It's Week 4, folks! It's time to set fantasy lineups! Start 'Em, Sit 'Em is the ultimate look at the best and worst matchups in a given week for fantasy football leagues. I won't be covering elite wide receivers like CeeDee Lamb or Justin Jefferson, because you already know how to start them! Instead, I'll be checking out other wideouts who may meet or fail to live up to expectations depending on their weekly opponent… like Jaylen Waddle in Week 3!
For your final lineup decisions, check out my Fantasy Player Rankings. I update them daily! Also, make sure you subscribe to the Fantasy Dirt Podcast with Lindsay Rhodes and me, as we discuss all things fantasy football five days a week!
All Positions: QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | K&D/STs
1. CeeDee Lamb, at Giants (Thursday)
2. Ja'Marr Chase at Panthers
3. Justin Jefferson, Packers
4. Rashee Rice, Chargers
5. Amon-Ra St. Brown vs. Seahawks (Monday)
6. Nico Collins vs. Jaguar
7. Malik Neighbors vs. Cowboys (Thursday)
8. Chris Godwin vs. the Eagles
9. Marvin Harrison Jr. vs. The Commanders
10. Mike Evans vs. the Eagles
Week 4 Complete Wide Receiver Rankings
manic Monday
Chris Godwin vs. Eagles (1 p.m. ET, Fox)Godwin has started this season with a bang, averaging 21.4 fantasy points on 25 targets and 21 catches. He should be in the starting lineup this week as well, as the veteran will face an Eagles defense that has given up the second-most fantasy points to slot receivers this season. Furthermore, no defense in the NFL has given up more points to inside receivers since the start of last season.
Start these
DJ Moore vs. Rams (1 p.m. ET, Fox): Moore, who was listed as a start 'em last week, scored 15.2 fantasy points against the Colts. I'll keep him active this week, too, as the veteran faces a plus matchup against the Rams. Their defense has allowed just three touchdowns and over 40 fantasy points to Jauan Jennings. Overall, it has given up the most PPR points to the perimeter. With or without Keenan Allen, Moore should be in fantasy lineups.
George Pickens at Colts (1 p.m. ET, CBS): Pickens has been kind of “mediocre” so far this season, averaging just 9.7 fantasy points in his first three games. However, I'd keep faith in him this week, as Pickens faces a plus matchup against the Colts. Their defense has already allowed three wideouts to beat him for more than 17 points, including rookie Rome Odunze, who beat him for 23.4 points last week. Pickens is a good flex option.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba at Lions (Monday, 8:15 p.m. ET, ABC/ESPN+)Smith-Njigba has been held to single digits in two of his first three games, but he's a good option in a plus matchup in Detroit. Their defense has given up the third-most fantasy points to slot men, including big games from Cooper Kupp and Chris Godwin. Smith-Njigba, who has run 77.7% of his routes inside, should have success in a true shootout.
Khalil Shakir, at Ravens (8:20 p.m. ET, NBC): Shakir has emerged as Josh Allen's top option on offense, averaging 14.3 fantasy points through the first three weeks. He'll be a great flex option this week, as he'll face a Ravens defense that has given up the fifth-most fantasy points to wide receivers. Additionally, five wideouts, including Jalen Tolbert and Kavonte Turpin, have scored at least 13.2 points against them.
WRs with good matchups
Best seat of the week
Jaylen Waddle vs. Titans (Monday at 7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN): This has nothing to do with Waddle, but rather with the absence of Tua Tagovailoa (brain injury). Skylar Thompson was playing very poorly last week before suffering an injury of his own, forcing the Dolphins to stick with journeyman Tim Boyle under center. At this point, it's impossible to trust any of Miami's receivers, and that includes Tyreek Hill and Waddle. The Titans have been tough on perimeter receivers as well.
Sit them down
Michael Pittman Jr. vs. Steelers (1 p.m. ET, CBS)Pittman Jr. is averaging just 6.6 fantasy points in his first three games, and a lot of that can be attributed to the play of Anthony Richardson. He's near the bottom of the NFL in expected completion percentage, and has completed a horrific 49.3% of his passes this season. That's driving down Pittman's value. Facing a tough Steelers defense this week won't help either.
Diontae Johnson vs. Bengals (1 p.m. ET, Fox)Johnson caught eight passes off Andy Dalton last week and posted 122 yards, including a touchdown, and 26.2 points. However, I wouldn't chase points against a Bengals defense that has allowed the ninth-fewest points to wideouts this season. Plus, Johnson has failed to score more than 12.5 points in three of his last four games against Cincinnati.
Courtland Sutton at Jets (1 p.m. ET, CBS): Sutton is coming off his best stats of the year, scoring 13.8 fantasy points in a win over the Buccaneers. Still, he averaged just 11.4 points over his last two games. The matchup against CB Sauce Gardner and the Jets makes him a tough sell this week. Since the start of last season, no defense in the league has given up fewer fantasy points to opposing wide receivers.
DeAndre Hopkins at Dolphins (Monday, 7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)Hopkins scored a touchdown and put up 19.3 fantasy points last week in a loss to the Packers. Of course, he averaged a total of 3.7 points in his first two games, so this performance doesn't suddenly make him a must-start. In fact, I wouldn't chase points in a contest with the Dolphins, who started with a total of 37 points. He's still better left on the sidelines.