- Ashton Jeanty erupts after slow start: Jeanty torched the Bears for 138 yards and three touchdowns on his way to 33.5 PPR points.
- Derrick Henry’s woes continue: Henry sits as the RB21 after a 7.8-point Week 4, while Justice Hill spiked to RB4 through two long scores.
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Estimated Reading Time: 4minutes
BOOMS
Nacua looks like the undeniable fantasy WR1. Through three weeks, he was the overall WR1 despite his lack of a receiving touchdown. And then in Week 4, he caught his first touchdown on top of 13 receptions and 170 yards (36.0 PPR points).
The third-year star is the highest-graded wide receiver through four weeks (93.1), with the best PFF receiving grade (93.5) in the league to boot. He is dominating in every aspect of the game, leading all pass catchers in targets (49), receptions (42), yards (503), first-down receptions (26), contested catches (eight) and receptions of 15-plus yards (12).
Nacua is shaping up to have a 2021 Cooper Kupp-esque season if his touchdown numbers improve.
Temperature Check: The WR1
Last week’s article highlighted the need to get Love in your Week 4 fantasy lineups against a porous Cowboys defense in the “start whichever quarterback is playing Dallas” game script. He is now this week’s QB4 ahead of Monday Night Football, after putting up 337 yards, three touchdowns and 26.3 fantasy points.
The Cowboys’ defense faces Justin Fields and the Jets next week, so consider starting Fields where possible.
Temperature Check: Mid-tier QB1
Jeanty read last week’s article and took it personally: 138 yards, three touchdowns and 33.5 PPR points.
The rookie put together an all-around effort against the Bears’ defense, including three receptions for 17 yards and a touchdown. He finished as the third-highest graded running back this week (83.4), ahead of Monday Night Football.
As fun as Jeanty’s breakout was, concerns remain going forward. The Raiders’ offensive line managed to take advantage of a weak Bears run defense, but the unit is still extremely shaky. Las Vegas is fielding the 26th-ranked offensive line by PFF overall grade and the 24th-ranked unit by PFF run-defense grade.
Temperature Check: RB1 with boom potential in good matchups; RB2 otherwise
BUSTS
Allen came back down to earth and scored eight PPR points in Week 4.
PFF lead fantasy analyst Nathan Jahnke told managers to sell high on Allen while you could ahead of Week 4:
Allen has been very touchdown-dependent this season, and we saw that play out this week in his first non-scoring outing. Expect that trend to continue as the Chargers’ schedule eases up, leading to fewer pass-heavy game scripts.
Temperature Check: Matchup-dependent WR2
Henry is now the RB21 on the season, following a 7.8-PPR-point showing in Week 4.
Even more frustrating for Henry’s managers is that Justice Hill is this week’s RB4 (28.7 PPR points) after two long touchdowns. Now, Hill is the RB27 on the year — just six spots from Henry.
One of those players was picked in the second round of fantasy drafts, and the other likely went undrafted in most 12-team leagues.
The Ravens’ offensive line ranks just 23rd in PFF run-blocking grade, and the team’s game scripts have not lent themselves to pounding the rock as much as we typically see due to Baltimore’s shaky defense and plethora of injuries.
Temperature Check: Mid-tier RB2 until offensive line or game scripts improve
McMillan has been a promising but underwhelming fantasy asset through four weeks, having recorded 11.8, 16.0, 7.8 and 10.2 fantasy points in PPR leagues.
The rookie ranks fifth in the NFL in targets (34) but places only 16th in catchable targets (22). A 64% catchable-target rate is not a catalyst for season-long success.
McMillan is the league’s highest-graded rookie wide receiver (74.3) among those to have played at least 50 snaps, and his 10 explosive receptions also pace all first-year pass catchers.
McMillan has all the tools to be a breakout player down the stretch — target share, grading profile, explosiveness and contested-catch ability. It’s all up to quarterback Bryce Young to hit for him to be a reliable fantasy starter.
Temperature Check: Mid-tier WR2
