:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/51108115/610594588.0.jpg)
The Week 4 matchup between the New Orleans Saints and the San Diego Chargers features two high-volume passing offenses facing off against one another. We've got the fantasy projections courtesy of numberFire.
New Orleans Saints
Fantasy owners walked away from Monday Night Football in Week 3 pretty happy with Drew Brees. He did after all throw for 376 yards and three touchdown passes. An interception lowered his point total a little bit, but overall it’s been business as usual for Brees. The trouble is that the team is 0-3. While that may not matter much in fantasy football, the Saints’ record could have the team looking at backups late in the season with the playoffs out of reach. Week 4 will see plenty of points up on the scoreboard and given that running back Mark Ingram hasn’t done much this year, Brees should throw for well over 300 yards once again this week. San Diego’s pass defense has been very generous this season.
Hopefully, tight end Coby Fleener can capitalize on the opportunity as well. After being fairly quiet in the first two games of the season, Fleener caught seven passes for 109 yards and a touchdown against Atlanta. Hopefully he can build off his most recent success in San Diego. The trouble with the Saints offensively is that the quarterback has always enjoyed spreading the ball around. There’s no telling who the team’s leading pass catcher will be in Week 4. All we know is there will be a lot of scoring.
San Diego Chargers
It has been an up-and-down start to the season for Philip Rivers and the Chargers. He had a really tough time in the first half against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 3. The second half was a different story as Rivers threw for over 200 yards, but still, he failed to find the end zone. Failing to throw a touchdown against the Saints isn’t going to get the job done. Fortunately New Orleans has been very generous to opposing passing games this season. Watching Rivers and Brees go toe to toe this week can only mean lots of passing yards and touchdowns.
When the Chargers do run the ball, they will do so with comfort as Melvin Gordon continues to perform well. After not scoring any rushing touchdowns in his rookie season last year, Gordon has found the end zone in every game this season. No team in the NFL has given up more points to running backs this year than the Saints. Gordon and his fantasy owners should be licking their chops knowing that the running back is now the centerpiece of an offense dealing with season-ending injuries to key players. So much for a sophomore slump.