Top five fantasy football players to stash ahead of Week 4

Recognize you not the beast we’ve created? It’s the month of franken-constructions, spiritually and spookily, and indeed, I’m staring at a team—starters and bench included—that is perhaps 20% source material from the actual draft, and 80% crudely-attached appendages like Rocket Sanders, Tyquan Thornton, Ted Hurst III, and Kenyon Sadiq. Victor Frankenstein was a boob in Shelley’s novel and even more so in Guillermo Del Toro’s adaptation (Oscar Isaac played him so well!), but I find myself channeling his scientific ambition to make gorgeous, cohesive monster out of the fractured limbs (not here referring, of course, to the 3,476 season-ending injuries through three weeks of the season) of fantasy production. I do not remember an October which—beyond the teams who drafted Gibbs and Ken Walker, or whatever—the entire fantasy board was so ripe for the taking, if only you’re sharp and willing to take ugly risks.

Happy Fantasy Friday once more—and happy season of shadows to all, now that the calendar’s turned to October. I’m here with the Five Lists of Five: Week 4 edition. Franken-lineup edition. May we maintain our humanity during this monstrous time.

For the newly-ordained: Soundbite-length blurbs with advanced analysis on my favorite plays of the week. We begin now with my Top five fantasy football players to stash ahead of Week 4. Here are my other offerings in this edition:

• Top five must-start WRs for fantasy football Week 4
• Top five must-start RBs for fantasy football Week 4
• Top five FLEX plays for fantasy football Week 4
• Top five fantasy defenses to start for NFL Week 4

All data provided by Fantasy Points Data Suite 2.0, unless otherwise noted.

Fantasy football Week 4: Top five players to stash

Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Jets

You probably went out and got him, and if you did, you’re starting him this week. His ownership percentage remains frustratingly far from 100%, however, so I suppose I’ll stump for Sadiq, here.

Sadiq caught seven of eight targets for 105 yards and a TD against Detroit, including a 43-yard gain on an over route. Geno Smith targeted him on 32% of his routes, and I want him rostered as the Jets expand his assignment.

His route share has climbed from 40% to 46% to 57% in his three NFL games. His aDOT reached 9.8 last week after sitting at 1.3 in both earlier appearances—the Jets had been manufacturing a lot of touches for him behind the line of scrimmage that drove the total down. New York sent him farther downfield, and he rewarded Smith with the sort of showstopping catches a fanbase dreams a first-rounder can make.

Mason Taylor’s lengthy injury and Adonai Mitchell’s absence mean more opportunities alongside Garrett Wilson for our man Sadiq. His back discomfort bears monitoring. But he should be good to go. And one last note: all eight targets came outside the red zone last week. Imagine his XFP when they give him even two redzone targets?

Woody Marks, RB, Texans

Houston assigned four of its 10 drives to Marks against Indianapolis, with David Montgomery taking six. Marks handled complete series, both goal-line snaps and a TD. The Texans also substituted him for Montgomery to pass-block at the one on Foster Moreau’s touchdown. There’s at least some slight organizational telling, here, that Marks is the preferred high-leverage back now in Houston.

Montgomery this season averages 2.78 YPC, 41st among 42 qualifiers, although Houston’s blocking is terrible. Marks managed just 15 yards on five carries himself last week.

I’m adding Marks before a matchup with Dallas, which permits 2.44 adjusted YBC/ATT, sixth-most. He already plays 35% of Houston’s snaps. Another drive or two would make him flex-viable at the rate he’s getting touches. If a disgruntled Marks owner tossed him on the wire this week for some of the set-to-return IR guys or the Dolphins RBs, I’d snatch him.

Tre Harris, WR, Chargers

This is as much a gut feel play as it is a read on last week’s usage: Harris is not far from eclipsing Quentin Johnston as the preferred X receiver in the offense. Harris led the Chargers with seven targets, six catches and 76 receiving yards against Buffalo. I’m adding him everywhere I can after that performance, especially with Ladd McConkey nursing a foot injury (after his rib injury!) headed into the weekend. Harris ran 63% of Los Angeles’ routes; Quentin Johnston ran 84%, so there’s still yet to be a total change in guard.

Against Cover 3 and Cover 6, Harris has averaged 3.47 YPRR across 38 routes. Johnston has averaged 0.83 across 42. Seattle combines those coverages on 62.1% of dropbacks, so Harris should encounter plenty of the looks he has exploited.

I am, this week, likely keeping him on the bench against a defense permitting only 65.7 receiving YPG to outside WRs. I’d add Harris regardless of Conk’s status headed into Sunday. Best to stash before the usage bloats due to adjacent-personnel injury.

Kendre Miller, RB, New Orleans Saints

Miller accumulated 5.1 of the Saints’ 8.1 backfield PPR XFP during the final 21 minutes against Las Vegas, after Travis Etienne departed. He also drew an 11.1% target share. With Etienne on IR, I’m using a final bench spot on Miller while New Orleans settles the rotation, and while fantasy managers get a sense of just what this coaching staff means by “the bulk of the load” re. Kamara’s expected work.

Alvin Kamara handled six of the 10 carries during that stretch, and CJ Donaldson played six of seven third-down snaps. Miller must earn more work from both before I’ll trust him in a lineup.

Atlanta allows an NFL-low 48.0 RB rushing YPG, so Miller stays on my bench Monday. Some passing game involvement from this high-flying Shough-led squad would be a nice surprise.

Mike Washington, RB, Raiders

Washington should already be on your bench. Last week, he saw 11 snaps, toted five carries, churned out 54 yards, which included a 36-yard TD. I’m stashing the rookie after that burst of production, with Ashton Jeanty nursing ankle injuries here and there throughout the early months of the 2026 campaign.

Washington has succeeded on 40% of his 15 carries; Jeanty sits at 30% across 63 attempts. Those 15 carries support a closer look at Washington. Jeanty still played 83% of the snaps last week and ranks second among RBs in XFP/G, leaving Washington firmly as a handcuff for now.

Las Vegas also must block better on the whole as the season progresses. Defenders contacted Jeanty in the backfield on six of seven carries inside the 10, a problem Washington seemed to handle better in the preseason. I expect a few more rushing opportunities first; a Jeanty absence would make Washington a much more urgent lineup consideration.