15 NFL Week 4 Predictions: Broncos, Falcons, Cowboys Picked as Upsets — SkimNews
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- Pamela Maldonado's three Week 4 upset picks are the Broncos (+3 at 49ers), Falcons (+2.5 at Saints), and Cowboys (+3 at Texans), each backed by specific matchup edges — Denver's pass defense against a 49ers squad missing edge rusher Nick Bosa (calf), Bijan Robinson's outside-zone advantage over a New Orleans defense ranked last in success rate defending it, and Dak Prescott's clean pocket against a Texans team that has yet to establish dependable protection or rushing production.
- Trent McDuffie is projected for 1 reception allowed, 7 receiving yards allowed, and 1 interception by Seth Walder, continuing a scorching start since his trade to the Rams in which he has allowed just 52 receiving yards on 4 receptions (0.5 yards per coverage snap) — and he won't face Eagles WR1 DeVonta Smith, who is out with a hamstring injury.
- Jameson Williams of the Lions is projected for 7 receptions, 114 yards, and 1 touchdown against a Panthers secondary weakened by injuries to Jaycee Horn and Mike Jackson, with Walder urging fantasy managers to trade for him now despite his slow start because he ranks tied for second in ESPN's open score metric.
- Lamar Jackson is predicted by Matt Bowen to score a rushing touchdown against the Titans, noting Jackson has just one rushing score through three games despite four passing TDs and is averaging 5.7 carries per game — including an attempt inside the 5-yard line in Baltimore's Week 3 win.
- Fantasy sleepers from Eric Moody: Dolphins WR Malik Washington (rostered in 20.7% of ESPN leagues), who leads Miami with 23 targets and 10 last week; Panthers TE Darren Waller (20.5%), who has 10 receptions for 112 yards and two TDs and faces a Lions defense allowing the most fantasy points per game to tight ends; and Commanders QB Marcus Mariota (15.7%), coming off 20.4 fantasy points against Seattle and facing an Indianapolis unit allowing the fifth-most fantasy points per game to quarterbacks.
- Ben Solak's three wild-card predictions: another Eagles field goal block against the Rams (reprising Jordan Davis's game-winning block from last year's matchup), a Vikings shutout of Brian Flores's former Dolphins team, and a Bears trick-play touchdown pass to offensive lineman Darnell Wright against Jets coach Aaron Glenn, his former Lions colleague.
Why it matters: The panel's three upset calls are built on specific, verifiable personnel losses — Nick Bosa's calf injury for the 49ers, Travis Etienne's hamstring absence for the Saints — that give bettors actionable angles rather than hunches. Fantasy managers eyeing deeper leagues get two widely available sleepers (Waller, Washington) riding clear target-share spikes from injuries to Caleb Douglas, De'Von Achane, Jalen Coker, and Xavier Legette.
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