EXPECT HOPKINS TO BOUNCE-BACK THIS WEEK
Week 4 fantasy football rankings
Sep 26, 2019, 1:52 pm
EXPECT HOPKINS TO BOUNCE-BACK THIS WEEK
There were some big injuries in Week 3, so let's take a look at how that impacts this week's ranks. These are my early ranks and I will update them later in the week. Make sure you check the injury report on Sunday for players that have missed practice. Keep in mind, these are PPR rankings, and don't forget to set your lineup for Thursday Night Football. If you have any questions feel free to hit me up on Twitter. Be sure to check out my show MoneyLine with Jerry Bo on ESPN 97.5FM. We're on every Sunday from 10-noon, and we'll talk a lot of fantasy football and NFL gambling getting you ready for kickoff every Sunday.
1 Patrick Mahomes
2 Lamar Jackson
3 Russell Wilson
4 Dak Prescott
5 Aaron Rodgers
6 Philip Rivers
7 Deshaun Watson
8 Kyler Murray
9 Jared Goff
10 Matt Ryan
11 Carson Wentz
12 Tom Brady
13 Daniel Jones
14 Matthew Stafford
15 Jameis Winston
16 Jacoby Brissett
17 Andy Dalton
18 Baker Mayfield
19 Josh Allen
20 Case Keenum
1 Christian McCaffrey
2 Alvin Kamara
3 Ezekiel Elliott
4 Austin Ekeler
5 Mark Ingram
6 Nick Chubb
7 Dalvin Cook
8 James Conner
9 Marlon Mack
10 David Johnson
11 Derrick Henry
12 Leonard Fournette
13 Joe Mixon
14 Josh Jacobs
15 Todd Gurley
16 Chris Carson
17 LeSean McCoy
18 Kerryon Johnson
19 Phillip Lindsay
20 Devonta Freeman
21 David Montgomery
22 Wayne Gallman
23 Aaron Jones
24 James White
25 Chris Thompson
26 Darrel Williams
27 Justin Jackson Out
28 Adrian Peterson
29 Royce Freeman
30 Carlos Hyde
31 Miles Sanders
32 Rex Burkhead
33 Tarik Cohen
34 Peyton Barber
35 Kenyan Drake
36 Jamaal Williams
Photo via:Dallascowboys.com
1 Julio Jones
2 Keenan Allen
3 Davante Adams
4 DeAndre Hopkins
5 Amari Cooper
6 Sammy Watkins
7 Cooper Kupp
8 Tyler Lockett
9 Michael Thomas
10 Odell Beckham
11 Larry Fitzgerald
12 Brandin Cooks
13 Julian Edelman
14 JuJu Smith-Schuster
15 Mike Evans
16 Tyler Boyd
17 Kenny Golladay
18 Terry McLaurin *Out
19 Marquise Brown
20 Robert Woods
21 Sterling Shepard
22 Adam Thielen
23 Chris Godwin
24 Christian Kirk
25 Calvin Ridley
26 D.J. Moore
27 Marquez Valdes-Scantling
28 Demarcus Robinson
29 Tyrell Williams
30 Mecole Hardman
31 Josh Gordon
32 Emmanuel Sanders
33 Marvin Jones
34 Phillip Dorsett
35 Mike Williams
36 D.J. Chark
37 Allen Robinson
38 Curtis Samuel
39 Alshon Jeffery
40 DK Metcalf
1 Travis Kelce
2 Zach Ertz
3 Evan Engram
4 Greg Olsen
5 Darren Waller
6 Delanie Walker
7 Mark Andrews
8 Austin Hooper
9 T.J. Hockenson
10 Will Dissly
11 O.J. Howard
12 Jason Witten
13 Jared Cook
14 Eric Ebron
15 Jimmy Graham
1 Chargers
2 Rams
3 Bears
4 Patriots
5 Vikings
6 Jaguars
7 Ravens
8 Packers
9 Texans
10 Cowboys
11 Steelers
12 Colts
13 Seahawks
14 Broncos
15 Bengals
1 Justin Tucker
2 Greg Zuerlein
3 Stephen Gostkowski
4 Harrison Butker
5 Ka'imi Fairbairn
6 Joey Slye
7 Will Lutz
8 Mason Crosby
9 Zane Gonzalez
10 Matt Bryant
11 Jason Myers
12 Jake Elliott
13 Matt Prater
14 Brett Maher
15 Dustin Hopkins
After riding high from a statement sweep of the Dodgers, the Astros limped into the All-Star break, having lost five of their last six games, including two of three to the rival Rangers. They still hold a five-game lead in the American League West, but the momentum they carried into July has cooled considerably.
While it’s tempting to point to the battered lineup as the reason for Houston’s recent struggles, the more pressing issue has been on the mound. For much of the season, elite pitching has masked an offense operating in the league’s bottom third. But during this six-game slide, the script flipped. Over the last seven days, Houston ranks 24th in team ERA at 5.37. The offense hasn’t been great either, 20th in runs, 22nd in OPS, 23rd in batting average, but those numbers aren’t that far off their season-long identity. The difference is that the pitching has stopped bailing them out.
The good news? Help may be (somewhat) on the way.
Astros GM Dana Brown recently provided updates on three key contributors. Shortstop Jeremy Peña isn’t expected back immediately after the break, but Brown said it shouldn’t be long before he returns from a fractured rib. Yordan Alvarez, meanwhile, is progressing well from his hand injury. According to Brown, Alvarez has “absolutely no pain” and will be re-evaluated Thursday. If cleared to swing, the Astros plan to expedite his return. Center fielder Jake Meyers, however, remains at least three weeks away as he recovers from a calf injury.
On the pitching front, expectations for late-season contributions from Cristian Javier and Luis Garcia remain uncertain. Both pitchers have thrown rehab starts recently in the Florida Complex League. Garcia has now been out for over two years following Tommy John surgery. If he’s not able to return this season, serious questions will need to be asked about his long-term outlook. Javier, also rehabbing from Tommy John, may be an option in August, but expectations should be tempered. As Brown himself has admitted, he tends to be optimistic. Fans would be wise to stay grounded.
Another arm to watch is Spencer Arrighetti. With no major injury (thumb) holding him back, Arrighetti may be Houston’s most viable rotation boost in the second half.
Fortunately, the schedule sets up favorably after the break. Over the next seven series, the Astros face four sub-.500 teams. But that doesn’t mean anything is guaranteed, especially if current trends continue.
Lance McCullers remains an enigma. When he’s locked in, he gives Houston a legitimate No. 3-caliber arm. When he’s off, he’s out of the game early and the bullpen pays the price. Manager Joe Espada faces one of his toughest managing challenges every time McCullers takes the hill.
Cam Smith has cooled off at the plate, hitless in his last 11 at-bats. He’s also been bounced all over the batting order. A simple solution? Plant him in the cleanup spot and let him adjust without the added mental shuffle.
And then there’s Josh Hader. The All-Star closer has surrendered home runs in three of his last four outings. If Houston is going to continue winning tight games with a low-margin offense, Hader has to be lights-out. His dominance alongside a top-tier setup man (Bryan Abreu) has been a pillar of the Astros’ success model this season. They need that foundation to hold.
The Astros aren’t panicking — nor should they. But after a hot run turned lukewarm, the margin for error is shrinking. The second half opens with an opportunity to bank wins and regain rhythm. Whether Houston capitalizes depends on health, consistency, and maybe a little creativity from the front office.
There's so much more to discuss! Don't miss the video below as we examine the topics above and much, much more!
The MLB season is finally upon us! Join Brandon Strange, Josh Jordan, and Charlie Pallilo for the Stone Cold ‘Stros podcast which drops each Monday afternoon, with an additional episode now on Thursday.
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*ChatGPT assisted.
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