MIAMI, Sept. 26 (UPI) — Brock Purdy and Jayden Daniels are among my five must-start fantasy football quarterbacks for Week 4.
Josh Allen leads my Top 20 quarterback rankings, which are below. Joe Burrow, Lamar Jackson, Jalen Hurts and Patrick Mahomes are among my other Top 5 plays. Purdy, C.J. Stroud, Daniels, Dak Prescott and Kyler Murray round out my Top 10.
My Week 4 running back and wide receiver rankings remain available for your preparation. My free-agent targets article is available here.
Justin Herbert and Jordan Love stock owners should continue to monitor their injury status before placing them in starting lineups. My positional rankings will continue to be updated for developments, including injuries.
Andy Dalton, Sam Darnold and Caleb Williams join Purdy and Daniels as my must-start options. Several streaming options can also be found within my rankings.
Each of my must-start options land inside the Top 14 of my quarterback rankings.
Brock Purdy
Purdy is my No. 6 option for Week 4. The San Francisco 49ers quarterback totaled more than 600 passing yards over the last two weeks, when he also threw four touchdown passes.
This week, the 49ers will face a New England Patriots defense that allowed 281 yards and two scores to Aaron Rodgers. They also surrendered the sixth-most passing yards — 257.3 per game — to quarterbacks through three weeks.
Look for Purdy to eclipse 250 passing yards and to throw at least two touchdowns in this great matchup.
Jayden Daniels
Daniels just authored one of the best performances for a rookie quarterback in NFL history, completing 21 of 23 passes for 254 yards and two scores, and rushing for another touchdown, in a primetime win over the Cincinnati Bengals.
The Washington Commanders quarterback failed to throw a touchdown pass through his first two starts, but now appears in rhythm and continues to provide additional value through his rushing ability.
This week, the Commanders will face an Arizona Cardinals defense that allowed the ninth-most fantasy points to quarterbacks so far this season. They allowed two passing scores from Jared Goff in Week 3 and surrendered two passing scores and two rushing scores, in addition to 39 rushing yards, to Josh Allen in Week 1.
Daniels isn’t likely to repeat his efficiency from Monday’s win over the Bengals, but he remains an electric fantasy football play who could lead you to victory. Look for my No. 8 option to account for at least three touchdowns while totaling 200 passing yards and more than 50 rushing yards.
Sam Darnold
Darnold is the No. 4 quarterback in fantasy football, in terms of points per game. His rise as an elite fantasy football option is a shock to many, but it appears he can be trusted amid this scorching run.
The Minnesota Vikings quarterback, who leads the NFL with eight passing scores, threw four touchdown tosses in Week 3 and should find the end zone multiple times again in Week 4 against the Green Bay Packers.
The Packers are tied for allowing the fifth-most touchdown passes and surrendered the seventh-most passing yards to quarterbacks through three weeks. That run included allowing 260 yards and two scores from Tennessee Titans quarterback Will Levis in Week 4.
Look for Darnold to eclipse each of those totals this week, when he issues another elite performance. He is my No. 9 play.
Andy Dalton
Like Darnold, Dalton was a surprise elite fantasy football producer in Week 3, when he threw for 319 yards and three scores in a Carolina Panthers win over the Las Vegas Raiders.
This week, Dalton will face one of his former teams, the Cincinnati Bengals, who were just torched by rookie Jayden Daniels. I expect this game to be high scoring, with Dalton throwing for at least 275 yards. He could find himself as a Top-5 play if he accounts for more than one score.
Dalton is my No. 12 option and can be plugged in as a QB1 streamer.
Caleb Williams
Williams failed to find the end zone through the air or with his legs through the first two games of his career. The rookie bounced back with 363 passing yards and two scores, while also throwing two interceptions, in Week 3.
This week, the Chicago Bears will face a Los Angeles Rams defense that tied for allowing the second-most fantasy points to quarterbacks through three weeks. The Rams also allowed the second-most passing scores — 2.3 per game — and fifth-most passing yards — 263.3 per game — to the position.
Williams comes with a bit of a low-floor outlook, but has a good enough matchup to warrant a start in a league with at least 14 teams. He is my No. 13 play.
Week 4 fantasy football quarterback rankings
1. Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills at BAL
2. Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals at CAR
3. Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens vs. BUF
4. Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles at TB
5. Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs at LAC
6. Brock Purdy, San Francisco 49ers vs. NE
7. C.J. Stroud, Houston Texans vs. JAX
8. Jayden Daniels, Washington Commanders at ARI
9. Sam Darnold, Minnesota Vikings at GB
10. Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys at NYG
11. Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals vs. WAS
12. Andy Dalton, Carolina Panthers vs. CIN
13. Caleb Williams, Chicago Bears vs. LAR
14. Baker Mayfield, Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. PHI
15. Jared Goff, Detroit Lions vs. SEA
16. Aaron Rodgers, New York Jets vs. DEN
17. Anthony Richardson, Indianapolis Colts vs. PIT
18. Kirk Cousins, Atlanta Falcons vs. NO
19. Jordan Love, Green Bay Packers vs. MIN
20. Will Levis, Tennessee Titans at MIA
