Week 4 of the 2026 NFL season runs Sep 29 – Oct 5. Rankings below are matchup-adjusted PPR projections: every player's own weekly baseline moved by the defense he faces and the offense he plays in. The injury section is a contingency board — what each start is worth per week, and who absorbs the touches if he cannot go.
Week 4 takeaways
- Bijan Robinson is the week's top-ranked running back at 18.2 projected points, drawing @ NO.
- Justin Jefferson heads the receiver board at 18.9 projected points.
- Biggest matchup swing: Brian Thomas Jr. gains about 2.1 points on a normal week @ CIN.
- Hardest spot on the slate: CeeDee Lamb loses roughly 2.8 points @ HOU.
- No teams are on bye this week, so the waiver pool stays shallow.
Week 4 player rankings by position
Matchup-adjusted PPR projections. Swing is the difference from that player's own normal week.
Quarterback rankings — Week 4
| # | Player | Matchup | Proj | Swing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lamar Jackson (BAL) | vs TEN | 26.2 | +3.2 |
| 2 | Jayden Daniels (WAS) | vs IND | 23.4 | +0.9 |
| 3 | Patrick Mahomes (KC) | @ LV | 22.9 | +1.4 |
| 4 | Josh Allen (BUF) | vs NE | 21.4 | -1.9 |
| 5 | Jalen Hurts (PHI) | vs LAR | 21.4 | -0.6 |
| 6 | Kyler Murray (ARI) | @ NYG | 21 | +1.4 |
| 7 | Caleb Williams (CHI) | vs NYJ | 20.8 | +2.6 |
| 8 | Joe Burrow (CIN) | vs JAX | 20.5 | -0.7 |
| 9 | Jordan Love (GB) | @ TB | 20.5 | +0.5 |
| 10 | Baker Mayfield (TB) | vs GB | 19.7 | -0.8 |
| 11 | Trevor Lawrence (JAX) | @ CIN | 19.3 | +2.2 |
| 12 | Justin Fields (NYJ) | @ CHI | 19.2 | +0.3 |
Running back rankings — Week 4
| # | Player | Matchup | Proj | Swing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bijan Robinson (ATL) | @ NO | 18.2 | -0.5 |
| 2 | Jahmyr Gibbs (DET) | @ CAR | 17.8 | +0.4 |
| 3 | Saquon Barkley (PHI) | vs LAR | 17.4 | -0.5 |
| 4 | Jonathan Taylor (IND) | @ WAS | 15.1 | +0.6 |
| 5 | Derrick Henry (BAL) | vs TEN | 14.5 | +1.7 |
| 6 | De'Von Achane (MIA) | @ MIN | 14.4 | -1.6 |
| 7 | Christian McCaffrey (SF) | vs DEN | 14 | -1.2 |
| 8 | Ashton Jeanty (LV) | vs KC | 13.6 | -1.6 |
| 9 | Bucky Irving (TB) | vs GB | 13.6 | -0.6 |
| 10 | Josh Jacobs (GB) | @ TB | 13.4 | +0.3 |
| 11 | Chase Brown (CIN) | vs JAX | 13 | -0.4 |
| 12 | Kyren Williams (LAR) | @ PHI | 12 | -1.2 |
Wide receiver rankings — Week 4
| # | Player | Matchup | Proj | Swing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Justin Jefferson (MIN) | vs MIA | 18.9 | +0.7 |
| 2 | Ja'Marr Chase (CIN) | vs JAX | 18.8 | -0.7 |
| 3 | Malik Nabers (NYG) | vs ARI | 18.1 | +1.9 |
| 4 | Brian Thomas Jr. (JAX) | @ CIN | 17.5 | +2.1 |
| 5 | Nico Collins (HOU) | vs DAL | 17.4 | +1.8 |
| 6 | Amon-Ra St. Brown (DET) | @ CAR | 16.9 | +0.4 |
| 7 | Puka Nacua (LAR) | @ PHI | 15.2 | -1.5 |
| 8 | CeeDee Lamb (DAL) | @ HOU | 14.8 | -2.8 |
| 9 | Drake London (ATL) | @ NO | 14.4 | -0.4 |
| 10 | A.J. Brown (PHI) | vs LAR | 14.2 | -0.4 |
| 11 | Garrett Wilson (NYJ) | @ CHI | 13.5 | +0.2 |
| 12 | Marvin Harrison Jr. (ARI) | @ NYG | 13.4 | +0.8 |
Tight end rankings — Week 4
| # | Player | Matchup | Proj | Swing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Trey McBride (ARI) | @ NYG | 14.1 | +0.9 |
| 2 | Brock Bowers (LV) | vs KC | 12.4 | -1.5 |
| 3 | Mark Andrews (BAL) | vs TEN | 11.9 | +1.4 |
| 4 | Sam LaPorta (DET) | @ CAR | 11.7 | +0.2 |
| 5 | Travis Kelce (KC) | @ LV | 11.6 | +0.7 |
| 6 | George Kittle (SF) | vs DEN | 11.1 | -1 |
| 7 | T.J. Hockenson (MIN) | vs MIA | 10.4 | +0.4 |
| 8 | Evan Engram (DEN) | @ SF | 9.4 | -0.1 |
| 9 | Colston Loveland (CHI) | vs NYJ | 9.3 | +1.2 |
| 10 | Tucker Kraft (GB) | @ TB | 8.8 | +0.2 |
| 11 | Dallas Goedert (PHI) | vs LAR | 8.7 | -0.2 |
| 12 | David Njoku (CLE) | vs PIT | 7 | -0.3 |
Week 4 risers
- Brian Thomas Jr. (WR) @ CIN grades smash spot — worth about 2.1 points above a normal week.
- Malik Nabers (WR) vs ARI grades smash spot — worth about 1.9 points above a normal week.
- Nico Collins (WR) vs DAL grades smash spot — worth about 1.8 points above a normal week.
- Derrick Henry (RB) vs TEN grades smash spot — worth about 1.7 points above a normal week.
- Zay Flowers (WR) vs TEN grades smash spot — worth about 1.6 points above a normal week.
- Rome Odunze (WR) vs NYJ grades smash spot — worth about 1.4 points above a normal week.
Week 4 fallers
- CeeDee Lamb (WR) @ HOU grades nightmare — about 2.8 points below a normal week.
- De'Von Achane (RB) @ MIN grades nightmare — about 1.6 points below a normal week.
- Ashton Jeanty (RB) vs KC grades nightmare — about 1.6 points below a normal week.
- Ladd McConkey (WR) @ SEA grades nightmare — about 1.6 points below a normal week.
- Puka Nacua (WR) @ PHI grades nightmare — about 1.5 points below a normal week.
- Brock Bowers (TE) vs KC grades nightmare — about 1.5 points below a normal week.
Week 4 injury report and contingency plans
What each start is worth per week, and who absorbs the work if he cannot go.
Saquon Barkley · RB · PHI17.9 pts/week at stake
With Saquon Barkley out you lose about 17.9 points and there is no obvious in-house replacement — look to the waiver wire rather than the depth chart.
De'Von Achane · RB · MIA16 pts/week at stake
With De'Von Achane out you lose about 16 points and there is no obvious in-house replacement — look to the waiver wire rather than the depth chart.
Ashton Jeanty · RB · LV15.2 pts/week at stake
With Ashton Jeanty out you lose about 15.2 points and there is no obvious in-house replacement — look to the waiver wire rather than the depth chart.
Christian McCaffrey · RB · SF15.2 pts/week at stake
With Christian McCaffrey out you lose about 15.2 points and there is no obvious in-house replacement — look to the waiver wire rather than the depth chart.
Jonathan Taylor · RB · IND14.5 pts/week at stake
With Jonathan Taylor out you lose about 14.5 points and there is no obvious in-house replacement — look to the waiver wire rather than the depth chart.
Justin Jefferson · WR · MIN18.2 pts/week at stake
With Justin Jefferson out you lose about 18.2 points and there is no obvious in-house replacement — look to the waiver wire rather than the depth chart.
CeeDee Lamb · WR · DAL17.6 pts/week at stake
With CeeDee Lamb out you lose about 17.6 points and there is no obvious in-house replacement — look to the waiver wire rather than the depth chart.
Malik Nabers · WR · NYG16.2 pts/week at stake
With Malik Nabers out you lose about 16.2 points and there is no obvious in-house replacement — look to the waiver wire rather than the depth chart.