We called out some big names and high fantasy football draft picks in last week's bust picks, and we weren't necessarily wrong. Alshon Jeffery (5.6 points, non-PPR) and LeSean McCoy (6.9 points, non-PPR) didn't exactly dominate. For this Week 4's picks, we mostly laid off the big names you'd never sit (except Mike Evans, sorry) and focused on those players you might actually consider benching, including popular waiver wire pickups Wendell Smallwood and Will Fuller.
We're taking a lot of trends into account, like Ben Roethlisberger's struggles on the road, the Broncos punishing run defense that's shut down three first-round backs already this year, Joe Flacco's inability to get the ball to his wide receivers. If you own any of these players below, it wouldn't be a bad idea to look over your bench (or the waiver wire) and see who else you is available for Week 4.
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WEEK 4 RANKINGS:
Quarterback | Running back | Wide receiver | Tight end | D/ST | Kicker
To see our Week 4 sleeper picks, click here.
Week 4 fantasy football busts: Running backs
Marshawn Lynch, Raiders @ Broncos (Fortier-Bensen). On the ground, the Broncos stuffed Melvin Gordon, Ezekiel Elliott and LeSean McCoy, keeping them under 85 yards combined. There won’t be much for Lynch.
Mike Gillislee, Patriots vs. Panthers (Vinnie Iyer). It's better to attack Carolina through the air everywhere, and when he's not scoring, Gillislee isn't doing much This feels like more of a game for James White and Dion Lewis.
Wendell Smallwood, Eagles @ Chargers (Matt Lutovsky). Smallwood was almost everyone's top waiver pickup this week, but that doesn't mean you need to put him directly into your lineup. There are still a lot of questions about playing time will shake out in the Eagles backfield sans Darren Sproles, as LeGarrette Blount and Corey Clement will still be involved. The Chargers have had trouble stopping the run in their first three games, but they've shut down backs as receivers, allowing a league-low 15.7 yards per game. Even if Smallwood gets 12 carries, he'll need to pad his stats with receiving yards, which might be tough to come by.
WEEK 4 DFS:
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Week 4 fantasy football busts: Quarterbacks
Jameis Winston, Bucs vs. Giants (Fortier-Bensen). Coming into Week 3, the Vikings had zero interceptions. Then, they picked off Winston three times. The Giants, who boast a similarly strong defense, have zero right now. It may happen again.
Ben Roethlisberger, Steelers @ Ravens (Iyer). For starters, he's on the road. For finishers, he's up against a defense that will be primed to put an awful trip to London behind it.
Derek Carr, Raiders @ Broncos (Lutovsky). This is such an easy call, it feels like a trap. There's no way Carr can be worse than last week, but it's still tough to expect much from him in Denver.
Week 4 fantasy football busts: Wide receivers
Jeremy Maclin, Ravens vs. Jaguars (Fortier-Bensen). One catch, eight yards vs Jacksonville, and now faces a Steelers team allowing a league-low 15.5 FPPG to WRs. Not good.
Mike Evans, Bucs vs. Giants (Iyer). OK, you're still playing him, but fresh off his tough matchup with Xavier Rhodes, he steps into another with Janoris Jenkins.
Will Fuller, Texans vs. Titans (Lutovsky). Fuller hasn't played this year because of a broken collarbone, but there's a chance he'll make his season debut this week. The matchup is good, but the Texans' passing offense is not (last week notwithstanding). Fuller is always capable of big plays, but it's best to give him a week before throwing him into the fire.
Week 4 fantasy football busts: Tight ends
Julius Thomas, Dolphins vs. Saints (in London) (Fortier-Bensen). Excluding Rob Gronkowski, the Saints have held TEs to 34 yards in two games. They’ll give up yards, just not to the TE.
Charles Clay, Bills @ Falcons (Iyer). Clay is pretty athletic, but he'll be held in check by Atlanta's speed at linebacker and safety in a tough overall game for Buffalo's offense.
Ben Watson, Ravens vs. Steelers (Lutovsky). Watson took advantage of the best TE matchup possible against Cleveland in Week 2, but outside of a garbage-time TD last week, he's done nothing. The Steelers have done a good job limiting TEs this year, so it's difficult to get too excited about Watson.
Week 4 fantasy football busts: Defenses
Tennessee Titans @ Texans (Fortier-Bensen). The Titans have scored eight total fantasy points in three weeks. Deshaun Watson had 342 total yards, 33 points, and a near win vs Patriots, and he’ll continue to improve.
Houston Texans vs. Titans (Iyer). Houston isn't playing well in many areas defensively behind headliners J.J. Watt and Jadeveon Clowney, and Tennessee allows the fewest fantasy points to this position.
Minnesota Vikings vs. Lions (Lutovsky). Minnesota will likely limit Detroit's points, but turnovers and sacks will be tough to come by against Detroit's efficient offense.