In anticipation of Week 4 of the NFL season, let’s take at which wide receivers fantasy football managers should be starting and which wideouts they should be sitting.
As always, superstars like Tyreek Hill and DeAndre Hopkins are not included in a start ‘em, sit em’ column as they are weekly must plays. But what about a former fantasy star, Odell Beckham Jr.? Despite a quiet first three games, the Cleveland Browns wideout is worth starting this week.
Let’s look at OBJ’s Week 4 matchup and other receivers’ fantasy outlook ahead of Week 4.
WRs to Start in Week 4
Odell Beckham Jr., Browns
Beckham Jr. has tallied just 11 receptions for 155 yards and one touchdown through three contests in 2020. His low output can be attributed to the Browns’ run-first approach. Baker Mayfield has attempted only 46 passes in the past two weeks, a figure that many quarterbacks reach in one game.
The Browns, however, could opt to throw more against a Dallas Cowboys’ secondary that has been torn apart by opposing receivers.
Dallas has allowed a 126.6 passer rating in coverage through Week 3.
The worst in the NFL. pic.twitter.com/HZ0KaGkDYD
— PFF (@PFF) September 28, 2020
The Cowboys placed their best cornerback, Chidobe Awuzie, on injured reserve before last week’s game with a hamstring ailment. Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson shredded the Cowboys to the tune of five passing TDs, often picking on rookie cornerback Trevon Diggs and veteran CB Daryl Worley.
With the Browns 4.5 point underdogs, they could be playing catchup late in the game. Mayfield will be looking to his number 1 option, Beckham Jr., if the Browns are trailing. Beckham Jr. should provide a solid floor for fantasy football managers and has high upside against the Cowboys, who rank 28th in passing defense and 31st in fantasy points (34.0) allowed to wide receivers.
DeVante Parker, Dolphins
Miami Dolphins wideout DeVante Parker faces a Seahawks’ defense which ranks dead last in fantasy points surrendered (47.9) to wide receivers. Parker has been relatively quiet this season, failing to reach 70 yards in all three games played. That should change, however, in a matchup against a defense that has been extremely easy for opposing receivers to exploit.
Russ is cookin', but the Seahawks pass defense is getting COOKED.
1,303 pass yards allowed through 3 games is the highest total in NFL history. pic.twitter.com/FUrIuX5ocX
— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) September 28, 2020
The Dolphins are 6.5-point underdogs to the undefeated Seahawks and are expected to be playing from behind in the second half. Parker, who leads the Dolphins in targets (17), will be the major beneficiary to a pass-dominant approach.
Allen Lazard, Packers
After a monster showing on “Sunday Night Football,” Allen Lazard could deliver another big performance in primetime in Week 4. The Green Bay Packers host the winless Atlanta Falcons on “Monday Night Football” in what should be a shootout.
The Falcons have yielded 362.7 passing yards and three passing touchdowns per contest. That’s tremendous news for Lazard, who caught six balls for 146 yards and a TD last week.
RODGERS BOMB TO LAZARD 😱
(via @NFL)pic.twitter.com/gZtPNzLxfG
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) September 28, 2020
Going up against one of the worst defenses in football, Lazard will be heavily featured if Davante Adams (hamstring) is forced to miss a second consecutive game. Even if Adams is a go for Monday night, Lazard will still get his looks.
Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers has a perfect passer rating (158.3) when targeting Lazard this season. This is all the more reason for Lazard to be fed in the passing attack.
Other fantasy football wide receivers to start: Cowboys’ CeeDee Lamb (vs. Browns), Bengals’ Tyler Boyd (vs. Jaguars), Ravens’ Marquise Brown (at Washington)
WRs to Sit in Week 4
T.Y. Hilton, Colts
T.Y. Hilton and free-agent signee Philip Rivers have yet to get on the same page. The Indianapolis Colts wide receiver has not reached pay dirt and his season-high in receiving is merely 53 yards.
It’s hard to imagine this is the week the former Pro Bowler returns to star form. Hilton goes up against the Chicago Bears, who have yet to surrender a single touchdown to an opposing wide receiver all season. Bears top cornerback Kyle Fuller is expected to shadow Hilton, making things all the more difficult for the 30-year-old receiver.
Keep Hilton on your fantasy football bench in Week 4.
Darius Slayton, Giants
New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton will most likely be shadowed by Los Angeles Rams All-Pro cornerback Jalen Ramsey. With quarterback Daniel Jones struggling (two TDs, four interceptions) early in the 2020 campaign, fantasy managers have no choice but to bench Slayton.
Anthony Miller, Bears
Chicago Bears wide receiver Anthony Miller has reeled in just six catches all year, albeit two for touchdowns. He failed to secure a single reception in Week 2 and can’t be trusted on a weekly basis, in large part because he has not nailed down a full-time role on offense.
Miller’s snap percentages by game are as follows: 42%, 40% and 57%. It’s not wise to deploy a player in fantasy who is on the field for roughly half of his club’s snaps. Miller goes up against a Colts’ defense that ranks No. 1 in passing yards allowed.
Until Miller sees a drastic boost in snap count, let him ride the fantasy squad’s pine.
Other fantasy football wide receivers to sit: Titans’ Corey Davis (vs. Steelers), Patriots’ N’Keal Harry (at Chiefs), Panthers’ Curtis Samuel (vs. Cardinals)
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