Through three weeks, we have a decent amount of data about the 国产外流网season. We think we know enough about what we've seen to make more informed lineup decisions. But do we? Will Mark Andrews continue to be M.I.A.? Will J.K. Dobbins continue his career renaissance? Are the Vikings 鈥 good?
All these things and more have yet to be revealed. But you still need to set a lineup for this weekend. That's where the Sleepers column comes in. Consider this your insurance policy against players who are banged up or have unsavory matchups. However, you are not entitled to financial compensation if your lineup doesn't perform as expected. That's just how fantasy football works. This isn't an ad for mesothelioma.
Anyway 鈥 here are some names for Week 4.
QUARTERBACK
Let me be clear. This in no way suggests that the Bears have solved their offensive issues. Williams was sacked four times (13 times for the season) and pressured on 25 percent of his dropbacks last Sunday in Indy. But he did find some success throwing downfield for the first time in his young 国产外流网career. Williams compiled 530 air yards (and 363 passing yards) across 52 attempts and connected with fellow rookie 锘Rome Odunze锘 six times for 112 yards and a touchdown.
This week, the Bears will welcome the Rams to the Windy City. Los Angeles is coming off a thrilling comeback win over the 49ers. But it didn鈥檛 come without issues. 锘Brock Purdy锘 threw for 292 yards and three touchdowns (all to 锘Jauan Jennings锘). That was a week after giving up 266 yards and three scores to 锘Kyler Murray锘. The Bears鈥 passing operation isn鈥檛 likely to be as clean as either, but it could give fantasy managers their first real chance to consider using Williams in some lineups.
Three starts. Three wins. And steady improvement every week. At this point, it鈥檚 hard to imagine Fields being replaced as Pittsburgh鈥檚 starting quarterback. In Week 3, the Steelers scored more offensive touchdowns (two) than they had in their first two games combined (one). This was also the first week that Steelers pass catchers made a notable impact. 锘锘George Pickens锘锘 posted his second game with at least five catches. And 锘锘Calvin Austin III锘锘 entered the chat with four receptions for 95 yards and a long touchdown.
The Colts defense is up next -- the same unit that gave 锘锘Caleb Williams锘锘 his first big passing yardage game. Pittsburgh鈥檚 offense doesn鈥檛 typically have the same passing volume, so expecting Fields to throw for more than 300 yards is wishful. But where Fields could make up the difference is on the ground. Indy鈥檚 run defense was one of the worst in the 国产外流网through the first two weeks. Even though Chicago didn鈥檛 test the Colts on the ground, Arthur Smith and the Steelers certainly will. Whether by air or ground, the arrow is pointing up for Fields in Week 4.
RUNNING BACK
I had few expectations for Singletary this season. That鈥檚 mostly because I had few expectations for the Giants offense. But it鈥檚 hard to argue that Singletary 丑补蝉苍鈥檛 performed well this season. He鈥檚 dominated New York鈥檚 backfield snaps with an 80 percent share and an increased number of touches every week. Rushing touchdowns in consecutive weeks haven鈥檛 hurt, either.
Another thing that won鈥檛 hurt is a matchup against the Cowboys. Dallas鈥 defense 丑补蝉苍鈥檛 done much to impede opposing running backs this season. They鈥檝e allowed a league-worst 557 rushing yards and eight touchdowns. Getting run over by 锘Alvin Kamara锘 and 锘Derrick Henry锘 in back-to-back contests will do that to you. Singletary getting to 100 rushing yards might be too much to ask, but having flex appeal in Week 4 isn鈥檛.
The Browns offense has been ungood. That鈥檚 putting it kindly. 锘Deshaun Watson锘 has been through the first three weeks. On the bright side, Cleveland鈥檚 run game has been average. Even a tarnished silver lining is still a silver lining. One week after it looked like 锘D'Onta Foreman锘 might be coming for his gig, Ford reasserted his grip on the RB1 job with more than 80 percent of the snaps.
That type of snap share could be useful against the Raiders this week. Las Vegas surrendered 114 yards to 锘Chuba Hubbard锘 -- just the fourth time in 52 career games that Hubbard had broken the century mark. Don鈥檛 let the Cowboys' terrible run defense distract you from the fact that the Raiders are allowing 5.4 yards per carry -- tied with Dallas for the league鈥檚 worst mark. Until the passing game improves, don鈥檛 be surprised to see Kevin Stefanski鈥檚 offense lean more on the run. Especially in a contest where game script isn鈥檛 likely to be an issue.
Clich茅s become clich茅s for a reason. If you need a reminder why 鈥淎ny given Sunday鈥 is a thing, check out the Carolina Panthers. After the first two weeks, the Panthers looked like a soft target for a fantasy manager wanting to rack up points. Then they made a quarterback change and reversed their entire fortunes en route to beating up the Raiders. It begs the question ... Was that more about the Panthers or the Raiders?
I鈥檓 willing to bet last Sunday was more about the Silver and Black. This is still a Carolina defense that is short on talent. It was gashed by 锘锘Alvin Kamara锘锘 and the Saints in Week 1. And it was trampled even further by 锘锘J.K. Dobbins锘锘 and the Chargers in Week 2. Now, Cincinnati鈥檚 offense is going to be more pass-heavy than either New Orleans' or Los Angeles'. But when the Bengals have run it, Moss has been their guy. With Cincy at 0-3 and in desperate need of a win, it might behoove them to #establish the run and control the tempo of the game.
WIDE RECEIVER
Through three games, it feels like we can erase the frustrating memory of Smith-Njigba鈥檚 rookie season. Under Shane Waldron, JSN was a short king. And by that, I mean the depth of his routes. His average depth of target (ADOT) has jumped more than 2.5 yards with Ryan Grubb at the controls of the Seahawks offense. In addition, Smith-Njigba has moved up the pecking order to overtake Tyler Lockett as Seattle鈥檚 WR2.
That is the backdrop to the Seahawks' Week 4 game against the Lions. Detroit鈥檚 secondary has improved from last season, but it has faced a high volume of pass attempts. Teams are throwing the ball 63 percent of the time versus the Lions and finding success in the short part of the field. With DK Metcalf taking the top off defenses, Smith-Njigba should have space to operate underneath. If Geno Smith can be patient, his young receiver could have a big day.
One thing is certain in Arizona: Marvin Harrison Jr. is looking every bit the stud receiver we expected him to be. As for who鈥檚 in the Trust Tree after him, well ... we鈥檙e still figuring that out. In the preseason, we thought Greg Dortch could be Kyler Murray鈥檚 go-to option. But aside from an adequate Week 1, Dortch 丑补蝉苍鈥檛 been lighting it up. Now a new challenger has entered the arena.
Michael Wilson had deep sleeper vibes last year as a rookie. He posted a couple of nice outings but struggled with consistency in an offense that was equally uneven. In Week 3, he made his first notable statement of the season with a team-high eight catches for 64 yards. More importantly, he鈥檚 second to Harrison in routes run. This week, he and the Cardinals take on a Commanders secondary that was good enough to get a win on Monday night, but still isn鈥檛 actually good. Look for Harrison to stay hot and Wilson to take another step forward.
TIGHT END
You鈥檝e probably noticed by now that the fantasy tight end position has been, uh ... thin. Most of the guys we drafted early have either been injured (Evan Engram, David Njoku) or absent (Sam LaPorta, Travis Kelce, Mark Andrews). That means a lot of fantasy managers have gone the streaming route.
Consider Kmet one of those options this week. With Keenan Allen out of the lineup in Week 3, Kmet had one of his best days as a pass catcher. He tied a career-high in receptions and fell just short of his second career 100-yard game. If Allen is unable to go again in Week 4 -- or is less than 100 percent -- Kmet should get plenty of opportunities against a Rams defense still looking for help in the middle of the field.
DEFENSE
The Jaguars offense is broken. That was on full display Monday night against the Buffalo Bills. Through three games, Jacksonville is 30th in scoring. Trevor Lawrence has just two touchdown passes and two games with fewer than 180 passing yards. The Jags have been slightly better on the ground. Don鈥檛 tell that to Travis Etienne managers, who are starting to worry that Tank Bigsby is coming for his touches.
Look for the Texans defense to take advantage of that chaos. Houston ran through Chicago鈥檚 porous offensive line for seven sacks in Week 2. It could have similar results with a Jaguars front that has already conceded a dozen sacks this season. Add in Lawrence鈥檚 historical fumbling issues (34 in 53 career games) and the Texans could come up with a few takeaways, as well.
Let鈥檚 try this again, shall we? Last week, I recommended the Packers defense because ... Will Levis. That worked to the tune of 21 fantasy points. Eight sacks, three takeaways and a defensive touchdown will do that for you. So far, Levis has been the gift that keeps on giving (the ball away).
Miami鈥檚 defense is adequate. The problem is an offense that will struggle to move the ball. The good news is that Tennessee isn鈥檛 sustaining a lot of long drives either. This game might be tough to watch. But if the Titans quarterback continues to donate possessions to the opposition, the Dolphins could be a deep dive streaming option.