Each week, there are players who surprise us and define our matchups in fantasy football. The Yahoo Fantasy staff is here to share their bold predictions for Week 4 in fantasy. Find hot takes from Justin Boone, Joel Smyth, Chris Allen, Matt Harmon, Scott Pianowski and Ray Garvin.
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Tyquan Thornton scores again for the Chiefs
I know there are names and legacies to consider in Kansas City, but right now the Chiefs are just another 1-2 team desperate for a win. I can’t guarantee the Chiefs will beat the Ravens (a similarly desperate club), but at least Baltimore can be had on the back end. Thornton has two spikes in the last two games, and could easily have four. I understand Xavier Worthy is expected back, but right now Thornton is the best deep threat the Chiefs have. He’ll be back in the paint in Week 4. — Scott Pianowski
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Ashton Jeanty finally pays off, finishing as a top-10 RB
Jeanty managers, it’s time. I know it feels wild calling a first-round rookie RB a bold prediction, but here we are. Through three weeks, Jeanty has been flat-out disappointing. On 47 carries, he’s totaled just 144 yards at a brutal 3.1 yards per attempt. He’s added only five receptions for three yards. That’s not what you signed up for when you drafted him in the first round of fantasy drafts. Sure, he’s got one RB2 finish on the season, but outside of that he hasn’t cracked the top 24 any other week. He’s sitting 26th in rushing yards, 132nd in yards per attempt, and hasn’t shown the burst we saw at Boise State. But this is the spot. The Bears are bottom five in points allowed per game, giving up 31, and they’re bleeding 139 rushing yards per game. My bold call? Jeanty smashes and finally delivers a top-10 finish in Week 4. — Ray Garvin
Week 4 start-sit advice
Rankings from each Yahoo Fantasy analyst
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Consensus Half-PPR Rankings
Consensus PPR Rankings
Trade Value Charts
Garrett Wilson slides into the top five at wide receiver this week
We’ve now seen Wilson play two full games with different QBs. In both, Wilson has hoarded over 35% of the targets and amassed nearly 50% of the air yards. But how often the Jets’ WR1 earns a target isn’t his only selling point. His on-field deployment should have our attention. Wilson’s 43.5% slot snap rate is a career high. Combined with his 7.8-air-yard aDOT, his 10-catch outing in Week 3 doesn’t seem like a fluke. Now, layer in his matchup on Monday night. Miami’s allowing the highest completion rate to WRs who operate in the short area of the field. Michael Pittman Jr. (8-80-1), Dalton Kincaid (6-66-1), and Khalil Shakir (4-45-1) stretched the Dolphins horizontally and vertically on crossing routes and seam balls. Jets OC Tanner Engstrand has turned Wilson loose on similar concepts, putting Wilson on a path to another top-five finish. — Chris Allen
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Drake London finally gets it together with 100 & a TD
In 2024 with Michael Penix Jr., this wouldn’t even be a bold prediction, but now the whole Falcons offense can’t even get to 100 yards and a TD. It hasn’t all been pretty in Atlanta; however, there aren’t as many pieces missing. The volume is there, the utilization, talent, etc, is all still staring us in the face; we are just looking for the Penix and London connection (and accuracy) to return. This matchup versus the Commanders should allow London to receive some good opportunities to bounce back strong. The Commanders are sixth worst against wideouts this season, with their top corner Marshon Lattimore playing 92% of snaps on one side, meaning the Falcons’ star WR should avoid him ~75% of the time. Dan Quinn’s defense plays a majority of one-high safety defenses, allowing Penix to fall back on his strength of throwing to the outside rather than across the middle of the field. — Joel Smyth
Omarion Hampton posts another top-five fantasy finish
Hampton is coming off a breakout performance with 70 rushing yards, 59 receiving yards, six receptions and a touchdown. One can wonder whether the rookie would have hit those heights if Najee Harris hadn’t been injured, but the unfortunate reality is that the veteran is out for the season. Hampton is now unchallenged in the Chargers’ backfield. His next opponent, the Giants, are giving up the fourth-most fantasy points to running backs and have already allowed four touchdowns to RBs this season. They’ve only faced one true lead back who played over 60% of his team’s snaps and Javonte Williams racked up 130 scrimmage yards and a score against them. Hampton has been on the field for more than 60% of the Chargers’ plays in every game and that number should only rise with Harris out. He’s a locked-in fantasy RB1 who’s about to have another spiked week. — Justin Boone
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Cam Skattebo is a top-10 running back this week
The Giants’ rookie running back played on 75% of the team’s snaps in Week 3 from the second quarter on after Tyrone Tracy Jr. went down with an injury. Skattebo drew nine targets and was a strong outlet in the passing game. It was trending toward being Skattebo’s job anyway, even before Tracy left the game. The rookie brings a level of toughness and sustained rushing ability that this offense needs. Skattebo should post more rush attempts in Week 4 than any of the first three games with Jaxson Dart named the starter and an RPO offense being installed. I wouldn’t be shocked if he totes the rock 18-plus times. If he adds some passing-down work as the check-down man with Dart facing a tough defense, that’s a path to an RB1 finish. — Matt Harmon
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