Week 4 fantasy football rankings: Evaluating best QB, RB, WR and TE options

The 2022 NFL season is already through two weeks of action and we’ve seen some incredible performances along the way. As we gather more information on the best players and defenses, it helps shape weekly fantasy football rankings.

Naturally, the NFL injury report and recent trends play a huge factor in how specific players are viewed. Both D’Andre Swift and David Montgomery are highly questionable to play in Week 4, opening the door for their backups to step into featured roles. At wide receiver, we still await word on when Keenan Allen and Chris Godwin will return to the lineup. It all helps shape the positional fantasy rankings for another week of football.

Let’s dive into our Week 4 fantasy football rankings.

Fantasy football QB rankings – Week 4

Related: NFL QB rankings

Rank:	Player	Matchup
1	Josh Allen	@ Baltimore Ravens
2	Jalen Hurts	vs Jacksonville Jaguars
3	Lamar Jackson	vs Buffalo Bills
4	Justin Herbert	@ Houston Texans
5	Patrick Mahomes	@ Tampa Bay Buccaneers
6	Aaron Rodgers	vs New England Patriots
7	Russell Wilson	@ Las Vegas Raiders
8	Jared Goff	vs Seattle Seahawks
9	Tom Brady	vs Kansas City Chiefs
10	Kyler Murray	@ Carolina Panthers
11	Matt Ryan	vs Tennessee Titans
12	Marcus Mariota	vs Cleveland Browns
13	Trevor Lawrence	@ Philadelphia Eagles
14	Kirk Cousins	vs New Orleans Saints
15	Derek Carr	vs Denver Broncos
16	Carson Wentz	@ Dallas Cowboys
17	Jacoby Brissett	@ Atlanta Falcons
18	Jameis Winston (Q)	vs Minnesota Vikings
19	Daniel Jones	vs Chicago Bears
20	Ryan Tannehill	@ Indianapolis Colts

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen sits atop the Week 4 fantasy rankings with relative ease. He draws a matchup against a Baltimore Ravens’ secondary that surrendered 763 passing yards, six touchdowns and a 70.7% completion rate in the last two games. Right behind him, quarterback Jalen Hurts is proving that he is an elite option with at least one touchdown and either 300 passing yards or 50-plus rushing yards in every game this season.

While Justin Herbert makes the top-five in our Week 4 fantasy football rankings, there is a level of hesitation. Herbert didn’t look right playing through his rib cartilage injury and even if Keenan Allen returns, a lesser version of Herbert diminishes his fantasy appeal.

In terms of going against consensus Week 4 fantasy rankings, there are reasons to cast low projections for Patrick Mahomes and Kyler Murray. Tampa Bay is holding opponents to a 69.4 quarterback rating this season, with a 3-5 TD-INT ratio and 11 sacks. As for Murray, he’s in a bad system and set to face a Panthers’ defense that is holding opponents to 214 pass ypg with only three touchdowns and a 59.6% completion rate. Fantasy managers can start both if they want in Week 4, but avoid them in DFS.

Week 4 fantasy football sleepers – Quarterback

• Jared Goff, Detroit Lions vs Seattle Seahawks
• Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons vs Tennessee Titans
• Tua Tagovailoa, Miami Dolphins vs Cincinnati Bengals

Leading off our Week 4 fantasy sleepers, Jared Goff is off to a promising start this season. He’s responsible for a 98.4 passer rating with 533 passing yards and a 5-1 TD-INT ratio in the last two weeks. We might not be sold on Goff as a long-term quarterback in Detroit, but he plays behind a great offensive line and you can count on Josh Reynolds and T.J. Hockenson finding vulnerabilities in a Seahawks’ secondary allowing a 100.6 passer rating.

Meanwhile, Matt Ryan takes the field against a Titans’ unit responsible for allowing 306.5 passing yards and a 103.3 quarterback rating in the last two weeks. With a healthy Michael Pittman Jr. and more confidence in Alec Pierce, Ryan could deliver 200-plus yards and two touchdowns.

Week 4 fantasy football rankings – Running Backs

Rank:	Player	Opponent
1	Jonathan Taylor	vs Tennessee Titans
2	Nick Chubb	@ Atlanta Falcons
3	Christian McCaffrey	vs Arizona Cardinals
4	Austin Ekeler	@ Houston Texans
5	Saquon Barkley	vs Chicago Bears
6	Najee Harris	vs New York Jets
7	Dalvin Cook	vs New Orleans Saints
8	Derrick Henry	@ Indianapolis Colts
9	Jamaal Williams	vs Seattle Seahawks
10	Khalil Herbert	@ New York Giants
11	Leonard Fournette	vs Kansas City Chiefs
12	Aaron Jones	vs New England Patriots
13	Javonte Williams	@ Las Vegas Raiders
14	James Robinson	@ Philadelphia Eagles
15	Dameon Pierce	vs Los Angeles Chargers
16	Rashaad Penny	@ Detroit Lions
17	Cordarrelle Patterson	vs Cleveland Browns
18	Mark Ingram	vs Minnesota Vikings
19	AJ DIllion	vs New England Patriots
20	Jeff Wilson Jr	vs Los Angeles Rams
21	Ezekiel Elliott	vs Washington Commanders
22	Antonio Gibson	@ Dallas Cowboys
23	Miles Sanders	vs Jacksonville Jaguars
24	James Conner	@ Carolina Panthers
25	JK Dobbins	vs Buffalo Bills
26	Tony Pollard	vs Washington Commanders
27	Clyde Edwards-Helaire	@ Tampa Bay Buccaneers
28	Josh Jacobs	vs Denver Broncos
29	Breece Hall	@ Pittsburgh Steelers
30	Rhamondre Stevenson	@ Green Bay Packers

There are plenty of people frustrated with Austin Ekeler stats entering Week 4. Drafted as a top-three selection in drafts, he is one of the biggest busts in fantasy thus far. We’re expecting that to change on Sunday. This is a get-right game for the Chargers’ ground game, facing a Texans’ front seven that already allowed over 600 rushing yards this season.

Heading into the week, our fantasy football rankings for Week 4 operate on the assumption D’Andre Swift and David Montgomery won’t be available to play. If that’s the case, Khalil Herbert and Jamaal Williams are RB1s. Williams has averaged 4 ypr in his career, always flashing the talent to be an effective starter and Seattle is allowing 157 rushing yards per game. As for Herbert, he proved in Week 3 that he is more than capable of handling a full workload and breaking off big runs.

Week 4 fantasy football busts – Running Backs who could disappoint

• Ezekiel Elliott, Dallas Cowboys vs Washington Commanders
• Miles Sanders, Philadelphia Eagles vs Jacksonville Jaguars

It might be time to forget about Alvin Kamara being an elite fantasy running back again. After averaging 6.9 yards per target and 74 receptions per season from 2017-’21, the New Orleans Saints’ star is averaging just 1.7 yards per target with five catches in three games. Now, Kamara is inactive for Week 4 because of a rib injury. Mark Ingram slides into the Week 4 fantasy rankings, but fantasy managers should temper their expectations against Minnesota. With that said, we would still bet on Ingram offering a safe floor.

Related: Week 4 NFL power rankings

Fantasy football rankings Week 4 – Wide Receivers

Rank:	Player	Opponent
1	Stefon Diggs	@ Baltimore Ravens
2	Cooper Kupp	@ San Francisco 49ers
3	Deebo Samuel	vs Los Angeles Rans
4	Michael Pittman Jr	vs Tennessee Titans
5	Justin Jefferson	vs New Orleans Saints
6	Davante Adams	vs Denver Broncos
7	A.J. Brown	vs Jacksonville Jaguars
8	Amari Cooper	@ Atlanta Falcons
9	Mike Evans	vs Kansas City Chiefs
10	Drake London	vs Cleveland Browns
11	Courtland Sutton	@ Las Vegas Raiders
12	DeVonta Smith	vs Jacksonville Jaguars
13	Gabriel Davis	@ Baltimore Ravens
14	Diontae Johnson	vs New York Jets
15	Chris Olave	vs Minnesota Vikings
16	Mike Williams	@ Houston Texans
17	Christian Kirk	@ Philadelphia Eagles
18	Marquise Brown (Q)	@ Carolina Panthers
19	Curtis Samuel	@ Dallas Cowboys
20	CeeDee Lamb	vs Washington Commanders
21	Terry McLaurin	@ Dallas Cowboys
22	Tyler Lockett	@ Detroit Lions
23	Brandon Aiyuk	vs Los Angeles Rams
24	Garrett Wilson	@ Pittsburgh Steelers
25	Chris Godwin (Q)	vs Minnesota Vikings
26	D.J. Moore	vs Arizona Cardinals
27	Adam Thielen	@ New Orleans Saints
28	Rashod Bateman	vs Buffalo Bills
29	Jerry Jeudy	@ Las Vegas Raiders
30	Treylon Burks	@ Indianapolis Colts
31	Romeo Doubs	vs New England Patriots
32	DK Metcalf	@ Detroit Lions
33	Allen Lazard	vs New England Patriots
34	Josh Reynolds	vs Seattle Seahawks
35	Jahan Dotson	@ Dallas Cowboys
36	Richie James Jr	vs Chicago Bears
37	DJ Chark Jr	vs Seattle Seahawks
38	JuJu Smith-Schuster	@ Tampa Bay Buccaneers
39	Joshua Palmer	@ Houston Texans
40	Allen Robinson	@ San Francisco 49ers

Leading off our Week 4 fantasy rankings at wide receiver, Stefon Diggs is at the top. Baltimore allowed 361 yards and four touchdowns to Jaylen Waddle and Tyreek Hill in Week 2 then allowed 156 yards to DeVante Parker last Sunday. Unable to generate consistent pressure, Josh Allen will have all day to hit Diggs and Gabriel Davis.

Related: Week 4 wide receiver rankings

There are a few names who standout as potential Week 4 busts at wide receiver. Christian Kirk is going to deliver a 1,000-yard season, but expectations should be lowered in Week 4. Philadelphia is allowing just 186.7 passing yards per game and its pass rush (12 sacks) will cause problems for Trevor Lawrence. In similar fashion, Terry McLaurin will draw Trevon Diggs in coverage with the Cowboys’ pass rush collapsing the pocket and Marquise Brown could be shadowed by Jaycee Horn (15.3 passer rating allowed when targeted in 2022).

Fantasy Football sleepers for Week 4 – Wide Receiver

• Chris Olave, New Orleans Saints vs Minnesota Vikings
• Curtis Samuel, Washington Commanders vs Dallas Cowboys
• Romeo Doubs, Green Bay Packers vs New England Patriots
• Josh Reynolds, Detroit Lions vs Seattle Seahawks
• Joshua Palmer, Los Angeles Chargers vs Houston Texans

With Amon-Ra St. Brown out for Week 4, Josh Reynolds slides into the fantasy rankings. Reynolds is second on the team in receiving yards (162) and targets (10), pushing him into a more featured role against a weak Seattle Seahawks secondary. Keep in mind, Reynolds drew 10 targets and 96 receiving yards in Week 3. He’s a fantastic option on the waiver wire.

With Keenan Allen out another week, Joshua Palmer finds his way into the Week 4 fantasy rankings. He drew nine targets last Sunday, averaging 16.5 yards per catch with 99 receiving yards. While the Houston Texans secondary is underappreciated, the number of targets Palmer will receive from an elite quarterback makes him a quality play in Week 4.

Week 4 tight end rankings

Rank:	Player	Opponent
1	Travis Kelce	vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers
2	Mark Andrews	vs Buffalo Bills
3	Kyle Pitts	vs Cleveland Browns
4	George Kittle	vs Los Angeles Rans
5	Darren Waller	vs Denver Broncos
6	T.J. Hockenson	vs Seattle Seahawks
7	Dallas Goedert	vs Jacksonville Jaguars
8	Zach Ertz	@ Carolina Panthers
9	Tyler Higbee	@ San Francisco 49ers
10	Dawson Knox	@ Baltimore Ravens
11	Pat Freiermuth	vs New York Jets
12	Robert Tonyan	vs New England Patriots
13	Dalton Schultz	vs Washington Commanders
14	David Njoku	@ Atlanta Falcons
15	Evan Engram	@ Philadelphia Eagles
16	Tyler Conklin	@ Pittsburgh Steelers
17	Gerald Everett	@ Houston Texans
18	Hunter Henry	@ Green Bay Packers
19	Isaiah Likely	vs Buffalo Bills
20	Logan Thomas	@ Dallas Cowboys

A week without Travis Kelce atop the fantasy tight end rankings only happens when he is on a bye and that’s not coming until Week 8. Tampa Bay’s defense is outstanding, but it did allow Robert Tonyan to snag six receptions this past week. While Kelce will obviously be a bigger priority to stop, he’ll find some vulnerabilities in the middle to exploit.

Kyle Pitts rewarded fantasy managers who were patient with him, snagging five receptions for 87 yards. In Week 4, he lines up against a Cleveland Browns defense that could be without linebackers Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah and Anthony Walker Jr. in Week 4. Now that the Falcons are getting Pitts more involved, it feels safer to bet on consistent production.

For those seeking a safe floor at tight end, there are few options better than Tyler Higbee. He already has 24 targets through his first three games, pulling in at least four catches per contest. He’s also doing more with those opportunities as of late, averaging 10-plus YPC in the last two weeks. He feels like a safe bet for 50-plus yards and at least four receptions.

Week 4 fantasy rankings – Kickers

1. Justin Tucker, Baltimore Ravens vs Buffalo Bills
2. Tyler Bass, Buffalo Bills vs Baltimore Ravens
3. Matt Gay, Los Angeles Rams vs San Francisco 49ers
4. Ryan Succop, Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs Kansas City Chiefs
5. Jake Elliott, Philadelphia Eagles vs Jacksonville Jaguars
6. Graham Gano, New York Giants vs Chicago Bears
7. Daniel Carlson, Las Vegas Raiders vs Denver Broncos
8. Younghoe Koo, Atlanta Falcons vs Cleveland Browns
9. Will Lutz, New Orleans Saints vs Minnesota Vikings
10. Robbie Gould, San Francisco 49ers vs Miami Dolphins
11. Brandon McManus, Denver Broncos vs Las Vegas Raiders
12. Nick Folk, New England Patriots vs Green Bay Packers
13. Dustin Hopkins, Los Angeles Chargers vs Houston Texans
14. Austin Seibert, Detroit Lions vs Seattle Seahawks
15. Brett Maher, Dallas Cowboys vs Washington Commanders

Naturally, Justin Tucker lands atop the Week 4 fantasy football rankings. He is the greatest kicker in NFL history, consistently reliable from 50-plus yards out and there should be plenty of opportunities against the Buffalo Bills.

Among the appealing options in Week 4, Graham Gano is an underrated play. The Chicago Bears defense should allow plenty of yards, but the Giants’ offense isn’t consistent enough to turn red-zone chances into touchdowns and that could set up Gano for multiple field goals.

Robbie Gould and Younghoe Koo are appealing options for similar reasons. The Rams’ defense is above-average, but Kyle Shanahan’s offenses have enough history of success against it to set Gould up for at least two field-goal attempts. Meanwhile Koo’s Falcons should move the football with some regularity against a Cleveland Browns defense missing Myles Garrett and Jadeveon Clowney.

Week 4 fantasy defense rankings