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Kate Magdziuk shares her Week 4 wide receiver rankings for standard scoring leagues and highlights her favorite flex plays and WR sleepers.
It was a slow start to the season for most of the passing game around the league, but things finally picked up in Week 3 — great news for fantasy football managers in need of some points at wide receiver!
Unfortunately, injuries remain plentiful at the position. WRs Cooper Kupp, AJ Brown and Keenan Allen are all looking doubtful to play in Week 4 based on their latest updates. DeVonta Smith is in concussion protocol following a brutal hit to the head in Week 3. Adam Thielen is out on IR with a hamstring injury, just as he finally saw the light with Andy Dalton under center. Brutal stuff.
If you’re looking for an injury fill-in or even just a sleeper, SB Nation is here to help. Here’s a look at some viable flex plays, as well as my complete Week 4 wide receiver rankings for standard-scoring formats.
Week 4 WR flex plays of the week
Rome Odunze, Chicago Bears (vs. Rams)
It’s pretty difficult to Imagine trusting anyone in the Chicago Bears’ offense right now in your fantasy football lineups. However, rookie Rome Odunze caught my eye after a breakout performance in Week 3 with a favorable matchup against the Rams on the horizon for the coming week. Though the Rams have two capable pass rushers in Braden Fiske and Jared Verse (who have combined for 23 pressures this season), their secondary is struggling, having allowed a wide receiver 120+ receiving yards and a score in each of their matchups this season.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Seattle Seahawks (vs. Lions)
Second-year wideout Jaxon Smith-Njigba disappointed some fantasy football managers in Week 3, following up a breakout performance with a paltry 3-39-0 stat line against the Miami Dolphins — hardly a week-winner. Those brave enough to go back to the well for Smith-Njigba could be rewarded, however, up against the Detroit Lions defense. In Weeks 1 and 2, they allowed both slot wide receivers Cooper Kupp and Chris Godwin 110+ receiving yards and a score.
Week 4 WR sleepers
Rostership percentages in Yahoo! Fantasy leagues are indicated in parentheses.
Allen Lazard, New York Jets (vs. Broncos, 30%)
The Denver Broncos aren’t the most favorable matchups for wide receivers this season, as CB Pat Surtain seeks to eliminate just about every team’s WR1 from fantasy relevance. However, if Wilson does see some extended coverage from Surtain, that could further open up things for Allen Lazard — a fan favorite of quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Lazard has just two fewer receiving yards than Wilson on the season despite four fewer receptions (11) and is currently leading the team with three receiving touchdowns and 10 receiving first downs. Lazard is also the only player besides Wilson with more than three red zone targets on the year, having totaled seven of those valuable opportunities through the first three weeks of the season.
Greg Dortch, Arizona Cardinals (vs. Commanders, 9%)
The Cincinnati Bengals may have lost in Week 3, but it wasn’t due to lack of opportunities on offense against this porous Commanders’ secondary. Not a single defense in the league is allowing more fantasy points to the wide receiver position than the Washington Commanders, having allowed a total of nine touchdowns to WRs through the first three weeks of the season. Dotch, an undersized slot option, should get plenty of snaps in what projects as one of the highest-scoring matchups on the week with a project point total of 50.5 on FanDuel Sportsbook. Dotch could see additional targets in this matchup should tight end Trey McBride miss this week, currently in the concussion protocol.
Fantasy football: Week 4 WR rankings
Kate Magdziuk is an editor and contributor for Yahoo Fantasy and co-host of the Locked On Dynasty Football podcast. She is also the managing editor for Behind The Steel Curtain, SB Nation’s exclusive Pittsburgh Steelers blog. Her previous bylines include Pro Football Focus, NBC Sports Rotoworld and 4for4 Football, among others.
