Start 'Em, Sit 'Em wide receivers for Week 4 fantasy football

Not every receiver can be the Emerald City Route Artist. Seattle Seahawks wideout Jaxon Smith-Njigba has 405 yards and six touchdowns through three weeks – good for an average of 135 receiving yards and two scores per game. Fantasy football managers with Smith-Njigba on their roster likely aren't st

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Not every receiver can be the Emerald City Route Artist.

Seattle Seahawks wideout Jaxon Smith-Njigba has 405 yards and six touchdowns through three weeks – good for an average of 135 receiving yards and two scores per game. Fantasy football managers with Smith-Njigba on their roster likely aren't stressing about the wide receiver position entering Week 4.

For the rest of us, start-and-sit decisions are getting tougher each week. Defenses we thought might give receivers a hard time are struggling to stop opponents' passing attacks. Some receivers expected to be key contributors are quickly falling out of favor with both their quarterbacks and fantasy managers. Not to mention, there are the injuries of it all – more star wideouts seem to succumb

to the injury bug each week.

WEEK 4 RANKINGS: QB | RB | WR | TE | K | DST | FLEX

Amid all of the early-season craziness, USA TODAY Sports has collected a group of six receivers worth further consideration to start (or sit) in fantasy leagues this week.

Fantasy football start 'em: Week 4 wide receivers

Josh Downs, Indianapolis Colts ("at" Washington Commanders in London)

With Alec Pierce on injured reserve with a heel injury, Downs has stepped up to become the clear-cut WR1 in Indianapolis. He led all Colts pass-catchers with 11 targets last week against the Texans, and he caught five passes for 77 yards against a tough defense.

This week, Downs and Colts receivers have a juicy matchup. The Commanders have allowed more average points against to wide receivers than any team in the NFL through three weeks, and they rank in the bottom five of EPA and success rate allowed on dropbacks. Both Downs and teammate Keenan Allen should be worth consideration for a start in Week 4.

Michael Wilson, Arizona Cardinals (at New York Giants)

Tight end Trey McBride is still the featured pass-catcher in Arizona's offense, but wide receiver Michael Wilson is the clear No. 1 receiver. He's second on the team in targets (31), receptions (18), receiving yards (163) and receiving first downs (11) – all just behind McBride.

The Giants have struggled to stop opponents' passing attacks so far this year. What's worse – for them, better for Wilson – they've been dealt a rough hand with injuries. Cornerback Deonte Banks and safety Tyler Nubin are both still working their way back from calf injuries. Star pass-rusher Brian Burns is out for the year with a torn ACL suffered in Week 3. Brissett and Wilson will have a shot for a big day together in Week 4.

Stefon Diggs, Washington Commanders (vs. Indianapolis Colts in London)

The first London game of the year may feature plenty of firepower from both teams' passing offenses. Regardless of quarterback Jayden Daniels' status (backup Marcus Mariota just beat the Seattle Seahawks), Diggs is set up for a good outing early on Sunday. For one, he's tied for the team lead in targets (22), and he has the sole team lead in receptions (13), touchdowns (3), receiving first downs (10) and yards per route run (1.80, 37th in NFL).

For another, the Colts' defense has been bad at stopping big days from top pass-catchers. Ravens receiver Zay Flowers had 150 yards and a touchdown on five catches in the first half of Week 1. Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce tallied 101 yards and a touchdown on nine catches in Week 2. Both Diggs and fellow Commanders receiver Terry McLaurin could be worthy starts this weekend.

Fantasy football sit 'em: Week 4 wide receivers

Jameson Williams, Detroit Lions (at Carolina Panthers)

Williams has been one of the most disappointing receivers in fantasy to start the 2026 season. After two straight 1,000-yard seasons – including a career-high 1,117 yards last year as the offense generally struggled – he has zero games with more than 50 yards through three weeks. Williams also has yet to score.

That doesn't bode well for the Lions' No. 2 receiver in a matchup against the Panthers, the team that has allowed the fewest average fantasy points to wideouts entering Week 4. Carolina appears to be getting healthy again with safety Nick Scott and linebacker Devin Lloyd listed as full participants in practice on Wednesday, Sept. 30.

Deebo Samuel, San Francisco 49ers (vs. Denver Broncos)

Samuel had one of the wackiest stat lines in NFL history in Week 3: 80 receiving yards and a caught touchdown on zero catches, thanks to a hook-and-ladder play. The flipside of that uniqueness is the fact that Samuel didn't have a single target against the Cardinals last week. After seven targets in Week 1, his target share and touches have gradually decreased, with four targets (three catches) in Week 2 before zero targets and catches last week.

Even with injuries to the wide receivers around him – Mike Evans is dealing with a rib injury, KhaDarel Hodge has a knee injury, and Christian Kirk, De'Zhaun Stribling, Demarcus Robinson and Ricky Pearsall are all on IR – Samuel's contributions haven't increased. Instead, more targets have gone to running back Christian McCaffrey and tight end George Kittle. This week, if Evans and Hodge remain out, Denver's cornerbacks will focus on stopping Samuel on the outside while safeties and linebackers key in on McCaffrey and Kittle. In a battle between Broncos CB/former DPOY Patrick Surtain and Samuel, Surtain has the advantage.

Emeka Egbuka, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (vs. Green Bay Packers)

This one primarily boils down to the thumb injury Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield suffered last week. The Green Bay Packers have not been particularly good at stopping opponents' passers – they've actually been quite bad so far this year – but Egbuka will have to rely on a 2026 UDFA rookie throwing him the ball.

Maybe Kansas product Jalon Daniels balls out, but the more likely outcome is a shaky debut in a simplified offense. Egbuka should be considered a "wait-and-see" case with Daniels throwing him the ball for now.