Fantasy Football Week 4 Wide Receiver Rankings: Here’s how to handle all those injuries this week

Injuries have dominated the fantasy football landscape for these early weeks of the season, and this is especially true for wide receiverswhere we came into play on Sunday with, among others, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Michael Thomas, Keenan Allen, Hunter Renfrow, DJ Chark and AJ Green.

Josh Palmer should be pushed up the leaderboard this week and he’s a top 30 option for me. Mack Hollins and Josh Reynolds aren’t quite as obvious starters, but both are fine if you need them. In fact, I could put both above anyone in the Buccaneers’ broad reception group.

That might come as a shock, and I’m a little shocked even saying it. The Buccaneers’ passing game has been incredibly productive over the last few seasons and while Tom Brady was an early disappointment, I think that’s more due to the fact that Chris Godwin (knee/hamstring) and Julio Jones (knee) were so limited – he didn’t have Mike Evans for the last game and a half either after being kicked out and suspended in week 2. Godwin and Jones are expected to play in Week 4, and Godwin is particularly difficult to escape from fantasy, given his downside.

But I think you should at least consider it. Godwin was returning from a cruciate ligament tear in Week 1 and managed three catches before suffering that hamstring injury. Is he ready for a full Snap stock this week? He doesn’t necessarily need to run 90% of the distances to be a launch caliber fantasy option, but there’s a real danger that he’s out there in too limited a role to really make a difference. And Jones feels the injury and his track record could just serve as bait or limit his snaps. Again, he’s the kind of player who could be productive even in that role, but I just think it’s too much of a risk to go with him unless you’re desperate.

Godwin is more of a WR3 to me, although I’d be a little wary of sitting him – that’s a big name to keep on your bench, though perhaps limited. Jones is more of a WR4/5 and while I love having him around I want him to prove healthy and productive before I throw him out there.

Here are my WR rankings for week 4.

1. Cooper Kupp @SF
2. Stefan Diggs @BAL
3. Justin Jefferson @NO
4. Deebo Samuel vs. LAR
5. Davante Adams vs. DEN
6. AJ Brown vs. JAX
7. Mike Evans vs. KC
8. Michael Pittman against TEN
9. Diontae Johnson vs. NYJ
10. Brandin Cooks vs. LAC
11. Marquise Brown @CAR
12. CeeDee Lamb vs WHAT
13. Christian Kirk @PHI
14. Courtland Sutton @LV
15. Amari Cooper @ATL
16. Mike Williams @HOU
17. DrakeLondon against CLE
18. Curtis Samuel @DAL
19. DeVonta Smith vs. JAX
20. Garrett Wilson @PIT
21. JuJu Smith-Schuster @TB
22. Chris Olave vs. MIN
23. DJ Moore vs. ARI
24. Terry McLaurin @DAL
25. DK Metcalf @DET
26. Tyler Lockett @DET
27. Josh Palmer @HOU
28. Adam Thielen @NO
29. Allen Robinson @SF
30. Rashod Bateman vs. BUF
31. Brandon Aiyuk vs. LAR
32. Elijah Moore @PIT
33. Gabe Davis @BAL
34. Chris Godwin vs. KC
35. Jerry Jeudy @LV
36. Mack Hollins vs. DEN
37. Rondale Moore @CAR
38. Robert Woods @IND
39. Richie James vs. CHI
40. Zay Jones @PHI
41. Allen Lazard vs NE
42. Corey Davis @PIT
43. Treylon Burks @IND
44. Olamid Zaccheaus vs CLE
45. Chase Claypool vs. NYJ
46. Darnell Mooney @NYG
47. Julio Jones vs. KC
48. Jarvis Landry vs. MIN
49. Robby Anderson vs. ARI
50. Romeo Doubs vs. NE
51. Isaiah McKenzie @BAL
52. Josh Reynolds vs SEA
53. Nico Collins vs LAC
54. KJ Osborn @NO
55. DeVante Parker @GB
56. Quintez Cephus vs. SEA