Scott Engel is in his 11th season as the official Fantasy Football writer and analyst for Seahawks.com. He is an inaugural member of the Fantasy Sports Writers Association's Hall of Fame. Scott is a four-time FSWA award winner and a 10-time nominee, including being a finalist for the 2020 FSWA Fantasy Football Writer of the Year Award, which he won previously. Scott was the No. 1 most accurate fantasy football draft ranker at tight end and No. 6 at running back on fantasypros.com in 2021. You can find more of his fantasy football analysis at The Game Day this season.
As we head into the fourth week of the fantasy football season, we are truly just getting rolling and there is much more work to do. No matter what your record is, managing a team requires a balanced approach of patience and determination right now. Many good NFL players with proven track records are going to perform as expected in the weeks ahead, and we will also see several rookies start to elevate their production. Even those fantasy players with losing records can turn things around quickly. You have to tackle the waiver wire with an aggressive approach, as there aren't many major impact available players available on free agency right now. But in terms of trades, don't panic and make a deal that doesn't bring the proper return. You cannot let other people in your league sense your urgency.
We provide a good mix of roster management tips this week, including players to pick up on waivers or in trades, and good starting options to lean to in tight lineup decisions. Players are listed in preference of whether to start, add or trade for them.
Running Backs
-Start Rashaad Penny at your flex position this week. Detroit has allowed an NFL-high six rushing touchdowns to running backs. The Lions have allowed 142.3 rushing yards per game, so Penny will come through with his best rushing performance of the season so far. Detroit has allowed 408 yards per game on defense, which ranks 28th in the NFL after three weeks. The Seahawks should move the ball effectively in Week 4 and will give Penny a chance to finish off a scoring drive or two with a TD run.
-Start Chase Edmonds in Week 4. He rushed for two TDs against Buffalo and should soon begin to produce more. He can be a dual threat as a runner and receiver. Look for Edmonds to contribute to your outlook significantly in a high-scoring game with the Bengals.
-Start Devin Singletary of the Bills. He caught nine passes for 78 yards in Week 3 at Miami, and he has another good pass-catching matchup coming up against Baltimore. The Ravens have allowed 26 receptions to running backs, third-most in the NFL.
-Trade for Austin Ekeler. He has 17 receptions in his last two games and he will face the Texans this week. Houston has allowed an NFL-high 478 rushing yards to running backs. Ekeler will always have a good statistical floor because of his elite receiving abilities and he should have his best rushing game of the season so far this week.
-Trade for Breece Hall of the Jets. He had 14 touches from scrimmage in Week 3 and the rookie's offensive role may continue to increase. New York's Week 4 opponent, the Steelers, have allowed 364 rushing yards per game to running backs, second-most in the AFC. You can consider Hall as a flex option if he is acquired this week.
-Trade for or add Kenneth Walker III. His dazzling 21-yard run in Week 4 fully displayed why Seahawks fans and fantasy players should look forward to the rookie displaying more of what he can deliver this season. If he ends up on your free agent list, add Walker immediately. Or now is a good time to trade for him before we see Walker supply some quality fantasy outings in the weeks ahead.
-Add Khalil Herbert of the Chicago Bears as a high priority move. He opened the season as one of the top No. 2 RBs on an NFL depth chart this season, and he exploded for 157 yards and a TD in Week 3 when David Montgomery (knee/ankle) left Sunday's game in the first quarter. Herbert had two games with 95-plus rushing yards and four with 70-plus yards last October when he was given an expanded role for four games in his rookie season.
-Add Jaylen Warren of the Steelers. He had a strong preseason and flashed a lot of promise in Week 3 against Cleveland. Warren rushed for 30 yards on just four carries and showed that if he is ever pressed into a larger workload, he will have some upside. warren is No. 2 on the Pittsburgh RB depth chart, but he certainly has the potential to generate some excitement and quality fantasy production.
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Wide Receivers
-Start Chris Olave in Week 4. The Saints rookie busted out for 147 yards on nine receptions in Week 3 and will soon further cement his status as an every-week starter. The Vikings have allowed 571 receiving yards to WRs, fourth-most among NFC teams.
-Start Amari Cooper in Week 4. Jacoby Brissett has been doing a good job of getting him the ball, and the Falcons are one of three teams to allow a league-high six TD receptions to WRs, including one to DK Metcalf on Sunday.
-Start D.J. Moore in Week 4 as a fantasy WR3. He was an 1,100-yard wide receiver in each of the past three seasons, and should have his best game of the season so far this week. Arizona's pass defense ranks 30th in the NFL after three games.
-Start Steelers rookie George Pickens. Pittsburgh started to attempt to get him the ball more in Week 3, as he had seven targets. His 36-yard one-handed reception may prove to be the catch of the year. The Jets have also allowed six TD receptions to wide receivers. Pickens had a strong preseason and will emerge as the Steelers' top big-play threat in the passing game.
-Add Romeo Doubs. The rookie had eight catches for 73 yards in Week 3, again showing the form that generated a lot of fantasy buzz in the preseason. Doubs may solidify himself as a consistent target for Aaron Rodgers in the weeks ahead.
-Add Zay Jones. Trevor Lawrence is raising the production of his wide receivers, and Jones had 10 receptions for 85 yards and a TD in Week 3. He also caught six passes for 65 yards in the season opener. Jones is earning fantasy lineup consideration, possibly as a WR3 or flex starter.
-Add Bills WR Isaiah McKenzie. He has scored twice in three games and should also get starting consideration in Week 4. The Bills take on the Ravens, who have allowed a league-high 842 receiving yards to wide receivers after three weeks.
-Add Colts rookie Alec Pierce. He had 61 receiving yards in Week 3 and should soon emerge as the clear No. 2 WR for Indianapolis. The Titans have also allowed six receiving TDs to WRs, and have allowed 614 receiving yards to the position, second-most in the AFC. Expect Pierce to perform well this week, and pick him up ahead of the rest of the pack before he becomes a desired Week 5 waiver add.
-Trade for Tyreek Hill. You at least have to attempt to do so. There are more explosive performances ahead for Hill, especially against the Bengals this week. You should also explore trading for Justin Jefferson, who has certain big games ahead, such as his 184-yard, two-TD outing in the season opener.
-Trade for or add Treylon Burks. You can be patient with many rookies and it will pay off. Burks was drafted to be a top WR for the Titans and his fantasy output will progressively improve this season. if someone in your league cuts Burks, add and stash him.
-Trade for JuJu Smith-Schuster. As he continues to get more comfortable in the Kansas City offense, his production will start to rise.
Quarterbacks And Tight Ends
-Start Tua Tagovalia as a top fantasy option this week. It will be a fun matchup for fantasy purposes when the Dolphins take on the Bengals. Unless you roster another superstar fantasy QB, Tagovailoa should certainly be in your lineup
-Start Tom Brady in Week 4. He will get Mike Evans back this week and Brady will have to trade offensive punches with Patrick Mahomes as the Buccaneers take on the Chiefs.
-Trade for Trevor Lawrence if you need fantasy QB help. Many fantasy players who drafted Lawrence projected to roster him as a QB2 and may be able to part with him. He scored 25.1 Fantasy Points in Week 3, fourth-highest among all QBs, and is he just outside the top 10 in fantasy scoring at quarterback after three weeks. Lawrence has a tough matchup with the Eagles this week, but performing well against the Chargers defense showed he is certainly on the rise as a fantasy player.
-Add Tyler Conklin. He has clearly emerged as the No. 1 TE for the Jets, and he caught eight passes for 84 yards in Week 3. Conklin had six catches in Week 2 and caught a TD pass in the season opener.
-Add David Njoku. Tight end is the thinnest position in fantasy football, and Njoku has always intrigued fantasy players with his considerable potential. He caught nine passes for 89 yards in Week 3 with a TD, and the Falcons have allowed 221 receiving yards to TEs, third-most in the NFC. Will Dissly also caught a TD pass vs. Atlanta on Sunday.
-Start Dawson Knox. The Ravens have allowed seven TD passes so far this season, tied for second-most in the NFL. Baltimore will be heavily focused on containing the Buffalo WRs and Knox can slip through for a score.
For more fantasy football analysis from Scott Engel, visit The Game Day for his weekly sleepers and more waiver recommendations.
