Daily Fantasy Football Advice For Week 4 Of NFL Action

After an admittedly lousy first two weeks to the NFL season, the 2017 season was blessed with thrilling games galore in Week 3 filled with ridiculous moments, late-game heroics and Lions fans getting yet another example why alcoholism could be a healthier hobby than being a football fan. We approach Week 4 with the potential for more thrills, chills and TD celebration mimed urine spills on the way.

I’m Dan and every week I’m taken out of my crate at the luxurious UPROXX crystal palace funded by the Illuminati to provide some daily fantasy football advice. (Our advice also comes traditional fantasy football flavors as well!) Some advice is good, some advice is awful and all the advice has the shelf life of milk because we’re talking daily fantasy sports. Let’s hop to it, shall we?

Quarterback

Invest In Trevor Siemian: Trevor Siemian has the name of an undercover Planet of the Apes agent and seems like a sensible enough reason to add him to your roster. If you’re the sort of person that needs a bigger hook than that to get on the Siemian trolley how about an AFC West rivalry game where the Raiders (who sit within the league’s Top 5 most generous defenses for fantasy QBs) look vulnerable to a better than expected Broncos passing attack? Don’t let Sunday’s showing on the road against a strong Bills defense put you off. The scoreboard’s going to be getting a workout in Denver and you could reap all the benefits with only a reasonable $5,200 DraftKings price tag to stop you.

Avoid Matt Ryan: Speaking of dealing in Bills misery, howdy Matt Ryan! The Falcons haven’t fallen apart after their Super Bowl collapse that was like watching Ralph Wiggum’s heartbreaking in agonizing detail. 3-0 Atlanta is still likely to thump Buffalo on Sunday, but the Bills have been nothing if not stingy in their early-season run. They haven’t given up a single passing TD throughout 2017 and has been frustrating opponents like it’s getting out of style. Matty Ice isn’t going to completely disappear, but his value against the Bills (home of the drunkest fans in pro football™) is diminished. Don’t risk it.

Consider DeShaun Watson: Watson’s 300+ yard passing game against the Patriots may be a bit of a mirage considering the Pats defense would give up 2 touchdowns to Ace of Base or your local hardware store if they ever met, but the Texans seem to be figuring things out and get the gift of an AFC South clash with the Titans. Tennessee averages as the 3rd most generous opponent for QBs in fantasy and Houston has sorted out that going berserk on DeAndre Hopkins targets hasn’t been the magic ticket. (Mind you, the Texans wideout has a habit of torching the Titans.) This might be a combo of prescription drugs and the near upset of the Pats in Foxboro talking, but Watson’s already emerged as an every week daily fantasy option.

Running Back

Invest In Ezekiel Elliott: After 2016’s spectacular rookie season, Ezekiel Elliott’s sophomore campaign hasn’t been quite as sparkling. Heck, dude only got his first touchdown of the year on Monday night against the Cards. The Cowboys rusher appears destined to bounce back in a big way in Week 4 at home against the Rams. Only the Pats have given up more fantasy points to opposing running games this season and a capable Cowboys offensive line should provide the shielding necessary for Elliott to run all over the Rams like a treadmill. The price tag is high (currently $8,200 on DraftKings) and it’ll be worth it if the Rams continue to be a ham-n-egger for NFL RBs.

Avoid Carlos Hyde: Niners rusher Carlos Hyde hasn’t gotten lost in the shuffle in San Francisco’s Kyle Shanahan era, but Week 4 looks to trip his campaign up with a touch Cardinals matchup. Arizona has been holding opposing rushers to a shade over 3 yards-per-carry and limiting explosive plays on the ground. Factor in Hyde having to power through a hip problem against the Rams last week and it’s an unenticing gamble.

Consider Jonathan Stewart: The scoring-challenged Carolina Panthers should be able to break out of their offensive rut (for one week) against the TD hemorrhaging Patriots in Week 4. That spells good things for Jonathan Stewart who’s had better seasons and feels lost in the shuffle with shiny new rookie Christian McCaffrey at Carolina’s disposal. The Patriots are being lit up for an average of 31.7 points-per-game so there’s plenty of scoring opportunities to go around and that means Stewart might be a sneaky good deal at $4,300 for Week 4. If you’re unsure of if you should go with Stewart, please consider sending the Panthers vet a telegram asking if it’d be a good idea.

Wide Receiver

Invest In Odell Beckham Jr.: How I put this diplomatically? Don’t be scared that Eli Manning has been dogsh*t in 2017. OBJ is going up against a lost Tampa Bay secondary that was exposed by Minnesota temp Case Motherfudgin’ Keenum in Week 3 and have their hands full with a collection of (non-rushing) weapons including the Giants megastar wideout coming in off a two TD outing against the Eagles. The $8,900 DraftKings price tag is steep, but you’re paying of OBJ against a Bucs squad that looks like a cupcake against Beckham. Spend that money and feel like Scrooge McDuck without the haunted memories.

Avoid Martavis Bryant: My esteemed colleague Jason is bullish in the notoriously boom/best Martavis Bryant showing up in a big way when the Steelers visit Baltimore. I’m pretty skeptical of Bryant’s chances and since I’m taller and weigh more than Jason you should totally listen to me. Big Ben’s never as good on the road and even though the Ravens felt their souls prolapse against the Jags in Week 3, Baltimore always shows up against the Steelers. Pittsburgh hasn’t won in Baltimore since 2012 and the Ravens have a capable defense Jags embarrassment aside. As is the case with all things Martavis Bryant, get ready for an insane 4 TD performance or a minor 1-3 point blip in your team’s final score. There are cheaper and less risky gambles out there. Choose them.

Consider Kenny Golladay: Speaking of gambles, Kenny Golladay hasn’t matched his impressive Week 1 totals, but the Lions rookie could be in line for a monster game versus a Vikings lineup that has given huge fantasy points to wide receivers like they were free pamphlets. Golladay is someone that can come up huge in Detroit’s red zone attack and the Lions have a tendency to need big plays to stay in games so this seems like a rather inviting option. If you’re cool with a feast or flop receiver at a reasonable cap hit, buy into Kenny Golladay.

Tight End

Invest In Cameron Brate: Rookie O.J. Howard gets a lot of the shine when it comes to chatter about Tampa Bay’s tight end corps, but don’t sleep on Cameron Brate. The Bucs weapon nabbed his first TD pass of 2017 against the Vikes and will be primed to do even more damage against a Giants team that has no problem giving tight ends a little over 10 fantasy points per game. Jameis Winston looks likely to lock on Brate in Week 4 and that’s exciting news if you’re having an extended think about the dude’s $3,800 price tag.

Avoid Marcedes Lewis: Jacksonville’s disemboweling of the Ravens in front of the Queen of England (or whoever shows up to the games at Wembley) was an awesome showcase piece for Marcedes Lewis who snagged four catches and hit paydirt three times. Week 4’s tilt with the Jets won’t be as kind to Blake Bortles’ tight end. Aside from an early Charles Clay touchdown given up in Week 1, NYJ has been competitive against opposing TEs and frankly, the Ravens looked too awful last week to throw full confidence behind Lewis.

Consider Ryan Griffin: Ryan Griffin’s strong Week 3 numbers are a little misleading because they came against the Patriots, but don’t let that bump him off your radar. Serving as Houston’s go-to tight end with C.J. Fiedorowicz on injured reserve, Griffin caught five passes and scored a TD on Sunday and he faces a Titans defense that hasn’t clamped down on opposing passing attacks. Griffin could prove to be a sneaky good option for Week 4.

I wish you all the best of luck during Week 4’s fantasy football festivities and erotic fan-fiction. Have a good’r.