After three weeks of NFL action, we’re already down to just five undefeated teams in football: New England, Baltimore, Denver, Philadelphia, and Minnesota. On the flip side, Cleveland, Jacksonville, New Orleans, and Chicago are still looking for their first ‘W’.
This week, bye weeks come into play, so if you’re in a fantasy league make sure to get all of your Packers and Eagles out of your starting lineups.
Here’s how we expect things to shake out in Week 4:
Lock of the Week – Dolphins (+7) cover vs Bengals
In Week 3, Cincinnati struggled against the Broncos’ receiving duo of Emmanuel Sanders and Demaryius Thomas, allowing three combined touchdowns to the Denver wide outs. Miami features a similar 1-2 punch in Jarvis Landry and DeVante Parker. Since Parker made his 2016 debut in Week 2, he and Landry have accounted for over 400 yards receiving and two touchdowns.
Andy Dalton has missed Tyler Eifert so far this year, as evidenced by his passer rating of 89.0, which ranks 19th in the league. Even if Eifert does return in Week 4, he will play limited snaps and Dalton’s inefficiency will keep the Bengals from winning in blowout fashion.
Upset of the Week – Bears (+3) over Lions
Always be on the lookout for the home underdog. Marvin Jones has almost single-handedly kept Detroit in their last two games, but Chicago runs a defensive scheme that is designed specifically to keep receivers from getting deep.
On the other side of the ball, the Lions have the worst pass defense of any team that isn’t from New Orleans. Whether Brian Hoyer starts or Jay Cutler returns for the Bears, Chicago will surely make their star receiver, Alshon Jeffery, the focal point of the offense and Jeffery has the talent to punish Detroit, a la Jordy Nelson in Week 3.
Player of the Week – Stefon Diggs vs Giants
Stefon Diggs lit up the Packers defense in prime time in Week 2 and on Monday Night he’ll face a Giants’ defense that has allowed almost 300 yards per game through the air. Nearly 30 percent of the Vikings’ throws this year have been targets to Diggs and that number could go up against one of the worst secondaries in the league.
TJ Hernandez is an editor at 4for4.com and the founder of RosterCoach.com. You can follow him on twitter @TJHernandez.
*The blog is for entertainment purposes only and in no way should be used in making wagers of any kind.