Week four fantasy football report

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As the NFL hit the one-quarter mark in the season, many players came up big in week four, including some non-household names. Check out this week’s fantasy report to find out who you should add, drop, start and sit in order to lead your team to victory.

This week’s top ten overall scorers via ESPN:

1. Devonta Freeman, RB, Atlanta – 32 points
2. Cairo Santos, K, Kansas City – 27 points
3. Philip Rivers, QB, San Diego – 26 points
4. Jeremy Hill, RB, Cincinnati – 24 points
5. Sam Bradford, QB, Philadelphia – 23 points
6. Tavon Austin, WR, St. Louis – 23 points
7. Drew Brees, QB, New Orleans – 22 points
8. Josh McCown, QB, Cleveland – 22 points
9. Chris Ivory, RB, New York Jets – 22 points
10. Kirk Cousins, QB, Washington – 21 points

For a more comprehensive breakdown of this week’s scores, check out ESPN’s fantasy football scoring leaders.

Who to add

• Charles Clay, TE, Buffalo – As Tyrod Taylor continues to prove to be a solid quarterback for the Bills, his tight end, Charles Clay, is receiving more and more targets. He has become the team’s most targeted player this season. The Bills face off against the Titans this week, a team giving up 10.6 fantasy points per game to tight ends, so picking up Clay could become a valuable decision this week. 

• Tavon Austin, WR, St. Louis – Austin showed his explosive playmaking ability against a good Arizona secondary in week four, bursting for 23 fantasy points. As his quarterback, Nick Foles, continues to adjust to his new team in St. Louis, look for Austin to become a safety net at wide receiver and a good pickup for your fantasy team. 

• Andy Dalton, QB, Cincinnati – Fantasy owners are taking him fast, as he received a 15.6 percent increase in ownership in ESPN fantasy leagues this week, but more than 25 percent of fantasy leagues have Dalton unclaimed. Dalton has averaged 21.5 fantasy points per game, third among quarterbacks. If you’re looking for a good starting quarterback, look to add Dalton first and add him now.

 Who to drop

• James Starks, RB, Green Bay – Drop Starks sooner, rather than later, because with the 2013 Associated Press NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, Eddie Lacy, back to full health, Starks will receive little to no touches in the Green Bay backfield. 

• Tre Mason, RB, St. Louis – As St. Louis looks to a healthy Todd Gurley as their primary rusher, it looks as though Mason will only be brought in if Gurley is sidelined due to injury again. Mason, who was averaging only one fantasy point per game, is not a valuable asset to your team. 

• Jameis Winston, QB, Tampa Bay – While Winston has scored at least 12 fantasy points per game, his total of eight turnovers on the season prove that this No. 1 overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft is not ready yet to be an elite passer in the NFL. If you were looking for a solid QB2 in Winston, it is time to look elsewhere.

 Who to sit

• Marshawn Lynch, RB, Seattle – Listed as questionable for Sunday’s game with a hamstring injury, combined with Lynch’s sub-par numbers thus far in the season, don’t count on Seattle’s primary rusher to produce against Cincinnati this week. But hold on to him, as he is likely to put up better numbers later in the season as he regains his health. 

• Derek Carr, QB, Oakland – Carr has put up decent numbers this season with the addition of wide receiver Amari Cooper, but look for that trend to subside this week as the Raiders take on the stout pass defense of Denver. 

• Matthew Stafford, QB, Detroit – After putting up only 203 yards and no touchdowns against a great secondary in Seattle, don’t expect Stafford to fare much better against a tough Arizona secondary in week five.

 Who to start

• Devonta Freeman, RB, Atlanta – While it’s unlikely he will score 32 fantasy points again like he did in week four, Freeman has averaged 20.8 fantasy points per game in his first four games. Also, he has scored seven touchdowns this season, leading all running backs in both categories. The Falcons have relied on a balanced offensive attack this year. That trend should continue in week five. 

• Drew Brees, QB, New Orleans – After putting up 359 yards and two touchdowns against Dallas in week four, the week after Brees sat with a bruised rotator cuff, it looks as though he is healthy and will likely put up big numbers once again vs. a questionable Eagles defense.

• Broncos, D/ST – Leading the league in fewest passing yards allowed per game, as well as total yards allowed per game, Denver’s defense is a solid pick this week against a young Raiders offense. Led by linebackers DeMarcus Ware and Von Miller, as well as cornerback Aqib Talib, look for Oakland’s first-round pick Amari Cooper to face his toughest task this week, limiting the Raiders’ passing attack.

Edited by Cody McClure

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