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Good morning.

Usually on a Week 4 Sunday like this, you’re looking at your matchup and hoping some of your top players like Cooper Kupp or A.J. Brown are poised for big games. But this year, your studs are all on IR and you’re praying for a Ray-Ray McLoud TD.

Life comes at you fast.

But whether you’re decimated with injuries, or you’ve dodged the bullet so far, we’re here to get you ready for gameday so you can get that W.

INJURY REPORT 🚑

Jordan Love Good to Go

The Packers QB is back today to take on the Vikings, three weeks after injuring his MCL. That’s obviously good news for Love managers, but also anyone who has Josh Jacobs or a Green Bay WR. Their ceilings just got a lot higher.

Meanwhile, here’s how some of the other big names around the league are trending…

👍 Expected to play:

• Justin Herbert

• Chris Olave

• Deebo Samuel

• Diontae Johnson

• Raheem Mostert

• Keenan Allen

• Bucky Irving

👎 Not expected to play:

• Joe Mixon

🤷‍♂️ Gametime decision:

• Alvin Kamara

• Rachaad White

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STARTS & SITS 🧐

Quarterback

✅ Start ‘Em:

Jayden Daniels @ ARI: Daniels leads the NFL in scrambles (17) and yards on scrambles (138). As a passer, the rookie ranks top-5 in EPA per play and yards per attempt, per NBCSports’ Kyle Dvorchak. Look for him to stay hot against a weak Cardinals D that generates pressure at the 27th-ranked rate in the league.

Justin Fields @ IND: Fields’ 81.0 PFF passing grade ranks 5th among QBs. He has specifically played well against zone defenses, where he has a higher PFF passing grade both this year and over his entire career. Fields is averaging 7.5 yards per attempt against zone compared to 5.1 against man, and the Colts deploy zone defense at the 5th-highest rate in the NFL, per PFF’s Nathan Jahnke.

Baker Mayfield vs PHI: Mayfield came back to Earth last week with just 8.5 fantasy points, but look for him to rebound today. Since the start of last season, Philly’s defense has given up 40 TD passes and the 2nd-most fantasy points to opposing QBs, per SI’s Michael Fabiano.

❌ Sit ‘Em:

Anthony Richardson vs PIT: Richardson is 26th in the NFL in adjusted yards per attempt (5.1) and 25th in total pass attempts, while averaging just six carries per game (the same number as Bo Nix) per Kyle Dvorchak.

Kirk Cousins vs NO: On the season, New Orleans has allowed just one passing TD (compared to five INTs) and a 67.8 passer rating, which is the third-lowest mark in the NFL, per NFL.com’s Michael F. Florio.

Trevor Lawrence @ HOU: Lawrence has yet to reach 14 fantasy points in a game this season, having only two passing TDs and a season high in passing yards of just 220.

Running Back

✅ Start ‘Em:

Tony Pollard @ MIA: Miami has struggled against the run, allowing rushes of 10+ yards to opposing RBs at the 5th-highest rate (16.7%) in the NFL. The Dolphins also rank in the top-8 in both yards per carry and rush yards over expected allowed to RBs, per Michael F. Florio.

Chuba Hubbard vs CIN: Hubbard came alive last week with 21 carries for 114 yards while adding five catches for 55 yards and a TD. This week he takes on the Bengals, who have allowed two RBs to gain at least 100 total yards and three RBs to score TDs, per CBSSports’ Jamey Eisenberg.

Cam Akers vs JAX: Akers is a fine start this week with Joe Mixon and Dameon Pierce not expected to play. The Texans have the third-highest implied team total (25.8 points), and the Jaguars have yielded the 4th-most fantasy points to RBs this season, per Yahoo’s Dalton Del Don.

❌ Sit ‘Em:

D’Andre Swift vs LAR: Swift has been struggling all season and saw his snap rate get cut down to 53% in Week 3 after he opened the year at 68% in Weeks 1-2, per Fantasy Points’ Graham Barfield. Roschon Johnson has started mixing in much more lately as well, pointing towards a true committee backfield brewing in Chi-Town.

Javonte Williams @ NYJ: He's yet to score a TD and continues to share touches with Jaleel McLaughlin and potentially Tyler Badie as well. The Jets are No. 8 in fewest fantasy points allowed to opposing RBs, per Jamey Eisenberg, making it tough to even use Williams as a flex in most leagues.

J.K. Dobbins vs KC: Given his volume, Dobbins is tough to bench. But he might be more of a FLEX play this week, as the Chiefs defense has surrendered the 3rd-fewest PPR points to opposing home RBs since the start of last season, per Michael Fabiano.

Wide Receiver

✅ Start ‘Em:

Diontae Johnson vs CIN: Johnson saw a whopping 37.8% target share while leading all WRs in expected fantasy points during his first start with Andy Dalton. Dalton provided 29 catchable targets in Week 3 after Bryce Young totalled just 38 over the first two games of the season, per Dalton Del Don. With the QB upgrade and Adam Thielen now on IR, Johnson’s primed for another big game against a soft Bengals D.

Khalil Shakir @ BAL: “Josh Allen’s No. 1 receiving threat has caught 14 balls through three games, nearly twice as many as the next-most productive receivers in Buffalo. This week, the Bills take on a Ravens secondary that has shockingly allowed the most receiving yards (291.7) per game this season.” — DraftKings’ Jeff Pratt

Darnell Mooney vs NO: If you’re in a deeper league or struggling with injuries, he’s worth a stream:

❌ Sit ‘Em:

Michael Pittman Jr. vs PIT: Indy’s WR1 has failed to score eight PPR points in each of their three games, and now he’s set to face an elite Steelers defense on Sunday. Fade him until Anthony Richardson proves he can succeed as a passer.

Jaylen Waddle vs TEN: Waddle caught just four balls for 26 yards in Seattle last week and should see a similar stat line this week with Tyler Huntley making his first start for Miami.

Jameson Williams vs SEA: Through 3 games, Seattle has not allowed a WR to put up more than 45 receiving yards so far this season, per FantraxHQ’s Ralph Martinez.

Tight End

✅ Start ‘Em:

Dalton Kincaid @ BAL: Baltimore has allowed the 2nd-most receptions and yards to opposing TEs, per USA Today’s Tom Viera. Kincaid’s volume has increased each week and should continue to do so in what could be a shootout.

Dalton Schultz vs JAX: Schultz had 29 receptions on 43 targets for 301 yards and two TDs in seven games without Dell last season, per Graham Barfield. While there’s more target competition with Stefon Diggs in the fold this year, Schultz should still see more work with Dell sidelined.

❌ Sit ‘Em:

Kyle Pitts vs NO: He only has eight catches this season. If you have another option, use it.

Hunter Henry @ SF: “Henry gets a difficult matchup against a 49ers defense that has struggled on the perimeter but has been terrific slowing down TEs; Fred Warner patrols the middle of the field, making opposing tight ends disappear.” — Tom Viera

POLL 📊

BEST BETS 💰

Reed Between the Lines

2024 record: 6-3 (1-2 last week).

🥇 Jayden Reed OVER 3.5 receptions (-160)

• “In a matchup against the blitz-heavy Vikings in Week 4, I’d expect Reed to be heavily involved as the Packers’ quick outlet. In two games against Minnesota last season, Reed averaged 80-plus receiving yards with five catches per contest.” — FantasyPros’ Andrew Erickson

🥈 ARIZONA (-3.5) vs Washington (-105)

• The Commanders are the luckiest team in the NFL when factoring in how much good fortune they have had through dropped interceptions by their opponent, dropped passes by their opponent, kicks made by their opponent and fumble recoveries, per The Washington Post’s Neil Greenberg.

🥉 Rashee Rice Anytime TD Scorer (+145)

• “Rice has been a huge part of KC’s offense as the go-to WR for Mahomes with a massive 29 targets this season. He has scored in each of the Chiefs' last two games and with the K.C. rushing attack in shambles, he should have another massive volume game this weekend.” — Action Network’s Grant Neiffer

Disclaimer: Gambling should be enjoyed as a form of entertainment. Never gamble more than you can afford to lose.

QUICK SLANTS 👀

📖 Read Matt Bowen of ESPN’s Fantasy Football Panic or Patience article, where he looks at 13 players struggling early on and helps you decide whether to move on or hold strong.

📖 Read Christopher Allen of FantasyLife’s What if We Redrafted Now? Allen uses hindsight to redraft the league — his 1.01? Saquon.

📖 Read Scott Barrett of FantasyPoints’ Week 4 DFS Main Slate Breakdown ($) for the fantasy industry's most comprehensive dive into today’s daily fantasy football main slate on DraftKings and FanDuel.

🎙️Listen to ESPN Fantasy Focus Football’s Full Week 4 Preview where Field Yates, Daniel Dopp, Mike Clay and Stephania Bell preview everything you need to know for this week’s matchups.

📺 Watch these ridiculous plays by two young WRs, Ohio State’s Jeremiah Smith (18-years-old):

and Alabama’s Ryan Williams (17-years-old)🤯:

Start tanking your dynasty team now…

TWEET OF THE DAY

Good luck this week.

- Marcus