Finding the right fantasy football RB sleepers can make a huge impact in Week 4, especially for managers dealing with injuries, difficult matchups or tough start-sit decisions. Aside from the obvious weekly starters, several running back sleepers could be positioned for increased opportunities this week.
Each week, we highlight five running backs who have a path to outperform expectations because of their role, matchup, recent usage or opportunities in their offense. These picks can help season-long fantasy football managers looking for a sleeper or FLEX option, while DraftKings salaries are included for players who are also in good spots to provide DFS value.
Best Fantasy Football RB Sleepers for Week 4
Here are five fantasy football RB sleepers to consider for Week 4. Quick analysis for each running back is below.
- Woody Marks, Houston Texans ($4,700)
- Kaleb Johnson, Green Bay Packers ($4,600)
- George Holani, Seattle Seahawks ($4,500)
- Ty Johnson, Buffalo Bills ($4,400)
- Keaton Mitchell, Los Angeles Chargers ($4,300)
Woody Marks, Houston Texans ($4,700)
Why he’s a Week 4 fantasy football sleeper: The 0-3 Texans are in desperate times, and the buzz this week is that they could give Marks more work this week since he has been more explosive than David Montgomery ($5,700). Marks had a short touchdown last week and has outscored Montgomery in each of the last two weeks. A favorable matchup against the Cowboys could lead to a breakout for the second-year RB from USC if he gets more than his recent 50/50 timeshare.
Kaleb Johnson, Green Bay Packers ($4,600)
Why he’s a Week 4 fantasy football sleeper: Johnson played 36% of snaps last Thursday against the Falcons, while MarShawn Lloyd played only 23% of snaps. Neither running back was effective, but Johnson seems to have claimed the top spot in Green Bay’s backfield. In Week 4’s matchup against the Bucs, look for the Packers to focus on getting their running game in gear, with Johnson potentially leading the way.
George Holani, Seattle Seahawks ($4,500)
Why he’s a Week 4 fantasy football sleeper: With Jadarian Price (chest) out and Zach Charbonnet (knee) not quite ready to return, the Seahawks will use a mix of Holani and Emanuel Wilson ($4,700) against the Chargers. Holani seems to be the preferred passing-down and red-zone option, and he is coming off 10.8 FPTS last week against the Commanders on the strength of five catches out of the backfield.
Ty Johnson, Buffalo Bills ($4,400)
Why he’s a Week 4 fantasy football sleeper: Johnson made his season debut for the Bills last week, playing 23% of snaps as the primary backup behind James Cook III. Johnson didn’t have any carries but caught all four of his passes for 50 yards and 9.0 FPTS. As a passing-down option in what could be a high-scoring matchup, he offers a high ceilling in his part-time role.
Keaton Mitchell, Los Angeles Chargers ($4,300)
Why he’s a Week 4 fantasy football sleeper: Mitchell out-produced Omarion Hampton ($6,300) last week, 13.7 FPTS to 5.6 FPTS. Mtichell scored the team’s only touchdown as part of his three catches and ran effectively for 52 yards on eight carries. He was in a walking boot earlier in the week but does not have an injury designation. He’s in a tough matchup against the Seahawks but has enough upside to be worth a look as a bargain flier.
Last Week’s Fantasy Football RB Sleeper Results
Here’s how our five fantasy football RB sleeper picks performed last week:
- Kaelon Black, San Francisco 49ers: 1.7 FPTS
- Raheim Sanders, Cleveland Browns: 9.1 FPTS
- Emmett Johnson, Kansas City Chiefs: 1.7 FPTS
- Justice Hill, Baltimore Ravens: 3.3 FPTS
- Travis Homer, Pittsburgh Steelers: 0.0 FPTS
Fantasy Football RB Sleepers FAQ
Who are the best fantasy football RB sleepers for Week 4?
Woody Marks, Kaleb Johnson, George Holani, Ty Johnson and Keaton Mitchell are five running backs to consider as fantasy football sleepers for Week 4.
What is a fantasy football RB sleeper?
A fantasy football RB sleeper is a running back outside the most obvious weekly starters who has an opportunity to outperform expectations because of factors such as an expanded role, increased targets, injuries, recent usage or a favorable matchup.
Can these RB sleepers also be used in DraftKings DFS lineups?
Some fantasy football RB sleepers can also provide DFS value when their DraftKings salary does not fully reflect their projected role or upside. DraftKings salaries are included above to help identify players who may be useful in both season-long fantasy football and DFS contests.
