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Welcome to Week 4 and my tiered quarterback rankings for the week.
Week 4 features a bevy of usable quarterbacks through the mid-range of the QB2 ranks with players like Teddy Bridgewater and Kirk Cousins suddenly fantasy-viable in outstanding match-ups. Joe Burrow and Gardner Minshew make for a low-key QB1 contest. Nick Foles could be a safe, if stunted streaming option.
Week 4’s Tiered Quarterback Rankings
Rank | High Floor/High Ceiling QB1s | Team | Opponent | Breakdown |
---|---|---|---|---|
Rank | High Floor/High Ceiling QB1s | Team | Opponent | Breakdown |
1 | Patrick Mahomes | KC | NE | Mahomes finished a fantasy-passing-touchdown ahead of Russell Wilson as Week 3's QB1 against the Baltimore defense that restricted Deshaun Watson to QB21 results in Week 2 (sourced below). |
2 | Russell Wilson | SEA | at MIA | The only fear here is that Wilson may get game scripted out in the second-half. If that's the case though, it's likely because he already connected with Tyler Lockett and D.K. Metcalf for multiple first-half scores. |
3 | Josh Allen | BUF | at LV | Fantasy's QB2 in fantasy scoring gets Las Vegas' run-friendly defense this week. Allen's in contention with Lamar Jackson and Kyler Murray for rights to 2nd Best Rushing QB after Cam Newton and the Raiders have allowed the league's 2nd-highest rushing touchdown total (6) (sourced below). The possible multi-game loss of downfield dynamo John Brown (calf injury) will likely push Allen to run a bit more than normal. |
4 | Lamar Jackson | BAL | at WAS | Washington's vaunted defensive lines took massive hits last week with Chase Young injuring his groin (declared Out in Week 4) and Matt Ioannidas (torn bicep, sourced below) out for the year. |
5 | Deshaun Watson | HOU | MIN | Minnesota's secondary is the worst in the NFL and their front-seven has been depleted by injury. Massive upside in this one. |
6 | Kyler Murray | ARI | at CAR | Murray's sophomore jump will continue its eruption this week as the Cards' tee off against the league's worst overall defense. |
7 | Dak Prescott | DAL | CLE | Dak only slips so far because of CeeDee Lamb's possible injury (Per Adam Levitan, sourced below). |
8 | Joe Burrow | CIN | JAX | The rookie should fillet the hapless Jags' D. |
9 | Matt Ryan | ATL | at GB | Shootout on tap here. |
10 | Aaron Rodgers | GB | ATL | Shootout on tap here. |
11 | Gardner Minshew | JAX | at CIN | Minshew gets back on track here in a young-gunslinger shootout featuring a pair of lowly defenses. |
12 | Ben Roethlisberger | PIT | at TEN | Tennessee's should-be-tough defense has been relatively unimposing thus far. |
Rank | High Floor/High Ceiling QB2s | Team | Opponent | Breakdown |
13 | Jared Goff | LAR | NYG | Great match-up for Sean McVay's puppet. |
14 | Teddy Bridgewater | CAR | ARI | Shootout on tap here for Teddy. Big box score incoming. |
15 | Kirk Cousins | MIN | at HOU | Junior varsity defenses and the emergence of Vikings' rookie WR Justin Jefferson gives Cousins a very high ceiling. The pace will be pushed. |
16 | Tom Brady | TB | LAC | The Chargers' defensive injuries (sourced below) nerf the fright in this match-up. Chris Godwin's hamstring injury hurts Brady a bit though (sourced below). |
17 | Matthew Stafford | DET | NO | Kenny Golladay is back in action. |
18 | Drew Brees | NO | at DET | Dueling QBs will raise each other's ceilings. |
19 | Baker Mayfield | CLE | at DAL | Cleveland will be asked to push the passing pace in this one. |
Rank | High Floor/Capped Ceiling QB2s | Team | Opponent | Breakdown |
20 | Brian Hoyer | NE | at KC | Likely safety-valve galore in this one as the Pats try to waste the clock and maintain possession to escape with an unlikely win. |
21 | Nick Foles | CHI | IND | Tough match-up but he's got the cast to get the job done. |
22 | Ryan Tannehill | TEN | PIT | Brutal match-up but his efficiency has been unreal. |
23 | Justin Herbert | LAC | at TB | Just a brutal match-up. His rushing floor helps though. |
24 | Nick Mullens | SF | PHI | An unimposing match-up but SF is likely to kill the clock with the run game. George Kittle and Deebo Samuel being back is a plus. |
Rank | Shaky Floor/High Ceiling QB3 | Team | Opponent | Breakdown |
25 | Ryan Fitzpatrick | MIA | SEA | Fitzpatrick lives in a tier of his own as he could be benched at any moment. Seattle's defense is lacking but their offense isn't. Russell Wilson is a sure bet to get the Seahawks up by multiple scores, early in the game, ensuring a high-volume day of Ryan Fitzpatrcik YOLO bombs. |
Rank | Shaky Floor/Capped Ceiling QB3s | Team | Opponent | Breakdown |
26 | Daniel Jones | NYG | at LAR | Jason Garrett and Dave Gettleman need to be fired. |
27 | Carson Wentz | PHI | at SF | Tough match-up and Wentz' play is inexcusable -- as is Doug Pederson's coaching. |
28 | Derek Carr | LV | BUF | Carr's box score will depend on the health of Darren Waller. Waller and Hunter Renfrow will be crucial as the Bills get waxed on the inside. |
29 | Dwayne Haskins | WAS | BAL | Brutal match-up. He'll hone in on his play makers but that's about it. |
30 | Brett Rypien | DEN | at NYJ | That Rypien is the team's No. 3 QB, he can't be ranked higher than a QB3 in fantasy. He's likely to see low passing volume but could make his attempts count against the atrocious New York Jets. |
31 | Philip Rivers | IND | at CHI | Expect a run-heavy showing from Indy this week. |
32 | Sam Darnold | NYJ | DEN | Ugly, ugly match-up. Adam Gase is a joke. |