Fantasy Football Week 4 Wide Receiver Rankings

The 2021-22 NFL season has already been extremely entertaining. It has shown fantasy trends that have started to develop and show what could happen the rest of the season. Already some players have proven to be fantasy relevant while some fantasy stars have been alarmingly disappointing to this point. Injuries have started to mount up this season. It is always a great idea to evaluate backup options so that way fantasy managers are prepared if star players miss time. Here are the Week 4 fantasy football wide receiver rankings.

*Ratings are subject to change due to injury reports or possible move to reserve/COVID-19 list*

(Check out the section below for details on players already rumored to possibly miss this week and how their replacement options rank for the week)

Key:

Must Start- a player who is in your lineup regardless of the matchup or most circumstances. They will likely finish near the top of the league in points that week and in most weeks.

Starting WR1- a player who makes fantasy owners comfortable starting week after week. Regardless of the matchup, this player has a high floor.

High WR2- a player who may isn’t likely to carry a lineup that week, but has the ability to have a breakout game and is teetering between WR1 and WR2 category.

Starting WR2- a player who should be started in most lineups and should reach their point projection. This player is started is because of their consistency and moderately high floor

Low WR2- a player who may not be a lock to start for a team every week, but will start more times than not. Their production may not be pretty or win a person their lineup but the production is consistent enough to make a fantasy owner comfortable starting them.

Flex- a player who could float around the territory of being benched, but is started due to the potential to play better than their point projection. However, this player has the potential to flop and causes a fantasy team to lose if he has a bad game.

Deeper League Flex- a player who has starting value in deeper leagues. There are enough reasons to leave this player on the bench, but their upside makes them an attractive option. Desperate times may call for a player like this to be inserted into starting lineups.

Upside Player- a player who is boom or bust. This player can exceed expectations in a given week or could flop and be the reason why someone lost their fantasy matchup.

Leave on the Bench- a player who should be avoided in all lineups that week. Many times this player could even be left on waivers.

Possible Changes that can occur before Sunday

WR9 DeAndre Hopkins, Arizona Cardinals

DeAndre Hopkins is still dealing with the rib injury that he suffered in Week 2. He played last week but showed that he definitely not 100%. It is unlikely that Arizona sits him out in an important divisional game. However, if Hopkins was to miss this week, Christian Kirk would boost up to WR41 between Henry Ruggs and JuJu Smith-Schuster. While A.J. Green leaps up to WR48 between Robby Anderson and Jalen Reagor. Rondale Moore would have the highest upside of the there but would slot in at WR63 between Adam Humphries and Van Jefferson.

WR15 Tyler Lockett, Seattle Seahawks

Seahawks wide receiver Tyler Lockett came back to earth with a solid game after an outstanding start to the year. He is dealing with a hip issue. If Lockett was to miss time Freddie Swain would join the list at WR73 between Bryan Edwards and Darius Slayton.

WR20 Julio Jones, Tennessee Titans

Julio Jones missed practice Wednesday and Thursday because of a leg/hamstring injury. This is brutal for Tennessee because they are already without A.J. Brown for this game against the Jets. If Jones cannot go Ryan Tannehill will likely spread the targets out. Chester Rodgers would get the boost to WR50 between Devante Parker and Darnell Mooney. While Nick Westbrook-Ikhine will become WR62 between Marques Valdes-Scantling and Adam Humphries.

Baltimore Ravens Wide Receivers: WR31 Marquise “Hollywood” Brown, WR66 Sammy Watkins, & WR82 Rashod Bateman

Lamar Jackson is dealing with a back injury after dealing with a hip issue last week. If Jackson was to miss this week against Denver Marquise “Hollywood” Brown would drop down to WR44 between DeVonta Smith and Kenny Golladay. Then Sammy Watkins would drop to WR78 between Jamison Crowder and Auden Tate. Rashod Bateman, the Ravens 2021 first-round pick who can debut this week, would drop to WR89 between Amon-Ra St. Brown and Kadarius Toney.

Pittsburgh Steelers Wide Receivers: WR34 Chase Claypool & WR42 JuJu Smith-Schuster

After Diontae Johnson missed last week for the Steelers, now Chase Claypool and JuJu Smith-Schuster are on the injury report. Claypool is dealing with a hamstring issue and Smith-Schuster hurt his ribs last week. If both are inactive James Washington becomes a deep league play and slots in at WR69 between Nicholas Westbrook-Ikhine and Mecole Hardman.

If Claypool is inactive and Smith-Schuster plays then Smith-Schuster would shoot up to WR34 where Claypool is currently. However, if Smith-Schuster is inactive and Claypool plays then Claypool would shoot up to WR30 between Allen Robinson and Antonio Brown.

WR35 D.J. Chark, Jacksonville Jaguars

During his Week 4 matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals D.J. Chark reportedly broke his ankle according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. This injury will likely end Chark’s season. Laviska Shenault Jr. will take the Jaguars’ #2 receiver job with Chark out. Jacksonville could try to acquire another receiver via trade. However, his targets will more than likely just be spread between both Shenault Jr. and Marvin Jones Jr. There will also be an increase in targets for their running backs and tight ends James Robinson, Carlos Hyde, Dan Arnold, and Jacob Hollister.

New York Giants Wide Receivers: WR40 Sterling Shepard, WR45 Kenny Golladay, & WR74 Darius Slayton

The New York Giants receiving core got beat up last week. All three of their top receivers left with an injury last Sunday. Both Sterling Shepard and Darius Slayton hurt their hamstrings while Kenny Golladay hurt his hip.

The most likely scenario is that Shepard and Slayton miss this week and Golladay is active. If that is the case Golladay moves up to WR41 between Henry Ruggs and JuJu Smith-Schuster. Kadairus Toney would move up to WR74 where Slayton is valued right now.

If Slayton and Golladay are active and Shepard is not then Slayton would move up to WR52 between Nelson Agholor and Elijah Moore.

In the unlikely scenario if all three are. inactive then Kadrius Toney becomes an intriguing option this week shooting all the way up to WR54 between Zach Pascal and Kenrick Bourne.

Jets Wide Receivers: WR53 Elijah Moore & WR78 Jamison Crowder

Jets wide receiver Elijah Moore is dealing with a concussion. They hope to have him this week in a great matchup against the Tennessee Titans. If Moore is inactive then Jamison Crowder moves up to WR74 between Darius Slayton and K.J. Osborn. Keelan Cole would take Crowder’s slot at WR78.

Jamison Crowder hasn’t made his debut for the Jets yet this season. He is still limited in practice because of this groin injury. If Crowder was to miss another week Braxton Berrios would fill him at WR78.

If both Moore and Crowder are inactive then Keelan Cole would receive some fantasy consideration joining the list at WR70 between Russell Gage and Bryan Edwards.

WR60 Will Fuller V, Miami Dolphins

After making his debut last week Will Fuller V is dealing with a chest and elbow injury. If Fuller is inactive this slightly boosts up the stock of Devante Parker and Jaylen Waddle. But won’t have a huge impact on their value.

WR61 Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Green Bay Packers

According to Packers coach Matt LaFleur, the team will need all week to determine if Marquez Valdes-Scantling will play Sunday against the Steelers because of his hamstring injury. If he doesn’t; play his targets will likely be split between Randall Cobb and Allen Lazard.

WR72 Russell Gage, Atlanta Falcons

Russell Gage missed last week’s game against the Giants because of an ankle injury. There is a solid chance he returns this week. However, if he doesn’t Olamide Zaccheaus will take his slot at WR72.

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