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Week 4 DFS fades and players to avoid

PHILADELPHIA, PA - JANUARY 1: Dez Bryant #88 of the Dallas Cowboys reacts against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on January 1, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Eagles defeated the Cowboys 27-13. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)

Last week, I used this space to make fun of Week 3’s appearance. Week 3 then proceeded to be hands-down the best week of the season so far, starting with a Thursday night barn-burner between the 49ers and Rams. Ha.

And so began the week that was. The DFS chalk almost completely whiffed, so if you faded any of the big names last week — kudos on you.

Here are a handful of players I’ll be fading in Week 4.

Note: There’s always a case to be made for playing any player in tournaments. This list of “fades” is cash game focused, but most of these players can be avoided in tournaments as well.

Quarterbacks

Derek Carr, Oakland Raiders

Carr proved last week that he still has an abysmal floor, going 19-of-31 for 118 yards, one touchdown, and two picks. He travels to Denver this week to face the still-stingy Broncos defense. The Broncos have given up seven scores through the air, but no quarterback has topped 238 yards on them — despite the fact they’ve had the 11th-most pass attempts against this year.

Cam Newton, Carolina Panthers

Unfortunately, Newton is nearing unplayable status. He’s definitely unplayable in cash games at this point. New England has given up the most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks so far this year (most yards and most touchdowns), so you can tempt fate and play Newton is tournaments if you want, but I want none of him in cash games. His weapons are depleted, he doesn’t run as much, and he’s averaging fewer than 200 passing yards per game. And he hasn’t thrown for a score in two straight games.

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