covers the chase for the greatest annual prize in sports: The UEFA Champions League Trophy.
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