10 D/ST sleepers to target for fantasy football in Week 4

6. Atlanta Falcons vs. Washington Football Team

A injury-depleted set of Giants’ passing game weapons helped, but the Falcons allowed just 14 points with two sacks in Week 3. They have five sacks over their last two games, and Week 4’s matchup isn’t difficult.

Week 3 was a reality check for Washington quarterback Taylor Heinicke, with two interceptions against the Buffalo Bills. Head coach Ron Rivera said he wants Heinicke to become more of a game manager after that performance, and Heinicke has embraced the label that automatically suggests he’s limited.

Heinicke does make sense as a plug-and-play option in two-quarterback leagues this week. But I’m going to the other side of the matchup, with the Falcons’ defense as a sneaky D/ST sleeper.

5. Chicago Bears vs. Detroit Lions

A record-setting abysmal offensive showing in Week 3 obscured the fact the Bears’ defense sacked Baker Mayfield five times and allowed just 13 points in the first three quarters. Apparently being on the field for nearly two-thirds of the game (39:34) is a bad thing.

Week 4 offers little to suggest the Bears’ defense will be on the field so much again. The Detroit Lions have some good offensive pieces, but their quarterback is still Jared Goff. In all three games thus far, an opposing defense has registered multiple sacks or takeaways against Detroit. Then you have Goff’s track record against the Bears, even if the defense is no longer what it was.

In three career starts against Chicago, Goff has a 59.7 passer rating with two touchdowns and five interceptions (6.03 yards per attempt; 4.08 adjusted yards per attempt). And that was with a far stronger supporting cast around him with the Rams than he has now.

The Bears are lined up to rebound as a team in Week 4. The defense will be part of the party.