Week 4 Fantasy Surprises And Disappointments

The rookie running backs, for the most part, boomed in Week 4, highlighting fantasy surprises and disappointments for the week. At quarterback and tight end, there weren’t that many booms, but there weren’t that many busts. However, at running back and wide receiver, highlights big time starts and sits once again.

As Week 4 wraps up, fantasy managers are either celebrating unexpected heroes or lamenting underwhelming performances. Let’s break down the biggest surprises and disappointments from this week’s action.

Surprises for Week 4

4 Rookie Running Backs: Ashton Jeanty, Omarion Hampton, Quinshon Judkins, Woody Marks

Fantasy Points: Ashton Jeanty– 33.5, Omarion Hampton– 27.5, Quinshon Judkins– 21.5, Woody Marks– 27.9

Why It’s Surprising: It’s not that surprising, but it is evident that these four rookie backs have already carved out a big role or are the full-time starter and taking advantage of it after a slow start across the board at the position.

Fantasy Impact: Jeanty and Hampton are obvious RB1s, but Judkins is getting to that point, and Marks could be an RB2 if there aren’t any changes in the backfield moving forward for PPR. After being a popular waiver pickup last week, the Texans’ rookie saw more snaps than veteran Nick Chubb, possibly being the start of a new split in Houston’s backfield.

Running Back Kenneth Gainwell

Fantasy Points: 31.4

Why It’s Surprising: Hopefully, Jaylen Warren’s managers woke up to the news that he was going to be out for the Dublin game against the Minnesota Vikings. But if you did start Kenneth Gainwell in a pinch, you were rewarded with a massive 30+ point day in PPR for fantasy. Perhaps after a monster day, the Steelers will utilize him more, but his role will likely stay about the same as before.

Fantasy Impact: Moving forward, this might be a blimp in his fantasy outlook, as rookie Kaleb Johnson got a few touches to end the game. Warren was the lead back and saw multiple double-digit fantasy points over the last three weeks, and will need to be out for Gainwell to have anything close to this performance. However, he is a stash and desperation start, as he was seeing some work as a receiver with Warren.

Bonus Surprise: QBs Dak Prescott and Patrick Mahomes, TEs Kyle Pitts and Dallas Goedert, WRs George Pickens and Romeo Doubs

Week 4 Disappointments

WRs AJ Brown (Philadelphia Eagles) and Ladd McConkey (Los Angeles Chargers)

Fantasy Points: AJ Brown– 2.7, Ladd McConkey– 2.1

Why It’s Disappointing: Both receivers were second-round picks in most fantasy leagues, but other than a spike week here or there, the consistency is not there with either. Unless Philly needs AJ and the game script/ defense promotes it, they will not force passes to him (with Goedert taking most of the target share).

Although this hurts DeVonta Smith as well, Brown was drafted to be a team’s fantasy receiver 1, so this hurts more than Smith as a receiver 2 or flex option on most teams. At this point, Jalen Hurts will only go to Brown in certain games, and those aren’t as predictable as people thought coming in. He’s still a start, but it’s more volatile week to week.

Fantasy Impact: McConkey is now not even second in the pecking order of receivers in Los Angeles. Quentin Johnston is here to stay for the Chargers, while Keenan Allen has a decent floor in PPR. He is definitely a buy low, as McConkey should surpass Allen at the very least, but he is a bench moving forward till the boom game happens this year.

Fantasy Points: All Baltimore Ravens, Basically

Why It’s Disappointing: Lamar Jackson- 10.68, Derrick Henry- 7.8

Fantasy Impact: Although both Zay Flowers and Mark Andrews had more than double-digit fantasy points in PPR, this is just bad vibes for the Baltimore Ravens offense for fantasy. Lamar Jackson exited the game with a hamstring injury, and Isaiah Likely’s grand return resulted in 0 points. After putting up 30+ points the last three weeks, this is a fall from grace in terms of offense.

Rashod Bateman and DeAndre Hopkins also disappointed, as they were barely fringe desperation flexes with some spike weeks. But if Jackson is not healthy at any point, this offense is mute and null/void. Justice Hill had 28.7 garbage time points in a trailing game script, but he isn’t a confident start unless Henry is out as a rusher and did all his damage as a receiver.