Fantasy football: Skattebo among 5 must-starts in Week 4 RB rankings
UPI

Fantasy football: Skattebo among 5 must-starts in Week 4 RB rankings

Alex Butler | October 1, 2026

Cam Skattebo and Jaylen Warren are among UPI senior sports writer Alex Butler's five must-start fantasy football running backs for Week 4.

New York Giants running back Cam Skattebo (L) is among my fantasy football RB1 plays in Week 4. File Photo by Paul Kieu/UPI UPI Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jaylen Warren (C) erupted for 176 yards from scrimmage in Week 3. File Photo by Archie Carpenter/UPI UPI Chicago Bears running back D'Andre Swift (4) runs the ball against the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday in Chicago. Photo by Mark Black/UPI UPI Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley (26) runs the ball against the Chicago Bears on Monday in Chicago. Photo by Mark Black/UPI UPI San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey (top) dives over the Arizona Cardinals for a touchdown Sunday in Santa Clara, Calif. Photo by Terry Schmitt/UPI UPI

MIAMI, Oct. 1 (UPI) -- Cam Skattebo and Jaylen Warren are among my five must-start fantasy football running backs for Week 4.

My must-start running backs each rank inside the Top 14 of my Top-50 running back rankings for Week 4, which are listed below. Christian McCaffrey, Bijan Robinson, Jahmyr Gibbs, James Cook and Derrick Henry are my Top 5 plays.

Jonathan Taylor, Warren, Saquon Barkley, D'Andre Swift and Kenneth Walker round out my Top 10.

I unearthed my five must-start plays by analyzing recent success, expected game script, strength of opponent and more. Breece Hall, Travis Etienne Jr. and Rico Dowdle are among the injured running backs who should not be in starting lineups.

My Top 50 wide receiver rankings can be found here. My Week 4 waiver wire/free agent targets also are available.

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Jaylen Warren

Warren was fantasy football's RB8 in Week 3, when he amassed a career-high 176 yards from scrimmage off 20 touches in a Pittsburgh Steelers win over the Cincinnati Bengals.

The Steelers playmaker has yet to find the end zone this season, but should continue to provide value with his dynamic skillset. This week, the Steelers will face the Cleveland Browns.

The Browns allowed the ninth-most rushing yards to running backs through three weeks.

They surrendered 110 yards from scrimmage off 23 touches from Chuba Hubbard in Week 3 and allowed at least 88 yards from scrimmage to a running back in each of their first three games.

Look for Warren to again approach 100 yards from scrimmage Sunday in Cleveland. He should also find the end zone and land in Top 10 territory.

D'Andre Swift

Swift is my No. 9 fantasy football play in Week 4. The Chicago Bears veteran is fantasy football's RB6 so far this season, but provided RB2 value in Week 3.

I expect a bounce-back game here from Swift, who hasn't scored since Week 1. The Bears also will face the New York Jets, who just allowed a monster 164-yard, three-score performance to Jahmyr Gibbs.

Swift totaled at least 88 yards from scrimmage in each of his first three games this season, including a 134-yard, three-score showing in Week 1. Look for at least 100 yards from scrimmage and a score here as the Bears running back returns to RB1 status.

Aaron Jones

Jones, who was not among the first 40 running backs selected in many drafts, has been one of the best values in fantasy football this season. The Minnesota Vikings running back is fantasy football RB21 through three weeks.

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Jones did not score in his last two games, but averaged 98.5 yards from scrimmage over that span. He should go off again this week against a Miami Dolphins defense that allowed the most fantasy points to running backs so far this season. That stretch included allowing seven touchdowns to opposing ball carriers.

The Dolphins surrendered at least two touchdowns to running backs in each of their first three games. I expect Jones to end his scoring drought, while churning for at least 100 yards from scrimmage. He is my RB11 in Week 4.

Bucky Irving

Irving sits at No. 13 in my Week 3 rankings. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers weapon totaled the 18th-most fantasy points among running backs through three weeks. He finished outside the Top 30 at the position in Week 3, but should provide much more value in Week 4 against a Green Bay Packers unit that just surrendered 194 rushing yards and two scores to Bijan Robinson.

Irving's status should be monitored after he missed the final two drives of Week 3 due to a glute injury, but he can be slotted into a low-end RB1/high-end RB2 lineup spot if he is active.

Cam Skattebo

Skattebo is my RB14 for Week 4. The New York Giants playmaker provided RB2 production in Week 3, when he totaled 100 yards from scrimmage off a season-high 23 touches.

Look for that steady volume and production to continue in Week 4 against an Arizona Cardinals defense that allowed 100.3 rushing yards per game to running backs through their first three appearances.

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That run included an allowance of 126 yards from scrimmage to Christian McCaffrey in Week 3 and 92 yards from scrimmage from Emanuel Wilson in Week 2.

Skattebo, who totaled at least 81 yards from scrimmage in two of his first three games, is a near lock to reach that number. He could move into mid-range RB1 territory if he scores against the Cardinals.

Week 4 running back rankings

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

2. Bijan Robinson, Atlanta Falcons at NO

3. Jahmyr Gibbs, Detroit Lions at CAR

4. James Cook, Buffalo Bills vs. NE

5. Derrick Henry, Baltimore Ravens vs. TEN

6. Jonathan Taylor, Indianapolis Colts vs. WAS

7. Jaylen Warren, Pittsburgh Steelers at CLE

8. Saquon Barkley, Philadelphia Eagles vs. LAR

9. D'Andre Swift, Chicago Bears vs. NYJ

10. Kenneth Walker, Kansas City Chiefs at LV

11. Aaron Jones Sr., Minnesota Vikings vs. MIA

12. Kyren Williams, Los Angeles Rams at PHI

13. Bucky Irving, Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. GB

14. Cam Skattebo, New York Giants vs. ARI

15. Jeremiyah Love, Arizona Cardinals at NYG

16. Chase Brown, Cincinnati Bengals vs. JAX

17. Chuba Hubbard, Carolina Panthers vs. DET

18. David Montgomery, Houston Texans vs. DAL

19. Braelon Allen, New York Jets at CHI

20. Ashton Jeanty, Las Vegas Raiders vs. KC

21. Javonte Williams, Dallas Cowboys at HOU

22. Jadarian Price, Seattle Seahawks vs. LAC

23. Bhayshul Tuten, Jacksonville Jaguars at CIN

24. Tony Pollard, Tennessee Titans at BAL

25. Omarion Hampton, Los Angeles Chargers at SEA

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26. Quinshon Judkins, Cleveland Browns vs. PIT

27. JK Dobbins, Denver Broncos at SF

28. Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Washington Commanders vs. IND

29. Rhamondre Stevenson, New England Patriots at BUF

30. R.J. Harvey, Denver Broncos at SF

31. Kyle Monangai, Chicago Bears vs. NYJ

32. Blake Corum, Los Angeles Rams at PHI

33. Alvin Kamara, New Orleans Saints vs. ATL

34. TreVeyon Henderson, New England Patriots at BUF

35. Woody Marks, Houston Texans vs. DAL

36. Jaylen Wright, Miami Dolphins at MIN

37. Rachaad White, Washington Commanders vs. IND

38. MarShawn Lloyd, Green Bay Packers at TB

39. Kendre Miller, New Orleans Saints vs. ATL

40. Keaton Mitchell, Los Angeles Chargers at SEA

41. Emanuel Wilson, Seattle Seahawks vs. LAC

42. Tyjae Spears, Tennessee Titans at BAL

43. Ollie Gordon II, Miami Dolphins at MIN

44. Kaleb Johnson, Green Bay Packers at TB

45. Emmett Johnson, Kansas City Chiefs at LV

46. Najee Harris, New York Giants vs. ARI

47. Tyler Allgeier, Arizona Cardinals at NYG

48. Kaelon Black, San Francisco 49ers vs. DEN

49. Brian Robinson Jr., Atlanta Falcons at NO

50. Kenneth Gainwell, Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. GB

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