Fantasy Football Week 4 Rankings: Top 50 Wide Receivers

There are some definite injury concerns hanging over the wide receiver position (most notably Hakeem Nicks, Marques Colston and Pierre Garcon).  However, there are some big breakouts as well (like Demaryius Thomas & Torrey Smith).  How does everyone fall on the rankings?  Let’s take a look:

1. Calvin Johnson – Detroit Lions – vs. Minnesota
2. A.J. Green – Cincinnati Bengals – at Jacksonville
3. Julio Jones – Atlanta Falcons – vs. Carolina
4. Andre Johnson – Houston Texans – vs. Tennessee
5. Percy Harvin – Minnesota Vikings – at Detroit
6. Demaryius Thomas – Denver Broncos – vs. Oakland
7. Victor Cruz – New York Giants – at Philadelphia
8. Hakeem Nicks – New York Giants – at Philadelphia
9. Larry Fitzgerald – Arizona Cardinals – vs. Miami
10. Torrey Smith – Baltimore Ravens – vs. Cleveland
11. Roddy White – Atlanta Falcons – vs. Carolina
12. Vincent Jackson – Tampa Bay Buccaneers – vs. Washington
13. Wes Welker – New England Patriots – at Buffalo
14. Steve Smith – Carolina Panthers – at Atlanta
15. Greg Jennings – Green Bay Packers – vs. New Orleans
16. Dwayne Bowe – Kansas City Chiefs – vs. San Diego
17. Stevie Johnson – Buffalo Bills – vs. New England
18. Brandon Marshall – Chicago Bears – at Dallas
19. Brandon Lloyd – New England Patriots – at Buffalo
20. DeSean Jackson – Philadelphia Eagles – vs. New York Giants
21. Eric Decker – Denver Broncos – vs. Oakland
22. Malcolm Floyd – San Diego Chargers – at Kansas City
23. Miles Austin – Dallas Cowboys – vs. Chicago
24. Jordy Nelson – Green Bay Packers – vs. New Orleans
25. Danny Amendola – St. Louis Rams – vs. Seattle
26. Lance Moore – New Orleans Saints – at Green Bay
27. Jeremy Maclin – Philadelphia Eagles – vs. New York Giants
28. Dez Bryant – Dallas Cowboys – vs. Chicago
29. Denarius Moore – Oakland Raiders – at Denver
30. Marques Colston – New Orleans Saints – at Green Bay
31. Michael Crabtree – San Francisco 49ers – at New York Jets
32. Santonio Holmes – New York Jets – vs. San Francisco
33. Andrew Hawkins – Cincinnati Bengals – at Jacksonville
34. Kenny Britt – Tennessee Titans – at Houston
35. Anquan Boldin – Baltimore Ravens – vs. Cleveland
36. Leonard Hankerson – Washington Redskins – at Tampa Bay
37. Mike Williams – Tampa Bay Buccaneers – vs. Washington
38. Brandon LaFell – Carolina Panthers – at Atlanta
39. Nate Washington – Tennessee Titans – at Houston
40. Titus Young – Detroit Lions – vs. Minnesota
41. Sidney Rice – Seattle Seahawks – at St. Louis
42. Brian Hartline – Miami Dolphins – at Arizona
43. Kevin Ogletree – Dallas Cowboys – vs. Chicago
44. Justin Blackmon – Jacksonville Jaguars – vs. Cincinnati
45. Mario Manningham – San Francisco 49ers – at New York Jets
46. Golden Tate – Seattle Seahawks – at St. Louis
47. Santana Moss – Washington Redskins – at Tampa Bay
48. Alshon Jeffery – Chicago Bears – at Dallas
49. Kevin Walter – Houston Texans – vs. Tennessee
50. Randall Cobb – Green Bay Packers – vs. New Orleans

Thoughts:

• There are definite concerns regarding Larry Fitzgerald and the Cardinals’ quarterback play, but we all saw what was possible in Week 3 when he posted nine receptions for 114 yards and a TD.  While I wouldn’t expect that type of production on a weekly basis, the Dolphins’ pass defense has been suspect (307.3 passing yards per game).  He still needs to be considered a WR1 this week.
• The Washington Redskins have allowed 10 passing TD on the season.  That makes you think Vincent Jackson is going to be a very good option, with Mike Williams as a usable option as well.
• While the Philadelphia Eagles’ passing defense may be good, does anyone really believe that they can shut down the Giants’ passing attack?  Behind Eli Manning they are clicking on all cylinders, and there is no reason to think that anyone is going to slow them down.
• Wes Welker has certainly gotten things on track since Aaron Hernandez went out, with 12 receptions for 237 yards over the last two weeks.  It’s hard not to like him once again, isn’t it?  Consider him a high-level WR2, with the potential to be a WR1.
• Brandon Marshall has 16 receptions for 214 yards and a TD, which are very solid numbers.  However, can we trust him against a revamped Cowboys secondary that is allowing just 137.0 passing yards per game?  How about a defense that has allowed just three passing touchdowns on the young season?  He’s a mid-level WR2 with upside, but I wouldn’t value him as more than that.
• Will Pierre Garcon be able to play this week?  Who knows, but for now it’s hard to go into the week assuming that he’s going to play.  For now he’s staying off the rankings, but if he plays I would consider him a WR2.  If he sits out, Leonard Hankerson becomes a viable WR3 thanks to a very favorable matchup.
• With Darius Heyward-Bey out and Brandon Myers potentially out due to a concussion, Denarius Moore becomes a very intriguing option.  While he hasn’t produced big numbers (eight receptions for 112 yards and a TD), it is easy to go into Week 3 expecting a big jump in production.  Consider him a viable WR3 in all formats.
• I would still have my reservations about any San Francisco 49er wide receiver, however with Darrelle Revis out for the season there is much more potential there.  I would consider Michael Crabtree a viable WR3 this week, though a risky one.

Make sure to check out the rest of our Week 4 rankings:

• Top 25 Quarterbacks
• Top 40 Running Backs
• Top 25 Tight Ends
• Top 15 Kickers