Injuries have thinned out the wide receiver position, making Week 4 lineup decisions tougher than usual. Target volume, quarterback stability and matchup quality matter far more than name value right now. With backup quarterbacks stepping in and key pass catchers sidelined, here is how six receivers stack up this week.
Week 4 Start ‘Em
Matthew Golden, WR, Packers — Golden has 15 catches on 30 targets for 253 yards and a touchdown through three games, an average of 10 targets and 84.3 yards per game. His 416 targeted air yards rank third among receivers this season. He was heavily involved in Week 3, catching five of 12 targets for 100 yards and his first touchdown in a 35-14 loss to Atlanta. Green Bay visits a Tampa Bay team that is 0-3. The Bucs are also without Baker Mayfield, who is expected to miss multiple weeks with a dislocated thumb, so undrafted rookie Jalon Daniels will make his first start. Golden's snap share has stayed above 80% in every game. If Tampa Bay falls behind, Green Bay's offense should keep throwing to him.
Josh Downs, WR, Colts — Downs had five catches on 11 targets for 77 yards against Houston's stingy defense in Week 3. He also posted a career-high 172 air yards, a 30% target share and a 61.8% air-yards share, the second-highest among receivers that week. He should see even more volume because Alec Pierce is on injured reserve, which could push his target share toward 30%. Downs is also 12th in PFF receiving grade. Indianapolis faces a Commanders defense that ranks 30th in EPA allowed per pass play. That combination of a full-time WR1 role and a leaky pass defense makes him a strong WR2.
Michael Wilson, WR, Cardinals — Wilson has become the focal point of Arizona's passing game. He caught 11 of 17 targets for 89 yards and a touchdown in Week 3 and has 31 targets in three games. He averages 10.3 targets per game, 5.6 more than any other Cardinal receiver, not mentioning Trey McBride who still leads the team with 34 targets. Arizona's receiving room has few other reliable options, so that workload should continue. Volume like that keeps his weekly floor high, and the touchdown gives him real upside. He belongs in lineups as a WR2 or high-end flex.
Article Continues BelowWeek 4 Sit ‘Em
Malik Nabers, WR, Giants — Nabers is an easy sit in Week 4. The main problem is his quarterback. Nabers still doesn't look 100% like himself, and Jameis Winston looks nothing like the quarterback he used to be. There is also no clear path back to must-start status soon, though it doesn't suggest dropping him. With just a total of 21.6 PPR fantasy points through three games, Nabers needs to ride the bench until shown otherwise.
Emeka Egbuka, WR, Buccaneers — Egbuka has 12 catches on 23 targets for 152 yards, and his best PPR game so far is 12.3 points. He has reached double digits every week, but never easily. Tampa Bay's offense has been off schedule, and Mayfield has been inaccurate behind a struggling offensive line. Mayfield's thumb injury now puts Jalon Daniels under center for his first NFL start which should mean fewer pass attempts for the rookie. Tampa Bay also hosts Green Bay who has seven sacks through three games and the way that Tampa Bay's offensive line was allowing Mayfield to get hit in Week 3, it doesn't bode well for their first-year backup.
Brian Thomas Jr., WR, Jaguars — Thomas is the clearest sit of the three. He is right now Jacksonville's number three receiver behind Parker Washington and Jakobi Meyers and could be considered droppable if things don't turn around in the next few weeks. His current role limits his target volume to where he has just 12 targets through three weeks and had just one target against New England. As his role diminishes in this offense to the point where even Brenton Strange is out-targeting him, Thomas should be on your bench until you see something from him in this Liam Cohen offense.