In need of a fantasy football win? We aren’t too far from the midway point of our regular season, and you can’t afford to fall too far behind. I’m here to help you break those WR start/sit ties and have your team pointing in the right direction when Week 4 is all said and done.
Which Wide Receivers Should Fantasy Managers Start in Week 4?
All stats are from TruMedia unless otherwise stated.
Christian Kirk, Jacksonville Jaguars (at HOU)
If the Jaguars are going to bounce back, I think Christian Kirk holds the key. His versatility is often overlooked, and I think fantasy managers have a chance to capitalize on it now before it’s too late.
I would really like to see Christian Kirk utilized more in the #Jaguars offense. He’s their best WR.
vs. BUF:
• +12.1% CPOE
• +3.7 Rec EPA
• 3.2 avg. separation
• 8 catches
• 10 targets
• 79 yards pic.twitter.com/LencMhiIW5— Jared Feinberg (@JRodNFLDraft) September 26, 2024
Through three weeks, Kirk owns the fifth-highest average depth of target (aDOT) for a sub-6’ receiver with a mark that is up 13.1% from last season. Due to Calvin Ridley taking his talents to Tennessee, Kirk is being used more vertically but without leaving the slot.
Kirk has accounted for 44.4% of Jacksonville’s slot targets and 47.4% of its slot receptions, a nice role to take into a matchup that has allowed a league-high four slot scores.
After a disaster of a start to the season, the slot savant was a rare Jaguar who showed up last week (8-79-0 on 10 targets), and I think we see more of the same in another positive script for Jacksonville’s passing attack.
Xavier Worthy, Kansas City Chiefs (at LAC)
Xavier was plenty Worthy in his NFL debut (WR9), but he’s finished outside of the top 50 at the position in each of the past two weeks, and I’m not sure we see that change this week.
The per-play upside is always going to be there, and Andy Reid’s creativity is dangerous to bet against, but I’m more likely to roll the dice on him in a high-possession-count environment, something that is unlikely to occur in this matchup with the slowest moving offense in the NFL.
Worthy is the perfect bye week, high-upside flier to roster. I hope he turns into more during the second half of the season, but I’m not overly optimistic with Patrick Mahomes’ aDOT continuing to regress.
Which Wide Receivers Should Fantasy Managers Sit in Week 4?
Jameson Williams, Detroit Lions (vs. SEA)
One catch for nine yards wasn’t exactly the encore we were looking for after a strong start to the season, but I remain bullish on Jameson Williams. He cleared a 70% snap share again and saw a pair of deep targets — they just didn’t connect.
You have to be willing to take the good with the bad in trusting a skill set like this (yes, I’m looking at you, Rashid Shaheed managers). Williams is going to be ranked as a mid-level WR2 for me more often than not, understanding that he will rarely finish in that range.
This is one of the few weeks I’m looking elsewhere. Opponents are 4 of 14 for 76 yards with zero touchdowns and two interceptions when throwing deep against Seattle this season. They are creating pressure on 44.2% of opponent dropbacks (third highest), making it tough to execute those bombs.
The upside is always there because whenever the Lions have the ball, Williams is in scoring position. However, if you wanted to play Jaxon Smith-Njigba over Williams this week as you chase a (in theory) higher floor, I wouldn’t blame you in the slightest.
DeAndre Hopkins, Tennessee Titans (at MIA)
It’s a slow grind, but DeAndre Hopkins was up to a 45.3% snap share last week against the Packers last week (his highest of the season), and it resulted in a top-20 finish at the position.
I still have Ridley ranked as the WR1 in Tennessee’s offense (both for Week 1 and for the rest of the season). However, betting on any member of this passing game to be anything more than a risk/reward Flex option who requires a touchdown to pay off your confidence is a step I’m not willing to take.