We are only hours away from the start of week four, but we can’t relax yet. With all of the relevant injury designations, weather and news, we have to stay focused. This article will cover the NFL week three injuries, news, and final lineups. This information will be continuously updated until the 1:00 PM EST kickoffs.
NFL Week Four Injuries:
Last Updated: 09/30 12:59 PM EST
Aaron Rodgers, QB, GB – Active
Blaine Gabbert, QB, TEN – Questionable
Tyrod Taylor, QB, CLE – Questionable
Leonard Fournette, RB, JAX – Active
LeSean McCoy, RB, BUF – Active
Matt Breida, RB, SF – Questionable (likely barring pregame setback)
Chris Carson, RB, SEA – Questionable (likely)
Alfred Morris, RB, SF – Questionable
Marlon Mack, RB, IND – OUT
Corey Clement, RB, PHI – OUT
Darren Sproles, RB, PHI – OUT
DeAndre Hopkins, WR, HOU – Active
Keenan Allen, WR, LAC – Questionable (likely)
Doug Baldwin, WR, SEA – Questionable
Golden Tate, WR, DET – Active
Alshon Jeffery, WR, PHI – Active
Josh Gordon, WR, NE – Active
Larry Fitzgerald, WR, ARZ – Questionable (likely)
Randall Cobb, WR, GB – OUT
Cole Beasley, WR, DAL – Active
DeVante Parker, WR, MIA – OUT
Rob Gronkowksi, TE, NE – Active
Evan Engram, TE, NYG – OUT
Jack Doyle, TE, IND – OUT
Charles Clay, TE, BUF – Active
Billy Price, C, CIN – OUT
Sean Lee, LB, DAL – OUT
Ezekiel Ansah, DE, DET – OUT
Anthony Castonzo, T, IND – OUT
D.J. Hayden, DB, JAX – OUT
Joe Barksdale, T, LAC – OUT
Joey Bosa, DE, LAC – OUT
Marcus Cannon, T, NE – Questionable
Marcus Davenport, DE, NO – Questionable
Oliver Vernon, LB, NYG – OUT
Eli Apple, DB, NYG – OUT
NFL Week Four Weather:
Last Updated: 09/30 12:59 PM EST
According to NFL Weather, the only game that will be remotely impacted by weather will be the Buffalo-Green Bay game. There is expected to be a light drizzle throughout the game.
UPDATE: There is now not expected to be any drizzle during the Buffalo-Green Bay game, and all other games are not expected to be impacted by weather.
UPDATE: It is expected to drizzle during the Jets-Jaguars game.
NFL Week Four Other News:
Last Updated: 09/30 12:59 PM EST
Marcus Mariota does not carry an injury designation ahead of the Titans’ game against the Eagles.
While Jay Ajayi does not carry an injury designation, it is reported he will be play through a fractured back.
Keenan Allen is experiencing tooth pain (no joke) in addition to his knee injury.
The Patriots have 11 players listed as questionable heading into their game against the Dolphins.
NFL Week Four Final DFS Player Pool:
Last Updated: 09/30 12:59 PM EST
Quarterbacks:
Deshaun Watson, Andy Dalton
As I said on the Suck My DFS Podcast , Watson is a good play, but I don’t think I’d have any shares. Well, that’s why I do this article because things have changed. His appearance on my cash lineup is a first for the season, and one that I’m not worried about. Drew Brees and Matt Ryan did not allow me to create cash game lineups I felt confident in, and I think Eli Manning has a higher bust potential if the Saints defense of last year shows up. Watson has two great receiving options against a below average defense in a dome. His rushing upside provides him with a more stable floor even if he isn’t efficient.
Andy Dalton should not come as a shock to anyone who follows my work. Dalton will be, at worst, the third most popular quarterback in daily fantasy this weekend. And I have not problem with that. Dalton has looked great, as he’s had an offseason to work with his coordinator, who was promoted during the 2017 season. AJ Green, Tyler Boyd, and Giovani Bernard have great matchups, and Atlanta will not go away quietly. All things are point up for Andy Dalton this week.
Running Backs:
Ezekiel Elliott, Carlos Hyde, Giovani Bernard, Sony Michel
UPDATE: Instead of Carlos Hyde, I will be having Tevin Coleman. Hyde was originally on only one of my three lineups, but there was simply too much Cleveland Browns exposure to my liking. The exact lineup with Coleman has been updated below.
UPDATE: I wrote earlier about my hesitation with Sony Michel. After digging into the Breida/Morris situation, it appears that Morris was limited on Friday’s practice while Breida practiced in full. As a result, I’ll be holding my nose and playing James White in the flex of my 50/50 lineups. And in my third lineup, I’ll have Michel. White’s role is 100 percent rock solid and New England is not afraid to play him inside the ten and five yard lines. I love how the majority of my lineups look, so I won’t be redoing them completely to alleviate my New England running back concerns.
UPDATE: A late injury has changed my approach to my flex running back choice. Instead of playing James White, I have pivoted to Kerryon Johnson. Since Randall Cobb has been ruled inactive, I am moving up to Geronimo Allison from Kenny Golladay in two of my three lineups, which allows me to confidently play Johnson as my only share of the Detroit offense per lineup.
For the second time this season, I plan to have zero shares of Alvin Kamara. Leaving him out last week did not worry me as much with Todd Gurley on the main slate; however, I’m crossing my fingers this weekend that Ezekiel Elliott will match him point for point. Player comparison aside, Elliott is in another fantastic spot this weekend. His opponent, the Lions, are surrendering an NFL worst 5.4 yards per carry. While he hasn’t exploded yet, he still leads the NFL in runs of at least 15 yards with eight, and he’s seeing elite volume. I liken this scenario to week four of last season when Le’Veon Bell exploded after a slow start. I see the same thing happening for Elliott this Sunday.
Carlos Hyde and Giovani Bernard are obvious plays. Bernard will be one of the most popular players given his volume, pass-catching, and matchup against the Falcons who bleed points to pass-catching running backs. Hyde is also in a good spot. He’s currently a top ten fantasy running back and that will continue this week against the Raiders, who are surrendering more than five yards per carry and will be without P.J. Hall this Sunday. I also like Hyde because a lot of attention will be on Baker Mayfield and the Browns’ receivers. As you’ll see soon, I like the Browns passing game, but I’ll have Hyde on at least one of my lineups, and I feel great about it.
I don’t love Sony Michel, but there are a few things pointing me his direction. One, Rex Burkhead is on IR and will not be there this weekend. And two, the Dolphins are average at best against the run. Full disclosure, if Matt Breida is ruled out, I will pivot from Michel down to Alfred Morris.
Wide Receivers:
Michael Thomas, Odell Beckham, Will Fuller, Jarvis Landry, Tyler Boyd, Kenny Golladay
There isn’t much to say here. All of these wide receiver selections are chalky, and for good reason. However, if you listened to our last podcast, you’ll see that I have pivoted away from Sterling Shepard. It came down to this idea. If the Saints’ defense returns to its 2017 form, then Eli and company will be in trouble and I don’t want to depend on the less talented to player to produce.
So, I have decided to make Odell Beckham my top wide receiver play, as he is on all three of my lineups. Moreover, the three receivers that have dominated the Saints did so for one key reason, they all go deep. DeSean Jackson, Antonio Callaway, and Calvin Ridley all had scored from distance against the Saints. If there’s one player who’s going to catch a 60 yard touchdown, his name is Odell Beckham. I will be praying that Shepard doesn’t have a great day like most anticipate.
UPDATE: Since Randall Cobb has been ruled inactive, I have since pivoted from Kenny Golladay up to Geronimo Allison. I already explained why in the running back section. The lineup changes are reflected below.
Tight Ends:
Zach Ertz, David Njoku
I was originally on O.J. Howard as my only tight end. However, since neither Alvin Kamara or Michael Thomas cracked my cash game lineups, I was able to make space for Zach Ertz. Ertz is in a perceived tough matchup. For all this talk about their success against tight ends, the best player they faced was Austin Seferian-Jenkins. Ertz is an infinitely better player than ASJ, and he’ll prove that with this production.
David Njoku is the third of four Browns players I will have shares of. His price and potential for a breakout game makes earned him a spot on my lineups this week. However, I would not be shocked at all if he barely goes 1.5 times his price in Mayfield’s debut, but that’s a calculated risk I’m willing to take. So, buyer beware.
UPDATE: David Njoku is the second of three Browns players since I am out on Hyde.
Defense/Special Teams:
Cleveland Browns
This is pretty simple. The Browns are the best sub $4,000 defense on the main slate since the Cowboys will be without Sean Lee, and the Cardinals’ offense is still a huge question mark. Otherwise, they would be in consideration. I only need them to get me seven points to make value, and right now they’re averaging over 10 points per game.
NFL Week Four Final DFS Lineups:
Last Updated: 09/30 12:59 PM EST
The first two lineups are represented equally among my 50/50 contests. The third lineup is being used in all my single entry contests between 100-1,176 people.
Featured Image Courtesy of Roto Street Journal
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