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Fantasy Football Week 4: Biggest Underperformers

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 8:19 p.m. ET

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In a wild week with huge fantasy football production, which players underperformed the most?

Each week, someone ruins your hopes and dreams in fantasy football. Every once in a while, that player is one of your stars, and you can’t comprehend how they failed that week.

This weekly “Biggest Underperformers” piece is dedicated to calling out these fantasy football busts, mainly so that you don’t start annoying them on Twitter. Players don’t care about your fantasy team and they are already bummed out when they have a poor performance.

That said, money is on the line for some fantasy players, too, so I can’t blame some of you for venting your frustrations in other ways. Even the best of the best have off weeks and that honestly adds to the excitement in fantasy. I mean, it’s a relief whenever your opponent needs, say, eight points from Jordy Nelson to win and he ends up with two.

As a rule, I avoid putting players on the list if they were injured during the game.

Oct 2, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) throws a pass during the first half against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports

5. Matthew Stafford, QB — Detroit Lions

Since Jim Bob Cooter took over as the Detroit Lions offensive coordinator, Matthew Stafford has looked like a changed man at the helm of the offense. Through the first three weeks of the 2016 season, Stafford was dealing. After blasting the Indianapolis Colts in Week 1, Stafford had a mixed performance against a surprisingly solid Tennessee Titans in pass defense. Stafford, however, bounced back in a big way in Week 3, riding Marvin Jones to a 385-yard game against the Green Bay Packers.

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Fantasy owners were expecting Stafford to have a huge game against a pretty garbage Chicago Bears pass defense. These guys came into the game winless and had a rough week against Dak Prescott in their last outing.

Stafford put together one of the worst games by a quarterback this week, averaging 5.9 yards per pass attempt with two interceptions and no touchdowns. After throwing for at least 260 yards in his other three games, Stafford could only hit 216.

Aside from Marvin Jones, nobody on the Lions offense helped him out. Golden Tate got himself benched for running the wrong route, maybe partially because of Stafford’s response to the miscue. Tate stunk, but key players like Anquan Boldin and Theo Riddick did little to help the cause either.

Oct 2, 2016; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; Seattle Seahawks defensive tackle Tony McDaniel (93) tackles New York Jets running back Matt Forte (22) in the second half at MetLife Stadium. Seattle Seahawks defeat the New York Jets 27-17. Mandatory Credit: William Hauser-USA TODAY Sports

4. Matt Forte, RB — New York Jets

After Matt Forte received 59 rushing attempts in the New York Jets first two games, a few fantasy experts cautioned owners to “sell high” on a player who might see his touches and efficiency collapse. Well, after a decent performance against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 3, Forte may be hitting his collapse. It was just one game, but Forte was totally outplayed by Bilal Powell.

It took Forte 14 carries to notch 27 yards against the Seattle Seahawks elite defense. But Powell needed just four attempts to put up 26 yards. Powell also outgained Forte in the passing game.

A rough day against the Seahawks is no reason for Forte owners to panic, but he needs to have a better game against the Pittsburgh Steelers this week. I hope fantasy owners didn’t hope Forte would have a huge game against a defense like Seattle’s. Even still, four points is low return for a back who received 16 touches, regardless of opponent.

Oct 2, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Tennessee Titans tight end Delanie Walker (82) attempts to make a reception as Houston Texans cornerback A.J. Bouye (21) defends during the third quarter at NRG Stadium. The Texans won 27-20. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

3. Delanie Walker, TE — Tennessee Titans

In 2015, Rob Gronkowski was the only tight end better than Delanie Walker, but the Tennessee Titans best pass-catcher hasn’t been able to recapture that form. Walker gave the Detroit Lions defense all sorts of trouble in a Week 2 win, piling up 83 receiving yards with a touchdown for good measure.

Walker missed Week 3 with a hamstring injury, but he was back in the lineup against the Houston Texans in Week 4 after being a game-time decision.

Marcus Mariota played an absolutely atrocious game, as even Walker’s longest reception of the game came on an inaccurate pass from the former Oregon star. Walker received eight targets, but he could only turn them into 34 yards. Mariota had no touchdown passes, so Walker’s fate as a Week 4 fantasy bust was sealed.

Outside of one long pass to Rishard Matthews, the Titans pass-catchers didn’t really have a shot at helping fantasy owners—and I highly doubt anyone owns Matthews right now.

Oct 2, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Tennessee Titans cornerback Perrish Cox (20) intercepts a pass intended for Houston Texans wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins (10) during the second half at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

2. DeAndre Hopkins, WR — Houston Texans

Oddly, I wonder if 2015 sensation DeAndre Hopkins misses the likes of Brian Hoyer, because, contrary to what we expected, life with Brock Osweiler at quarterback has not been rosy for Hopkins. He’s no longer the most productive fantasy player in the Texans offense, as he’s been surpassed by running back Lamar Miller and rookie wideout Will Fuller lately.

Fuller made play after play in the Texans win over the Titans, while Hopkins could get nothing going. 90 percent of that is on Osweiler, who could only hit Hopkins for four yards, completing just one of six passes when targeting his No. 1 receiver.

But wait, is Hopkins the Texans No. 1 receiver? Because Fuller led the team in targets and Hopkins actually had just as many targets as Jaelen Strong, who, predictably, did nothing to impress anybody.

Hopkins caught a touchdown pass in Week 1 and dominated the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 2. But he’s been far from a fantasy beast. I wouldn’t overreact to his first game under 50 receiving yards this season. However, it’s an odd sight to see a four-yard outing from a wide receiver who averaged 95 yards per game in the previous season.

Oct 2, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bears wide receiver Alshon Jeffery (17) prior to a game against the Detroit Lions at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports

1. Alshon Jeffery, WR — Chicago Bears

Life with Brian Hoyer under center has been surprisingly kind to the Chicago Bears, as they picked up their first win of the season. That had more to do with the Detroit Lions incompetence on offense, but Hoyer did impress with 302 passing yards and a 78% completion percentage.

All of those numbers did nothing to help Alshon Jeffery, who dipped under 70 receiving yards for the first time this season. Hoyer targeted Jeffery just five times, tying him for third on the team with Cameron Meredith.

Jeffery has been criminally underutilized with Jay Cutler out of the lineup. Hoyer loves throwing it to the right and current target leader Kevin White favors lining up on the right side. I have a sinking feeling this trend won’t change, but it was interesting to see Jeffery fall behind Eddie Royal on the target totem pole too.

Royal did finally have an outstanding game in a Bears uniform and this wide receiver trio is playing good football. That’s important with Hoyer at quarterback, but it isn’t doing Jeffery’s fantasy owners any favors. That said, this is his first truly unproductive game of the season. If he starts catching touchdowns (zero so far), his value should be rehabbed.

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