NFL DFS Week 4 Example Lineups: Top Picks for DraftKings & FanDuel Contests

UPDATED: Sunday, Oct. 1 at 12:30pm ET

Maybe it's the fact that NFL Week 4 started off on such a high with Detroit Lions running back David Montgomery crushing the souls of the Green Bay Packers or maybe it's because the Atlanta Falcons and Jacksonville Jaguars are squaring off in London right now, but I am super-amped up for this week's DFS contests. Maybe it's because the NFL DFS Playbook has crushed it for the first three weeks of the season and we're ready to make it four. Either way, we've got plenty to look at here before we finalize our cash lineups and GPP tournament stacks. 

UPDATE: Please check the NFL DFS Playbook for Sunday morning updates/changes

If you have already read through the Playbook, then you know we've got a lot of value plays at both the running back and wide receiver positions, so we need to make sure we nail our quarterbacks and tight ends first before figuring out where else we can/should spend up. High-priced backs such as Christian McCaffrey and Josh Jacobs are certainly in play, as are receivers such as Tyreek Hill, Keenan Allen and Ja'Marr Chase. This should make our cash lineups relatively easy to set up as we can see exactly where the masses are headed using the NFL DFS Ownership Projections, but for our GPP tournaments, there are going to be a ton of options available which, if a few of them hit, tends to raise the paylines. We also have to remember that, like last week with Los Angeles Chargers/Minnesota Vikings, we are going to have to find ways to invest in the Buffalo Bills/Miami Dolphins game while getting in strong complementary players. So rather than sit here and yammer on, let's get to it!

Just a few notes here about the lineups below...

The cash lineups were built solely off the players I put in the Playbook. These are the guys who, unless I have indicated otherwise, offer up the higher floor and will help you cash in your Double-Ups and 50/50s. For GPP tournaments, particularly the large-field ones, you need to find alternative routes to the cash line. I will utilize players from the Playbook and the DFS Dart Board to fill in the gaps, but what I am looking for are some lower-owned stacks that make sense based on expected game flow and other news. You may also see in the GPP lineups, there may be some names I haven't discussed this week on the site, but have talked about during the week on the Fantasy Alarm Show or even on the Fantasy Alarm Sunday Gameday Show on SiriusXM Fantasy Sports Radio. You will also notice, though, that others on the site have mentioned some of these players in places such as the position coaches, so it's not like we're trying to hide anything from you. The only time, and I mean the only time you will see a player in a GPP lineup who hasn't been discussed is if we are using a stack and need a player from the other team coming back. But it's rare when that happens.

Again, these lineups are meant to serve as examples for you; a sounding board, as I said. They are not meant for you to plug in as your own. That's the lazy way and we don't condone it. We are trying to teach you how to be a better DFS player; we aren't lineup-sellers. You should be creating your own lineups using all the information we provide you throughout the week and then coming here to see if there is anything you may have missed or simply for an alternative perspective.

**Be sure to check the Playbook and Dart Board for late changes

Best of luck to you this week and let's make some money!

SUNDAY MORNING NOTES:

According to Adam Schefter:

Browns’ QB Deshaun Watson is not playing today, per source.

With veteran quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo out due to a concussion, Las Vegas has decided to start rookie fourth-round pick Aidan O’Connell versus the Chargers, per sources.

Saints’ QB Derek Carr, listed as questionable for Sunday due to a sprained AC joint, is expected to start vs. the Bucs barring a pre-game setback with his shoulder, per source.

Chargers' RB Austin Ekeler is not expected to play Sunday vs Raiders

49ers' RB Elijah Mitchell is not expected to play Sunday vs. Cardinals.

49ers’ WR Deebo Samuel, listed as questionable for Sunday due to a rib and knee injury, is expected to play vs. the Cardinals barring any pre-game setbacks, per source.

49ers’ WR Jauan Jennings (shin) is not expected to play Sunday vs. Cardinals.

Bengals elevated TE Tanner Hudson from their practice squad to their active roster for Sunday’s game at Tennessee

Rams’ TE Tyler Higbee, listed as questionable for Sunday due to an Achilles injury, is expected to play vs. the Colts

Browns’ TE David Njoku was added to the injury report as questionable after sustaining burn injuries to his face and arm during a household accident. He says he wants to play Sunday.

Neither EDGE Joey Bosa nor S Derwin James are expected to play Sunday vs Raiders.

Other News:

Deshaun Watson (shoulder contusion) is expected to play vs Ravens. Because he hasn’t thrown all week, Stefanski/trainers will watch Watson throw in warmups before officially giving green light.

ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports Ravens RB Justice Hill is expected to play against the Browns in Week 4.

Odell Beckham (ankle) will not play in Week 4 against the Browns.

Rashod Bateman (hamstring) will not play in Week 4 against the Browns.

Cardinals listed Marquise Brown (thumb) as questionable for Week 4 against the 49ers.

NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reports Cowboys LT Tyron Smith (knee) has been ruled out for Week 4.

Laremy Tunsil (knee) will not play in Week 4 against the Steelers.

Chargers C Corey Linsley (illness) will not play in Week 4 against the Raiders.

WEATHER REPORT:

Fortunately, we've got nothing to worry about here.

GPP STACKS:

As a reminder, when you're stacking in GPP, you always want to run someone back from the opposing team. One-sided games often turn to a running back seeing higher-than-usual volume or the back-ups start to play. For a stack to really pop, the other team needs to keep things competitive. 

Chalk Stacks (Expect High Ownership): 

*Bills: Josh Allen, Stefon Diggs, Gabe Davis or Dalton Kincaid or Dawson Knox (Hill or Waddle or Mostert coming back)

Dolphins: Tua Tagovailoa, Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle (Diggs coming back)

*Eagles: Jalen Hurts, DeVonta Smith, A.J. Brown or D'Andre Swift (McLaurin or Dotson or Robinson coming back)

Colts: Anthony Richardson, Michael Pittman, Josh Downs or Zack Moss or Alec Pierce (Nacua, Williams or Atwell coming back)

*Chargers: Justin Herbert, Keenan Allen, Joshua Palmer or Quentin Johnston (Adams pr Jacobs coming back)

Possible Lower-Owned Stacks:

Vikings: Kirk Cousins, Justin Jefferson, T.J. Hockenson or Jordan Addison (Sanders or Thielen coming back)

Ravens: Lamar Jackson, Mark Andrews, Zay Flowers (Ford or Cooper coming back)

*Broncos: Russell Wilson, Courtland Sutton, Jerry Jeudy or Javonte Williams (Moore or Johnson coming back)

49ers: Brock Purdy, George Kittle, Christian McCaffrey or Deebo Samuel (Conner or Brown or Ertz coming back)

*Browns: Deshaun Watson, Amari Cooper, Elijah Moore or Jerome Ford (Andrews or Flowers coming back)

*Bengals: Joe Burrow, Ja'Marr Chase, Tee Higgins or Tyler Boyd (Henry, Hopkins or Okonkwo coming back)

*Rams: Matthew Stafford, Puka Nacua, Tutu Atwell or Kyren Williams (Moss or Pittman coming back)

Cowboys: Dak Prescott, Brandon Cooks, Tony Pollard or CeeDee Lamb (Parker or Stevenson or Zeke coming back)

Bucs: Baker Mayfield, Chris Godwin, Mike Evans or Rachaad White (Olave, Thomas or Kamara coming back)

Saints: Derek Carr, Chris Olave, Michael Thomas or Rashid Shaheed or Alvin Kamara (Godwin or White coming back)

Steelers: Kenny Pickett, George Pickens, Najee Harris or Calvin Austin (Dell or Collins coming back)

Texans: CJ Stroud, Nico Collins, Tank Dell (Harris or Pickens coming back)

Dart Throw Stacks:

Bears: Justin Fields, DJ Moore, Darnell Mooney or Roschon Johnson (Sutton or Jeudy coming back)

Titans: Ryan Tannehill, DeAndre Hopkins, Derrick Henry or Chigozeum Okonkwo (Chase or Higgins coming back)

Commanders: Sam Howell, Terry McLaurin, Jahan Dotson or Brian Robinson (Swift or Brown or Smith coming back)

Panthers: Bryce Young, Miles Sanders/Chuba Hubbard, Adam Thielen or DJ Chark (Jefferson or Mattison or Addison coming back)

Patriots: Mac Jones, DeVante Parker, Hunter Henry or Rhamondre Stevenson or Ezekiel Elliott (Cooks or Lamb or Pollard coming back)

Cardinals: Joshua Dobbs, Marquise Brown, Zach Ertz or James Conner (McCaffrey or Kittle or Deebo coming back)

Raiders: Aidan O'Connell, Davante Adams, Jakobi Meyers or Josh Jacobs (Allen or Palmer coming back)

*denotes favorite