Despite COVID-19’s best efforts to get in the game, the first quarter of the NFL season is officially in the books. The 32 teams continue to jockey for position in the FlurrySports Week 5 NFL Power Rankings, and Week 4 brought about plenty of big developments. The Houston Texans parted ways with coach/GM Bill O’Brien, the Philadelphia Eagles finally notched a victory on the shoulders of a superb defensive effort, and the Green Bay Packers continued to look dominant.
Unfortunately, injuries were once again a big headline from the Week 4 slate. The lack of a typical preseason has to be attributed at least in part to the high number of injured stars that we have seen through the first quarter of the season. For Fantasy Football team managers, these injuries have created chaos, unlike any other season. With this in mind, this week’s NFL Power Rankings include one healthy player from each NFL team that should be a target of Fantasy managers everywhere. Some will require trade talks; others might still be available on your league’s waiver wire. Regardless, the following 32 names are sure to boost a Fantasy team’s outlook in the season’s second quarter.
Week 5 NFL Power Rankings
1. Kansas City Chiefs
Week 4 Ranking: 1
Fantasy Target: Mecole Hardman
It’s no secret that the Chiefs offense is loaded, a big reason for why they remain on top of the Week 5 NFL Power Rankings. But with Andy Reid calling the shots and Patrick Mahomes slinging the ball, Fantasy value is spread out to more pass-catchers than your average offense. With 4 receptions and a touchdown in each of the last two weeks, you could do much worse than Mecole Hardman as your FLEX or “next man up” on your bench.
2. Seattle Seahawks
Week 4 Ranking: 2
Fantasy Target: D.K. Metcalf
The floor has been stable for D.K. Metcalf, and I would be curious to see what his asking price might be after back-to-back 100-yard games. It feels like Metcalf has been flying somewhat under the radar thanks to the big numbers from his cohort, Tyler Lockett.
3. Baltimore Ravens
Week 4 Ranking: 3
Fantasy Target: Mark Andrews
The Ravens backfield is off-limits at this point as far as Fantasy Football is concerned. With Mark Ingram, Gus Edwards, and J.K. Dobbins all getting run, it is simply impossible to predict. Outside of tight end Mark Andrews, consistent value is scarce in this offense.
4. Green Bay Packers
Week 4 Ranking: 4
Fantasy Target: Robert Tonyan
The Packers will have Davante Adams back following their Week 5 bye, but they will still be without Allen Lazard for the foreseeable future. Tight end Robert Tonyan has been a red zone target vacuum with 5 touchdowns in the last three games. He will be a priority add for many Fantasy managers after his Monday Night Football coming out party.
5. Pittsburgh Steelers
Week 4 Ranking: 5
Fantasy Target: Diontae Johnson
There has never been a better time to buy low on wideout Diontae Johnson after a 0-catch performance in Week 3 and the Steelers’ impromptu Week 4 bye. With double-digit targets in each pf the first two weeks, Johnson’s most recent stat line is the clear anomaly.
6. Buffalo Bills
Week 4 Ranking: 6
Fantasy Target: John Brown
Stefon Diggs commands his own target share each week in what is suddenly an explosive Buffalo Bills’ offense, but John Brown cannot be overlooked. The 5’ 11”, 178-pound speedster has continued to see a solid base of targets every week. Diggs’ presence will continue to benefit him as the season moves along for a Bills team that is knocking on the door of the top-5 in the Week 5 NFL Power Rankings.
7. Los Angeles Rams
Week 4 Ranking: 7
Fantasy Target: Robert Woods
Robert Woods has received a minimum of 5 targets in every game this season, with at least 5 receptions in three of them. But with only one touchdown, relatively low yardage totals, and the explosive production of Cooper Kupp, you might be surprised at the asking price for Woods at this juncture.
8. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Week 4 Ranking: 11
Fantasy Target: Leonard Fournette
If and when Leonard Fournette is healthy, he is by far and away the best running back in this Tampa Bay offense (sorry Ronald Jones truthers). Once he recovers from an ankle injury that slowed him in Week 3 and held him out of the Bucs’ Week 4 contest, he is the guy to own. Buy low now while you can.
9. Tennessee Titans
Week 4 Ranking: 9
Fantasy Target: Jonnu Smith
Poaching Jonnu Smith away from a current owner will be a tall order given his 3 touchdown receptions in Tennessee’s first three games. Use the looming return of A.J. Brown to your advantage in trade talks and you could land yourself a weekly tight end start who now has his bye week in the rearview mirror.
10. San Francisco 49ers
Week 4 Ranking: 8
Fantasy Target: Brandon Aiyuk
The nation got a taste of the raw talent rookie receiver Brandon Aiyuk possesses this past Sunday with his spectacular touchdown run on Sunday Night Football, complete with a hurdle and all. Deebo Samuel and George Kittle are both healthy and back in the lineup, meaning Aiyuk will be flying under the radar both in Fantasy and on the scouting reports of opposing defenses.
11. New Orleans Saints
Week 4 Ranking: 12
Fantasy Target: Latavius Murray
The Saints remain just outside the top-10 in the Week 5 NFL Power Rankings but will get an offensive boost with the looming return of Michael Thomas. With that said, Latavius Murray is still an asset I recommend chasing. New Orleans has given the 30-year old steady run alongside Alvin Kamara, with double-digit carries in each of the last two weeks. He has weekly FLEX value even with Kamara healthy.
12. Indianapolis Colts
Week 4 Ranking: 15
Fantasy Target: Zach Pascal
With T.Y. Hilton struggling and both Parris Campbell and Michael Pittman set to miss extended time, Zach Pascal has a tremendous opportunity to lead the Colts’ receiver corps for the foreseeable future. Indy will remain a run-first offense, but Rivers has to throw to someone.
13. Cleveland Browns
Week 4 Ranking: 18
Fantasy Target: D’Ernest Johnson
Nick Chubb is expected to miss the next six weeks with an MCL injury, thus opening the door for former Orlando Apollos (RIP Alliance of American Football) tailback D’Ernest Johnson to assume a healthy role in the Browns rushing attack alongside Kareem Hunt. He is a priority waiver add this week.
14. New England Patriots
Week 4 Ranking: 10
Fantasy Target: Damien Harris
All aboard the Damien Harris train! With Sony Michel headed to IR, Harris is finally set to have his first real opportunity as the lead rusher in the Patriots offense. While his pass-catching value is slim-to-none given the presence of James White and Rex Burkhead, Harris possesses a solid volume floor at a current ownership of just 15.4% in ESPN leagues.
15. Las Vegas Raiders
Week 4 Ranking: 14
Fantasy Target: Henry Ruggs III
Henry Ruggs carries an optimal buy-low opportunity given his slow NFL start, complicated further by missing the last two games due to injury. The speedy rookie out of Alabama is simply too talented to stay quiet forever. What’s more, his ownership has dipped to 57.7% in ESPN leagues.
16. Arizona Cardinals
Week 4 Ranking: 16
Fantasy Target: Chase Edmonds
With Kenyan Drake struggling and now also banged up, Chase Edmonds could be in line for an increased role going forward. Owned in only 33.6% of leagues, he should be high on the waiver wire list this week.
17. Philadelphia Eagles
Week 4 Ranking: 21
Fantasy Target: Alshon Jeffery
The Eagles wide receiver corps is once again decimated with injuries. Several practice squad players were on the field in Sunday’s win over the 49ers. Help figures to be on the way as Alshon Jeffery draws ever closer to making his return. The opportunity is too intriguing to not consider the veteran. If he performs, the Eagles will continue to rise in the Week 5 NFL Power Rankings.
18. Chicago Bears
Week 4 Ranking: 13
Fantasy Target: Darnell Mooney
Trailing only Allen Robinson in snaps among all Bears wide receivers, it’s time to pay attention to Darnell Mooney. The rookie has averaged 8.3 Fantasy points per game through four weeks Assuming the Bears offense manages to take a step forward with Nick Foles at the helm, a breakout could be coming.
19. Los Angeles Chargers
Week 4 Ranking: 19
Fantasy Target: Justin Jackson
With Austin Ekeler now on the shelf, the Chargers backfield figures to remain a timeshare between rookie Joshua Kelley and Justin Jackson. Neither has looked terrific of late, but both should see opportunities in the weeks to come as LA is desperate for a win.
20. Carolina Panthers
Week 4 Ranking: 29
Fantasy Target: Robby Anderson
Robby Anderson saw a season-high in targets in Week 4 with 11. He turned it into 8 grabs for 99 yards, and that was just his third-highest yardage total on the season. Anderson reuniting with his college coach Matt Rhule seems to be doing wonders for the fifth-year pro. He sure looks like Carolina’s WR1 at this point.
21. Dallas Cowboys
Week 4 Ranking: 17
Fantasy Target: Dalton Schultz
The Cowboys fall even further in the Week 5 NFL Power Rankings, but the tight end position hasn’t missed a beat even after Blake Jarwin went down for the season. Dalton Schultz has stepped in and played tremendous football with the target share to back it up. Please explain to me how the Fantasy TE6 on the season is only rostered in 46% of ESPN leagues.
22. Detroit Lions
Week 4 Ranking: 20
Fantasy Target: D’Andre Swift
Week 4 was encouraging for Fantasy managers with shares of rookie running back D’Andre Swift. Even if Adrian Peterson continues to lead the way in terms of carries, Swift’s duel-threat ability as a receiver out of the backfield gives him a bit of a James White feel in this improving Lions backfield.
23. Cincinnati Bengals
Week 4 Ranking: 27
Fantasy Target: Tee Higgins
It’s sad to say it, but A.J. Green might just be the odd man out in Cincinnati. Rookie second-round pick Tee Higgins has seen a minimum of 6 targets in each of the last three weeks with a season-high 77 yards coming in Week 4. Grab him now before he’s gone.
24. Minnesota Vikings
Week 4 Ranking: 25
Fantasy Target: Justin Jefferson
The Week 3 coming out party for Vikings rookie wideout Justin Jefferson received a fine encore performance in Week 4. His ownership jumped last week, but he’s worth putting feelers out for in trade talks as well.
25. Miami Dolphins
Week 4 Ranking: 23
Fantasy Target: Isaiah Ford
With Preston Williams MIA and Mike Gesicki being a total week-to-week Fantasy crapshoot, we turn to Isaiah Ford who has seen 26 targets through the first four weeks as the next possibility to step up as the Dolphins’ WR2 behind Devante Parker. While the production has been average at best, Ford is a great bench stash that has the volume to pay off big moving forward.
26. Atlanta Falcons
Week 4 Ranking: 24
Fantasy Target: Olamide Zaccheaus
There are so many pass-catchers in this Atlanta offense, it’s hard to know who to trust. Even Calvin Ridley is capable of a Fantasy dud as we saw in Week 4. With Julio Jones’ hamstring clearly a problem, Olamide Zaccheaus might be worth stashing now to see if he can replicate his showings from the last two games.
27. Houston Texans
Week 4 Ranking: 22
Fantasy Target: Randall Cobb
The firing of Bill O’Brien might’ve been the best thing to happen for Deshaun Watson and the Texans offense. Will Fuller looks like the lead wideout in this offense, but Randall Cobb’s outlook appears much more promising than Brandin Cooks after the first quarter of the season.
28. Washington Football Team
Week 4 Ranking: 26
Fantasy Target: Antonio Gibson
Even against the stout Ravens defense, rookie back Antonio Gibson still had a fine Fantasy showing in Week 4. With Football Team’s offense being pretty much void of reliable weapons minus Terry McLaurin, Gibson figures to maintain a sturdy floor going forward.
29. Jacksonville Jaguars
Week 4 Ranking: 28
Fantasy Target: Laviska Shenault Jr.
D.J. Chark went off in his return, but Laviska Shenault Jr.’s value didn’t seem to be impacted. The rookie wideout had 5 catches for 86 yards in Week 4 and continues to see his stock rise. The talent and play-making ability are undeniable.
30. Denver Broncos
Week 4 Ranking: 30
Fantasy Target: Tim Patrick
With Courtland Sutton being out for the year, Tim Patrick has emerged in the last two games for the Broncos. Granted, not every matchup will be as bountiful as Week 4’s tilt with the Jets, but he is worth an add.
31. New York Giants
Week 4 Ranking: 31
Fantasy Target: Devonta Freeman
Devonta Freeman was active in both the rushing and receiving games for the Giants in just his second game with the teams. If New York can figure things out offensively against the horrendous Dallas defense this week, a big game could be coming.
32. New York Jets
Week 4 Ranking: 32
Fantasy Target: Jamison Crowder
The Jets continue to languish at the bottom of the Week 5 NFL Power Rankings. Pretty much the only bright spot offensively for New York in Week 4 was Jamison Crowder’s successful return from injury. With no other threats to his status as the team’s lead receiver at present, Crowder will maintain stable volume in a putrid offense.
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