Week 4 came to an action-packed finale. From breakout rookies to the first tie of the season, this week revealed both the stars on the rise and the players who left fantasy managers shaking their heads. Here are the Week 4 Studs and Duds.
Stud: Puka Nacua
It is time to put Puka Nacua in the same conversation as Justin Jefferson and Ja’Marr Chase. Nacua caught 13 passes for 170 yards and a touchdown against a tough Colts defense, piling up 36 fantasy points. Through four weeks he has been the unquestioned WR1, averaging 27.4 points per game, even though this was his first receiving touchdown of the season. With Matthew Stafford in control, Nacua looks poised to challenge for the league’s receiving title, just as Stafford helped Cooper Kupp and Calvin Johnson do in the past.
Nacua is not the only star in Los Angeles. Offseason addition Davante Adams is proving he still has plenty left, averaging nearly 90 yards per game with three touchdowns already. Together, this Rams offense has the look of a unit that could dominate the NFC all season.
Dud: Ladd McConkey
Ladd McConkey turned in another quiet performance with just one catch for 11 yards. He has yet to surpass 75 yards in a game this season, which is surprising after doing so eight times as a rookie. Even more concerning, he has not found the end zone and enters Week 5 with only one red-zone target.
With Quentin Johnston emerging and Keenan Allen still lurking around, McConkey has slipped into the WR3 role in the Chargers offense. He may bounce back, but right now he looks trapped in the dreaded sophomore slump.
Stud: Ashton Jeanty
Fantasy owners can finally celebrate Ashton Jeanty’s breakout. Despite the Raiders’ tough loss to the Bears on a last-second blocked field goal, Jeanty exploded for 138 rushing yards and a touchdown, plus two catches for 17 yards and two more scores. His hat trick produced 33.5 fantasy points.
Even an early fumble on a fourth-and-one did not derail his night. This week he faces a true test against the Colts, who allow just 96 rushing yards per game. We will soon learn if his Week 4 dominance was a product of the Bears’ weak run defense or the start of something much bigger.
Dud: A.J. Brown
A.J. Brown endured another frustrating outing, catching just two of nine targets for seven yards, his third game under 10 points this season. The entire Eagles offense sputtered, finishing with minus one yard of offense in the second half against the Buccaneers as Jalen Hurts went 0-for-8 after halftime.
Brown skipped postgame press conferences and later posted a cryptic Bible verse on social media: “If you’re not welcomed, not listened to, quietly withdraw. Don’t make a scene. Shrug your shoulders and be on your way.” Coach Nick Sirianni brushed it off, but the star receiver’s frustration is clear.
Stud: Omarion Hampton
Omarion Hampton has seized the Chargers’ lead back role with authority. Against the Giants he rushed just 12 times but racked up 128 yards, including a 54-yard touchdown run that sparked a near comeback. He finished with 27.5 points.
Since Najee Harris went down in Week 3, Hampton has run for 294 yards and two scores, giving fantasy managers back-to-back weeks of 25-plus points. The rookie is already looking like one of the year’s biggest steals.
Dud: Lamar Jackson (& Company)
The Ravens went into Arrowhead favored against the Chiefs, but left embarrassed. Lamar Jackson threw for just 147 yards with one touchdown, one interception, and one fumble, finishing with 10.68 fantasy points. He also exited late with a hamstring injury, though the game was already out of reach.
The struggles extended beyond Jackson. Derrick Henry averaged more than five yards per carry but was used sparingly, logging just 21 snaps and eight carries. Justice Hill ended up out-snapping him and scored both of Baltimore’s touchdowns. Coach John Harbaugh voiced his frustration after the game, pointing to play calling, but the reality is the Ravens are 1-3 and could be without their star quarterback for weeks. Baltimore fantasy owners are facing an unsettling stretch.
The Emergency Room
Jaylen Warren
Jaylen Warren was a surprise late scratch with a knee injury, opening the door for Kenneth Gainwell to shine. Gainwell rushed for 99 yards, added six catches for 35, and scored twice, evoking flashbacks of prime Le’Veon Bell. The Steelers have a bye this week, giving Warren time to heal, but his Week 6 status remains uncertain.
Malik Nabers
Malik Nabers’ season ended abruptly with a torn ACL on a contested jump ball, marking the 18th season-ending injury at MetLife Stadium since 2020. With Nabers sidelined, rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart must adjust quickly. Wan’Dale Robinson is expected to step into a bigger role, and his eight-catch, 142-yard game against Dallas in Week 2 showed he is capable of becoming Dart’s new go-to target.
Want more Sandman? Come connect with us here at sandmansports.com/onestopshop
