EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsWeek 4 of the 2026 NFL season is underway after the Browns edged the Steelers 27-24 on Thursday night. But what will happen in the remaining 15 games? We have 15 predictions from our NFL experts.First, betting analyst Pamela Maldonado picks three underdogs who could win outright. Then, analytics writer Seth Walder projects stat lines for three players. Fantasy football writer Eric Moody suggests three sleepers, and analyst Matt Bowen predicts three players who will find the end zone. Finally, analyst Ben Solak lays out three wild-card predictions.Could the Broncos upset the 49ers? Will Rams cornerback Trent McDuffie continue his strong start against the Eagles? Is Panthers tight end Darren Waller a fantasy sleeper versus the Lions? And does Bears coach Ben Johnson have a trick up his sleeve against the Jets?Let's make 15 big predictions for the Sunday and Monday action.Jump to:Upset picks | Projected stat linesFantasy sleepers, surprisesTD scorers | Other predictionsMaldonado predicts three upsetsDenver Broncos +3 (+124 moneyline) at San Francisco 49ersBroncos quarterback Bo Nix's production drops sharply under pressure, but the 49ers will be without edge rusher Nick Bosa (calf) in Week 4. San Francisco struggled to generate pressure without Bosa last week, allowing Cardinals quarterback Jacoby Brissett to connect on short throws and extend drives.Denver's defense, meanwhile, held QBs Patrick Mahomes, Trevor Lawrence and Matthew Stafford below 60% in completion rate this season, which deserves more respect than the yardage totals suggest from those matchups. That means a tougher challenge for the 49ers' Brock Purdy, who is unlikely to continue his league-leading touchdown rate.Atlanta Falcons +2.5 (+124) at New Orleans SaintsFalcons running back Bijan Robinson's matchup is the clearest advantage in this one. Atlanta leans on outside zone; New Orleans ranks last in success rate defending it. That means the Falcons won't have to ask too much of Michael Penix Jr., though his return last week immediately restored Drake London's involvement in the offense.Considering the Falcons are allowing just 3.1 yards per carry and Saints running back Travis Etienne Jr. (hamstring) is out, New Orleans might struggle to run the ball. And Atlanta's pressure can keep the heat on the Saints passing offense -- which is also missing left tackle Kelvin Banks Jr.Dallas Cowboys +3 (+136) at Houston TexansHouston's defensive front can disrupt Dallas, but QB Dak Prescott has taken only three sacks through three games. And Houston allowed plenty of explosive plays in Week 1 against Buffalo, so its defense isn't an automatic shutdown unit.On the other side of the ball, the Texans' offense hasn't established dependable protection or rushing production. That could lead to more opportunities for Prescott and WR CeeDee Lamb, who have led the Cowboys to the fifth-highest offensive success rate.Walder predicts three stat linesJameson Williams, WR, Detroit Lions: 7 receptions, 114 yards, 1 touchdownHere's some fantasy football advice before Moody gets to his picks: Trade for Williams ASAP. He has yet to put together a single game of over 50 receiving yards, but he is tied for second in ESPN's open score metric, which measures a receiver's ability to get open on all routes run. His 1.2 yards per route run are so low that only the 26th-ranked player (KC Concepcion) in open score comes close to it. And now consider that the Lions are facing the Panthers, a team that had strength at cornerback ... but doesn't anymore after injuries to Jaycee Horn and Mike Jackson.Malcolm Koonce and Kwity Paye, Edge, Las Vegas Raiders: Combined 2.0 sacks, 6 pressures, 27% pass rush win rateI'm giving a combined stat line for Koonce and Paye, who mostly play on the other side of the line from Maxx Crosby. In this week's case, that means squaring off against Chiefs left tackle Kahlil Benson, the undrafted rookie who has started while Josh Simmons is recovering from a bulging disk.The pass-blocking numbers haven't been kind to Benson, who ranks in just the 5th percentile in pass block win rate. That, plus the fact that quarterback Patrick Mahomes wasn't great at sack avoidance last season (5.8% sack rate), could mean a big day for the Raiders duo.Trent McDuffie, CB, Los Angeles Rams: 1 reception allowed, 7 receiving yards allowed, 1 interceptionMcDuffie is off to a scorching start after getting traded to the Rams. He has allowed just 52 receiving yards on four receptions, giving him 0.5 yards allowed per coverage snap -- less than half of the average number for a starting outside corner, per NFL Next Gen Stats. His target rate is average, but McDuffie is allowing a completion percentage over expected of negative-22%.In Week 4, he won't have to deal with Eagles WR1 DeVonta Smith, who is out with a hamstring injury. And since I'm expecting the Rams to get out to a big lead, Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts could be forced into taking risks. I'm betting one lands in McDuffie's hands.Moody predicts three fantasy sleepersMalik Washington, WR, Miami Dolphins (rostered in 20.7% of ESPN leagues)Washington has stockpiled a team-high 23 targets this season, including 10 last week against the Chiefs. He also leads the Dolphins in air yards, and injuries to WR Caleb Douglas (ankle) and RB De'Von Achane (torn ACL) could mean even more opportunities.Though Minnesota has a strong defense, it is allowing the eighth-most yards to wide receivers. Washington is worth inserting into lineups in deeper leagues.Darren Waller, TE, Carolina Panthers (20.5%)Waller is an excellent TE streamer for fantasy managers after recording eight targets and 51 receiving yards against the Browns last week. He has 10 receptions for 112 yards and two touchdowns this season. And because Jalen Coker and Xavier Legette are dealing with injuries, Waller could keep busy against Detroit. The Lions have allowed the most fantasy points per game to tight ends this season.Marcus Mariota, QB, Washington Commanders (15.7%)After finishing with 20.4 fantasy points (including three touchdown passes) against a stout Seahawks defense in Week 3, Mariota faces a Colts unit that has allowed the fifth-most fantasy points per game to quarterbacks. It should be a good matchup for him.Bowen predicts three touchdown scorersParker Washington, WR Jacksonville JaguarsWashington owns a 30.3% target share this season, and he has scored a touchdown in two of three games. Plus, Jacksonville quarterback Trevor Lawrence targeted Washington three times on end zone throws in the Week 3 win over the Patriots.With the flexibility to line up inside or outside, as well as the ability to strike on vertical routes, Washington will have opportunities to score against the Bengals. They gave up three touchdown throws to Steelers QB Aaron Rodgers last week.Lamar Jackson, QB, Baltimore Ravens Jackson has thrown four touchdown passes this season, but he has just one rushing score. We know running back Derrick Henry is the primary option for Baltimore on the ground in the low red zone, but I see Jackson cashing in on a designed carry this Sunday versus the Titans. He is averaging 5.7 carries per game, and he had an attempt inside the 5-yard line in Baltimore's Week 3 win over the Cowboys.Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Carolina PanthersMcMillan has yet to score a touchdown this season but has seen 23 targets, including at least one in the end zone in back-to-back weeks. He has a great matchup against the Lions, who are allowing a league-worst 31.7 points per game and have surrendered the second-most touchdowns (nine). There are favorable matchups here for McMillan in the red zone.Solak makes three more predictionsThe Eagles will block another field goal against the RamsLast year's Rams-Eagles regular-season game ended on a Jordan Davis field goal block, which he promptly scooped and scored. The Rams' special teams woes proved their Achilles' heel last season, so they made a coordinator change to turns things around.This visit to Philly is a great chance to exorcise those demons. But Davis is still a very, very large man. Why not another block in this one?The Vikings will pitch a shutoutMinnesota defensive coordinator Brian Flores is facing his old team for the second time since he was fired as the Dolphins' coach (the first was with the Steelers as a senior defensive assistant). I'd bet the locker room rises to mark the occasion. We're talking 17 yards of offense allowed at the half. Four fumbles forced. And a goose egg on the scoreboard when the dust settles.Bears coach Ben Johnson will run a cool trick playJohnson faces his old coworker and current Jets head coach Aaron Glenn for the first time since both left Detroit for lead gigs. After years of coaching against his ex-colleague in Lions practices, Johnson surely has a file chock-full of anti-Glenn ideas squirreled away. I'll guess we see a touchdown pass to Darnell Wright in the red zone; he has been at an All-Pro level in 2026 but has yet to get the Penei Sewell usage.
