Week 4 brought no shortage of drama across the league, with breakout stars, disappointing offenses and key injuries shaping the fantasy football landscape. From dominant rushing performances to quarterbacks struggling in favorable spots, this NFL recap highlights all the biggest moments you need to know.
For a closer look at how roles may shift after this week's NFL game recaps, check out RotoWire's NFL depth charts as you plan your next lineup move.
Steelers at Vikings
Steelers
Pittsburgh backers had to adjust early with Jaylen Warren a surprise inactive before the 9:30 A.M. EDT kickoff. That opened the door for Kenneth Gainwell, who erupted for more than 100 scrimmage yards and two touchdowns, delivering a 30-point PPR gem. With the Steelers heading into a bye, Warren has two weeks to heal, but Gainwell is a clear plug-and-play option if Warren misses more time. DK Metcalf also popped, turning five targets into 126 yards and a score, showing he can deliver ceiling games even with limited volume.
Vikings
Minnesota entered as 3.5-point favorites but trailed throughout, forcing Carson Wentz into a pass-heavy script. That unlocked Justin Jefferson for his first big outing of the year (10-126) and gave rookie Jordan Addison a late highlight on an 81-yard catch, finishing with 114 yards. Addison's production may be game-script dependent, thriving when Minnesota chases points. Meanwhile, Jordan Mason handled 19 touches for 72 yards — not flashy, but steady volume makes him a safe weekly starter until Aaron Jones returns.
Commanders at
Week 4 brought no shortage of drama across the league, with breakout stars, disappointing offenses and key injuries shaping the fantasy football landscape. From dominant rushing performances to quarterbacks struggling in favorable spots, this NFL recap highlights all the biggest moments you need to know.
For a closer look at how roles may shift after this week's NFL game recaps, check out RotoWire's NFL depth charts as you plan your next lineup move.
Steelers at Vikings
Steelers
Pittsburgh backers had to adjust early with Jaylen Warren a surprise inactive before the 9:30 A.M. EDT kickoff. That opened the door for Kenneth Gainwell, who erupted for more than 100 scrimmage yards and two touchdowns, delivering a 30-point PPR gem. With the Steelers heading into a bye, Warren has two weeks to heal, but Gainwell is a clear plug-and-play option if Warren misses more time. DK Metcalf also popped, turning five targets into 126 yards and a score, showing he can deliver ceiling games even with limited volume.
Vikings
Minnesota entered as 3.5-point favorites but trailed throughout, forcing Carson Wentz into a pass-heavy script. That unlocked Justin Jefferson for his first big outing of the year (10-126) and gave rookie Jordan Addison a late highlight on an 81-yard catch, finishing with 114 yards. Addison's production may be game-script dependent, thriving when Minnesota chases points. Meanwhile, Jordan Mason handled 19 touches for 72 yards — not flashy, but steady volume makes him a safe weekly starter until Aaron Jones returns.
Commanders at Falcons
Falcons
Atlanta rebounded quickly after last week's dud, as Michael Penix Jr. threw for 313 yards and two scores in a controlled home win. The offense leaned on its stars, with Bijan Robinson exploding for 180 total yards and a rushing touchdown. Drake London (110 yards, TD) looked fully healthy and dominated targets, while Kyle Pitts added 70 yards and a touchdown, solidifying himself as a weekly TE1 candidate. Atlanta's offense looks most dangerous when it feeds its elite trio.
Commanders
Washington badly missed Jayden Daniels, as Marcus Mariota turned in a modest fantasy line with two touchdowns but little else. Deebo Samuel carried the passing game again, securing six catches for 72 yards and a touchdown in Terry McLaurin's absence. Samuel's steady volume makes him a weekly WR3 with upside. The backfield remains unappealing, with Chris Rodriguez and Jacory Croskey-Merritt splitting carries and offering only touchdown-dependent flex value. Without Daniels, this offense is far less dynamic.
Saints at Bills
Bills
Buffalo handled business as Josh Allen accounted for three touchdowns in a game where the outcome was seldom in doubt. James Cook extended his scoring streak to eight games, rushing 22 times for 117 yards and a touchdown, cementing himself as a locked-in RB1. Khalil Shakir (43-yard score) and Dalton Kincaid (28-yard TD) salvaged their days, but wideout consistency for Bills' WRs remains shaky. Outside of true shootouts, Buffalo's pass catchers carry weekly boom-or-bust risk.
Saints
New Orleans fantasy investors were hoping for garbage time, but the game stayed somewhat competitive. That limited Spencer Rattler to 27 attempts, leaving no Saints wideout with a big day, and only Chris Olave scored. Alvin Kamara delivered his usual floor with 88 scrimmage yards, though his receiving work was limited. Rookie Kendre Miller continues to flash as a stash-worthy backup. Overall, this was a reminder that matchup and script heavily dictate New Orleans' fantasy viability.
Browns at Lions
Lions
Detroit handled one of the league's best defenses, leaning on its stars. Amon-Ra St. Brown torched Cleveland for 70 yards and two touchdowns, while Jahmyr Gibbs added 91 rushing yards and another score. David Montgomery struggled as expected against an elite front, managing just 12 yards on nine carries. Jameson Williams and Sam LaPorta remain volatile weekly plays, with Williams dependent on deep shots and LaPorta touchdown reliant. Expect brighter days in softer matchups for the secondary pieces.
Browns
Even against Detroit's excellent run defense, Quinshon Judkins proved his talent is matchup-proof, totaling 115 yards and a touchdown on 23 touches. He looks like a top-12 RB already and a draft-day steal. The passing attack stayed muted, with Isaiah Bond leading the way at 58 yards after Cedric Tillman exited with a hamstring injury. Joe Flacco's lack of production is tied to protection issues and schedule strength. Keep him in mind as a superflex streamer in better spots.
Panthers at Patriots
Patriots
New England rolled in a blowout win, needing little from Drake Maye through the air. The rookie still produced three touchdowns, keeping him on the QB1 fringe. Stefon Diggs was the focal point, catching six passes for 101 yards, while Hunter Henry found the end zone for the third time this season. Henry is reliable as a non-elite TE option while Diggs is just a flex option. The backfield remains messy, with TreVeyon Henderson and Antonio Gibson scoring but splitting work in a three-man rotation. Touchdown luck determines their flex value weekly.
Panthers
Bryce Young's struggles continued, posting just 150 yards passing despite extended garbage time. That's bad news for Tetairoa McMillan, who remains stuck in a capped offense despite elite talent. McMillan has a solid weekly floor with limited ceiling. Chuba Hubbard led the backfield again, but his 13 touches translated to modest yardage and no touchdown luck. Hubbard is a usable RB2, but the ceiling isn't there. Until Young shows progress, Carolina skill players carry weekly bust risk outside of deep-league volume plays.
Chargers at Giants
Giants
Rookie QB Jaxson Dart managed the game well in his debut, rushing for 54 yards and a touchdown to buoy his fantasy line despite limited passing. The concern is Malik Nabers, who exited with a likely season-ending ACL injury. Cam Skattebo fought hard for 90 yards on 27 touches but could face stacked boxes without Nabers. Still, volume keeps him in flex-plus territory. The Giants' offense likely will remain ground-heavy, with Dart's rushing keeping him viable in superflex formats.
Chargers
Justin Herbert fell into a trap-game slump, throwing for just 203 yards with three turnovers. Quentin Johnston remained red hot, commanding 13 targets for 98 yards and a touchdown, cementing himself as a breakout WR2. Ladd McConkey's limited role continues to disappoint, leaving him a risky start despite immense talent. Omarion Hampton stole the show again, ripping off 165 scrimmage yards and a touchdown. He's quickly become a must-start top-15 RB with upside. Monitor LT Joe Alt's ankle injury, which could impact protection for the passing attack.
Eagles at Buccaneers
Eagles
Philadelphia's 31 points were misleading, with a blocked punt TD and two short Dallas Goedert scores inflating the total. Jalen Hurts salvaged his fantasy day with 62 rushing yards and two passing TDs, but the passing attack remains off. A.J. Brown (seven yards) and DeVonta Smith (29 yards) are stuck in boom-or-bust purgatory. Saquon Barkley again produced a solid PPR floor with 74 scrimmage yards and a score, but the offense hasn't unleashed his ceiling just yet. Unless the coaching staff changes the philosophy, that may not happen. With a 4-0 record, there's little motivation to open things up.
Buccaneers
Baker Mayfield continues to get it done, hitting on two deep busted plays — a 77-yard strike to Emeka Egbuka and a 72-yard wheel route to Bucky Irving. Mayfield remains a weekly QB1 despite the on-field volatility. Egbuka has made splash plays weekly, pushing him into WR2 consideration, while Irving's workload and explosiveness lock him in as a strong RB2. Chris Godwin struggled in his return but saw 10 targets, a volume sign that better days are ahead even when Mike Evans returns from injury.
Titans at Texans
Texans
Houston finally got a chance to control a game, and they leaned on Woody Marks to seal the win. The rookie handled 21 touches for 119 yards and two touchdowns, showing far more juice than Nick Chubb at this stage. While Marks isn't a locked-in starter yet, he's worth flex consideration in deeper leagues with room to grow. Nico Collins chipped in 79 yards on four catches, offering a steady floor but less ceiling than expected. The Houston offense remains volatile against stronger defenses.
Titans
Tennessee's offensive woes continued, with Cam Ward completing just 10 of 26 passes for 108 yards. This passing game is unusable outside of the most favorable matchups, leaving no reliable fantasy receivers. Tony Pollard at least offers a steady floor, posting 76 scrimmage yards and three receptions to sneak into double-digit PPR points. Still, he's best viewed as a flex play rather than a set-and-forget starter. Calvin Ridley's role has vanished, and he's dropable in most formats.
Colts at Rams
Rams
Puka Nacua continues to be a fantasy juggernaut, hauling in 13 passes for 170 yards and a touchdown. Even with Davante Adams gutting through a hamstring issue to add 56 yards and a score, Nacua's volume and reliability make him one of the safest WR1s in fantasy. Matthew Stafford capped his 375-yard, three-touchdown day with an 88-yard strike to Tutu Atwell, showing he can still deliver magic. Stafford is worth adding.
Colts
Daniel Jones' stat line was marred by two interceptions, but context matters — one came in desperation time and another touchdown was erased when Adonai Mitchell fumbled before crossing the goal line. Even so, the offense showed life. Michael Pittman (TD) and tight end Tyler Warren (70 yards) both remain weekly starters, while Jonathan Taylor posted 96 scrimmage yards and had another long score called back. Jones remains a fringe QB1, with his weapons strong enough to keep him relevant.
Ravens at Chiefs
Chiefs
Kansas City shocked Baltimore in a blowout, led by burner Xavier Worthy, who returned from injury with 118 total yards. He's instantly back in WR2 territory. Patrick Mahomes looked like his old self with four touchdown passes, a reminder of his fantasy ceiling. Isiah Pacheco flashed explosiveness on limited work and added a receiving TD, though his role still needs to grow for consistent fantasy trust. With Rashee Rice nearing a return, the Chiefs' offense could soon be at full strength.
Ravens
The day went from bad to worse for Baltimore. The Ravens lost Lamar Jackson to a hamstring injury (second half) and struggled against a swarming Chiefs defense. Derrick Henry barely touched the ball thanks to negative game script, extending his recent cold streak and raising mild concern for fantasy managers. Zay Flowers salvaged his day in garbage time, but weekly volatility remains. If Jackson misses time, every Baltimore fantasy option, including Henry, takes a notable downgrade.
Jaguars at 49ers
Jaguars
Jacksonville gutted out a road win thanks in part to a punt-return touchdown from Parker Washington, but the passing game remains underwhelming. Trevor Lawrence managed just 174 yards and one score, with Brian Thomas again quiet (5-49). He has yet to reach 10 PPR points in any game, making him little more than a flex. Travis Hunter should remain on benches until further notice after another weak performance. As usual, Travis Etienne carried the load, rushing for 124 yards and a touchdown, cementing himself as a top-15 RB.
49ers
San Francisco's offense sputtered under the weight of injuries, with Jauan Jennings limited and Ricky Pearsall exiting with a knee issue. That left Christian McCaffrey to shoulder the load, and while he was bottled up on the ground (17 carries for 49 yards), he salvaged his day with 92 yards and a touchdown through the air. Brock Purdy piled up 309 yards and two touchdowns while chasing points, though his two interceptions stung. He's still a safe, high-floor borderline QB1 in fantasy lineups.
Bears at Raiders
Bears
Chicago pulled out the win, but coach Ben Johnson's game plan left much to be desired. Despite missing his right tackle and facing a strong Raiders' pass rush, the Bears stuck with slower-developing plays that put Caleb Williams under constant pressure. Rome Odunze was again the bright spot, leading with 69 yards and a touchdown. He's a borderline WR1. D'Andre Swift remained inefficient on the ground but salvaged his day with a short rushing score and four receptions. He's still a volume-based RB2 with a steady floor.
Raiders
Las Vegas had every reason to succeed against Chicago's soft secondary, but Geno Smith delivered a nightmare outing with 117 yards and three interceptions. He was saved by two short passing touchdowns to Ashton Jeanty, who also exploded on the ground with 138 yards and a score on 21 carries. Meanwhile, Brock Bowers and Jakobi Meyers stayed quiet, but their consistent target volume keeps them in play as volatile weekly starters.
Injuries
- Malik Nabers suffered a likely ACL injury.
- Lamar Jackson suffered a hamstring injury; Cooper Rush took over.
- Ricky Pearsall injured his knee.
- Darnell Mooney left with a hamstring injury.
- Cedric Tillman suffered a hamstring injury.
With several high-profile players banged up and others emerging into must-start territory, the ripple effects from Week 4 are bound to impact fantasy leagues for weeks to come. Whether it's managing volatile receivers, buying into new backfield roles or stashing upside players, these NFL reactions give us plenty to process heading into next Sunday. Stay up to date on player availability with RotoWire's NFL injury report and lock in your lineup decisions with weekly projections as the season continues.
