Smart flex decisions for week 4
Yahoo Fantasy analysts Matt Harmon and Dalton Del Don explain why Jamaal Willams, Khalil Herbert, Amari Cooper and Chris Olave will be good flex decisions this week.
Video Transcript
MATT HARMON: It's week four in the NFL. And we're to help you make some smart decisions courtesy of NerdWallet. NerdWallet helps people make smart choices every day with their side by side comparisons of top financial products. And you know you can rely on us to help you make some smart player choices. So let's jump into some flex decisions this week, starting with some options at running back. Dalton, my man, get us going here.
DALTON DEL DON: I love Jamaal Williams this week. He was actually fantasy's number three running back last week thanks to DeAndre Swift leaving with a shoulder injury. It's an injury that's going to keep Swift out again this week. Now, Craig Reynolds will see some work in this backfield. But the Lions have one of the league's best offensive lines. And Williams was getting the majority of the red zone work anyway. He ranks first in the NFL in carries inside the 5-yard line.
Williams does not have the same explosion as Swift. But he's a capable receiver. And he may even see more targets this week with Amon-Ra St. Brown battling an ankle injury. Detroit is first in pace in neutral situations. This week, they get a Seahawks defense allowing 4.9 yards per carry and the third most rushing touchdowns. The Lions are home favorites, with one of the highest implied team totals even. So Williams is a smart play this week.
MATT HARMON: Love that call. Jamaal Williams is like coach's catnip, man. They're going to be excited to give that guy the ball. I'll go with another running back. He's probably going to get some elevation due to an injury. As we're recording this, we don't know if David Montgomery is going to miss this week. But I almost think either way, even if he's out there hobbled, I think Khalil Herbert makes a good play here in week number four.
Number one, this guy is just good at the game. He breaks tackles. He runs really hard. Every time he's got an opportunity in the NFL, he's produced. We remember he had that big game against the vaunted Bucs run defense last year as a rookie. He's continued to run really well this year. He's been involved in the scoring area. Not quite as much as Jamaal Williams. But he's been involved in the scoring area almost regardless. He has five goal line carries on the year this year. We know he can punch it in down there.
We also know, by the way, the Bears, they don't want to be dropping back to pass, OK. This is going to be a run first team. So, again, even if David Montgomery is out there but he's a little compromised, I think Herbert makes a good play against the Giants defense that's seventh to last in rushing success rate allowed. We saw both Cowboys backs kind of get going on Monday Night Football this past week. I think Khalil Herbert can get it going for your fantasy team this week.
DALTON DEL DON: Herbert looks fantastic, like a possible league winner if Montgomery were to suffer a serious injury. My next smart play is Amari Cooper gets the Falcons in Atlanta this week. Despite a slow week one with his new team, Cooper ranks top five in target share, third in air yardage share this season. He actually easily led the league in air yardage share last week.
He now gets to play his first game of the season indoors and against a Falcons defense allowing the third most fantasy points to wide receivers in a match-up with one of this week's highest totals. Jacoby Brissett has played surprisingly well. And Cooper has seen by far the highest target share of his career. So he's another real smart play for me this week.
MATT HARMON: Hey, Amari Cooper indoors, that is always usually a smart bet. You mentioned all those air yard stats with Amari Cooper. You know who leads the NFL in air yards right now? It's rookie wide receiver Chris Olave, who's my pick. I think he might have been my pick for this segment last week. I'm going to double down here again.
Dalton, you know I love this guy as a prospect. He was one of my favorite players coming to the NFL draft this year, the top route runner in the class. And we've seen it through the first three weeks. This guy, obviously, like I said, all the air yards. He's been winning downfield. But he's a full field separator. He's a legit I think future number one receiver. And I'm already ready to say it. I think he's going to be the best Saints fantasy player this year, certainly the best wide receiver this year.
But I think he could even be like just a must start every single week for the New Orleans Saints. He gets the Vikings in London this week. The Vikings pass defense has been super generous. Michael Thomas is banged up. Jarvis Landry is also banged up. Even Tre'Quan Smith is dealing with injuries right now. Don't love that Jameis Winston is also on the injury report with all those guys.
But I think even if it's Andy Dalton against the Vikings, Chris Olave right now is just too good. Like I said, leading the NFL in air yards. He's getting open at all three levels of the field. I think he is a guy that you absolutely want to get in your lineup this week. And frankly, I think, like I said, he's going to be a must start every single week going forward. So be sure to get those guys on your roster here in week four. And if you need to make a financial choice, make it a smart one with NerdWallet, the smartest decision for all your financial decisions.
