Fantasy Football: 3 Bold Predictions for NFL Week 4

Fantasy Football Bold Predictions at a Glance

• C.J. Stroud Will Finish as a Top-5 QB
• Tyler Warren Will Be the Week’s TE1
• The Lions Will Score at Least 40 Points

Three weeks of the NFL season have given fantasy managers plenty of information to work with, but every new week brings a few performances that nobody sees coming.

That’s where bold predictions come in.

Whether it’s a star player falling short of expectations, an overlooked option delivering a breakout performance, or a matchup producing an unexpected result, Week 4 should provide plenty of surprises for fantasy football managers.

With that in mind, here are our bold fantasy football predictions for NFL Week 4.

All NFL odds come from FanDuel Sportsbook and may change after this article is published.

NFL Bold Predictions for Fantasy Football Week 4

C.J. Stroud Will Finish as a Top-5 QB

It’s been a rough start to the year for the Houston Texans, especially on offense.

They have a good chance to bounce back this week against the Dallas Cowboys, and that can lead to a big fantasy day for C.J. Stroud.

Dallas has let up the sixth-most yards per play (6.2) through three weeks as well as the third-most fantasy points per game to QBs (23.5).

Not only does Stroud get a sublime matchup, but he will likely have his top weapon back as Nico Collins practiced on Wednesday. Collins makes a huge difference for both Stroud and the Texans’ offense as a whole. Houston put up 31 points in the lone game in which Collins suited up this season.

With his best pass-catcher back and a great matchup on tap, Stroud can cook this week.

Tyler Warren Will Be the Week’s TE1

Tyler Warren has been decent so far this year but hasn’t truly popped for a huge game. I think it comes this week.

Warren and the Indianapolis Colts head to London for a mouth-watering matchup against a Washington Commanders defense that’s really struggling.

So far in 2026, Washington has allowed the third-most net yards per pass attempt (7.9) and the third-most yards per play (6.4). They’ve surrendered at least 24 points in all three games, including 37 and 31 the past two weeks. Versus TEs, the Commanders have conceded the seventh-most receiving yards per game (67.3).

Although Warren has been held under 25 receiving yards in two of his three games, he’s got a great role, playing at least 89% of the snaps in every Colts game. He saw huge volume last week, garnering 10 targets versus a stout Houston defense, and after facing the Texans, Chiefs and Ravens thus far, Warren is heading into the easiest matchup he’s had yet in 2026.

I think he’ll take advantage of it in a game that could wind up being a shootout as it holds a high total (47.5) and close spread (3.5).

The Lions Will Score at Least 40 Points

If you have a Detroit Lions player, you’ll want to start him this week.

The Lions are at the Carolina Panthers on Sunday Night Football. Carolina has already been tagged for 59 points by the Bears in Week 1, and I think they’re in a lot of trouble against the high-powered Lions this week.

In addition to allowing the most yards per carry in the NFL (5.7), Carolina will be without both of its starting corners for this game. The Lions should be able to do just about whatever they want in this game, and with how bad Detroit has been on defense, the Lions’ offense will likely need to keep its foot on the gas for four quarters.

You’re always going to start guys like Jahmyr Gibbs and Amon-Ra St. Brown, but I’d also get Jameson Williams, Sam LaPorta and Jared Goff in lineups. It’ll be all systems go for the Detroit offense this week.

Fantasy Football Bold Predictions FAQ

What is a bold prediction in fantasy football?

A bold prediction is an outcome that goes beyond the week's consensus expectations but still has a realistic path to happening. That could include a player significantly outperforming his ranking, an unexpected breakout game, or a highly ranked player struggling.

What factors go into weekly fantasy football bold predictions?

Matchups, injuries, projected workload, target volume, snap rate, recent performance, and changes to a player's role can all factor into weekly bold predictions.

Should bold predictions influence start/sit decisions?

They can provide another perspective, but they shouldn't be the only factor in a lineup decision. Fantasy managers should also consider player rankings, projected usage, matchup quality, and their available alternatives.

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The above author is a FanDuel employee and is not eligible to compete in public daily fantasy contests or place sports betting wagers on FanDuel. The advice provided by the author does not necessarily represent the views of FanDuel. Taking the author's advice will not guarantee a successful outcome. You should use your own judgment when participating in daily fantasy contests or placing sports wagers.