A Los Angeles Rams coach said after the team's Week 3 win over the division-rival San Francisco 49ers that the Niners' defense isn't the same this year. The focus in the offseason was on the team's offensive holdouts (receiver Brandon Aiyuk and left tackle Trent Williams) while the team was quietly breaking in another new defensive coordinator in Nick Sorensen, who was promoted after the team parted ways with Steve Wilks after one season. Through the first three weeks in 2024, the Niners D has the third-worst third-down defense in the league, allowing a 52.9% conversion rate. Over head coach Kyle Shanahan's first seven seasons, his defenses allowed opponents to convert 39% of their third downs. It's something to watch as the season progresses, but it doesn't help that defensive tackle Javon Hargrave (triceps) is likely to miss the rest of the year.

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There is no resolution in sight for the New York Jets with defensive end Haason Reddick as the two sides continue to communicate. If Reddick continues to hold out as he seeks a new long-term deal, his fines will reach $10 million by Halloween. The two sides have been in a stalemate for months, with Reddick convinced the Jets had promised him a new contract after they acquired him from the Philadelphia Eagles in a trade. The Eagles traded Reddick after they were unwilling to pay him what he was seeking, believed to be in the $25 million per year range. The 30-year-old pass-rusher skipped all of the team's offseason workouts and even requested a trade in August. Reddick's holdout has extended through the first three weeks of the regular season, and there is no indication he'll report anytime soon. The Jets previously said they have no intentions of trading Reddick, so the staredown continues. New York doesn't want to give in, but the belief is the Jets may have no choice but to trade Reddick eventually.

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The San Francisco 49ers defense/special teams unit will have a plus matchup when they host the New England Patriots in Week 4. Last week in Los Angeles, the 49ers allowed 27 points to the Rams while collecting three sacks and forcing zero turnovers. The Niners have disappointed fantasy players so far in 2024. They are currently in a three-way tie for 15th place in Yahoo default D/ST fantasy points. New England has had an issue with keeping opposing rushers out of the pocket in the early going, allowing the eighth-most sacks but they've done a great job protecting the football. They've lost one fumble and have yet to throw an interception. That hasn't necessarily led to production though, as New England is dead last in the NFL in offensive yards per game. The Patriots come into Sunday with a left tackle problem and are expected to start waiver-wire addition Trey Jacobs after the three players ahead of him were ruled out, so edge rusher Nick Bosa and San Francisco's pass rush should create plenty of backfield havoc. It's worth noting that San Francisco will be without run-stuffer Javon Hargrave (triceps) and defensive back Talanoa Hufanga (ankle) is questionable. The Niners' D/ST has underperformed so far but better luck should be coming. Start them as a Top-5 option in Week 4.

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The Buffalo Bills love what they've seen from quarterback Josh Allen through three games. He's playing efficiently, making good decisions and taking care of the football. Allen has also used all of the team's skill players, and the proof of that came in the Week 3 dismantling of the Jaguars, when 10 different Bills players had a catch. Buffalo is 10-2 since offensive coordinator Joe Brady took over play-calling duties in 2023. Not only is the passing game working, but the Bills have run the ball more than anyone else in the NFL since Week 11 of last year (34.6 times per game). Allen has more control and power at the line of scrimmage and is doing more with less in the receiving game in 2024 after losing both Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis. In the highest-scoring offense in football, Allen remains a must-start QB1 heading into a Sunday night showdown on the road against the Ravens.

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The Detroit Lions D/ST is a risky option against the Seahawks in Week 4. In front of what should be a raucous home crowd at Ford Field, the Lions will look to ramp up the pass rush with the likes of Aidan Hutchinson. With eight team sacks through three games, that is a strength of the Lions' defense. But there could be points to be had in this game and DK Metcalf is a scary matchup for the Lions' cornerbacks and Geno Smith is a more than capable quarterback. In what could be a back-and-forth game, there could be points to be had from both teams in this game. The Lions D/ST will likely need turnovers to turn in a good fantasy performance. With one interception in each of the first three games that is a possibility but this should not be a streaming-worthy defense option this week. Detroit ranks as the 14th defense in fantasy this season in terms of total points with 20 and could finish in similar territory in terms of Week 4 output.

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Even if Green Bay Packers quarterback Malik Willis doesn't start in Week 4 against the undefeated division-rival Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, head coach Matt LaFleur could possibly use Willis in some packages to keep the Vikings on their toes. If Jordan Love (knee) returns for the first time since spraining his left knee in the Week 1 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in Brazil, he won't be 100 percent. The Vikings are preparing to see both Love and Willis on Sunday. Long-time NFL QB Chase Daniel is firmly against the Packers pushing Love to play this week, especially against an ultra-aggressive Vikings D. "You want to know the worst-case situation for the Packers? Love gets destroyed in the pocket and re-aggravates the knee. Play this smart for the long term and play the hot hand. Malik Willis can win this game for you," Daniel said.

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Detroit Lions kicker Jake Bates is a perfect 5-for-5 on his field goal attempts so far this season but none have come from more than 35 yards out. He did miss an extra point last week at Arizona. He has a decent matchup in Week 4 against the Seahawks at Ford Field but until he proves himself on a long kick it is tough to trust him as a fantasy kicker option. The Lions have a good offense which would seem to suggest plenty of opportunities for Bates but Dan Campbell's propensity to go for it on 4th-and-short situations can be viewed as a factor limiting Bates' overall upside. Until fantasy managers get more clarity on the long-range ability of Bates as a kicker, it is best to leave him on the waiver wire and take a wait-and-see approach.

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A Kansas City Chiefs source said that tight end Travis Kelce isn't hurt, tired or out of shape. "It's such a long season, he will be there when it matters most. He started the same way last season," the source said. Kelce didn't miss a single workout this summer, mandatory or voluntary. Others have questioned his commitment to football surrounding appearances with his superstar girlfriend, commercials, a new acting gig and a popular podcast. Before signing a contract that made him the highest-paid TE in the NFL last spring, Kelce told head coach Andy Reid and general manager Brett Veach he thought he had at least two more good years left. Opponents are still deploying some of their best defensive backs to slow Kelce down, and the emergence of receiver Rashee Rice means that quarterback Patrick Mahomes doesn't always need to rely on Kelce. The 34-year-old may be off to a slow start in 2024 with eight catches for 69 yards and no TDs through three games, but most everyone is expecting him to come alive eventually.

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Chicago Bears rookie quarterback Caleb Williams is being asked to play with structure and lot of patience in his first NFL season, something he isn't used to doing. Williams' off-script playmaking is considered his superpower and what made him a start at USC, but so far he's being sped up by defenses and getting little help from his offensive line. The Athletic's Dianna Russini expects the Bears to continue to try and lean on their ground game so that play-action opens up, which would in turn allow Williams to go on the move. The 22-year-old hasn't looked great in his first three NFL contests, but he did go 33-for-52 for 363 yards and two touchdowns (he also threw two picks) in the Week 3 loss to the Colts. There is still time for Williams to develop into an elite signal-caller, but it's time to pump the brakes on him being a legitimate QB1 in fantasy on a weekly basis. He'll get matchup against a beatable Rams defense at home in Week 4.

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Jacksonville Jaguars linebacker Foyesade Oluokun (foot) has officially been ruled out for the Week 4 contest versus the division-rival Houston Texans this weekend after missing practice all week. Safety Darnell Savage (quadriceps) and cornerback Jarrian Jones (chest) are questionable to play for the Jaguars defense. Oluokun, who was drafted as one of the first linebackers off the board in most IDP fantasy formats, is expected to miss multiple weeks as he deals with plantar fasciitis. The 29-year-old former sixth-rounder in 2018 is a tackle machine after racking up 666 combined tackles (419 solo) over the last four seasons with the Jags and Atlanta Falcons. Expect Ventrell Miller to start at outside linebacker again in Week 4 with Oluokun sidelined. The Jags defense was dismantled by the Buffalo Bills in Week 3 and should be off the fantasy radar in this divisional tilt on the road on Sunday.

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Miami Dolphins running back Raheem Mostert (chest) "is trying" to be ready to play in Week 4 on Monday night against the visiting Tennessee Titans, according to head coach Mike McDaniel. However, McDaniel said "we are not going to prematurely put ourselves out there if we are going to take steps back and not protect ourselves. He wants to (play) in the worst way." Mostert was limited in practice for the second straight day on Friday after missing the last two games, so he is certainly on the road to recovery. However, it doesn't mean he'll play on Monday, and he could be questionable on Saturday's final injury report. Especially with the game being on Monday, the 32-year-old isn't a recommended flex play this wee. If Mostert does suit up, he'll be the RB2 behind De'Von Achane and could also have his snaps limited.

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San Francisco 49ers kicker Jake Moody will kick off a Week 4 home matchup versus the New England Patriots on Sunday. Last Week in Los Angeles, Moody hit one of two field goals, making a 26-yarder and missing an important fourth-quarter 55-yard attempt wide left. He also remained perfect in extra point attempts this year, hitting three of three. Moody is tied for fifth in fantasy points per game in Yahoo default scoring and the Patriots are tied for 11th-best in the NFL at limiting fantasy kicking production. San Francisco's potent offense is a good bet in most weeks to spend enough time in plus territory to set up Moody for a productive day, and this week is no exception. He's in the Top-5 conversation this week.

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Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love (knee) is questionable to face the undefeated division-rival Minnesota Vikings at Lambeau Field on Sunday in Week 4 and will be a game-time decision, but he has been trending in the right direction and there is optimism that he will suit up. Love suffered a sprained MCL in the Week 1 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in Brazil but hasn't missed a practice the last two weeks, although he's been limited. The Vikings have been loosely preparing to face Love this week. If Love starts, the Packers could use some packages with Malik Willis, who has been running the ball well in place of Love the last two weeks. If Love does play, he's expected to wear a brace on his left knee, and his mobility will likely be a bit compromised, making him more of a risky QB1 choice for fantasy managers. At this point, Love can't really make his knee any worse, so it's mostly about his comfort level on the field.

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Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell said that tight end Sam LaPorta (ankle) is good to go for the Week 4 contest on Monday night against the visiting Seattle Seahawks. LaPorta had to be carted to the locker room in the Week 3 win over the Arizona Cardinals due to an ankle injury, but he later returned and now is in the clear to play in Week 4 after he practiced in full on Friday. The 23-year-old has been a disappointment through the first three weeks of his sophomore season after being the most valuable fantasy tight end in his rookie campaign. He's caught eight of his 10 targets for 94 yards and no touchdowns so far, but fantasy managers that drafted him early need to stick with him as a must-start TE1 now that he's in the clear with his ankle injury. The good news for LaPorta is that the Seahawks have allowed the 10th-most half-PPR fantasy points to the TE position early on this year.

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San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Jauan Jennings will line up at home against the New England Patriots in Week 4. In a Week 3 loss to the Rams in Los Angeles, Jennings had the game of his career, catching 11 of 12 targets for 175 yards and three touchdowns in place of Deebo Samuel Sr. (calf). To expect that level of performance again would be foolish but last week shouldn't be written off as a total fluke, either. The skill that Jennings flashed during the monster game is real, and it's possible that Jennings will carry enhanced rapport with quarterback Brock Purdy into Week 4. At the same time, Brandon Aiyuk is still the heavy favorite for production against New England, even if the questionable Deebo Samuel Sr. (calf) can't go. Tight End George Kittle (hamstring) -- who was also absent last week during Jennings' explosion -- is expected to return. The Patriots' defense has been a plus matchup for opposing fantasy receivers thus far, ranking as the ninth-most generous in the league in Yahoo default scoring. Jennings is on the WR2/3 border this week, but keep an eye on Samuel Sr.'s status. If Samuel Sr. suits up, Jennings would be heavily downgraded, and starting Jennings in that situation is almost certainly an overreaction to last week's revelations.

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Miami Dolphins kicker Jason Sanders can be safely avoided by fantasy managers this week when the team hosts the Tennessee Titans on Monday Night Football. Sanders has drilled all three attempted extra points this season but has hit on just 4-of-6 field goal tries through three weeks. The 28-year-old has been a bit shaky from a distance this season -- with both misses coming from 46+ yards away. Additionally, scoring opportunities have decreased since Tua Tagovailoa (concussion) went down in Week 2. Skylar Thompson (rib) did not inspire much confidence last week in his action, and now he'll also miss an undetermined amount of time while recovering from a rib injury. The Dolphins have responded by signing quarterback Tyler Huntley off the Ravens practice squad and promoting him to starter ahead of the team's Week 4 matchup. How the offense will look under Huntley remains to be seen, but a run-heavy game plan could be in store due to his success in that aspect of his game and his inexperience with head coach Mike McDaniel's scheme. Sanders is one of the better kickers in the league, but Miami's 13 points over the last two weeks don't inspire a positive outlook for him. He's RotoBaller's K29 for Week 4.

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Miami Dolphins tight end Jonnu Smith is not a viable option this Monday Night when the team faces the Tennessee Titans. Through three weeks this season, Smith has hauled in 9-of-12 targets for 78 yards. Despite each of those statistics ranking fourth-best on the team, fantasy managers can't trust slotting him into their lineups. The 29-year-old will have his work cut out for him this Monday against a Titans defense that has been the second-best against opposing tight ends through the first few weeks of the season. Tennessee is allowing just 139.3 pass yards per game and 4.9 net yards per pass attempt -- both top-five marks in the league. Additionally, Miami will be turning to yet another starting quarterback this week when Tyler Huntley receives his first appearance of the season. Huntley was signed off the Ravens practice squad with the news of Skylar Thompson's (ribs) injury that he picked up in last week's 24-3 loss to the Seattle Seahawks. It's yet another thing working against the veteran TE this week, as Miami will likely deploy a run-centric scheme as they look to get back into the win column. The former third-round pick is RotoBaller's TE22 this week in PPR formats.

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Miami Dolphins running back Jeff Wilson Jr. will face a challenging Tennessee Titans defense when the two teams square off on Monday Night Football. With backfield mate Raheem Mostert (chest) labeled as questionable, Wilson Jr. could again split time with rookie Jaylen Wright behind De'Von Achane. Mostert's main issue at this point is reportedly pain management, and if he could play, Wilson would be relegated to a decreased role. In Week 3, the 27-year-old saw 14 snaps to Wright's 13 and finished with one more carry (3) and three fewer yards (14) than the fourth-round rookie. Neither was targeted in the passing game. In Week 4, the team will turn to already its fourth QB when Tyler Huntley makes his first start. Recently signed off the Baltimore Ravens practice squad, Huntley gives Miami another element in their rushing attack that defenses must account for. With his lack of experience in the Dolphins offense, head coach Mike McDaniel likely installed a scaled-back game plan that involves a heavy rushing attack against a particularly formidable Titans pass defense. However, some of those carries will undoubtedly go Huntley's way, meaning less overall volume for Dolphins running backs. Wilson is a low-end, low-floor FLEX ahead of Monday night.

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San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk will try to get on track in a Week 4 home matchup against the New England Patriots. The former first-round pick has yet to produce a satisfying performance for fantasy managers through three games. Last week in Los Angeles, Aiyuk took 10 targets but only caught half of them for 48 yards. On a Friday KNBR radio show, head coach Kyle Shanahan said that he's happy with how Aiyuk is playing, but that they are not the type of offense that is going to force-feed targets to any one player. The Patriots have been rather generous to opposing wideouts in the early going, allowing 30.9 points per game in Yahoo default scoring, which ranks ninth-most. It remains to be seen whether Aiyuk will line up on Sunday with his counterpart Deebo Samuel Sr. (calf) still questionable, but whether he does seems less relevant after Jauan Jennings demonstrated last week the ability to compete for targets with Aiyuk just as well as Samuel Sr. Tight end George Kittle (hamstring) is expected to play after a one-game absence. It's just a matter of time before Aiyuk pops, especially after the healthy target volume versus the Rams. Stick with him as a back-end WR1 on Sunday.

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Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson has paid early dividends in fantasy so far, and he hopes to continue riding a hot streak in Week 4 against the Green Bay Packers. The former first-round receiver has been incredibly productive despite his team simply not having to pass much in the second half of their games. The Packers will probably pose a more competitive game than the Vikings have been used to this season. If so, expect even greater productivity from Jefferson, who has already scored a touchdown in his first three games. There is a chance that Jordan Addison (ankle) eats into the targets. However, start Jefferson and feel confident in that choice.

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