Another Sunday slate is behind us fantasy fans, and with the season starting to take shape we’re getting a better idea of who we can trust and who will keep breaking our hearts. The start of a new week gives us the chance to pat ourselves on the back for a job well done, or to foist the blame for our late-night disappointment on someone else for a change. Let’s have a look at who earned our love and who earned our loathing in Week 4!
Hero: Chris Godwin
Godwin was an injury doubt in the lead-up to Sunday evening’s tilt on the road against the LA Rams, some of you may have been tempted to drop him at the last moment just in case he couldn’t go.
If you did, you’ll be kicking yourself, and rightly so.
After his teammate Mike Evans featured in this spot last week, this Sunday saw Godwin take over with 12 catches for 172 yards and two touchdowns. In a 95-point shootout, the Bucs’ receiver was a terror for the Rams’ secondary, and the preseason hype is already looking conservative given what the playmaker can produce.
Godwin is very much the real deal.
EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY – AUGUST 08: Valentine Holmes #39 of the New York Jets is tackled by Kenny Ladler #33 of the New York Giants during a preseason matchup at MetLife Stadium on August 08, 2019 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
Hero: Wayne Gallman
Admit it, Gallman is not someone who anybody was considering could carry a fantasy lineup just two weeks ago. But Fantasy is all about opportunity, and with stud running back Saquon Barkley out injured Gallman grabbed his chance with both hands in a favourable matchup against the ailing Washington Redskins.
While he wasn’t laying down highlight-reel plays like the guy he replaced, Gallman came good with 2 touchdowns, one in the air and one on the ground, along with 63 rushing yards and 6 catches for 55 through the air. Even a lost fumble couldn’t put a dampener on a great day for the backup, so if you had the foresight to jump on this opportunity, you were handsomely rewarded!
NFL Football – Seattle Seahawks v Oakland Raiders – NFL International Series – Wembley Stadium, London, Britain – October 14, 2018 Seattle Seahawks fan before the game Action Images via Reuters/Matthew Childs
Hero: Will Dissly
Tight end is famously a feast-or-famine position in Fantasy, and with injuries and struggling offences it’s been more famine than feast in recent weeks. That is unless you’ve been firing up Russell Wilson’s favourite red-zone target Will Dissly who came good again for the Seahawks this Sunday, taking advantage of a Cardinals D that just loves giving points to tight ends.
Dissly caught 7 balls for 57 yards and a score, making this the third week on the bounce that he’s contributed at least 5 catches, 50 yards and a touchdown. At a threadbare position group, Dissly is turning into a set-and-forget guy with an ideal balance of budget, target reliability and red-zone opportunity.
Long may it continue!
Villain: Tom Brady
Let’s be honest, unless you’re a Patriots fan, Brady is already a villain. If you took a chance on his historical record of slicing up the Buffalo Bills and included him in your lineup this weekend though, even a Pats fan would find it hard to be happy with the output.
In a matchup of two exceptional defences, Brady was left seeing ghosts coming at him, and Tom Terrific finished his day with just 150 passing yards, no touchdown passes and an interception. He also finished with his lowest Fantasy score since 2006, and a lot of unhappy Fantasy owners who can now hate him for a whole different reason than just his looks, wealth, success and general Tom Brady-ness.
Villain: Adam Thielen
It might be slightly unfair to call Thielen a villain here, as a look at the tape shows that he was frequently open against a historically tough Chicago Bears D and his quarterback Kirk Cousins kept doing Kirk Cousins things and missing the Minnesota Vikings star wide receiver.
Fantasy is a ruthless game, however, and the stats don’t lie: two catches for six yards.
SIX!
Given that this time last year Thielen was halfway to a historic eight consecutive 100+ yard receiving games to open the season, his disappearance from stat lines is troubling. He may not be entirely to blame, but that doesn’t make the paltry point total any easier to swallow if he was on your team this week.
INDIANAPOLIS, IN – JANUARY 04: Indianapolis Colts helmets rest on the sidelines during the pregame warmup before the AFC Wild Card game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Lucas Oil Stadium on January 4, 2015 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
Villain: Marlon Mack
Seen by many as a potential breakout candidate before the season, Mack has been a respectable flex starter with upside for your fantasy lineups so far this year. That was until the Oakland Raiders came to town. A rotten combination of game script and bad luck combined to make sure Mack offered you nothing of consequence for your matchup this week, as the Raiders held a 21-7 by the end of the 1st quarter, forcing the Colts to lean on the passing game.
A miserable day of production saw Mack carry the ball 11 times for 39 yards before being forced out with an ankle injury in the second half. He has since said that he felt he could have gone back in, but the coaches kept him out for the remainder of the game.
Remember: NFL coaches hate your fantasy teams and want you to fail, and if you were relying on Mack in Week 4, they were successful.
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