After four weeks of fantasy football, many players have been underwhelming, while others are on pace for record-breaking seasons. This is fantasy football as we know it. Let’s dive into important metrics from this past week.
Metrics That Matter In Week 4 of Fantasy Football
Nico Collins Now Owns The Title Of Fantasy Football’s Best Receiver
As the season began, there was speculation about who would be the primary target for CJ Stroud. Nico Collins had a strong 2023 season, but with the addition of veteran star Stefon Diggs and Tank Dell’s second year, the wide receiver room seemed crowded. Free-agent running backs Joe Mixon and Dalton Shultz were also expected to receive some of Stroud’s targets. Fast forward to four weeks into the NFL season, and Nico Collins has not only emerged as the top receiver but has also established himself as the best receiver in fantasy football. So far, Collins has made 30 catches for 489 receiving yards and two touchdowns on 43 targets (ranking second in the NFL). He has also achieved three 100-yard receiving games. These numbers are remarkable for a receiver who was drafted after Davante Adams, Drake London, and Brandon Aiyuk in most fantasy drafts.
Currently, Collins is the second-ranked wide receiver overall, but he could become the top receiver if he maintains his current performance. The most impressive statistic is that Collins is on pace for an outstanding 128 receptions, 2,078 yards, and 9 touchdowns. These may seem like ambitious numbers, but given his talent and connection with Stroud, achieving this milestone is possible. Collins is likely to continue his exceptional performance and bring excitement to fantasy managers everywhere.
Jayden Reed Is Nearing Low-End WR1 Potential With Jordan Love
Similar to Houston’s, the Green Bay Packers’ wide receiver room was somewhat crowded coming into the season. After two weeks with a healthy Jordan Love, Jayden Reed has emerged as the proven WR1 option. In the games played alongside Love, Reed has put up nearly identical statistics: 8 catches for 136 yards in week one and 6 catches for 139 yards in week four. Reed also scored a touchdown in each of those weeks. However, with Malik Willis at the helm, no Packers receiver seemed to have much fantasy output.
If you delve deeper into the metrics, you’ll see that Reed is becoming a significant fantasy option. In the two weeks with Love this year, Reed is the number 1 receiver in target separation, number four in yards per route run, and number one in fantasy points per route run. Furthermore, Reed finished in the top three among receivers in fantasy in both weeks with Love. Dontayvion Wicks has also performed well with Love, scoring twice on Sunday and leading the team in targets (13, which is number three among WRs in week four). Reed still holds the top spot in this Packers receiver group, and with Love, he is a top 10-15 option going forward, if not higher.
Jayden Daniels Is The Next Duel-Threat Superstar
Washington Commanders’ quarterback Jayden Daniels is running away with the offensive ROY award, but that is not all. The former Tiger has molded into a fantasy superstar. Jayden Daniels has been known for his dual-threat ability coming out of college, but many doubted his potential as a passer. However, he has proven himself in both aspects and has shown consistency with minimal mistakes. After four weeks, Daniels is currently the overall QB1, thanks to his top three finishes in 3 out of 4 weeks. He has scored over 20 fantasy points in every game this season, showcasing his skills through the air and on the ground, in both standard and PPR formats.
Daniels, QB12 before the season, has out-performed in 2024. Daniels so far has nearly 900 passing yards, 218 rushing yards, and seven total touchdowns. His 83% completion percentage and only 1 interception so far demonstrate veteran-like capabilities in terms of limiting mistakes. Daniels is proving that his high IQ in college prepared him well for the NFL.
Regarding Daniels’ main three weapons (Terry McLaurin, Brian Robinson Jr, and Zack Ertz), each player is in the top 10 in their positions in fantasy points. Daniels has not only boosted his fantasy credibility but also enhanced the fantasy production of his teammates. Despite facing some tough defenses in the next two weeks, fantasy managers can still start Daniels with confidence.
Rookie Bucky Irving Continues to Outperform Rachaad White
Rachaad White was drafted early in most fantasy drafts (ADP) after a strong 2023 campaign. While not quite on the level of a prime Austin Eckler per-say, White is a multi-dimensional back. However, through the first four weeks of the 2024 season, White has been overshadowed by rookie Bucky Irving. The former Oregon Duck has secured a larger role, excelling in both phases of the game.
White’s value has been tied to his ability to catch passes out of the backfield. White ran the most routes among running backs in 2023 but in 2024, White’s routes ran have decreased. Currently, 10 running backs have run more routes than White, with Irving being one of them. Despite the Buccaneers continuing to throw the ball frequently, White has not benefited. On the ground, the situation is not favorable either. Metrics indicate that, despite receiving nearly the same number of carries, Irving has been more productive. Through four weeks, White has 41 carries compared to Irving’s 36, averaging 2.1 yards per run, to Irving’s 6.2. Looking at big plays, Irving has 4 carries for gains of 10-plus yards and 3 carries of 30-plus yards. Whereas White has only had 2 carries for 10-plus yards. It’s surprising to see Irving emerge as the primary running back of choice, considering White’s reputation coming into the season.
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