Antonio Brown had his impressive streak end Week 4

Eric Moody discusses the numbers behind Week 4.

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Fantasy football is a game of numbers. The goal is to outscore your opponent every week. The game film tells one story, but innovative statistics and analytics tell another. We just wrapped up another week of the NFL season. We were exhilarated by Week 4 with breathtaking performances. None of the wide receivers drafted in the first round of fantasy football drafts finished in the top 20. Devonta Freeman has finished as the top fantasy running back two weeks in a row. Can he make it a third? The goal of this weekly column is to share with you stats in order to provide you clarity and to help you understand how productive certain players can be for your fantasy football team. With that in mind, it’s time to dive into Week 4.

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1.17: Antonio Brown’s receiving yards per route run in Week 4

Brown’s streak of at least five receptions and 50 receiving yards ended at 36. Brown caught 5-of-9 targets for 42 yards against the Baltimore Ravens. His Pro Football Focus receiving yards per route run summed up his Week 4 perfectly. Steelers quarterback Michael Vick’s two passes of greater than 20 yards were targeted for Brown. I anticipate Vick and Brown will get on the same page sooner rather than later. He is still a high-end WR1 heading into a Week 5 matchup against the San Diego Chargers.

123.7: Sam Bradford’s quarterback rating in Week 4

Bradford completed 15-of-28 passes for 270 yards and three touchdowns against the Washington Redskins. Only Andy Dalton and Nick Foles had higher ratings in Week 4. Bradford’s average depth of his passes was 15.3 yards in Week 4. This bodes well for the prospects of Nelson Agholor if the Eagles offense can begin attacking defenses vertically.

117.7: Chris Ivory’s Elusive Rating in Week 4

Ivory set a career high in rushing with 166 yards on 29 carries. He also scored a touchdown and happened to have the second highest Elusive Rating of Week 4. The Pro Football Elusive Rating boils down a runner’s success beyond the point of being helped by his blockers. Le’Veon Bell was the only other running back with 20 or more carries to have this high of a rating during Week 4. Ivory is a solid RB2 in fantasy and should come out of the bye week 100 percent healthy. The Jets face the Washington Redskins in Week 6.

10: DeAndre Hopkins targets of 20 yards or more in Week 4

Hopkins caught 9-of-22 targets for 157 yards. He only caught 2-of-10 of his deep targets according to Pro Football Focus. Imagine what damage Hopkins could do with a better quarterback throwing him passes. He is a must-start WR1 week in and week out.

1.03: Devonta Freeman’s fantasy points per opportunity in Week 4

Freeman carried the ball 14 times for 68 yards and three touchdowns and caught 5-of-6 targets for another 81 yards against the Houston Texans. The production speaks for itself. Freeman’s fantasy points per snaps were 0.89 according to Pro Football Focus. These phenomenal back-to-back performances solidify him as the Falcons starting running back and a RB1 in fantasy.

4: The number of weeks the Oakland Raiders defense has allowed a top four tight end

The Raiders D/ST has hemorrhaged fantasy points to opposing tight ends. Here is a breakdown of how opposing tight ends have fared against the Raiders over the first four weeks of the season:

The Raiders play the Broncos, Chargers, Jets, Steelers, and Vikings over their next five games. What week will this remarkable streak end?

70.6: The percentage of routes Richard Rodgers ran when lined up as a slot receiver.

Rodgers caught 5-of-6 targets for 45 yards and a touchdown against the 49ers. The absence of Andrew Quarless due to injury should open things up even more for him. Rodgers is a mismatch nightmare running routes out of the slot. He is still a touchdown dependent TE2, but can produce like a TE1 in the right matchup.

51.4: The percentage of Russell Wilson’s drop backs he was under pressure in Week 4

Wilson completed 20-of-26 passes for 287 yards and one touchdown against the Lions. He also rushed for 40 yards on 10 attempts, but lost two fumbles. The Seahawks offensive line has struggled all season in pass protection. Wilson has been sacked six times through the first four games. He has the pocket presence and athletic ability to overcome the offensive line issues, but how much punishment do you want your franchise quarterback to take? The only other quarterback who took more sacks than Wilson was Teddy Bridgewater.

54: Lance Dunbar’s rushing yards before suffering a torn ACL in Week 4

Dunbar had solidified himself as the Cowboys receiving back prior to his injury against the Saints. He led the team in rushing in Week 4. Dunbar has the ability to positively impact the game as a receiver and a runner. Injuries have continued to derail his promising NFL career. Joseph Randle and Darren McFadden have averaged less than four yards per carry so far this season. Neither of them have done anything to solidify the starting role in the Cowboys backfield. Dunbar’s season-ending injury does open the door for Christine Michael. McFadden will get the nod to replace him as the receiving back. Michael will have an opportunity in Week 5 to siphon carries from Randle. He is a player worth stashing if you have space on your bench until we have some clarity on the Cowboys running back situation.

2.71: Charles Clay’s receiving yards per route run in Week 4

Clay caught 9-of-13 targets for 111 yards against the Giants. He and quarterback Tyrod Taylor were on the same page for the entire game. He led all tight ends in targets for Week 4. Clay was also one of four tight ends who had two targets of greater than 20 yards according to Pro Football Focus. He was the only tight end to catch both of his targets. Clay was the clear beneficiary in the passing game with wide receiver Sammy Watkins being out due to an injury. He will continue to provide low-end TE1 value even when Watkins returns.

Quick Hits

• Ryan Tannehill is currently leading all quarterbacks with 171 pass attempts. Did the Dolphins coaching staff put too much on his plate so far this season?

• Andy Dalton is currently leads all quarterbacks this season in fantasy points per drop back according to Pro Football Focus. He is a great QB1 that many fantasy owners tend to overlook.

• Adrian Peterson, Giovani Bernard, Jamaal Charles, and Chris Ivory are the only running backs with greater than 50 rushing attempts averaging over five years per carry.

• Allen Robinson currently has a depth per target of 18.7 yards according to Pro Football Focus. This leads all wide receivers this season with at least 35 or more targets.

• Rob Gronkowski still leads all tight ends by 13 fantasy points despite coming out of a bye week.

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