Fantasy football: Wilson, Purdy among 4 must-start QBs for Week 4

MIAMI, Sept. 27 (UPI) -- Russell Wilson and Brock Purdy are among my four must-start fantasy football quarterbacks for Week 4.

My Week 4 running back and wide receiver rankings and waiver-wire additions articles remain available for your preparation. My positional rankings will continue to be updated for developments, including injuries.

Justin Herbert leads my Top 20 quarterback rankings, which are listed below. Bryce Young and Jimmy Garoppolo join Wilson and Purdy as my must-start options. Several streaming options can also be found within my rankings.

Those who roster Garoppolo, Derek Carr and fellow injured quarterback Anthony Richardson should monitor their statuses before adding them to starting lineups.

Each of my must-start options land inside the Top 14 of my quarterback rankings.

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy totaled 736 yards and four passing scores through three weeks. File Photo by Archie Carpenter/UPI

Brock Purdy

Purdy was a Top 12 play in Week 3, when he totaled 310 passing yards and two scores in a San Francisco 49ers win over the New York Giants.

This week, the 49ers will host the Arizona Cardinals. The Cardinals allowed the ninth-most fantasy points to quarterbacks through three weeks. They allowed more than 250 passing yards per game over that span, while facing Sam Howell, Daniel Jones and Dak Prescott.

Look for the 49ers to dominate this matchup through the air and on the ground. I expect Purdy to total close to 300 passing yards and throw multiple touchdowns. He is my No. 7 play.

Denver Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson is an under-the-radar streaming starter for Week 4. File Photo by David Tulis/UPI

Russell Wilson

The Miami Dolphins' historic blowout of the Denver Broncos overshadowed many other NFL storylines in Week 3, including quarterback Russell Wilson's performance in the lopsided loss.

Wilson threw for only one touchdown, but managed to surpass the 300-yard passing mark for the second consecutive week. He also threw two touchdown passes in Week 1 and another three in Week 2.

This week, the Broncos will face the Chicago Bears, who have one of the worst defenses in the NFL.

The Bears allowed the second-most points and third-most passing yards through three weeks. They also tied for allowing the third-most passing scores (7) and surrendered the fifth-most fantasy points to quarterbacks.

The Bears allowed three touchdown passes from Jordan Love in their season opener. Baker Mayfield then carved up their secondary in Week 2, totaling 317 passing yards. Patrick Mahomes threw another three scores against the Bears in Week 3.

Look for Wilson to total at least 250 passing yards in this matchup. He is the No. 9 player in my rankings, but could be a Top 5 play if he throws three touchdown passes.

Jimmy Garoppolo

Garoppolo remains in the concussion protocol, but he should be started in all fantasy leagues if he is active for Week 4.

The Las Vegas Raiders veteran is outside of the Top 15 in fantasy points per game among quarterbacks through three weeks, but is coming off a 324-yard, two-score performance Sunday against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

This week, the Raiders will meet the Los Angeles Chargers. The Chargers allowed the most passing yards, second-most total yards and the most fantasy points to quarterbacks through three weeks.

They also just allowed 367 passing yards and three scores from Kirk Cousins in Week 3.

The Chargers opened the season by allowing Tua Tagovailoa to throw for 466 yards and three scores. Ryan Tannehill logged more than 250 total yards and two scores against the same defense in Week 2.

Garoppolo should easily eclipse 300 passing yards if he is in the Raiders lineup. He is my No. 12 play.

Bryce Young

Like Wilson and Purdy, Young could be a solid streaming play for Week 4. Andy Dalton stepped in for Young, who missed Week 3 because of an ankle injury. The veteran quarterback excelled in the start against the Seattle Seahawks, throwing for 361 yards and two scores and resulting in the sixth-most fantasy points among quarterbacks.

Young returned to practice this week and could play against the Minnesota Vikings. The Panthers have yet to announce their Week 4 starter, but I would start either player as a low-end QB1.

The Vikings, who were among the most generous defenses, in terms of fantasy points allowed to quarterbacks last season, surrendered the third-most fantasy points to the position so far in 2023.

They allowed at least two total scores to quarterbacks in each of their first three games. I expect Young, my No. 14 play, to provide low-end QB1 value.