Fantasy RB PPR Rankings Week 4: Who to start, sit at running back in fantasy football

Matt Lutovsky

Fantasy RB PPR Rankings Week 4: Who to start, sit at running back in fantasy football image

When the consensus No. 1 running back in fantasy football gets hurt, the effects are felt all throughout the RB rankings. Unfortunately, fantasy owners are getting used to not seeing Christian McCaffrey (hamstring) in the rankings, as he missed 13 games last year due to three different injuries, and now he's out again because of yet another ailment. Last year, his backup, Mike Davis, was a routine top-10 play, so first order of business: Just how high is this season's handcuff, Chuba Hubbard, in the Week 4 fantasy RB PPR rankings?

Because the Panthers didn't change their offense last year (or on Thursday night) when McCaffrey went down, we think Hubbard (@ Cowboys) will see plenty of targets and still have at least RB2 value in PPR leagues. He likely won't be in that elite tier of pass-catching backs (Austin Ekeler, Alvin Kamara, Najee Harris, D'Andre Swift), but around four catches each week is doable. There aren't many backs getting significantly more than that, so we don't have many big inflations among the top couple tiers compared to the standard rankings. 

WEEK 4 PPR RANKINGS:
Quarterback | Wide receiver | Tight end | D/ST | Kicker

We did see some positive developments from a few key backs last week, as Saquon Barkley caught six-of-seven targets, James Robinson caught all six of his targets, Alexander Mattison was used heavily in the receiving game (six catches, eight targets), Nyheim Hines bounced back (11 touches, 79 yards, TD), and Chase Edmonds actually got a goal-line carry in addition to eight looks. This bodes well for all going forward in PPR leagues (as long as Mattison is starting, that is.)

WEEK 4 STANDARD RANKINGS:
Quarterback | Running back | Wide receiver | Tight end | D/ST | Kicker

Cordarrelle Patterson (six catches, 82 receiving yards) proved Week 2 was no fluke, and this week, both him and Mike Davis will be flex options against Washington. Myles Gaskin (vs. Colts) was taken out near the goal line several times last week, but he still had 16 total touches and six targets, so he'll remain in play as an RB2/flex in PPR formats. Even Sony Michel (vs. Cardinals) showed some receiving chops with three catches on four targets, so if he remains L.A.'s starter next week, he'll have more PPR value than you might think.

WEEK 4 DFS LINEUPS: DraftKings | FanDuel | Yahoo

Of course, catches and targets alone can't make up for poor play or bad matchups. Damien Harris (vs. Bucs) and Mark Ingram (@ Bills) don't get targets and have bad matchups, putting them in very tough spots. All of Baltimore's backs (@ Broncos) are in the same boat. The Jets' committee often gets a few targets each in garbage time, but that situation is a stayaway, even against Tennessee.

MORE WEEK 4 DFS: Best stacks | Best values | Lineup Builder

James White (vs. Bucs) is a PPR favorite who would likely see a lot of targets against the Bucs, but he hurt his hip last week, so his status is in doubt. Giovani Bernard will do his best to play the White role for Tom Brady in New England, though obviously it will be for a different team. Bernard has PPR upside, but don't expect another nine catches and a TD. The Bucs don't figure to have garbage-time opportunities this time around. (Update: Bernard has been ruled out because of a knee injury.)

WEEK 4 FANTASY: Start 'em, sit 'em | Sleepers | Busts

One of the toughest PPR situations is in Denver, where both Javonte Williams and Melvin Gordon (vs. Ravens) get similar usage, including only moderate targets. Both paid off last week, but who's the better bet against the Ravens? Consider both flexes until we see one break out or establish himself as the "receiving back."

There are more options in PPR leagues to be sure, but they aren't necessarily high-ceiling options. That will often make a WR more attractive for your flex spot, as they have more upside most weeks. Still, don't overlook the value of a high floor. Stabilizing your lineup with a few consistent scorers like Edmonds and Patterson is nice no matter your projected matchup scoring. 

Note: We'll be updating these RB PPR rankings as needed throughout the week. so check back for the latest changes. For individual analysis of key RBs, click here.

Fantasy RB PPR Rankings Week 4: Who to start at running back

Rankings are based on full-point PPR scoring.

Rank Player
1 Derrick Henry, TEN @ NYJ
2 Alvin Kamara, NO vs. NYG
3 Dalvin Cook, MIN vs. CLE
4 Aaron Jones, GB vs. PIT
5 Austin Ekeler, LAC vs. LV
6 Nick Chubb, CLE @ MIN
7 Najee Harris, PIT @ GB
8 Antonio Gibson, WAS @ ATL
9 Joe Mixon, CIN vs. JAX
10 D'Andre Swift, DET @ CHI
11 Saquon Barkley, NYG vs. NO
12 David Montgomery, CHI vs. DET
13 Miles Sanders, PHI vs. KC
14 Chris Carson, SEA @ SF
15 Jonathan Taylor, IND @ MIA
16 Ezekiel Elliott, DAL vs. CAR
17 James Robinson, JAX @ CIN
18 Chuba Hubbard, CAR @ DAL
19 Clyde Edwards-Helaire, KC @ PHI
20 Myles Gaskin, MIA vs. IND
21 Kareem Hunt, CLE @ MIN
22 Elijah Mitchell, SF vs. SEA
23 Josh Jacobs, LV @ LAC
24 Melvin Gordon, DEN vs. BAL
25 Javonte Williams, DEN vs. BAL
26 Jamaal Williams, DET @ CHI
27 Devin Singletary, BUF vs. HOU
28 Zack Moss, BUF vs. HOU
29 Mike Davis, ATL vs. WAS
30 Leonard Fournette, TB @ NE
31 Chase Edmonds, ARI @ LAR
32 Cordarrelle Patterson, ATL vs. WAS
33 Darrell Henderson, LAR vs. ARI
34 Latavius Murray, BAL @ DEN
35 Kenneth Gainwell, PHI vs. KC
36 Trey Sermon, SF vs. SEA
37 Tony Pollard, DAL vs. CAR
38 Nyheim Hines, IND @ MIA
39 Damien Harris, NE vs. TB
40 Mark Ingram, HOU @ BUF
41 James Conner, ARI @ LAR
42 JD McKissic, WAS @ ATL
43 Kenyan Drake, LV @ LAC
44 Michael Carter, NYJ vs. TEN
45 Ty'Son Williams, BAL @ DEN
46 Tevin Coleman, NYJ vs. TEN
47 Ty Johnson, NYJ vs. TEN
48 Sony Michel, LAR vs. ARI
49 Alexander Mattison, MIN vs. CLE
50 Royce Freeman, CAR @ DAL
51 David Johnson, HOU @ BUF
52 Ronald Jones II, TB @ NE
53 Phillip Lindsay, HOU @ BUF
54 Darrel Williams, KC @ PHI
55 AJ Dillon, GB vs. PIT
56 Tony Jones Jr., NO vs. NYG
57 Damien Williams, CHI vs. DET
58 Brandon Bolden, NE vs. TB
59 Carlos Hyde, JAX @ CIN
60 Malcolm Brown, MIA vs. IND
61 Peyton Barber, LV @ LAC
62 Travis Homer, SEA @ SF
63 Devonta Freeman, BAL @ DEN
64 Alex Collins, SEA @ SF
65 Samaje Perine, CIN vs. JAX
66 Jeremy McNichols, TEN @ NYJ
67 Larry Rountree III, LAC vs. LV
68 Justin Jackson, LAC vs. LV
69 J.J. Taylor, NE vs. TB

Matt Lutovsky

Matt Lutovsky Photo

Matt Lutovsky has been a writer and editor for The Sporting News since 2007, primarily writing about fantasy sports, betting, and gaming.