We've learned a lot of things so far this NFL season, but perhaps one lesson stands out above the rest: When making your DFS lineup, always target the New Orleans Saints defense. Through three games, the Saints rank 31st in yards per game allowed, 31st in points per game allowed and 30th in Football Outsiders' defensive efficiency rankings. Last week, Atlanta Falcons running backs Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman gashed the Saints on the ground and through the air on their way to finishing as the No. 1 and No. 2 RBs on FanDuel. You don't often think of an RB-RB stack as a great idea for DFS purposes, but against the Saints, anything is possible. As such, you can expect to see a lot of San Diego Chargers players in DFS lineups on Sunday, and one of the most important decisions of the week will be determining whether you want to join in on the fun or fade them. I do a little bit of both in my Week 4 FanDuel, which you can see by clicking through the gallery. You can also click here for my DraftKings lineup. (Getty)
QB: Kirk Cousins, Washington Redskins
Price: $7,600
Opponent: vs. Cleveland Browns
While Phillip Rivers is a fine play in cash games, he's an intriguing fade in tournament formats. He's going to be heavily owned, he's high-priced ($8,500) as the third-most expensive QB on the main Sunday slate and while the Saints defense is indeed porous, QB's haven't really gone off against them. Based on FanDuel scoring, Derek Carr finished as the QB13, Eli Manning finished as the QB12 and Matt Ryan finished as the QB9. Instead, I'll go with Cousins ($900 cheaper) at home against a Browns defense that has allowed at least 270 yards and two scores to Carson Wentz, Joe Flacco and Ryan Tannehill. (Getty)
RB: Melvin Gordon, San Diego Chargers
Price: $7,600
Opponent: vs. New Orleans Saints
Last week against the Saints, Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman turned 34 combined touches (26 rushes, eight receptions) into 296 yards from scrimmage (194 rushing, 102 receiving) and four touchdowns. I'm not saying Melvin Gordon will approach those numbers, but he's in line for a full workload (in the first game without Danny Woodhead, he received 20 touches, played 86.7 percent of the offensive snaps and ran a career-high 27 pass routes) against a defense bleeding points to running backs. (Getty)
RB: Dwayne Washington, Detroit Lions
Price: $4,500
Opponent: at Chicago Bears
Washington is more of a tournament play because it's tough to be confident about what his role will be. But the risk is low at a bare-minimum $4,500, and after sparking some life into the running game last week, it would make sense for him to get the bulk of the early-down and short-yardage carries while Theo Riddick collects his touches in the passing game, where he's most effective. Even 12-to-15 carries against the Bears would be enough for Washington, who has an intriguing amalgam of size and speed, to provide value at this price. (Getty)
WR: DeAndre Hopkins, Houston Texans
Price: $8,600
Opponent: vs. Tennessee Titans
The Titans have allowed a 100-yard receiver in each of the first three weeks (Stefon Diggs, Marvin Jones, Michael Crabtree), and Hopkins, who burned this defense for 15 receptions, 211 yards and two touchdowns in two games last year, is a good bet to continue that streak. He hasn't truly exploded like he's capable of yet, but coming off a long week of rest, this is a good spot for him to approach his always sky-high ceiling. (Getty)
WR: Alshon Jeffery, Chicago Bears
Price: $8,200
Opponent: vs. Detroit Lions
There are probably a lot of people out there who are fed up with Jeffery, or, at the very least, the Bears offense. The star wide receiver has yet to receive more than seven targets in a game, he hasn't scored a touchdown and he ranks 31st among wide receivers in FanDuel points this year. Nevertheless, the under-usage of Jeffery has helped get the Bears to 0-3, and some point they're going to have to do a better job of peppering him with more targets. It's only a matter of time before he breaks out in a big way, or at least finds the end zone, and I'm fine betting on that happening against a Lions secondary that has been roasted by both the Colts and Packers so far this season. (Getty)
WR: Tyrell Williams, San Diego Chargers
Price: $6,400
Opponent: vs. New Orleans Saints
At just $200 more expensive, Travis Benjamin, who is considered the Chargers No. 1 receiver, figures to be a more popular play than his teammate. But if you want to target this Saints defense and still be somewhat contrarian, Williams is the perfect option. A 6-foot-3 weapon with speed, he brings volume (6.7 targets per game), big-play ability (18.3 yards per catch) and touchdown upside (six red-zone targets) to the table. (Getty)
TE: Greg Olsen, Carolina Panthers
Price: $7,900
Opponent: at Atlanta Falcons
During a week when there are so many potential value plays at tight end (Zach Miller $5,000, Hunter Henry $4,500, Cameron Brate $5,300, Jack Doyle $4,800), I like the idea of spending up at the position as a way to differentiate my lineup. Olsen is the perfect choice to do exactly that, as he's first among tight ends in FanDuel scoring through three weeks and now gets a matchup against a Falcons defense that has given up touchdowns to Austin Seferian-Jenkins, Brandon Myers, Clive Walford and Coby Fleener, with the latter adding seven catches and 109 yards last week. (Getty)
DEF: New England Patriots
Price: $4,500
Opponent: vs. Buffalo Bills
Bill Belichick looking to embarrass Rex Ryan, check. At home, check. With a long week to prepare, check. Against a Buffalo Bills team whose offensive line ranks 27th in pass protection, check. The Patriots defense was slow out of the game in Weeks 1 and 2, but it got back on track against the Texans and is in a nice spot to rack up some points here. (Getty)
K: Chandler Catanzaro
Price: $4,600
Opponent: vs. Los Angeles Rams
Catanzaro booted a 60-yard field goal last week, and there should be a lot of scoring opportunities this week for the Cardinals, as they are eight-point home favorites and looking to bounce back after last week's embarrassing effort. (Getty)
FanDuel NFL Week 4 Lineup Picks, Advice & Analysis