Hopefully, you were able to find some success last week in DFS. But if not, the beautiful thing is that there’s always another week with restored hope. It’s never easy to know who will produce. If it were then everyone would be a winner. It can be frustrating when you’re trying to decide where to spend and where to save. But there’s nothing quite like getting it right. So as we head into Week 4, here are a few options to consider, both on the high end and low end of your budgetary requirements. Good luck.
DFS CASH GAMES: WEEK 4
QUARTERBACK TOP OPTION:
Kyler Murray (DraftKings: $6,800, FanDuel: $8,700) has been a consistent player in 2024. Murray is currently the QB6 in fantasy and although the Cardinals are 1-2, they have not lost a game by more than seven points. With his ability as a dual-threat, and boasting weapons like Marvin Harrison Jr., Trey McBride, Michael Wilson, and James Conner, Murray should be able to put together one of the best seasons of his career. Unfortunately, both Marvin Harrison Jr. and Trey McBride are listed as questionable this week. While Marvin Harrison Jr. is expected to be good to go, McBride will likely be out. This could limit Murray’s upside, making the price a bit too steep for me.
QUARTERBACK VALUE OPTION:
Caleb Williams (DraftKings: $5,600, FanDuel: $7,100) has had an up-and-down start to his rookie campaign. After two weeks where he failed to hit double-digit fantasy points, Williams came through against Indianapolis with over 21 points, completing 33 passes for 363 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions. With Williams, there will be turnovers, but this week he will face a Rams defense that is toward the bottom of the league in passing yards allowed. Williams could also have all his weapons available to him, with Keenan Allen on pace to return to action. That should mean a productive day and great value.
RUNNING BACK TOP OPTION:
Saquon Barkley (DraftKings: $8,000, FanDuel: $9,700) is currently the RB1 in fantasy. Many analysts and experts have even stated that if fantasy drafts were happening today, Barkley would be the overall No. 1 pick. That’s not bad for a player many were scared to draft due to growing concerns over health and uncertainty surrounding his role in the offense. But Barkley has had 20+ touches in every game and is a focal point of the Eagles’ offense. Barkley is averaging 5.6 yards per carry and has five total touchdowns. Tampa Bay can be run on and Barkley should get a ton of work. He is an expensive option but he just might be worth it.
RUNNING BACK VALUE OPTION:
Brian Robinson Jr. (DraftKings: $6,100, FanDuel: $7,300) has been quietly productive through the first three weeks of the season. Robinson has one top-12 finish and two top-25 performances. He has done this while playing for a team that is trying to find its offensive identity and while sharing time with Austin Ekeler. But Ekeler has already been ruled out of Week 4 after suffering a concussion on Monday Night Football. With all the backfield work to himself against an Arizona defense allowing the tenth most fantasy points to opposing running backs, Robinson is in a great spot to reward those who trust him.
WIDE RECEIVER TOP OPTION:
Justin Jefferson (DraftKings: $8,700, FanDuel: $9,400) is a top-five fantasy wide receiver this season. Sam Darnold has been much better than expected. So much so that he is the QB4 through three weeks. Jefferson is also largely matchup-proof. As arguably the best wide receiver in the NFL, he is simply that good. He will now face the Green Bay Packers who allow nearly 32 fantasy points per game to the position. Look for Jefferson to approach double-digit targets en route to another 20+ point game. If you save on your budget elsewhere then paying up for Jefferson could be wise.
WIDE RECEIVER VALUE OPTION:
Jauan Jennings (DraftKings: $5,600, FanDuel: $6,800) will, at some point, again be relegated to the bench, but for now, he is having a moment. This week Deebo Samuel is listed as doubtful and George Kittle is questionable. This is on top of the extended absence of superstar Christian McCaffrey. If they’re inactive, Jennings will again be one of the top options in the passing game. I would expect more production from Brandon Aiyuk in this one. But after a 46.5 PPR performance that catapulted him into the top two overall at the position, we should expect Jennings to be heavily involved. Just be sure to check on Kittle’s and Samuel’s status before the game, because if one or both are available then Jennings may be someone you want to pass on.
TIGHT END TOP OPTION:
Dallas Goedert (DraftKings: $5,100, FanDuel: $7,500) managers were thinking about sitting him just a week ago after a slow start to the season. What a difference a week makes. Goedert exploded against the Saints to the tune of 10 receptions for 170 yards. This was largely because stud WR A.J. Brown was inactive and DeVonta Smith suffered a concussion during the game, but it was still nice to see. He should be in a good spot to do it again with Brown and Smith trending toward being out when they take on the Buccaneers. The passing game should run through Goedert, leading to solid production.
TIGHT END VALUE OPTION:
Tyler Conklin (DraftKings: $3,600, FanDuel: $5,100) is a difficult player to project. I’m not sure we should buy into his recent performance. But if Aaron Rodgers is as good as he looked against the Patriots and Conklin continues to receive six to eight targets per game, then he may be someone to take seriously. In that game, Conklin caught five of six targets for 93 yards. He failed to find the end zone, but if he can consistently enjoy this type of volume then he could reward those who put him in their lineups. With the tight end position being one of the hardest to predict, choosing the value option makes sense so you can spend up on more consistent positions.
DEFENSE TOP OPTION:
San Francisco 49ers DST (DraftKings: $3,800, FanDuel: $5,000) are the most expensive defense on both DraftKings and FanDuel but I’m not sure they’re worth the price tag. This week the 49ers will face New England. The Patriots are an offense that doesn’t take a lot of risks and only has one turnover this season. They also like to grind it out and slow down the pace. This means they are not likely to put up a lot of points, but it also doesn’t provide a lot of upside for an opposing defense. Also, the San Francisco DST has not hit double-digit fantasy points once this season, so I would recommend passing on them for a more upside play.
DEFENSE VALUE OPTION:
Houston Texans DST (DraftKings: $3,000, FanDuel: $4,100) is currently just outside the top 12, but they have shown they have upside in the right matchup. One such matchup was when they faced the Chicago Bears and scored nearly 20 fantasy points. Week 4, could be another fantasy-friendly contest. The Jacksonville offense has not looked good through the first three weeks of the season and has the same number of turnovers as they do touchdowns, with four of each. The Texans have proven to be opportunistic at times. I expect Week 4 to be one of those times.
