Fantasy football free agent pickups: Replacing Malik Nabers; surprising RB options

The fourth Sunday of the NFL season featured fairly a little bit of motion and high-scoring performances, beginning with a morning recreation in Dublin, Eire, and ending in Dallas with a recreation that led to a tie. Total, six gamers scored 30 PPR factors, together with Los Angeles Rams WR Puka Nacua and Las Vegas Raiders rookie RB Ashton Jeanty. Kansas Metropolis Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes turned again time to throw 4 TD passes.

Nonetheless, the large story in Week 4 was, as soon as once more, an damage. New York Giants star WR Malik Nabers tore the ACL in his proper knee in his workforce’s beautiful win over the Los Angeles Chargers. QB Jaxson Dart performed effectively. RB Cam Skattebo performed effectively. Fantasy managers misplaced Nabers — in lots of instances their first-round decide — for the remainder of the 2025 season.

Every Monday, earlier than the present NFL week ends, we’ll establish gamers obtainable in at the least 50% of ESPN commonplace leagues worthy of your consideration, from commonplace codecs to deeper choices. The NFL is a weekly league, and participant valuation and roles seldom stay stagnant. It doesn’t matter the way you purchase gamers to your fantasy rosters, simply that you simply get them.

Quarterback

Jaxson Dart, New York Giants (rostered in 21.1% of ESPN leagues): What a Sunday of combined feelings for the Giants. Dart’s first begin went effectively sufficient statistically, as he scored 19.84 PPR factors — primarily because of his 54 speeding yards and landing. Nonetheless, he tried solely 20 passes and was underneath heavy stress. Dart’s operating capacity would possibly make him look statistically like New England Patriots sophomore Drake Maye, which is doubtlessly particular in fantasy. Dart needs to be a QB2 this season even with a restricted group of receivers to throw to now that Nabers is out. No QB1 choices are on bye this week, however fantasy managers ought to add Dart anyway for a Week 5 street recreation in opposition to the New Orleans Saints … and past.

Sam Darnold, Seattle Seahawks (9.4%): Darnold scored 16.08 PPR factors to open Week 4, a tricky Thursday win on the street in opposition to the Arizona Cardinals. He continues to play environment friendly soccer. He has been mistake-free in three of 4 video games and has accomplished 70% of his passes. Darnold faces an overmatched Tampa Bay Buccaneers secondary in Week 5.

Deep-league choices/streamers/random ideas

• Minnesota Vikings fill-in Carson Wentz (6.2%) wasn’t imagined to throw 46 instances for 350 yards in opposition to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday morning in Eire, however the Vikings trailed and the sport script altered. Wentz figures to start out once more Week 5 (in London) in opposition to a tricky Cleveland Browns protection. We do not anticipate Wentz to throw 46 instances on this one (he threw solely 20 instances in a Week 3 victory), however one by no means is aware of. Sophomore J.J. McCarthy (ankle) would possibly or may not reclaim the beginning function when the workforce returns from its bye in Week 7 in opposition to the Philadelphia Eagles.

• Maybe none of the present Browns quarterbacks would have fared effectively Sunday in opposition to the Detroit Lions, however veteran Joe Flacco definitely has not been the reply. Beneath fixed stress, Flacco scored 1.26 PPR factors. Not 10.26 factors, however 1.26! Averaging 6.5 PPR factors per recreation just isn’t getting issues carried out for the Browns or fantasy managers. Flacco appears prone to begin Week 5 in London in opposition to the Vikings, however Oregon product Dillon Gabriel (0.4%) lurks for stashing in superflex codecs after that.

Operating again

Woody Marks, Houston Texans (33.2%): Marks, a fourth-round decide from USC, did not see many probabilities over the primary three weeks, incomes simply 12 speeding makes an attempt, and he turned them into solely 44 yards. He additionally caught two passes. On Sunday, in opposition to the woeful Tennessee Titans, the Texans break up the work between the rookie and wily veteran Nick Chubb extra evenly. Marks turned his 21 touches into 119 yards and two touchdowns, together with his receiving work. That is 27.9 PPR factors. Chubb scored 8.2. Benefit, Marks.

The Texans actually ought to depend on Marks shifting ahead, beginning in Week 5 in opposition to the Baltimore Ravens, although this would possibly stay a timeshare, and no person appears to know when or if Joe Mixon (foot) will play once more. Marks turns into a viable RB2 choice even in opposition to the Ravens.

play

Ought to fantasy managers think about including Kenneth Gainwell?

Eric Karabell provides his fantasy tackle Kenneth Gainwell after his good recreation vs. the Vikings.

Kenneth Gainwell, Pittsburgh Steelers (35.6%): Starter Jaylen Warren (knee) was a shock inactive Sunday morning, and lots of fantasy managers had been merely not ready to take away him from lineups. Others added Gainwell and had been rewarded with 31.4 PPR factors, the No. 3 RB efficiency from Week 4 (getting into Monday).

Gainwell is perhaps price including this week despite the fact that the Steelers are on a bye in Week 5, as a result of we should not presume that Warren will probably be absolutely healed for Week 6 in opposition to the Browns or past. This knee drawback would possibly linger. Gainwell not often began over 4 seasons with the Eagles, and maybe he lacks the dimensions to deal with a daily function, however what he achieved Sunday was fairly spectacular.

Deep-league choices/streamers/random ideas

• The Seahawks employed a irritating operating again timeshare over the primary two weeks between presumed starter Kenneth Walker III and Zach Charbonnet (69.1%). Charbonnet missed Week 3 resulting from a foot damage, and lots of managers moved on. That was a mistake. Charbonnet outscored Walker in Week 4 (12.4 PPR factors to 12), and it stays doubtless each operating backs will proceed to see ample touches. With a number of prime choices on bye in Week 5 (Bijan Robinson, Josh Jacobs), each Seattle backs are playable.

• Alvin Kamara traders needn’t fear simply but, however New Orleans Saints backup Kendre Miller (5.6%) turned his 11 speeding makes an attempt into 65 yards and a landing Sunday for 12.5 PPR factors. Kamara, because of a mere 4 receptions for two yards, scored 11.2 PPR factors. The Saints merely (and oddly) usually are not using Kamara correctly within the passing recreation, and if Miller can create a modest timeshare for speeding makes an attempt, this would possibly get attention-grabbing. Additionally, Kamara is 30, so maybe the rebuilding Saints wish to see what Miller, 23 and in his third season, can do.

• Ravens backup Justice Hill (12.4%) scored 28.7 PPR factors within the workforce’s blowout loss to the Chiefs. Which may make him a preferred fantasy add this week, but it surely is not remotely sustainable with Derrick Henry wholesome. Hill had eight touches, two of which he was touchdowns, together with a garbage-time, 71-yard jaunt within the closing minutes. Hill entered play with 5 carries and minus-7 speeding yards via three video games.

Extensive receiver

Wan’Dale Robinson (54.3%) and Darius Slayton (3.6%), New York Giants: Nicely, somebody must catch the soccer now that Nabers is completed, and these fellows mixed for six receptions on 9 targets Sunday. Robinson is much extra rostered, coming off a season wherein he caught 93 passes, although he turned them right into a mere 699 yards and three touchdowns. He averaged 5.0 yards per goal with Daniel Jones, Drew Lock, Tommy DeVito and Tim Boyle throwing the soccer final season. Dart is healthier, and Robinson, speedy out of the slot and never a lot of a downfield risk, needs to be productive. Slayton will get downfield higher, however he does not determine to see main quantity. Regardless, there’s a void on this offense. Robinson and Slayton should see alternative.

Deep-league choices/streamers/random ideas

• Indianapolis Colts speedster Adonai Mitchell (1.3%) scored 10.6 PPR factors within the workforce’s loss to the Rams, but it surely ought to have been rather more. Mitchell would have scored a flowery 76-yard landing from QB Daniel Jones however … he fumbled proper earlier than crossing the purpose line, seemingly in preparation for celebrating. Nonetheless, Mitchell has abilities, and neither Josh Downs (48.5%) nor Alec Pierce (1.4%) have carried out a lot statistically. If the Colts forgive Mitchell for his mind-boggling mistake, maybe a related, deep-league choice lurks, although I might nonetheless select Downs.

• Fantasy managers made Texans rookie Jayden Higgins (30.2%) one of many most-dropped extensive receivers when he caught solely 4 passes over the primary three video games. He caught just one move Sunday, but it surely was a 24-yard landing. It’s potential Higgins, a second-round decide from Iowa State, emerges sooner or later as a weekly quantity risk, however he is not there but. Even Christian Kirk (31.6%), with 10.5 PPR factors in his two video games, is a greater choice within the brief time period.

Tight finish

Dallas Goedert, Philadelphia Eagles (67.8%): Goedert is rostered in additional than 50% of leagues, however he was began in a mere 15.2% of them in Week 4. He tallied a position-leading 19.7 PPR factors, and he has had three touchdowns over the previous two weeks. Goedert has been a relative disappointment in current seasons for each manufacturing and well being causes, however he appears to have a secure function in what has turn out to be a wildly inconsistent Philadelphia offense.

Brenton Unusual, Jacksonville Jaguars (22.7%): A repeat title from prior weeks, Unusual has six receptions on seven targets over consecutive weeks, which could not look like a lot, but it surely’s fairly good on this offense. Unusual leads the Jaguars with 19 receptions and 192 receiving yards.

Deep-league choices/streamers/random ideas

• Jake Tonges (2.5%) boasts a pair of double-digit PPR outings within the first month of the season, as he takes benefit of the George Kittle (hamstring) absence, although Kittle would possibly return in Week 6. Nonetheless, with Kittle out, Tonges stays price a glance in deep leagues for Week 5 in opposition to the Rams.

Bye weeks: Maintain these gamers rostered

• Bye weeks start in Week 5, with the Atlanta Falcons, Chicago Bears, Inexperienced Bay Packers and Steelers off. Some managers with Bears WR DJ Moore (93.1%) would possibly want to transfer on as sophomore Rome Odunze has clearly turn out to be the workforce’s prime receiving choice for QB Caleb Williams. Moore averages solely 5 targets per recreation, and he has reached double-digit PPR factors in just one recreation. Nonetheless, maintain him rostered. The Bears play the Washington Commanders, Ravens and Cincinnati Bengals in October, defenses in opposition to which the Bears ought to thrive.

• Exalted Packers rookie Matthew Golden (81.6%) hasn’t scored a landing but, however he did attain double-digit PPR factors in his previous two video games. It’s untimely to let Golden hit your league’s waiver wire. Half with injured Packers WR Jayden Reed (52.4%) as a substitute.

• Fantasy managers may not have room to maintain related TE Kyle Pitts Sr. (65.3%) and tandem RB Tyler Allgeier (35.5%) rostered, however they actually should attempt to take action. Pitts scored 18 PPR factors Sunday, and he appears to be like like a borderline TE1 choice (lastly). Allgeier is without doubt one of the most dependable reserve operating backs, and he will get extra quantity than most backups. Attempt to maintain each of those fellows in your workforce.

• The Steelers and Packers D/ST models rank among the many 5 most rostered in ESPN leagues, however as a result of I usually don’t advocate rostering multiple D/ST at a time, there is not a must maintain both of those models round. Regardless of the addition of Micah Parsons, the Packers D/ST (84.5%) has scored solely 21 PPR factors, tied for seventeenth within the league.

Protection

Arizona Cardinals (24.6%): The Cardinals D/ST has reached double-digit fantasy factors in only one recreation (Week 2 in opposition to the Carolina Panthers) and did so primarily due to an early fumble restoration for a landing. The Cardinals host Tennessee on Sunday, and the Titans did not rating in Week 4.

Jacksonville Jaguars (7%): It appears harmful to depend on the Jaguars for a Week 5 residence recreation with the Chiefs, after seeing what Kansas Metropolis did to the Ravens on Sunday. Then once more, the Jaguars D/ST has scored double-digit PPR factors in three of 4 video games. That’s spectacular.

New York Giants (7.2%): The Giants have lots of different stuff occurring, clearly, however the protection performed admirably in opposition to Justin Herbert and the Chargers. In Week 5, the Giants hit the street in opposition to the Saints. The Saints usually are not an offensive juggernaut. Then once more, one may make the case so as to add the Saints D/ST (0.6%) in opposition to the Giants, too! Go together with the Giants first.