by Ray Kuhn
When it comes to wide receivers there is a lot to look at. Targets, actual on field production, the skill of the offense around them, game flow, and their defensive match-up are just some of the factors that need to be factored in. There is also a high degree of variability, as one play in either direction could swing the results on any given day. With that in mind let’s take a look at how our options rank for this week:
- Antonio Brown – Pittsburgh Steelers – at Baltimore
- Odell Beckham – New York Giants – at Tampa Bay
- A.J. Green – Cincinnati Bengals – at Cleveland
- Jordy Nelson – Green Bay Packers – vs. Chicago Bears
- Keenan Allen – San Diego Chargers – vs. Philadelphia
- Michael Thomas – New Orleans Saints – at Miami
- Mike Evans – Tampa Bay Buccaneers – vs. New York Giants
- Julio Jones – Atlanta Falcons – vs. Buffalo
- DeAndre Hopkins – Houston Texans – vs. Tennesee
- Doug Baldwin – Seattle Seahawks – vs. Indianapolis
- Larry Fitzgerald – Arizona Cardinals – vs. San Francisco
- Brandin Cooks – New England Patriots – vs. Carolina
- Jarvis Landry – Miami Dolphins – vs. New Orleans
- Tyreek Hill – Kansas City Chiefs – vs. Washington
- Demaryius Thomas- Denver Broncos – vs. Oakland
- Dez Bryant – Dallas Cowboys – vs. LA Rams
- Stefon Diggs – Minnesota Vikings – vs. Detroit
- Golden Tate – Detroit Lions – at Minnesota
- Alshon Jeffrey – Philadephia Eagles – at LA Chargers
- Devante Parker – Miami Dolphins – vs. New Orleans
- Davante Adams – Green Bay Packers – vs. Chicago
- Sammy Watkins – Los Angeles Rams – at Dallas
- Rishard Matthews – Tennessee Titans – at Houston
- T.Y. Hilton – Indianapolis Colts – at Seattle
- Kelvin Benjamin – Carolina Panthers – at New England
- Amari Cooper – Oakland Raiders – at Denver
- Pierre Garcon – San Francisco 49ers – at Arizona
- Emmanuel Sanders – Denver Broncos – vs. Oakland
- Randall Cobb – Green Bay Packers – vs. Chicago
- Chris Hogan – New England Patriots – vs. Carolina
- Jamison Crowder – Washington Redskins – at Kansas City
- Adam Thielen – Minnesota Vikings – vs. Detroit
- Marquise Lee – Jacksonville Jaguars – at New York Jets
- Michael Crabtree – Oakland Raiders – at Denver
- Tyrell Williams – San Diego Chargers – vs. Philadelphia
- Terrelle Pryor – Washington Redskins – at Kansas City
- Martavis Bryant – Pittsburgh Steelers – at Baltimore
- Jeremy Maclin – Baltimore Ravens – vs. Pittsburgh
- Sterling Shepard – New York Giants – at Tampa Bay
- DeSean Jackson – Tampa Bay Buccaneers – vs. New York Giants
- Willie Snead – New Orleans Saints – at Miami
- Brandon Marshall – New York Giants – at Tampa Bay
- Jermaine Kearse – New York Jets – vs. Jacksonville
- Devin Funchess – Carolina Panthers – at New England
- J.J. Nelson – Arizona Cardinals – vs. San Francisco
- Allen Hurns – Jacksonville Jaguars – at New York Jets
- Kenny Golladay – Detroit Lions – at Minnesota
- Nelson Agholor – Philadelphia Eagles – at LA Chargers
- Mohamed Sanu – Atlanta Falcons – vs. Buffalo
- Jordan Matthews – Buffalo Bills – at Atlanta
Notes:
- With the acquisition of Jay Cutler a greater emphasis was placed on DeVante Parker due to his big play ability. To start the season Jarvis Landry has been valuable, and I would expect to see that continue this week. Cutler has targeted Landry 26 times over the past two weeks, and the slot receiver has been a PPR machine. After catching 13 passes for 78 yards to begin the season, Landry had a down week against the Jets as he caught just six passes for 48 yards. While that is not going to win your league, it is still a solid floor. In Week 1 the Saints (Landry’s opponent) allowed 157 yards to Adam Thielen. who happens to be Landry’s counterpart. New Orleans also allows the 10th most points to opposing wide receivers, so it should be a good week for Landry owners.
- It took three weeks, but Julio Jones is already nursing an injury. Currently it is a lower back injury we have to monitor, and while Atlanta is not concerned I wouldn’t be surprised to see him miss a day of practice this week. Jones had his best week of the season against Detroit with seven receptions, and so far this year he has 265 yards on 16 catches. What is holding Jones’ value back is that he has yet to find the end zone. As we enter Week 4 the problem is that Jones’ opponent (Buffalo) hasn’t allowed a receiving touchdown this year. By no means would I think about benching Jones, or not considering him a WR1, but he wouldn’t be my first choice when filling out my DFS lineup.
- Last season DeAndre Hopkins was one of the bigger disappointments of the season, and with a rookie quarterback he wasn’t really on my radar all that much for this season. Houston has not wasted any time in looking Hopkins’ way so far this season, and in three games he has been targeted 37 times which he has turned that into 21 receptions, 204 yards and 1 TD. With DeShaun Watson eclipsing 300 yards passing yards last week, Houston’s offense isn’t a complete liability and that helps Hopkins’ value. This week you also have to like Watson’s match-up as he faces the Titans who have allowed five touchdowns and the fourth most points to opposing receivers so far.
- One top receiver who doesn’t have as good of a match-up this week is Mike Evans. Evans has caught seven passes in each of his two games for a combined 160 yards and a touchdown, but this week he has to face a tough Giants’ defense. Last week New York held Philadelphia’s receivers to just 105 yards, and they have the fourth best defense against wide receivers in the league. This isn’t enough to keep me from playing Evans this week in every seasonal format, especially since he did pick up 67 receiving yards on Xavier Rhodes last week, but it is enough to downgrade him.
- After missing the first three weeks of the season due to his suspension, Willie Snead returns to action this week. He is joining a New Orleans’ offense that seemed to show some life against Carolina last week, and the Saints get to face Miami and their scuffling defense. The sample size is small, just two weeks, but the Dolphins are in the bottom five of the league in net passing yards allowed. Last season Snead caught 72 passes for 895 yards and 4 TD, and I would expect him to jump right back into New Orleans’ offense, though you might want to exercise a little patience just in case it takes him a week to work off the rust.
- One of the bigger disappointments so far this season is Terrelle Pryor. Pryor wasn’t a first or second round pick, but he was taken early enough that he began the season cemented into your starting lineup. Instead it has taken a little longer than expected for Pryor to develop chemistry with Kirk Cousins. After being targeted 11 times in Week 1, Pryor has four targets in each of the next two weeks, and overall he has 10 catches for 116 yards. While I ultimately think Pryor will regain his value, it might be better if he does it this week on the bench instead of in your starting lineup against the Chiefs.
Make sure to check out all of our Week 4 rankings:
Quarterbacks |
Running Backs |
Wide Receivers |
Tight Ends |
Kickers |
Defenses |
Hi Ray/Prof, who do you consider the best WR pickup in a PPR league? Crowder, M. Lee, or Shepard? Thanks
For ROS…not just this week
Shephard is safe/has the upside. I’d lean that way, with Crowder the #2
ppr-davante adams or chris hogan
ppr-chris hogan or jarvis landry
ppr-Adam Thielen of Desean Jackson
ppr-tarik cohen, chris thompson or jonathan stewart
ppr flex-chris carson or devante parker
ppr-davante adams or chris hogan — Adams
ppr-chris hogan or jarvis landry — Landry
ppr-Adam Thielen of Desean Jackson – Thielen
ppr-tarik cohen, chris thompson or jonathan stewart — Cohen
ppr flex-chris carson or devante parker — Carson
ppr-gillislee or tarik cohen
ppr-chris carson or tarik cohen
ppr-devante parker or davante adams
Also Prof, what do you think is the issue with Amari Cooper? Should I be concerned with drops and lack of targets, or do you think things will get better as the year goes on? Thanks
I know it’s frustrating, but gotta stay patient
Hey wanna thanks for ty Hilton last week now I’m down to it again, ty Hilton or Randal Cobb PPR.
If Cobb plays, I’d lean him (though it’s tough since he could be limited)
ppr-stefon diggs or jarvis landry
ppr-buck allen or tarik cohen
ppr-Titans def or Packers def
ppr-chris carson or tarik cohen
ppr-gillislee or tarik cohen
ppr-gillislee or tarik cohen – Cohen
ppr-chris carson or tarik cohen – Carson
ppr-devante parker or davante adams – Adams
ppr-stefon diggs or jarvis landry – Diggs
ppr-buck allen or tarik cohen – Cohen
ppr-Titans def or Packers def
– GB
Standard league– Adams or Chris Carson for flex?
I’d go Carson
PPR- KB@ NE or R. Matthews @ Houston? KB injured but practicing now however has do “nothing” so far but….
Sorry computer issue: Practicing now however has done “nothing” so far but is the guy in Carolina. Matthews is the number 1 in Tennessee and no Davis.
Your advice is?
I gotta go Benjamin. The upside is so much higher
Hi,
I have Jacquizz Rogers and Jordan Matthews on my bench. Standard league. Would you drop either for Sterling Shepherd or Tyrell Williams or John Brown (AZ). Thamks.
I wouldn’t if there’s that much talent on waivers, though could make the argument dropping Mathews for any of them based on that (I’d lean Shepard if you wanted to go that way)
PPR- who would you start at flex
Rishard Matthews
Buck Allen
Tevin Coleman
Allen for me!
H2H Points league. Was offered Dez for Mixon. I have Zeke, CJ Anderson, Murray & Henry, Doug Martin at RB. Have WR’s Brown, Crabtree, Crowder, DeVante Parker, Decker & JJ Nelson. Other team’s RB’s, Ty Montgomery, Chris Carson, Miller & Buck Allen. At WR he’s got OBJ, Mike Evans, Alshon Jeffery, Dez, Maclin, Landry & Rishard Matthews. Take the trade, Ask for different player(s), Or decline and hope for more injuries at RB and get more?
I’d rather have Mixon as of today