Streaming Quarterbacks: Week 4 Targets

Sep 25, 2018

We walk into each week knowing how captivating football can be. As confident as we are of our lineups there’s always a sliver of doubt. That fear the weekend will bring those moments we never see coming. And, the players deliver. Josh Allen quiets the doubters. An almost tie game in Atlanta. The week was wild with unforeseeable results making the game all the more enjoyable. Week 3’s recommendations took a step back with the average scores netting the QB17 for Week 3. But let’s revisit the process, along with 4for4’s tools, and see what tweaks need to be made.

Good news! Our Schedule Adjusted Fantasy Points Allowed (aFPA) tool is now updated for 2018. We’re only a few weeks in, but the risers and fallers include:

CLE(!) rank first with a 0.4 aFPA
IND up 11 spots from 20^th to 9^th
LAC down 11 spots from 4^th to 15^th
MIN down 17 spots from 2^nd to 19^th

Injuries and personnel changes have altered our views on many of the defenses originally viewed as positive matchups to target. We'll need to consider this along with our usual guidelines which include:

Only quarterbacks with no more than a 40% ownership in Yahoo leagues considered.
Ancillary metrics and game conditions (e.g. defensive ranking, weather) will be factored into the analysis.
Positive matchups for all pass catchers to be considered.
4for4 rankings should always be consulted for league-specific decisions.

Key Defensive Injuries from Week 3:

Marcus Peters, Rams (Calf) – Initial reports appeared much worse, but the CB appears to have avoided serious injury. Aqib Talib also injured his ankle in the third quarter making their status for Thursday Night Football unclear.

Ricardo Allen, Falcons (Achilles) – Another defender in the middle of the field down for the season in Atlanta. The Falcons have become susceptible to pass-catching running backs and have Giovanni Bernard on deck in Week 4.

Karl Joseph, Raiders (Leg) – Oakland’s defense was already on their back foot and an injury at the safety position opens up the intermediate passing game. This injury should be closely monitored for Week 4 as Cleveland’s offense has multiple receivers that specialize in this area of the field.

Top Streaming Picks

Eli Manning vs Saints

Opening the season against Jacksonville is enough to make everyone worried, but Eli’s slowly picked up his game. From 7.2 points to 13.6 and 19.8 in Weeks 2 and 3, respectively, Manning has given the fantasy GMs some hope. His 73.4 percent completion percentage is up from 2017 (61.5 percent) and he has connected with seven different pass catchers over the first few weeks of the season. The loss of Evan Engram (second in targets before Week 3) hurts the overall passing game, but the New Orleans offense should keep the Giants passing throughout the game. The Giants are at home with a 26.5 implied team total against a reeling Saints defense that has a 27.1 aFPA to through Week 3 of 2018.

Manning is available in 82 percent of Yahoo leagues.