With 25 carries for 112 yards on Sunday, and the same slashing style that popped on his Georgia film, rookie Sony Michel has the look of a high-volume back in the New England Patriots system. Let's break down why Michel should be locked-in as an RB2, while also discussing Mitchell Trubisky's break-out game, Aaron Jones in Green Bay, Nyheim Hines' upside in the Indianapolis Colts' passing game, Corey Davis as a WR2 and more.
Here are the Week 4 fantasy takeaways ...
Lock-in Patriots rookie Sony Michel as an RB2
This is all about the volume for Michel in a Patriots run game that leans on pro style schemes. The rookie added a late score on a toss scheme in the win over the Miami Dolphins, and his running style meshes with the NFL game. He's a true slasher, a running back who gets downhill with speed to slice through creases. See it and go.
Yes, James White is going to get his touches in the Patriots' system. We know that. And he will remain as the passing game back for New England, as well as get some touches on the ground. However, with Rex Burkhead now on IR, the door is wide open for Michel to carry the load as the primary ball carrier in New England.
Looking at a pretty positive matchup for the Patriots this upcoming Thursday night versus the Colts, Michel is right in the mix as a solid RB2. And don't be surprised if he stays there for a while. I like the fit here in New England.
Mitchell Trubisky's break-out game in Matt Nagy's offense
That was a very favorable matchup fort the Bears against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers suspect secondary, but let's give some credit to Trubisky here. With head coach Matt Nagy pulling the strings in the game plan, Trubisky completed 19 of 26 passing for 354 yards -- with six touchdown throws. And he added another 53 yards on the ground. That was good for 43.5 total fantasy points. Ridiculous numbers for a quarterback who had left multiple plays on the field during the first three weeks of the season.
The matchups were there for Trubisky. So were the defined reads in the passing game. And the open windows. We could see that on the corner route throw for six to Allen Robinson. Pre-snap motion -- to declare man coverage. Go find the matchup, and put some air under the throw. The same with the pick route in the tight red zone. Again, give Trubisky the keys to make the schemed up throws. Great play-calling on a day when Nagy used creativity, formation disguise and movement to really put it on the Bucs.
With the Bears on a bye this week, we have to sit on this break-out performance from Trubiksy. However, Nagy's system works. And there will be opportunities for Trubisky to cash in when the Bears get the Dolphins in Week 6. Given the added boost of the rushing numbers Trubisky can provide, he should be one of the top QB streaming options when this Chicago offense returns to the field.
Titans WR Corey Davis flashes his upside, WR2 potential
The upside is legit with Davis, and we saw what the second-year pro can do with an uptick in passing game volume in the overtime win over the Eagles. Davis had only 11 combined targets in his past two games, but with quarterback Marcus Mariota back on the field healthy, Davis caught 9 of 15 targets for 161 yards, including the game-winner in the OT period. A skinny post/seam from an inside alignment there. Stick the foot in the grass and separate at the top of the break. Go win the game.
With his size, and improved route running, Davis can win those isolation matchups. Plus, he can make plays on 50/50 throws, and give you some numbers after the catch, too. Pair that with Mariota -- who is starting to show positive signs in Matt LaFleur's new offensive system -- and the volume should stay pretty consistent here. That puts Davis is that WR2 range heading into the Week 5 matchup with Buffalo.
Time to drop LeSean McCoy down in the ranks
It's the low volume, in a shaky Bills' offense. Look, McCoy saw just eight touches for 37 yards in the Sunday loss at Green Bay. And over his past two games, the veteran has logged a total of only 21 touches. The game flow matters here, so does the anticipated growing pains of rookie quarterback Josh Allen.
But even with the versatility to catch the ball out of the backfield, the volume just isn't there for McCoy. Until we see more touches -- and more snaps -- for McCoy, his value is going to slide. And with a Week 5 matchup versus a Titans' front seven I really like on the film, McCoy needs to be viewed only as a Flex option for fantasy managers.
Aaron Jones is the Packers' running back to start
Packers head coach Mike McCarthy has to see it with Jones, right? The Green Bay Packers running back, who had 12 total touches on Sunday, finished with 82 total yards and a score in the win over the Bills. But it's the rushing numbers (or rushing style) that jumps for me. Jones put up 65 yards on the ground with a combination of that second-level burst, vision and finishing ability.
Yeah, Jamal Williams got his touches on Sunday too, finishing with 11 carries. But Williams totaled just 27 yards on the ground. Compare that low production with the upside of Jones, and I'm taking the running back who is going to hit the truck stick on the goal line, and also press the pedal down when he gets daylight to attack.
With a Week 5 matchup against the Lions' defense, Jones is the only Packers running back I would start in my lineup. He's a solid Flex play for now, with the ceiling to climb in the ranks over the next couple of weeks.
Matt Ryan will continue to climb in the QB1 ranks
On Sunday, the Atlanta Falcons quarterback tossed another three touchdown passes in the loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, giving him 10 scoring throws over the past three weeks. And that's in addition to 1,063 passing yards he has racked up during this stretch. He's dealing right now.
Sure, I was tough on Falcons coordinator Steve Sarkisian in 2017. Those game plans? Too conservative. However, this Atlanta offense in '18 can move the ball, the passing game is aggressive and the emergence of silky smooth wide receiver Calvin Ridley -- six touchdown passes in his past three games -- gives Ryan yet another viable weapon in the route tree.
With an Atlanta defense that is missing critical pieces due to injury -- in a personnel dependent scheme -- the Falcons are going to be in some shoot-outs. Think more passing game opportunity for Ryan here. And with an upcoming matchup against a Pittsburgh secondary that can leave open windows all over the field, I'll take Ryan as an upper-tier QB1 in Week 5.
Stick with Bears RB Tarik Cohen as a high-end Flex option in all scoring formats
Cohen put up monster numbers in the win over the Bucs -- 174 total yards, one touchdown -- and the volume jumps off the page. The Bears running back finished with 20 total touches, compared to only 11 for Jordan Howard, and he showcased his dynamic ability in Nagy's offense.
With seven receptions -- on a team-high eight targets -- Cohen racked up 121 yards receiving, and his touchdown grab came on a designed combination route in the red zone. That was drawn up for Cohen, releasing out of the backfield to gain a matchup advantage. And it's clear that Nagy wants to use his running backs as high-percentage targets for Trubisky.
Now, I expect Cohen to once again see steady volume when the Bears return from the bye in Week 6 against Miami. But I also expect Howard to see more run in the game plan, dropping that total number to 12-15 touches for Cohen, which keeps him in that Flex range as a starter.
The talent is there with Lions' RB Kerryon Johnson, but will he get the volume?
After watching Kerryon Johnson's Week 3 film in the win over the Patriots, I expected the rookie to see the bulk of the carries on Sunday versus the Dallas Cowboys' defense. But with LeGarrette Blount once again cutting into Johnson's workload in Week 4, and Theo Riddick locked in as the Detroit Lions' passing game back, Johnson's floor remains pretty low for fantasy managers.
That Week 3 film on Johnson? Loved it. The patience with the ball, the cutting ability, the extra wiggle, the finishing power. He has the talent to be a three-down back in this league. And those skills flashed again with Johnson on Sunday in Dallas, with the rookie ripping off a plus-30 yard run, and also dropping the hammer on his touchdown carry. Pad level there to run straight through a safety for six points. He can play some ball, now.
However, I have to go back to the total touches, with Johnson seeing 10 on Sunday and Blount checking in at seven. Johnson finished with just 55 yards rushing, and the Lions seem sold on a committee approach. With the backfield rotation I'm looking at here, it's going to keep Johnson in that low-end RB2/Flex range for the Week 5 matchup versus the Packers.
Could Colts' RB Nyheim Hines make a push for a PPR Flex role in Week 5?
Given the Colts' anemic run game, and the hamstring injury to T.Y. Hilton -- with a short week looming -- Hines could climb into the mix as a low-end Flex play in deeper PPR leagues due to his versatility as a receiver. The rookie rushed four times for just 10 yards, but he caught 9 of 11 targets on Sunday from quarterback Andrew Luck, finishing with 63 yards and two touchdown grabs. And it's the touchdowns that need to be discussed -- because they were schemed up.
Think matchups with Hines. He beat Houston Texans safety Tyrann Mathieu on a red zone wheel route for his first score, and then ran the inside angle route to pick up his second touchdown of the day. Those are designed routes to get him the rock. And with a Colts' call sheet that is focused on throwing the ball, Hines has upside as the passing game back versus the Patriots in Week 5 on Thursday night.