Stevenson, Robinson among 5 fantasy football RBs to avoid in Week 4

MIAMI, Sept. 27 (UPI) — Rhamondre Stevenson and Brian Robinson Jr. are among my five fantasy football running backs to avoid in lineups in Week 4.

If you need more options for your roster, check out my top add/drops before your waiver wire opens. My Week 4 rankings for quarterbacks, wide receivers and tight ends will also be available and updated for Sunday’s games.

Christian McCaffrey, Josh Jacobs, Kenneth Walker, Travis Etienne and Tony Pollard lead my Top 30 rankings, which are listed below. James Cook, Joe Mixon, Derrick Henry, Miles Sanders and D’Andre Swift round out my Top 10 plays.

Those who roster running backs Gus Edwards, Justice Hill, Aaron Jones, Austin Ekeler and David Montgomery should monitor their injury statuses before plugging them into starting lineups.

My running backs to avoid rank outside the Top 24 of my rankings.

Rhamondre Stevenson

Stevenson ranks outside the Top 20 this season in fantasy points per game among running backs. The New England Patriots ball carrier failed to reach 60 rushing yards in any of his first three starts this season. He also scored just one touchdown.

This week, the Patriots will face the Dallas Cowboys. The Cowboys tied the Jacksonville Jaguars for allowing the third-fewest fantasy points to running backs this season. They also were stingy last season, when they surrendered the fourth-fewest fantasy points to the position.

I expect the Cowboys to jump out to an early lead in this matchup. Stevenson is my No. 25 play for Week 4. He should only be used as a low-end RB2 or flex in leagues with at least 12 teams.

Rachaad White

White remains the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ RB1, with an average of nearly 20 touches per game. That workload makes White stay relevant as an RB2 play in fantasy football, but I hate his matchup this week.

The Buccaneers will battle the New Orleans Saints on the road in Week 4. The Saints, who have yet to allow a touchdown to a running back this season, tied the Kansas City Chiefs for allowing the fifth-fewest fantasy points to the position.

They also just held Green Bay Packers running back A.J. Dillon to 33 yards on 11 carries in Week 3 and surrendered only 43 yards on 14 carries in Week 2 from Carolina Panthers running back Miles Sanders.

In Week 1, the Saints held Derrick Henry to 63 yards on 15 carries. White should again receive at least 15 touches, but I don’t expect much production. He is the No. 26 player in my Top 30 rankings.

Brian Robinson Jr.

Robinson has taken over the Washington Commanders backfield, earning 40 more carries than fellow running back Antonio Gibson through three weeks. He turned his 47 attempts into 216 yards, averaging a respectable 4.6 yards per carry and scoring three total touchdowns.

Robinson will take on the Philadelphia Eagles on the road in Week 4. The Eagles, who just held White to 38 yards on 14 carries, own the best rush defense in the NFL. They surrendered a total of 145 yards on the ground to their first three foes.

Look for the Eagles to take a large lead early on in this NFC East matchup. I expect Gibson to be more involved in a pass catching role as the Commanders chase the lead.

Robinson is my No. 27 play and should only be used as a low-end RB2 or flex play.

A.J. Dillon

As previously mentioned, Dillon struggled to find running room in Week 3 against the Saints. This week, his Packers will face another tough run defense in the Detroit Lions.

The Lions allowed just 216 rushing yards, the fifth-fewest in the NFL, through three weeks. They surrendered the third-fewest rushing yards (152) to running backs.

Look for Dillion to total close to 70 yards in this matchup. He is a touchdown-or-bust RB2, who lands at No. 28 in my Week 4 rankings.

Breece Hall

Hall is an electric football talent, but has struggled to break loose in recent weeks after a 147-yard Week 1. The New York Jets running back logged 27 yards from scrimmage on 13 touches in Week 3.

This week, the Jets will battle the Chiefs, who allowed the third-fewest receiving yards (44) and fifth-fewest fantasy points to running backs through three weeks.

Hall can’t be trusted as a starter until he proves and he can consistently produce. He is not inside the Top 30 of my rankings.

Week 4 fantasy football running back rankings

1. Christian McCaffrey, San Francisco 49ers vs. ARI

2. Josh Jacobs, Las Vegas Raiders at LAC

3. Kenneth Walker, Seattle Seahawks at NYG

4. Travis Etienne, Jacksonville Jaguars vs. ATL

5. Tony Pollard, Dallas Cowboys vs. NE

6. James Cook, Buffalo Bills vs. MIA

7. Joe Mixon, Cincinnati Bengals at TEN

8. Derrick Henry, Tennessee Titans vs. CIN

9. Miles Sanders, Carolina Panthers vs. MIN

10. D’Andre Swift, Philadelphia Eagles vs. WAS

11. Bijan Robinson, Atlanta Falcons at JAX

12. Zack Moss, Indianapolis Colts vs. LAR

13. Jahmyr Gibbs, Detroit Lions at GB

14. Alexander Mattison, Minnesota Vikings at CAR

15. Raheem Mostert, Miami Dolphins at BUF

16. Dameon Pierce, Houston Texans vs. PIT

17. Kyren Williams, Los Angeles Rams at IND

18. Jerome Ford, Cleveland Browns vs. BAL

19. De’Von Achane, Miami Dolphins at BUF

20. Alvin Kamara, New Orleans Saints vs. TB

21. James Conner, Arizona Cardinals at SF

22. Javonte Williams, Denver Broncos at CHI

23. Joshua Kelley, Los Angeles Chargers vs. LV

24. Najee Harris, Pittsburgh Steelers at HOU

25. Rhamondre Stevenson, New England Patriots at DAL

26. Rachaad White, Tampa Bay Buccaneers at NO

27. Brian Robinson Jr., Washington Commanders at PHI

28. A.J. Dillon, Green Bay Packers vs. DET

29. Isiah Pacheco, Kansas City Chiefs at NYJ

30. Khalil Herbert, Chicago Bears vs. DEN

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts looks to pass against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the first half at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa on September 25, 2023. The Eagles beat the Buccaneers 25-11. Photo by Steve Nesius/UPI | License Photo