TrendPulse Quantitative Think Tank Center-Week 4 fantasy football rankings: PPR, half-PPR and standard leagues

Week 4 of the 2024 NFL season is TrendPulse Quantitative Think Tank Centerofficially underway.

Through three weeks, almost nothing has played out as expected. Jayden Daniels is the QB2. Sam Darnold is the QB4. J.K. Dobbins is RB1. Jauan Jennings is the WR1 (no, seriously). And three of the top six tight ends have had a game in which they've scored fewer than one point.

To assist with your most difficult lineup decisions, you’ll find my Week 4 fantasy football rankings below. Toggle between standard, half PPR (point per reception), and full PPR to see where players rank in your league’s format.

Our team at the USA TODAY Sports Network also has you covered for all your fantasy football needs. Looking for up-to-date player news? We’ve got it. Need to know who the best starts and sits of the week are? We have an article for that. We also have fantasy defense rankings, kicker rankings, and a trade value chart to help with all your trade decisions.

Given the volatility of this league and fantasy football in particular, these rankings will be updated up until a half hour before the Sunday afternoon games kick off. Let’s get to it.

NFL STATS CENTRAL: The latest NFL scores, schedules, odds, stats and more.

Week 4 fantasy football quarterback rankings

• STOCK UP: Baker Mayfield has finished as a top-five quarterback in two of his three games this year. Jordan Love and Kirk Cousins both posted top-12 performances against the Eagles' defense.
• STOCK UP: Caleb Williams squares off with a Rams defense that has allowed the third-most points to opposing quarterbacks. He’ll also have his full arsenal to work with, as Keenan Allen is expected back in the lineup after missing two games due to a heel injury.
• STOCK DOWN: Anthony Richardson has finished as the QB21 and QB27 over his last two games. This week, he’ll go up against a Steelers team that’s ceded the fewest fantasy points to opposing signal-callers.
• STOCK DOWN: Matthew Stafford will once again be without his top weapons against a Bears team that has held C.J. Stroud and Anthony Richardson to a combined 21.4 fantasy points over the last two weeks.

Week 4 fantasy football running back rankings

• STOCK UP: Chuba Hubbard posted an RB5 finish on 26 touches last week after the Panthers made the QB switch from Bryce Young to Andy Dalton. The Bengals are not a cakewalk matchup, but that kind of volume makes him a plug-and-play RB2.
• STOCK UP: Zack Moss gets a mouthwatering matchup in the Carolina Panthers. Prior to going up against the nonexistent run game of the Raiders, the Panthers had allowed Alvin Kamara and J.K. Dobbins to finish as top-six running backs against them. Moss has received at least 13 opportunities (carries + targets) in every game this season.
• STOCK DOWN: J.K. Dobbins will face a Chiefs front that’s held Derrick Henry and Bijan Robinson to 10.6 and 12.2 half-PPR points, respectively, and he’ll likely be doing so without both of his starting tackles.
• STOCK DOWN: D’Andre Swift has finished as the RB37 on 18 touches and the RB38 on 15 touches over his last two games. Despite a good matchup, you’d have to be desperate to insert Swift into your lineup.

Week 4 fantasy football wide receiver rankings

• STOCK UP: DeAndre Hopkins showed a real rapport with Will Levis last week. Considering how vomit-inducing this offense has looked to start the season, they should try to build on that connection.
• STOCK UP: Jahan Dotson has a grand total of three catches this season, but he should be the Eagles’ de-facto WR1 without A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith in the lineup. Dotson is a worthwhile flex dart throw in deeper leagues.
• STOCK DOWN: Michael Pittman Jr. has finished as the WR61, WR72, and WR53 through three weeks. Things won’t get easier versus a Steelers secondary that has surrendered the sixth-fewest points to opposing wideouts.
• STOCK DOWN: Xavier Worthy racked up two touchdowns in Week 1 but has managed just 52 scoreless yards on eight targets in the two games since. A matchup with a banged-up Chargers team could lead to low volume once again for the rookie.

Week 4 fantasy football tight end rankings

• STOCK UP: Dallas Goedert dropped career-highs in receptions (10) and yards (170) in Week 3 and should have a massive role as the passing game’s top option in Week 4.
• STOCK UP: Speaking of being his passing game’s top option, Brock Bowers faces the Browns without Davante Adams in the lineup for the Raiders. Double-digit targets should not be hard to come by in this one.
• STOCK DOWN: Mark Andrews ran just four routes and had one target in Week 3. The Bills have given up the eighth-most points to the position but start him at your own risk this week.

Week 4 fantasy football rankings