There are several surprise names near the top of fantasy leaderboards as we enter Week 4, and some recent injuries to starting running backs have the waiver wires churning. That is sure to remain the case with bye weeks beginning in Week 5.
Throughout the season, I'll help you build the perfect lineup and become a league legend. Each week, I will recommend three starters at each position as well as two sleepers in matchups I really like. I will also spotlight one Falcons player in each section.
It's not all too difficult to tell someone to start Bijan Robinson or Josh Allen on any given week, and I assume everyone reading this right now would already know to do so. Therefore, I'll try to focus these recommendations on players who might be on the starting or flex bubble.
Running backs to start in Week 4
Quinshon Judkins at Detroit Lions
It looks like Judkins is taking over the Browns' backfield, and I wouldn't be surprised if the Lions have a slight letdown after Monday night's heavyweight win.
J.K. Dobbins vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Dobbins has crept ever closer to a top-1o finish each week, and he's got a great matchup against a Bengals defense that has allowed the second-most points to opposing running backs.
Ashton Jeanty vs. Chicago Bears
This hasn't been the start fantasy owners envisioned when they drafted Jeanty, but he's getting a lot of volume and could have a breakout game as soon as this weekend.
Sleeper start — Javonte Williams vs. Green Bay Packers
Green Bay's defense has been incredibly stingy against running backs, but Williams is a core part of Dallas' offense, and the Cowboys may try to keep Micah Parsons at bay with their run game.
Sleeper start — Cam Skattebo vs. Los Angeles Chargers
Not only is Skattebo the lead guy with Tyrone Tracy Jr. injured, but I think the insertion of Jaxson Dart is going to invigorate the entire offense in a matchup where they can play the underdog card.
Falcons spotlight — Bijan Robinson vs. Washington Commanders
Robinson is the No. 3 running back on the season in standard formats and top 5 regardless of scoring, and it feels like he's just scratching the surface of what we'll see.
Wide receivers to start in Week 4
Nico Collins vs. Tennessee Titans
The Titans have given up 17 explosive pass plays this season, the second-highest mark in the league. Houston has the worst scoring offense in the league, but Collins has the only two receiving touchdowns on the team.
Keon Coleman vs. New Orleans Saints
After finishing as the WR4 in Week 1, Coleman has not even topped four fantasy points in each of his last two games. This is a beatable matchup for him, and the Bills should feel comfortable enough to take some shots early.
Ricky Pearsall vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
With injuries again popping up for the 49ers, Pearsall has emerged as the constant and already has two games with at least 100 receiving yards. He should once again be a focal point for San Francisco's offense in this one.
Sleeper start — Matthew Golden at Dallas Cowboys
Was Week 3 the start of an emergence or an early blip? This game has a lot of potential to turn into a back-and-forth affair, which could line up nicely for Golden to keep building on last week.
Sleeper start — Elic Ayomanor at Houston Texans
A popular waiver candidate after touchdowns in back-to-back weeks, Ayomanor has more catches than Calvin Ridly this season.
Falcons spotlight — Drake London vs. Washington Commanders
London entered the 2025 season with a lot of fantasy hype, but a slow start by Atlanta's offense and an early shoulder injury has cooled the shine on the team's top receiver. He still remains a candidate for double-digit targets each week, and Washington is a good matchup.
Tight ends to start in Week 4
T.J. Hockenson at Pittsburgh Steelers
Hockenson got into the end zone for the first time in Week 3 with Carson Wentz behind center, sparking hope that he will be more involved after the quarterback change. Hunter Henry just went off against Pittsburgh, so this is a great matchup.
Dalton Kincaid vs. New Orleans Saints
In a matchup that heavily favors Buffalo, it's a good bet the Bills spread the ball around to get some key names involved. Kincaid already has two touchdowns this season, and Josh Allen likes to look his way in the red zone.
Hunter Henry vs. Carolina Panthers
Henry vaulted to the top spot in the tight end rankings after his two-touchdown performance against Pittsburgh. The Panthers are another nice matchup, so keep it rolling here.
Sleeper start — Harold Fannin Jr. at Detroit Lions
Tight ends have given the Lions problems this season, which means Fannin could be in line for a bounce-back game after a dip last week.
Sleeper start — Oronde Gadsden at New York Giants
Consider Gadsden a super sleeper and maybe more a recommendation to stash him in deep leagues, but his debut performance for a Chargers offense that looks like it will be one of the NFL's best was very encouraging.
Falcons spotlight — Kyle Pitts vs. Washington Commanders
Pitts is off to a decent start to the year, despite Atlanta's overall offensive struggles thus far. He still looks like a favorite target of quarterback Michael Penix Jr., and the two connected for a big touchdown the last time the Falcons played the Commanders.
Quarterbacks to start in Week 4
Caleb Williams at Las Vegas Raiders
Williams was the QB1 in Week 3 after putting up a career-best performance against the Dallas Cowboys. If this is what he's going to look like in Ben Johnson's offense moving forward, Williams could become a league winner at the position.
Drake Maye vs. Carolina Panthers
The Panthers have done a good job limiting quarterbacks in fantasy, but I'm buying into Maye's hot start a little bit more than that of Carolina's defense.
Bo Nix vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Nix is the QB20 on the season, but he looked closer to what fans expected against the Colts in Week 2. This is a juicy matchup for the Broncos' offense, and the perfect chance for Nix to reassert himself on the fantasy landscape.
Sleeper start — Jordan Love at Dallas Cowboys
Caleb Williams just went off against the Cowboys, and Love is more than capable of doing the same.
Sleeper start — Justin Fields at Miami Dolphins
This is a big if, because it remains to be seen if Fields will be cleared from the league's concussion protocol, but the Dolphins have given up three rushing touchdowns to quarterbacks this season.
Falcons spotlight — Michael Penix Jr. vs. Washington Commanders
Penix threw for 223 yards with a touchdown and an interception against the Commanders last year in only his second NFL start. He's coming off of the worst game of his career, so it will be important to see how he responds in this one. The familiarity could help him, though.
