Team-by-Team: Everything To Know Heading Into Week 4 (Episode 1028 with Evan Silva and Adam Levitan)

Rodgers showed significant improvement in Week 3 vs. Bengals after struggling early in the season. In his first two games, he was 0 for 9 on passes thrown 20-plus yards downfield. In Week 3, Rodgers had five plays of 20-plus yards, indicating a major uptick in deep-ball success and vertical passing attack.

Rodgers showed significant improvement in Week 3 after struggling early; he was 0 for 9 on passes thrown 20-plus yards downfield in his first two games, but had five plays of 20-plus yards in this game, suggesting the offense is opening up downfield.

Officially placed on injured reserve with aggravation of heel issue stemming from March surgery; will attempt to rehab rather than undergo surgery this time, but timeline for return is uncertain.

With Etienne sidelined, Kamara is expected to move into the lead-back role in a two-to-three running back rotation, per Saints reporter Underhill. Though Kamara was one of the worst running backs in the NFL last year, he is next up as the lead back. The Saints will likely keep Kendra Miller and Donaldson active alongside Kamara, making it not an exciting spot for fantasy purposes.

Baker Mayfield dislocated his right thumb with under two minutes left in Tampa Bay's Week 3 loss to Minnesota; he is expected to miss at least three weeks, forcing the Buccaneers to turn to backup Jalen Daniels (undrafted rookie from Kansas).

Baker Mayfield is expected to miss at least three weeks with an injury, creating a major concern for Buccaneers offensive production in the near term. The source expresses hope he returns on the earlier side of the week-to-week timetable.

Bijan Robinson had an exceptional performance against Green Bay on Thursday night, displaying elite elusiveness and tackle-shedding ability. The Falcons' offensive line and Kevin Stefanski/Tommy Reese scheme are clicking well, and with competent quarterback play from Michael Penix, Robinson should be rostered everywhere as the team's lead back in a successful running game.

Bijan Robinson benefited from Michael Penix Jr.'s arrival as the Falcons quarterback, as Penix's upgrade over Cooper Rush helped the entire flow of the offense and Robinson's fantasy outlook.

Through the first three weeks, Bo Nix hasn't been an inspiring watch and hasn't done much to quiet the 'Bo Nix haters' out there; he's not the prettiest quarterback to watch, which contributes to skepticism about his viability.

Evan Silva expresses high confidence in Brock Bowers' sustained elite production based on pedigree: two-time Mackey Award winner (nation's best tight end in 2022-23 despite serious target competition in college); 112-catch rookie season (tight end record); now deployed as wide receiver/slot (45 snaps) rather than in-line (9 snaps), maximizing his receiving upside despite Michael Mayer playing nearly every snap.

Made season debut after 2025 PCL and August 2026 knee issues with immediate impact: 10 catches, 116 yards, 1 TD on 39% target share in Raiders' 35-27 win over Saints. Evan Silva notes Bowers is the hardest cover in the NFL, being used as an X receiver by Clint Kubiak similar to how Jackson Smith-Njigba is deployed; Raiders treating him as their number one receiver going forward. Silva emphasizes pedigree confidence—two-time Mackey Award winner competing with serious college target competition, then 112 catches as rookie tight end (record)—suggesting this is not an outlier but the real deal.

Evan Silva describes Purdy as one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL and an underrated fantasy player on a week-to-week basis. Silva emphasizes that Purdy exemplifies elite quarterback play through elevating teammates and is playing unbelievable football with really good fantasy production.

Young leads the NFL in passing yards but faces significant red flags: he's the most pressured quarterback in the NFL at 53% of drop backs; the Panthers are already on their number two left tackle and number two right tackle; and offensive line injuries (Damian Lewis' UCL injury, Jalen Coker's quad injury) compound the problem. Despite pass-heavy play calling (51 drop backs vs. Cleveland), the efficiency wasn't great and the offensive line deterioration threatens his sustainability.

Bucky Irving got banged up late in the Bucs-Packers game but was confirmed fine by the team post-game; he received 19 opportunities in the game (Gamewell 8, Tucker 0), showing strong usage that should remain good even with Jalen Daniels at quarterback, though touchdown opportunities and catch volume may be limited by the weak quarterback play.

Suffered a grade two hamstring pull with a reported recovery timeline of three to four weeks. This sidelines the Bears' starting quarterback heading into week four.

At age 38, Case Keenum started for the Bears against the Eagles on Monday Night Football with both Caleb Williams (hamstring) and Tyson Bagent (concussion protocol) unavailable. The Bears won decisively 27-7, with Keenum managing the game effectively behind an offensive line that performed well.

Case Keenum was the least pressured quarterback in the NFL in week three despite Bears dealing with injuries to Braxton Jones on the offensive line; the Bears offensive line was described as kicking ass in protection during week three, and Evan Silva expects Keenum to start another game against the Jets given the strong performance.

Evan Silva notes that CeeDee Lamb is the safer week-to-week play compared to Brandin Pickens, despite Pickens having more targets in the recent game. Silva observes that Lamb's 13-yard ADOT is actually higher than Pickens' 11.9-yard ADOT this year (compared to both being around 12 yards last year), and that Lamb receives more layup/scheme targets that make him safer. Lamb, Pickens, and Flournoy are on the field for almost every passing play in the Cowboys' three-wide receiver sets.

Chase Brown had 15 opportunities in Week 3, but Samajay Pirine's red-zone usage (six opportunities) creates some annoyance for Brown's goal-line touchdown upside. Brown's overall usage remains solid despite the split.

Olave has clearly separated himself as one of the top ten receivers in the NFL through the first three weeks, benefiting from Shuck's league-leading pass volume and the Saints' pass-centric offense under Kellen Moore.

Evan Silva notes Chris Rodriguez doesn't look bad, but Bashal Tootin looks a lot better in the Jaguars backfield.

CMC had really good usage against the Cardinals, out-snapping Kalen Black 45-8 and out-carrying him 15-4, indicating dominant backfield role. The speaker notes that the lack of other receiving weapons (Jacob Cowing, Cardero Hodge) is earning CMC and Kittle many targets.

With Jonathan Brooks out, Chuba Hubbard dominated the Panthers backfield, earning 19 of 23 running back carries and 4 of 5 receiving opportunities, playing 65 of 77 snaps for 23 total opportunities. Evan Silva praises his role as awesome, noting this validates their earlier decision to rank him high and Brooks low.

Colston Loveland has run 89 routes on 115 quarterback dropbacks (77% route participation) through three weeks but has only 9 targets compared to Kalief Raymond's 21 targets; Evan Silva notes that Loveland is not being schemed to receive the ball despite high usage, with first-read opportunities and Amon Ross-St. Brown-esque routes going more to Raymond than Loveland, creating concern about whether this target share disparity will persist.

Through three games, Loveland has nine targets, which is low volume; however, Evan Silva argues the perception of Loveland is misguided and that he remains very talented. Silva notes that Loveland had multiple near-touchdown opportunities that were ruled down or missed by Caleb Williams (a deep throw where Williams threw behind him, and a pass in the end zone where Williams missed him by four feet), suggesting the target volume and touchdown opportunities are there but execution has been lacking. Silva emphasizes that if those plays had converted, the narrative would be much more optimistic about Loveland's role.

Moore came into Week 3 vs. Chargers questionable with a shoulder injury but appeared to be a non-factor despite leading the team with 23 routes on 31 Josh Allen dropbacks. He caught six balls for 67 yards. The shoulder injury situation appears fine moving forward.

Kincaid ran 21 routes in Week 3 vs. Chargers, which was really good usage for him, but had a quiet game with a bad fumble. The quiet performance is attributed to the Bills' five turnovers limiting overall passing-game volume. Better games are expected ahead.

If Jalen Coker misses time due to his quad strain, Darren Waller becomes the Panthers' number two receiver behind Ted McMillan. Evan Silva projects him as a top-12 tight end option in that scenario. Waller played 39 of 77 snaps and has legitimate red zone value, particularly in touchdown-heavy formats.

Montgomery had 11 carries for 33 yards against the Colts and lost a goal-line carry to Woody Marks; he's struggling with efficiency concerns and now facing usage concerns as Marks eats into his production. Montgomery had success in Detroit behind a great offensive line but is now behind a not-great line, and a Texans beat reporter indicated Marks could play 50-50 with him. Montgomery is not an exciting pick in one of the most boring offenses in the NFL.

Boston had a nice fourth quarter in Week 3 against the Panthers, demonstrating that Watson can be functional enough to get him the ball. Boston is a key receiving target for the Browns offense.

Watson won his second consecutive game (21-18 over Panthers) but was not great; he had 30 pass attempts for 144 yards. His success has been driven by limiting mistakes and running more than Jalen Hurts, rather than strong passing performance. He can be functional enough to get the ball to his receivers.

Devin Singletary was a healthy scratch for the Giants, indicating he has fallen out of favor with the coaching staff despite being healthy; Najee Harris is the preferred back, receiving nine carries while Singletary was inactive.

Metcalf resumed catching the football in Week 3 vs. Bengals, which helped Aaron Rodgers' improved deep-ball performance (five 20-plus yard plays in the game).

Metcalf resumed catching the football in Week 3, which helps support Rodgers' improved deep-ball efficiency and suggests a return to form after earlier struggles.

With Michael Penix at quarterback, Drake London has commanded a 40% target share in the Falcons offense, comparable to elite receiver target shares like JSN's dominant allocation. The splits are stark: when London is on the field, other pass catchers including Kyle Pitts struggle for opportunity, making London a consistent high-volume option in this scheme.

Drake London exploded in Michael Penix Jr.'s debut, catching 9 passes for 194 yards and a touchdown; Penix's arrival as a massive upgrade over Cooper Rush significantly helped London's fantasy outlook and the entire Falcons offense flow.

Evan Silva predicts Emeka Egbuka will be dropped in many leagues over the next couple weeks due to the Buccaneers' quarterback situation; with Jalen Daniels (undrafted rookie) now starting after Baker Mayfield's injury, Bucs pass catchers are no longer viable fantasy options.

George Kittle is back and performing well for the 49ers, described as 'crushing' in his return; he provides a bright spot in the 49ers' passing game amid multiple wide receiver injuries.

Evan Silva reports Kittle looks better now than before he tore his Achilles; he's looked unbelievable in every game, didn't produce in week one but was an exceptional blocker on the move, and over the last two weeks has returned to being one of the best three tight ends in the NFL. Silva calls him an absolute steal who went in the ninth or tenth round, noting that in the era of peptides, Achilles injuries are less concerning than PCL injuries.

Fannin is a key receiving target for Watson in the Browns offense. Watson can be functional enough to get the ball to Fannin, though Watson is not a true asset on the field.

Likely's production will suffer as long as the Giants remain unwilling to throw the ball with Jameis Winston at QB due to turnover concerns. Silva and Levitan both express concern about Likely's fantasy outlook under the run-heavy, pass-averse game plan.

Giants backup quarterback expected to enter the game sooner than the bye week in week eight; sources in the Establish The Run Slack indicated JJ McCarthy would be thrown into the fire even sooner, likely after a two-game losing streak creates urgency and the walls close in on the current starter.

Giants acquired McCarthy for a fifth-round pick; he is 22-23 years old and a former top-10 pick. Silva views the trade as worthwhile despite McCarthy's poor reputation, valuing the 3-5% chance he turns his career around. Levitan expects McCarthy to enter the game sooner than week nine, likely after a two-game losing streak, though the Giants have a bye in week eight.

Dobbins is the clear lead back in the Broncos' two-man backfield, getting the carries while R.J. Harvey handles pass-catching duties; however, the Broncos' average offense makes it hard to extract significant fantasy value from the backfield.

Jamar Chase is healthy heading into Week 4, supporting the Bengals' expected offensive eruption with favorable upcoming matchups against Jaguars, Dolphins, and Ravens.

Brissett finished as a top-five fantasy quarterback in Week 3 against the 49ers, benefiting from a back-and-forth game script and a rushing touchdown. The 49ers' depleted defensive line and Cardinals' rushing and passing success created favorable conditions. Brissett was highlighted as a fun tournament play on the Friday show due to expected game flow.

Coker exited the Week 3 game vs. Cleveland with a quad injury after already dealing with an ankle issue listed as questionable pre-game. The injury is a concern for the Panthers' receiving corps, particularly given the team's pass-heavy approach and Young's reliance on pass-catchers.

Came into the game with an ankle injury listed as questionable, then strained his quad early in the game. Evan Silva reports it's not bad and he's day-to-day, with the team not ruling him out for week four, but his status remains uncertain.

Jalen Hurts has only 87 rushing yards all season and is not getting enough designed runs despite his rushing ability; this underutilization is part of a broader Eagles offensive dysfunction that has generated only seven points against a struggling Bears defense.

Jalen McMillan suffered a PCL injury, which the source expresses major concern about; McMillan was viewed as a capable receiver, but the PCL injury creates significant downside. His absence opens opportunities for Ted Hurst in the Buccaneers passing game.

Jalen Daniels, 6'1" 219 lbs and not particularly fast, was Dane Brugler's number 18 quarterback in the class with an undrafted grade before going undrafted; won a camp competition against Jake Browning (who torpedoed the Bengals offense early last season), but beating Browning is not a meaningful accomplishment. His arrival as Buccaneers starter creates major concerns for Bucs pass catchers' fantasy viability.

Jalen Daniels, undrafted rookie from Kansas, is now the Buccaneers' starting quarterback after Baker Mayfield's injury. Evan Silva characterizes the backup situation as "the worst backup quarterback situation in the NFL"; Daniels is 6'1", 219 lbs, runs 4.65 (not fast enough to escape NFL defenders), was a dual-threat at Kansas, and received an undrafted grade from Dane Brugler (who ranked him number 18 QB in the class). Silva warns that Bucs pass catchers will be unusable with Daniels at quarterback.

Winston threw for only 118 yards in the Giants' 12-7 win over Tennessee and is being kept to 20-25 pass attempts per game due to turnover concerns. Levitan notes rumors that Winston's arm may not be right, limiting his ability to produce even if the Giants fall behind in games.

Cook has been awesome in consecutive games with elite run-blocking support from the Bills' offensive line. Despite Ty Johnson's return limiting receiving opportunities, Cook has run for 30 touchdowns in his last 36 games; when the Bills get within 3-4 yards of the goal line, it's Cook's work, and he also breaks long runs. In Week 3 vs. Chargers, he had multiple drives taking the team down to the one-yard line running like a beast, though Josh Allen stole some close touchdowns.

Evan Silva suggests Jamison Williams may finally break out against the Panthers' weakened secondary, which will be missing JC Horn (quad tear) and Mike Jackson (injury). The Lions face the Panthers at home in week four with a significant cornerback advantage.

Love recorded 55 snaps and 26 opportunities in Week 3 after recovering from ankle injury; trailing game script favored his usage. As a freak talent getting healthy, his snap and opportunity share should increase as Cardinals continue to trail in games, particularly with upcoming matchups against Giants and Lions before facing tougher opponents (Rams, Broncos, Cowboys, Seahawks, Chiefs).

Burrow was very good in Week 3 vs. Steelers despite the Bengals' 30-27 loss. The Bengals scored 27 points in the game.

Burrow played very well in Week 3 despite a tough matchup; he looks very healthy and tends to play better as the season progresses. The Bengals remain extremely high in pass rate over expectation, and an offensive eruption is expected soon with upcoming matchups against Jaguars, Dolphins, and Ravens.

Jonah Coleman has a high ankle sprain and is on IR return, creating backfield opportunity for other Broncos running backs.

Tyson is eligible to return from IR for Week 5 and should be owned in leagues pending an update on his status. He was putting on an absolute show during training camp before aggravating a hamstring injury. The Saints' setup under Kellen Moore—fast-paced play, inside receiver role, weak defense, Shuck's strong arm, and improved offensive line—is exactly what was hoped for his fantasy prospects.

Eligible to return from IR for week five; Evan Silva notes the offensive setup is working as hoped with fast play-calling under Kellen Moore, inside-focused scheme, weak defense, Shurmur's strong arm, and improved offensive line. Silva recommends ownership until an official return timeline is confirmed.

Allen completed only 61% of his passes with two interceptions and four sacks in Week 3 vs. Chargers, contributing to the Bills' five turnovers in the game. With only 16 completions due to limited plays run, multiple passing-game contributors will struggle to produce when turnover volume is this high.

Had his second nice game in a row with 11 targets; Evan Silva says he's going to end up leading the Colts in receiving; combined with Keenan Allen and Tyler Warren, the trio saw 30 targets on 36 Daniel Jones pass attempts, though all targets are short (Downs at 60th in average depth of target among wide receivers).

Justin Jefferson suffered an ankle injury after just two routes in the Vikings' Week 4 game against Tampa Bay. Early indications suggest the injury should be fine, but it warrants monitoring.

Johnson wound up being an awesome value in drafts, capitalizing on the Saints' high-volume passing game and Shuck's league-leading pass attempts through three weeks.

Kalief Raymond has emerged as an unexpected breakout target in Ben Johnson's Bears offense with 21 targets through three weeks and a 21% target share, far exceeding preseason expectations; Evan Silva admits he did not consider this possibility heading into the season and notes Raymond has been running Amon Ross-St. Brown-esque routes that were expected to go to Colston Loveland and Luther Burden instead; Raymond is a two-time All-Pro punt returner who has played well in his new role.

Evan Silva says he doesn't think Allen looks very good despite putting some stuff into the box score; his average depth of target is 6.5 yards (85th among 95 wide receivers), indicating short-range usage that limits upside.

Miller was healthy scratched initially but then activated for Week 3. He will remain part of the Saints' three-back rotation alongside Kamara and Donaldson in the absence of Etienne, making it not an exciting fantasy spot.

Kyle Pitts has seen minimal usage this season with only a 63% route participation rate and 7.6% target share, recording just two catches for 20 yards. The splits reveal a critical issue: when Drake London is on the field, Pitts' targets per route run drop to 17%, compared to 33% when London is off the field—essentially double the usage without London. Evan Silva has downgraded Pitts to not a fantasy starter going forward.

Through 70 snaps in the Kevin O'Connell Vikings scheme (11 snaps in Week 1, one full game against Tampa), Kyler Murray's performance has not been good. The small sample is acknowledged, but the early returns on his fit in this offensive system are concerning.

Williams earned the lead-back role in Week 3 against the Rams defense, posting 5.9 yards per carry on 15 carries versus Coram's 2.5 yards per carry on six carries; also caught six balls for 70 yards. Evan Silva noted the performance gap widens when Williams plays well, positioning him as the clear lead back in the committee.

Luther Burden has accumulated more targets than Kalief Raymond on the season but is seeing fewer first-read opportunities and Amon Ross-St. Brown-esque routes in Ben Johnson's offense compared to Raymond; Evan Silva remains optimistic about Burden's upside despite the target share concerns, noting his strong performance on Monday night and upcoming favorable matchups against the Jets, Packers, and Falcons.

Makai Lemon is likely a very good player but is a poor fit for the Eagles offense; he has run 90 routes this season but accumulated only 38 yards, indicating severe underutilization and scheme mismatch despite his talent.

Mariota was rock solid in the Seahawks' loss to the Commanders, didn't make any mistakes. Despite the loss, the Seahawks' offense looked great overall with 6.8 yards per play (elite efficiency), though three turnovers and the Commanders' zero turnovers determined the outcome.

Harrison Jr. saw only 3 catches in Week 3 despite Brissett throwing 52 times against the 49ers. In high-volume passing games, McBride and Michael Wilson dominate the target share, leaving Harrison Jr. with limited opportunities. The Cardinals' game script and Brissett's tendency to sustain drives through short passes to pass-catchers limits Harrison Jr.'s ceiling.

Michael Mayer is playing almost every snap for the Raiders, but Brock Bowers is being deployed as slot or wide receiver (45 snaps) rather than in-line (9 snaps), indicating a complementary role split that prioritizes Bowers' receiving ability.

Michael Penix Jr. made his NFL debut off his third ACL tear and played an excellent game in his first outing, going 18-25 for 256 yards in a 35-14 Falcons win over the Packers; he was a massive upgrade over Cooper Rush and performed even better than expected, providing a significant boost to the entire Falcons offense. However, skepticism remains given Penix has not played a lot of really good football in the NFL so far.

Wilson dominated with 17 targets and 11 catches in Week 3 against the 49ers, nearly adding another touchdown on a near-catch in the end zone. With Brissett throwing 52 times and the Cardinals' pass-heavy approach, Wilson continues to be the primary beneficiary alongside Trey McBride, as Marvin Harrison Jr. sees limited volume in high-volume passing games.

Mike Evans suffered a rib/oblique injury in the 49ers' 36-point win over the Cardinals and is listed as day-to-day; the 49ers cannot afford to lose him given prior losses to Pearsall, Stripling, Christian Kirk, and Marcus Robinson at wide receiver.

Suffered a rib/oblique injury and is listed as day-to-day. The Buccaneers cannot afford to lose him given recent receiver losses (Pearsall, Stripling, Christian Kirk to Marcus Robinson).

Mike Washington broke off a 36-yard touchdown run for the Saints in Week 3, showing explosive play potential in a backfield with Ashton Gentry.

Najee Harris is the clear preferred running back for the Giants coaching staff, who are described as 'in love with' him; he received nine carries in the game where Devin Singletary was a healthy scratch.

Reported decent chance to return in Week 4 against Dallas; Evan Silva emphasizes the Texans need him back badly and notes it's an amazing matchup for him.

Nico Collins has a decent chance to return in Week 4 against Dallas, a matchup described as amazing for him; the Texans desperately need him back as they're 0-3 and struggling offensively without him.

Judkins started the season hot but his efficiency took a nosedive thereafter; this efficiency decline is not new and extends back into last season, raising concerns about consistency.

Harvey is the pass-catching back in the Broncos' two-man backfield, securing six catches for 41 yards against the Rams; he handles receiving duties while Dobbins runs between the tackles, but the average offense limits fantasy upside.

Saquon Barkley played a good game against the Bears defense but still could not score from the one-yard line, highlighting red zone inefficiency and offensive struggles for the Eagles despite his individual performance.

Ted Hurst ran 36 routes on 46 dropbacks last week and scored a 40-yard touchdown from Baker Mayfield; with Jalen McMillan out due to PCL injury, Hurst will see significant opportunities. He's a big X receiver who cannot be started in redraft until later in the season when Baker returns, but he's an interesting prospect with upside and will be a killer last-round pick in best ball, potentially becoming a starter for the rest of the way.

Tee Higgins is healthy heading into Week 4, supporting the Bengals' expected offensive eruption with favorable upcoming matchups against Jaguars, Dolphins, and Ravens.

Etienne came into Week 3 with a hamstring issue and aggravated it during the game against the Saints. He will miss time, though Kellen Moore did not specify the duration. Etienne had shown good early-game usage before the injury, but his absence opens the backfield to a two-to-three running back rotation.

McBride was a primary beneficiary of the Cardinals' pass-heavy approach in Week 3, with Brissett throwing 52 times. Alongside Michael Wilson, McBride dominated the target share when the Cardinals trailed, making him a key part of the Brissett-to-McBride/Wilson connection that drove fantasy success.

Had his best game of the season with 10 targets; Evan Silva highlights him as looking good; however, his average depth of target is 1.9 yards (40th among 42 qualifying tight ends), making it difficult to generate big games despite high volume.

Entered concussion protocol, leaving the Bears without their primary backup quarterback. This forced 38-year-old Case Keenum to start against the Eagles on Monday Night Football.

98 snaps and 47 routes through Week 3; Evan Silva notes Marks hasn't been great, but Montgomery's inefficiency (2.8 YPC) was predictable given the Texans' broken run game.

Marks is eating into David Montgomery's production and playing time in the Texans backfield; a beat reporter indicated he could play 50-50 with Montgomery, and he successfully executed a goal-line carry against the Colts, suggesting he's becoming a legitimate part of the offense.