NFL Reactions: Week 4

It was Sept. 23, 2001. The clock read 5:03 left in the fourth quarter. The Patriots were down by seven in a divisional showdown against the Jets. It's 3rd-and-10, the ball is snapped, and the play breaks down. Quarterback Drew Bledsoe scrambled to the sideline to reach for a first down and …

Well, the NFL was never the same.

In that moment, Bledsoe suffered an incredibly vicious hit by linebacker Mo Lewis — a hit that would've most definitely drawn a flag in 2021. Bledsoe was forced from the contest, and just like that, New England had to turn to a sixth-round draft pick by the name of Tom Brady.

The rest is history.

With Brady making his return to the place where it all started Sunday, one must wonder: could history be repeating itself? It's hard not to draw parallels to something happening on the opposite coast. During the first half of Sunday's loss to the Seahawks, 49ers' quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo exited the contest with a calf injury. San Francisco had to turn to its third overall draft pick by the name of Trey Lance.

The rest remains to be seen.

That said, Trey Lance stepped in and gave the 49ers a spark. Lance threw two touchdowns to Deebo Samuel, one of which was a 76-yard connection on a busted coverage. The rookie also added seven rushes for 41 yards. It wasn't an all-time performance for the ages, but it was promising display of what Lance's athleticism brings to a team that has title aspirations. He avoided pressure well and was shifty while using his legs. 

Before Week 4, Lance showed his acumen for finding the end zone as both a rusher and passer, as the Niners used him in special packages to score two touchdowns as a backup when they were in close.

A starter gets injured, a backup comes in, and ends up making history. We've seen it with Brady, so why not Lance?

San Francisco coach Kyle Shanahan might get in the way of that happening, as he seems committed to keeping Lance under wraps if he has any choice in the matter:

Garoppolo has been serviceable, but in today's NFL, serviceable doesn't give you the edge to compete with the likes Patrick Mahomes and Kyler Murray, whose teams move the ball at ease and score at will. The 49ers need to let Lance take over and lead this team. Shanahan is known for his ability to scheme a running game more effectively than most. The rookie signal caller is a mobile threat, and that threat is an added advantage against defenses.

Want another reason to hand over the reins? Look at the division. San Francisco is in last place in the NFC West and must compete with the undefeated Cardinals, a Rams team that looks like a true championship contender and a Seahawks team that beat the Niners on Sunday. It's early, but it is hard to see a path to the Niners winning the division unless they make a run. The rookie gives their offense the best opportunity to do that.

Lance will start Week 5 against the Cardinals if Garoppolo is out. Fortunately, San Francisco's coaching staff will have a week to prepare knowing their starter and designing a gameplan that uses his talent to its full potential. For fantasy purposes, Lance likely will provide a boost to the 49ers' skill position players, with defenses needing to account for his ability to take off as a runner.

With Brady returning to his first home — the place where a starter's injury changed it all — it all just seems serendipitous. So Shanahan, let Trey Lance take it from here. It's the right thing to do — in reality and for fantasy.

Sunday Takeaways

• Cordarrelle Patterson had a fantastic fantasy day, totaling five catches for 82 yards and three touchdowns. He also was the Falcons' leading rusher with 34 yards on six carries. With the Falcons struggling to get things going on offense before Sunday, it seems that the coaching staff wants to get Patterson involved in this offense as a truly versatile weapon. The veteran should at least be considered as an intriguing flex option.
• DJ Moore is living up to his talent this season, as it appears Sam Darnold has found his go-to guy. Sunday's game marked the second consecutive week the wideout saw 12 targets. Moore made the most of his opportunities by reeling in eight catches for 113 yards and two scores. The Panthers look like they are for real, and Darnold looks like he has officially shaken the Jets off himself. Expect Moore to continue to be the focal point of the Panthers' passing game.
• Ezekiel Elliott carried 20 times for 143 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 36-28 win over the Panthers. After a slow start to the 2021 campaign, Elliott has hit pay dirt at least once in the last three games. Fellow running back Tony Pollard stole 10 rushing attempts Sunday, but there is more than enough to go around in the high-flying Cowboys offense. Any fears of a split backfield in Dallas should be put to rest.
• A bit more surprising in Dallas is that tight end Dalton Schultz was the leader in targets, receptions and yards Sunday. The 6-foot-5, 244-pounder caught six of his eight targets for 58 yards and a touchdown. There are a ton of mouths to feed in the Cowboys' passing attack, but Schultz appears to be the preferred pass-catching tight end in Dallas. In the last two games, Schultz has earned the most targets on the team and found the end zone three times.
• Saquon Barkley scored once on the ground and once through the air in Sunday's overtime win over the Saints. The running back totaled 126 scrimmage yards and is playing at the high level fantasy managers hoped he could get back to in his return to the field in 2021. If the Giants are to have any continued success, it is important they get their star running back going. As a late first-round pick and the fifth running back off the board this year, Barkley could end up being one of the best draft values of 2021.
• In our continuing study of the Bills' backfield, it appears Devin Singletary and Zack Moss are truly a split backfield. It's the latter, however, that looks like he could be the running back worth playing in fantasy lineups. Each back earned 14 carries Sunday, with Singletary gaining 79 yards, while Moss' rushed for 61 yards and a touchdown. Moss handled five red-zone rushes, and these high-value touches make him a better bet for fantasy production each week.
• D'Andre Swift was a disappointment for fantasy managers in Sunday's loss to the Bears, rushing eight times for a measly 16 yards. This lackluster performance comes on the heels of coach Dan Campbell saying Swift has earned increased playing time in the Lions offense. The second-year running back also added four catches for 33 yards. Fellow running back Jamaal Williams carried 14 times for 66 yards while not being involved in the passing game. This is truly frustrating for fantasy managers hoping for Swift's breakout season, but his use in the passing game is at least a promising consolation. Swift will have a chance to get things going again in Week 5 against the Vikings.
• Kalif Raymond may be emerging as the wideout to roster in Detroit. After a team-high 10 targets in Week 3, Raymond caught three of his six targets for 46 yards and two touchdowns Sunday. The 0-4 Lions likely will be in passing mode most of their games, so fantasy managers in need of wide receiver help may want to take a shot on Raymond and his new-found connection with quarterback Jared Goff.
• Tyreek Hill has returned. The speedster led the team with 11 receptions on 12 targets for 186 yards and three touchdowns in Sunday's 42-30 win over the Eagles. It was a monstrous game for Hill, which he is always capable of having on any given week. A potential shootout with the Bills awaits in Week 5.
• After disappointing in Weeks 1 and 2, Clyde Edwards-Helaire answered his critics with two strong fantasy outings the last two weeks. The running back scored through the air for the second week in a row. He also rushed 14 times for 102 yards. Remember: Trust the process. Edwards-Helaire is the starting running back on arguably the best offense in the league. Don't overthink it — he is a solid RB2 with RB1 upside.
• Jamison Crowder made his season debut in Sunday's 27-24 win over the Titans, drawing a team-high nine targets. The veteran wide receiver recorded seven catches for 61 yards and a touchdown. Crowder likely will soak up targets in short and intermediate routes as New York's offensive line has not done a great job protecting Zach Wilson.
• Aaron Rodgers to Randall Cobb. It sounds like a blast from the past, but the pairing was alive and well in Sunday's 27-17 win against the Steelers. Cobb caught five of his six targets for 69 yards and two scores. Davante Adams is the clear No. 1 in the passing attack, but Cobb's long-time connection with Rodgers could bode well for him having a consistent role in Green Bay. The 31-year-old wideout is worth a look if he is on your waiver wire.

Injury Notes

• David Montgomery exited the Bears' win over the Lions with a knee injury. The running back appeared to be in a good deal of pain. Teammate Damien Williams would likely fill in as Montgomery's replacement if he misses time.
• Teddy Bridgewater was forced out of the Broncos' loss to the Ravens. The quarterback suffered a concussion near the end of the first half. Drew Lock should be named the starter if Bridgewater can't go in Week 5.
• Logan Thomas left early with a hamstring injury in a Week 4 win against the Falcons. If Thomas misses time, the team will rely on Ricky Seals-Jones and John Bates at the tight end position.
• Will Fuller suffered a hand injury that forced the wide receiver out of the Dolphins' loss to the Colts. Fuller has had a rocky start to the year, and an injured hand doesn't make matters any easier for the wideout in his first season as a Dolphin. If Fuller misses time, Albert Wilson will likely see added reps alongside DeVante Parker and Jaylen Waddle.