Week 4 fantasy rankings: Best, QB, RB, WR and TEs to start, sit

The first three weeks of the 2023 NFL season are in the books, meaning we have more data points and film to put together our Week 4 fantasy rankings. As always, we’ll provide analysis and fantasy football advice for some of the top players at each position.

We’re keeping an eye on the NFL injury report for Week 4, as always. Running backs like Austin Ekeler and wide receiver Jaylen Waddle missed Week 3. Meanwhile, some of their peers are dealing with new injuries that jeopardize their status for next weekend’s games.

Related: Heisman Watch

Let’s dive into our Week 4 fantasy rankings. Updates will be provided leading up to Sunday’s games. Matchup previews for the top-20 players at each of our positional fantasy rankings will be provided throughout the week.

Week 4 fantasy QB rankings

RANK	PLAYER	OPPONENT
1	Jalen Hurts	vs WAS
2	Josh Alen	vs MIA
3	Tua Tagovailoa	@ BUF
4	Patrick Mahomes	vs NYJ
5	Anthony Richardson (Q – Concussion)	vs LAR
6	Joe Burrow (Q – Calf)	@ TEN
7	Justin Herbert	vs LV
8	Lamar Jackson	@ CLE
9	Trevor Lawrence	vs ATL
10	Kirk Cousins	@ CAR
11	Geno Smith	@ NYJ
12	Daniel Jones	vs SEA
13	Jared Goff	@ GB
14	Matthew Stafford	@ IND
15	C.J. Stroud	vs PIT
16	Russell Wilson	@ CHI
17	Deshaun Watson	vs BAL
18	Brock Purdy	vs ARZ
19	Dak Prescott	vs NE
20.	Justin Fields	vs DEN

1. Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles – In the last two games, the Washington Commanders have allowed nearly 500 passing yards and seven total touchdowns. Jack Del Rio’s defense is off to a slow start once again, making Jalen Hurts an elite fantasy option in Week 4.
2. Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills – In a game with the highest point total in Week 4, fantasy managers are counting on an abundance of points. Without Jalen Ramsey, the Miami Dolphins defense doesn’t match up well with Josh Allen and Stefon Diggs.
3. Tua Tagovailoa, Miami Dolphins – Tua Tagovailoa is off to an MVP-caliber start with 1,024 passing yards and eight touchdowns in three contests. While Buffalo’s defense may pose a challenge, Miami has the NFL’s best offense.
4. Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs – You’re always starting Patrick Mahomes, just don’t bank on a QB1 overall fantasy performance in Week 4. Through three games opposing quarterbacks facing the Jets have three interceptions with an 87.4 quarterback rating.
5. Anthony Richardson, Indianapolis Colts – Assuming Anthony Richardson is cleared to return from his concussion, he’s an elite fantasy starter. The passing volume won’t be high, but Richardson’s rushing ability matters.
6. Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals – As long as Joe Burrow is starting, you have to play him in Week 4. The Tennessee Titans allow the fifth-most passing yards per game (275.3) with a 108.7 average QB rating allowed.
7. Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers – Kellen Moore has unleashed Justin Herbert to the delight of the NFL world. The Raiders’ secondary is one of the worst in football, making this a great matchup for Herbert and Keenan Allen.
8. Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens – With the Ravens’ offensive line missing two starters, Lamar Jackson will be under siege in Week 4. He’s normally an elite fantasy option, but not against Cleveland’s defense.
9. Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars – It’s another slow start for Trevor Lawrence and there isn’t a lot of relief next Sunday. Opposing quarterbacks are averaging just 170 passing yers per game with a 78.5 QB rating vs Atlanta.
10. Kirk Cousins, Minnesota Vikings – The turnovers are a killer for his team, but Kirk Cousins is producing more than enough to make fantasy managers happy. This isn’t a great matchup, but we’ll always bet on Minnesota’s offense.
11. Geno Smith, Seattle Seahawks – Facing a New York Giants defense that has allowed a 96.2 QB rating this season, Geno Smith is a high-end fantasy starter for Week 4.
12. Daniel Jones, New York Giants – We’re skeptical of Daniel Jones being able to do much through the air because of New York’s offensive line. However, his rushing ability provides him with a safe floor and his ceiling is even higher against the Seahawks’ defense.
13. Jared Goff, Detroit Lions – Jared Goff wasn’t great against the Packers’ defense in 2022 – 2-1 TD-INT,82.7 QB rating – but he’s surrounded by one of the best-supporting casts in the NFL. If you want security in fantasy, it’s Goff.
14. Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams – With the high number of attempts Matthew Stafford is making each week, he always offers fantasy upside. The Colts’ secondary is wildly inexperienced and Stafford will take advantage.
15. C.J. Stroud, Houston Texans – If you haven’t watched C.J. Stroud yet, he already looks like an above-average quarterback. Facing a bad Steelers’ secondary, Stroud can be a solid low-end QB1 in deeper fantasy leagues.
16. Russell Wilson, Denver Broncos – While Russell Wilson’s best days are behind him, just about any quarterback can take advantage of the Chicago Bears defense.
17. Deshaun Watson, Cleveland Browns – One performance against one of the worst pass defenses in the league right now doesn’t change the perspective of Deshaun Watson. He’s not a fantasy starter until he proves he can play well.
18. Brock Purdy, San Francisco 49ers – With Brandon Aiyuk expected to return in Week 4, Brock Purdy will have even more weapons at his disposal in a favorable matchup.
19. Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys – The Patriots vs Cowboys game projects to be low-scoring, putting a low ceiling on Dak Prescott. Given some of his issues, he’s not a recommended fantasy option against the Patriots’ defense.
20. Justin Fields, Chicago Bears – Justin Fields has just 109 rushing yards this season, a massive disappointment compared to expectations. He’ll get you 40-plus yards on the ground, but those might be some of the only positive fantasy points Fields provides.

Week 4 fantasy RB rankings

RANK	PLAYER	OPPONENT
1	Christian McCaffrey	vs ARZ
2	Austin Ekeler (Q – Ankle)	vs LV
3	Bijan Robinson	@ JAX
4	Derrick Henry	vs CIN
5	Kenneth Walker	@ NYG
6	Tony Pollard	vs NE
7	James Cook	vs MIA
8	D’Andre Swift	vs WAS
9	Kyren Williams	@ IND
10	Travis Etienne	vs ATL
11	Aaron Jones (Q – Hamstring)	vs DET
12	Rhamondre Stevenson	@ DAL
13	Jahmyr Gibbs	@ GB
14	Josh Jacobs	vs LAC
15	Raheem Mostert	@ BUF
16	Alexander Mattison	@ CAR
17	Dameon Pierce	vs PIT
18	Joe Mixon	@ TEN
19	David Montgomery (Q – Thigh)	@ GB
20.	Jerome Ford	vs BAL
21.	Najee Harris	@ HOU
22.	Miles Sanders	vs MIN
23.	Brian Robinson Jr	@ PHI
24.	James Conner	@ SF
25.	Alvin Kamara	vs TB
26.	Zack Moss	vs LAR
27.	Javonte Williams	@ CHI
28.	Isiah Pacheco	@ NYJ
29.	Rachaad White	@ NO
30.	Gus Edwards	@ CLE
31.	Jaylen Warren	@ HOU
32.	Breece Hall	vs KC
33.	Roschon Johnson	vs DEN
34.	Kennethn Gainwell	vs WAS
35.	Tyler Allgeier	@ JAX

1. Christian McCaffrey, San Francisco 49ers – Having already handled 71 touches in three games, it’s obvious Christian McCaffrey is the do-it-all man in San Francisco’s offense. He’s RB1 overall every week, even more so in Week 4 versus Arizona.
2. Austin Ekeler, Los Angeles Chargers – The Austin Ekeler injury news is promising, but no one should be surprised if he sits out Week 4. For now, he’s the second-best fantasy option as Joshua Kelley has done nothing to prove he deserves a split backfield.
3. Bijan Robinson, Atlanta Falcons – Even when the game script doesn’t favor Atlanta’s offense, Bijan Robinson still finished with 60 scrimmage yards and added four receptions. He’s an RB1 moving forward regardless of matchup, but this is favorable.
4. Derrick Henry, Tennessee Titans – After a brutal matchup against Cleveland, Derrick Henry gets a much more favorable opponent next Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals who have one of the worst run defenses today.
5. Kenneth Walker, Seattle Seahawks – Evidently, Seattle is fully committed to Kenneth Walker as its workhorse running back. Coming off a monster performance, Walker now faces a New York front that rates as a bottom-five run defense in September.
6. Tony Pollard, Dallas Cowboys – After being touchdown cultured on Sunday, Tony Pollard now faces a fairly respectable New England Patriots defense. We wouldn’t bet on 90-plus scrimmage yards, but volume and scoring opportunities can carry Pollard.
7. James Cook, Buffalo Bills – Coming off consecutive games with 100-plus scrimmage yards, James Cook has vaulted himself into the RB1 conversation when the matchup is right. It’s a good one in Week 4, as Miami allows 130 rushing yards per game.
8. D’Andre Swift, Philadelphia Eagles – If D’Andre Swift had the backfield to himself, he would be a top-10 fantasy player most weeks. However, the Philadelphia Eagles love using committee backfields and Kenneth Gainwell at least limits a bit of Swift’s potential. With that said, the past two weeks of performances demonstrate that Swift can be a premium fantasy asset in this Eagles’ offense.
9. Kyren Williams, Los Angeles Rams – Sean McVay loves Kyren Williams and that’s all fantasy managers need to trust the young running back. In an offense that does wonders for fantasy managers, Williams is a lock for 18-plus touches and we like this matchup against a Colts’ defense allowing 114.3 rushing yards per game and three rushing scores.
10. Travis Etienne, Jacksonville Jaguars – In two-of-three games this season, Travis Etienne has received 18-plus carries and delivered 80-plus scrimmage yards. With some receptions tacked on (11 in three games), he’s now a top-10 fantasy running back.
11. Aaron Jones, Green Bay Packers – After nearly playing last week, we anticipate Aaron Jones making his return in Week 4. A two-game absence highlighted how important he is to this offense and Matt LaFleur should get him heavily involved moving forward.
12. Rhamondre Stevenson, New England Patriots – The path to success for New England against Dallas is running the football. While Rhamondre Stevenson has to share touches with Ezekiel Elliott, 19-plus touches is more than enough volume against this run defense.
13. Jahmyr Gibbs, Detroit Lions – David Montgomery might return in Week 4, but Jahmyr Gibbs demonstrated in Montgomery’s absence that he deserves a larger role. Against a Packers’ run defense that can miss a lot of tackles, Gibbs is a low-end RB1 play.
14. Josh Jacobs, Las Vegas Raiders – Three weeks is enough, Josh Jacobs isn’t going to be an RB1 this year. The Las Vegas Raiders don’t have the offensive line to make him effective and this Raiders’ defense ensures that Las Vegas will rarely have a lead.
15. Raheem Mostert, Miami Dolphins – Yes, Raheem Mostert is 31 years old with a history of durability issues. Yet, he also boasts a career 5.4 yards per carry average and leads the NFL in touchdowns (seven). Even with De’Von Achane splitting work, Mostert is a high-end RB2 in Week 4.
16. Alexander Mattison, Miami Dolphins – Facing one of the NFL’s worst run defenses helped Alexander Mattison rebound last week. It’s a step in the right direction. What makes Mattison even more appealing this Sunday, Carolina is allowing 4.5 yards per carry and has already surrendered six rushing touchdowns.
17. Dameon Pierce, Houston Texans – If Pittsburgh’s defense allowed 80 scrimmage yards to Josh Jacobs, Dameon Pierce can have success. The second-year running back obviously doesn’t have the ceiling or floor fantasy managers hoped for in 2023, but he can get you 50 rushing yards and possibly a touchdown against the Steelers.
18. Joe Mixon, Cincinnati Bengals – Don’t trust running backs against the Tennessee Titans defense. Since 2022, Tennessee has allowed just 75 rushing yards per game and 3.23 yards per carry. Joe Mixon might save his status as an RB2 with some receptions, but he will have zero room to run against the Titans.
19. David Montgomery, Detroit Lions – If David Montgomery is active, he should be in fantasy lineups. He clearly has the trust of the Lions’ coaching staff, handling 14-plus carries per game and becoming the focal point near the goal line. Start him against a Packers’ run defense that has struggled for years.
20. Jerome Ford, Cleveland Browns – Even in a brutal matchup, Jerome Ford scored two touchdowns. He’s a safe bet for 15 touches and he should have a lot more success on the ground than he did versus Tennessee. Even if he struggles, don’t bail on Ford because the schedule after Week 6 (San Francisco 49ers) is excellent.

Week 4 fantasy WR rankings

RANK	PLAYER	OPPONENT
1	Tyreek Hill	@ BUF
2	Stefon Diggs	vs MIA
3	Justin Jefferson	@ CAR
4	Davante Adams	@ LAC
5	Keenan Allen	vs LV
6	CeeDee Lamb	vs NE
7	A.J. Brown	vs WAS
8	Chris Olave	vs TB
9	Puka Nacua	@ IND
10	Amari Cooper	vs BAL
11.	Jaylen Waddle	@ BUF
12.	DeVonta Smith	vs WAS
13.	Amon-Ra St. Brown	@ GB
14.	Ja’Marr Chase	@ TEN
15.	Calvin Ridley	vs ATL
16.	Mike Evans	@ NO
17.	Deebo Samuel	vs ARZ
18.	DK Metcalf	@ NYG
19.	Brandon Aiyuk	vs ARZ
20.	Tee Higgins	@ TEN
21.	Zay Flowers	@ CLE
22.	Michael Pittman Jr	vs LAR
23.	George Pickens	@ HOU
24.	Chris Godwin	@ NO
25.	Nico Collins	vs PIT
26.	Terry McLaurin	@ PHI
27.	Tyler Lockett	@ SEA
28.	Christian Watson	vs DET
29.	Courtland Sutton	@ CHI
30.	Elijah Moore	vs BAL
31.	DJ Moore	vs DEN
32.	Christian Kirk	vs ATL
33.	DeAndre Hopkins	vs CIN
34.	Drake London	@ JAX
35.	Jordan Addison	@ CAR
36.	Marquise Brown	@ SF
37.	Jerry Jeudy	@ CHI
38.	Garrett Wilson	@ DAL
39.	Tank Dell	vs PIT
40.	Tutu Atwell	@ IND

1. Tyreek Hill, Miami Dolphins – Hill is on pace for a 2,000-yard season and now walks into a game where 50-plus points could be scored by both teams. He’s the WR1 in fantasy right now and should maintain that position in Week 4.
2. Stefon Diggs, Buffalo Bills – In three games this season Stefon Diggs has 32 targets and he’s averaging over 90 receiving yards per game. Miami is without Jalen Ramsey and that makes this an even more favorable matchup for Diggs.
3. Justin Jefferson, Minnesota Vikings – Even without Jaycee Horn, the Panthers’ secondary has been quietly good thus far allowing just 215.7 receiving yards per game. With that said, Jefferson is the best receiver in the NFL and will always be a top-3 play.
4. Davante Adams, Las Vegas Raiders – While we don’t love the Raiders’ offense, Jimmy Garoppolo can at least get the football to Davante Adams. That’s all we ask for against one of the NFL’s worst secondaries in September.
5. Keenan Allen, Los Angeles Chargers – With Mike Williams done for the year, Keenan Allen (30 targets in the last two games) will be targeted even more. Whether you’re in PPR or standard scoring, Allen is a premium fantasy wideout moving forward.
6. CeeDee Lamb, New England Patriots – We might see Christian Gonzalez lined up a few times against CeeDee Lamb, which diminishes his ceiling a bit. However, Lamb’s track record speaks for itself and the target share makes him a top-10 fantasy option.
7. A.J. Brown, Philadelphia Eagles – There are a lot of mouths to feed in Philadelphia, but the Eagles should also grease the squeaky wheel. While AJ Brown isn’t off to an All-Pro start this season, he can erupt at any time and Washington struggles versus wideouts.
8. Chris Olave, New Orleans Saints – Whatever version of Jameis Winston we get in Week 4, you’re starting Chris Olave. Whether Winston is operating as Cpt. Checkdown or taking crazy risks with the football, he will feed Olave.
9. Puka Nacua, Los Angeles Rams – Until Cooper Kupp returns, Puka Nacua is a top-10 fantasy wideout. He’s taken Kupp’s role in the Rams’ offense and given how many times they throw, Nacua will get all the targets and receptions he can handle.
10. Amari Cooper, Cleveland Browns – After a poor showing in Week 1, Amari Cooper has turned in 206 receiving yards on 18 targets in the last two games. He’s a favorite of Watson’s and his talent makes him a must-start against a depleted Ravens’ secondary.
11. Jaylen Waddle, Miami Dolphins – Returning from a concussion, Jaylen Waddle walks back into the best passing offense in the NFL. As previously mentioned, you’re starting all of your Dolphins and Bills’ stars in Week 4.
12. DeVonta Smith, Philadephia Eagles – There are going to be matchup-winning weeks and some disappointments with DeVonta Smith. Against a porous Commanders’ secondary, this should be one of his better performances.
13. Amon-Ra St. Brown, Detroit Lions – Coming off consecutive 100-yard games, fantasy managers know they can bank on Amon-Ra St. Brown delivering double-digit fantasy points. Just keep in mind, that Green Bay’s pass defense is pretty good when Jaire Alexander is healthy.
14. Ja’Marr Chase, Cincinnati Bengals – With Joe Burrow injured, fantasy managers must just accept that the ceiling for Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins is limited. With that said, this is a perfect opportunity for the Bengals’ passing attack to rebound.
15. Calvin Ridley, Jacksonville Jaguars – Since that Week 1 explosion, Calvin Ridley has just 72 receiving yards on 15 targets in the last two games. Jacksonville’s offense is in a funk right now and until it gets out of it, which will be difficult against No. 1 corner A.J. Terrell, Ridley becomes a WR2 in fantasy.
16. Mike Evans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers – After being skeptical of Mike Evans coming into the season, we’re fully bought in on the chemistry he has with Baker Mayfield. Just remember, Evans is averaging just 50 receiving yards per game in 17 career contests against New Orleans.
17. Deebo Samuel, San Francisco 49ers – Samuel likely won’t see the volume (12 targets) he enjoyed with Brandon Aiyuk sidelined, but he’s delivered five-plus catches and 60-plus scrimmage yards in every game this season.
18. DK Metcalf, Seattle Seahawks – While battling some injuries, DK Metcalf has turned 10 targets into 234 receiving yards. Coming off consecutive games with six grabs and 75-plus yards, Metcalf just needs to find the end zone to be a WR1 in fantasy.
19. Brandon Aiyuk, San Francisco 49ers – In the one game he was healthy this season, Brandon Aiyul scored two touchdowns with 129 receiving yards. The shoulder injury is a lingering concern, but one of the NFL’s best route-runners should be a WR2 most weeks.
20. Tee Higgins, Cincinnati Bengals – Sharing targets with Chase will always limit Higgins’ season-long fantasy upside, but he’s a No. 1 receiver in his own right. Tennessee will be throwing everything it has at Chase, which still won’t be enough. With all of that defensive attention on Chase, Higgins should deliver high-end WR2 production.

Week 4 fantasy tight end rankings

RANK	PLAYER	OPPONENT
1	Travis Kelce	@ NYJ
2	Mark Andrews	@ CLE
3	T.J. Hockenson	@ CAR
4	Dallas Goedert	vs WAS
5	Darren Waller	vs SEA
6	George Kittle	vs ARZ
7	Sam LaPorta	@ GB
8	Evan Engram	vs ATL
9	Zach Ertz	@ SF
10	Luke Musgrave	vs DET
11	Pat Freiermuth	@ HOU
12	Jake Ferguson	vs NE
13	David Njoku	vs BAL
14	Kyle Pitts	@ JAX
15	Hunter Henry	@ DAL
16	Dalton Kincaid	vs MIA
17	Taysom Hill	vs TB
18	Hayden Hurst	vs MIN
19	Chigoziem Okonkwo	vs CIN
20.	Tyler Higbee	@ IND

1. Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs – With 17 targets in the last two games, Travis Kelce is receiving the volume he needs to maintain his status as a fantasy monster. He could be in for an even bigger Sunday as the Jets’ ability to defend tight ends isn’t one of their strengths.
2. Mark Andrews, Baltimore Ravens – Even when all of the Ravens’ wide receivers are healthy, Lamar Jackson is still reliant upon Andrews. The receiving yardage hasn’t been there as of late, but Andrews should have a chance at 50-plus yards because Cleveland’s strength defensively is its cornerbacks as opposed to covering tight ends.
3. T.J. Hockenson, Detroit Lions – When you’re receiving nearly 10 targets per game on short throws, chances are you’ll finish with seven-plus receptions. T.J. Hockenson occupies that role in Minnesota and you can bet on Kirk Cousins to make Hockenson an elite fantasy tight end.
4. Dallas Goedert, Philadelphia Eagles – We tend to believe Monday was a step in the right direction for T.J. Hockenson. After drawing seven targets for 22 receiving yards in Week 2, he recorded 41 yards with five receptions in Week 3. We expect Jalen Hurts to get Goedert more involved moving forward and his talent makes him a top option.
5. Darren Waller, New York Giants – Chalk up what happened in Week 3 to San Francisco’s defense. In his next matchup, Darren Waller gets to face a Seahawks’ defense that has allowed the sixth-most receiving yards to tight ends in 2023.
6. George Kittle, San Francisco 49ers – We’re always going to advise caution with George Kittle. He’ll give you 90-plus receiving yards some weeks and sometimes he’ll score two touchdowns. Just don’t forget he combined for 49 receiving yards in his first two games and finished under 30 yards in eight contests last season.
7. Sam LaPorta, Detroit Lions – While we’re not expecting Sam LaPorta to keep delivering one better performance after another, the arrow on his fantasy stock is clearly pointing upwards. In the future, he’ll likely be TE1 overall in fantasy by 2025. For now, you’ll just have to settle for a top-seven play with top-three upside.
8. Evan Engram, Jacksonville Jaguars – Evan Engram has been the one constant in the Jaguars’ offense, recording five-plus receptions in every contest and averaging over 50 receiving yards per game. Take the secure option over risks in Week 4.
9. Zach Ertz, Arizona Cardinals – This isn’t a great matchup for Ertz and he’s coming off a poor performance, but he had 18 targets and 12 receptions in his first two games and that kind of volume is what you want to roll the dice on when throwing darts on a tight end in fantasy.
10. Luke Musgrave, Green Bay Packers – The Lions’ defense has already allowed 263 receiving yards to tight ends this year, while no other NFL team has surrendered more than 190. Luke Musgrave has a fantastic opportunity on Thursday Night Football.

Week 4 fantasy rankings – Best fantasy defenses for Week 4

You can check out our D/ST rankings for Week 4, with evaluations on the top matchups, below.

Week 4 fantasy rankings – Best fantasy kickers Week 4

Dive into our K rankings for the upcoming week below.