Regardless of your record through three weeks (keep your heads up, winless teams), Week 4 is here, and it’s time to lock in and see what matchups you can exploit and which matchups you should avoid. Even if your studs have been carrying you so far, it’s worth checking a few key matchups before setting your roster. Here are the best and worst matchups to keep in mind as you finalize your Week 4 lineup.
Quarterback:
Best: QB Geno Smith, Las Vegas Raiders
Geno Smith enters Week 4 with one of the most favorable quarterback matchups on the slate. Chicago has been shredded through the air, giving up a league-high eight passing touchdowns and ranking bottom 10 in passing yards allowed per game, yards per attempt, and pass success rate. Not to mention, they will continue to operate without top corner Jaylon Johnson, who was placed on IR over the weekend.
That sets up perfectly for a Raiders offense leaning heavily on the pass. Las Vegas owns the fifth-highest pass-play rate, and Smith is attacking downfield with a 9.3-yard average depth of target (aDOT). The Bears, meanwhile, are surrendering the third-most yards per downfield target.
Smith has already delivered two top-15 finishes and is coming off a 289-yard, three-touchdown outing that ranked him QB3 in Week 3. While he’s not the most consistent option, this matchup against a banged-up Bears defense offers both a high floor and a high ceiling. Smith belongs firmly in fantasy lineups this week.
Worst: QB Drake Maye, New England Patriots
Drake Maye faces a surprisingly tough matchup in Week 4 against a Carolina defense that just shut out the Falcons and fellow 2024 first-rounder Michael Penix Jr. The Panthers have allowed just two total touchdowns to quarterbacks through three weeks, with no passer throwing more than one in a game.
They’ve also kept every QB under 300 yards and haven’t let a single receiver top 100 yards through the air. On top of that, Carolina ranks top 10 in scoring defense, giving up only 17.7 points per game. Maye could still move the ball, but his fantasy ceiling looks capped against a Carolina defense that has quietly been one of the league’s stingiest units.
Running Back:
Best: RB Omarion Hampton, Los Angeles Chargers
Omarion Hampton finally broke out in Week 3, totaling 129 scrimmage yards, six catches, and his first career touchdown to finish as RB4 overall in PPR. With Najee Harris out for the season, Hampton is now the Chargers’ lead back and the only active rusher on the roster, setting him up for a significantly increased workload. He currently ranks 13th in touch rate (73.9%) and should see that skyrocket with Harris gone.
Week 4 brings a prime matchup against the Giants, who have allowed the fourth-most fantasy points per game to running backs (24.1), the third-most rushing touchdowns per game (1.7), and the third-worst rushing TD percentage (55.6%). Their front seven has struggled to stop early-down runs, which should allow Hampton to dictate the pace and command a heavy workload. Hampton figures to operate as the team’s bell cow, with little competition from Hassan Haskins or Kimani Vidal, making him a strong RB1 option this week.
Worst: RB David Montgomery, Detroit Lions
I know Montgomery just exploded against the Ravens on Monday night, racking up 151 yards and two touchdowns on 12 carries for the Lions, but “Knuckles’s” Week 4 matchup likely won’t produce similar results. He faces a Browns defense that has dominated the run this season, allowing just 57.3 rushing yards per game and a league-low 2.2 yards per carry.
Even in Monday night’s breakout, Montgomery’s snaps were limited. He played roughly 36% of the snaps with a 20% route rate and accounted for less than 30% of the team’s red-zone touches. Jahmyr Gibbs, by comparison, dominated the field, handling nearly 70% of snaps, running routes on more than 60% of plays, and taking over 70% of red-zone rushing opportunities.
Montgomery’s season-long usage has been similar, with Gibbs seeing the bulk of touches (37.6% snap rate and 32% red-zone rushing share). Montgomery can deliver in the right matchup, but against a tough Browns run defense, his upside is capped, and he’s better treated as a touchdown-dependent flex.
Wide Receiver:
Best: WR Keenan Allen, Los Angeles Chargers
Keenan Allen has been as reliable as ever in his return to the Chargers, and Week 4 looks set for another strong outing. Through three games, he’s caught at least five passes for 61+ yards and a touchdown each week, leading the team with 28 targets. While Quentin Johnston and Ladd McConkey also have seen significant targets, Allen has remained Justin Herbert’s primary option, especially in the red zone, where he surprisingly ranks second in the league in red-zone usage and efficiency among WRs.
This week’s matchup couldn’t be better: the Giants have allowed the second-most passing yards to wide receivers this season and rank near the bottom of the league in receptions (30th) and yardage allowed (28th). Allen’s volume, efficiency, and consistent red-zone usage make him a must-start this week and a high-floor, high-ceiling option in both standard and PPR formats.
Worst: WR Travis Hunter, Jacksonville Jaguars
Travis Hunter has struggled to make an impact through the first three weeks of his NFL career, and Week 4 against the 49ers doesn’t set up much differently. His target share has declined each week, and last week he caught just one pass for 21 yards. He hasn’t topped 33 receiving yards in a game this season, making it hard to trust him against a San Francisco defense that has allowed the fifth-fewest fantasy points per game to receivers.
Part of the problem is Jacksonville’s passing game itself. Trevor Lawrence continues to underperform, with a 5.9 yards-per-attempt average, a 70.3 passer rating, and negative EPA per dropback. Despite his struggles, Brian Thomas Jr. still dominates the team’s targets with a 23.1% target share, while Dyami Brown (13%), Parker Washington (14.8%), and Hunter (14.8%) all sit below 15%. Bottom line — Hunter’s role on a flailing offense is limited currently, and that is unlikely to change this week.
Tight End:
Best: TE T.J. Hockenson, Minnesota Vikings
T.J. Hockenson finally found his groove in Week 3, hauling in five of six targets for 49 yards and a touchdown against the Bengals. He accounted for all of Minnesota’s red-zone targets and posted 0.85 EPA per target, giving fantasy managers a much-needed spark after a slow two-week start.
Week 4 brings a promising matchup against the Steelers, who have allowed the second-most fantasy points per game to tight ends. With J.J. McCarthy out, Hockenson’s role as Carson Wentz’s primary short- and intermediate-option should only continue to grow. He’s not the flashiest play, but his target volume and red-zone involvement give him a solid floor and make him a fair TE1 option this week.
Worst: TE Juwan Johnson, New Orleans Saints
Juwan Johnson has been an early-season fantasy surprise, catching 19 of 29 targets for 176 yards and a touchdown through three games for the Saints. He’s shown reliable production, but Week 4 presents a tough test. The Bills have allowed just five receptions to tight ends through three weeks and rank second-fewest in fantasy points per game to the position (3.9 FPPG).
With Spencer Rattler making another tough start on the road, Johnson’s opportunities are likely limited. There is the threat of a garbage-time score in a game Buffalo will likely run away with, but the overall matchup severely caps his ceiling. I still believe in Johnson for the season, but he is a risky TE option this week.
