We're still in the discovery portion of the 2022 fantasy football season, and through three weeks, we're gradually learned more about workloads, target trends, and matchups. Plenty of teams are playing fast and loose with their ever-evolving weekly game plans, though, so we certainly don't know everything, but that's not going to stop us from putting together a Week 4 fantasy sleepers list for you. This week's list includes low-hanging fruit like handcuff RBs Khalil Herbert and Jamaal Williams and bolder calls on WRs like Elijah Moore and Geno Smith.
Standard disclaimer: Any of the sleeper picks below could bust this week. We're not perfect (far from it), especially since we'll always take a few chances here because it doesn't benefit anyone to list "must-starts." You probably won't start the players below over consistent, proven producers, but if you have a roster full of studs, then you're wasting your time reading a sleepers article anyway. Even if you're all set in season-long leagues, our sleeper picks can help you spot potential DFS values, as the prices of these players should be affordable.
We had some major hits last week, correctly predicting big games from Rhamondre Stevenson, Tony Pollard, Dameon Pierce, DeVonta Smith, and Chris Olave. Jared Goff and Marcus Mariota were decent enough if you were scrounging for a QB, and the Chiefs D/ST at least had five sacks and a takeaway. Overall, we're still having trouble at TE, and D/ST could have been better. We'll do our best to better spot potential diamonds in the rough this week.
WEEK 4 FANTASY PICKS: Busts | Start 'em, sit 'em
Let's get to it with our Week 4 sleeper picks.
Week 4 Fantasy Sleepers: Running backs
Khalil Herbert, Bears @ Giants (Vinnie Iyer). It doesn’t really matter how healthy David Montgomery is with his knee and ankle issues. Herbert is showing so much explosive juice that he will get significant touches again in a favorable spot.
Breece Hall, Jets @ Steelers (Sloan Piva). In Week 3 against the Bengals, Hall garnered eight carries and 11 pass targets, both of which ranked as the highest of his three-week NFL career. The result: 39 round yards (4.9 ypc) and six catches for 53 yards (8.8 ypr). He's now averaging 5.3 yards per attempt and faces a Steelers squad that has been particularly generous to RBs (364 rushing yards allowed, fourth most in the league).
Jamaal Williams, Lions vs. Seahawks (Matt Lutovsky). Williams has already been performing well this season, averaging just under 16 touches per game and scoring four TDs. With D'Andre Swift (shoulder) hurting, Williams will see even more touches in a favorable matchup to pay off as at least an RB2.
WEEK 4 STANDARD RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kicker
Week 4 Fantasy Football Sleepers: Quarterbacks
Cooper Rush, Cowboys vs. Commanders (Iyer). He’s yet to put up a two-TD game filling in for Dak Prescott (thumb), but it happens here with decent volume playing off the run against an awful overall pass defense.
Geno Smith, Seahawks @ Lions (Piva). Smith bounced back from a Week 2 dud in San Francisco with a superb Week 3 performance against the Falcons at home. He completed 32-of-44 passes for 325 yards and two TDs, getting top Seattle receivers DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett involved early and often. Now, Smith rolls into Motown to face the Lions, who have allowed the third-most fantasy points per game (FPPG) to QBs.
Marcus Mariota, Falcons vs. Browns (Lutovsky). Mariota looked well on his way to a big game in a favorable matchup last week, but once again, turnovers capped his ceiling. Perhaps that's going to be a recurring scene every week, but Mariota still has a high floor because of his rushing ability and the Falcons' improved receiving corps. The Browns have faced three poor passing attacks (Panthers, Jets, Steelers), but they've still shown vulnerabilities, giving up over 300 yards and four TDs to Joe Flacco in Week 2.
WEEK 4 PPR RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kicker
Week 4 Fantasy Football Sleepers: Wide receivers
Chris Olave, Saints vs. Vikings (Iyer). Olave’s speed is too much for the Vikings’ limited corners, and he should be busy considering most of New Orleans' other wideouts are injured.
Isaiah McKenzie, Bills @ Ravens (Piva). McKenzie reminded the fantasy world of his existence in Week 3, hauling in 7-of-9 targets for 76 yards and a TD. The speedy slot receiver should have another strong week ahead of him against the Ravens, who rank dead-last in fantasy points allowed to receivers. With Baltimore corners Marcus Paters and Marlon Humphrey likely focusing on Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis, McKenzie could get loose for his third breakaway score in four weeks.
Elijah Moore, Jets @ Steelers (Lutovsky). Moore hasn't done much this year, but the expected return of the QB he developed a rapport with last year should help. Zach Wilson (knee) routinely peppered Moore with targets, so in a favorable matchup against a Steelers' defense allowing the eighth-most fantasy points to WRs, Moore is due for a breakout.
WEEK 4 DFS: Best values | Best stacks
Week 4 Fantasy Football Sleepers: Tight ends
David Njoku, Browns @ Falcons (Iyer). This isn’t chasing points. This matchup is even better, and the Browns won’t dial his usage back anymore. Atlanta has looked bad against the position and hasn’t even faced a top-flight athletic option yet.
Tyler Conklin, Jets @ Steelers (Piva). Conklin is tied with Travis Kelce for third-most targets among tight ends. He''s delivering — he caught all eight Joe Flacco looks on Sunday against the Bengals for 84 yards (both career highs). Much of that came in garbage time, but it counts all the same for fantasy. Pittsburgh has been tough against receivers, but it ranks 27th in fantasy points allowed to tight ends. Go for the Conk smash this weekend.
Albert Okwuegbunam, Broncos @ Raiders (Lutovsky). We know what you're thinking -- doesn't a player have to get targets or be on a team that can score in order to be a sleeper? Fair point, but Okwuegbunam is still the Broncos' primary receiving TE, and against a porous Raiders defense that's allowing the sixth-most fantasy points to TEs, he should be in line for a solid game. He's the definition of boom-or-bust, but if you're hurting at TE, you could do worse for a stream.
WEEK 4 DFS LINEUPS: FanDuel | DraftKings
Week 4 Fantasy Football Sleepers: Defense
Arizona Cardinals @ Panthers (Iyer). They woke up a little more in the pass rush with J.J. Watt last week, and their playmaking safeties can take advantage of some Baker Mayfield mistakes.
Indianapolis Colts vs. Titans (Piva). Following Week 2, Indy's D plummeted to 35-percent ownership after allowing 24 points in a shutout loss to Jacksonville. The Colts rebounded well, mounting a massive upset over Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs for their first win of the young season. Shaq Leonard (back) could finally return this weekend, which is unfortunate timing for a Titans offense that ranks 26th in total yards (302.3 per game) and 29th in scoring (17 ppg).
Minnesota Vikings vs. Saints (Lutovsky). No one allows more fantasy points to D/STs than the turnover-prone Saints, and it's unlikely that a long trip to London is going to help Jameis Winston protect the ball any better. The Vikings started the year with seven sacks in the first two games before stagnating in Week 3 against a solid Detroit offensive line, but they should rev up their pass rush against a Saints' offense that's allowed 11 QB takedowns this year.
