The List: Ranking Each Position for Week 4

QB Ranks

• The top six quarterbacks are locked and loaded in wonderful matchups, and if you are starting any of them you should feel great headed into Week 4. Patrick Mahomes gets a tough matchup against New England, but, I mean, come on, did you see him on Monday night against Baltimore? Andy Reid spent a whole drive calling plays that you would draw up in the backyard, and they all worked! After that, the offense morphed into Mahomes dropping perfect passes 20+ yards downfield into the hands of his receivers. Can you tell I’m still excited after watching that? We often exaggerate, but we are watching one of the all-time greats in Mahomes. Enjoy it while you can, I know I am.
• Mahomes’ counterpart on Monday night was Lamar Jackson, and we have legitimate questions around him for the first time this year as he threw for less than 100 yards in a game that Baltimore was trailing throughout. His weekly finishes are QB4, 18, and 23 through three games, and he gets a Washington defense that has been decent in the small sample of 2020, allowing the sixth-fewest total yards on defense. I’m hoping Baltimore gets back to basics, as Jackson still looks lethal as a rusher, and Washington has allowed the 15th most points through three weeks, so this is far from a lockdown unit, especially with Dwayne Haskins turning the ball over and providing short fields. Jackson remains the QB7 and a strong starter, but for the first time this year, I have some concerns.

• Jared Goff has been shockingly… good this year? He’s completing 70% of his passes thus far and has six total touchdowns, and gets a Giants defense that is allowing the tenth-most passing yards per attempt this year despite facing Chicago and San Francisco the past two weeks. The only worry here is the game script, as the Rams have become very run-heavy and could grab a lead and keep the ball on the ground. But if Los Angeles reaches the red zone as often as I think they will, he’s got a good shot at a third straight three-touchdown game, putting him in the solid starter category.
• I don’t love this matchup against the Chargers for Tom Brady, as we’ve seen older quarterbacks struggle under pressure this year, and this Chargers defense can certainly rush the passer. They’ve allowed the sixth-fewest yards per attempt in 2020, and while a couple of nice matchups against the Panthers and Bengals may have helped, I still think this is far from a cake-walk for Brady. Brady takes care of the ball well enough that you can still get by with him as a starter, but I would be checking out the waiver wire for a streamer if you have the roster spot to burn.

• Joe Burrow is creeping up into back-end starter territory for me, as I am continually impressed by his decision-making and toughness. Jacksonville is giving up the most passing yards per attempt so far, and maybe this is his breakout game. But his offensive line is bad, especially the right side, and I just worry about his ceiling until I see a big game. He’s been between QB10 and QB20 each week, so in superflex leagues, he’s a solid start. But in your typical 12 team league, I’ll still be looking for safer options. That may change if he shows out this week.
• I can’t start Carson Wentz right now, and this matchup against San Francisco kicks off a stretch of three straight brutal matchups. I’m moving on from him and playing the streamer game in traditional one-quarterback leagues.

Green=Strong Starter, Yellow=Solid Starter, Red=Look for Better Options