Fantasy Football Week 4: Weekly Fantasy Trends Report

Happy Pittsburgh Steelers running back Le'Veon Bell "returns-and-makes-your-fantasy-football-team-great-again" week!

Bell gets an early mention because you won't see him in the rest of the slideshow, but it's safe to assume we're all pumped for him to return.

"Weekly Fantasy Trends Report" is almost a nice way of saying, "identify the knuckleheads and smart guys based off of transactional trends."

Because, yes, most of this article is questioning the knuckleheads and praising the smart guys based off of who's being started, picked up and dropped.

The Chicago Bears have a change at running back this week.

Let's start there.

Bears RB Jordan Howard Lead Add

David Richard/Associated Press

With Chicago Bears running back Jeremy Langford set to miss four-to-six weeks with a high ankle sprain, fellow running back Jordan Howard is set to take over the primary ball-carrier role.

This is a no-brainer add, obviously.

In Yahoo! leagues, Howard has seen a 44 percent ownership increase as a result of the injury. 

On tap for the Bears and Howard are the Detroit Lions, Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars and the Green Bay Packers over the next four weeks.

The Lions and Jaguars have been fairly generous in terms of defense against the run to this point, ranking 12th and 13th in yards per game, respectively. Notably, the Lions have surrendered over five yards per carry, but have yet to allow a rushing touchdown. On the contrary, the Jaguars allow a full yard less per carry, but have given up three rushing touchdowns.

The Colts have given up less than 100 yards rushing per game, but that likely has something to do with the 74, 54 and 48 total points of Colts games through the first three weeks. Because, let's be real—the Colts defense is an abomination.

Conversely, the Packers have been the stingiest unit against the run, giving up just over 42 yards per game and less than two yards per carry. Yikes.

Given the Bears issues in basically every facet of football, you'd better hope Howard does his damage early. The Bears could be forced to throw sooner rather than later. 

Colts WR Donte Moncrief Dropped by 60,000+ Teams

Darron Cummings/Associated Press

Although a player missing extended time can cause impatience for owners, the drop rate of Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Donte Moncrief is a bit overboard.

Looking at the transaction trends on Yahoo!, the third-year receiver has been dropped over 63,000 times and climbing. While this is far from the most dropped player (the Miami Dolphins defense), it's still worth acknowledging.

Before his injury (fractured scapula), Moncrief had a decent start to the season, catching six passes for 64 yards and a touchdown in Week 1.

In the word of Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers: Relax. R-E-L-A-X. Relax.

Stop dropping him.

Ravens QB Joe Flacco Starting in 12 Percent of Leagues

Stephen B. Morton/Associated Press

In Week 4, the Baltimore Ravens will host the Oakland Raiders.

Yeah, the same Raiders that give up the most passing yards per game to opposing quarterbacks.

So why is Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco only being started in 12 percent of leagues?

Through the first two weeks of the season, the Raiders gave up an average of 409 passing yards and over three touchdowns per game.

In Week 3, the Raiders halted the Tennessee Titans and quarterback Marcus Mariota. But come on, you're not actually going to let Mariota and the Titans play-calling impact your judgment in regards to Flacco against this poor defense, right?

No, Flacco hasn't had the greatest stat lines through the first three weeks of the season, but something needs to be said about playing the matchups.

Flacco is likely going to finish as a top-12 options this week.

Lions D/ST Starting in Two Percent of Leagues

Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports

Through the first three weeks of the season, the Detroit Lions and their defense have been shredded by Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck and Green Bay Packers signal-caller Aaron Rodgers.

Fair to say those guys are pretty good at this football thing.

However, in Week 4, the Lions will take on the Chicago Bears and backup quarterback Brian Hoyer. Although Hoyer threw for over 300 yards and two scores against the Cowboys, that success being replicated just doesn't sit right with me.

Courtesy of Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford, the Bears will likely fall behind and be forced to throw. Hoyer throwing the ball isn't exactly what I'd want to rely on when it comes to winning a game.

Defenses have scored an average of over 7.5 points when facing the Bears.

No, they aren't an elite, every-week, must-start defense, but going up against Hoyer and company, the Lions could be in a good spot for being only two percent started.

Giants RB Paul Perkins Sees One Percentage Ownership Increase

Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports

Following the injury of New York Giants running back Shane Vereen, Giants head coach Ben McAdoo has come out and said that rookie running back Paul Perkins is "ready to step up," according to Paul Schwartz of the New York Post. 

Regardless of these comments, the fantasy football owners of the world have yet to add Perkins—he's seen just a one percentage add increase.

Yes, fellow running back Rashad Jennings is still hanging around, but Perkins could become a legitimate PPR-league flex given his pass-catching ability.

Depending on your league, Perkins deserves a pick up.

Eagles RB Wendell Smallwood Has Low Ownership Percentage Despite RBBC

Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

When Philadelphia Eagles running back Ryan Mathews disappeared after the first quarter of the team's Week 3 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers, fellow Eagles running back Wendell Smallwood rushed for 79 yards and a score.

It turned out Mathews had an ankle injury that caused him to sit out the final three quarters.

Due largely to his success in Mathews' absence, the Eagles plan to use a running back by committee (RBBC) even when Mathews is healthy, according to Zach Berman of the Philadelphia Inquirer. 

On Yahoo!, Smallwood is modestly owned in just seven percent of leagues.

Unlike New York Giants running back Paul Perkins from the previous slide, it appears Smallwood has a defined role regardless of the incumbent starter.

Go out and add Smallwood.

Raiders RB Latavius Murray Being Traded at High Rate

Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

Although he has scored a touchdown in every game this season, the trend of trading Oakland Raiders running back Latavius Murray is, undoubtedly, the right move.

That's really the only thing Murray has done to this point—scoring a touchdown in each game.

Murray doesn't possess any other statistics that make you excited about starting him on a weekly basis.

Thus far in 2016, Murray has had no more than 15 carries and 59 yards in any given game, while playing in just 51 percent of the Raiders' total snaps.

He's in a timeshare, and that means you're banking on a touchdown from him.

If you can find an uneducated owner who is attracted to the touchdowns, unload Murray now.

Cowboys WR Cole Beasley Only Owned in 28 Percent of Leagues

Elaine Thompson/Associated Press

This one is a little unfair given the later-in-the-week revelation regarding Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant's injury.

According to Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee, it turns out Bryant has a hairline fracture in his injured knee and his status for Week 4 is up in the air with hope that he'll play.

However, Beasley has been been pretty good this season. Like, WR29 in PPR leagues good. So, he should have been owned in more than 28 percent of leagues to begin with, but I digress.

You already know what I'm going to say, but I'll say it anyway: Scoop Beasley up.

Stats courtesy of Pro Football Focus and ESPN.com.

Follow me on Twitter @RichardJanvrin.