Fantasy Football Week 4: Tyler Shough a QB1 vs. Falcons Amid Injury Opportunities

I'm tired of all the injuries. I'm tired of talking about them. I'm tired of writing about them. I'm tired of placing star players on injured reserve or, in the case of guys like De'Von Achane (knee) and Jaxson Dart (knee), having to cut them altogether.

It's been a brutal start to the season, and we have several new scenarios we're dealing with heading into Week 4. At quarterback, Baker Mayfield (thumb) is out for three weeks, meaning rookie Jalon Daniels will start for the Buccaneers. We'll find out if that's good or bad for Emeka Egbuka and Chris Godwin and if you can start either one in Week 4 against Green Bay.

Running back was hit hard in Week 3 with Achane lost for the season, as well as Breece Hall (thigh) and Travis Etienne (hamstring) facing extended absences. The backfields for the Dolphins, Jets and Saints will look different in Week 4, and Braelon Allen at Chicago is the only one I would trust in most leagues.

At receiver, we got good news with Puka Nacua (hip) and Nico Collins (hamstring) returning to practice, and hopefully both will play in Week 4. But we're waiting to find out about Justin Jefferson (ankle), Mike Evans (ribs) and Jalen Coker (quadriceps) for Week 4 after all three were injured in Week 3.

I hope we don't have any more major injuries in Week 4, but that's not realistic. Your Fantasy rosters are as much about survival at this point as putting up big stat lines, and the healthiest teams just might be the best ones in your league.

I'm tired of all the injuries -- as are you. I want to write and talk about players playing great and not headed to the medical tent. So let's hope for healthy bodies coming out of Week 4.

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Start of the Week Projections powered by Sportsline

Tyler Shough

QB

NO New Orleans

• #6

Age: 27 • Experience: 2 yrs.

Weekly Breakdown

MATCHUP

vs ATL NO -2.5 O/U 47.5

OPP VS QB

23rd

PROJ PTS

22.5

QB RNK

2nd

YTD Stats

PAYDS

917

RUYDS

67

TD

9

INT

3

FPTS/G

28.4

Shough is on fire to start the season, and it's time to recognize him as a must-start Fantasy quarterback in all leagues. He's scored at least 24.4 Fantasy points in each game against Detroit, Baltimore and Las Vegas, including two outings with at least 29.2 points against the Lions and Raiders. Shough leads the NFL in pass attempts with 132, and he might have to carry even more of the offensive load with Travis Etienne (hamstring) out. The Falcons have allowed Bryce Young and Jordan Love to each score at least 22.5 Fantasy points in the past two games, with that duo combining for 599 passing yards, five touchdowns and one interception. Shough scored 23.8 Fantasy points in his last game against Atlanta in Week 18 last season, and I like him as a top-three Fantasy quarterback in Week 4.

START 'EM & SIT 'EM

Quarterbacks

RBs to Start Projections powered by Sportsline

Jaylen Warren

RB

PIT Pittsburgh

• #30

Age: 27 • Experience: 5 yrs.

Weekly Breakdown

MATCHUP

@ CLE PIT -3 O/U 38.5

OPP VS RB

10th

PROJ PTS

14.6

RB RNK

9th

YTD Stats

RUYDS

216

REC

10

REYDS

110

TD

0

FPTS/G

13.5

Warren was a star in Week 3 against Cincinnati with 17 carries for 127 yards and three catches for 49 yards on four targets for 20.6 PPR points. He played 90 percent of the snaps with Rico Dowdle (toe) out, and that should continue again in Week 4 at Cleveland if Dowdle misses another game. The Browns have yet to allow a running back to score a touchdown this season, but Chuba Hubbard had 19 carries for 82 yards and four catches for 28 yards on four targets for 15 PPR points. I like Warren as a top-10 Fantasy running back in all leagues.

Aaron Jones

RB

MIN Minnesota

• #33

Age: 31 • Experience: 10 yrs.

Weekly Breakdown

MATCHUP

vs MIA MIN -10.5 O/U 38.5

OPP VS RB

32nd

PROJ PTS

15

RB RNK

12th

YTD Stats

RUYDS

203

REC

5

REYDS

34

TD

1

FPTS/G

11.6

Jones fought through a knee injury prior to Week 3 to have a standout game at Tampa Bay with 17 carries for 58 yards and five catches for 34 yards on six targets. He scored a season-high 14.2 PPR points and hopefully, he'll continue to have a prominent role in the passing game moving forward, which could be needed if Justin Jefferson (ankle) is hurt. Jones has a great matchup in Week 4 since the Dolphins are No. 1 in most Fantasy points allowed to opposing running backs, and Ashton Jeanty, Christian McCaffrey and Kenneth Walker III have all scored at least 21.3 PPR points against Miami. I like Jones as a high-end No. 2 Fantasy running back in all leagues.

Bucky Irving

RB

TB Tampa Bay

• #7

Age: 24 • Experience: 3 yrs.

Weekly Breakdown

MATCHUP

vs GB GB -3.5 O/U 39.5

OPP VS RB

31st

PROJ PTS

12.9

RB RNK

16th

YTD Stats

RUYDS

180

REC

13

REYDS

61

TD

1

FPTS/G

13.7

Irving had a rough game in Week 3 against Minnesota with 15 carries for 46 yards and two catches for 12 yards on four targets, and he scored a season-low 7.8 PPR points. I expect Irving to bounce back in Week 4 against Green Bay, and the Buccaneers should lean on Irving with Baker Mayfield (thumb) out. The Packers are No. 2 in most Fantasy points allowed to opposing running backs, and five running backs have already scored at least 10 PPR points against Green Bay, with Jordan Mason, Aaron Jones, Breece Hall, Bijan Robinson and Brian Robinson Jr., including six rushing touchdowns. Irving has top-10 upside in Week 4.

Bhayshul Tuten

RB

JAC Jacksonville

• #33

Age: 24 • Experience: 2 yrs.

Weekly Breakdown

MATCHUP

@ CIN CIN -2.5 O/U 51.5

OPP VS RB

13th

PROJ PTS

15.7

RB RNK

20th

YTD Stats

RUYDS

204

REC

5

REYDS

36

TD

2

FPTS/G

13.8

Tuten had a surprise performance in Week 3 against New England when he scored 17 PPR with 15 carries for 73 yards and a touchdown and two catches for 17 yards on two targets. The Patriots run defense had previously been dominant whenever defensive tackle Milton Williams was healthy, but Tuten still had his best game of the season. The Bengals defense also surprisingly fell apart against Jaylen Warren, who scored 20.6 PPR points. Prior to that, Cincinnati's run defense was looking elite after acquiring Dexter Lawrence and Jonathan Allen this offseason. I'm going to trust Tuten in Week 4 as a high-end No. 2 Fantasy running back, and he has scored at least 14.2 PPR points in two games in a row. Cincinnati will be a tough test, but Tuten appears ready for it.

Braelon Allen

RB

NYJ N.Y. Jets

Age: 22 • Experience: 3 yrs.

Weekly Breakdown

MATCHUP

OPP VS RB

15th

PROJ PTS

10.8

RB RNK

22nd

YTD Stats

RUYDS

61

REC

4

REYDS

11

TD

1

FPTS/G

5.7

Allen gets the chance to start for the Jets in Week 4 with Breece Hall (thigh) out, and I like Allen as a low-end No. 2 Fantasy running back in all leagues against the Bears. Chicago has allowed a running back to score a touchdown or rush for over 100 yards in two of three games this season, and Allen should lead the Jets in touches with Hall out. We'll see what role Isaiah Davis has in tandem with Allen, but I'm excited to see what Allen can do in a featured role. He has top-20 upside in this matchup on the road. Sleepers (Start/Sit) Projections powered by Sportsline

Rhamondre Stevenson

RB

NE New England

• #38

Age: 28 • Experience: 6 yrs.

Weekly Breakdown

MATCHUP

@ BUF BUF -6.5 O/U 48.5

OPP VS RB

29th

PROJ PTS

11.3

RB RNK

25th

YTD Stats

RUYDS

116

REC

9

REYDS

63

TD

0

FPTS/G

8.3

Stevenson has struggled in the past two games against Pittsburgh and Jacksonville, with a combined 13 carries for 65 yards and four catches for 19 yards on five targets. TreVeyon Henderson continues to share work with Stevenson, but I like Stevenson as a low-end No. 2 Fantasy running back in Week 4, with Henderson as a flex. Buffalo is No. 4 in most Fantasy points allowed to opposing running backs, and three running backs this season have scored at least 13.7 PPR points against the Bills with David Montgomery, Jahmyr Gibbs and Keaton Mitchell. Stevenson averaged 12.7 PPR points against Buffalo last season, and he should be in that range again in Week 4.

Jacory Croskey-Merritt

RB

WAS Washington

• #22

Age: 25 • Experience: 2 yrs.

Weekly Breakdown

MATCHUP

vs IND IND -3.5 O/U 47.5

OPP VS RB

27th

PROJ PTS

10.4

RB RNK

28th

YTD Stats

RUYDS

142

REC

3

REYDS

5

TD

1

FPTS/G

8.1

Croskey-Merritt has struggled in the past two games against Dallas and Seattle, with a combined 31 carries for 79 yards and no touchdowns and two catches for 12 yards on two targets. He will likely need a touchdown to help you as a Fantasy asset, and we'll see what role Austin Ekeler plays after signing with the Commanders this week, along with Rachaad White. I like Croskey-Merritt as a high-end flex against the Colts, who are No. 6 in most Fantasy points allowed to opposing running backs. Indianapolis has allowed a running back to score or gain over 100 rushing yards in all three games, and hopefully, Croskey-Merritt will find the end zone in this game in London.

Keaton Mitchell

RB

LAC L.A. Chargers

• #34

Age: 24 • Experience: 4 yrs.

Weekly Breakdown

MATCHUP

@ SEA SEA -7 O/U 42.5

OPP VS RB

5th

PROJ PTS

4.9

RB RNK

40th

YTD Stats

RUYDS

85

REC

4

REYDS

10

TD

1

FPTS/G

6.7

I'm still starting Omarion Hampton as a No. 2 Fantasy running back in all leagues, but I like Mitchell as a flex, especially in PPR. He just had eight carries for 52 yards and three catches for minus-5 yards and a touchdown on three targets in Week 3 at Buffalo, and he played a season-high 38 percent of the snaps. Seattle is a tough matchup in Week 4, but the Seahawks have allowed Rhamondre Stevenson, Jeremiyah Love and Rachaad White to score at least 4.6 PPR points with just their receiving totals alone. The Chargers need to add some juice to their offense, and Mitchell can help in tandem with Hampton.

Woody Marks

RB

HOU Houston

• #4

Age: 25 • Experience: 2 yrs.

Weekly Breakdown

MATCHUP

vs DAL HOU -2.5 O/U 48

OPP VS RB

25th

PROJ PTS

6.9

RB RNK

33rd

YTD Stats

RUYDS

65

REC

7

REYDS

31

TD

1

FPTS/G

7.6

David Montgomery remains a low-end No. 2 Fantasy running back in all leagues, but Marks can be a flex option in Week 4 against Dallas. ESPN reported that Marks could start to get more work, and he has scored at least 8.5 PPR points in each of his past two games against Cincinnati and Indianapolis. I would love to see Marks more involved in the passing game, and he had five catches for 27 yards on six targets in Week 2 against Cincinnati. The Cowboys have already allowed two running backs to catch at least four passes, with Devin Singletary in Week 1 and Rachaad White in Week 2, and hopefully C.J. Stroud uses Marks as a weapon out of the backfield in Week 4. RBs to Sit Projections powered by Sportsline

Tony Pollard

RB

TEN Tennessee

• #20

Age: 29 • Experience: 8 yrs.

Weekly Breakdown

MATCHUP

@ BAL BAL -11.5 O/U 43.5

OPP VS RB

18th

PROJ PTS

10.3

RB RNK

26th

YTD Stats

RUYDS

173

REC

6

REYDS

22

TD

0

FPTS/G

8.5

Pollard had his best game of the season in Week 3 at the Giants with 17 carries for 74 yards and four catches for 22 ya

_Originally reported by [CBS Sports](https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/football/news/fantasy-football-start-em-sit-em-jamey-eisenberg/)._