Week 4 Start 'Em, Sit 'Em: Nate Washington and 3 Stud WRs to Start

For my money, wide receiver is the toughest position to make decisions about on a week-to-week basis because of its volatile nature. Production from wide receivers is often times based on factors beyond the players' control.

Because of this, I spend more time making decisions on receivers than any other position. I imagine I'm not alone on this. To maybe make your decisions easier, here are three wide receivers that are set for big weeks.

Nate Washington—Tennessee Titans

Washington has been a good fantasy option all season. Matt Hasselbeck has been much better than most anticipated this season, and that has made the Titans a team full of legitimate fantasy stars. Washington has been among the biggest. In three games so far this season, Washington has 21 catches for 258 yards and a touchdown.

His star only stands to shine brighter for the rest of the season. Kenny Britt, the only Titans receiver that might have been better this season, is now out for the year. Someone has to get those extra targets, and Washington is the likeliest recipient.

As Hasselbeck goes, so goes Washington to some degree. That can be both a good and bad thing. Hasselbeck has certainly been better than advertised so far, but it only feels like a matter of time before he suffers an injury or begins to show his age.

Victor Cruz—New York Giants

With injuries to Hakeem Nicks and now Mario Manningham, Victor Cruz has been given a chance to shine. So far, he has taken full advantage of it. In Week 3, he caught three passes for 110 yards, including a 74-yard touchdown catch.

As long as the Giants' receiving corps is banged up, Cruz will be a good fantasy play. Mario Manningham has been cleared to practice, but that doesn't mean he will play this week. Nicks was active last week and plans to play this week, but he is still dealing with swelling in his injured knee.

We've only seen a small sample size, but Cruz has the look of a player that will make big plays. He had that long touchdown catch last week and two of his three catches were for touchdowns. Play Victor Cruz as long as there is uncertainty at receiver for the Giants.

Nate Burleson—Detroit Lions

In recent years, the Lions have had one good fantasy receiver and one good fantasy receiver only. That was Calvin Johnson, of course. Johnson is still in Detroit as the top receiver, but now the Lions' offense is so good that they have more than one viable fantasy receiver.

Nate Burleson has emerged as a very good fantasy receiver. He had a tough two-catch game in Week 3, but he had been very good in the previous weeks. In total this season, he has 14 catches for 165 yards.

Burleson is an even better play in PPR leagues. Calvin Johnson is the big-play receiver down field, while Burleson is the underneath guy. Five-, six- or seven-catch games can be expected of Burleson on the regular.