NFL Week 4 Reactions, Results, Takeaways & Recap - Fantasy Football 2024
Published: Sep 30, 2024
Week 4 is in the books and, as always after a crazy weekend of NFL football, there are a LOT of moving parts.
Who will replace guys like Rashee Rice, Christian Watson, and Jonathan Taylor? Are we seeing a changing of the guard in backfields like Kansas City or Tampa Bay? Are some rookie wide receivers finally getting the chance to flash what they can do?
Fantasy Alarm’s lead NFL analyst Andrew Cooper is here to break down all the snaps and usage from this week so we can make sense of another wacky week of NFL football before we make our waiver wire claims!
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Free agent CB Stephon Gilmore wants to play football in “the right situation” this season.
The 34-year-old veteran visited the Cowboys pre-draft but left without a contract. Gilmore is no longer an above-average starter, but he did force eight incompletions and record one interception last year. A playoff contender could benefit from signing Gilmore as an experienced option, but teams tend to not have high valuations on older cornerbacks.
ESPN’s Turron Davenport reports that Titans QB Cam Ward is adjusting to the NFL’s speed and field width while learning how to adjust protection against the blitz.
Ward is learning through trial and error, as many rookies do. The young quarterback is now aware that an open receiver in the NFL looks far different than it did in college, even when targeting a linebacker’s coverage. The NFL’s condensed field spacing has also reportedly required Ward to improve his awareness against the blitz. Per Davenport, Ward successfully showcased a lightbulb moment in this regard, which occurred “during team period when Ward recognized where the pressure was coming from and checked to a different protection to block it up.” Ward also notably signaled an audible to Calvin Ridley and connected with the veteran receiver for a touchdown. These are positive steps for a quarterback who currently profiles as a QB2 in re-draft formats.
Speaking to Rich Eisen about the Steelers’ contract talks with EDGE T.J. Watt, NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero said the “most likely” outcome is that the two sides agree to an extension that resets the market before the season opener.
Pelissero recently reported that the Steelers do not plan to trade Watt, and Watt’s record-setting goals are well known, so the most recent report makes sense. The team will do its best to ensure team-friendly outs exist later in the deal, but for now, Watt appears to be on track for a hefty payday sometime before September 7th. Pelissero states succinctly, Watt’s expected extension “is going to be north of Myles Garrett—it is going to be upwards of $40 million per year.”
NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero said that there are going to be “decisions for everybody to make” if Tua Tagovailoa is unable to maintain good health this season.
Pelissero made the comments on the Rich Eisen Show today. Pelissero’s comments suggest an organizational reset of sorts could be in order if the worst case scenario plays out and Tagovailoa once again misses significant time. Head coach Mike McDaniel has been unable to keep his team competitive during Tagovailoa’s repeated injury-related absences, and ownership may be looking for an all-around fresh start. Pelissero notes that the Dolphins’ front office created financial flexibility for 2026 via its two recent trades with the Steelers.
Steelers signed GM Omar Khan to a three-year extension through 2028.
Khan was promoted to his current post in 2022. His successful draft picks include WR George Pickens, CB Joey Porter Jr., DT Keeanu Benton, LB Nick Herbig and C Zach Frazier. Khan acquired veterans WR DK Metcalf, TE Jonnu Smith and CB Jalen Ramsey via trade this offseason.
The Athletic’s Alec Lewis believes Vikings WR Tai Felton’s rookie season will be “spent mostly on special teams.”
Lewis notes that Felton could see some snaps on offense if Jordan Addison is suspended in relation to his pending DUI trial. Otherwise, it sounds like Jalen Nailor will be back as the team’s third receiver. Nailor didn’t earn many targets in the WR3 role last year but did cash in with six touchdowns and 414 yards on 28 grabs. Nailor is on the menu as a dart throw in deep best ball formats while the third-round rookie is only intriguing as a dynasty stash.