6 MUST BUY Fantasy Football Players Before Week 4 | Fantasy Football 2026
STACKED extracted the fantasy-relevant player signal from this podcast and kept the full transcript here for context.
20 min
Duration
Estimated from transcript
Sep 28, 2026
Published
Mon, September 28, 2026
7
Player insights
6
Players mentioned
Topics
Josh DownsDeebo SamuelKenyon SadiqOllie GordonTucker KraftTyler Warren
Player analysis
Player insights
Deebo Samuel
PositiveValue26:48
The source identifies Debo Samuel as a fantastic buy-low candidate, specifically noting that his value could increase if Mike Evans misses time due to injury.
Insight pageJosh Downs
PositiveUsage27:03
The source recommends buying Josh Downs, noting his target growth (4 to 9 to 11 targets over three weeks) and the fact that Alec Pierce is on IR. While he lacks touchdowns, the source believes his consistent volume makes him a valuable asset and expects his production to improve. The source suggests acquiring him now before his value increases further.
Insight pagePositiveValue31:45
The source argues that Josh Downs is being undervalued due to box score analysis, noting that if his recent performance had included a touchdown, the perception of his value would be significantly higher. The source expects his situation to improve moving forward, making him a buy-low candidate.
Insight pageKenyon Sadiq
PositiveSleeper0:56
The source identifies Sadiq as a high-upside stash after a breakout performance with 8 targets, 7 receptions, and over 80 yards. Despite concerns about the Jets' offense and Geno Smith, the source notes Sadiq's 4.3 speed and ability to be moved all over the field. With Omar Cooper Jr. on IR and potential volume increases, he is a recommended buy-low in redraft and a valuable bench stash for the stretch run.
Insight pageOllie Gordon
PositiveUsage16:38
The source highlights Ollie Gordon as a must-add following a 20-touch performance in the wake of Devon A-chain's injury. While acknowledging A-chain is the more talented back, the source notes that Gordon's 6'2", 225-pound frame and consistent opportunity make him a viable flex or RB2 option. The source suggests he is a high-priority waiver add or trade target for managers struggling at running back.
Insight pageTucker Kraft
PositiveValue22:02
The source views Tucker Craft as a buy-low candidate while he recovers from an ACL tear. Although he has failed to hit double-digit PPR points, the source notes he is being eased in and expects his performance to improve as he gets healthier. The source ranks him as a potential top-three tight end for the remainder of the season, citing his ability after the catch.
Insight pageTyler Warren
PositiveProjection29:55
The source projects Tyler Warren to finish as the TE3 for the remainder of the season. Following a 10-target, 9-reception performance, the source emphasizes that Warren is a primary target in his offense and that his lack of touchdowns is a fluky occurrence that masks his true value.
Insight pageFull transcript
Episode Transcript
0:00Welcome into the lineup fantasy football show. I'm Mitch Anderson.
0:03I'm Justin Mello. And we are joined yet again by our very special guest, Dynasty Dad here to help us break down
0:09the biggest buy low trades entering week four. What's going on, man?
0:12What's going on? I'm feeling like a staple in this show now.
0:15I'm loving it. You know, we always joke around.
0:18A Monday staple. Yeah, I had Matt Hicks on the show for the fifth time and we were talking about getting him his SNL gold jacket.
0:25So I'm approaching that with you guys. 100%. Let's do it.
0:28But as always, the lineup is presented by Dabble Fantasy.
0:31Download and sign up for Dabble. Then use the promo code lineup to get $50 in bonus cash as soon as you play your first $5.
0:38You can also follow us at lineupmitch and copy our picks with one click to sweat every single Sunday alongside us.
0:44But Mike, let's jump into your first trade target heading into week four.
0:47Both of these guys that I have today are guys that I love in Dynasty, but most of your redraft, you know,
0:53friends and family, they have no clue. They're not in there.
0:56This is a guy that was tight end 21 in your draft process.
1:00And now he popped off this weekend. Someone that I loved, you know, in the Dynasty draft process.
1:05And that's Kenyon Sadiq. Eight targets, seven receptions. You know, it popped off for a monster touchdown there and gave you a crazy week.
1:12And this is a guy that is super talented.
1:14Amazing athlete, right? Runs a 4-3. Someone that can get open.
1:17And I think a major weapon here for this Jets offense as he went up over 80 yards.
1:22And someone that, you know, you saw week one, they were able to move him all over the field.
1:27I'm not saying that he is, you know, going to be what Tyler Warren was last year, but or even Colston Loveland towards the end.
1:34But this guy does have the skill set to be a real game changer.
1:38And we've struggled at that tight end position. It was great to have Bowers back.
1:42I mean, pride's been a beast, but being able to get another guy here to stash on your bench for those those
1:48bye weeks and for that stretch run. I think Kenyon Sadiq could be a real, you know, ace in the hole for your team.
1:55Rookie guys that people aren't going to be targeting and redraft versus dynasty.
1:58But there were a few issues with him. One of them being they also spent high draft capital on Omar Cooper Jr.
2:04But now he's off to the IR. And then the bigger, more looming issue being like, I don't know how much I
2:11buy Geno Smith in this Jets offense. Both parts of that.
2:14Now Geno Smith's come out. He's looked incredible. Three touchdowns yesterday, giving the Lions a run for their money.
2:19And I think I'm buying in. I'm completely with you.
2:22Thankfully, the Garrett Wilson injury doesn't look serious. I was going to say, had he really gone down, then there was going
2:28to be a ton of opportunities opening up for him.
2:30But we'll see what happens with this Adonai Mitchell finger injury, how soon he's back.
2:34I think there's a ton of volume coming Sadiq's way.
2:37I think this is a fantastic buy and a guy that people in your league might not be completely in on just yet.
2:44Yeah. And it's interesting, too, like you mentioned, like the Tyler Warrens, Nicholson Lovelands of last year.
2:48Tight end used to be a position where we didn't really see rookies produce.
2:52But in recent years, like Brock Bowers, who you mentioned as well, his rookie year, Sam Laporta was the head in one.
2:58It happens now. Like there are rookie tight ends that are league winners down the stretch.
3:03Kenyon Sadiq has had the involvement and the Jets have looked sharp enough on offense where he could be that down the stretch.
3:09Now, I agree. He's more of a stash right now and redraft formats.
3:13Anyways, you can probably get them very cheap in a trade.
3:16But he's a guy I want stashed on my bench and he can be a great spot start or maybe even an
3:22every week start down the stretch, potentially. I think a lot of people really concentrate on their bench being like, well, I want a guy.
3:28They take a like a high floor, low ceiling guy and put them on their bench.
3:33And they're like, I want to save him for weeks six through eight for my bye weeks.
3:38And I don't play it that way. Like I want high upside stashes.
3:41I want guys that are going to give me, you know, because those low ceiling type players, you're going to be able to pick them up whenever.
3:49But you want to make sure you're loading that bench up with those high upside guys like a Sadiq.
3:54So thanks, guys. I heard such a great point about that the other day, about how when you look at your fantasy
4:00matchups, so much of the time we're trying to make these moves that are going to get us an extra like two, three points.
4:06And it's like, how often do your matchups actually finish with you winning or losing by like a handful of points?
4:12It's usually a pretty big margin because those explosive players are the ones that make the big difference.
4:17And so guys like this are exactly the type of guy I want to target this time of the year.
4:23All right. Well, I have another trade target for you here.
4:26A guy who was much more expensive in drafts just a few weeks ago.
4:30And that is Ted Aroa McMillan. Whoever has TMAC in your league is probably fed up.
4:34Just they had to pay big money for him or big draft capital.
4:38And it hasn't really come to fruition. Underwhelming first couple of games, taking a backseat to Jalen Coker, really.
4:43And he followed it up in week three with just a total dud.
4:46Two receptions, 17 scoreless yards. Hasn't had a touchdown all season.
4:49And that's kind of partially why I'm looking to buy.
4:52He's had 23 targets through three weeks. Just has yet to find the end zone, which has really limited his fantasy output.
4:58I still wholeheartedly believe in the talent, though. I believe the volume.
5:02I think he is going to continue to operate as the number one receiver on this offense going forward.
5:07And I think week four against Detroit is the perfect breakout spot, which makes him a guy I'm really trying to target
5:13now before that potential big boom game happens here in week four.
5:16You're definitely still going to have to pay a bit to get Petrola McMillan.
5:20He's by no means dirt cheap, but I think he's cheaper than he would have been a few weeks ago.
5:26And I still view his season long upside the same.
5:28Yeah, I think this is one of those really tight window buys.
5:32I'm completely with you. I think this is a blow up spot incoming.
5:35I think there's so much excitement around Jalen Coker.
5:38And I think there was like this weird stink around T-Mac for some reason this offseason, despite how good he was as a rookie.
5:44And Mello, we've talked about this, I think, partially because people are just less excited about sophomore receivers after what we saw
5:50with Ladd and with Malik, who I'll actually get to in a minute.
5:54But I think this is a fantastic buy. I agree with you.
5:57I think the manager who drafted him is probably panicking and looking to cut his losses and just get what he can.
6:03So I would absolutely be targeting T-Mac right now.
6:06On to our next guy, though, as I just mentioned, let's talk about Malik Neighbors.
6:10I'm going to start with a very premium, expensive option here.
6:13I promised my second guy I'm going to get to a little bit more of a budget buy.
6:18But there is complete panic in the streets right now around Malik Neighbors.
6:21Looked like a smash spot this week against the Tennessee Titans.
6:24They just allowed Devonta Smith to go wild. 10 catches, 117 yards and touchdown.
6:28And then the Malik Neighbors experience this week was five receptions for 26 yards.
6:32I don't think anybody wants any pieces of this Giants offense right now.
6:36But if you haven't seen the reports, it seems imminent that the Giants will bring in some more QB help outside of
6:42Jameis Winston in the wake of the Jackson Dart injury.
6:45Joe Shane is reportedly working the phones for a potential trade that could happen as soon as today.
6:50For me, even if it is just Jameis or if it's this new quarterback, I can promise you things are going to
6:56get better from Malik Neighbors as long as he's healthy and out there.
6:59I think vibes are at an all-time low. You had the bizarre shoulder injury last week.
7:04You have this disappointing outing in a great spot against the Titans this week.
7:07This is such a big buy low on a guy that I know the three of us, Mike, you specifically over the offseason.
7:14This is such an unbelievable talent. And once he does have the breakout game, the discount is going to disappear immediately.
7:20People just haven't seen it yet this year. It's that kind of object permanence thing where it's like, oh, okay, is Malik Neighbors just not good anymore?
7:27And I think we all know in the back of our minds that's just completely not true.
7:32Yeah, I think Malik Neighbors is one of the most talented wide receivers in the league.
7:36And it's, you know, we all had that dream of last year when Flacco came in with Jamar Chase, like getting a Joe Flacco, somebody that's competent.
7:43And even in my, like what I've seen from the past in Jameis Winston is like that game was in the rain.
7:50It was kind of sloppy, but Jameis Winston has propped up guys to throw crazy volume.
7:54So if they can bring somebody in that's at least competent, Malik Neighbors is a major buy because you're right.
7:59Everybody's hitting the panic button. I mean, I've been seeing trades in Dynasty that are absolutely insane.
8:04And when you look at Malik Neighbors, he has top five upside every single year.
8:08The best part to me is, you know, those worries that we had with the knee seem to be disappearing.
8:14You know, we have the shoulder thing and the quarterback issue, but that major issue of the knee seems to have disappeared.
8:20So now I'm with you. I'm buying in. Um, it's so interesting too.
8:23I've seen so much content and so much chatter about how Malik Neighbors is a sell right now.
8:28Get rid of Malik Neighbors, like cut your losses while you can.
8:32And a lot of that was even before yesterday where it was a complete disaster.
8:36To me, that's all the evidence I need to know.
8:39I need to go buy Malik Neighbors. Everyone is panic selling him.
8:42Um, now he's even lower than he was, you know, a couple days ago after, after yesterday's performance.
8:47Talent trumps all, I think, in most scenarios. And if he is now at the point where he is so ridiculously cheap
8:53compared to what he was a few weeks ago.
8:55Yeah, I'm absolutely buying Malik Neighbors. And I think one caveat with that is like, he's so talented, but like, we can
9:01all agree there is some like inherent risk here.
9:04There is this weird shoulder issue. There is this quarterback issue.
9:07So, don't go out and buy him from the guy that's still valuing him as 2024 Malik Neighbors.
9:12If that's the case, don't do it. But we're saying if you can get a huge discount on a guy that we
9:18know has the upside to be a top five wide receiver, like you said.
9:22That's the type of guy you want to go target when we're all overreacting to, what are we in now?
9:27A sixth of the NFL season. It's way too early to be out on Malik Neighbors.
9:32But Mike, before you jump into your second guy.
9:34If you have any specific trade questions or want in-depth advice on your team and how to get it on the right
9:40path towards a championship, you can get one-on-one support from me, Dynasty Dad, Mello, Snoog, and Brandon on the Smash Accept website
9:46and get 25% off your first month with the code LINEUP25.
9:49Mike, let's get into your second player. Yeah, and I'm kind of sticking with a theme here of a guy that's just
9:55underlying and something that's more of a Dynasty and redraft principle.
9:58But for me, it's Ollie Gordon. I mean, Ollie Gordon comes into the game.
10:02It looks like the Devon A-chain injury is going to be a lot more substantial than what any of us wanted it to be.
10:09But 20 touches, you know, I know it wasn't hyperproductive.
10:12You know, he had 41 yards rushing. He had 20 yards receiving.
10:15Plus that touchdown. You look at what he did last year when he had given opportunities up over eight carries.
10:20I mean, nine for 38 and a touchdown. 11 for 66 and a touchdown.
10:24Nine for 45 and a touchdown. When he gets opportunity, he wears down the defense.
10:28You know, at 6'2", 225, he's a guy that I loved coming out of college.
10:33He slipped in the draft. No one's going to be super excited because it's Miami.
10:37But this brings me to the idea of, you know, every single Saturday I make a post about RBs that you need to stash.
10:43You know, two weeks ago with Tank Bigsby. Last week I was really big on Braylon Allen who looks like he's going to get his opportunity as well.
10:51Is when we're talking about those upside bench stashes.
10:54For me, you know, I like to have two or three guys that I can count on.
10:58Then I have a guy like Kenyon Sadiq who has a ton of upside.
11:02And then I just want these insurance running backs.
11:05These guys that are going to give you points because they're trade targets.
11:08You know, every single manager right now is struggling to fill in the running back position properly.
11:13Now you're going to have an opportunity where Ollie Gordon's going to be able to fill in a flex.
11:18Braylon Allen's going to be able to fill in a flex where getting those wide receiver five, six on your roster.
11:24We have a Cooper Cup or, you know, one of those guys that's just an aging vet that you're never going to be able to trade.
11:31You're not going to want to be able to start.
11:34You know, so like taking your bench and loading it up with what I call insurance running backs can pay off.
11:40You know, I don't think Ollie Gordon's going to be a league winner, but I think he's going to be a real viable flex to RB2.
11:47And I think this offense might actually be a little bit better with him between the tackles than what it was with A-Chain in some aspects.
11:54I'm not, A-Chain's far superior running back. I'm not even going there.
11:57But the way that Malik Willis plays, this might be a little bit better.
12:01And the offense did seem to move the ball much better in some of those drives.
12:05So I'm kind of, I would definitely use my waiver on him.
12:09But I think sometimes even the guys that use your waiver, they're still not going to believe because he's a Miami Dolphin.
12:15And I think you can make a trade there.
12:17Same with Braylon Allen because he's on the Jets.
12:20Yeah, I was going to say this is a perfect daily double that you might be able to go trade for him.
12:26Or you might even be able to just spend some fab and go pick him up.
12:30This guy, absolutely, I could not agree more. I actually also agree with what you said.
12:35Like, Devon HN, no one is denying, is the way more talented running back.
12:38But his play style, and you look at the efficiency that they've had with HN so far, and maybe it will be
12:44a nice little change here for the Miami offense.
12:47And they may be able to get a spark out of Ollie Gordon.
12:51So I think he's an awesome pickup. I would try to go out and get him, whether it's through trade or waivers.
12:57Yeah, you had me at 20 touches. Like, I don't know if there's any scenario where you could tell me a running
13:03back gets 20 touches and I wouldn't start him, regardless of the team he's on, regardless of who they're playing.
13:08You're getting 20 touches. You could be playing for Bishop Sycamore or whatever that fake college was, fake high school.
13:14I want the guy who's touching the ball 20 plus times.
13:17So for that reason alone, Ollie Gordon has to become somebody you're absolutely rostering and probably starting going forward.
13:22Well, my next guy is somebody I love dearly.
13:24If you've ever watched the show before, and that is Tucker Craft, who has failed to hit double digit PPR fantasy points
13:30yet this year, but he's still coming off this torn ACL.
13:34And I feel like this was kind of expected.
13:36I don't know. I feel like we, a lot of us kind of saw this coming.
13:40It'd be a slow start. I mean, he himself, Tucker Craft said he would be eased in to start the season, but
13:46it still feels like there's panic in the streets as if we didn't think this was a real possibility that it'd be a slow start.
13:53So for that reason, I'm sure there are so many Tucker Craft owners who are just frustrated beyond belief.
13:59He's become seemingly unstartable. I'm sure there are a lot of people not starting Tucker Craft right now, despite the draft capital
14:05they had to pay to get him. But like I said, he's coming off this ACL.
14:09He's going to get healthier as the year goes along.
14:12We're eventually going to see a version of him closer to what we saw prior to the ACL tear last year, when
14:18he was the tight end one overall. The Packers desperately need a spark.
14:21I think Tucker Craft could be that in short order.
14:24We see how good he is after the catch.
14:27We see how good he is with the ball in his hands.
14:30I think this is probably the cheapest he will be for the rest of the season.
14:34Again, not a player that you can get dirt cheap by any means in a trade, but you can probably get him
14:40for cheaper than what he should be because of his season-long upside.
14:44I feel like right now the tight end landscape is Brock Bowers and Trey McBride sitting atop a mountaintop, and then we're
14:50just trying to figure out who's 3 through 10.
14:52And if I want to take a shot on who I think is going to finish the year as 3, it's still Tucker Craft.
14:59Yeah, and looking at guys like Matthew Golden and Christian Watson have never been the staple of consistency or the staple of being healthy.
15:06But both of those have been phenomenal. We look at it from the other end.
15:10I love what Watson's doing. Golden's been the number one target there.
15:13All offseason, I think everybody was really just trying to overemphasize that Tucker Craft's usage was going to be through the roof, myself included.
15:20We thought he was going to clearly be that wide receiver one type role at the tight end position.
15:25Give him some time. He went down in week nine last year.
15:28It wasn't like he went down week one and we're talking about he's just not ready.
15:32He's at a spot where he's shaking some of the rust off.
15:36He's getting out there. He is highly involved in the route participation and things like that when you look a little bit closer.
15:42So the time is coming and that's a great buy low.
15:45You know, Melo, he should text the guy that you always compare him to, George Kittle, and figure out what on earth
15:51George Kittle has been doing to rehab his injury.
15:54He's got a wish doctor or something. It does not make sense that he's this healthy that quickly.
15:59It's just like I was just so blown away watching that yesterday.
16:02But let's jump into our sixth and final player.
16:04Actually, speaking of George Kittle, I'm just going to give out a free one.
16:08I think Debo Samuel is a fantastic buy right now.
16:11Not a guy I prepped on, but monitor the Mike Evans injury because if Mike Evans does miss a decent amount of
16:17time, I think Debo Samuel is an incredible pickup.
16:20But let me talk about our actual sixth and final player.
16:23Let's talk some Josh Downs, who's a guy that I think we're past the point of fully being able to buy low.
16:29But I think we're still a spot where there's really good value in the way that people view him.
16:34Three weeks in, he's gone from four targets to nine targets to 11 targets.
16:38Now we get the news that Alec Pierce is officially on IR.
16:41We're obviously waiting to see when it happens that Keenan Allen serves his suspension, likely three weeks as a result of the misdemeanor charges.
16:48And so it's really easy for me to look at the 20 targets over two games.
16:52I think it should continue and it might actually improve.
16:55The reason you can get him somewhat cheap is that he hasn't had the big blow up spot yet.
17:00It's been pretty consistent, 149 yards over the last two games, but kind of like with T-Mac Mello, no touchdowns, which is
17:06always that thing that like is what gets you excited about a player.
17:10And so I think he just kind of feels like one of those boring slot guys that people are just like, eh,
17:16whatever, I throw him in my flex, I might just like tack him on in a trade.
17:20And that's exactly the type of situation I want to get Josh Downs in.
17:24So I expect things to change soon. I expect him to continue getting more involved, have more high value touches.
17:30And so I would go grab Josh Downs now at a discount before it's too late.
17:34Yeah. You know, I've loved Josh Downs this whole off season.
17:37And then, you know, to start the year week one, we weren't exactly sure what it would look like and Keenan Allen's
17:43there, but now everything's really unfolded nicely for him going forward.
17:46I think he is, him and Tyler Warren are going to dominate the target share, I think going forward.
17:52So he's somebody I'm very excited about for the rest of the season.
17:55Yeah. And if you still have an opportunity, I mean, whenever anybody mentions Josh Downs, I go with my guy, Tyler Warren
18:01is, I think he's going to be the tight end three the rest of the way.
18:06I know we were kind of talking about that.
18:08There you go. You know, 10 targets, nine receptions this past week.
18:11This is a guy that all off season, I've been like, this is going to be the wide receiver one here, you
18:17know, and the guy, when I say those things, I mean, obviously the primary target, but Josh Downs has been getting the volume.
18:24Keenan Allen stole the touchdown. If either one of these guys caught, you know, had that touchdown, we're talking about a totally
18:30different scenario where we would see those guys get nine, 10 targets plus the touchdown.
18:34Now their, their value jumps considerably. And you mentioned it before, like we're only one six through the season, but guys jump to conclusions quicker.
18:41They just box score. They jump in and they see, Oh, this guy scored 18 fantasy points, not 11, you know?
18:47So now all of a sudden that guy's so much better.
18:50But when you, when you actually watch the game, when you actually understand what's going in there, there's a lot more to it.
18:56Touchdowns are fluky. This kind of volume though is not.
18:59Yeah. I don't want to be Justin Herbert here and play a game of ifs, but that's such a good point that
19:05what if we looked at this game and he had like 11 targets, 80 yards and a touchdown, we would be like
19:11talking about Josh Downs in a, completely different light than we are right now.
19:15And I think there's a lot of reasonably, the situation is going to get even better moving forward.
19:20But those were our six players to buy right now to help you win a championship this season in fantasy football heading into week four.
19:27You can catch me later on, on the smash except show with dynasty dad, breaking down some dynasty trades.
19:32But before we get out of here, Melo, did we miss anything?
19:35I got nothing. All right. We'll catch you guys tomorrow with our first wide receiver rankings of the week.
19:40See you then. See you then.
