Quarterback
Daniel Jones, NYG (vs Washington) - Yes it was just one week, but it was the Tampa defense that had made Jimmy Garoppolo and Cam Newton ineffective in Weeks 1 and 2. Washington’s defense has been a mere speed bump for Carson Wentz, Dak Prescott, and (yuck) Mitchell Trubisky. If Jones has another good game this week, it won’t necessarily prove he’s here to stay, but it should help your fantasy team.
Matthew Stafford, DET (vs Kansas City) - Derek Carr and Lamar Jackson have come up short against the Chiefs defense, but we should still give Stafford the benefit of the doubt here. He might be without Danny Amendola, but Stafford will face Patrick Mahomes II in his first regular season indoor start, so the Lions are surely going to have to pass a ton to keep up in this one.
Kyle Allen, CAR (at Houston) - Allen looked good against the Arizona defense, which isn’t difficult, but he isn’t facing the 86 Bears this week when he goes to Houston. The Texans have given up at least 20 points to all three quarterbacks they have faced this year, including Gardner Minshew. Allen is opening up the downfield passing game in a way that a limited Cam Newton couldn’t, which matches up with the weak Houston secondary. He could get in a quarterback duel with Deshaun Watson.
Case Keenum, WAS (at New York Giants) - This one isn’t for the faint of heart, but Keenum has been slinging it out there in pass happy game scripts and this week he gets the defense that woke up Mike Evans and Jameis Winston last week. Keenum has a foot issue and Colt McCoy is healthier to give Jay Gruden an alternative if the turnovers come in bunches, like they did last week, but the Giants have allowed at least 250 passing yards and two total touchdowns to every quarterback they’ve faced this year and two have gone for at least 380 yards and three scores. Keenum has at least 220 and two scores in every game this year and he should get that this week as long as he finishes the game.
Running Back
Troymaine Pope, LAC (at Miami) - Tony Pollard’s garbage time performance against the Dolphins last week will induce us to take chances with backup running backs against them for at least the next month. Melvin Gordon is back, but will likely sit and Justin Jackson was in a walking boot on Friday, so Pope should be in for mop-up duty. We will have to monitor inactives to see if the Chargers accelerate Gordon's return date and nullify Pope's Week 4 value.
C.J. Prosise, SEA (at Arizona) - Prosise is actually still healthy after getting significant work last week, and Rashaad Penny isn’t, although he has returned to practice. Chris Carson can’t hold onto the ball, and the Seahawks should be embroiled in a high-scoring game at Arizona this week. Prosise will be involved in the passing game at a minimum, and if Carson’s fumble woes continue, he might take over the backfield this week.
Wayne Gallman, NYG (vs Washington) - This is more to downplay Gallman’s potential than endorse him in lineups this week. The Giants barely let him touch the ball last week after Saquon Barkley went out, and Washington has only allowed one touchdown to an opposing running back despite giving up at least 31 points in every game this year.
Darrel Williams, KC (at Detroit) - Damien Williams is unlikely to play this week, so Darrel will split time with LeSean McCoy, who is coming in with an ankle issue. Darrel Williams showed himself to be very capable as a runner and receiver in this offense last week and we know he has the trust of Andy Reid. There’s also some hidden upside in the profile this week if McCoy goes down and Williams also gets the red zone looks that McCoy turned into two scores last week.
Adrian Peterson, Chris Thompson, WAS (at New York Giants) - Washington’s running game hasn’t been on track yet this year, but they could create some momentum against a Giants defense that gave up over 125 rushing yards to backs in each of the last two games, and 71 yards on six receptions to a Bucs offense last week that isn’t exactly known for running back production.
Wide Receiver
Darius Slayton, NYG (vs Washington) - Slayton came alive last week with fellow rookie Daniel Jones, and he also threw a key block to spring Evan Engram’s long touchdown reception. This week he gets a Washington defense that gave up long scores to Desean Jackson, Devin Smith, and Taylor Gabriel already this year. Slayton is a good DFS and deep league what the heck flex to try to catch the wave of incompetence in the back of Washington’s secondary.
Paul Richardson Jr Jr, WAS (at New York Giants) - Richardson had his biggest game of the year last week against the Bears, and he’s in line for another big game against the Giants secondary that has already allowed six receivers to post at least 69 receiving yards and six scores to wide receivers this year. Terry McLaurin being added to the injury report with a hamstring issue only enhances Richardson's upside in this matchup.
Diontae Johnson, PIT (vs Cincinnati) - Johnson was able to get free deep for a long score in one of the only two good plays in the Steelers passing game last week. Juju Smith-Schuster should get all of the attention and leave Johnson in single coverage against a Bengals defense that has allowed long scores to Tyler Lockett and Marquise Goodwin already this year.
Preston Williams, MIA (vs Los Angeles Chargers) - Williams seems to drop a big play every week, but he is getting open and Josh Rosen is looking his way. Casey Hayward is banged up and the Chargers might opt to sit him since they don’t need Hayward to win in Miami this weekend. This could be the week the Dolphins dumpsterfire forges a diamond performance from Williams.
Devin Smith, Randall Cobb, DAL (at New Orleans) - Smith got opportunities for a bigger game last week and Cobb had a long touchdown called back, so they are still in play as potential hits this week. Add in Amari Cooper having an ankle issue big enough to require an MRI and Marshon Lattimore likely sticking to him at least part of the time, and Cobb and Smith both become more likely frequent targets for Dak Prescott in an offense that is humming right now.
Kenny Stills, HOU (vs Carolina) - Stills has been on the same page as Deshaun Watson in the deep passing game, and this week he will likely draw the best matchup in the secondary as James Bradberry and Donte Jackson will tangle with DeAndre Hopkins and Will Fuller. Stills has already caught one long score and last week he averaged over 22 yards a catch on four receptions. He has taken over the third wide receiver job from Keke Coutee.
Dontrelle Inman, LAC (at Miami) - Mike Williams has a back issue and he was coming off of a knee issue last week. Travis Benjamin has a hip issue. Both missed the first two practices of the week. Inman has lots of experience with Philip Rivers and should get a lot of work while the game isn't out of hand, and we know how bad the Dolphins pass defense is now.
Tight End
T.J. Hockenson, DET (vs Kansas City) - Hockenson has been a letdown since a huge Week 1 that appears to be more a function of the Arizona defense than a rookie season revelation or inventive usage by Detroit, but he could bounce back big this week. Danny Amendola is banged up and might not play, and the Lions offense will need to open up to keep pace with Patrick Mahomes II. The Chiefs have given up at least eight tight end receptions in each of the first three games and 96 or more receiving yards to tight ends in two of them, with only the anonymous Jaguars tight ends failing to hit that mark.
Eric Ebron, Jack Doyle, IND (vs Oakland) - There’s still a chance that T.Y. Hilton will play this week, but it is probably advisable for him to sit in a game that Indianapolis can win without him. If Hilton does sit, all systems are go for Doyle and Ebron, who face a Raiders defense that allowed a 3-60 like to Irv Smith last week in addition to an almost score from molasses slow Kyle Rudolph.
Dawson Knox, BUF (vs New England) - Knox can go straight from the waiver wire into your lineup if you are desperate for a George Kittle replacement or just tired of small numbers from projected TE1’s like Jimmy Graham and Jared Cook. The Bills used Knox on a carry last week, targeted him in the end zone successfully, and got him free in the open field where he did his Rob Gronkowski impression on a long reception. The Patriots will likely devote a lot of resources to taking away John Brown and Cole Beasley and force Josh Allen to use secondary targets like Knox to hang in this game.
Will Dissly, SEA (at Arizona) - Dissly’s numbers this year probably disqualify him from sleeper status, but just in case you aren’t caught up, he is facing an Arizona defense that has allowed elite tight end scores in each of the first three weeks. He’ll be a key target for Russell Wilson in what should be a high scoring game.
Nick Boyle, BAL (vs Cleveland) - Mark Andrews isn’t 100% for this one, and Hayden Hurst hasn’t been a downfield target for Lamar Jackson often so far this year. Nick Boyle has and he could exploit a banged up secondary and defense that is missing Christian Kirksey at linebacker. Jackson is at his best throwing to the tight end, so this could be a big game for Boyle if Andrews struggles to stretch the field as ESPN beat writer Jamison Hensley predicted earlier this week.
