DraftKings NFL: Week 4 Lineup

Week 3 of the NFL season smacked all fantasy players back down to earth with some wild outcomes and unexpected performances. Here is all you need to be read for a big Week 4.

Raise your hand if you saw Calvin Ridley having the highest scoring non-quarterback week. Now admit you’re lying and put your hand down. Matt Ryan found the rookie for three touchdowns and he dominated in what is preparing to be a big rookie season. That is the kind of week that the NFL saw in Week 3. Minnesota’s upset loss to Buffalo was the biggest story for both the fantasy and non-fantasy players alike. It’s tough to get excited with such small sample sizes but here is information about every top five player in DraftKings pricing entering Week 4.

*This article will be re-released on Sunday with an update to account for injuries or changes that occur in the latter portion of the week.*

Quarterbacks

Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers @ Buffalo Bills – $6800

For the second straight week the Buffalo Bills will battle an NFC North team with Super Bowl aspirations. This time the Bills welcome a hobbled Aaron Rodgers to Buffalo. Rodgers has solid but far from perfect in this early season. The good news is he has yet to throw an interception. The bad news is that he is doing this all on one leg. Buffalo’s defense was spectacular against Minnesota a week ago. Green Bay’s offensive line is better than the Vikings and should give Rodgers time. The performance a week ago should not make anyone hesitate from pulling the trigger if Rodgers is your guy.

Tom Brady, New England Patriots vs Miami Dolphins – $6700

Fellow former MVP Tom Brady comes in second for DraftKings this week. Brady and company put on a dud of a performance on Sunday night against their former defensive coordinator’s new team. He will look to bounce back from two sub-par performances in a row, a near unheard of feat for Brady. The Dolphins are 3-0 and leading the AFC East. That cannot sit well with the Patriots. This could be a big bounce back game just as people are beginning to write off New England.

Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints @ New York Giants $6600

There were articles going around this week that we may not truly appreciating the greatness of Drew Brees. They all hit the nail on the head that we are watching one of the five best quarterbacks of all time. Brees travels to New York, where he traditionally plays poorly so this week could bring back the narrative that he is a bit washed. The Giants have only allowed four passing touchdowns this season. New Orleans will need Brees to be his normal effective self to beat a tough Giants offense that may be able to keep up with the high powered Saints attack.

Philip Rivers, Los Angeles Chargers vs San Francisco 49ers $ 6500

Against a tough Rams defense a week ago, Philip Rivers did what he could by throwing no interceptions and two touchdowns but it ultimately was not enough. Rivers has a new emerging weapon in second year receiver Mike Williams (more on him later). This week they get a toguh but possibly deflated San Francisco team. The 49ers lost their quarterback for the season and this could send their season in a spiral starting against the Chargers. Rivers gets a 49ers defense that has allowed eight touchdowns and has not picked off a pass yet. He’s a great option with the only limiting factor being a possible big lead slowing the offense down.

Deshaun Watson, Houston Texans @ Indianapolis Colts $6300

This is the first puzzling pricing of the week. Deshaun Watson was electric a season ago but does not look like the same player after coming back from a knee injury. It does not help he plays behind a patch-work offensive line either. Now they travel to the Indianapolis Colts to try and avoid an 0-4 start. Watson better hope his offensive line comes to play because the Colts are fifth in the NFL with ten sacks. Big play potential is always possible with Watson. I hope I’m wrong but this seems like another down week for a promising young quarterback.

Value Quarterbacks

Mitchell Trubisky, Chicago Bears vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers $5200

While this may seem like a long shot, this is a risk that is worth it with the upside that you can get out of the other positions. Mitchell Trubisky is averaging less than 200 yards per game and thanks in part to his fantastic defense, that has been enough. With the surging Tampa Bay Buccaneers coming to town, that defense may need more help. Trubisky is a shot in the dark but one that could have league-winning capabilities. Trubisky has weapons and a fancy new offense. This could be the week against the rough Buccaneers secondary where he puts it all together.

Baker Mayfield, Cleveland Browns @ Oakland Raiders $5300

Is anyone else all-in on Baker Mayfield being the Cleveland savior? If you are then playing the 15th ranked quarterback saves you big bucks this week. The only thing that scares me from playing rookie quarterbacks is if they will face pressure. Luckily that is not the case for Mayfield this week at Oakland. The Raiders have only registered three sacks all season and one interception. With Baker getting first team reps for the first time, he can only grow on his impressive Thursday performance against a great matchup.