Fantasy Football Usage Report: Matthew Golden feasting for pass-heavy Packers entering Week 4

Like many here at Rotoworld HQ, my optimism for Adonai Mitchell heading into Week 3 against the Lions was dashed when he popped up with a finger injury that sidelined him for what was shaping up to be a big game for the speedster. Fortunately, Jaylen Warren had a volume-heavy day, racking up 176 yards from scrimmage on 20 touches and 20.6 PPR points, which helped curb some of that disappointment regarding Mitchell.

Hoping for better results this week, below are some players who have caught my attention heading into our Week 4 matchups.

RotoPat’s Week 4 Fantasy Football Rankings

Ranking and evaluating all of Week 4’s top plays at quarterback, running back, receiver, tight end, kicker and defense.

• Patrick Daugherty,

Running Backs

Kendre Miller (NO) vs. Raiders

Kendre Miller rushed four times for 14 yards in the Saints' Week 3 loss to the Raiders and caught two passes for another five yards on three targets. No, it wasn't a flashy performance, but I refuse to buy into either Ollie Gordon or Jaylen Wright after the season-ending injury to De'Von Achane (knee). With Travis Etienne (hamstring) heading to injured reserve, Miller should see a decent amount of opportunities for at least the next four weeks, which presents an interesting opportunity for fantasy managers to stash a player who is currently rostered in just 24 percent of Sleeper leagues.

Miller rushed for 9-30-1 in Week 1 against the Lions and is now poised to split work with Alvin Kamara, who has averaged a suboptimal 2.8 YPC on his 18 rush attempts this season. The door is open for Kamara to step into a high-volume role, but his struggles on the ground are hard to ignore. Even as a pass-catcher, Kamara's six receptions for 12 yards aren't enough to instill any real confidence in him going forward.

It's too early to assume Miller will leapfrog Kamara in touches as we enter Week 4's game against the Falcons, but Miller is a worthwhile stash playing in an offense that is averaging 27.0 points per game and currently ranks eighth in yards per game (382.7).

Jacory Croskey-Merritt (WSH) vs. Seahawks

After headlining the "encouraging" performances portion of this article following his Week 1 performance against the Eagles, Jacory Croskey-Merritt now finds himself on the more concerning side of things heading into Week 4 against the Colts. Croskey-Merritt's volume is the only thing keeping him somewhat on the fantasy radar at this point, because his production has left a lot to be desired. After rushing for 16-63-1 against the Eagles, JCM has totaled just 79 scoreless yards on 31 carries since Week 2 (2.5 YPC), and has just two catches for two yards.

Among 33 running backs with at least 30 carries on the season, Croskey-Merritt ranks 31st in both rushing success rate (38.0 percent) and missed tackles forced rate (8.5 percent), while his yards before contact per attempt ranks 27th (0.66 YBC/ATT). He faces a Colts defense that was pummeled on the ground by Derrick Henry and Kenneth Walker during the first two weeks of the season, but it limited David Montgomery to 11-33-0 in Week 3. JCM's lack of upside in the passing game also continues to limit his fantasy upside. Fantasy managers shouldn't consider him as anything more than a boom/bust RB3 when the Commanders take on the Colts in London.

Wide Receivers

Matthew Golden (GB) vs. Falcons

The Packers have struggled mightily on the ground through the first three weeks of the season. With Josh Jacobs suspended, the trio of MarShawn Lloyd, Chris Brooks, and Kaleb Johnson have netted a combined rushing line of 46-146-0 (3.2 YPC) with one lost fumble and a 35.6 percent rushing success rate. As a team, the Packers' 38.3 percent rushing success rate ranks 30th behind only the Dolphins and Vikings.

The Packers' struggles on the ground are no secret to head coach Matt LaFleur, as evidenced by their league-low 48 rush attempts. For perspective, the Titans' 64 rush attempts are the second-fewest in the league.

Second-year receiver Matthew Golden has benefitted from the Packers' decision to avoid running the ball. Golden has two games of 12-plus targets this season, and his 30 total targets are currently good for fifth-most among all receivers. Golden's 113 routes run rank sixth-highest among receivers, and his 26.5 percent targets per route rate (TPRR) is seventh-highest (min. 80 routes run).

He also ranks in the top 10 in air yards per target (13.9 AY/TGT).

All of this is to say that things have aligned perfectly for Golden and his fantasy managers thus far, and his early 15-253-1 receiving line has made him a nice value in drafts. He should have plenty of opportunities to put up another big week against the Buccaneers as the Packers look to avoid a 1-3 start to their season.

Chris Godwin (TB) vs. Vikings

It's been a rough start to the season for the Buccaneers. They're off to a 0-3 start, the offense is ranked 19th in scoring but 28th in yards per game, and now have to go the next few weeks without Baker Mayfield (thumb). Rookie UDFA Jalon Daniels, who earned the QB2 spot out of camp, will make the start in Week 4 against the Packers, which immediately downgrades all Bucs pass-catchers for the foreseeable future.

Unfortunately for Chris Godwin, he was already trending down after a third-straight disappointing game to start the season. Godwin has run 32 or more routes in every game this season, but has topped out at four targets in those games, and hasn't gone for more than 46 yards in a game. Among 48 receivers with at least 80 routes run this season, Godwin's 10.8 percent targets per route rate ranks 42nd, which is one spot lower than teammate Ted Hurst (14.1 percent TPRR).

Godwin's disappointing usage through three weeks would have had him as a risky WR3 for Week 4 if Mayfield were under center. Now, he'll be hard to trust as anything more than a low-end WR4 with an unknown entity under center in Daniels.

Week 4 Best And Worst WR, TE Matchups: Keenan Allen in a good spot, Makai Lemon could finally get going

Denny Carter breaks down slot and boundary matchups for wideouts and tight ends headed into Week 4

• Denny Carter,

Tight Ends

Kenyon Sadiq (NYJ) vs. Lions

Rookie first-rounder Kenyon Sadiq had his breakout game in Week 3 against the Lions. The hyper-athletic tight end posted a 7-105-1 line on eight targets and ran a route on 83.3 percent of the passing-down snaps he appeared on. It's probably no coincidence that Sadiq's breakout came in a game Adonai Mitchell missed with a finger injury, and Mitchell has been a DNP in each of the Jets' first two practices this week.

Sadiq's big performance should warrant more opportunities with or without Mitchell being active, but with Mitchell trending toward missing a second-straight game, Sadiq could be primed for another high-volume day this week against the Bears.

Isaiah Likely (NYG) vs. Titans

Isaiah Likely looked every bit like the player fantasy managers hoped to see when he followed John Harbaugh to New York after spending four seasons with him in Baltimore. Likely caught all eight targets he saw for 78 yards and two touchdowns despite running just 23 routes.

Unfortunately, he's posted a forgettable 7-46-0 line on 15 targets over the last two weeks, and his 53 routes run over that span rank 15th among tight ends. To make matters worse, Jameis Winston has struggled mightily in his first two weeks of action, completing 25-of-49 passes for 229 yards, zero touchdowns and one interception while also taking five sacks. Winston's -0.307 EPA/play since Week 2 is the second-lowest in the league behind Atlanta's Cooper Rush.

The Giants have the second-lowest early-down pass rate (45.3 percent) since Week 2, and could continue to lean heavily on the run given their underwhelming quarterback situation. After a promising Week 1, Likely is looking increasingly harder to trust sans Jaxson Dart, and could be in line for another underwhelming performance in Week 4 against the Cardinals.

NOTE: Stats and information courtesy of PFF.com, RotoViz.com, ProFootballReference.com, NextGenStats.NFL.com, 4For4.com, FantasyPoints.com and RBSDM.com. All scoring is based on full-PPR leagues.