“Who do you like this week?”

Great question from the gentleman in the front row. Thanks for asking.

As of Tuesday evening, here's an early look at my (preliminary) favorite running backs for fantasy football Week 4—the guys who (in some combination) …

  • Might be high in my fantasy rankings relative to the industry consensus.
  • Need to be started in most season-long leagues.
  • Must be added if they are on waivers.
  • Possess underappreciated upside.
  • Have advantageous matchups.
  • Should be considered in daily fantasy.
  • Make for desirable dynasty acquisition targets.
  • Are on teams with player-friendly betting odds.
  • Catch my eye with their player projections.
  • Stand out in our player prop tool.

Some notes.

Updates: After I submit this piece, any changing opinions I have will be reflected in my fantasy football rankings and my projections (accessible with a FantasyLife+ subscription), which I will update throughout the week.

Rankings Accuracy: Last year I was No. 18 in the FantasyPros Accuracy Contest. That was my sixth season with a top-20 finish.

Scoring & Ordering: All fantasy points are half-PPR scoring unless otherwise stated. Players are ordered within position roughly (but maybe not precisely) according to my rankings.

Abbreviations: Check out the end of the piece for abbreviations I might use.

Sports Betting Data: Odds are as of 10:15 p.m. ET on Tuesday, Sep. 24, and based on the consensus lines in our Fantasy Life Odds Page.

For the rest of my favorite fantasy football plays for Week 4, sorted by position, see below:

Best RBs for Fantasy Football Week 4

Saquon Barkley (Eagles) at Buccaneers

  • Eagles: -2
  • O/U: 45
  • TT: 23.5

Barkley is currently the Offensive Player of the Year frontrunner (+400, ESPN Bet), and for good reason: Aside from his (admittedly terrible and game-losing) Week 2 drop, he has been perfect.

Through his first three games with the Eagles, Barkley has 404 scrimmage yards and leads the league with 74 opportunities and five TDs. I wouldn't say that he looks like the 21-year-old 2018 rookie version of himself (2,028 yards, 15 TDs in 16 games), but this is the best he has looked since then: Even at 27 years old, he still has plenty of burst.

It's unfortunate for Barkley that he could be without RT Lane Johnson (concussion) and RG Mekhi Becton (finger) this week, but any OL deficiencies might be more than counterbalanced by the potential absences of WRs A.J. Brown (hamstring), DeVonta Smith (concussion), and Britain Covey (shoulder, IR), without whom Barkley could enjoy even more work as the centerpiece of the Eagles offense.

And the Buccaneers are No. 29 in defensive rush EPA (0.047) and might be without three of their most impactful run defenders in DTs Vita Vea (knee) and Calijah Kancey (calf) and FS Antoine Winfield (foot).

Brian Robinson (Commanders) at Cardinals

  • Commanders: +3.5
  • O/U: 50.5
  • TT: 23.5

After amassing 1,101 yards and nine TDs last year, Robinson has been even better in 2024, putting up 262 yards and two TDs on 45 carries and eight targets despite sharing the backfield with veteran RB Austin Ekeler.

As a road underdog, Robinson isn't in an advantageous spot, but he has 16-plus opportunities in every game this season and could see extra work with Ekeler (concussion) uncertain to clear the league's protocol on a short week off Monday Night Football.

And even if the Commanders get into a negative game script I still expect them to rely on the ground game, especially because the Cardinals under defensive HC Jonathan Gannon have been vulnerable against the run since he joined the team last year.

In 2023, the Cardinals were No. 1 in largest fantasy boost allowed to RBs (+5.5), and just last week they allowed 225 yards and two TDs from scrimmage to Lions RBs. For the year, they're No. 28 in defensive rush SR (46.6%).

Zack Moss (Bengals) at Panthers

  • Bengals: -4.5
  • O/U: 48
  • TT: 26.25

There were questions about Moss entering the season, but he has been the clear backfield leader through three weeks with a 75% snap rate, respectively seeing 87% and 92% of the snaps in SDD and LDD situations.

With that playing time, he has had 13-plus opportunities in every game, which he has leveraged into 205 yards and two TDs. 

In his 13 games with a snap share of more than 50% with the Colts and now Bengals over the past two-plus seasons he has put up 1,181 yards and seven TDs. 

Moss should again have a solid workload as a home favorite, and he has an advantageous matchup against the Panthers, who are No. 5 in most fantasy points allowed to RBs (25.5) and without DT Derrick Brown (knee, IR).

The Checkdown

  • Derrick Henry (Ravens -2.5, TT: 24.5) vs. Bills: Through three games Henry has 316 yards and four TDs, and he's in his personal smash spot as a home favorite. The Bills are No. 27 in defensive rush EPA (0.021) and could be without their primary off-ball defenders in LBs Matt Milano (biceps, IR) and Terrel Bernard (pectoral).
     
  • Alvin Kamara (Saints +1.5, TT: 20.5) at Falcons: Kamara has a league-high 417 yards and five TDs from scrimmage with 20-plus opportunities in every game. The Falcons are No. 30 in defensive rush SR (48.5%).
     
  • Aaron Jones (Vikings +2.5, TT: 20.5) at Packers: "If you prick us do we not bleed? If you tickle us do we not laugh? If you poison us do we not die? And if you wrong us shall we not revenge?" Jones has 15-plus opportunities in every game this year.
     
  • David Montgomery (Lions -3.5, TT: 25) vs. Seahawks: In 2023, Montgomery had a league-high 27 carries inside the five-yard line, and he already has three TDs in 2024 to go along with his 285 scrimmage yards. All this guy does is hit paydirt and pile up 1,000-yard seasons.
     
  • Carson Steele (Chiefs -8, TT: 23.5) at Chargers: With RBs Isiah Pacheco (leg, IR) and Clyde Edwards-Helaire (mental health, NFI-R) unavailable, Steele bulldozed his way to 74 scoreless yards with 17 carries and two targets as the Chiefs lead back. As a big road favorite, he has a good chance of getting enough work to fall into the end zone.
     
  • Braelon Allen (Jets -7.5, TT: 23.25) vs. Broncos: Agent Zero has had a 33% snap rate over the past two weeks and turned his 34% rush share and 35% target rate into 124 yards and two TDs. He could see even more change-of-pace and late-game usage as a big home favorite. If he's available, you should target Allen on waivers.

Abbreviations

  • Fantasy Points per Game (FPPG)
  • Against the Spread (ATS)
  • Over/Under (O/U)
  • Team Total (TT)
  • Moneyline (ML)
  • Return on Investment (ROI)
  • Adjusted Yards per Attempt (AY/A)
  • Expected Points Added (EPA)
  • Success Rate (SR)
  • Completion Percentage Over Expected (CPOE)
  • Defense-Adjusted Value Over Average (DVOA)
  • AirYAC (Air Yards + Yards After Catch)
  • Weighted Opportunity Rating (WOPR)
  • Average Depth of Target (aDOT)
  • Short Down and Distance (SDD)
  • Long Down and Distance (LDD)

For the rest of my favorite fantasy football plays for Week 4, sorted by position, see below: