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5 breakout fantasy football stars to pick up for Week 4

By Mike Phillips

HOUSTON, TEXAS - SEPTEMBER 23: Chuba Hubbard #30 of the Carolina Panthers tries to hold off the tackle of Zach Cunningham #41 of the Houston Texans during a first half run at NRG Stadium on September 23, 2021 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TEXAS - SEPTEMBER 23: Chuba Hubbard #30 of the Carolina Panthers tries to hold off the tackle of Zach Cunningham #41 of the Houston Texans during a first half run at NRG Stadium on September 23, 2021 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) /
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FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS – SEPTEMBER 26: Kendrick Bourne #84 of the New England Patriots makes the catch and runs it in for a touchdown as Paulson Adebo #29 of the New Orleans Saints defends in the fourth quarter at Gillette Stadium on September 26, 2021, in Foxborough, Massachusetts. The New Orleans Saints beat the New England Patriots 28-13. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS – SEPTEMBER 26: Kendrick Bourne #84 of the New England Patriots makes the catch and runs it in for a touchdown as Paulson Adebo #29 of the New Orleans Saints defends in the fourth quarter at Gillette Stadium on September 26, 2021, in Foxborough, Massachusetts. The New Orleans Saints beat the New England Patriots 28-13. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /

3. Top fantasy football pickups for Week 4 – Patriots WR Kendrick Bourne

Fantasy owners may really want to avoid investment in the New England offense due to a large amount of uncertainty over its usage. There are plenty of interesting pieces in Foxboro, but between Bill Belichick’s reputation for changing running backs on a whim and the sheer volume of pass catchers to satisfy locking in on a single usable Patriot is often a difficult task.

One guy who appears to be earning the trust of rookie quarterback Mac Jones is wide receiver Kendrick Bourne, who saw a season-high eight targets against the Saints in Week 3. Bourne caught six of them for 96 yards and a touchdown, a performance that could earn him more confidence from the coaching staff going forward.

This pickup is a bet on the increased workload Bourne got in Week 3, which isn’t guaranteed to be repeated with Nelson Agholor, Hunter Henry, Jakobi Meyers and Jonnu Smith among the options available to Jones. The Patriots’ offense has been highly conservative as New England looks to protect Jones, meaning a guy who works underneath routes like Bourne can be an asset going forward.

Bourne is rostered in less than one percent of Yahoo leagues and could be an interesting pickup for Week 4 when New England takes on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Tom Brady’s homecoming game. That contest should see the Patriots trailing early, which should lead to more throws from Jones and more opportunities for Bourne to make an impact on your fantasy lineup.

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