Week 4 Fantasy Football Review
Comebacks, upsets, and more, oh my! Baker Mayfield and the Buccaneers showed out, D’Andre Swift broke out, and heroes like Joe Flacco turned a next-man-up mentality into victory. As the 2024 NFL season begins to take its shape, we reflect on the fantasy impact of each matchup. The following point total refers to a 4-point passing TD, standard PPR format.
Falcons 26 Saints 24
In one of the first buzzer-beating field goals of the season, Falcons kicker Younghoe Koo drilled a 58-yarder to seal the deal for Atlanta. In a game with no passing touchdowns, Alvin Kamara and Taysom Hill combined for three scores on the ground. Chris Olave (16.7 PTS) also led all receivers with 87 yards. The Falcons have now won two of their last three contests, and all four of their games have been decided by one possession.
Bears 24 Rams 18
While the Rams came into this game without Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua, the Bears got six-time pro bowler Keenan Allen back from injury. D’Andre Swift (29.5 PTS) silenced the naysayers, putting up 165 all-purpose yards with a touchdown for good measure. DJ Moore (11.2 PTS) also racked in his first receiving touchdown of the campaign. Kyren Williams (20.4 PTS) continued his red-hot start to the fantasy season. However, the Rams fell up short and logged their third loss in the first four weeks.
Vikings 31 Packers 29
‘September Sam’ continues his reign, as the Vikings left Lambeau Field the same way they entered it: undefeated. Sam Darnold dazzled yet again, tossing three touchdowns along with 275 yards through the air to help Minnesota improve to 4-0. Justin Jefferson (20.5 PTS) stayed hot, tallying over 80 receiving yards for the third straight week. Aaron Jones (17.9 PTS) accumulated 139 total yards (without the Lambeau leap) in his return to Titletown.
Colts 27 Steelers 24
After Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson exited the game early, 39-year-old Joe Flacco took the reins and led Indy to their second consecutive win. Jonathan Taylor (19.8 PTS) punched home his fourth touchdown in as many games. However, Taylor was diagnosed with a high ankle sprain following the victory. Justin Fields (31.98 PTS) accounted for three total touchdowns (two on the ground), but it wasn’t enough to keep Pittsburgh’s undefeated season alive.
Broncos 10 Jets 9
In the lowest-scoring contest by a large margin, the Broncos limped out of New York with their second straight win. In one of the weirder statlines in recent memory, Courtland Sutton (15.0 PTS) caught three of Bo Nix’s 12 completions, but he accounted for all of the team’s passing yards. Mike Williams (10.7 PTS) led all receivers in catches (4) and receiving yards (67) in the evening. Each team missed and field goal in the last two minutes of play, and Denver got out with an ugly win.
Buccaneers 33 Eagles 16
A week remoted from a shocking loss to the Broncos, the Buccaneers looked as sharp as ever while improving to 3-1. Baker Mayfield (28.88 PTS) tossed for three touchdowns, while Bucky Irving (12.5 PTS) continued to chip away at the starting running back spot. Irving is now averaging 5.8 yards per carry through four games. Saquon Barkley (13.6 PTS) accounted for over 100 yards of offense, but the Eagles fell back to .500 at 2-2.
Bengals 34 Panthers 24
In their last opportunity to get a win in September, the Bengals downed the Panthers in a potential Andy Dalton revenge game. Chase Brown (23.2 PTS) beat out Zack Moss in efficiency, logging 5.3 yards to carry to Moss’s 3.4. Andy Dalton had the Panthers’ offense humming for the second straight week. Diontae Johnson (21.3 PTS) led the team in receiving, and Chubba Hubbard (22.1 PTS) ran for 104 yards. Both teams combined for nearly 750 yards of offense.
Texans 24 Jaguars 20
Hit the panic meter in Jacksonville. Not only does the offense look lackluster at times, but the Jaguars are now 0-4 on the season. Brian Thomas Jr. (21.9 PTS) led the Jags in receiving and caught one of Trevor Lawrence’s two touchdown passes. Nico Collins (33.1 PTS) now leads the entire league in receiving, logging 489 yards through four contests. CJ Stroud (23.5 PTS) threw for multiple touchdowns for the first time since week 1, and the AFC South-leading Texans improved to 3-1.
Commanders 42 Cardinals 14
The Commanders are officially one win away from their season total in 2023. Now sporting a ridiculous 82.1% completion rate, Jayden Daniels (24.02 PTS) has officially put the league on notice. Brian Robinson Jr; (20.3 PTS) led the ground game, assisted by his dual-threat quarterback, as Washington put up 446 yards. James Conner (18.3 PTS) and Marvin Harrison (15.5 PTS) both entered the end zone for the Cardinals.
49ers 30 Patriots 13
San Francisco made a statement after their 1-2 start through the first three weeks. Jumping out to a 20-3 lead heading into halftime, the 49ers nearly doubled (431-216) the Patriots’ yards output. Jordan Mason (24.0 PTS) continues to be an amazing story in Christian McCaffrey’s absence, now sitting at second in the league in rushing yards with 447. Rhamondre Stevenson (10.2 PTS) managed a productive day thanks to his pass-catching upside, but it has been another slow start for New England.
Raiders 20 Browns 16
In a game that saw as many field goals (3) as offensive touchdowns, the Raiders shook off their week 3 loss to the Panthers with an ugly victory over the Browns. Jacoby Meyers (9.9 PTS) stepped up in Davante Adams’ absence. Alexander Mattison (5 rushes, 60 yards) also outgained Zamir White on 12 less rushes. Jerry Jeudy (13.2 PTS) led the Browns receiving group, but Deshaun Watson has now gone four straight games without passing for 200 yards. Cleveland has a tough task next week as they take their 1-3 record into Washington.
Chiefs 17 Chargers 10
In typical Chiefs fashion, Kansas City rattled off 17 unanswered points to beat their AFC West rivals in a thriller. With Rashee Rice going down due to injury, Travis Kelce (15.9 PTS) became Patrick Mahomes’ primary weapon. Ladd McConkey (17.7 PTS) led the way for the Chargers’ receivers, but it wasn’t enough against the still-undefeated Chiefs.
Ravens 35 Bills 10
This one seemed over before it started. Derrick Henry bolted for an 87-yard touchdown on the Ravens’ first offensive play of the game. Henry (35.9 PTS) finished with 209 total yards. Justice Hill (21.6 PTS) was Baltimore’s leading receiver in an offense that used plenty of pre-snap motion. After stumbling out of the gates with a 1-2 start, the Ravens showed everyone why they are still contenders in the AFC.
With week 4 giving us a greater idea of the 2024 data, look out for patterns and new storylines that build during a new season. Some of the best performers of this season may even be a free agent in most leagues. Stay tuned for our week 5 recap next Monday.
