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the Steelers–Titans postponement, we’d lay out for you the options the NFL has in front of it for rescheduling the game, along with the downside for each plan.
Scenario 1: Move the game to Monday night. Downside: Titans get just one practice day (Saturday) before game day.
Scenario 2: Move the game to Tuesday night. Downside: Both teams are schedule to play a week from Sunday at 1 p.m.—the Titans host the Bills, and the Steelers host the Eagles—so each would in essence be playing on TNF-level prep against an opponent with a full week to get ready.
Scenario 3: Move the game to Week 8 and shift Ravens–Steelers to Week 7. Downside: This works on paper, as I wrote about Tuesday. The issue then is that the Steelers and Titans are losing their bye weeks (since this certainly won’t feel like one), and forced them to play 13 weeks in a row. Also, in doing this, the league’s margin for error with those two teams is gone.
We know what the NFL’s preference is. That much was clear in the league’s statement. They want the teams, pending more testing results like the good ones that came back on Wednesday morning, to play in some form or fashion in Week 4. Yes, it stinks for the Titans. No, it wouldn’t be fair for either team to come out of all this and go into a short week against a rested opponent in Week 5.
But this is sort of what everyone signed up for in going forward with the season amid a pandemic, and finding a way to get the game played in the coming days could provide a template for the league later in year.
Come late November and December, playoff implications will loom large, flu season will be underway and teams will have already had their bye weeks. It’s certainly possible that a situation like this one could arise then. And if it does, and there’s hand-wringing from teams over competitive balance issue, it would be nice for the league to be able to point to precedent: The Steelers and Titans didn’t like this in September either, but they dealt with it.
And that gets to the crux of the matter. We all knew that competitive balance could be tipped if COVID-19 reared its head midseason, and teams were warned that some life-isn’t-fair moments could be coming. Now that they’re here, to some degree, everyone just has to accept them.
On to your mail …
From Cincyfan (@Darktraveler1): What does Cincy do with A.J. Green? Looks slow and can’t get separation, hard to justify a long-term deal at top receiver money.
Cincy, I’d start here—Green’s been awfully banged up the last couple years, and so I do think you want to give him some time to get his feet underneath him. That said, he’s been banged up, he’ll be 33 during the first week of 2021 training camp and a second tag would cost $21.8 million. That number’s a non-starter if he doesn’t start to look more like his old self. Right now, he’s on pace for a 69-catch, 619-yard year.
Add that to the fact that the Bengals are paying Tyler Boyd already, Tee Higgins looks promising as a rookie (even if his numbers thus far are pedestrian), and next year’s draft class is another one rich with receivers, and I can sure see where the Bengals might want to spend the money Green would be making to try and get Joe Burrow some protection.
And that’s nothing against Green, who’s been great. But based on all this, I think, if you’re Cincinnati, you let Green go to the market, wish him luck and tell him you’d be more than happy to talk if he wants to come back at a reduced rate, if what’s out there for him isn’t what he was hoping for. That is, of course, if he doesn’t return to form. If that happens, we’re having a different discussion.
From SalesMan (@95KeepPounding): Do you think David Tepper will ever fire Marty Hurney?
SaleMan, make no mistake, this is Matt Rhule’s operation going forward, which is pretty clearly evident in guys that have been acquired over the last eight months or so (Robby Anderson, P.J. Walker, etc.). And while Hurney remains the GM—he’s become a close confidant of Tepper since Tepper bought the team—Rhule’s fingerprints are now pretty clearly there in the team’s personnel department.
Director of player personnel Pat Stewart, hired away from Philly in May, worked with Rhule back at Western Carolina a decade-and-a-half ago, and Stewart’s influence has already been clear in the number of ex-Eagles that have been picked off the last four months. Also, Tepper brought in Samir Sulieman from Pittsburgh (where Tepper was a minority owner) to be director of player negotiations and salary cap manager, giving Rhule a guy on that side of football ops to start with.
Eventually, I think Hurney will retire or move into more of an advisory role, giving Rhule a major say in who succeeds him. But regardless, this is very much Rhule’s ship already.
From Derek Nelson (@_derekn): What are the Giants going to do about their front office? Can’t just keep firing coaches…
Derek, it’s not that different from the Panthers’ situation. The Giants have a veteran GM who’s close to ownership and is older. Long story short, I don’t think you’ll see owner John Mara dropping the axe on GM Dave Gettleman in the way you’d be used to seeing it, and I don’t think that should happen anyway—he’s done a better job of building up what was a broken roster than most people realize.
But there have been bad misses (like Deandre Baker), and it’s not hard to see where eventually the front office will get reshuffled or Gettleman will retire. If that happens, and Joe Judge and staff have shown promise, it’s pretty easy to deduce that a GM search would begin with a dive into the head coach’s Rolodex.
I’ve mentioned the name of Titans director of player personnel Monti Ossenfort a few times for this one—he and Judge know each other well from New England. So that would be one name to start with. And given how Mara values familiarity, there likely would be in-house candidates in Jersey, with assistant GM Kevin Abrams an obvious one to start with, and veterans of the organization like Tim McDonnell and Chris Pettit also well-regarded there.
From Chris Maltby (@ChrisMaltbyBD): How do you think the move to Nick Foles will work out for the Bears?
Chris, the bet for Chicago here is that Foles’s playing style will help the other 10 guys in the huddle moving forward, and in particular guys like Allen Robinson, Anthony Miller and Jimmy Graham. The bottom line is that Foles has a better grasp of the scheme and plays more consistently on time and faster than Mitch Trubisky, which should allow for the offense to work better for all those skill guys.
There was a sequence of two plays in the Atlanta game that illustrates the disparity nicely. With a minute left in the second quarter, and the ball near field, the Bears broke the huddle into a 3-by-1 look, and had the two inside receivers to the left go vertical. Miller came free as the play was designed by bending his route in, but Trubisky hesitated, held the ball, then sailed it over his head. Two quarters later, with Foles in, a similar call came in (with the two outside receivers running verticals). Foles adjusted Miller’s route slightly in the huddle, got rid of the ball on time and put it right on the receiver’s chest plate for the game-winner.
So that’s a little example with big fallout. And the sort of the thing that receivers sure do notice. I wouldn’t be surprised if we see a different-looking Bears offense on Sunday.
From Mister Biggs (@PopBurgandy_): If Denver is in position to take Trevor Lawrence, would they? Or is Lock their guy for sure?
Mister, this is a fun topic that Conor Orr covered for the site last week and I’ll give you my blanket answer: There are very few teams that wouldn’t take Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence if they had the first pick. Kansas City would trade the pick. Seattle, too. Baltimore and Houston (which doesn’t even have a first-round pick) probably would. Cincinnati, Buffalo and Arizona probably (?) would. Dallas I actually think would be a toss-up. Who else? I think Green Bay would take Lawrence. I think the Rams and Eagles would, too.
That’s the kind of prospect we’re talking about here. Lawrence is in the John Elway/Peyton Manning/Andrew Luck category, which means he’ll be the best in eight years, and a legit once-in-a-decade prospect. On top of that, a team would be getting him on a rookie contract, which means they’d be building their team with a pretty serious advantage in the short-term, with the hopes that Lawrence will rise to a level, by Year 4, where he’d justify the big second deal.
And just before anyone tries to head off my argument here—I’m talking about how guys were seen as prospects. Patrick Mahomes has, pretty obviously, become the best player in the sport. This isn’t about that. This is about how guys are viewed coming into the NFL, and Lawrence will be in rarefied air in that regard, assuming nothing weird happens between now and April.
So to answer your question, Mister, the Broncos like Drew Lock. But I don’t think they like him enough to say no to a guy who might be the best quarterbacking prospect since, well, the guy who would be picking him, in your scenario.
From Grisu (@Drachenreiter77): Where do you think do the Patriots land in the division? Greetings from Austria
From BradyForcesJetsFansToCry (@Pats_1988): If a player—for example RB Damien Harris—returns from IR to the 53-man roster and he is injured again and put on IR, can he return a second time to the active roster? What’s your opinion of the new IR rules? Best regards from Austria
Two Patriots questions from the homeland! Thanks fellas. Grisu, I’m going to stick with the Bills as my division champion. They’re 3–0, Josh Allen’s improving and the defense can still be a lot better—cornerstones Tremaine Edmunds and Matt Milano just returned to the lineup against the Rams. I think Buffalo’s a 12-win team. That said, I feel good about having put the Patriots in the playoffs in my predictions a few weeks ago.
I think Bill Belichick and Cam Newton will get them to around 10–6. The schedule’s tough, but New England is going to get better over the course of the season, because that always happens. And I think how much better will ride on the continued development of young guys like J.C. Jackson, Chase Winovich, Isaiah Wynn and N’Keal Harry.
On the second question, I actually thought you could put players on and pull them off more than once. As it turns out, after I checked with some people, you can’t. So if you put a player on injured reserve a second time, he’s out for the year. That said, I do like the new rules, and the NFL has been going in that direction for a while anyway, with the designated-for-return adjustments of the last few years.
Now, there are reasons why the NFL has been hesitant to go this far before—mostly because they view the gameday inactive slots as places where you put your injured guys, and also because it’d create some interesting challenges in roster-building. But my feeling’s always been that the more you can do to get the best players on the field on the most consistent basis, the better. This year’s COVID-related changes have certainly done that.
Form Mike Durand (@MikeyD_31): Who is the Patriots QB in 2021?
Simple answer: Cam Newton. Either on the franchise tag or a long-term deal. As we detailed in last week’s GamePlan, I’d pursue the latter route now if I were the Patriots. But New England could choose the former. Either way, I think Newton’s in New England in 2021.
From M William (@WilYukon85): When will Allen Robinson get re-signed?!
M, I wouldn’t underrate the extension done for Rams receiver Robert Woods as a factor in the thaw in Robinson’s situation in Chicago—both guys are in their late 20s, and came into the year seeking their third long-term contracts (a fairly rare thing) as NFL players. And Woods’s deal wound up at $65 million over four years, a tick over $16 million per year, which creates a template for getting a fair rate for Robinson in Chicago.
Other players right in that range of pay: Bradin Cooks, Adam Thielen, Cooper Kupp, Jarvis Landry, Davante Adams and Stefon Diggs. So, as I see it, the market is set. We’ll see if it’s enough to get a deal done. I think it should be.
From Not who you think I am (@DonRidenour): The 2nd round QB pick looks a bit different for the Eagles today, no?
I think what Don is saying here is that Philly might have had some doubt in Carson Wentz when it took Jalen Hurts in April. I don’t think that’s the case. GM Howie Roseman was raised in the Andy Reid school of team-building, and Reid learned at the knee of Ron Wolf, who believed you could never have enough quarterbacks (he drafted Matt Hasselbeck, Aaron Brooks, Mark Brunell and Ty Detmer, among others, while Brett Favre was on the roster).
Reid, you’ll remember, wound up flipping guys like A.J. Feeley and Kevin Kolb in Philly, like Wolf once did Brooks, Brunell, Detmer and Hasselbeck, for draft capital. And that was the idea here—develop Hurts behind Wentz and, hopefully, three years down the line, he’d prove valuable enough to bring back a return after giving the team a few years of very valuable quarterback depth.
Now, could things change from here? I think it’s way too early to pass that kind of judgment on Wentz. But this situation is just another example of why you can never have enough reinforcements at that position.
From Tanner James (@PatriotsDisect): Give me your top six teams in the NFL as of now!
Sorry, Tanner. My top five runs in Thursday’s GamePlan. But I’ll give you my No. 6 team here as a teaser for tomorrow: It’s the Titans.
From All happy teams are alike (@AllHappyTeams): Keeping coaching, talent, and culture in mind, if you swapped Josh Allen and Russell Wilson, does their respective cooking taste as good for the Bills and Seahawks?
Happy Teams, I think Allen can cook, but not like Russ. So I think if you plant Wilson in Buffalo right now, they’re a little better. And I’d definitely have some question over whether Allen is ready, at this point, to cover up flaws the way that Wilson has in Seattle.
That, in fact, is why, while I believe that while Patrick Mahomes is clearly the best quarterback in football, Wilson might be the most valuable one right now. To me, there are plenty of really good quarterbacks who are capable of keeping the train on the tracks when things are good around them. Conversely, the last level of quarterbacking greatness, as I see it, is where a guy’s team is an automatic contender, regardless of what’s around him.
Over the last 10 years, we’ve seen Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers (and a little before that Peyton Manning, check out what he did in 2010, before he got hurt), prove they were that guy. I think now we have very real evidence Wilson is too. There’s been a ton of change around him the last few years, and he’s kept Seattle in the running throughout—and just like the Patriots never bottomed out through their 2009–11 reset because of Brady, the Seahawks have navigated the post-Legion Of Boom transition deftly in large part because of Wilson.
From Tyler Kind (@TylerKind8): I got a more hypothetical one. Do you think we will ever see a time in the NFL where every team has a true franchise QB, and isn't in need to either draft or sign a QB via free agency?
Tyler, the answer is no, because there’ll always be an elite tier—guys that are clearly ahead of the pack. But where I do think you see what you’re referencing is in the quarterbacking depth across the NFL. I don’t think the position’s ever been healthier, which to me is a direct result of the emphasis put on the position across the sport. Quarterbacks are like golfers now in how carefully they’re developed, and it’s showing.
Here’s proof: Ahead of what should be a very strong quarterback class draft-wise (Lawrence, Justin Fields, Trey Lance), I don’t know if there’s a single team that you can count on taking one in the first round in April. Now, Lawrence, Fields and Lance will go in the top 10, because they’re great prospects. But to do it, some teams will be throwing other QBs overboard or putting succession plans in place.
And I’m not sure it’s ever been like that before. Used to be that, every year, there’d be a handful of teams staggering around in the wilderness without a real answer at the position, that were a good bet to take one the following April. The lack of even a single team fitting that description tells you what you need to know.
an open-letter shared Wednesday on the NFLPA's website, Tretter, who is also the starting center on the Cleveland Browns, wrote that "The unforgiving nature of artificial turf compounds the grind on the body we already bear from playing a contact sport.
"NFL clubs should proactively change all field surfaces to natural grass."
Tretter cited injury data collected from 2012 to 2018 that found that players have a 28% higher rate of non-contact lower extremity injuries when playing on artificial turf compared with grass. He found that of those non-contact injuries, players have a 32% higher rate of non-contact knee injuries on turf and a 69% higher rate of non-contact foot and ankle injuries on turf compared to grass.
"This data is clear, so everyone involved with our sport should be similarly motivated to make this switch," Tretter wrote. "For players, we can be stronger advocates for ourselves by continuing to demand safer standards. For coaches and general managers, building a successful team is much easier with a healthy roster. For NFL owners, any decision shown to protect their most important investments—the players—should be a no-brainer."
13 NFL stadiums currently use artificial turf.
Tretter's comments come as 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan recently criticized the field turf at MetLife Stadium, citing that the turf played a role in multiple injuries his team suffered in Week 2 against the Jets.
“I know our players talked about it the entire game, just how sticky the turf was, and I think that was the first time people played on it, I think,” Shanahan said after his team's Week 2 victory. “But yeah, it was something our guys were concerned about right away. And the results definitely made that a lot stronger."
The 49ers suffered a rash of injuries in Week 2 and played in MetLife Stadium in Week 3 when they faced off against the Giants.
Following Shanahan's comments, the NFL said in a statement that "The independent field inspector completed an inspection on September 12 and certified that the field was in compliance with all applicable NFL policies, including the Mandatory Practices for Artificial Surfaces. In addition, within 72 hours of each home game, clubs must certify that their fields are in compliance with applicable NFL policy, and that occurred in this instance."
All Titans, including how the situation could put the team at a disadvantage from a practice standpoint in preparing for when the game is actually played.
In the message to teams, the league reportedly stated that it will "address lack of compliance with accountability measures that may include...suspensions and/or forfeiture of draft picks.” Under the NFL's COVID-19 protocols, executives, general managers and head coaches must wear face masks on game days while they are on the sideline.
The new memo comes after the NFL previously sent warnings this month to teams about following game day protocols. Through the first three weeks, the NFL has penalized head coaches for not properly wearing face masks by fining the individual $100,000 and the team an additional $250,000. Coaches who have reportedly received the penalty include Seattle's Pete Carroll, San Francisco's Kyle Shanahan, Denver's Vic Fangio, New Orleans' Sean Peyton and Las Vegas' Jon Gruden.
Keep up with the latest news and rumors around the NFL.
The NFL has postponed Sunday's Titans-Steelers game due to Tennessee's COVID-19 outbreak. The league is aiming for Monday or Tuesday as a rescheduled date.
Washington Football Team pass-rusher Chase Young is expected to be out against the Ravens in Week 4 after suffering a moderate groin strain on Sunday. The No. 2 pick, who has totaled 2.5 sacks this season, is considered week-to-week. (Ian Rapoport, NFL Network)
Jets RB Le'Veon Bell is eyeing a Week 5 return to the lineup and intends to play vs. the Cardinals barring an unforeseen setback. Bell was on the short-term injured reserve with a hamstring issue. (Jeremy Fowler, ESPN)
Buccaneers WR Chris Godwin is out this week and potentially next Thursday against the Bears after an MRI confirmed a mild hamstring pull. He is not expected to miss extended time. (Ian Rapoport, NFL Network)
Four Titans players have tested positive for COVID-19 after Tuesday's round of testing, per the NFL. Five personnel members have also tested positive. Tennessee's nine positive tests marks the NFL's first outbreak among a single team in 2020.
The Titans were slated to host the Steelers on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET. The game will likely be moved to Monday or Tuesday, per the NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. If there is further delay in the contest, Pittsburgh could theoretically move its bye week in order to accommodate Tennessee, according to The MMQB's Albert Breer.
The Titans faced the Vikings on Sunday in Minnesota. Mike Zimmer's squad has closed its facility through Wednesday, though the Vikings are currently slated to face the Texans as scheduled on Sunday.
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This is proving to be a wild fantasy season and it's no time to panic. Michael Fabiano and our team of high-stakes winners are here to help answer your waiver, trade and starting lineup questions in our Premium Football Chat. It's time to join the club! Become a member of SI Fantasy+ for as low as 34 cents a day!
This is proving to be a wild fantasy season and it's no time to panic. Michael Fabiano and our team of high-stakes winners are here to help answer your waiver, trade and starting lineup questions in our Premium Football Chat. It's time to join the club! Become a member of SI Fantasy+ for as low as 34 cents a day!
This is proving to be a wild fantasy season and it's no time to panic. Michael Fabiano and our team of high-stakes winners are here to help answer your waiver, trade and starting lineup questions in our Premium Football Chat. It's time to join the club! Become a member of SI Fantasy+ for as low as 34 cents a day!
announced Wednesday. All other Tennessee and Minnesota Vikings players and personnel returned negative results.
The new case of COVID-19 among the Titans comes after three Tennessee players and five personnel members were announced to have tested positive Tuesday morning. The Titans and Vikings, who faced Tennessee on Sunday, suspended in-person activities and their facilities remain closed through Wednesday.
On Tuesday evening, the Titans placed DT DaQuan Jones, long snapper Beau Brinkley and TE Tommy Hudson on the COVID-19/reserve list.
The Titans' nine total COVID-19 cases mark the first outbreak among a team during the NFL season. All close contacts were isolated and will receive additional testing, commissioner Roger Goodell said in a letter distributed to all teams on Tuesday. The league is working to determine where and how the close contacts occurred.
Under the NFL's agreement with the NFLPA, all players and essential employees are tested daily during the regular season outside game day.
The NFL is postponing the Titans' scheduled Week 4 matchup with the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday, Oct. 4. The league is aiming for the game to be held on either Monday or Tuesday with details to be announced "as soon as possible."
Pittsburgh has been told to proceed with game preparations until informed otherwise, the team stated.
Meanwhile, the Vikings are slated to visit the Houston Texans on Sunday at 1 p.m. The NFL said it will share updates as more information becomes available.
2. One more item about debates: J.J. Watt and teammate Brandon Dunn were caught having one before Sunday's game in Pittsburgh about whether a blimp flies or hovers.
3. A brand new SI Media Podcast dropped this morning and it features an interview with Sunday Night Football play-by-play man Al Michaels.
The legendary broadcaster reveals why Mike Tirico will be filling in for him on a few games this season, when the plan was devised and how he feels about it. Michaels also talks about the Collinsworth Slide, what it's like to call games with no fans in the stands, how he felt about ESPN trying to trade for him last year, his all-time favorite call from another announcer, referencing betting lines, making "lest" and "farcical" part of the lexicon and much more.
4. During that podcast with Al Michaels, he said Scott Van Pelt has made his weekly "Bad Beats" segment an "art form."
For some reason, ESPN refuses to promote Van Pelt's segment, which he does every Monday night. I searched all over for it yesterday so I could include it in Tuesday's Traina Thoughts, but it wasn't on any of ESPN's platforms.
Luckily, Stanford Steve came through for us and now I can give you the best weekly segment on all of sports TV.
5. Here's a shocker. When there's a good NFL game, people tune in.
Ratings for the Chiefs-Ravens Monday Night Football game were up 36% from last year's Week 3 MNF game.
For all the talk about the NFL's "terrible" ratings this season because of people fake protesting, the league is down 5% from last season, with the numbers going up each week.
Keep in mind what I wrote in Tuesday's Traina Thoughts. Ratings for the broadcast television networks (ABC, CBS, NBC and FOX) are down 47% in primetime. The NFL is down just 5%.
6. RANDOM VIDEO OF THE DAY: Marvin Gaye released "Sexual Healing" on this date in 1982. Here's a great live performance of the classic tune.
7. SPORTS VIDEO OF THE DAY: Singer Helen Reddy passed away last night at the age of 78. Whenever I hear "Helen Reddy," I think of Stone Cold Steve Austin singing her song, "Delta Dawn" during one of the all-time greatest Attitude Era segments with the Rattlesnake and The Rock in a sing-off.
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If at first you don’t succeed; try, try, try again! So, while Drake didn’t work out as the Week 3 Start of the Week, I’m going back to well in a plus matchup at Carolina. No team has allowed more fantasy points to running backs since last season, and only the Raiders have given up more points to the position in 2020. Backs have the most receptions (32) and have averaged the third-most scrimmage yards (188.3) when facing the Panthers less-than-ferocious defense. I love Drake this week.
Start ‘Em
James Robinson at Bengals
Robinson has been an absolute steal in drafts or off the waiver wire, averaging nearly 18 touches and over 20 fantasy points per game this season. He's in a great spot to continue that success in Week 4, as the Jaguars head to the Queen City to face the Bengals. Their defense has struggled against the run, allowing 155.3 rushing yards and the fifth-most fantasy points to enemy running backs. Cincinnati has also allowed the most rushing yards after first contact (280).
Darrell Henderson vs. Giants
It looks like we have some clarity in the Rams backfield, as Henderson has had 35 touches over the last two weeks. Malcolm Brown has just 18 touches in that time. Henderson has also just flat out looked great, averaging a stout 6.1 yards per rush while also averaging the 11th-most fantasy points (19.5) among backs in that time. He should continue to roll against the Giants, who have allowed a total of eight runs of 10-plus yards and the ninth-most fantasy points to enemy runners.
Devin Singletary at Raiders
Singletary had a nice outing last week with Zack Moss on the shelf, scoring 16.1 fantasy points while leading Buffalo's backfield in snaps (55) and touches (17). While his stock will depend on whether or not Moss can return, Singletary does have a nice matchup against Las Vegas. After three weeks, their run defense has allowed 133.3 rushing yards, six rushing touchdowns, and the most points to opposing running backs. Consider Singletary a viable No. 2 runner or flex starter.
Mike Davis vs. Cardinals
Davis looked good in his first game as the top back for the Panthers, playing 39 snaps while handling 21 touches and seeing nine targets. He now has a Christian McCaffrey-ish 17 targets in the last two games. Davis should keep on rolling this week, as he goes up against a Cardinals defense that’s allowed the third-most receiving yards and nearly 29 fantasy points per game to running backs. Also, Teddy Bridgewater ranks tied for sixth among quarterbacks in targeted runners.
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Week 4 Sit 'Em: Running Backs
Sit of the Week
Mark Ingram at Football Team
Remember last season when Ingram was an absolute stud? Well, a lot has changed. The veteran finds himself smack dab in the middle of a three-headed backfield committee that’s seen him lose work to both J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards. While Ingram leads the trio in touches (28), he’s averaging 8.7 attempts and is sharing red-zone work with Dobbins. Washington’s defense hasn’t been great against backs, but it has allowed just 123.7 scrimmage yards a game to the position.
Sit ‘Em
Antonio Gibson vs. Ravens
As much as I’m a fan of Gibson, who has scored in each of his last two games, this week’s matchup against the Ravens is hard to ignore. This defense has been tough on enemy running backs dating back to last season, allowing an average of just 18.7 fantasy points per game to the position. Gibson still isn’t seeing a featured back’s snap totals (26 in Week 3) or touches (12 in Week 3) either, so green-lighting him this week is clearly difficult. At best, he'll be a risk-reward flex starter.
Leonard Fournette vs. Chargers
I have to be honest with you, folks. I can't get a read on how Bucs coach Bruce Arians is using Fournette and Ronald Jones. It seemed like Fournette would be the main man after a solid performance in Week 2, but instead, it was RoJo who led the backfield in snaps and touches. Couple the confusion with a game against a Chargers defense that’s held both Joe Mixon and Clyde Edwards-Helaire to modest numbers, and the Bucs backfield is one to avoid if at all possible.
Sony Michel at Chiefs
Michel is coming off a solid performance, rushing for 117 yards in a win over the Raiders. Of course, a huge chunk of his yards came on two runs (38, 48 yards), and Michel still isn't seeing a ton of snaps or touches on a week-to-week basis. Rex Burkhead is the New England running back to start in fantasy until James White returns to the team. So while the Chiefs haven’t been “formidable” versus runners after three weeks, I see Michel as a simple case of chasing fantasy points.
Devonta Freeman at Rams
Freeman was a hot name off the waiver wire last week, and he was eased into the offense with 15 snaps and five touches. I'm not sure how much more work he'll see in Week 4, but a committee with Wayne Gallman and Dion Lewis remains possible. Game script can also be a big issue for Freeman and the Giants back this week, as their offense is a train wreck, and their defense is worse. For now, Freeman and his Big Apple backfield mates should be on the fantasy sidelines.
Michael Fabiano is an award-winning fantasy football analyst on Sports Illustrated and a member of the Fantasy Sports Writers Association (FSWA) Hall of Fame. You can follow Michael onTwitter,Facebook,YouTube, andInstagramfor the latest news and analysis!
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It feels odd to mention OBJ as a start ‘em, but look at his numbers. Since the start of 2018, he’s 25th among wideouts in fantasy points and is averaging fewer than 13 points a game. In 2020, he’s scored fewer than 10 points in two of three contests. Not good. However, I wouldn’t consider sitting him this week. The Cowboys have allowed the third-most points to receivers lined out wide. Also, OBJ has five touchdown catches and has averaged 16.3 points in his career versus Dallas.
Start ‘Em
D.K. Metcalf at Dolphins
Metcalf might be remembered for last week's gaffe at the goal line against the Cowboys, but it shouldn't take away from the fact that he's been an absolute stat-sheet monster this season. He's in a great spot to continue that success too, as the Seahawks travel to South Beach to take on a vulnerable Miami defense. After three weeks, the Dolphins have allowed an average of 21.1 fantasy points to receivers who line out wide. Consider Metcalf a borderline No. 1 receiver this week.
DeVante Parker vs. Seahawks
Parker has not been 100 percent in recent weeks, but he's still posted five catches in back to back games and has had 10 days to heal for a matchup against the Seahawks. It's a very attractive matchup too, as their defense has allowed an average of 11.3 catches, 179 yards, and a league-high 31.3 fantasy points per game to receivers lined out wide. That's where Parker has run 82 percent of his routes this season. DK Sportsbook has the over/under in this contest at 54.
CeeDee Lamb vs. Browns
I absolutely loved Lamb last week, but unfortunately, I didn’t see the Cedrick Wilson breakout game coming. Oh well. Still, I’m sticking with the talented rookie when he and the Cowboys host the Browns at the Jerry Dome. Their defense has been bad against slot receivers this season, allowing an average of 201 yards and the second-most fantasy points (23.9 PPG) to the position. Lamb, who runs an average of 31 routes out of the slot per game, should benefit in the stat sheets.
Allen Lazard vs. Falcons (MNF)
Lazard went bananas last week, posting 146 yards and 26.4 fantasy points in a win over the Saints. He’s in a good spot to produce on Monday night, as the Packers host a vulnerable Atlanta pass defense. They’ve been smoked by wideouts, regardless of their location on the line of scrimmage, allowing the third-most points to the position. The status of Davante Adams (hamstring) does affect Lazard’s stock, but he’s startable regardless based on this sweetheart of a matchup.
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Week 4 Sit 'Em: Wide Receivers
Sit of the Week
Julian Edelman at Chiefs
Edelman is coming off a stinker in last week’s win over the Raiders, and an upcoming matchup in Kansas City is anything but favorable. While it is a short sample size, no defense in the league has allowed fewer receptions (9), yards (104), or fantasy points (6.5 PPG) to opposing slot receivers. Even dating back to last season, the Chiefs have surrendered an average of just 4.7 catches and 48.6 yards to the position. So while it's hard to sit Edelman, he's not in a great spot to score points.
Sit ‘Em
A.J. Green vs. Jaguars
This looks like a get-right game for the struggling Green, at least on the surface. However, the numbers might suggest a different outcome. The Jaguars have allowed an average of just 71 yards per game and one touchdown to receivers lined out wide, and the position has produced a modest 16.7 fantasy points a game. What’s more, Green basically played the same number of snaps as Tyler Boyd and Tee Higgins last week and was outscored by both! Green is a risk-reward No. 3.
Darius Slayton at Rams
Slayton has cooled off since his hot start in the opener, as he’s put up a combined 12.6 points in his last two games. On the bright side, he does lead all Giants wideouts in routes run and snaps played, and Sterling Shepard is hurt. The bad news is that he’s likely to draw Rams top cover CB Jalen Ramsey for most of the afternoon. When you also factor in that the G-Men are 30th in time of possession, 31st in both points scored and total net yards, and Slayton becomes a big gamble.
Robby Anderson vs. Cardinals
Anderson ranks an impressive eighth in fantasy points among wideouts this season, posting 20 catches and 278 yards through three games. As a result, he’s certainly in the mix as a starter in most leagues. However, a matchup against the Cardinals does make him less attractive. After three weeks, Arizona has allowed just 76 yards, and the third-fewest fantasy points a game to receivers who line out wide. That’s where Anderson has run an average of 25.3 routes per game in 2020.
Justin Jefferson at Texans
Jefferson went wild last week, posting 175 yards, one touchdown, and more than 30 fantasy points in a loss to the Titans. However, I wouldn't chase the points this week as a tougher matchup against the Texans looms. Their defense has been tough on receivers lined out wide, allowing an average of 66.3 yards and the seventh-fewest points to the position. The Vikings offense is also dead last in time of possession and offensive plays per game, which won't help Jefferson's case.
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Stafford hasn’t been great this season, but he did put up a respectable 18.5 points last week in his first game with Kenny Golladay back in the passing attack. I like the veteran in a potential shootout at Ford Field, as Drew Brees and the Saints visit the Motor City. Their defense has given it up to quarterbacks, allowing nine total touchdowns and more than 22 fantasy points per game to the position. This could be one of the highest-scoring games of the week, so Stafford should produce.
Start ‘Em
Cam Newton at Chiefs
Newton is coming off his first stinker of the season, scoring just 11.2 points in a win over the Raiders. I expect better things in Week 4, though, as the Patriots travel to Arrowhead Stadium to face Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs. Newton will undoubtedly have something to prove in a matchup with arguably the top quarterback in the league, and the matchup is an attractive one. Kansas City has surrendered an average of over 19 fantasy points per game to enemy quarterbacks after three games.
Drew Brees at Lions
Brees is coming off his best fantasy game of the season, scoring 23.5 points in a loss to the Packers. He’s an attractive start this week, with or without Michael Thomas, as the Saints head to Detroit to face the Lions. Their defense has struggled against the pass, allowing seven touchdown strikes and an average of more than 21 fantasy points per game to enemy signal-callers. DK Sportsbook has the over/under in the game at 55.5, so this should be an absolute scoreboard scorcher.
Joe Burrow vs. Jaguars
Hey folks, let me tell you something: Burrow is the real deal and should be owned in all fantasy leagues. He proved it again in Week 3, scoring 20-plus points in his second straight game. Burrow, who ranks second in the league in pass attempts (47 PG), is well worth a look when he faces the Jaguars. Their defense has been brutal against quarterbacks, allowing a league-high 118.6 passer rating and nearly 23 fantasy points per game to the position. Burrow could be a top-12 option.
Ryan Fitzpatrick vs. Seahawks
Fantasy owners in deep leagues or super flex, multi-quarterback leagues should start Fitzpatrick this week. He’s averaged nearly 25 fantasy points over the last two weeks, during which time the bearded bomber has completed 73.1 percent of his passes and scored five touchdowns. Seattle has allowed eight total touchdowns and the second-most points (28.6 PPG) to quarterbacks, so Fitzpatrick is a nice streamer in a game with an over/under at 54 on DK Sportsbook.
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Week 4 Sit 'Em: Quarterbacks
Sit of the Week
Carson Wentz at 49ers
Wentz might have scored 21.5 fantasy points last week, but it took him five quarters to do it. He’s simply not playing good football right now, and it shows with his six interceptions against just three touchdown passes. This week he’ll travel to San Francisco to face the 49ers, who have allowed just 15.5 fantasy points to enemy quarterbacks despite all the injuries on the defensive side of the football. Wentz is simply too much of a risk to start outside of superflex or multi-quarterback formats.
Sit ‘Em
Tom Brady vs. Chargers
Brady looked good last week, throwing for three touchdowns in a win over a banged-up Broncos defense. How good has he been, though? He’s outside of the top 20 in completion percentage and passer rating, and he’s barely in the top 20 in air yards per completion. He also has a difficult matchup against the Chargers, who have allowed fewer than 16 fantasy points per game to quarterbacks not named Patrick Mahomes in 2020. Their defense is also tied for fourth in QB pressures.
Kirk Cousins at Texans
Cousins rebounded well in last week’s loss to the Titans with three touchdown passes and nearly 20 fantasy points. However, I wouldn't chase the points in traditional leagues as he faces a Texans defense that's surrendered an average of 19.1 points per game to quarterbacks despite facing Patrick Mahomes, Lamar Jackson, and Ben Roethlisberger to start the season. The over/under is set at 53 on DK Sportsbook, but I still have concerns about Cousins this week in this roadie.
Philip Rivers at Bears
Rivers hasn’t been all that impressive for fantasy fans this year, averaging fewer than 13 points after three weeks. That’s due largely to the fact that the Colts are leaning on rookie back Jonathan Taylor and the run, as Rivers ranks 25th among field generals in pass attempts (30.7 PG). He also has a tough matchup next on the schedule, traveling to Chicago to face a Bears defense that’s allowed just two scoring strikes and the second-fewest points to enemy quarterbacks (11.8 PPG).
Nick Foles vs. Colts
Foles looked great in replacing Mitchell Trubisky last week with three touchdowns and 17.2 fantasy points in less than two quarters. Of course, that came against a brutal Falcons pass defense. He’ll find the competition to be much stiffer this week, as the Bears host a Colts defense that’s allowed an average of just 151.3 passing yards and the fewest points to quarterbacks (8.7 PPG). Unless you’re in a superflex league, Foles is better left on the fantasy football sidelines in this contest.
Michael Fabiano is an award-winning fantasy football analyst on Sports Illustrated and a member of the Fantasy Sports Writers Association (FSWA) Hall of Fame. You can follow Michael onTwitter,Facebook,YouTube, andInstagramfor the latest news and analysis!
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Engram has been a disappointment for fantasy fans, scoring fewer than six fantasy points in two of his first three games. I’d keep the faith, though, as he’s averaged 57 snaps per game and ranks tied for sixth in targets among tight ends. Engram also has a positive matchup against the Rams, who surrendered a pair of touchdowns and 18.4 fantasy points to Tyler Kroft a week ago. Daniel Jones also ranks tied for fifth among quarterbacks in targeting tight ends, which benefits Engram.
Start ‘Em
Hunter Henry at Buccaneers
Henry posted a respectable 10 fantasy points last week, and he’s now scored double-digit points in four straight games dating back to 2019. He's also fourth among tight ends in targets (23), and Justin Herbert has leaned on him in the passing game since his insertion into the starting lineup. This week's matchup looks good too, as the Buccaneers have surrendered a combined 10 catches to Jared Cook and Noah Fant in their two 2020 games facing fantasy-relevant tight ends.
T.J. Hockenson vs. Saints
Hockenson lost a touchdown to Jesse James and didn’t put up a huge line last week against the Cardinals, but he was targeted seven times and played 55 snaps. I like him as a low-end fantasy starter this week, as the Saints visit Ford Field in a game with an over/under of 54 on DK Sportsbook. New Orleans has also been smashed by Darren Waller (28.5 points) and Robert Tonyan (16 points) over the last two weeks, so this unit has been vulnerable to tight ends (27.3 PPG) in 2020.
Dalton Schultz vs. Browns
Schultz didn’t put up a huge stat line last week (8.8 points), but he did see six targets in Seattle. He’s now seen 16 targets over his last two games, and an upcoming matchup against the Browns makes him a viable streamer. This unit has allowed the third-most catches (22) and the third-most fantasy points (19.3 PPG) to opposing tight ends, which bodes well for Schultz. Also, Dak Prescott leads the NFL in pass attempts, and he’s tied for eighth among quarterbacks in targeting tight ends.
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Week 4 Sit 'Em: Tight Ends
Sit of the Week
Jimmy Graham vs. Colts
Graham is coming off a 10-target, two-touchdown game in a win over the Falcons, making him a popular add off the waiver wire. He’s also eighth in routes run and seventh in passing snaps among tight ends. Regardless, I would fade the veteran based on the matchup against the Colts that is anything but favorable. This unit has been tough on tight ends, surrendering an average of two catches for 32 yards and a mere 3.1 fantasy points per game to the position. Keep Graham sidelined.
Sit ‘Em
Austin Hooper at Cowboys
This week's matchup against the Cowboys is favorable on paper, but Hooper's usage (or lack thereof) is of serious concern. He ranks 23rd in routes run among tight ends, and nearly half of the snaps he plays are run plays. That’s not a surprise in an offense with two stud running backs (Nick Chubb, Kareem Hunt) and a quarterback in Baker Mayfield, who is 27th in pass attempts. So while Dallas is a vulnerable opponent because of its swiss cheese defense, Hooper remains a fade.
Rob Gronkowski vs. Chargers
Gronkowski showed some signs of life a week ago, posting six catches on seven targets in a win over the Broncos. He continues to share the tight end duties with O.J. Howard; however, nearly 45 percent of his offensive snaps have resulted in a running play. So while the potential absences of both Chris Godwin (hamstring) and Justin Watson (shoulder) could open up a few more targets, Gronkowski is no sure bet to produce against a very tough Chargers pass defense.
Jack Doyle at Bears
Doyle appears to have been "Wally Pipped," as Mo Alie-Cox was the Colts top tight end last week. That came although Doyle was active, at least in terms of his status. He was on a milk carton in the stat sheets against the Jets, as the veteran didn’t see a single target despite running more routes (16 to 8) and playing nearly as many snaps (36 to 32) as his teammate. In what is looking like a tight end committee of sorts, starting Doyle isn’t a recommended course of action this week.
Michael Fabiano is an award-winning fantasy football analyst on Sports Illustrated and a member of the Fantasy Sports Writers Association (FSWA) Hall of Fame. You can follow Michael onTwitter,Facebook,YouTube, andInstagramfor the latest news and analysis!
