Ryan Heath's Week 4 Fantasy Football Takeaways: What You Need to Know!

Antonio Williams should have had a much better day; he commanded 22% target share (second-highest on team behind only Stefon Diggs) and is playing full-time route share with Terry McLaren out. He had an 87-yard touchdown called back. The source projects Williams as a potential second-half impact rookie with arrow pointing up, especially with Jaden Daniels returning soon, making him a decent waiver wire stash in redraft leagues.

Braelon Allen saw highest-end bellcow utilization with a 94% snap share, which is elite opportunity that should result in high-end RB2 or better finish even if the team underperforms. Despite poor game script, this snap share represents elite workload security.

CJ Stroud was a top-six quarterback in week four. He has dropped back at least 35 times in three of four games this season, driving elevated passing volume that supports wide receiver production expectations.

Tate had a dominant breakout game with 12 targets (no other Titan had over 5), 9 catches, and 145 receiving yards (no other Titan had over 22 receiving yards), establishing him as the clear focal point of the Titans offense. An elite Titans beat writer (Een Freeze) described Tate as being on another planet, the most dominant player he's seen since he couldn't recall—even more dominant than rookie-season AJ Brown. Tate ranks top-five in target share over his first four games among all rookie WRs since 2021, behind only Malik Neighbors, Drake London, Puka Nacua, and Zay Flowers, and ahead of Vladimir McConkey, Jamar Chase, and every other WR from the past five years. The source notes he was productive despite Cam Ward's inaccuracies and compares his ceiling to T. Higgins (outside contested-catch archetype).

Lamb ranked 2nd in PPG at WR with 42 fantasy points on 21 targets, 17 catches, 189 yards, and 1 TD; 21 targets tied for 12th most by any WR since 1992. The source notes Lamb was drafted at the one-two turn or later due to prior-year efficiency concerns and high ankle sprain, creating a massive discount that now looks like a mistake in hindsight. Lamb has special chemistry with Dak Prescott and is getting peppered with short-area targets; he is now clearly outing George Pickens in target share and is expected to outscore and out-alpha Pickens throughout the rest of the season.

Brown had limited rushing production (10 yards) but emerged as a receiving option with 11 catches for 71 receiving yards. With potential for both Jamar Chase and Tee Higgins to miss time, Brown could see increased target volume in the Bengals passing game, especially given Joe Burrow's high volume (54 pass attempts). The source indicates Brown is a primary receiving outlet with limited competition for targets.

Reinjured same shoulder with expected absence until week eight; significant fantasy downside given extended timeline. The source had substantial DJ Moore exposure in DFS and notes this will be discussed in the waiver wire column. His absence opens target share opportunity for other Bills receivers, as Josh Allen has demonstrated the ability to elevate receiver fantasy value even without elite talent.

DeAndre Swift was getting 60% of the work and 56% of the carries before fumbling midway through the third quarter; he was the only running back getting targeted and split goal line work evenly with Gibbs. After the fumble, he didn't touch the ball again. Swift was one of only two RBs (with Jamir Gibbs) to finish top 12 in expected fantasy points in three straight weeks coming into this game. The source expects this to be a one-week punishment, likely returning to a 60/40 split next week, noting that Ben Johnson has coached Swift for a long time and seems to like him as a running back despite pre-season narrative concerns.

Dalton Kincaid delivered a really underwhelming performance in the Patriots game, particularly notable given the DJ Moore injury which should theoretically increase target volume for other Bills receivers. He's at just an 8.5% target share over the last two weeks. Despite the source projecting he will likely finish as a clear fantasy tight end one, the volatility is concerning with one-reception-on-two-target games mixed with big performances.

Montgomery underperformed despite facing the best possible matchup, prompting the source to declare 'it's just so over for David Montgomery.' The source offers no specific stats but uses emphatic language to signal the RB is finished as a fantasy asset moving forward.

Drake May was the overall QB1 in week four despite being written off as broken entering the week. He recorded 8 carries for 54 rushing yards, his highest rushing-yard total in nearly a year; in his rookie season he ranked behind only Josh Allen in scramble rushing yards per game. The source notes that increased rushing volume could open up the passing game by threatening the defense, viewing the 54-yard rushing performance as a potential turning point in his offensive role. While decision-making remained inconsistent (forced balls into inexplicable windows, got stripped on a fumble), the increased rushing volume is bullish as his typical drop-back game has been struggling. Much of the yardage came on two scrambles, showcasing his explosive scrambling ability.

Wrist injury to throwing hand late in game but stayed in; expected to be fine with minimal fantasy impact.

Pickens had only 3 targets and single-digit fantasy points despite being shadowed by Derek Stingley, which the source notes Houston 'inexplicably' decided to do. While co-host Brett remains bullish and notes Pickens was running wide open in the first half when the offense was struggling, the source is skeptical of the buy-low case given that Dak Prescott wasn't looking his way and Lamb is now clearly outing Pickens by 18+ targets. The source projects Pickens as a 14-15 fantasy point per game receiver (better than his current 10.1 PPG average) but no longer argues he is comparable to Lamb; Pickens is currently averaging 10.1 PPG and is expected to be out-alpha'd by Lamb for the rest of the season.

Isaiah Davis played only two snaps despite the source expecting at least a 70/30 split similar to the prior Breece Hall/Braelon Allen backfield split. This surprising depth chart development eliminates the expected backup role and meaningful involvement.

Likely was the number one target for the Ravens with 12 targets, 7 catches, and 66 yards. Combined with Malik Neighbors, these two receivers accounted for 66% of the team's targets, indicating highly concentrated target share to the receiving room.

Jamar Chase suffered a concussion with zero to one week absence expected; minimal fantasy impact expected with quick return likely. However, Chase exited the Bengals game with an injury alongside T. Higgins, leaving Joe Burrow without his top two receivers despite Burrow posting 428 passing yards. If he cannot clear the concussion protocol, the Bengals could be without both Chase and Tee Higgins, significantly impacting the passing game despite Joe Burrow's high volume (54 pass attempts).

Expected to return next week in week five after current injury; timeline suggests minimal fantasy impact.

Dominated week 3 as 90% bellcow with 75% opportunity share (only missing third-down and two-minute drill work), but workload collapsed in week 4 with Tyler Algier playing more snaps and routes; post-game interviews revealed coaches managing his workload due to physical toll of longest year of his life, not injury; Love's ambivalent tone about wanting carries and willingness to cede snaps to Algier and Bam Knight raised red flags about his engagement level.

Jonathan Taylor smashed in the Colts' 30-13 win over Washington. The source establishes that when Indianapolis wins, Taylor is expected to produce approximately 30 fantasy points per game, making him a high-floor play in winning game scripts.

Josh Allen ran for only 2 rushing yards in the Patriots game, a significant decrease from his typical rushing volume. The source speculates he may be more conservative due to a bone bruise to the knee picked up in the game. Despite the limited rushing production, the source recommends playing Josh Allen in DFS because the stack is now clear—the source knows who to pair with him.

Josh Downs' breakout expectations failed to materialize; his target share collapsed to 11.8% after commanding 29-30% usage over the previous two games with Alec Pierce out. He was getting out-targeted by Laquan Treadwell and Ashton Dulan. The source attributes the disappointment directly to poor quarterback play from Daniel Jones, who "can't run the offense" and "can't hit downs even when he's getting open."

Khalif Raymond had minimal production with 2 catches for 6 yards and disappeared in the contest, suggesting a limited role in the Bears passing game.

Kenneth Walker led the running back position in rushing yards in week four, outproducing Kyle Manongi and Ali Gordon.

Keon Coleman delivered a breakout performance with 6 catches for 116 yards and 1 touchdown, finishing as WR8 in week four. The source notes Coleman "looks way better than he did last year" and is "at least interesting as long as Moore is out." Most of Coleman's production came after DJ Moore left the game, positioning him as a potential fantasy asset in the Bills offense with Josh Allen's track record of elevating receiver value (referenced via Gabe Davis precedent). Coleman remains relevant primarily during Moore's absence.

Khalil Shakir led the Bills in target share before the DJ Moore injury, reflecting the classic Josh Allen receiver volatility where different receivers lead in targets week-to-week based on matchup and defensive coverage. The source notes this makes him interesting for DFS stacking purposes.

Kyle Monangai exploded after DeAndre Swift's fumble midway through the third quarter with 30 carries for 146 rushing yards and 2 touchdowns on the ground. He received 82% of remaining carries and 80% of work inside the 10-yard line, ranking top five in yards per carry at 5.4 YPC compared to Swift's 4.5 YPC. The source questions whether this could be a league-winner scenario or a temporary hot-hand situation, but notes Monangai is the more physical back that coordinator Ben Johnson may have preferred after Swift's early-game goal line failures. Swift also picked up a thumb injury.

High left ankle injury with potential one to three week absence; injury expert Jeff Mueller compares it to Justin Jefferson's injury timeline, suggesting significant fantasy downside. Additionally, Lamar Jackson suffered a lower body injury and was seen in a walking boot; reported as a two to three week injury. In 2024, he averaged four fantasy points per game more than Josh Allen and played at MVP level to start the season, but after picking up a lower body injury, he performed at Aaron Rodgers level or worse. Defenses play him differently because of his legs; removing that element makes him significantly less effective. Concern exists about his performance level when he returns, as he was not the same at any point after missing time last year.

Marcus Mariota suffered an MCL injury in week four, impacting the backup quarterback situation.

Collins ranked 3rd in PPG at WR with 7 catches, 118 yards, and 2 TDs in the most recent game. The source describes the Texans offense as 'night and day' and 'dramatically better' with Collins back. When CJ Stroud drops back at least 35 times (which has happened in three of four games this season), Collins averages 18 fantasy points per game as a top-five WR. The source projects Collins as a mid-range WR1 moving forward, though notes the immediate schedule (Titans, Jaguars, Giants, Chargers, Browns, Colts) may not be as conducive to drop-back volume or shootout game scripts, positioning Collins as a high-end WR who must succeed on efficiency rather than volume.

Parker Washington had a disappointing week-four performance with only three targets, one catch, and seven yards despite early-season optimism. The source notes the volatility of weekly fantasy performance, as Washington was perceived as awesome early in the season but failed to produce when it mattered.

Ankle injury with two to three week absence expected.

Hamstring injury with one to three week absence; impacts his role in Chiefs offense.

Romeo Doubs emerged as the alpha receiver in the Patriots game with 9 targets (4 more than any other receiver), 6 catches for 58 yards and 2 touchdowns. He separated at a high level according to separation metrics, with roughly half his production coming before and half after Matt Collins left. The source suggests this could indicate chemistry finally gelling with Drake May, though acknowledges it may feel like a reach. Doubs was clearly the most productive receiver regardless of Collins' departure. He was also the wide receiver seven in week four overall.

Hamstring injury with two to three week absence expected; significant fantasy impact given his lead-back role.

Suffered injury during game but returned and appears to be fine; no significant fantasy impact expected.

Groin injury with two to three week absence expected; significant fantasy impact given his role in Bengals offense. Tee Higgins had a big game with 11 catches for 157 yards before the injury, though his availability going forward is uncertain due to Jamar Chase's concussion potentially leaving the Bengals without both top receivers.

Pollard operated as a bellcow in the game discussed, carrying the ball 16 of 21 times and receiving 4-5 backfield targets, but produced only 50 total yards from scrimmage, indicating inefficiency or game script limitations despite high volume.

Flowers has averaged 32.7 fantasy points per four full quarters with Lamar Jackson (9 targets, 8 receptions, 176 receiving yards per game), elite production that positions him as a mid-range WR1 moving forward. Even in 2024 when Lamar was injured and played at Aaron Rodgers level of bad, Flowers was seventh in yards per game in games Lamar played, demonstrating sustained productivity and safety. The role looks elite with motion, choice routes, screens, and favorable positioning across the line of scrimmage; he's moved all across the line of scrimmage and placed in favorable spots. Despite Lamar Jackson's lower body injury and walking boot (two to three week absence), the source projects Flowers as a mid-range WR1 moving forward.