Fantasy Football: Week 4 Recap – Rookie RBs Dominate, Stud WRs Shine, and Big Takeaways

The Week 4 Fantasy Superstars

Two rookie running backs stole the show in Week 4:

• Ashton Jeanty (Raiders RB): Jeanty had the top fantasy performance of the week, erupting for a total of 31.5 fantasy points (PPR). He showcased his bell-cow potential with 21 carries for 138 rushing yards and one touchdown, plus two receiving touchdowns on two receptions. His massive workload (84% of the backfield’s rush attempts and 78.3% route participation) makes him a must-start going forward.
• Bucky Irving (Buccaneers RB): Irving also delivered a huge dual-threat performance, finishing close behind Jeanty with 20.5 fantasy points (PPR). He managed 63 rushing yards and was very impressive in the passing game, racking up 102 receiving yards on five catches. He outscored veteran Rachaad White, signaling a potential shift in the Tampa Bay backfield usage.
• Omarion Hampton ( Chargers RB): Hampton had a huge fantasy week in Week 4, cementing his role as the Chargers’ workhorse running back with 27.5 points, making him one of the top-scoring running backs for the week.

Other top performers included:

• Puka Nacua (Rams WR): Continues to put up elite numbers with a massive 13 receptions for 170 yards, showcasing a fantastic connection with QB Matthew Stafford.
• Bijan Robinson (Falcons RB): Bounced back with a strong all-around game, tallying 181 total yards on 21 touches and finding the end zone.
• Kenneth Gainwell (Steelers RB): Stepped up huge in the absence of an injured Jaylen Warren, scoring two touchdowns and proving to be a valuable pickup for those who streamed him.
• Jordan Love (Packers QB) and Patrick Mahomes (Chiefs QB): Both quarterbacks delivered strong QB1 performances in an overtime thriller.

Fantasy Disappointments and Key Concerns

Not every star delivered in Week 4, leading to some unexpected losses for fantasy managers:

• Lamar Jackson (Ravens QB): Exited with a hamstring injury against the Chiefs after a shaky start, providing a disappointing day for those counting on him in the anticipated shootout. His injury status will be crucial for Week 5.
• Justin Herbert (Chargers QB): Had a surprisingly tough outing in the team’s loss, throwing two interceptions in what was easily his worst game of the season.
• Isiah Pacheco (Chiefs RB): Despite a theoretically great matchup, he failed to deliver significant fantasy value, continuing a trend of limited production and usage this season.
• The Entire Browns Offense: Cleveland’s offense struggled yet again, making it difficult to trust any of their players in fantasy lineups outside of desperation.

Crucial Fantasy Takeaways

1. Rookie Running Backs are Taking Over: The breakout performances by Ashton Jeanty and Bucky Irving demonstrate their high-ceiling potential, with both players securing significant workloads, especially in the passing game. They should be treated as high-end RB2s, with Jeanty possibly climbing to RB1 territory.
2. QB Situations on the Rise:

• Michael Penix Jr. (Falcons QB) had an excellent bounce-back performance, providing a much-needed fantasy lift to the Falcons’ pass-catchers like Bijan Robinson and Drake London.
• Caleb Williams (Bears QB) continues to impress with his fantasy floor thanks to his rushing ability, solidifying his spot as a weekly starting option.

Waiver Wire Opportunities:

With new injuries (Lamar Jackson, potential minor injuries to other players) and the emergence of players like Kenneth Gainwell (depending on Jaylen Warren’s status) and Woody Marks (Texans RB), the waiver wire for running backs remains a high-priority area.

Looking Ahead: Week 5 will be crucial for monitoring the injury status of key players and determining if the rookie breakouts from Jeanty and Irving are sticky against tougher defenses. Fantasy managers should be active on the waiver wire to capitalize on the new backfield hierarchies.