Fantasy Football Week 4: Sunday Morning Game-Day Preview

Welcome to another busy Sunday slate of NFL fantasy football action. We also welcome fantasy superstar Le'Veon Bell to the field this week, so congratulations to his investors. 

In this piece, we take a comprehensive look at each game on the Sunday schedule, focusing on all of the fantasy-relevant information for managers to consider.

The most important note for the early-morning crowd is to make note of the early kickoff (9:30 a.m. ET) in the Indianapolis Colts vs. Jacksonville Jaguars game in London. Fantasy investors will want to make sure to have their lineup decisions determined for that early start in Wembley. 

We can find actionable information from the point spread and point total produced by Vegas, as well as pore over the important injury reports and revealing snap and usage trends that are building three weeks into the campaign.

It's all in the details when you're setting lineups in fantasy football, so we canvas the league in this column each and every NFL Sunday.

One quick note for how we format this piece each week: The road team is the first team listed in the title; the home team is listed second. For example, we listed the Buffalo Bills first in the slide's title, as they travel to New England this week. 

Join us in discussing each of the 13 games on Sunday in this extensive overview. Feel free to post lineup questions and share counsel in the comments below.

Fantasy Football Week 4: Indianapolis Colts vs. Jacksonville Jaguars

Stacy Revere/Getty Images

Game Preview

These division rivals last met in December 2015 when the Jacksonville Jaguars pummeled the Indianapolis Colts 51-16. The Jaguars set a franchise record for points scored and won the second half 42-3.

The Colts were, however, without an injured Andrew Luck for that embarrassing loss. Luck has faced the Jaguars twice in the regular season since the start of the 2014 season, compiling a 123.2 passer rating while averaging 311.5 passing yards with five touchdowns to no interceptions in two victories.

This game is in London; the Jaguars are nominally regarded as the home team, but the Colts are the slight favorites, per Odds Shark. More significant for fantasy purposes, the game claims the third-highest implied point total of the week, so shares of both offenses remain intriguing.

Injury Updates

Per the Indianapolis Star's Stephen Holder, Colts' speedy wideout Phillip Dorsett showed up on the injury report with an ankle ailment and is considered a game-time decision. The game kicks off at 9:30 a.m. ET, so make sure to check Dorsett's status if you have him rostered.

The Jaguars' Julius Thomas is also a game-time decision with a lingering elbow ailment, per ESPN.com's Michael DiRocco. In response to a reader on Twitter, DiRocco said he doesn't believe Thomas will play, so have an alternative prepared.

Fantasy Fixtures

Colts

Given Luck has averaged 22.5 fantasy points in his past two meetings with the Jaguars and face the team that has ceded the eighth-most fantasy points to quarterbacks this season, he's a surefire QB1 option. Top wideout T.Y. Hilton is also a must-star asset, given he's consumed a career-best target rate, netting 28.2 percent of Luck's attempts en route to WR1 production. Bowling-ball tailback Frank Gore is also a fine option with 72.7 percent of the team's rushing attempts—a dominant share worthy of weekly trust.

Jaguars

The only true bankable asset on this roster is Allen Robinson, who is tied for the most receiving touchdowns since the start of last season and claims a 24 percent share of the passing offense. We don't mind shares of quarterback Blake Bortles as a streaming option, as he's tied for the league lead in passing touchdowns since the start of last season thanks to a volume-driven passing offense. It's difficult to trust anyone in the Jacksonville backfield, so we're only investing in the passing talents.

Sleepers and Streamers

The Jaguars' Allen Hurns was due for a negative correction in touchdown rate this season, which we've seen come to fruition so far, but we still view him as a viable flex option, given his average depth of target is nearly 13 yards downfield. Thus, big-play upside is still present.

Fantasy Football Week 4: Buffalo Bills vs. New England Patriots

Maddie Meyer/Getty Images

Game Preview

Even as the New England Patriots are dealing with multiple quarterback injuries, the predictive model at FiveThirtyEight projects them with a 74 percent win probability against the visiting Buffalo Bills. The desert seems to agree, as Odds Shark lists the Patriots as touchdown favorites.

Only a handful of promising fantasy assets are on each roster, as injuries to both teams and a suspension of the Patriots' Tom Brady limit the appeal to a degree. This game, after all, has just a 43-point implied point total, a signal of a lower-scoring affair.

Injury Updates

The Bills' Sammy Watkins has been placed on injured reserve with recurrent issues with a troublesome foot injury, per the Buffalo News' Jay Skurski. We don't blame you if you have to cut Watkins from your fantasy roster to make room, as he's ruled out for at least the next eight weeks.

The Patriots' Rob Gronkowski is looking to ramp up his workload, per the Boston Globe's Nora Princiotti:

"

Gronkowski may get more involved as a receiver after he functioned almost exclusively as a blocker against the Texans. Asked if he felt normal while he was on the field, Gronkowski said the Patriots used him “in the plays where they felt more comfortable, and when I was in those plays, I felt like I was ready to roll.”

"

It's tough to sit Gronk while he's active, so his investors might need to trust the talent and hope for an increase in snaps, routes and targets.

The Patriots' quarterback situation remains unsettled heading into Sunday, as Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com reports Jimmy Garoppolo is essentially a game-time decision. Fantasy managers must watch this situations carefully leading up to kickoff.

Fantasy Fixtures

Bills

Only workhorse LeSean McCoy earns our trust from Buffalo's roster, as he's netted 64 percent of the team's rushing attempts and looks spry and agile on film. Shady averaged 119.5 yards from scrimmage against the Patriots last season.

Patriots

Besides placing trust in Gronkowski's obvious upside given his scoring pedigree, we're sold on the massive workload that tailback LeGarrette Blount should enjoy. He has taken 69.4 percent of the team's rushing carries so far and has sole claim to valuable goal-line work. Shifty wideout Julian Edelman is essentially a WR3 asset without Brady behind center, as his target volume takes a hit with either Garoppolo or Jacoby Brissett taking snaps.

Sleepers and Streamers

With Watkins sidelined, it's possible the Bills' Robert Woods sees an uptick in targets and routes, but we'd only consider him in deep and desperate scenarios, given the lack of big-play production in his game logs.

Fantasy Football Week 4: Tennessee Titans vs. Houston Texans

Bob Levey/Getty Images

Game Preview

The Tennessee Titans' passing offense is sputtering heading to Houston to face the Texans, as Marcus Mariota has the lowest QBR of qualifying arms with a lowly 29.8 rate. The Titans have lost their past four trips to Houston and overall have lost the past four to the Texans by at least 14 points.

The Texans, even with the devastating loss of dominant defender J.J. Watt, are listed as the NFL team most likely to win their matchup this week on FiveThirtyEight's projection model. This game could be a defensive grind, as Odds Shark gave this game the second-lowest implied point total of the day, which is often unfavorable for fantasy purposes.

Injury Updates

Tennessee's top target in the passing game this season has been rookie Tajae Sharpe, who is dealing with a hamstring ailment but is "ready to go" per Jim Wyatt of the team's website. The prospects for productive tight end Delanie Walker aren't as clear, as he's a game-time decision after getting in some practice reps on Friday, per the team's website. Houston doesn't have any major injury issues to consider.

Fantasy Fixtures 

Titans

Workhorse tailback DeMarco Murray has produced 64 percent of the team's rushing yardage and is second in receiving share with 18.3 percent of the receiving yardage and 16.5 percent of the targets. Even as the Texans have been solid against opposing running games over the past season, Murray's rich role merits must-start status. 

Texans

DeAndre "Nuk" Hopkins leads the team with 38.3 percent of their first downs via the pass and could feast against a Titans secondary that ranks 30th in pass coverage, per Pro Football Focus. We also consider rookie speedster Will Fuller as a fine upside WR3 in this matchup, as he's enjoyed a rich average depth of target 20.3 yards downfield and is a big-play maven.

Feature workhorse Lamar Miller is due a positive correction in the big-play department, as he's produced 80.3 percent of the team's rushing yardage and claims a high floor, given his rich usage in the rushing department.

Sleepers and Streamers

Even with Watt sidelined, the Texans defense is a fine streaming option, given the Titans' turnover-prone offense and Houston's capable secondary.

Fantasy Football Week 4: Detroit Lions vs. Chicago Bears

Associated Press

Game Preview

The Detroit Lions enter Chicago as slight favorites over the Bears in a game with a robust point total, per Odds Shark. The rich total is due largely to the fact that both teams are struggling defensively, as the Lions rank 27th in points allowed, while Chicago is 23rd. Shoddy defense is a fantasy manager's friend, as this game offers some impressive statistical upside on both rosters.

Injury Updates 

The Bears will be without tailback Jeremy Langford and quarterback Jay Cutler, while the Lions' tandem of talented pass-catchers Marvin Jones and Eric Ebron are expected to play despite being listed as questionable. Both practiced in full to finish the week, per ESPN.com's Michael Rothstein.

Fantasy Fixtures  

Lions

The Bears have ceded the third-most rushing yards to running backs this season, so maybe we'll finally see Theo Riddick find some efficiency on the ground. Even if he can't get going on the ground, we love his receiving share (16.5 percent of the team's targets) and ability to thrive in space against a depleted Chicago defense.

We're clearly deploying Jones—the league's leading receiver in per-game production—along with signal-caller Matthew Stafford, who is sixth in QBR and averages a rich 8.2 yards per attempt.

Bears

Wideout Alshon Jeffery is 10th in receiving yards on the season and just 54th in the league in targets. Big-play ability fuels his efficiency. Despite inconsistent usage, Jeffery is a must-start against a Lions secondary that has allowed 27.8 percent more production than league average to No. 1 receivers, per Football Outsiders.

Even though the sample size is small, we're rolling rookie running back Jordan Howard out there in all fantasy formats. The Lions are allowing the most yards per carry to backs, and he's due a lion's share (pun intended) of the workload as the team's lead back.

Sleepers and Streamers

A disappointing start to the season for Golden Tate could improve against a soft Chicago secondary. The Lions, meanwhile, could find some success on early downs with Dwayne Washington, a talented interior runner who is due double-digit touches.

The Bears' Zach Miller could thrive working with quarterback Brian Hoyer, as they connected for strong chemistry last week. Plus, the Lions have allowed the most touchdowns to tight ends this year.

Fantasy Football Week 4: Carolina Panthers vs. Atlanta Falcons

Grant Halverson/Getty Images

Game Preview 

The Atlanta Falcons have scored a franchise-best 104 points through the first three games while leading the league in points and yards. The Panthers, meanwhile, are struggling to protect 2015 MVP Cam Newton, who has been sacked 12 times. The good news for Newton is he's facing a soft pass rush, as Atlanta has pressured opposing passers on just 16.7 percent of dropbacks this season, the lowest rate in the NFC and 30th in the NFL.

Even as the Falcons are the hosts with such a hot offense, Odds Shark lists the Panthers as slight road favorites in a game with an impressive implied point total hovering around 50 points.

Injury Updates

Joe Person of the Charlotte Observer reports tailback Jonathan Stewart is expected to miss this contest, as coach Ron Rivera said it could take up to one month for Stewart to return to the field.

Fantasy Fixtures 

Panthers

Newton has averaged 18 fantasy points and two touchdowns per game against the Falcons over the past four meetings and remains a must-start option in this rich point climate. Tight end Greg Olsen might just be the most bankable asset in the passing game and overall at the position. We're getting red-zone maven Kelvin Benjamin back in lineups after a no-show last week, as the larger sample size screams upside, given his usage pattern.

Falcons

We don’t love Matt Ryan because he tallied just one touchdown and 18 total fantasy points against the Panthers last season. He's a hot hand, so we don't blame you for trusting him despite the matchup, but the large sample suggests he's a streaming option.

We do trust Julio Jones to start providing bigger box scores, especially against the Panthers' tandem of rookie corners. The Falcons backfield exploded last week in the Superdome, and Devonta Freeman is the true must-start of the committee, given his superior yardage prowess. We still want Tevin Coleman in lineups, but he's more of a flex play.

Sleepers and Streamers

For those who are desperate at running back, maybe Cameron Artis-Payne can provide some help, as he's due the majority share of touches while Stewart is sidelined.

Fantasy Football Week 4: Seattle Seahawks vs. New York Jets

Peter G. Aiken/Getty Images

Game Preview

Even as the Seattle Seahawks haven't found their stride on offense, their dominant defense has already shown up this season, as they rank second in point allowance and first in yardage allowed. The New York Jets, meanwhile, are reeling after an eight-turnover outing in Kansas City last week. Given these two teams rely on their defensive talent, the game has the lowest point total of the week, with the Seahawks positioned as just slight road favorites, per Odds Shark.

Injury Updates 

Russell Wilson hasn’t missed a game since entering the league in 2012 and should suit up in this one despite suffering an MCL injury last week, as coach Pete Carroll shared on Seattle radio this week, according to Brady Henderson of 710 ESPN Seattle. Tailback Thomas Rawls has a hairline fracture in his fibula and will miss the next several weeks. 

As for the Jets, receiver Eric Decker will miss at least this matchup with a serious shoulder injury, per Daniel Popper of the New York Daily News.

Fantasy Fixtures 

Seahawks

Wilson remains a solid starting option despite the slow statistical start to the season, as the Jets have allowed 17.3 fantasy points per game to signal-callers in ESPN leagues—notably above average. Doug Baldwin trails only the Atlanta Falcons' Julio Jones and Pittsburgh Steelers' Antonio Brown in receiving yardage since Week 10 last season; therefore, he's a must-start asset. Expectations are tempered for Christine Michael against a stout rush defense, but sole claim to valuable goal-line work keeps him in the starting mix.

Jets 

Facing the Seahawks isn't often fun for our fantasy assets, but the Jets' Matt Forte is consuming such an impressive workload that he remains in the RB1 conversation for his high-floor usage pattern. Trusting Brandon Marshall isn't as easy against Richard Sherman & Co., but he's still due a massive target share in Decker's absence.

Sleepers and Streamers

Getting Jimmy Graham in lineups after a breakout Week 3 is a fine fantasy angle to consider, while the Jets' Quincy Enunwa enters the streaming conversation since Decker is sidelined.

Fantasy Football Week 4: Oakland Raiders vs. Baltimore Ravens

Associated Press

Game Preview

This game offers a fun bit of franchise history for Oakland, as the Raiders went to the Super Bowl the last time they started a season with a record as strong as 3-1. The Baltimore Ravens, meanwhile, are undefeated through three games for the third time in team history, having made the postseason in each occurrence. The Ravens have won their games by a combined 13 points, so it's fitting to find them as just slight favorites, per Odds Shark.

Injury Updates

Neither team has a fantasy-relevant injury to consider for Week 4. If anything, add Ravens tailback Kenneth Dixon. He is approaching a return to action from injury, and we love the upside the rookie offers on a soft depth chart.

Fantasy Fixtures 

Raiders

Amari Cooper is a strong candidate to break out this week, as the Ravens have allowed opposing No. 1 wideouts to produce 33.3 percent above league average, per Football Outsiders. We can also appreciate shares of Michael Crabtree in point-per-reception formats, given his solid share of the Raiders' pass-happy offense. We'd prefer to find stronger streaming options at quarterback than Derek Carr on the road here, but we understand deploying him in leagues of at least 12 teams. The Raiders' committee backfield, however, disqualifies Latavius Murray from being a bankable fantasy option. 

Ravens

Other than the reliable target share for tight end Joe Pitta, we don't trust any other player on this offense as a true must-start asset, but there are a few sleepers to consider.

Sleepers and Streamers

Terrance West could earn the start at tailback for the Ravens, but he's only a low-floor flex for those who are needy at the position. Both Mike Wallace and Steve Smith Sr. are fine flex assets, especially the higher-floor Smith, who is a trusted target for Joe Flacco.

Fantasy Football Week 4: Cleveland Browns vs. Washington Redskins

Associated Press

Game Preview

The Cleveland Browns haven't started the same quarterback for two straight weeks since the end of last season with Johnny Manziel, but we're expecting Cody Kessler to start a new streak for the winless team. The Washington Redskins are poised as sizable home favorites, per Odds Shark, and they have a 73 percent win probability, according to FiveThirtyEight. We envision some fantasy fun for the hosts on Sunday.

Injury Updates

In a rare occurrence, neither team claims significant injury news heading into the game.

Fantasy Fixtures  

Browns

The only asset we want to trot out in all lineups is ever-versatile receiver Terrelle Pryor, as he became the first player with at least 120 receiving yards, 20 rushing yards and 30 passing yards since Frank Gifford in 1959, per ESPN Stats & Info. With Pryor expected to net snaps behind center and serving as the team's top wideout, his ceiling is impressive. One thing to note, however, is the potential for Washington's Josh Norman to shadow cover Pryor. Thus, his floor isn't as high as his usage profile might suggest. 

Given Isaiah Crowell's impressive market share of the Browns' running game—he's produced 63 percent of the team's rushing yardage—he's a fine RB2 or flex option against a Redskins front that has allowed the most rushing scores to tailbacks on the year.

Redskins

It's a fine week to start Washington's skill players, as Jordan Reed, DeSean Jackson and even tailback Matt Jones are all starting options, given an intriguing matchup with a patchwork Cleveland defense beyond cornerback Joe Haden. We love shares of Kirk Cousins in season-long formats and daily fantasy, as he has the most yards in franchise history in the Super Bowl era through three weeks. Furthermore, this entire offense is due for a positive correction in the touchdown department.

Sleepers and Streamers

The Redskins' Jamison Crowder has thrived with a target share of 20.7 percent and is a fine option in PPR formats. As for streaming defenses, the Redskins are well positioned against a rookie quarterback (Kessler) on the road.

Fantasy Football Week 4: Denver Broncos vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Joe Robbins/Getty Images

Game Preview

The predictive model at FiveThirtyEight gives the visiting Denver Broncos a 78 percent win probability entering Tampa to face the Buccaneers. Per Odds Shark, the Bucs are just slight home dogs in a game with a sluggish point total hovering around 43 points, which suggests this might not be a fun fantasy climate.

Injury Updates

Tampa's Doug Martin is still ailing with a lingering hamstring ailment, while the Broncos' injury of note is tight end Virgil Green, who appears unlikely to play, per Mike Klis of 9News.

Fantasy Fixtures 

Broncos

Denver's tandem of wideouts each enjoyed 100-yard outings last week in Cincinnati, while the Bucs rank 21st in pass coverage on Pro Football Focus and 25th in pass defense on Football Outsiders' DVOA (defense-adjusted over average) model. We trust Emmanuel Sanders most of all, given his higher target share, but Demaryius Thomas has hauled in 78.9 percent of his targets. Both are bankable for this matchup.

As for tailback C.J. Anderson, he's struggled since a brilliant Week 1 debut but is still consuming 65.1 percent of the team's rushing touches and therefore is a high-floor back given the lack of competition for meaningful work.

Buccaneers

Mike Evans isn't in an ideal spot to produce, as top wideouts have struggled against Denver, who have allowed nearly 20 percent below league average production to No. 1 opposing targets this season, per Football Outsiders. Evans' sizable target share keeps him in starting lineups, but expectations are tempered.

The same goes for feature back Charles Sims, who has a sizable yardage floor given heavy shares in both the rushing and passing phases, especially as the Broncos are softening against the run a bit this season. You can likely find a better signal-caller than Jameis Winston this week, as the Broncos have ceded the 10th-fewest fantasy points to quarterbacks this year.

Sleepers and Streamers

Denver's Trevor Siemian became the first quarterback in league history to throw for at least 300 yards and four scores without a pick, per Elias Sports (via ESPN Stats & Info). This was an impressive showing for the first-year starter, but he's still merely a deep-league streamer, given the lack of production pedigree.

Fantasy Football Week 4: Los Angeles Rams vs. Arizona Cardinals

Brett Carlsen/Getty Images

Game Preview

The Arizona Cardinals host their division foes from Los Angeles, as the Rams enter the desert as the biggest underdogs of the slate, per Odds Shark. The path to an upset for the Rams begins with pressuring the Cardinals' Carson Palmer, who has struggled this season, ranking 21st in QBR after posting his second-lowest QBR rating as a Cardinal last week in Buffalo.

The Rams will also look to dominate the clock and field position by relying on their rushing game, as Todd Gurley enjoyed a massive breakout in Week 4 last season in Arizona en route to 161 yards from scrimmage in a rare road win. The Cardinals, conversely, will look to stack the box against Gurley, forcing the Rams' suspect passing game to carry the offense.

Injury Updates

It's another light injury report, as only the Rams' Kenny Britt is questionable among fantasy-relevant assets, per ESPN.com's Josh Weinfuss. 

Fantasy Fixtures 

Rams

We're still riding Gurley based on his rare workload, as we can project at least 20 touches for the talented second-year star. Even if efficiency evades him, the volume drives value. We don’t endorse or trust any other player on the roster.

Cardinals

It's a potential get-right game for Palmer and the passing game, as the Rams just surrendered over 400 yards to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' passing game. This means Palmer and his trio of receivers, namely Larry Fitzgerald, are poised for strong showings. Both Michael Floyd and John Brown have struggled with inconsistent target shares, but we're more intrigued with Brown, given his improved rapport with Palmer last week on vertical targets.

The Cardinals' David Johnson might be the most bankable asset in fantasy right now, as he's a total yardage maven and big-play maestro. Johnson is second in the league in yards from scrimmage and can always find fantasy fun in the passing phase if the running game isn't effective.

Sleepers and Streamers

The Cardinals defense can be considered a top option and ideal for streaming if the unit is available in your league.

Fantasy Football Week 4: Dallas Cowboys vs. San Francisco 49ers

Associated Press

Game Preview

The San Francisco 49ers have scored 45 points off turnovers—most in the league by 15 points. The visiting Dallas Cowboys have taken care of the ball, as rookie Dak Prescott has 99 passing attempts without an interception, fourth-most in a player's first three games in league history.

If the 49ers can't prove larcenous on defense, they'll need their running game to dominate. Either way, this game is bound to be close, as Vegas projects the Cowboys as just slight favorites with a modest implied point total, per Odds Shark.

Injury Updates 

Dallas' Dez Bryant is the key injury to watch, as he's flying with the team despite being diagnosed with a fracture in his right knee, per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. As Rapoport notes, even with Bryant traveling, the chances of him playing are slim.

Fantasy Fixtures 

Cowboys

Rookie rusher Ezekiel Elliott is tied for second in the NFL in rushing and is just one of three players with at least 20 carries in each of the first three games. Such usage has him on pace for over 400 total touches and makes him a bankable fantasy asset. The touchdowns are bound to show up, given such usage. As for the rest of the offense, tight end Jason Witten is a low-end TE1 given the shallow nature of the position.

49ers

We'd consider only tailback Carlos Hyde in this contest, as we hyped his upside for this contest earlier this week in our daily fantasy primer.

The Cowboys have ceded 3.31 yards before contact per rush to opposing running backs this season, the most in the NFL and well above the league average allowance of 2.35. This rate indicates tailbacks are building serious momentum before the Dallas defense can even touch them, which is a solid sign for Hyde's upside. He led the NFL in the rate of forced missed tackles per touch last season, per Pro Football Focus.

Sleepers and Streamers

The Cowboys' Prescott is a reasonable streaming option given his rushing prowess, but the loss of Bryant does hurt his upside in the passing phase. We do, however, dig shares of rising slot weapon Cole Beasley, who leads the team in target share and catch percentage and is an ideal flex or plug-in WR3 in PPR formats.

Fantasy Football Week 4: New Orleans Saints vs. San Diego Chargers

Associated Press

Game Preview

It's fitting to see Drew Brees finally return to San Diego to face his former team, the Chargers, as the New Orleans' Saints legend was drafted by the Bolts and passed the torch to Philip Rivers a decade ago. Since Brees left the team, he ranks first in passing yards, while Rivers ranks second in the league in yardage over that span. 

The Saints are looking for their first win of the season but have struggled to score away from the Superdome since the start of last season, ranking 24th in points per drive on the road and first in per-drive scoring at home. The Chargers are positioned as slight home favorites, but the most inviting element to note is this game claims the highest implied point total of the slate—a fertile fantasy indicator—per Odds Shark.

Injury Updates

According to Michael Gehlken of the San Diego Union-Tribune, Antonio Gates is unlikely to play, as he's listed as doubtful with a hamstring injury. As for the Saints' Willie Snead, there is a good chance he's active after missing Week 3 with a toe injury, per Christopher Dabe of the Times-Picayune.

Fantasy Fixtures 

Saints

Even with the Saints' struggles on the road, Brees remains a must-start option based on the passing volume and the fact the Chargers have ceded the seventh-most fantasy points to opposing arms in ESPN leagues. Tailback Mark Ingram finally saw heavy usage last week and is back in the must-start mix against an exploitable San Diego front seven.

We're still sending out Brandin Cooks despite the variance in his scoring pattern—he's going to be a boom-or-bust option, but the usage is compelling. As for Snead, we just need him to be active to trust him in lineups.

Chargers

Rivers is in a great spot against a suspect Saints defense, and we dig shares of both of his top wideouts, Tyrell Williams and Travis Benjamin. Williams is serving in more of the Keenan Allen role in leading the team in targets since Week 2, while Benjamin is close in target share and sees valuable vertical looks.

The key starter here is Melvin Gordon, who could feast on the Saints' soft rush defense. Gordon has consolidated the workload in the wake of Danny Woodhead's injury and is a must-start asset going forward.

Sleepers and Streamers 

There are some strong streamers and sleepers in this game. Tight end Coby Fleener is back in the starting mix after a dreadful start to the season, and his potential in the red zone is real in an offense that loves the tight end in close. As for the Chargers, tight end Hunter Henry played every snap in Week 3 and was second on the team in routes run, so his upside is awesome against the Saints.

Fantasy Football Week 4: Kansas City Chiefs vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

Associated Press

Game Preview

The Chiefs last won in Pittsburgh in December 1986, so it's not surprising to see them listed as road dogs heading into this battle of conference contenders, per Odds Shark. More interestingly, the game has an implied point total hovering around 47 points, suggesting some fantasy fun could develop with the Steelers offense getting elite feature back Le'Veon Back in the mix.

Injury Updates

The Chiefs' Jamaal Charles is still uncertain almost a month into the season, as he is recovering from an ACL injury. The team's site reports coach Andy Reid suggests he's getting close and saw work on the scout team this week, which is a sign he's possibly playing this week. That said, we'll wait for confirmation, which is tough given the late timing of the game. We advise looking elsewhere if you don't have shares of Spencer Ware.

The Steelers' long injury of note is slot weapon Eli Rogers, as the team ruled him out of the game earlier this week.

Fantasy Fixtures 

Chiefs

With Charles unlikely to assume a sizable snap or touch share if active, we like Ware for at least 15 touches as the team's de facto feature option for this week. We also like wideout Jeremy Maclin, as the Steelers have surrendered the second-most yards to receivers dating back to the start of last season.

Tight end Travis Kelce also offers a high fantasy floor, as Pittsburgh has allowed the seventh-most receiving yards to tight ends since the start of last season and is potentially missing a critical coverage asset in linebacker Ryan Shazier. 

Steelers

The peerless Antonio Brown has netted 50 percent of the team's targets en route to nearly 55 percent of the team's receiving yardage. That's just silly. Even with Marcus Peters and the Chiefs' talented secondary, we're sending out this fantasy superstar in all formats.

We also trust Bell's workload, as the team has often given him the lion's share of the touches and snaps even with DeAngelo Williams proving so productive in his place. Ben Roethlisberger is also a must-start asset here, given the home setup and his notable weapons, namely Brown's and Bell's receiving prowess.

Sleepers and Streamers

The Chiefs' Alex Smith is a decent streaming option given his rushing ability and the lofty point total in the game. We also dig deep-league shares of Pittsburgh's tight end Jesse James, who can serve as a red-zone valve.

Fantasy points courtesy of ESPN.com. Target, snap and defensive trend data sourced from an ESPN database.