Top 3 Fantasy Football Storylines of Week 4 (2025)

The top storylines for Week 4 include seeing how backfield usage will shake out in one backfield after a mistake-prone Week 3. A potential returning quarterback and possible returning wideout could shake things up for an undefeated NFC club. Finally, an unexpected loser in Week 3 has a get-right matchup this week.

• Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Advice
• Weekly Fantasy Football Expert Rankings
• Fantasy Football Start/Sit Advice
• Fantasy Football Trade Tools

Fantasy Football Storylines

Will Last Week’s Fumbles in New England’s Backfield Lead to a Backfield Shakeup in Week 4?

Rhamondre Stevenson lost two fumbles, and Antonio Gibson lost one fumble in a narrow loss to the Steelers last week. Fumbles are often noisy. However, Stevenson has had 16 and lost eight in 59 games in his career. In addition, Gibson has fumbled 16 times, losing nine in 81 games in his career. Fumbles have long been a problem for both Stevenson and Gibson.

The Patriots spent a second-round pick in this year’s NFL Draft on TreVeyon Henderson to add an explosive playmaker to the team. Henderson got himself into hot water in Week 2 by committing multiple penalties. Head coach Mike Vrabel seemed to get over Henderson’s penalties after watching Stevenson and Gibson fumble away three possessions. Hayden Winks shared the following chart to illustrate the backfield rotation for the Patriots in Week 3.

i wonder when Mondre and Gibson fumbled pic.twitter.com/xDEaZdVVsL

– Hayden Winks (@HaydenWinks) September 21, 2025

Perhaps Vrabel will cut Stevenson or Gibson some slack for their miscues after reviewing the film. However, I suspect Henderson will have his largest workload of the season in a mouthwatering matchup. According to Pro Football Reference, running backs have tallied 114.3 rushing yards per game, 5.0 receptions per game, 34.7 receiving yards per game and one touchdown against the Panthers this season. Henderson should be treated as an RB2 in Week 4, even with uncertainty about whether he’ll be treated as a bell-cow back. The explosive rookie has RB1 upside this week if he’s awarded 15-plus touches against the Panthers.

How Will San Francisco’s Passing Attack Look This Week?

There will likely be significant moving parts in San Francisco’s passing attack this week, starting with the triggerman. Brock Purdy logged limited practice participation in all three practices last week before he was inactive for Sunday’s contest. Conversely, Mac Jones made his second straight start but came out of the contest worse for wear after re-aggravating a PCL sprain. Presumably, Purdy will reprise his starting role this week. However, will Purdy be sharp if he’s playing through a left shoulder and a toe injury? If Purdy isn’t ready to play this week, and Jones starts on a bum wheel, will it impact his performance?

Jauan Jennings didn’t practice last week. He was listed on the injury report with shoulder and ankle injuries, but the ankle injury was suffered in Week 2 and was mentioned the most when discussing his availability, or lack thereof, last week. The 49ers are already without George Kittle since the stud tight end is on the injured reserve (IR).

Demarcus Robinson could also help bolster the receiving corps after completing his three-game suspension. Jennings could be a fantasy option this week if he’s able to practice and return for Week 4 without limitations. Robinson isn’t a viable option, but adding a weapon to San Francisco’s passing attack would be beneficial for whoever plays quarterback for the 49ers this week.

The one locked-in pass-catching-specific weapon is Ricky Pearsall. According to the data suite at Fantasy Points, among 89 wideouts with at least 50 routes run (excluding the numbers from Monday Night Football), Pearsall is 21st in route participation rate (87.1%), sixth in air yards share (51.8%), 28th in target share (20.9%), tied for 30th in targets per route run (0.22), 21st in first-read rate (27.8%), tied for ninth in receptions (16), third in receiving yards per game (93.7), fourth in yards per route run (2.60) and seventh in expected half-point per reception (half PPR) points per game (17.3). The second-year wide receiver is a locked-and-loaded WR2, bordering on a WR1.

Is It a Start ‘Em All Situation For the Packers Against the Cowboys?

There might not be a bigger discrepancy between any unit (offense, defense or special teams) than between Cleveland’s and Dallas’ defenses in 2025. According to Pro Football Reference, the Browns have yielded the second-fewest yards per play (3.8) and 22.7 points per game. Meanwhile, the Cowboys have coughed up the second-most yards per play (6.5) and the fifth-most points per game (30.7) in 2025.

The Packers have a golden opportunity to take their pent-up frustration from choking on applesauce at the end of last week’s loss to the Browns. The last time Green Bay played in Dallas was in the Wild Card Round of the 2023 playoffs, when they scored 48 points against the hosts. The Cowboys have a lousier defense now, and the playing conditions will be perfect inside Jerry World.

Josh Jacobs hasn’t been efficient this year, but he should have a monstrous workload against the Cowboys. The Packers are 7.0-point favorites, likely awarding Jacobs with a positive game script on Sunday Night Football. Jacobs is obviously a no-brainer starter this week.

However, the fantasy options don’t end there. Jordan Love should be treated as a top-eight fantasy quarterback in Week 4. The Cowboys have allowed the most fantasy points per game to quarterbacks this season. Dallas allowed Jalen Hurts to finish as the QB8 with 24.3 fantasy points in Week 1, Russell Wilson to finish as the QB2 with 31.3 fantasy points in Week 2 and Caleb Williams to finish as the QB1 with 29.1 fantasy points in Week 3.

Tucker Kraft is also a no-brainer starter. Despite dinging his knee in practice late last week, Kraft had a 67.7% route participation rate in Week 3. He could get back to his team-leading 75.4% route participation rate from the first two weeks if he came out of last week’s contest without further aggravating the knee.

In Week 3, without Jayden Reed since he was on the IR, Romeo Doubs (83.9% route participation rate), Matthew Golden (71.0% route participation rate) and Dontayvion Wicks (61.3% route participation rate) were Green Bay’s three most heavily utilized wideouts. Golden topped Green Bay in receiving yards (52) and was second on the team in receptions (four) against the Browns and should continue his ascension this week. The Cowboys have coughed up the most half-PPR points per game to wide receivers this season, and Love has a few near misses for big plays to Golden this year. This is the week Golden erupts.

Doubs’ route participation and the matchup against the Cowboys make him an intriguing WR3, and Wicks is even a viable flex option. It’s not unreasonable to see Jacobs, Love, Kraft, Golden, Doubs and Wicks in starting lineups in 12-team leagues this week.

Josh Shepardson is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Josh, check out his archive and follow him @BChad50.