There is some honest-to-goodness good news at wide receiver for Fantasy heading into Week 4. Michael Thomas looks like he's returning from his ankle injury, D.J. Chark should be back from his chest injury, and Deebo Samuel returned to practice Wednesday and could make his debut this week. In a season defined by who hasn't been playing, it's nice to get some big names back, and hopefully we'll get good news on Davante Adams and JUlio Jones as they work their way back from hamstring injuries.
Of course, that doesn't mean setting your lineup at wide receiver will be easy. There are still plenty of players unlikely to play this week — Chris Godwin (hamstring) and Henry Ruggs (hamstring) chief among them, with Diontae Johnson (concussion), Russell Gage (concussion), DeSean Jackson (hamstring), A.J. Brown and John Brown (calf) among those very much in question — and among the healthy, question marks abound. Can you trust Odell Beckham, Allen Robinson, Adam Thielen, Julian Edelman, or D.J. Moore? Are early-season breakouts like Allen Lazard and Keelan Cole for real? Oh, and Corey Davis, JuJu Smith-Schuster, and the rest of the Titans and Steelers aren't playing this week due to the Titans COVID outbreak.
Find the answers you're looking for here, as Jamey Eisenberg's Start 'Em & Sit 'Em calls are here to help you do just that, and don't miss Heath Cummings' wide receiver preview for Week 4 with key matchup notes, projections, and more.
Start 'Em & Sit 'Em: QB | RB | WR
START 'EM & SIT 'EM
Wide Receiver
Start 'Em
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I'm excited for Parker and Preston Williams this week, and Williams should be considered a sleeper in all leagues. The Seahawks defense has been abysmal against opposing receivers all season, and the Dolphins duo should have the chance for a big game. Seattle has allowed the most receptions (76) and yards (1,136) and is tied for second in most touchdowns (five) to opposing receivers. By comparison, the next closest team in receptions allowed is Denver with 49 and Atlanta in yards with 736. And the Seahawks are down Jamal Adams (groin). Parker is due for a big game, and it should happen this week. The same goes for Williams, and I would start both (Parker obviously ahead of Williams) in Week 4 given the matchup.
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Fuller has delivered in two of three games this year, scoring 19 15 PPR points against the Chiefs in Week 1 and 15 PPR points against the Steelers in Week 2. He had no targets in Week 2 against Baltimore while dealing with an apparent hamstring injury, but he's on track for a breakout campaign this season if he can stay healthy. This week, Fuller should have another solid outing against the Vikings, who have allowed a receiver to score or gain at least 100 receiving yards in every game this year. Fuller has top-15 upside in Week 4.
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Keep an eye on Beckham's health since he's dealing with a back injury, but I'm expecting him to play against the Cowboys. And I'm expecting him to have his best game of the season. So far, Beckham has one game with double digits in PPR points this year in three outings, but I'm hopeful we get his second game with double digits in targets. The first time that happened was Week 1 at Baltimore when the Browns were chasing points, but Beckham struggled in a tough matchup against the Ravens and finished with three catches for 22 yards on 10 targets. Give him at least eight targets against the Cowboys, and he could go off. So far this year, five receivers have already had at least eight targets against Dallas -- Robert Woods, Calvin Ridley, Russell Gage, Tyler Lockett and DK Metcalf -- and those guys averaged 26.0 PPR points per game against this defense. It's been tough to trust Beckham this year, but he has top-15 upside this week.
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I hope this is the game where A.J. Green breaks out, but you have to buy into Boyd as the best Fantasy receiver for the Bengals now -- if you haven't done so already. He's been awesome the past two games with 17 catches for 197 yards and a touchdown on 21 targets, and he's scored 42 PPR points over that span against Cleveland and Philadelphia. Green is due for a breakout game, but Joe Burrow is leaning on Boyd now. And the Jaguars have given up more production to No. 2 receivers (Parris Campbell, Adam Humphries and Preston Williams) than No. 1 options in three games this year.
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We're going through every matchup on the schedule for Week 4 on the Fantasy Football Today podcast. Subscribe at Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts:
Sleepers
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Lamb should still be considered a high-end No. 3 Fantasy receiver this week even though he was outplayed in Week 3 at Seattle by Michael Gallup and Cedrick Wilson, as well as Amari Cooper. In Lamb's lone home game in Week 2 against Atlanta he had six catches for 106 yards on nine targets, and maybe this week he'll catch his first NFL touchdown against the Browns.
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The Raiders receiving corps is a mess right now with Henry Ruggs (hamstring) and Bryan Edwards (ankle) banged up, and Renfrow could emerge as a prime target for Derek Carr. In Week 3 at New England, Renfrow had six catches for 84 yards and a touchdown on nine targets. Going back to last year, Renfrow has six games with at least six targets, and he's scored at least 17 PPR points in four of them.
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Beasley has been underrated this season based on his production so far. He has 20 targets through three games with 15 catches for 228 yards, and he's scored at least 12 PPR points in each of his past two games. And with John Brown (calf) now hurt, Josh Allen should continue to lean on Beasley, who should be considered a quality No. 3 Fantasy receiver in PPR.
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Valdes-Scantling could be the No. 1 receiver for the Packers this week against the Falcons with Davante Adams (hamstring) and Allen Lazard (core) hurt. But even if he's not No. 1 on the depth chart you can still take a flier on Valdes-Scantling this week given the matchup with the Falcons. Atlanta has been miserable against opposing receivers this year with six guys scoring at least 12 PPR points in three games, including a pair of receivers in each outing hitting that mark against Seattle, Dallas and Chicago.
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Ward could be the best Eagles wide receiver in Week 4 at San Francisco if DeSean Jackson (hamstring) is out and Alshon Jeffery (foot) isn't ready to play, as well as Dallas Goedert (ankle) being hurt. Ward stepped up in Week 3 against the Bengals with eight catches for 72 yards and a touchdown on 11 targets, and he could emerge as a key weapon for Carson Wentz behind Zack Ertz and Miles Sanders. It's a tough matchup against the 49ers on the road in Week 4, but Ward could be a No. 3 Fantasy receiver in all leagues given his expected target share.
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Sit 'Em
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At some point, Hilton is going to have a big game. And it could happen this week against the Bears, although Chicago is the lone team not to allow a touchdown to a wide receiver. But through three outings we've been extremely disappointed with Hilton, who has combined for 22 PPR points and has yet to top 53 receiving yards in a game with no touchdowns. He's still worth starting in three-receiver leagues, and maybe the injuries to Parris Campbell (knee) and Michael Pittman (calf) give Hilton a few more targets. But I need to see it first, and I'm frustrated with Hilton's lack of production so far this year.
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Slayton was great in Week 1 against the Steelers with six catches for 102 yards and two touchdowns on nine targets, which was good for 28 PPR points. In two games since then against Chicago and San Francisco, Slayton has combined for 12 PPR points on six catches, 86 yards and 13 targets. It will be hard to trust him in a likely matchup with Jalen Ramsey for the Rams, and Slayton has little upside in all formats. Of the Giants receivers, I would consider Golden Tate as a low-end starting option in PPR.
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I'm excited about Jefferson after his breakout game in Week 3 against the Titans when he had seven catches for 175 yards and a touchdown on nine targets, and I want to roster him in all leagues. But I don't want to start him in Week 4 against the Texans if he's not needed. Let's see if Jefferson continues to get a third of Kirk Cousins' pass attempts like he did against Tennessee, while Adam Thielen only had five. And the Texans have been great against opposing receivers so far. While Houston has allowed three touchdowns to Sammy Watkins, Tyreek Hill and JuJu Smith-Schuster, only Watkins has more than 50 receiving yards, including a matchup with Marquise Brown as well. At best, consider Jefferson a low-end No. 3 Fantasy receiver in all leagues this week. You should have him on your Fantasy team where available, and hopefully he continues to produce at a high level moving forward.
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Watkins doesn't have the best history against the Patriots, and I would only consider him a No. 3 Fantasy receiver this week. He's faced them seven times in his career, including the playoffs, and he has one touchdown and one game with more than 60 receiving yards in those matchups. Three of those games have come with the Chiefs over the past two seasons, and he's combined for 10 catches, 182 yards and no touchdowns on 20 targets. Watkins has been good so far this season with at least 13 PPR points in the two games he's been able to finish (he suffered a concussion in Week 2 at the Chargers), but I'm skeptical to start him in most leagues given the matchup.
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Aiyuk should be added in all leagues, and he has the chance to be a good playmaker for the 49ers, especially with Deebo Samuel (foot) still hurt. In Week 3 against the Giants, Aiyuk had five catches for 70 yards on eight targets, along with three carries for 31 yards and a touchdown. But don't play him this week against the Eagles given how Philadelphia has done against opposing No. 1 receivers. Terry McLaurin, Robert Woods and A.J. Green combined for 12 catches for 101 yards and no touchdowns on 18 targets against the Eagles, with Darius Slay having a big hand in making that happen. Aiyuk isn't the same type of No. 1 receiver like those guys, but he is the top guy for the 49ers until Samuel is back. For now, just stash him on your bench in most leagues.
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Bust Alert
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McLaurin has been solid so far this year with at least 11 PPR points in all three games, and he's averaging 16.0 PPR points for the season. He's also seen 25 targets on the year. But I'm expecting him to struggle against the Ravens, and he should be considered a low-end starting option at best in all leagues. While Baltimore was beat up by the Chiefs in Week 3 on Monday night (Tyreek Hill, Mecole Hardman and Watkins all scored at least 13 PPR points), the Ravens didn't allow a receiver to score a touchdown in the first two weeks of the season, including matchups with Odell Beckham and Fuller. I expect to see an angry Baltimore defense this week and a rough outing for the entire Washington offense.
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So who should you start and sit this week? And which surprising quarterback could lead you to victory? Visit SportsLine now to get Week 4 rankings for every position, plus see which QB is going to come out of nowhere to crack the top 10, all from the model that out-performed experts big-time last season.
