DFS Value Options: Week 4
We are in Week 4 of the fantasy football season, and we should have a little bit better idea of what to expect. However, on the other hand, we are surprised every single week in the NFL as we realize that we don’t know as much as we think we do. However, let’s take a look at some players that could give you some cost relief to help you pay up for studs at other positions.
Quarterbacks
Brock Purdy – It is the weapons, it is the system, it is always something besides the fact that Brock Purdy is really good. And he continues to be priced below his output. Last week with no McCaffrey, no Deebo, and no Kittle he still put up 300 passing yards with three touchdowns against the Rams. The Patriots allowed two passing touchdowns last week against the Jets and are starting to show that they aren’t very good after getting off to a solid start. The 49ers are going to be pissed after losing two straight and will have George Kittle back and likely Deebo Samuel too. Purdy should far exceed his DFS price tag.
Sam Darnold – I am not sure what this guy has to do to start getting the respect he deserves. He has multiple touchdown passes in every game this season and has eight total in three games. The Packers defense has been better the past two weeks, but they also went against the Colts and Titans, neither of which are great offenses. The Vikings will also get Jordan Addison back, so Darnold has several great options to throw the ball too and his price tag continues to be cheaper than it should be.
Running Backs
Zack Moss – Chase Brown did get some work last week, but Moss continues to dominate the touches and he has a great matchup this week against Carolina. The Panthers are allowing over 150 yards per game on the ground and have surrendered four rushing touchdowns in three games. The Bengals are looking to get on track after an 0-3 start and I can see them getting ahead and pounding the ball on the ground plenty in the second half. That should give Moss a chance to shine.
Najee Harris
Harris has had a solid to start the season with 69-70 rushing yards per game and last week he added five catches to his stat line. Jaylen Warren won’t play again, which means that Harris is in line for another heavy workload of 15-20 carries in this one with a small handful of catches as well. The Colts are the worst in the league against the run, allowing 179 yards per game on the ground. The Steelers offense is inconsistent, but Justin Fields has been leading them to enough points so far and Harris should have a solid game on volume alone and if he is able to find the end zone, he could have a very big day on a very modest price tag.
Bucky Irving – Rachaad White popped up on the injury report with an illness on Saturday, which is not normal, but what is normal in the NFL anymore? Coach Todd Bowles already said that Irving had earned which was obvious with his performance last weekend where he ran for 70 yards on nine carries and had three catches for another 17 yards. The Eagles are allowing nearly 135 yards per game on the ground, which is in the bottom third of the league. Best case scenario, White is ruled out with the illness, but even without that I think Irving leads the backfield in carries for the first time and gets close to 100 total yards and hopefully finds the end zone.
Wide Receivers
Jordan Addison – The Vikings number two receiver returns this week and goes right into a great matchup against the Packers defense. He hasn’t played since Week 1 when he started out strong with three catches for 35 yards before injuring his ankle. Justin Jefferson commands a lot of attention, and Sam Darnold has been the biggest revelation of the 2024 season so far. The Darnold-Addison combo could be a DFS tournament winner for some bargains while paying up at other positions. Addison has already proven to be a strong NFL receiver and now that he is healthy going against a Packers defense that has allowed five passing touchdowns in three games and nearly 250 yards per game.
Tutu Atwell – We wondered if it would be Demarcus Robinson or Tyler Johnson or maybe even Jordan Whittington, but it was Atwell who led the charge with Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua hurt last week. His four catches and 93 yards both led the team, and Atwell is an explosive player who can take any carry or catch for a long way. The Bears defense has been fairly strong against the pass so far, but Matthew Stafford doesn’t have a lot of options right now and Atwell is crazy cheap. He should deliver 3-4X his price tag on Sunday.
Tre Tucker – With Davante Adams out for the game, I think Brock Bowers is going to have a monster game. However, if you look Tucker had seven catches on nine targets for 96 yards and a touchdown last week agains the Panthers. The Browns have been a fairly stout defense against the pass, allowing just 196 yards, but the Raiders don’t have a lot of solid options after Bowers and Jakobi Meyers and Tucker is ridiculously cheap. You should be able to pay up in multiple positions with this price tag and also get solid production for a guy well under $4,000 in your lineups.
Tight Ends
Dallas Goedert
OK so he doesn’t have a terribly low-price tag, but he is in a huge spot to have a smash game this week. A.J. Brown and Devonta Smith are both out and Goedert is coming off a monster 11-catch, 170-yard outing. Tampa Bay has been one of the better defenses against the tight end this season, so this comes with a little bit of a risk, but who the hell else is Jalen Hurts gonna throw to? Jahan Dotson? I mean maybe, but Goedert should still have another big game.
Cole Kmet – The Bears offense has been a shell of what we thought it would be this season, but Kmet was a monster last week with ten catches for 97 yards and a touchdown after just five catches for 37 yards the first two weeks combined. The Rams have given up decent points to the tight end so far this season. I like Brock Bowers or Goedert at tight end this week, but if you are looking to save money at the position, I think Kmet is the best option.