Hello to the loyal Five Lists audience, as well as any new readers tuning in for the first time. We’re back once more to deliver your one-stop shop with all the fantasy football content you need to crush Week 4 of the NFL regular season. Whether it’s must-starts, breakouts, sleepers or stashes, it’s all here in this lovely column typically produced by our very own Dan Johnson. This ship’s captain is out of office at the moment (and will be back next week, so don’t worry), but in the meantime I’m taking the helm to guide us through the stormy seas of the fantasy landscape. To put your mind at ease — I bring the same sicko love for fantasy football and dedication to helping you win your week, just a slightly different voice. You’re in good hands!
It’s a pleasure to meet you all, but you didn’t click into this article to hear about me. You want the goods to win your fantasy matchups and I’ve got exactly what you’re looking for. See below for the top five players to stash for fantasy football Week 4. These guys are sneaky picks likely available in free agency who could potentially provide value down the line or even pay off as a last-minute desperation play.
Here are the other offerings from my 2025 Fantasy Football Five Lists of Five: Week 4 edition:
- Top five must-start players for Week 4 of 2025 fantasy football
- Top five breakout running backs for Week 4 of 2025 fantasy football
- Top five breakout wide receivers for 2025 fantasy football Week 4
- Top five WR/CB matchups to target for Week 4 fantasy football
- BONUS LIST! Dynasty Fantasy Football Stock Watch: Top risers and fallers after Week 3
Follow my handle @keagreport for all of my fantasy football content.
Top five players to stash for Week 4 of 2025 fantasy football
Jeremy McNichols, RB, Washington Commanders
Following Austin Ekeler’s season-ending injury, the Commanders promoted Chris Rodriguez from healthy scratch to the active roster in Week 3 before deploying a three-headed backfield committee (with wideout Deebo Samuel also mixing in). Jacory Croskey-Merritt and Chris Rodriguez are the headliners, however, Jeremy McNichols took a 60-yard rush to the crib and finished with four carries for 78 yards and the touchdown. His snap share of 26% won’t impress, but he’s a trusted presence on passing downs thanks to his blocking and notably was active on the team’s first two game days when Rodriguez wasn’t. In the case of another injury, McNichols could potentially pop. In the meantime, stash and hold with hopes he sees some receiving work moving forward.
Jaxson Dart, QB, New York Giants
Giants country, let’s ride. After just three weeks of the Russell Wilson experience, New York now looks away from the veteran and towards the future with the elevation of Jaxson Dart into the starting quarterback job. A first-round pick out of Ole Miss, the rookie actually boasts more upside than your Twitter feed over the last couple of college football seasons may suggest. During the NFL Preseason slate, Dart went 32-of-47 with 372 passing yards, three touchdowns and zero interceptions. He played very clean ball while also contributing 52 yards and a touchdown with his legs, and that athleticism should help elevate his floor even if his arm needs a little while to develop at the pro level. I love that the Giants are getting ahead of the game with the quarterback change, and since he’s throwing to Malik Nabers, there’s obvious fantasy football appeal if this experiment works out. Now, it may be a slow roll, but stashing Dart for later in the year when he’s more comfortable looks like one of the best moves you can make if he’s available in your league.
Oronde Gadsden, TE, Los Angeles Chargers
The Chargers’ aerial attack is humming with a revitalized Justin Herbert under center. The Bolts currently average the second-most passing yards (270.0), fifth-most passing touchdowns (2.0), and 12th-highest pass percentage (59.90%) of any team in the league. Keenan Allen shows he still has the juice, the Quentin Johnston breakout is nigh and while Ladd McConkey is struggling, it’s just a matter of time before he comes online. With that said, tight end Oronde Gadsden earned some preseason hype and delivered five receptions for 46 yards on seven targets in his first game. That stat line of 9.6 PPR points doesn’t wow, but it should given the fact he played just 26% of snaps. Jim Harbaugh said the fifth-round pick earned more opportunities with his performance, so now’s the time to stash this sleeper in hopes of a bigger fantasy breakout with additional snaps in coming weeks.
Tyquan Thornton, WR, Kansas City Chiefs
Okay, so this one may not end up a long-term stash. However, Chiefs wideout Tyquan Thornton currently slots in as the WR27 in PPR formats with 12.7 FPPG and just put together his best game of the season on Sunday Night Football. The speedy receiver posted 18.1 fantasy points with five receptions for 71 yards and a touchdown, and he could’ve easily had more as well with nine total targets from Patrick Mahomes. Xavier Worthy (shoulder) may return this week and Rashee Rice (suspension) comes back in a few more games, but in the meantime, why not add Thornton in hopes he can keep carving out a role? Hollywood Brown can’t put together consistent performances but Thornton received some offseason praise from the coaching staff, and after a couple of productive weeks, maybe Kansas City has something in the former second-round pick as a reclamation project.
Emari Demercado, RB, Arizona Cardinals
I’ll preface this by saying I wrote the second half of this blurb prior to Thursday Night Football when this player’s team took the field. I know he won’t be available in Week 4 now, but I felt strongly that Emari Demercado could make an impact and while he didn’t see much work with only a couple of touches, the Cardinals relied on him down the stretch on the game-tying drive and he scored the touchdown that kept Arizona in the contest (if only for a matter of minutes). I think he earned more opportunities moving forward, so consider him a priority waiver add.
Arizona’s lead halfback James Conner went down with a nasty injury in Week 3 which will require foot surgery and likely knock him out for the remainder of the campaign. At 30 years old, the veteran’s career may end up jeopardized by this unfortunate turn, but the NFL stops for no man. 2024 third-rounder Trey Benson now steps up in the lead role for the Cardinals and does project as a workhorse for the most part. However, if the team doesn’t fully trust him, Emari Demercado looks like a fantastic stash pick as a potential passing-downs option if the backfield remains split. Benson’s a big-bodied runner who can catch, but he may not absorb all of the touches, leaving Demercado to take on change-of-pace duties along with some third-down looks. The upside isn’t super high with just 5.2 and 4.2 FPPG over his first two seasons, but the third-year back has produced some usable weeks in fantasy football when given ample opportunities. Add him and wait to see what the backfield becomes.
