The Perfect Lineup: Week 4's FantasyScore Team
Off to a rough start in your season long fantasy leagues? Well the good news is every week is a fresh start over at FantasyScore.com, where you can play weekly fantasy football for cash prizes.
If you've never played before and aren't sure who to pick, our fancy algorithms have you covered for Week 4. Take a look at this week's FantasyScore Perfect Lineup.
Quarterback
Cam Newton, Carolina PanthersÂ
Newton comes into this week scorching hot, having scored at least 30 fantasy points in each of the past two games. In fact, the Panthers' quarterback has scored the fourth most fantasy points so far this season yet, at $6,300, he's the 16th most expensive quarterback on the board this week. Cam should reach value easily against a Buccaneers' squad he has owned over the past few years.
Running Back
Karlos Williams, Buffalo Bills
With Lesean McCoy very unlikely to suit up this Sunday, Williams should enter Week 4 as the Bills' unquestioned lead back. Believe it or not, according to our Net Expected Points (NEP) metric, the Bills' rookie running back has actually been the most effective back in the league when given the ball -- Williams leads the league with a 14.97 Rushing NEP with the next closest being Dion Lewis at 6.89. Additionally, the Bills' young running back draws an excellent matchup against a Giants' defense that has allowed the sixth most fantasy points per game to opposing backs so far this season. Williams should provide excellent value at just $5,400.
Lance Dunbar, Dallas Cowboys
Although he has only carried the ball twice all season, it's become glaringly obvious that Dunbar is the running back the Cowboys want to target in the passing game. The fourth-year Cowboy has already caught 21 balls for 215 yards this season and is coming off of a massive 10-catch, 100-yard performance last week against Atlanta. Considering how frequently he has been targeted in the pass game and the fact that FantasyScore.com features full point per reception (PPR) scoring, Dunbar is an absolute steal at just $3,600 this week.
Wide Receiver
Randall Cobb, Green Bay Packers
With Jordy Nelson lost for the season with a torn ACL, Cobb has really stepped up through the first three games of the season. After a relatively quiet Week 1 performance against Chicago, Cobb roasted Seattle's Legion of Boom for eight catches and 116 yards in Week 2 before exploding for 7 catches, 91 yards and 3 touchdowns this past Monday against the Chiefs. This week, Cobb gets another spectacular matchup against a 49ers secondary that has given up the fifth most fantasy points per game to opposing wide receivers this season in what Vegas expects to be a shootout. Cobb makes an outstanding play in all formats.
Demaryius Thomas, Denver Broncos
While the Broncos' offense hasn't looked quite as dominant as in recent years, Thomas has still looked great through the first three games of the year. The Broncos' star receiver has eaten up targets, rankings sixth in the league after being targeted 38 times through Week 3. He also ranks sixth in all of football with 24 catches on the year. This week, Bey Bey faces off against a Vikings' secondary who just allowed Keenan Allen to torch them for 12 catches, 133 yards and 2 touchdowns. With the sheer number of targets he gets and a plus matchup against Minnesota, look for another big week from Thomas in Week 4.Â
DeAndre Hopkins, Houston Texans
With Andre Johnson shipped off to Indianapolis, Hopkins is now Houston's unquestioned number one wide receiver and the Texans have treated him as such. The young Texans' receiver has actually been targeted more than the aforementioned Thomas, ranking fourth in the league with 39 targets on the season. Houston draws a decent matchup against a Falcons' secondary that ranks 12th in our schedule adjusted Defensive Passing NEP in what is expected to be one of the highest scoring games of the week. The Texans' star wide out makes a very strong play this week at just $7,300.
Tight End
Charles Clay, Buffalo Bills
Clay has emerged as a true threat in the passing game for Tyrod Taylor and the Bills. The former Dolphins' tight end actually ranks second on the team in targets (17), receptions (12) and receiving yards (144) and has already caught two touchdowns in just three games. This week, Clay gets the pleasure of facing off against a Giants' defense that lacks both cover linebackers and depth in the secondary and, in result, has allowed the fourth most fantasy points per game to opposing tight ends on the year. At just $2,900, Clay is the 20th most expensive tight end on the board and should provide excellent value in a plus matchup against New York.
Flex
Jordan Matthews, Philadelphia Eagles
While the Eagles' offense hasn't been nearly as potent as we expected coming into the season, Matthews has been one of the few bright spots for that unit through the first three weeks of the year. The Eagles' sophomore receiver has caught 22 balls for 251 yards so far this season, and he's caught at least six balls every game. With a much easier matchup against a Redskins' secondary who just gave up a combined 14 catches for 195 yards and 2 touchdowns to Rueben Randle and Odell Beckham last Thursday on the docket, Matthews makes a strong, high-floor play in all formats this week.
Defense
The Broncos' defense has been nothing short of spectacular through the first three games of this season. Denver currently ranks second in our schedule-adjusted Defensive NEP, and they've given up the fewest yards per game (259), the third fewest points per game (16.3), all while forcing the second most turnovers (10) in the NFL. Denver gets the pleasure of matching up against second-year quarterback Teddy Bridgewater and Vikings offense who ranks just 19th in Adjusted NEP with an extremely banged up offensive line. Denver is a 6.5-point favorite in a game that features one of the lowest over/unders on the board this week at just 43. Expect another strong defensive performance from the Broncos in Week 4.
