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.
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.
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.
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 |