FanDuel Fantasy Football: Top Picks & Lineup Strategy for Week 4

We're back again with tips and advice to keep you in, or get you to, the win column for Week 4. The Bengals host the Jaguars with a 51.5-point total, so we'll be discussing this matchup and the players to target in a potential shootout.

The Week 4 NFL DFS FanDuel main slate begins Sunday at 1 p.m. EDT and features 12 games. This list excludes teams playing/played on Thursday (Steelers-Browns), Sunday Night Football (Lions-Panthers) and Monday Night Football (Falcons-Saints). Sunday's slate also includes our first 9:30 a.m. EDT tilt in London between the Colts and Commanders, which is also excluded this week.

The players you want to target for guaranteed prize pool (GPP) contests should offer a decent amount of upside, but it's also important to identify chalk plays that can represent the foundation of your roster. We'll discuss the best choices for cash games and give you plenty of options for fielding GPP rosters. For cash games, play the best chalk and, when in doubt, follow ownership, which you can get an idea of from our NFL DFS optimizer.

Keep in mind that FanDuel DFS football contests use half-point PPR scoring. NFL DFS lineups on FanDuel consist of one QB, two RBs, three WRs, one TE, one FLEX (RB/WR/TE) and one D/ST unit.

Note: All prices listed come from FanDuel, but most of the logic can be applied to other sites across the DFS industry. Discussion is limited to players from the "main slate" of games kicking off at 1 p.m., 4:05 p.m. and 4:25 p.m. EDT on Sunday. The strategy below is meant for large-field tournaments, where payouts typically are limited to ~20 percent of lineups, with the majority concentrated at the very top.

The Games

Point-Per-Dollar Value

These are the players with the best projections relative to their salaries — good plays both for cash games and large-field tournaments. While we don't want GPP lineups to look like cash-game lineups top to bottom, there's nothing wrong with using a few chalky plays.

QB C.J. Stroud, HOU vs. DAL ($7,000): Houston's offense has been lackluster to start 2026, but a visit from Dallas' 30th-ranked defense in fantasy points allowed (23.5) to QBs offers an opportunity to get on the right track. The Cowboys are one of four teams without an interception through three weeks, and Stroud is expected to have Nico Collins ($7,400) back from a hamstring injury that has kept him on the sidelines since the season opener.

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RB Jeremiyah Love, ARI at NYG ($6,600): It only took three weeks for the rookie first-round pick to establish himself as the lead back in Arizona. Love had 21 carries for 90 yards and caught all five of his targets for 19 yards and a touchdown in Week 3, out-touching veteran Tyler Allgeier 26 to six, including 19 more rushing attempts. The Giants defense allows 19.9 fantasy points per game to RBs (22nd) and ranks 30th in yards per carry at 5.05.

WR Parker Washington, JAX at CIN ($7,100): Washington is coming off his quietest outing in Week 3 (3-40-1), but most of that can be attributed to game script with the Jaguars up two scores most of the game. He's compiled a 15-221-2 receiving line on 23 targets through three games, and a potentially high-scoring contest against the Bengals should keep him heavily involved in Week 4.

TE Isaiah Likely, NYG vs. ARI ($5,100): Likely caught two of five targets for 13 yards during the Giants' win in Week 3, giving him a 15-124-2 line on 23 targets in 2026. He's in line for a rebound performance versus Arizona's 28th-ranked defense in fantasy points allowed per game (14.9) to TEs, who just gave up a 6-82-2 line to George Kittle last week.

Other Cash-Game Options

Quarterback: Josh Allen, BUF vs. NE ($9,100), Lamar Jackson, BAL vs. TEN ($8,700), Brock Purdy, SF vs. DEN ($8,300), Patrick Mahomes, KC at LV ($8,000), Trevor Lawrence, JAX at CIN ($7,900), Kyler Murray, MIN vs. MIA ($7,200)

Running Back: Derrick Henry, BAL vs. TEN ($9,100), Kenneth Walker, KC at LV ($8,500), James Cook, BUF vs. NE ($8,200), Saquon Barkley, PHI vs. LAR ($8,000), Bhayshul Tuten, JAX at CIN ($6,800), David Montgomery, HOU vs. DAL ($6,500), Aaron Jones, MIN vs. MIA ($6,400), Braelon Allen, NYJ at CHI ($5,700)

Wide Receiver: Jaxon Smith-Njigba, SEA vs. LAC ($9,500), Garrett Wilson, NYJ at CHI ($7,600), Nico Collins, HOU vs. DAL ($7,400), Zay Flowers, BAL vs. TEN ($7,300), Tee Higgins, CIN vs. JAX ($6,900), Malik Nabers, NYG vs. ARI ($6,800), DJ Moore, BUF vs. NE ($6,700), Michael Wilson, ARI at NYG ($6,200)

Tight End: Trey McBride, ARI at NYG ($7,400), Brock Bowers, LV vs. KC ($7,200), Dalton Schultz, HOU vs. DAL ($5,600), Travis Kelce, KC at LV ($5,500)

D/ST: Minnesota Vikings vs. MIA ($5,000), Baltimore Ravens vs. TEN ($4,900), Chicago Bears vs. NYJ ($3,500)

Passing Game Stacks

Stacks are the centerpiece of most tournament lineups. The strategy aims to take advantage of positive correlations between players, as stacks can also include a pass catcher from the other side of the game, hoping to take advantage of a high-scoring matchup. It rarely makes sense to use a quarterback without one or two of his pass catchers, even if the player in question scores a decent portion of his fantasy points with his legs. (Implied team totals are listed in parentheses.)

Cincinnati Bengals (27.0) vs. Jacksonville Jaguars (24.5)

Bengals: Despite facing off against the NFL's top-ranked defense in points allowed (12.0) this season, Joe Burrow ($8,200) and the Bengals' skill position players present a challenge the Jaguars have yet to encounter. Burrow threw for 282 yards with three TDs and no INTs versus a strong Pittsburgh team that allows just 13.3 fantasy points to QBs. Ja'Marr Chase ($9,100) and Tee Higgins ($6,900), arguably the best WR duo in the league, combined for a 15-188-2 line on 19 targets, and they'll aim to take advantage of Jacksonville's 15th-ranked defense in fantasy PPG (25.5) surrendered to the position.

Jaguars: Trevor Lawrence ($7,900) put up 182 passing yards with three TDs and one pick while rushing four times for 25 yards against New England's fourth-ranked defense in fantasy points allowed (13.1) to QBs in Week 3. The Bengals are solid in that area too, allowing 17.4 (14th) while tying for 27th in passing yards given up (861) through three games. I mentioned Parker Washington ($7,100) already, but Jakobi Meyers ($5,700) continues to be underrated and is coming off a 7-64-1 line on eight targets. Bhayshul Tuten ($6,800) has established himself as the lead back in Jacksonville after recording 15 carries for 73 yards and a TD and catching both targets for 17 yards, his second straight outing with a score.

Favorite Bengals Stack: QB Burrow + WR Chase or WR Higgins + WR Washington or RB Tuten

Favorite Jaguars Stack: QB Lawrence + WR Washington or RB Tuten + WR Chase or WR Higgins

Kansas City Chiefs (26.0) at Las Vegas Raiders (21.5)

Chiefs: Kansas City is tied for eighth in scoring at 29.3 points per game behind Patrick Mahomes ($8,000) and Kenneth Walker ($8,500). Walker has been a monster through his first three outings as a Chief, totaling 76 touches for 442 yards and four TDs, and I expect his 25.3 average touches to continue as the focal point of the offense. Rashee Rice ($7,500) looks to be Mahomes' favorite WR to target alongside Walker and Travis Kelce ($5,500) through the air, and they'll face a Raiders secondary that gave up 107 yards on nine catches to Chris Olave and four TDs to TEs in Week 3.

Raiders: One of the three teams tied for eighth in scoring, Las Vegas has surprised everyone with a 3-0 start. Kirk Cousins ($7,300) may be a little pricey for some, and while that's certainly understandable, he's tied with Brock Purdy ($8,300) for the league lead in TDs (nine) after throwing for three scores in all three games. Ashton Jeanty ($7,800) averages 25.3 touches and will hope to score his first rushing TD against a Chiefs defense that's given up three to RBs (T-24th). Brock Bowers ($7,200) made his return from a two-game absence and caught 10 of 14 targets for 116 yards and the game-winning score in Week 3, and he should once again be Cousins' primary weapon.

Favorite Chiefs Stack: QB Mahomes + RB Walker or TE Kelce + TE Bowers or RB Jeanty

Favorite Raiders Stack: QB Cousins + RB Jeanty or TE Bowers + RB Walker or WR Rice

Other Stacks to Consider

QB Josh Allen + RB James Cook or TE Dalton Kincaid + WR Mack Hollins

QB Brock Purdy + RB Christian McCaffrey or TE George Kittle + WR Jaylen Waddle

QB Dak Prescott + WR CeeDee Lamb or WR George Pickens + WR Nico Collins or TE Dalton Schultz

QB C.J. Stroud + RB David Montgomery or WR Nico Collins + WR CeeDee Lamb

QB Lamar Jackson + RB Derrick Henry + RB Tony Pollard

QB Matthew Stafford + RB Kyren Williams or WR Davante Adams + RB Saquon Barkley

QB Jacoby Brissett + WR Michael Wilson or TE Trey McBride + RB Cam Skattebo or TE Isaiah Likely

High-Priced Heroes

QB Josh Allen, BUF vs. NE ($9,100): One week after committing three turnovers, Allen should aggressively be in search of a bounce back versus the division rival Patriots at home. New England is reeling after being crushed 35-6 in Week 3, as they allowed Trevor Lawrence to throw for three TDs in the blowout loss.

RB Derrick Henry, BAL vs. TEN ($9,100): Baltimore is third in the NFL with 167.3 rushing yards per game, thanks in large part to Henry, who is sixth in rushing yards and first in TDs. He'll continue to fuel the Ravens against the 0-3 Titans, and the game script could heavily favor 'The King' in this one.

WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba, SEA vs. LAC ($9,500): 'JSN' ranks first in receiving yards (405), receiving TDs (six) and yards per game (135.0), and is tied for first in receptions (27). He's seen at least 11 targets and topped 120 yards in all three outings, so don't expect it to slow down now.

TE Trey McBride, ARI at NYG ($7,400): McBride is as reliable as they come at the tight end position. He's earned at least 10 targets in every outing and has a 26-211-2 receiving line on 33 targets after hauling in nine of 11 for 75 yards in Week 3. I'm more than confident in believing McBride can continue his streak of 10+ looks against the Giants.

Fading the Field

Every week we see at least one or two players who are popular without the backing of a top point-per-dollar projection. Still, it makes sense to fade a player with a strong projection, particularly when there are good alternatives at the same position and price range.

WR Puka Nacua, LAR at PHI ($9,000): After sitting out Weeks 2 and 3 with a hip injury, Nacua has been cleared to play Sunday against the Eagles. His return from injury and propensity to not shy away from contact is the primary concern here, but there's also a possibility of light rain throughout the afternoon in Philly, which can make things a little more unpredictable. Nacua could have a limited workload as he works his way back for a talented offense, so I'd be more comfortable spending top dollar for Jaxon Smith-Njigba ($9,500) or Ja'Marr Chase ($9,100).

The Smash Spot

WR Michael Wilson, ARI at NYG ($6,200): For his salary, Wilson is a chalk play against a Giants defense allowing 29.1 fantasy points (22nd) to WRs and is tied for 24th with four TDs allowed to the position. He garnered a whopping 17 targets in Week 3, catching 11 for 89 yards and a score. Wilson may not be as heavily involved with some light rain in the forecast, but the Cardinals love to throw the ball, with Jacoby Brissett ($6,800) averaging 39 pass attempts through three games.

Honorable Mentions: QB Patrick Mahomes ($8,000); RB Aaron Jones ($6,400); WR Nico Collins ($7,400)

The Bargain Bin

Quarterback: Geno Smith, NYJ at CHI ($6,900), Jacoby Brissett, ARI at NYG ($6,800), Case Keenum, CHI vs. NYJ ($6,400)

Running Back: David Montgomery, HOU vs. DAL ($6,500), Aaron Jones, MIN vs. MIA ($6,400), Tony Pollard, TEN at BAL ($5,800), Braelon Allen, NYJ at CHI ($5,700)

Wide Receiver: Matthew Golden, GB at TB ($6,300), Michael Wilson, ARI at NYG ($6,200), Dontayvion Wicks, PHI vs. LAR ($5,900), Luther Burden, CHI vs. NYJ ($5,800), Jakobi Meyers, JAX at CIN ($5,700), Malik Washington, MIA at MIN ($5,600)

Tight End: Dalton Schultz, HOU vs. DAL ($5,600), Travis Kelce, KC at LV ($5,500), Isaiah Likely, NYG vs. ARI ($5,100), Mike Gesicki, CIN vs. JAX ($5,100), AJ Barner, SEA vs. LAC ($4,900)

Injuries to Monitor

WR Nico Collins, HOU vs. DAL ($7,400): After missing Weeks 2 and 3 with a hamstring injury, Collins was limited in practice until Friday's full participation, and he's been cleared to play Sunday. In his only game this season, Collins caught seven of 10 targets for 75 yards and a touchdown while rushing once for seven yards.

WR DJ Moore, BUF vs. NE ($6,700): Moore is still dealing with an AC joint sprain in his shoulder he suffered in Week 2. He practiced in a limited capacity all week, including Friday, when he was seen sporting a red non-contact jersey, similar to how he operated leading up to Week 3. Despite those concerns, Moore played and ran a team-high 23 routes while collecting a 6-67-0 line on 10 targets. All signs point to him being active again in Week 4, but be sure to check his status prior to kickoff.

WR Jakobi Meyers, JAX at CIN ($5,700): Meyers remained limited in practice leading up to Week 4's meeting with the Bengals due to the right thumb injury he's been dealing with since training camp. As long as there's no setback here, Meyers is expected to be cleared to play Sunday.