Start 'Em, Sit 'Em Fantasy Football Week 4: Wide Receivers - Fades, Sleepers, Matchups, DFS Bargains
UPDATED: October 1, 2021
Start ‘Em, Sit 'Em is the ultimate look at the best and worst matchups based on a PPR scoring system in fantasy football. This column will not cover the elite players in the NFL like Patrick Mahomes, Christian McCaffrey, Davante Adams, or Travis Kelce. Instead, I'll look at the players you have the most questions about to help you set the most effective starting lineup possible. For all of your final fantasy lineup decisions, be sure to check out my weekly player rankings which will be updated daily throughout the 2021 NFL season.
Week 4 Start ‘Em: Wide Receivers
Start of the Week
Odell Beckham Jr. at Vikings (1 p.m. ET, CBS): OBJ returned to action last week and looked no worse for wear, playing 52 snaps and leading the Browns in targets, catches and receiving yards. He's the clear top option in the passing attack with Jarvis Landry out, and I like his upcoming matchup against the Vikings. No team has given up more yards and touchdowns to receivers lined out wide after the first three weeks.
Week 4 Start 'Em, Sit 'Em
• QUARTERBACKS
• RUNNING BACKS
• WIDE RECEIVERS
• TIGHT ENDS
• KICKERS
• TEAM DEFENSES
Start ‘Em
Robert Woods vs. Cardinals (4:05 p.m. ET, FOX): Woods has become an afterthought in the Rams offense, as Matthew Stafford is filling Cooper's "Kupp" with targets. I’d stick with the veteran this week though, as the Cardinals come to town in a game with an over/under of 54.5 on SI Sportsbook. Woods has also beaten Arizona for at least 18.5 fantasy points in four of his last five games, including three with 20-plus points.
Brandon Aiyuk vs. Seahawks (4:05 p.m. ET, FOX): Aiyuk appeared to emerge out of Kyle Shanahan's doghouse last week, playing 60 snaps and seeing a season-high six targets. With George Kittle's status for this week in question, Aiyuk could see even more looks alongside Deebo Samuel when the Niners host the Seahawks. Their defense has allowed four wideout to post 17 or more fantasy points so far in 2021.
Jaylen Waddle vs. Colts (1 p.m. ET, CBS): Waddle's yardage total (58) last weekend wasn't great, but his catch total (12 on 13 targets) in Jacoby Brissett's first game made him a PPR star. This week, I'd keep him active as the rookie faces a Colts defense that has already surrendered four touchdowns to slot wideouts in its first three games. If you play in a full-point PPR league, consider Waddle a very attractive FLEX option.
Jakobi Meyers vs. Buccaneers (8:20 p.m. ET, NBC): Meyers put up a nice stat line last week, posting nine catches for 94 yards on 14 targets. I like him as a FLEX starter in Week 4, as he'll face a potential negative game script against the Buccaneers. Their defense has allowed 62 catches, 723 yards, seven touchdowns and the most fantasy points to wideouts in their first three games, and the Patriots will have to throw a ton.
More Starts
- Diontae Johnson at Packers (4:25 p.m. ET, CBS)
- Corey Davis vs. Titans (1 p.m. ET, CBS)
- Cole Beasley vs. Texans (1 p.m. ET, CBS)
DFS Bargains
- Robert Woods vs. Cardinals ($5,300)
- Brandon Aiyuk vs. Seahawks ($5,000)
- Jaylen Waddle vs. Colts ($4,900)
Week 4 Sit ‘Em: Wide Receivers
Sit of the Week
Kenny Golladay at Saints (1 p.m. ET, FOX): Golladay should be more involved in the Giants pass attack this week, as Sterling Shepard and Darius Slayton are both dealing with injuries. Still, he’s done little in the stat sheets after three games, and this matchup against the Saints is brutal. Their defense has allowed just one touchdown to receivers lined out wide in 2021, and Golladay could see a lot of Marshon Lattimore.
Sit ‘Em
Michael Pittman Jr. at Dolphins (1 p.m. ET, CBS): Pittman Jr. has been hot in the last two weeks, as he's emerged as the top option in the passing game for Carson Wentz. So while it's tough to sit him, I'd temper expectations against the Dolphins. Their defense has been tough on receivers lined out wide, allowing just one touchdown and the fifth-fewest fantasy points to the position this season. Beware this matchup, folks.
Mark J. Rebilas/USA TODAY Sports
Marquise Brown at Broncos (4:25 p.m. ET, CBS): Brown, my top wideout start last week, dropped three passes that all could have gone for touchdowns in a win over the Lions. I’m not sure where his confidence is at right now, but he will come with some risk against a much more formidable Broncos defense. It’s allowed an average of just 149.7 receiving yards per game to wideouts and just one catch of more than 41 yards.
Henry Ruggs III at Chargers (Mon. 8:15 p.m. ET, ESPN): Ruggs had a nice follow-up to his breakout contest in Week 2, posting 78 yards in a win over the Dolphins. However, I'm still sitting him this week as a tough road matchup against the Chargers is next on the slate. Their defense has allowed one touchdown and the second-fewest points to wideouts, and it held Tyreek Hill to a mere 9.7 fantasy points just last week.
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Christian Kirk at Rams (4:05 p.m. ET, FOX): Kirk is coming off a strong game last week, posting seven catches for 104 yards against the Jaguars. However, the competition will be much tougher this week as the Cardinals travel west to face the Rams and Jalen Ramsey. Kirk has had no success against Los Angeles in his career, scoring 6.7 or fewer fantasy points in three of his four meetings. I’d sit the veteran.
More Sits
- Robby Anderson at Cowboys (1 p.m. ET, FOX)
- Will Fuller vs. Colts (1 p.m. ET, CBS)
- Marquez Callaway vs. Giants (1 p.m. ET, FOX)
DFS Fades
- DeAndre Hopkins at Rams ($7,700)
- Amari Cooper vs. Panthers ($6,000)
- Allen Robinson vs. Lions ($5,800)
Week 4 Rankings (PPR): QUARTERBACKS | RUNNING BACKS | WIDE RECEIVERS | TIGHT ENDS | FLEX | KICKERS | TEAM DEFENSES (DST)
Michael Fabiano is an award-winning fantasy football analyst on Sports Illustrated and a member of the Fantasy Sports Writers Association (FSWA) Hall of Fame. Click here to read all his articles here on SI Fantasy. You can follow Michael on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram for your late-breaking fantasy news and the best analysis in the business!
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