Week 4 DFS Value Plays

Maybe DFS players should just field an entire team of Miami Dolphins. That team on its own seems to provide enough value to win a DFS tournament. 

C.J. Stroud and Alexander Mattison enjoyed strong fantasy days in last week’s article, so here’s to continuing that in Week 4. And hopefully, there’s less of what Zach Ertz and Seattle’s DST provided. 

Let’s go shopping here for players that will drastically outperform their prices! 

This weekly column will provide you with the information you need before choosing a value in DFS. Prices are sourced from DraftKings and FanDuel.

Have a look also at the best NFL week 4 DFS sleepers and the best DFS stacks.

Value plays

Quarterback

Matthew Stafford @ IND, $5,700 on DraftKings / $6,600 on FanDuel

Stafford is ridiculously underpriced on DraftKings, but even more so on FanDuel with its relative scoring. This could result in a higher ownership than the average sleeper, but his ability should outweigh any negatives. 

Stafford has slung the rock with the league leaders this year, averaging 42 passing attempts per game, only trailing Kirk Cousins in the category. Without Cam Akers to plod his way through drives the onus is on Stafford even more to carry this unit. 

The Colts’ secondary has struggled this year and was bailed out by bad weather in Baltimore this past week. Stafford should be able to dissect this unit with ease, despite a poor showing on Monday night against the Bengals.

Running back

Alexander Mattison vs. CAR, $5,800 on DraftKings / $7,200 on FanDuel

Rinse repeat. This play worked last week and with his price the exact same on DraftKings in an even better matchup, why overthink it? Mattison still dominated touches in Week 3, and the arrival of Cam Akers doesn’t worry me one bit. If anything, let Akers bring Mattison’s ownership down. 

Only the Bears and Broncos have allowed more fantasy points to RBs this year. With good scoring potential and a boatload of touches, there’s no reason not to slot Mattison in for another week. 

This is a more appealing matchup on DraftKings due to the pricing.

Wide Receiver

Brandon Aiyuk vs. ARI, $6,200 on DraftKings / $7,600 on FanDuel

Remember Week 1, when Brandon Aiyuk lit the league on fire against the Pittsburgh Steelers for 35.9 fantasy points? It feels like too many have forgotten based on this price tag, just because Aiyuk suffered an in-game injury in Week 2 and sat last Sunday. 

The 2020 first-round pick should be healthy in Week 4 against a Cardinals secondary allowing 233 passing yards a game, 21st in the NFL. Aiyuk’s strength has always been after the catch, and it’s why he fits so well in San Francisco. That ability allows him to have more points per reception than the average receiver, showing the efficiency you want in fantasy. 

It’s worth paying up for Aiyuk this week.

Tight End

Hayden Hurst vs. MIN, $3,300 on DraftKings / $5,400 on FanDuel

Hayden Hurst was a favorite of rookie quarterback Bryce Young through the first two weeks of the season, with seven targets in Week 1 and three in Week 2 against a stingier Saints defense. 

Minnesota is a middle-of-the-pack matchup, but Carolina is bound to find itself playing from behind early in Week 4. That shapes up Hurst to be highly utilized against a Vikings defense allowing over 27 points per game, 26th in the NFL. 

Hurst has a good chance to catch a touchdown, and a few passes this week. In today’s TE landscape, that’s tremendous value at his DFS cost.

Defense

Cleveland Browns vs. BAL, $2,800 on DraftKings / $4,30 on FanDuel

If defensive coordinators were eligible for coach of the year, Jim Schwartz would have a pretty good case to win it all. The Browns have allowed one touchdown in three games this year and limited the Bengals and Titans to three points apiece. The unit has been a buzzsaw this season, and that blade is going to clip the wings of the Ravens this Sunday. 

Baltimore fought through some bad weather in Week 3 and managed just 16 points against the Colts. While they should be in much better form this week, the Browns' defense is a legitimate force to be reckoned with, though the turnovers have yet to follow suit. 

Every year there are matchup-proof defenses. Cleveland just might be that team this year.