With a new slate of games in Week 4, let's talk streaming options in your fantasy lineups. I have a couple of slot receivers in here who are seeing a boost in volume. There are also two quarterbacks -- one of whom could give you some upside as a runner. And we'll hit some running backs, tight ends and a defense that could attack the pocket in a favorable Sunday matchup.
Remember, we are looking at deeper-league targets, players who are rostered in less than 50% of ESPN leagues. While you might notice some overlap with Eric Moody's pickup column that publishes on Mondays, an important distinction is that the options mentioned in this column are focused solely on this week's matchup and not the players' values for the remainder of the season.
So, let's start in Detroit, with a signal-caller who will have some play-action opportunities in Week 4 versus the Seattle defense.
Quarterbacks
Jared Goff, Detroit Lions (at Seahawks, 39.3% rostered): Earlier this week, I was all-in on Goff as a potential streaming option for my lineup given the matchup of the Lions' pass-catchers versus the Seattle defense. I'm not nearly as bullish now, as Goff won't have wide receivers Amon-Ra St. Brown (17 catches, 3 TDs in the past two games) and DJ Chark or running back D'Andre Swift, who brings dual-threat ability to this offense, at his disposal. Now, I still like the matchup for Goff, who can attack the second level of the Seahawks' defense on play-action concepts. There's value in what Detroit can do schematically to set up the quarterback. For me, the Week 4 ceiling for Goff is lowered quite a bit without his top target in the route tree, but he remains a QB2 who can streamed for this game, especially since there are only so many viable options in some leagues.
Marcus Mariota, Atlanta Falcons (at Browns, 27.0%): We wrote about Mariota last week as a potential streaming option for 2-QB or superflex leagues. All he did was give us 15.56 points in the win over Seattle. I can roll with that. Now, I think Mariota faces a tougher matchup this week versus the Browns' defense. The front can get home, with speed at the second and third level, too. Coverage traits in the secondary.
What am I banking on here? The usage of Kyle Pitts and Drake London as intermediate targets: dig routes, benders, more. Plus, there's the QB run game with Mariota. He now has logged 25 carries on the season, with rushing touchdowns in two of his three games played.
Other potential options: Ryan Tannehill, Tennessee Titans (at Colts, 15.6%); Geno Smith, Seattle Seahawks (at Lions, 13.0%)
Running backs
Khalil Herbert, Chicago Bears (at Giants, 68.8%): After dropping 30.9 PPR points on the Texans this past Sunday, Herbert has been scooped up as a top waiver add this week -- and I get it (he was rostered in just over 25% of leagues prior to waivers running). The Bears running back (playing in relief of injured starter David Montgomery) rushed for 157 yards -- with two red zone touchdowns -- on 20 carries. He's decisive. The backfield vision pops and he has enough short-area speed to either bounce the ball outside or get through small cracks of daylight.
Herbert will jump into the RB2 range if Montgomery (ankle/knee) can't go in Week 4 versus the Giants. However, I still see value here for Herbert (in deeper leagues) if Montgomery is back in the mix. This Bears offense lacks a true, pro passing element through three weeks. We all see that. There's rushing volume to go around in that Chicago backfield. So, if Herbert is still out there in your league heading into the weekend, he's worth a shot.
Justice Hill, Baltimore Ravens (at Bills, 0.7%): We're taking a shot here (in very deep leagues) with Hill in a Baltimore offense that has struggled to create viable run-game production outside of QB Lamar Jackson. Yes, J.K. Dobbins is back. He rushed for 23 yards on seven carries (3.3 YPC) in the Ravens' Week 3 win over New England. However, I can't just ignore the "juice" that Hill showed, rushing for 60 yards on six carries, including an explosive-play rush of 34 yards. Even with a tough Week 4 matchup versus the Bills' defense, Hill has some upside as a No. 2 in the Ravens' backfield if he can see 8-10 touches.
Other potential options: Eno Benjamin, Arizona Cardinals (at Panthers, 7.8%); Craig Reynolds, Lions (versus Seahawks, 6.8%)
Wide receivers
Greg Dortch, Arizona Cardinals (at Panthers, 19.7%): If Rondale Moore is still down with a hamstring injury, then you can start Dortch as a deeper-league WR3 in PPR formats this week versus the Carolina defense. Game flow led to Dortch seeing 10 targets this past Sunday versus the Rams, but the wide receiver also saw 13 combined targets in Weeks 1-2. This is really about his deployment in Kliff Kingsbury's offense -- slot alignments, quick game/high-percentage throws from Kyler Murray, backfield releases, manufactured touches on screens. Dortch has logged at least 13 PPR points per game this season -- and he can separate underneath at the second level. Go get him.
Isaiah McKenzie, Buffalo Bills (at Ravens, 19.0%): I wrote about McKenzie back in the summer on my 2022 "All Opportunity" team. He's a player I targeted based on traits and scheme fit, but he needed more consistent volume. Are we at that point now? Well, McKenzie caught 7 of 9 targets for 76 yards on Sunday versus Miami (including a touchdown on a zero-man beater in the red zone) in a game in which Buffalo dominated the time of possession.
We know McKenzie can scoot -- there are some lateral quicks here. That allows him to run away from man-coverage and produce for you after the catch. Plus, the Bills are still the NFL's most QB-centric offense with Josh Allen, which creates passing opportunities. In 12- and 14-team PPR leagues, McKenzie could give you a boost at the back end of your lineup versus the Baltimore defense.
Other potential options: Zay Jones, Jacksonville Jaguars (at Eagles, 35.2%) Alec Pierce, Indianapolis Colts (versus Titans, 7.6%); Mack Hollins, Las Vegas Raiders (versus Broncos, 14.0%)
Tight ends
David Njoku, Cleveland Browns (at Falcons, 60.3%): The Week 3 tape for Njoku (versus the Steelers' defense) showed us how he can be utilized as a target in the Browns' passing offense. With Cleveland deploying Njoku in flexed alignments (removed from the formation), he was a prime option for QB Jacoby Brissett in the quick game. Just throw the sit routes, the flat balls, red zone slant, mix in a screen, etc.
Njoku caught nine of 10 targets in that game with a touchdown, finishing with 23.9 PPR points. While I don't expect Njoku to drop another 20-plus points this week, he does get a positive matchup versus the Falcons' defense this Sunday. Attack the underneath zones there and get "up the field" after the catch. Like Herbert above, Njoku is among the most-added players in fantasy this week, but it's worth checking to see if he's still out there in your league.
Tyler Conklin, New York Jets (at Steelers, 35.7%): There is some hesitation here if QB Zach Wilson is back on the field for the Jets, as Conklin has been a steady fantasy tight end with Joe Flacco under center. Still, we can't just ignore the volume here, right? Conklin has seen seven-plus targets per game this season, scoring at least 10 PPR points in all three weeks. He has operated as an underneath option for Flacco, catching the ball in the flats versus the zone and seeing targets off play-action. Really, that could well carry over to Wilson, given the offensive structure in New York. There's still value here in deeper leagues with Conklin.
Other potential options: Robert Tonyan, Green Bay Packers (at New England, 20.4%); Jelani Woods, Colts (versus Titans, 0.7%)
Defense/special teams
New York Giants (versus Bears, 36.9%): It's not a great week to pick defensive streaming options, and the Giants' run front gives me some pause here against the Bears. However, I trust Giants defensive coordinator Wink Martindale in this one -- late movement, disguise, overload pressure. They will "muddy the looks" for Chicago QB Justin Fields, who is not seeing the field cleanly. The Giants can heat up the pocket versus Fields and create turnover opportunities.
Other potential options: Indianapolis Colts (versus Titans, 54.6%)