Week 4 is here, and we have some great matchups on the slate, but with that comes tough lineup decisions.
Between emerging players, slow starts and injuries, every fantasy manager is dealing with something unique on their roster. Let's get into the weeds and sort through some players I'm lower on this week.
Emeka Egbuka, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
With Baker Mayfield out for multiple weeks, nearly every Buccaneers player is a tough click into the starting lineup. The Bucs are down to UDFA Jalon Daniels at quarterback, which doesn't bode well for Egbuka, who has already been struggling to start the season. Through three weeks, he has finished as WR29, WR33, and WR38 in PPR formats. Feels like a wait-and-see until we can trust Daniels.
Tony Pollard, RB, Tennessee Titans
The Titans' offense is terrible. Through three weeks,
they are at -0.07 EPA per play, which is 23rd in the league. Tony Pollard is only playing on 53.3% of the offensive snaps, splitting time with Tyjae Spears, who is at 44.3%. Pollard also plays next to no role in the passing game, which limits his floor and ceiling. The Titans are big road underdogs against the Baltimore Ravens, which doesn't set up to be a big game for Pollard.
Omarion Hampton, RB, Los Angeles Chargers
The Los Angeles Chargers are a disaster on offense. They are 31st in the league with -0.19 EPA per play on offense, and have to go on the road to play the vaunted Seattle Seahawks' defense, which is at -0.16 EPA per play on defense, which is third in the NFL. On top of that, Hampton is splitting time in the backfield with Keaton Mitchell and Kimani Vidal. If Hampton isn't the feature back, and he's losing red zone touches, there's a very thin path forward for his production.
Quinshon Judkins, RB, Cleveland Browns
In PPR formats, Judkins has finished as RB39, RB25, and RB25. Are we really excited about playing Judkins this week? I say no. Especially against the Steelers' defense, which only allows 95.7 rushing yards per game, which is the 11th fewest in the NFL. This game has a low total of 38.5; we're not exactly talking about an offensive shootout here.
Romeo Doubs, WR, New England Patriots
Drake Maye is really struggling. Will he get better? I think so, but with his struggles, he drags down the players around him. I don't mind the matchup versus the Buffalo Bills, but I suspect the Patriots don't want to turn this game into a shootout against that Bills offense. This means they should lean into the run game a bit more, which limits Doubs role even further. If he had better than a 13.4% target share, it might be a different story, but keep Doubs on the bench for now.
J.K. Dobbins, RB, Denver Broncos
Dobbins just doesn't have the "it" factor. Against the Rams, he had a very solid 17 carries, but only managed 49 yards from that, which is good for 2.9 yards per attempt. He plays absolutely no role in the passing game, since that is reserved for RJ Harvey. There's no doubt the San Francisco 49ers' defense is dealing with some injuries, but with the inconsistency the Broncos' offense has shown, I have a hard time slotting Dobbins into a starting lineup.
Jameson Williams, WR, Detroit Lions
Boom or bust. That's been the calling card for Williams for years now, and this year is no different. With weekly finishes as WR45, WR71, and WR47 in PPR formats, he's yet to have a breakout game. Are the Carolina Panthers the type of team that could help unlock his ceiling? Maybe, but with the Lions' offense so heavily centered around Jahmyr Gibbs, Amon-Ra St. Brown, and Sam LaPorta, Williams often gets squeezed out.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Week 4 fantasy football busts: 7 players to bench or fade
