We officially know who the top receiver is in one of the NFL’s most wide open offenses.
Detroit wide receiver Marvin Jones went crazy in week 3 against Green Bay, notching 205 yards receiving and two touchdowns. He was always overshadowed in Cincinnati as the steadfast No. 2 option, but many in the NFL believed there was plenty of talent with Jones if he ever got a chance.
He now has a major chance with the Lions and is a must-start each week.
Here’s the rest of the week 4 start/sit for wide receivers in fantasy football.
Start
Mike Wallace vs. Oakland Raiders
We’re not giving up on Wallace after a forgotten week in Jacksonville. He attracted another six targets, but couldn’t do much with them against the Jaguars, netting 34 yards.
The Ravens have no running game, meaning quarterback Joe Flacco has to throw to somebody. Wallace is the only wide receiver on the roster worth utilizing, based on his ability to score touchdowns and gobble up yards in big chunks.
Oakland’s defense is the worst against the pass for a reason. Baltimore will open up the passing game once again, allowing Wallace to see more than his average of six targets per game.
Watch out for Wallace to get some deep looks against a tired Oakland team making back-to-back road trips to the eastern half of the United States.
Jeremy Maclin vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
Normally Maclin would be an easy start, but with some lesser-known wide receivers making a name for themselves in the early going, and Maclin starting off slow, this may require some decision-making.
Maclin has totaled 22 fantasy points for the entire season, netting 35 yards in a week 3 victory against the New York Jets. He only has one touchdown and just hasn’t done much explosive yet for a Chiefs offense that once again looks unable to capitalize on the big play.
But this week’s matchup should work well for Maclin and the Chiefs. Pittsburgh’s pass defense has been exposed for two consecutive weeks, with the latter against a rookie quarterback. That’s beginning to seem like a trend for a defense that has been hit with the injury bug.
The Chiefs would be well advised to pass more this game, allowing Maclin to see more targets than his usual six or seven. This is a plus matchup for Maclin, so he should be fine to start this week.
Tyrell Williams vs. New Orleans Saints
New Orleans’ pass defense is awful. That’s not too different than in past years, so we know it’s not just an aberration in the early season.
The Saints are allowing 309 passing yards per game en route to owning the second-worst total defense in the NFL at 448 yards allowed per game.
Teams can pretty much do what they want against the Saints, so I expect the Chargers to have similar success at home this week. And with all the injuries that have happened in San Diego, Philip Rivers has to throw to somebody, so why not Williams?
He’s attracted 20 targets in three games, including a season-high nine in week 3 against Indianapolis. He’s becoming a major weapon for Rivers and I expect that to continue as the offense learns how to live without Keenan Allen and Danny Woodhead.
Sit
Tajae Sharpe vs. Houston Texans
He’s been a decent commodity for fantasy football owners looking to make a low fantasy draft pick into at least a WR3.
But despite what looks like an eventual solid fantasy contributor, Sharpe has been unable to do much in Tennessee’s offense. After posting 76 yards in week 1 against Minnesota, he’s yet to eclipse the 50-yard mark in two straight weeks against bad pass defenses.
He’s being targeted, but Marcus Mariota does so much with running backs and tight ends that Sharpe is unable to really contribute much in the offense. Despite Sharpe’s No. 1 role as a wide receiver, he’s not a viable fantasy starter.
Will Fuller vs. Tennessee Titans
We’re going to stay in this matchup and sit Fuller, too.
The Titans are really good at playing ugly football. And Houston does, too. Fuller showed promise in the first two weeks, generating more than 100 yards in consecutive games.
Last week he was held in check with only 31 yards, and while I expect him to go over 31 receiving yards, he won’t have much more.
The Titans are good at limiting multiple receivers from having big days. DeAndre Hopkins is the better of the two receivers, so I expect him to have a good day against Tennessee. And I expect Lamar Miller to run well against a below-average run defense.
That leaves Fuller out of the mix from having a good fantasy day, so you’d be wise with putting him on the fantasy bench.
Sterling Shepard vs. Minnesota Vikings
Shepard has been a good fantasy option in the first three weeks, with two of those outings coming against bad defenses. And although I’m impressed he’s been in double-digits for all three weeks, I’m not going crazy over his 43-yard effort in week 1 against Dallas, where he tallied a touchdown.
The Giants have feasted on bad pass defenses in weeks 2 and 3, allowing Shepard to be a solid contributor in fantasy football. Now, they must travel to Minnesota, where they’ll meet one of the best defenses in the NFL on Monday Night Football.
That’s a bad sign for the rookie.
He, along with New York’s offense, comes crashing down to earth this week against a Vikings team that sacks the quarterback better than any team in the NFL and has defended the pass against some of the best quarterbacks in the NFL so far this season.
