{"id":122813,"date":"2021-10-06T15:01:36","date_gmt":"2021-10-06T19:01:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/?p=122813"},"modified":"2021-10-06T15:01:36","modified_gmt":"2021-10-06T19:01:36","slug":"fantasy-football-fallout-week-4","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/2021\/10\/06\/fantasy-football-fallout-week-4\/","title":{"rendered":"Fantasy Football Fallout Week 4"},"content":{"rendered":"

With another week of fantasy football in the books, we can now start to make more informed decisions based on how our starters versus the potential free-agent pickups are faring thus far. Naturally, the major focus will be on the early-round draft picks who are currently a cause for concern and the sleepers who we should be finding a spot for as a potential replacement. So, without further ado, let\u2019s get to the football fallout from our fantasy duds and sleeper studs.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

*All points-based stats are from full PPR scoring formats.<\/span><\/p>\n

Week 4’s Fantasy Football Fallout<\/h2>\n

Trade-For Stud<\/b><\/h3>\n

Wide Receiver DeAndre Hopkins<\/b><\/h4>\n

For panicked fantasy managers, the narrative for DeAndre Hopkins<\/a>‘ two-week hiatus might revolve around an unbeaten Arizona Cardinals<\/a> outfit, finally experiencing consistent success after building a more balanced offense for Kyler Murray.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

And sure, the editions of A.J. Green and Rondale Moore certainly offer more weaponry and thus less predictability to Arizona\u2019s offensive scheme. However, this line of thinking could also provide an opportunity for fantasy managers to get Hopkins on the cheap.<\/span><\/p>\n

Right now, the concern to capitalize on lies in Hopkins\u2019 target share in the offense. His 21.09 percent stake in Arizona\u2019s targets ranks 25th in the NFL among first-option pass-catchers. Last year, by contrast, Hopkins had the highest share of an offense in the NFL, commanding 30.89 percent of the Cardinal\u2019s available targets.<\/span><\/p>\n

But here\u2019s the thing:<\/span> Kyler Murray is currently projected to throw for over 5400 yards, (for context Patrick Mahomes is on course for 5176), compared to last season\u2019s 17-game pace of 4219 yards. Yes, he is currently relying less on Hopkins, but he\u2019s adding over 1000 yards of production, which will soon counter-balance the reduction in his main target’s lion share.<\/span><\/p>\n

Hopkins\u2019 blip, therefore, is nothing more than the volatility that is part and parcel of the wide receiver position in fantasy. And, what\u2019s more, we should expect it from him. After all, he has already evidenced that he\u2019s one of the more inconsistent stars of fantasy football. In 2020, for example, he was the WR4 overall but had seven games outside the top 30; the average number of bust games for the other four receivers in the top five was three.<\/span><\/p>\n

Overall, he still leads the Cardinals wide receivers in targets, completions, touchdowns, and opportunities inside the red zone so he\u2019s an excellent trade-for candidate. But what would he cost?<\/span><\/p>\n

Hopkins’ Current Trade-Value<\/h4>\n

Trade scenarios are always dependent on your team\u2019s personal needs, coupled with what position your league-mate is lacking at. Though you can at least equate the current value by using tiers. At this point, someone like Darrell Henderson Jr. (RB1\/2 range)<\/span>\u00a0is an interesting one-for-one offer.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Fantasy Dud<\/b><\/h3>\n

Wide Receiver Allen Robinson<\/b><\/h4>\n

What\u2019s been cruel about Allen Robinson<\/a>\u2019s fantasy performance this year, is that there was genuine hope that this elite wide receiver was on the cusp of his best season with the Chicago Bears<\/a> to date. Considering that Andy Dalton supported two top 24 wide receivers in Dallas, it stood to reason that Robinson was worth the investment in the middle of the third round.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Now with four disappointing weeks on the bounce, is it time to bench someone you had projected as a WR1?<\/span><\/p>\n

The short answer is yes.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ever since Justin Fields has taken over at quarterback, the target share has tilted in favor of Darnell Mooney (15 plays 12). If this trend continues, Robinson will almost certainly be one of fantasy’s biggest busts, as Fields hasn\u2019t proven reliable enough (as with most rookie quarterbacks) to sustain two pass-catching options, even in a PPR scoring mode.<\/span><\/p>\n

Although, what\u2019s perhaps equally concerning is that Robinson has also been out-snapped by Darnell Mooney in four straight games, which is already equal to the number of games where this happened last season.<\/span><\/p>\n

Needless to say, as things stand, there are likely better upsides on your bench (Tim Patrick\/Tyler Boyd\/Emmanuel Sanders) or in free agency (Hunter Renfrow\/A.J. Green). However, if Andy Dalton was to return to the starter\u2019s role, you could probably play Robinson in the flex position. After all, he had 11 targets in Week 1 which was more reflective of the Bears’ talent pecking order.<\/span><\/p>\n

Sleeper Studs<\/h3>\n

Wide Receiver Emmanuel Sanders<\/b><\/h4>\n

You never want to chase a big week, especially when you\u2019ve potentially missed out on a depth players\u2019 peak performance of the year. However, in the case of Emmanuel Sanders<\/a>, it seems his 26+ points in full PPR in Week 3 is prescriptive of the Buffalo Bills<\/a> plan for him in the offense.<\/span><\/p>\n

So far, he\u2019s been targeted 28 times across four weeks and is on the field more than any other Buffalo pass catcher (80.7 percent of snaps). What\u2019s more, his role extends well beyond Gabriel Davis’ deep-threat target assignments.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

During his first four games, Sanders\u2019 route tree has featured plenty of mid-range (10-20 yards) digs and comebacks alongside the occasional long-ball flyer. And it\u2019s this variation that should excite fantasy managers.<\/span><\/p>\n

The fact he\u2019s being sought out by Allen ensures that Sanders has a PPR floor (like this week\u2019s 12.5 points) with the promise of more, so long as they connect on the more adventurous passing plays.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Sound the Alarm?<\/h3>\n

In this segment, we debate whether or not we need to seriously worry about a poor performer on the back of Week 4’s fantasy football fallout.<\/p>\n

Running Back Miles Sanders<\/h4>\n

Miles Sanders<\/a> seems to have lost favor as an offensive option with the Philadelphia Eagles<\/a>. Worryingly his majority share of the backfield has evaporated over the past two weeks as both he and Kenneth Gainwell have entered into more of a committee (15 opportunities for the former and 13 for the latter).<\/span><\/p>\n

That leaves Sanders with a paltry average touch count (receptions included) of 12, which ranks 31st in the NFL for RB1 opportunities.<\/span><\/p>\n

Sound the alarm!<\/span><\/p>\n

Wide Receiver Robby Anderson<\/h4>\n

Despite 11 targets in Week 4, Robby Anderson<\/a> crashed and burned for the third consecutive game.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

At this stage, fantasy managers need to bench him until he can string two decent performances together. Though, it doesn\u2019t seem likely that this is forthcoming, particularly if Christian McCaffrey returns this week, as he will wrestle a chunk of those targets back.<\/span><\/p>\n

Worse still is the fact that in 30 games with Sam Darnold, Anderson has only finished inside the top 30 wide receivers once, when he doesn\u2019t score a touchdown.<\/span><\/p>\n

Sound the Alarm!<\/span><\/p>\n

Wide Receiver Robert Woods<\/h4>\n

Robert Woods<\/a>\u2019 measly fantasy output is tied to Cooper Kupp taking over the alpha role in the Los Angeles Rams<\/a> offense. In 2020, both were neck-and-neck in terms of target distribution but so far this season, Kupp (48) has almost double the tally of his partner (26).<\/span><\/p>\n

With that having been said, it is not like Woods\u2019 targets have dropped off the face of the earth (he\u2019s averaging a shade over six compared to eight last season) and perhaps more importantly, his coach has also addressed the situation<\/a>. On Tuesday, Sean McVay expressed the need to get him more involved: \u201cWe just need to get him some more opportunities and that starts with me\u201d.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Woods seems like a grin-and-bear-it flex option for the time being. Though adjust expectations as his potential might be in the WR 24-30 range at this rate.<\/span><\/p>\n

*Stats for Fantasy Football Fallout via NFL Savant<\/a> and Lineups.com<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Main Photo: Embed from Getty Images<\/a>