May 14, 2026
By Ryan Baker
Week 3 had four one-point games, setting a high bar. Week 4 promises more excitement with marquee matchups and undefeated records on the line. San Diego travels to Oakland for a massive interdivisional matchup, the Wind Chill will have to grind through a divisional doubleheader, and Atlanta will try to get back on track against an undefeated Carolina. With some big names out, others must step up. Here are seven players to watch in Week 4.
Alex Atkins, New York Empire
Through his first two games in a New York uniform, Alex Atkins has transformed the Empire’s offense. His confidence is at an all-time high, and he looks more comfortable on a UFA field than ever before. This weekend, the Empire hosts the Colorado Apex, Atkins’s former team, in a highly anticipated matchup as the Empire seeks to rebound from last week's narrow loss to DC. The game carries extra significance, with Atkins aiming for a standout performance against his previous squad. He has logged five assists in each game this season, added five total goals, and thrown only two incompletions on 82 attempts. Taking over the quarterback role, he’s also completed six of his seven huck attempts. Given Atkins’s trash-talking personality, expect plenty of banter and a drive for highlights in this game.
Hayden Austin-Knab, Atlanta Hustle
Four teams have completed a quarter of their seasons. Only three players have recorded a block in every game, one of them being Hayden Austin-Knab with just 9 defensive points played. Austin-Knab has delivered at least 2 assists and 1 goal per game, making his impact clear on both sides of the disc. His four blocks are already a career best, emphasizing his rise this season. Facing the Carolina Flyers this weekend, Austin-Knab's all-around skill sets him up as a difference maker. With Atlanta’s Austin Taylor and Carolina’s Allan Laviolette likely to trade shots, Austin-Knab’s ability to produce both offensively and defensively may decide Atlanta’s first of three straight matchups against the Flyers.
Jacob Fairfax, Carolina Flyers
On the other side of that three-game series in three consecutive weeks is Carolina’s leading goal-scorer Jacob Fairfax. In his 10th season, Fairfax hasn’t lost a step, and although he’s only played in two games, he is on pace for a career high in goals. Averaging four goals a game would be an impressive feat, but being Laviolette’s top target is a good first step to that accomplishment. It’s hard to keep Fairfax out of the endzone, but of all teams Atlanta does one of the best. Out of 10 teams that he has played at least four times, the Hustle have stifled Fairfax to his second-lowest goals per game in that crop. If Fairfax can flip his historic script against Atlanta this weekend, then the Flyers could be looking at their first-ever 4-0 start in program history.
Pawel Janas, Chicago Union (Pictured)
The UFA all-time leader in assists, Pawel Janas, will be making his 2026 debut this weekend when the Chicago Union hosts the Minnesota Wind Chill. Given Chicago's 12-point, 26-turnover, and 30 percent hold percentage performance against Minnesota two weeks ago, Janas is poised to significantly elevate Chicago's offensive efficiency in a game-to-game comparison. Granted, Chicago was missing a lot of key players, and a big issue was miscommunication in the backfield, which Janas will directly affect. In the star-studded 12-0 Chicago team last season, Janas averaged three assists a game and is just over a year removed from a near 5,000-yard throwing season in 2024. To add to Janas’ potential success in this game, his top target from 2025, Wilson Matthews (caught 8 of Janas’ 27 assists) will continue to be a big factor alongside big-body Jeff Weis downfield. He will have to go up against the all-star-filled Minnesota D-line, but if anyone can find holes and even create them in defenses, it’s Janas.
Evan Magsig, Oakland Spiders
Even though Evan Magsig has started on D-line for the Spiders this year, his impact offensively has been massive. Add on that Leo Gordon (currently listed as dressed) might not play this weekend, there’s potential for Magsig to play both ways. The looming matchup for Oakland is against San Diego, a team that Magsig excels against. In his last eight games against the Growlers, Magsig averaged 4.1 assists per game, including a six-assist and an eight-assist performance. In that eight-assist performance, Magsig set the record for most throwing yards in a single game with 1,176, completing 83 of 84 attempts. He has totaled 14 assists this season and has been the anchor for the highest scoring defense this season, but his breakout performance is still pending and could come this weekend.
Marcel Osborne, San Diego Growlers
The San Diego Growlers are coming off a high after beating the Atlanta Hustle in a one-goal nail-biter. But with downfield threat Khalif El-Salaam inactive this coming Saturday, and two-way scorer Jonathan Lyle still waiting to make his 2026 debut, the Growlers will need another big production night from Marcel Osborne for what will be one of the week’s best games in Oakland. Osborne has delivered three assists and scored five goals in two games for San Diego. Last week, his fourth-quarter goal put San Diego ahead by two against Atlanta—the only one of his eight this season scored in the final quarter. A strong fourth-quarter performance from Osborne could play a pivotal role against Oakland’s dynamic defense. This will be San Diego and Osborne’s toughest matchup of the season, and Osborne will be asked to play a much bigger role.
William Wettengel, Indianapolis AlleyCats
Former All Defense selection William Wettengel surprised UFA fans last weekend. Over three seasons, Wettengel has logged 379 defensive points to just 44 offensive points. The most offensive points Wettengel has played in a season is 18, but last weekend against Madison, he eclipsed that total, playing 20 offensive points. He also tallied seven assists, nearly matching his season-high of 10 from last year. Head Coach Nathan Bussberg hinted that Wettengel would play a different role in 2026, but few expected to this extent. The AlleyCats did not beat Madison, but Wettengel showed impressive range, going 3/3 on hucks, not counting a last-second hail mary that was an impressive flick huck. Wettengel’s 6’3” frame gives him flexibility on every part of the field, especially causing matchup nightmares in the backfield.
Previous weeks
