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Fantasy Football: Week 4 Wide Receiver Rankings

By Alex Butler

MIAMI, Sept. 28 (UPI) -- The wide receiver position hasn't been quite as decimated as the running back position so far this season in fantasy football. That means you can still lean on studs like Antonio Brown, DeAndre Hopkins, and A.J. Green as must-starts every week.

There are a few other wide receivers still hanging around but not producing like the elite players they were drafted to be. If you are considering benching a stud pass-catcher, make sure you study the match-ups first and investigate what type of role your potential starters will have on their respective offenses.

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Here are my top 50 wide receivers this week. You can also view my add/drops for the week and more positional rankings in the links below.

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TOP SHELF

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver A.J. Green is my top wide receiver for Week 4. Green has piled up nearly 100 receiving yards per game and has scored once through three games. Look for him to take advantage of the Miami Dolphins secondary this week. The Dolphins have allowed the seventh-most fantasy points per game this season. I expect a big game from New Orleans Saints wide receiver Brandin Cooks in Week 4 against the San Diego Chargers. Cooks has not eclipsed 100 yards or scored since his 143-yard, two touchdown performance in Week 1. I think this is a good time for Brees to air it out against the Chargers, after struggling against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 3 action.

SNEAKY PLAYS

Jarvis Landry makes it two straight weeks of consistent production against the Cincinnati Bengals on Thursday Night Football. It's no secret where Ryan Tannehill wants to throw, but the emergence of DeVante Parker should help shift coverage, enabling Landry to get more quality looks. The Cincinnati Bengals have allowed the sixth-most fantasy points per game this season. Landry has 35 targets this season and is tied with Antonio Brown for the most receptions in the NFL, with 24. San Diego Chargers target Travis Benjamin should have a big week as a WR2 this week against the New Orleans Saints. Although the Saints held Julio Jones to one reception for 17 yards last week, I don't think it will put as much focus on Benjamin. Quarterback Philip Rivers will spread the ball around too much in this one for the defense to only shadow Benjamin here. The Saints have allowed the eighth-most fantasy points per game to wide receivers this season.

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LONGSHOTS

Former quarterback Terrelle Pryor has found new life with the Cleveland Browns. Last week Pryor was Mr. Do Everything, torching the Dolphins for 144 receiving yards, 21 rushing yards and a score, and 35 passing yards. Put simply, who else do the Browns have? Pryor will be heavily leaned on again in Week 4 against the decimated Washington Redskins secondary. Denver Broncos wide receiver Demaryius Thomas should dominate the Tampa Bay Buccaneers secondary. The Buccaneers have allowed the most touchdowns in the NFL to wide receivers and the second most fantasy points per game to the position in 2016. It looks like Thomas and quarterback Trevor Siemian have found their chemistry, as Thomas exploded for 100 yards and a score against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 3. Look for that connection to get stronger this week against the weak Buccaneers crew of defensive backs.

RANK NAME TEAM OPPONENT
1 A.J. Green Cincinnati Bengals vs. Miami
2  Antonio Brown Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Kansas City
3 Brandin Cooks New Orleans Saints at San Diego
4 DeAndre Hopkins Houston Texans vs. Tennessee
5  Odell Beckham Jr. New York Giants at Minnesota
6 Alshon Jeffery Chicago Bears vs. Detroit
7 Allen Robinson Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Indianapolis
8 Julio Jones Atlanta Falcons vs. Carolina
9 Jarvis Landry Miami Dolphins at Cincinnati
10 Kelvin Benjamin Carolina Panthers at Atlanta
11 T.Y. Hilton Indianapolis Colts at Jacksonville
12 Stefon Diggs Minnesota Vikings vs. New York Giants
13 Mike Evans Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Denver
14 Larry Fitzgerald Arizona Cardinals vs. Los Angeles 
15 Marvin Jones Detroit Lions at Chicago
16 Travis Benjamin San Diego Chargers vs. New Orleans
17 Amari Cooper Oakland Raiders at Baltimore
18 Jeremy Maclin Kansas City Chiefs at Pittsburgh
19 Terrelle Pryor Cleveland Browns at Washington
20 Doug Baldwin Seattle Seahawks at New York Jets
21 Will Fuller Houston Texans vs. Tennessee
22 Demaryius Thomas Denver Broncos at Tampa Bay
23 Brandon Marshall New York Jets vs. Seattle
24 DeSean Jackson Washington Redskins vs. Cleveland
25 Michael Floyd Arizona Cardinals vs. Los Angeles 
26 Willie Snead New Orleans Saints at San Diego
27 Julian Edelman New England Patriots vs. Buffalo
28 Michael Crabtree Oakland Raiders at Baltimore
29 Terrance Williams Dallas Cowboys at San Francisco
30 Cole Beasley Dallas Cowboys at San Francisco
31 Tyrell Williams San Diego Chargers vs. New Orleans
32 Mike Wallace Baltimore Ravens vs. Oakland
33 Phillip Dorsett Indianapolis Colts at Jacksonville
34 Steve Smith Sr. Baltimore Ravens vs. Oakland
35 Devante Parker Miami Dolphins at Cincinnati
36 Allen Hurns Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Indianapolis
37 Emmanuel Sanders Denver Broncos at Tampa Bay
38 Sterling Shepard New York Giants at Minnesota
39 Tajae Sharpe Tennessee Titans at Houston
40 Robert Woods Buffalo Bills at New England
41 John Brown Arizona Cardinals vs. Los Angeles 
42 Jamison Crowder Washington Redskins vs. Cleveland
43 Golden Tate Detroit Lions at Chicago
44 Victor Cruz New York Giants at Minnesota
45 Tyler Lockett Seattle Seahawks at New York Jets
46 Michael Thomas New Orleans Saints at San Diego
47 Torrey Smith San Francisco 49ers vs. Dallas
48 Quincy Enunwa New York Jets vs. Seattle
49 Adam Humphries Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Denver
50 Mohamed Sanu Atlanta Falcons vs. Carolina
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