Fantasy Football Week 4 Consistency Corner
Whether you are 3-0 or 0-3, don’t panic! It’s only Week 4 of the Fantasy Football Season. Any fantasy manager still has a chance at the playoffs. If you stay active on the waiver wire, trades, and most importantly setting those lineups (Yes… it needs to be said). Being an active fantasy manager is, sometimes, all it takes. That and a consistently high-scoring roster. That’s what we’re going to help you with, in this week’s Fantasy Football Week 4 Consistency Corner.
What is the Consistency Score?
Consistency Score: Running Backs
Consistency Score: Wide Receivers
Consistency Score: Tight Ends
Consistency Score: DST
Fantasy Football Week 4 – Risers
Sam Darnold – 27 to 23
Last season, Sam Darnold averaged 11.2 fantasy points per game and his 3.77 CS ranked 35th among all quarterbacks. It should be said, there are only 32 NFL teams. In three weeks with the Carolina Panthers (and sans Adam Gase), he is now averaging 21.07 fantasy points per game raising his Cs up to 5.51. For just his time in Charlotte, his CS would be a truly impressive 14.68, which would rank sixth at the QB position over that time. He is currently 12th overall in fantasy football heading into Week 4, with 63.22 total fantasy points.
Related: Fantasy Football Waiver Wire: Week 4
Part of this resurgence can probably be attributed to the weapons around him. Two of which will be gone for Week 4, Christian McCaffrey (injury) and Dan Arnold (traded). But a big part has to be his protection. He’s averaged 2.85 seconds time to throw, which is the eighth longest time among signal-callers. All of that time in the pocket has allowed him to rack up 13 plays of 20+ yards which is the fifth most in the NFL.
Now Darnold travels to Dallas to take on the 2-1 Cowboys who just blew out the Philadelphia Eagles 41-21. To compete with this offense, Darnold and company are going to have to score points. The Cowboys are currently averaging 20.81 fantasy points allowed to the QB Position and their D-PAC score of 8.04 ranks 13th.
Chris Carson – 9 to 8
Ok, Ok. I get it. From nine to eight doesn’t seem like a huge leap to talk about. But let’s take a macro look at Chris Carson and his Consistency Score rankings. To end 2020, 11th. Post Week 1, 10th. Then ninth, and now eighth. His CS itself has steadily risen as well. From 5.58 to end 2020 to now a lovely 6.62.
One of the reasons I felt the need to call out Carson is that I feel like he is one of the most underrated top-tier running backs in the NFL. His 2021 ADP was in the back of the second round or early third, and he was the 17th running back drafted. Behind players such as David Montgomery, James Robinson, Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Joe Mixon, and Jonathan Taylor. All of which he has outperformed in Fantasy Football heading into Week 4.
Now the Seattle Seahawks head to the bay for a conference matchup against the San Fransisco 49ers averaging the fifth-most fantasy points allowed to the running back position. To me, Carson is a perennial “trade for” candidate. And if you can get him on your fantasy football rosters for Week 4, that is even better.
Fantasy Football Week 4 – Fallers
Nelson Agholor – 25 to 33
My how I miss the ever optimism of the preseason. Just a mere four weeks ago, we thought Nelson Agholor could have been a sneaky late-round draft value as the top receiver in New England. Three weeks into the season 10 receptions, 110 yards, and only one touchdown later, Agholor is the 62nd receiver on the season in half-point PPR scoring with only 22 fantasy points, and steadily dropping in Consistency Score as well. Meanwhile, Jakobi Meyers has 11 more targets on the season than Agholor.
He’s averaging a mere 7.3 fantasy points per game. His longest play of the season was 25 yards in Week 1, which was also the last game he scored a touchdown in. The New England Patriots as a whole are averaging the fourth-lowest yards per reception, 9.1, and only four total offensive touchdowns. Four.
This offense should be completely avoided in Fantasy Football right now. Even their “number one” receiver.
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Myles Gaskin – 17 to 18
Myles Gaskin is another player who has been slowly slipping in Fantasy Football up to Week 4. From a rock solid ranking of seventh (CS of 6.3) to end the 2020 season, he’s slipped to 14th (4.96), 17th (4.34), and now 18th (4.4). In half-point PPR scoring, Gaskin’s 2021 season-high fantasy score was Week 1, 10.1. He hasn’t eclipsed even nine fantasy points since.
Now the Miami Dolphins, an offense that has only scored five total touchdowns (sixth-fewest), are forced to start their second-string quarterback against the Indianapolis Colts. The Colts have their own issues, but the defense is holding steady and currently only 22nd in points allowed to the RB position. Also, this game also has the second-lowest over/under line for the week, 42.5. There won’t be many fantasy points to go around, and that’s going to hurt Gaskin who is only getting 55% of the offensive snaps.
Fantasy Football Week 4 – Stream of the Week
Matt Ryan CS 5.52 – Rostered 43% of Leagues
Matt Ryan has not had the fantasy season anyone has hoped for. Less than 17 fantasy points each of the first three weeks in the season, a consistently underwhelming Consistency Score, and currently the 26th QB in total fantasy points. This has caused Ryan to find himself on the waiver wire in the majority of fantasy leagues. But if you’re streaming the position, Week 4 is a great time to pick up and start Ryan in fantasy football.
Ryan and the Atlanta Falcons host the Washington Football Team in Week 4. The WFT is currently allowing the most fantasy points per week to the QB position 27.33. That is 8.76 more fantasy points than the NFL average. In the first three weeks of the year, they’ve allowed 921 yards passing (average of 307 yards per game), six passing touchdowns (T-7th most), and two Top-5 fantasy QB Performances.
In his career versus the Washington Football Team (five games), Ryan has averaged 259 passing yards, two touchdowns, and 19.94 fantasy points.
This game should actually be a fantasy gold mine either way you go. Taylor Heinicke was a very close runner-up for the Stream of the Week moniker. For two 1-2 teams facing off against each other, there at least should be some good fantasy points to be had salvaging this matchup.
Did you like this piece? Disagree? Drop me a line and let me know @DumpsterDiveFF and go ahead and follow for more fantasy football nuggets & all things Consistency Score related!
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