Fantasy Football Big Board: Complete PPR Player Rankings for Week 4

Gary DavenportSep 30, 2020

Editor's Note: After publish, the NFL announced that Sunday's game between the Steelers and Titans will be postponed per ESPN's Dianna Russini.

The calendar is about to turn to October, and that means the first month of the fantasy football season is about to wrap up.

Some things went according to plan. New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara has been fantastic. So has Arizona Cardinals wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins.

But as is the case every year, there have been surprises. Some, like Jacksonville Jaguars running back James Robinson, have been pleasant. Others, not so much.

The injuries. So…many…injuries.

Then there's the situation with the Tennessee Titans. After eight positive COVID-19 tests (including three Titans players), in-person activities for both the Titans and Minnesota Vikings (who hosted Tennessee in Week 3) have been suspended until at least Saturday.

So far, the Vikings haven't reported any positive cases, but the game in Nashville on Sunday between the unbeaten Titans and Pittsburgh Steelers could be postponed, per CBS Sports' Jason La Canfora.

Whether your fantasy team is 3-0 and cruising or 0-3 and scrambling, there's still a long way to go before the fantasy playoffs. There's time to turn things around or blow a fast start.

The pressure is on to get the best lineup possible for Week 4. I'm here to help, with a position-by-position breakdown for points-per-reception (PPR) fantasy leagues.

Let's get to work.

Quarterbacks

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Tyler Kaufman/Associated Press

Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs and Lamar Jackson of the Baltimore Ravens were the top two signal-callers taken in most fantasy drafts and with good reason. And to their credit, both have been solid this season.

But a couple of other quarterbacks have been the story of fantasy football so far.

In Buffalo, Josh Allen hasn't just taken a step forward in his third season—he's also taken a leap. Through three games, he is averaging 346 passing yards and over three touchdowns per contest. He's completing over 70 percent of his passes, averaging 9.1 yards per attempt and has two scores on the ground.

In the NFC West, Russell Wilson of the Seattle Seahawks is on fire. Wilson's 14 touchdown passes over his first three games are the most in league history over that span. He's averaging 308 passing yards per game and has thrown just one pick.

If you drafted either quarterback, things are likely going pretty well.

GOOD MATCHUPS

Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers (vs. ATL) [DraftKings DFS Value: $7,100]

Rodgers has gotten off to quite the hot start himself. He's averaging almost 296 passing yards and three scores per game and had a big performance Sunday night. Whether Davante Adams is back from his hamstring injury or not, Rodgers should post another excellent stat line Monday against an Atlanta Falcons secondary that has been roasted to a crispy golden brown on a weekly basis, allowing 350.3 yards per contest.

Matthew Stafford, Detroit Lions (vs. NO) [DraftKings DFS Value: $5,900]

Stafford is coming off his best game of the season, throwing for 270 yards and two scores in Detroit's upset of the Cardinals. He has a good chance at making it two solid outings in a row Sunday against a Saints defense that ranks inside the top-10 in fantasy points given up to quarterbacks this season.

BAD MATCHUPS

Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs (vs. NE) [DraftKings DFS Value: $7,400]

In season-long leagues, Mahomes is next to impossible to sit. But there are likely better uses of your DFS resources in Week 4. The New England Patriots aren't the defensive team they were a year ago, but the unit is still pretty danged good.

Gardner Minshew II, Jacksonville (at CIN) [DraftKings DFS Value: $5,900]

The Bengals admittedly haven't faced a murderers' row of quarterbacks in Tyrod Taylor, Baker Mayfield and Carson Wentz. But that doesn't change the fact that Cincinnati has given up the seventh-fewest fantasy points to the quarterback position.

SLEEPER

Ryan Fitzpatrick, Miami Dolphins (vs. SEA) [DraftKings DFS Value: $5,400]

The Seahawks are undefeated, but Seattle's pass defense has been all kinds of bad. The Hawks have surrendered 430.7 passing yards per game for the worst mark in the NFL. The Dolphins are probably going to be playing from behind, which should mean plenty of pass attempts (and fantasy points) for the bearded one.

WEEK 4 QB RANKINGS

Russell Wilson, SEA (at MIA)
Lamar Jackson, BAL (at WAS)
Josh Allen, BUF (at LVR)
Patrick Mahomes, KC (vs. NE)
Kyler Murray, AZ (at CAR)
Dak Prescott, DAL (vs. CLE)
Deshaun Watson, HOU (vs. MIN)
Aaron Rodgers, GBP (vs. ATL)
Cam Newton, NE (at KC)
Matt Ryan, ATL (at GB)
Ben Roethlisberger, PIT (at TEN)
Jared Goff, LAR (vs. NYG)
Drew Brees, NO (at DET)
Matthew Stafford, DET (vs. NO)
Tom Brady, TB (vs. LAC)
Gardner Minshew, JAX (at CIN)
Ryan Tannehill, TEN (vs. PIT)
Joe Burrow, CIN (vs. JAX)
Ryan Fitzpatrick, MIA (vs. SEA)
Kirk Cousins, MIN (at HOU)
Baker Mayfield, CLE (at DAL)
Carson Wentz, PHI (at SF)
Philip Rivers, IND (at CHI)
Daniel Jones, NYG (at LAR)
Derek Carr, LVR (vs. BUF)
Nick Foles, CHI (vs. IND)
Justin Herbert, LAC (at TB)
Teddy Bridgewater, CAR (vs. AZ)
Dwayne Haskins, WAS (vs. BAL)
Sam Darnold, NYJ (vs. DEN)

Running Backs

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Gene J. Puskar/Associated Press

It's been a rough few weeks for running backs. Saquon Barkley of the New York Giants is out for the year with an ACL tear. Christian McCaffrey of the Carolina Panthers is out indefinitely with a high ankle sprain. Joe Mixon of the Bengals and Kenyan Drake of the Cardinals have spent most of the year on the side of a milk carton.

Alvin Kamara of the New Orleans Saints is another story.

After gashing the Green Bay Packers for almost 200 total yards and two scores in Week 3, Kamara is fantasy's No. 1 PPR running back by a sizable margin. He has already found the end zone six times.

Apparently, this was a good year to draft from the No. 4 hole.

GOOD MATCHUPS

James Conner, Pittsburgh Steelers (at TEN) [DraftKings DFS Value: $6,900]

Conner went down early in Week 1, and at the time, there were calls for the veteran back to be benched in favor of Benny Snell Jr. Since then, Conner has peeled off back-to-back 100-yard games with a score on the ground in each, and on Sunday, he draws a Titans team that was just gashed by Dalvin Cook (181 rushing yards) and the Minnesota Vikings.

James Robinson, Jacksonville Jaguars (at CIN) [DraftKings DFS Value: $6,500]

Robinson's DFS price tag in Week 4 is significantly higher than it was in Week 3, which happens when you blow up for 129 total yards and two scores. The undrafted rookie free agent is well-positioned to keep the good times rolling Sunday against the Bengals, who are allowing over 180 rushing yards per game (second-most in the league).

BAD MATCHUPS

Antonio Gibson, Washington Football Team (vs. BAL) [DraftKings DFS Value: $4,500]

Gibson has shown some flashes over the first three games of his NFL career, and he's become the clear No. 1 running back in Washington. But if fantasy managers have any kind of Plan B in the backfield, this is the week to use it. The Ravens are a bad matchup for running backs, allowing the fourth-fewest points at the position, and Washington will all but certainly be playing from behind.

Derrick Henry, Tennessee Titans (vs. PIT) [DraftKings DFS Value: $7,400]

Henry is another player who is next to impossible to sit, especially given the injuries that have ravaged the running back position this year. He's probably going to get 20 touches Sunday, but the sledding will be tough and then some. Through three games, the Steelers lead the NFL in run defense with 54 yards allowed per contest.

SLEEPER

Devonta Freeman, New York Giants (at LAR) [DraftKings DFS Value: $4,900]

OK, so the Giants admittedly looked 37 kinds of awful last week in a 36-9 defeat against the 49ers. But Freeman saw more touches in his first game with the G-Men than most expected, and this week, he gets a Rams defense that has allowed 4.8 yards per carry. Freeman ain't gonna win you a week, but he might sneak into the back end of RB2 territory.

WEEK 4 RB RANKINGS

Alvin Kamara, NO (at DET)
Ezekiel Elliott, DAL (vs. CLE)
Aaron Jones, GB (vs. ATL)
Dalvin Cook, MIN (at HOU)]
Nick Chubb, CLE (at DAL)
Kenyan Drake, AZ (at CAR)
Derrick Henry, TEN (vs. PIT)
Austin Ekeler, LAC (at TB)
James Robinson, JAX (at CIN)
Josh Jacobs, LVR (vs. BUF)
Jonathan Taylor, IND (at CHI)
Joe Mixon, CIN (vs. JAX)
Clyde Edwards-Helaire, KC (vs. NE)
Miles Sanders, PHI (at SF)
Melvin Gordon III, DEN (at NYJ)
James Conner, PIT (at TEN)
David Montgomery, CHI (vs. IND)
David Johnson, HOU (vs. MIN)
Todd Gurley, ATL (at GB)
Mike Davis, CAR (vs. AZ)
Devin Singletary, BUF (at LVR)
Chris Carson, SEA (at MIA) [INJURED]
Kareem Hunt, CLE (at DAL)
Darrell Henderson, LAR (vs. NYG)
Jerick McKinnon, SF (vs. PHI)
Myles Gaskin, MIA (vs. SEA)
Mark Ingram II, BAL (at WAS)
Antonio Gibson, WAS (vs. BAL)
Jeff Wilson Jr., SF (vs. PHI)
Adrian Peterson, DET (vs. NO)
Sony Michel, NE (at KC)
Ronald Jones II, TB (vs. LAC)
J.K. Dobbins, BAL (at WAS)
James White, NE (at KC) [INJURED]
Frank Gore, NYJ (vs. DEN)
Leonard Fournette, TB (vs. LAC)
Joshua Kelley, LAC (at TB)
Malcolm Brown, LAR (vs. NYG)
Devonta Freeman, NYG (at LAR)
Zack Moss, BUF (at LV) [INJURED]
Latavius Murray, NO (at DET)
Nyheim Hines, IND (at CHI)
Jordan Howard, MIA (vs. SEA)
D'Andre Swift, DET (vs. NO)
Carlos Hyde, SEA (at MIA)
Cam Akers, LAR (vs. NYG) [INJURED]
Chris Thompson, JAX (at CIN)
Jamaal Williams, GB (vs. ATL)
Kerryon Johnson, DET (vs. NO)
Rex Burkhead, NE (at KC)

Wide Receivers

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Ron Schwane/Associated Press

It's a rough time to have a high-end wide receiver on your fantasy team.

The top of the wideout ranks are littered with injuries. Julio Jones of Atlanta Falcons missed Week 3 with a hamstring injury. So did Davante Adams of the Packers. Michael Thomas of the Saints missed a second straight week with a high ankle sprain. DJ Chark Jr. of the Jaguars sat out with chest and back injuries. Titans wideout A.J. Brown is laid up with a bone bruise.

Players like Green Bay's Allen Lazard had big games in Week 3 with all of those stars on the bench. But you can rest assured that the injury report will be of great interest in Week 4.

GOOD MATCHUPS

Odell Beckham Jr., Cleveland Browns (at DAL) [DraftKings DFS Value: $5,800]

Beckham continues to be a fantasy disappointment in his second season with the Browns, posting just 11 catches for 155 yards and a touchdown through three games. If there's a matchup that sets up Beckham to break out of his funk, this is it. The Dallas secondary has been hit hard by injuries and was repeatedly beat deep by Russell Wilson in Week 3.

DeVante Parker, Miami Dolphins (vs. SEA) [DraftKings DFS Value: $5,700]

If the first three weeks of the 2020 season are any indication, the Seahawks and their historically bad pass defense are going to be a matchup to target all season long. Seattle is giving up well over 400 passing yards per game and the most PPR fantasy points to wide receivers by a sizable margin.

BAD MATCHUPS

Terry McLaurin, Washington Football Team (vs. BAL) [DraftKings DFS Value: $5,800]

McLaurin is more than just Washington's unquestioned No. 1 wide receiver. He's their best weapon period. But the Ravens have two Pro Bowl cornerbacks in Marcus Peters and Marlon Humphrey, and there's no reason for Baltimore not to focus its attention on McLaurin.

Allen Robinson, Chicago (vs. IND) [DraftKings DFS Value: $6,700]

Had Robinson not been saddled with poor quarterback play for essentially his entire NFL career, he'd get mentioned more among the elite at his position. The QB carousel in Week 4 isn't Robinson's only problem. The Colts lead the NFL in pass defense with just 132 yards allowed per game.

SLEEPER

Preston Williams, Miami Dolphins (vs. SEA) [DraftKings DFS Value: $4,500]

Have I mentioned that the Seattle secondary is really, really bad? At any rate, Williams hasn't done much of anything through Week 3 (five catches for 74 yards), but the second-year pro found the end zone Thursday for the first time this season, and he gets the mother of all favorable matchups this week.

WEEK 4 WR RANKINGS

DeAndre Hopkins, AZ (at CAR)
Davante Adams, GB (vs. ATL) [INJURED]
Michael Thomas, NO (at DET) [INJURED]
Chris Godwin, TB (vs. LAC)
Julio Jones, ATL (at GB) [INJURED]
DeVante Parker, MIA (vs. SEA)
Tyler Lockett, SEA (at MIA)
Calvin Ridley, ATL (at GB)
Stefon Diggs, BUF (at LVR)
Amari Cooper, DAL (vs. CLE)
Tyreek Hill, KC (vs. NE)
Adam Thielen, MIN (at HOU)
Mike Evans, TB (vs. LAC)
JuJu Smith-Schuster, PIT (at TEN)
Odell Beckham Jr., CLE (at DAL)
Allen Robinson, CHI (vs. IND)
DK Metcalf, SEA (at MIA)
Keenan Allen, LAC (at TB)
Robert Woods, LAR (vs. NYG)
Kenny Golladay, DET (vs. NO)
Cooper Kupp, LAR (vs. NYG)
Tyler Boyd, CIN (vs. JAX)
Will Fuller V, HOU (vs. MIN)
DJ Chark Jr., JAX (at CIN) [INJURED]
D.J. Moore, CAR (vs. AZ)
Diontae Johnson, PIT (at TEN)
A.J. Brown, TEN (vs. PIT) [INJURED]
Jarvis Landry, CLE (at DAL)
Julian Edelman, NE (at KC)
T.Y. Hilton, IND (at CHI)
Terry McLaurin, WAS (vs. BAL)
Marquise Brown, BAL (at WAS)
A.J. Green, CIN (vs. JAX)
Marvin Jones, DET (vs. NO)
Darius Slayton, NYG (at LAR)
CeeDee Lamb, DAL (vs. CLE)
Preston Williams, MIA (vs. SEA)
Corey Davis, TEN (vs. PIT)
Justin Jefferson, MIN (at HOU)
Allen Lazard, GB (vs. ATL)
Brandon Aiyuk, SF (vs. PHI)
Michael Gallup, DAL (vs. CLE)
Robby Anderson, CAR (vs. AZ)
Jamison Crowder, NYJ (vs. DEN) [INJURED]
Brandin Cooks, HOU (vs. MIN)
Laviska Shenault Jr., JAX (at CIN)
Emmanuel Sanders, NO (at DET)
John Brown, BUF (at LVR)
Jerry Jeudy, DEN (at NYJ)
Golden Tate, NYG (at LAR)

Tight Ends

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Duane Burleson/Associated Press

This was supposed to be the year.

With an influx of talented young players at the tight end position, 2020 was going to finally have improved depth at that spot. There wasn't just going to be a handful of reliable weekly starts followed by a multitude of maybes.

Three weeks into the season, not so much.

While there have been youngsters like Denver's Noah Fant, 22, and Tennessee's Jonnu Smith, 25, who have exceeded expectations, there have been guys like Philadelphia's Zach Ertz and Cleveland's Austin Hooper—weekly starters a year ago who have come out of the gate slowly.

Them's the breaks, I suppose.

GOOD MATCHUPS

T.J. Hockenson, Detroit Lions (vs. NO) [DraftKings DFS Value: $4,900]

Per David Eickholt of 247Sports, Hockenson is the first tight end in Lions franchise history to exceed 50 receiving yards in the first three games of a season. There's a good chance he'll make it four in a row Sunday against a Saints defense that just allowed a big game to Green Bay's Robert Tonyan.

Dalton Schultz, Dallas Cowboys (vs. CLE) [DraftKings DFS Value: $4,300]

After ripping the Falcons for a 9/88/1 stat line two weeks ago, Schultz cooled off in Sunday's loss to the Seahawks, posting just four catches for 48 yards. This week's matchup could portend a return to statistical beefiness, however. The Browns are one of fantasy football's most favorable tight end matchups in 2020.

BAD MATCHUPS

Zach Ertz, Philadelphia Eagles (at SFO) [DraftKings DFS Value: $5,300]

With Dallas Goedert placed on injured reserve with an ankle injury, Ertz could be set for a bump in his target share. But he's also set to receive additional attention from a Niners defense that has allowed the second-fewest PPR points to the tight end position this season.

Jimmy Graham, Chicago Bears (vs. IND) [DraftKings DFS Value: $3,800]

Graham has been something of a feast-or-famine fantasy option, although Sunday's showing of six catches for 60 yards and two touchdowns against the Falcons qualifies as the former. Don't get caught chasing last week's numbers, though. The Colts have been stingy to tight ends so far.

SLEEPER

Logan Thomas, Washington Football Team (vs. BAL) [DraftKings DFS Value: $3,500]

Thomas has yet to log even 40 receiving yards in a game this year. But he is being targeted an average of eight times per game, and for as good as the Baltimore Ravens are defensively, the team has been surprisingly kind to opposing tight ends, allowing the third-most fantasy points per game.

WEEK 4 TE RANKINGS

Travis Kelce, KC (vs. NE)
Mark Andrews, BAL (at WAS)
George Kittle, SF (vs. PHI) [INJURED]
Darren Waller, LVR (vs. BUF)
Tyler Higbee, LAR (vs. NYG)
Noah Fant, DEN (at NYJ)
Hunter Henry, LAC (at TB)
Zach Ertz, PHI (at SF)
Jonnu Smith, TEN (vs. PIT)
T.J. Hockenson, DET (vs. NO)
Mike Gesicki, MIA (vs. SEA)
Jared Cook, NO (at DET)
Hayden Hurst, ATL (at GB)
Evan Engram, NYG (at LAR)
Logan Thomas, WAS (vs. BAL)
Mo Alie-Cox, IND (at CHI)
Eric Ebron, PIT (at TEN)
Dalton Schultz, DAL (vs. CLE)
Greg Olsen, SEA (at MIA)
Jimmy Graham, CHI (vs. IND)
Austin Hooper, CLE (at DAL)
Chris Herndon, NYJ (vs. DEN)
Jordan Akins, HOU (vs. MIN)
Drew Sample, CIN (vs. JAX)
Rob Gronkowski, TB (vs. LAC)
Tyler Eifert, JAX (at CIN)
O.J. Howard, TB (vs. LAC)
Jack Doyle, IND (at CHI)
Kyle Rudolph, MIN (at HOU)
Dan Arnold, AZ (at CAR)

Kickers and Defense/Special Teams

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Jack Dempsey/Associated Press

In 2019, there was no better matchup target for defenses than the New York Jets and their bumbling offense.

If Week 3 was any indication, nothing has changed.

In a 36-7 drubbing at the hands of the Indianapolis Colts, the Jets managed just one touchdown and 260 yards of offense. New York quarterback Sam Darnold was picked off three times, with two of those interceptions returned for touchdowns. Indy sacked Darnold was twice, with one of those going for a safety.

It made the Colts Week 3's top fantasy defense by a wide margin and sets up the Denver Broncos to be very popular on the Week 4 waiver wire.

GOOD MATCHUPS

Joey Slye, Carolina Panthers (vs. ARZ)

Slye is far from a household name. He's available on as many waiver wires as not. But the 24-year-old has quietly posted double-digit outings in two of three weeks and ranks inside the top 10 at his position in fantasy points per game.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers Defense/Special Teams (vs. LAC) [DraftKings DFS Value: $3,400]

It gets lost in all the Tom Brady hype, but Tampa's defense has been rolling. Over the past two weeks, the Bucs have notched 11 sacks, taken the ball away six times, allowed just 27 points and ranked as the No. 1 fantasy defense in the NFC. The Bucs are now going against a rookie quarterback at home.

BAD MATCHUPS

Zane Gonzalez, Arizona Cardinals (at CAR)

This is part matchup and part player. The Cardinals are coming off a sloppy effort at home and heading east for an early game. Add in that Gonzalez will be kicking outside and that he has already missed twice in 2020 (in seven tries), and it isn't a great combination.

New England Patriots Defense/Special Teams (at KC) [DraftKings DFS Value: $3,200]

The Patriots defense had a big game last week against the Las Vegas Raiders, notching three takeaways, two sacks and a defensive touchdown. But it doesn't take a fantasy football expert to see that playing the Raiders at home and battling the Chiefs on the road are two different things.

SLEEPER

Houston Texans Defense/Special Teams [DraftKings DFS Value: $2,500]

This is an admittedly speculative play. The Texans are 0-3 and haven't exactly been sharp defensively. But J.J. Watt and Co. are better than they have played so far this season, and it isn't as though the similarly winless Vikings have been tearing it up.

WEEK 4 K RANKINGS

Justin Tucker, BAL (at WAS)
Wil Lutz, NO (at DET)
Greg Zuerlein, DAL (vs. CLE)
Harrison Butker, KC (vs. NE)
Joey Slye, CAR (vs. ARZ)
Mason Crosby, GB (vs. ATL)
Michael Badgley, LAC (at TB)
Matt Prater, DET (vs. NO)
Robbie Gould, SF (vs. PHI)
Tyler Bass, BUF (at LVR)
Dan Bailey, MIN (at HOU)
Zane Gonzalez, ARZ (at CAR)
Chris Boswell, PIT (at TEN)
Daniel Carlson, LVR (vs. BUF)
Stephen Gostkowski, TEN (vs. PIT)
Brandon McManus, DEN (at NYJ)
Ka'imi Fairbairn, HOU (vs. MIN)
Sam Sloman, LAR (vs. NYG)
Ryan Succop, TB (vs. LAC)
Nick Folk, NE (at KC)
Randy Bullock, CIN (vs. JAX)
Rodrigo Blankenship, IND (at CHI)
Jake Elliott, PHI (at SF)
Cody Parkey, CLE (at DAL)
Stephen Hauschka, JAX (at CIN)

WEEK 4 D/ST RANKINGS

Baltimore Ravens (at WAS)
Los Angeles Rams (vs. NYG)
Indianapolis Colts (at CHI)
San Francisco 49ers (vs. PHI)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (vs. LAC)
Pittsburgh Steelers (at TEN)
Buffalo Bills (at LVR)
Chicago Bears (vs. IND)
Denver Broncos (at NYJ)
Philadelphia Eagles (at SFO)
Arizona Cardinals (at CAR)
New York Jets (vs. DEN)
New Orleans Saints (at DET)
Houston Texans (vs. MIN)
Los Angeles Chargers (at TB)
Tennessee Titans (vs. PIT)
Green Bay Packers (vs. ATL)
Seattle Seahawks (at MIA)
Cincinnati Bengals (vs. JAX)
Jacksonville Jaguars (at CIN)
New England Patriots (at KC)
Carolina Panthers (vs. ARZ)
Dallas Cowboys (vs. CLE)
Minnesota Vikings (at HOU)
Kansas City Chiefs (vs. NE)

Top 100/FLEX Rankings

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Butch Dill/Associated Press

This top 100 can help you make Week 4 lineup decisions regarding your fantasy team's flex spots. Quarterbacks are not included. If your league uses "superflex" spots, then just about any starting QB will score more consistently than all but the best backs and pass-catchers.

A four-week sample size is enough to know which players are exceeding expectations (looking at you, Josh Allen) and which guys just aren't getting it done (you know who you are, Joe Mixon).

I'm not one to advise panic-dropping players. As Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Michael Gallup showed Sunday, sometimes all it takes is one big performance to make stats look substantially better.

But at this time next week, teams sitting at 1-3 or 0-4 may have some tough decisions to make.

So, let's just avoid that and get a win.

TOP 100 RANKINGS