Streaming Options for The First Bye Week and Week 4 Recap

A month into the season, we are starting to get an idea of who everyone is in 2023, for better and worse. Let's take a look at Week 4 performances; the first week of byes are coming up, so I'll mention some streaming options for Week 5.

I listed players who excelled, surprised, and disappointed this week and gave some notes where applicable. Anyone not listed probably ended up somewhere in the middle or suffered an injury. Others were surely just forgotten or squeezed out of a long article.

No Explanation Needed

These guys did what they were supposed to as consistent fantasy performers.

QB

• Every player here ran for a touchdown except for Hurts, showing the importance of the ground game in fantasy. Jackson, Richardson, and Herbert failed to top 200 passing yards, but they combined for five rushing touchdowns and over 100 yards on the ground. (I've written about the value of running quarterbacks before.)

RB

• Henry had decent total yardage the first two weeks, but he hadn't run for more than 80 yards in a game. He also threw a touchdown pass in this one for good measure.

WR

• Brown had nine catches for 131 yards last week but still hadn't caught a touchdown. He took care of that Sunday while fellow receiver DeVonta Smith had seven receptions for 78 yards.
• Aiyuk was injured during Week 2 and missed Week 3, but he has looked like a weekly starter over Deebo Samuel, who didn't have a catch in Week 4 and ran the ball three times for just six yards.

TE

• Engram has been much more valuable in PPR than standard, with no touchdowns but at least five receptions and 49 yards in every game.

Overperformers

These players stood out in Week 4 and turned heads.

QB

• Wilson and Fields faced off, each team armed with a bad defense. Wilson had an efficient day, but Fields had the most completions, yards, and touchdowns of his career.
• This will soon be just another game for Stroud; it's his fourth good performance in four tries, and I'm ready to call him a weekly fantasy option. He's thrown at least 30 passes every game and has scored among the top 12 quarterbacks each Week 2-4.
• Dobbs has three straight games with over 40 rushing yards, and he has finished fifth, 16th, and sixth among quarterbacks over that span.
• A streaming option likely to be here next week, Sam Howell has finished between 11th and 14th in QB scoring in three of the four weeks. That doesn't sound exciting, but he has maybe the best matchup in the league Thursday against the Bears. Howell will be a top-10 quarterback in Week 5.

RB

• Montgomery missed a game-plus with a thigh injury but returned with a vengeance. He is a weekly starter when healthy. Jahmyr Gibbs will be most affected, as Montgomery has dominated the carries and touchdowns while the rookie plays a secondary role.
• Achane's 11 touches were one more than Raheem Mostert, but his 120 yards were 75 more than Mostert produced. This is a true timeshare, to the chagrin of eager Mostert owners.
• McLaughlin stepped up when Javonte Williams was injured early and had a career day. McLaughlin had two more touches than Samaje Perine and gained 70 more yards.
• Some would argue Pierce and Harris for "No Explanation Needed," but they have both struggled each of the first three games and easily had their best performance in Week 4.
• Williams has moved into must-start territory with two touchdowns in three of the four weeks. He's the unquestioned top dog.
• I thought Kamara had a middling day until I saw his 13(!!!) receptions. That's huge in PPR, and Kamara is probably going to catch passes every week, though not always double-digits.
• Like Kamara, Jacobs had huge receiving volume, pushing him toward the top of the PPR board. He also ran in a touchdown during his best game of the season.
• It's hard to find streamers at running back, so hopefully you have options on your roster to replace your players on bye. I mentioned the Bears' terrible defense, and they have allowed the most receiving yards and receiving touchdowns to running backs this season. Antonio Gibson excels at catching passes and could be a free agent in your league, so that is a great flex option if you're desperate.

WR

• Doubs had 12 targets, 73 yards, and a touchdown last week and followed it up with another productive game. He had just eight targets in the first two weeks before tripling that the last two games. Christian Watson saw his first game action and caught two passes, including a one-yard touchdown.
• I mainly mention Berrios to remind everyone that he's the third receiver on one of the best passing attacks in the league. He also had a carry for 11 yards and was the best receiver for Miami on the day, as Tyreek Hill (three catches for 58 yards) and Jaylen Waddle (four for 46) were middling.
• Kirk has had three strong games in a row after an anonymous Week 1 and has been the number one receiver in Jacksonville. Calvin Ridley caught a touchdown but had just two receptions for 38 yards.
• Mike Evans left with an injury, and Godwin took advantage with by far his best game of the season. Deven Thompkins did his part with 45 yards and a touchdown.
• Wilson quietly had good games in Weeks 2 and 3, but everyone knows his name now. Marquise Brown had 96 yards on seven catches.
• Moore and Collins have each had good games in three of the four weeks, and I've been underestimating them.
• Calling anyone with Patrick Mahomes a streaming option seems redundant, but Kansas City matches up with the Minnesota Vikings in Week 5. The Vikes have allowed the most receptions, second-most receiving yards, and third-most fantasy points to wide receivers in 2023. Skyy Moore, Rashee Rice, and Kadarius Toney (in that order) are great WR3/flex players with WR2 upside. Marquez Valdes-Scantling could be an option if you're really desperate.

TE

• Smith has never had more than six catches or 95 yards in a game. This will not be a consistent thing, but it helps highlight the frustrating fantasy season for Kyle Pitts, who has just 11 receptions for 121 yards on the season.
• Kmet and Chicago receiver Moore combined for 15 catches, 216 yards, and three touchdowns. Fields' big day helped everyone, including running back Herbert.
• Hayden Hurst had five catches for 41 yards and a touchdown in Week 1 against Atlanta; the Falcons have allowed the seventh-most points to tight ends. Hurst was anonymous in Week 2-4 against the Saints, Seahawks, and Vikings. Those teams are all in the top 12 in lowest fantasy points allowed to tight ends in 2023. Carolina plays Detroit in Week 5, who have given up the sixth-most points to the position. It's not perfect, but Hurst is a streaming option if you're desperate.

Underperformers

These players didn't live up to expectations, leaving fantasy owners frustrated.

QB

• Whether it's the lingering injury or something else, Burrow is not right. Tennessee has been below-average stopping the pass the last few seasons, and Cincinnati scored three points while looking overmatched.

RB

• Jones missed the last two games after a huge Week 1, and he returned to make no impact. Backup AJ Dillon was somehow worse than Jones (five carries, 11 yards) after disappointing as the lead back with the starter out.
• I don't expect many big performances from Sanders, but I highlight him here because he split touches with Chuba Hubbard, each with 16. Sanders had at least 10 more touches than Hubbard each of the first three weeks. Sanders had just 32 yards to Hubbard's 53.
• Allgeier has fallen from fantasy relevancy after a surprising Week 1.

WR

• Deshaun Watson missed Week 4, and Cleveland's offense did absolutely nothing with rookie Dorian Thompson-Robinson under center. Everyone, including Cooper and running back Ford, was held down.
• Higgins left with an injury during the game, but he has two catches or less in three of the four games and 40 total yards in those three games. He has fallen off with his quarterback.

TE

• Hockenson has been great, but this is four straight low-yardage games for Goedert and three bad games for Kittle. These are real problems that could linger.

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