If fantasy football were easy, we’d all be 3-0 and pretending we’re masterminds who saw everything coming. Instead, most of us are staring at our benches, wondering why we started the guy with three targets instead of the one who went off for 120 yards. That’s where the Featured Pros step in. They’ve done the homework (and spared you the regret) with their Week 4 Sleepers and Duds list, so you can feel smart without actually having to be psychic.
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Fantasy Football Week 4 Start/Sit Advice: Sleepers & Duds
Sleepers
Which player outside of the top 100 in the FantasyPros flex rankings is a good sleeper start, and why do you think he has upside this week?
Ollie Gordon (RB – MIA)
“Ollie Gordon seems like a good pick for this week. The Dolphins face the Jets on Monday Night as part of a doubleheader, so Gordon and the Dolphins will have a lot of rest after their Thursday night game last week. The Jets only allowed 78 yards on 30 carries to running backs against Tampa Bay, which isn’t amazing. However, with the disarray that Miami is in, I expect them to need a spark. I think Gordon will be that spark. His ECR of RB38 and 109 overall makes him a fine sleeper option for me this week.”
– Andrew Hall (FantasyPros)
Dontayvion Wicks (WR – GB)
“While I’ve gone on record calling for Matthew Golden to have a breakout performance Sunday night against the Dallas Cowboys, Dontayvion Wicks is an underrated flex option. Last week, he tied Golden for the team lead among wide receivers in targets (four) while leading in target per route run rate (21%). More importantly, Wicks is Green Bay’s best downfield threat, meaning he only needs one big play to score double-digit fantasy points. Meanwhile, the Dallas Cowboys have arguably the worst pass defense in the NFL. Last week, the Chicago Bears’ wide receivers scored 54.4 PPR fantasy points against the Cowboys. DJ Moore, Rome Odunze, and Luther Burden III each had at least 12.8 fantasy points. Furthermore, Odunze and Burden each had a touchdown of at least 35 yards last week.”
– Mike Fanelli (FantasyPros)
“If there is ever a week to be gutsy and play Dontayvion Wicks, this might be it. Despite not being able to catch a cold last year, Wicks has yet to record a drop in 2025. This includes a few very difficult grabs this season. With Jayden Reed out with a broken collarbone, Wicks could see an increase in volume. This week, they face a Cowboys team that puts the L’s in Dallas. This squad is miserable and should get torched even if DaRon Bland and Trevon Diggs both play. If you need an upside play with a floor of four fantasy points, Wicks could be your guy this week.”
– Ellis Johnson (FantasyPros)
Rashod Bateman (WR – BAL)
“Rashod Bateman is shaping up to be an excellent sleeper candidate heading into Week 4. While his early-season performances were quiet, he showed significant improvement in Week 3 with an impressive game against the Lions. In that matchup, he caught five of seven targets for 63 yards and a touchdown. This performance earned him a solid fantasy score and also showed an upward trend in his usage within the Ravens offense, especially as Lamar Jackson is spreading the ball among his receivers. In Week 4, the Ravens are set to face the Kansas City Chiefs in what is likely to be a high-scoring game, an ideal game script for Bateman to build on his recent performance.”
– Luke Renton (The Franchise Tag UK)
KaVontae Turpin (WR – DAL)
“Sign me up for as many KaVontae Turpin shares as I can have! Turpin has finished as WR24 and WR39 the last two weeks, respectively, and now faces off against the Green Bay Packers in what should be a shootout. On top of that, with the injury to CeeDee Lamb, he should be getting extra targets his way for the next few weeks.”
– Trevor Land (FlurrySports)
Jalen Tolbert (WR – DAL)
“Jalen Tolbert had 98 yards last week and saw a bigger bump in opportunity than Turpin. With CeeDee Lamb out and bye weeks approaching, he is an add to consider, given his six targets in Week 3. The Cowboys’ defense is awful; you want to attack them in fantasy. I also want pieces of this passing attack with potential shootouts each week. Bonus: Parker Washington.”
– David Heilman (Sports Gambling Podcast Network)
Mark Andrews (TE – BAL)
“Stop me if you have heard this story before… Mark Andrews starts slow, and owners are freaking out about what to do with the star tight end! Don’t forget that the story ends with him coming alive and ending the 2024 season with 11 touchdowns! Well, here we go again, but this time he came back to fantasy relevance sooner. From the onset of the Monday night game, Baltimore targeted Andrews, and he showed out to the tune of 6 receptions for 91 yards and two touchdowns! He is Lamar Jackson‘s favorite and best target, and going forward, he will be the player that is leaned on to help lead the receiving corps in Baltimore.”
– Adam Dove (The Fantasy Couriers)
“Mark Andrews reminded us in Week 3 that he’s still a useful fantasy asset, going for 91 yards and two touchdowns against the Lions. Andrews went into Week 3 ranked behind Juwan Johnson in the Expert Consensus rankings. Andrews has been a top-five TE for more than half a decade. Ranking Johnson ahead of Andrews was like turning down a job candidate with a great resume and hiring a guy with a sparse resume but a firm handshake. Andrews is still worth starting.”
– Pat Fitzmaurice (FantasyPros)
Zach Ertz (TE – WAS)
“Zach Ertz (Flex Rank 102) is a sneaky sleeper for Week 4 with Terry McLaurin nursing a quad injury and Jayden Daniels potentially sidelined. If Marcus Mariota starts, expect Ertz to be featured on stick routes and short option concepts that suit Mariota’s timing-based rhythm. Atlanta has struggled against tight ends this season, making this a 5-star matchup for the veteran. Ertz’s experience and reliability give him a strong chance to capitalize on increased volume. He’s a low-cost flex play with touchdown upside in a game that could quietly tilt pass-heavy.”
– Lawrence Iacona (Gridiron Experts)
Tyquan Thornton (WR – KC)
“The caveat here is IF Xavier Worthy misses his third straight game Sunday, Tyquan Thornton absolutely becomes an intriguing play against the Ravens. The Chiefs’ offense has been off thus far; however, Thornton has stood out. Through three weeks, all without Worthy, Thornton has played at least 70% of the snaps in all three games and has finished inside the top-30 in two of those three occasions. Kansas City will need to put up points in this game to avoid going to 1-3, and if there is no Worthy this week, the pathway to offensive success may come through Tyquan Thornton.”
– Ed Birdsall (Talking Points Sports)
“Tyquan Thornton’s 76% snap share and 14% target share have led the Chiefs over the past two games. It appears Xavier Worthy may return to action this week, but only in a “limited role,” meaning we likely shouldn’t factor him into the equation too much (although it’s worth noting he would likely play a similar role to Thornton’s and potentially take snaps away from him). The Chiefs host the Ravens this week in a game with the third-highest over/under this week. We have seen Baltimore’s defense gashed by the Bills and Lions this year, and it is expected that the Chiefs will need to score to keep pace. Thornton is a high-variance play, but if your lineup needs some juice, his big-play ability may be able to supply it. Per PlayerProfiler, he currently leads the NFL in deep targets, aDOT, and is 3rd in air yards. Thornton’s stats are being somewhat held down by the fact that he is also 2nd in the league in unrealized air yards (193).”
– Charlie Sisian (The Fantasy DC)
Christian Kirk (WR – HOU)
“Christian Kirk, wide receiver for the Houston Texans, is a compelling fantasy football sleeper option for Week 4. After missing the first two games due to a hamstring injury, he returned in Week 3 and played 67% of the offensive snaps. During that game, he was targeted eight times, second only to Nico Collins, and caught three passes for 25 yards. Christian Kirk faces the Tennessee Titans in Week 4. The Titans’ defense has struggled against the pass, allowing significant yardage to opposing wide receivers. This presents a favorable matchup for Kirk to further establish himself as a key contributor in the Texans’ passing game. Given his involvement in the offense and the favorable matchup, Christian Kirk is a solid sleeper pick for fantasy managers looking to capitalize on emerging opportunities.”
– Jeff Boggis (Fantasy Football Empire)
Duds
Which player inside the top 40 in the FantasyPros flex rankings is likely to disappoint fantasy managers this week?
Ladd McConkey (WR – LAC)
“I’m starting to get worried about Ladd McConkey in Los Angeles. He’s getting the targets but not the yards, only breaking 10 PPR points once, and that was in Week 1. The Chargers are winning without him, so they have no incentive to change what’s working. McConkey’s WR15 ranking seems insanely high to me, but it’s not like you’re going to bench him either. Perhaps you’re in a shallower league or have dodged all of the injury bullets, and you have better options. Unfortunately, the majority of fantasy managers will be forced to start him again and hope for his first touchdown of the season this week against the Giants.”
– Andrew Hall (FantasyPros)
Javonte Williams (RB – DAL)
“Javonte Williams has been one of the bigger fantasy surprises this season. He has been the RB7 over the first three weeks, averaging 19.2 PPR fantasy points per game. However, the veteran had a season-low 12.2 fantasy points in Week 3. Unfortunately, Williams could be a massive bust against the Green Bay Packers this week. The Dallas Cowboys’ offense will likely struggle with CeeDee Lamb and Tyler Booker out of the lineups because of high-ankle sprains. More importantly, the Packers have held opposing running backs to 58 rushing yards per game and 3.4 yards per attempt this year. Unless he sees a massive target share, Williams is a touchdown-or-bust running back this week.”
– Mike Fanelli (FantasyPros)
“Javonte Williams (Flex Rank 30) is a touchdown-dependent play facing a brutal Week 4 matchup against the Packers’ elite run defense. Green Bay ranks second in the league against the run, consistently clogging lanes and limiting yards after contact. Williams hasn’t shown much receiving upside, which makes him vulnerable to low-volume, low-efficiency outings. If the Cowboys struggle to sustain drives or stall in the red zone, his fantasy value could evaporate. Managers banking on RB2 production may be disappointed by a stat line that hinges entirely on a short-yardage score.”
– Lawrence Iacona (Gridiron Experts)
Drake London (WR – ATL)
“Drake London will be a big disappointment this week, despite his top 40 ECR ranking. While he has a favourable matchup against the Commanders, his production has been far too inconsistent. This inconsistency, combined with his lack of touchdowns, failure to surpass 60 yards in a single game as of yet, and the Falcons’ run-heavy offensive scheme, makes him a risky starter with a low floor. For instance, looking at players in the tier below, I’d have more confidence starting Keenan Allen, George Pickens, or Ricky Pearsall over London this week.”
– Luke Renton (The Franchise Tag UK)
Ashton Jeanty (RB – LV)
“Call me crazy, but I am already all the way out on Ashton Jeanty. He’s a phenomenal player, but his offensive line is atrocious. His top finish through three weeks is RB23, and now he goes up against a Chicago Bears defense that will stuff the box and force the Las Vegas Raiders to beat them in the air. With Chicago’s offense finally finding its footing as well and the Raiders likely playing from behind, Jeanty should see even less work than usual.”
– Trevor Land (FlurrySports)
Brian Thomas Jr. (WR – JAC)
“Brian Thomas Jr. is my selection for the second week in a row. On the season, he has fantasy finishes of WR 37, 61, and 42. You can blame this on Trevor Lawrence or BTJ having a case of the drops, but something isn’t right. The community continues to have BTJ as a top 12 option based on his incredible 2024 season. I expect he will bounce back at some point this season, but this week is another tough matchup. The Jags face a 49ers team that is allowing the fifth fewest fantasy points to the position. I’m going to one-up my call of outside the top 30 last week, and call for him to be outside the top 36 receivers in Week 4.”
– Ellis Johnson (FantasyPros)
Chase Brown (RB – CIN)
“Chase Brown is really struggling, and this offense does not have Joe Burrow to elevate it. The offensive line play is rough, and Brown himself his struggling. We loved the situation with him getting a lion’s share of the work on a top offense. Now he is not on a top offense, averaging 2.0 yards per carry, and he has scored 8.5 points combined in the last 2 weeks. You probably are starting him, but not confidently until proven otherwise.”
– David Heilman (Sports Gambling Podcast Network)
“Chase Brown came into the season as many owners’ fantasy darling. He finished last year strong and was expected to pick up where he left off. That has not happened, and through three weeks, he hasn’t exceeded 100 yards rushing, TOTAL! He is still considered a top 40 player in half-PPR rankings, but until he starts to show signs of production, owners should steer clear of Brown and his 2.0 ypc.”
– Adam Dove (The Fantasy Couriers)
“It has to be Chase Brown. Yes, the matchup on paper is decent against a Denver defense that has been torn up by RBs two weeks in a row. But why don’t we assess the landscape of the Bengals, shall we? The Bengals lost Joe Burrow, probably for the season, in Week 2. They now have Jake Browning as QB, the offensive line is weak to put it mildly, and the defense is simply atrocious. That is not a great recipe for establishing any sort of run game, and Brown is the victim of circumstance with this one.”
– Ed Birdsall (Talking Points Sports)
Alvin Kamara (RB – NO)
“We’re not getting the sort of pass-catching abundance from Alvin Kamara that we’re used to. Through three games, he has nine catches for 47 yards. Kamara has 50 rushing attempts, but he’s averaging just 3.7 yards per carry, and his touchdown odds aren’t especially great in any given week since he’s playing for the hapless Saints. This week, Kamara probably isn’t getting a very run-friendly game script with the Saints 16.5-point underdogs against the Bills in Buffalo.”
– Pat Fitzmaurice (FantasyPros)
Jahmyr Gibbs (RB – DET)
“Jahmyr Gibbs plays a Cleveland defense that has held Chase Brown to 2.0 yards per carry, Derrick Henry to 2.1, and Josh Jacobs to 1.9. Cleveland is currently leading the NFL, allowing only 57.3 rushing yards per game. Gibbs should still see his usual work through the air, but if he doesn’t score a TD, which is always a risk due to David Montgomery, he could underperform at his RB6 ranking. For DFS purposes, it’s probably a good week to fade Gibbs, especially after his 2 TD performance on primetime Monday night. ”
– Charlie Sisian (The Fantasy DC)
Jaylen Warren (RB – PIT)
“There is a strong case that Jaylen Warren could underperform in Week 4. He faces a difficult Vikings matchup, which is elite at shutting down opposing running backs. His efficiency metrics are underwhelming, with limited big-play upside. He doesn’t hold a clear workhorse role and is ranked low among Week 4 RBs. The Vikings’ defense is ranked the 5th-toughest vs. running backs this week per matchup-adjusted fantasy points allowed. Warren faces one of the most difficult RB matchups in Week 4. If you have alternate RBs with better efficiency or friendlier matchups, benching Warren this week appears prudent. If starting him, temper expectations-he’s more flex than reliable RB2 material for this week.”
– Jeff Boggis (Fantasy Football Empire)
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