The top wide receivers have mostly had a slow start to their seasons, but they should be back to producing at elite levels for their fantasy owners. The issue, as always, is injuries. Dez Bryant suffered a hairline fracture to his knee, setting up yet another injury-plagued season for him and his owners. Sammy Watkins is out indefinitely after his surgically repaired foot just isn’t feeling right. And Eric Decker suffered a torn rotator cuff that could put his season in jeopardy.
Fantasy football start/sit advice, Week 4: Wide receivers
Which receivers must be started? Which ones must be benched? We take a look at the top options for Week 4.
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In addition to the injuries, fantasy owners now have to start planning for bye weeks, and top-tier options like Jordy Nelson, Randall Cobb, and Jordan Matthews won’t be available in Week 4. With so much to account for, let’s take a look at the top receiver options to start this week, along with three players you should be avoiding.
Start
Doug Baldwin, Seattle Seahawks (@ New York Jets)
There can be no doubt about it now -- Baldwin has to be in fantasy starting lineups every week. Outside of a brief injury scare in Week 2, he’s been matchup-proof this season, even with a hobbled Russell Wilson. Baldwin is a good bet to pick apart the Jets’ aging secondary out of the slot this week.
Travis Benjamin, San Diego Chargers (vs. New Orleans Saints)
Somebody had to step up for the Chargers when Keenan Allen tore his ACL in Week 1, and Benjamin is answering the call so far with 17 catches, 229 yards and two touchdowns. He may be a little too boom-or-bust to trust on a weekly basis in fantasy, but Benjamin will have his best matchup yet. He and Philip Rivers should feast on New Orleans’ miserable defense.
Cole Beasley, Dallas Cowboys (@ San Francisco 49ers)
Beasley was Dak Prescott’s most trusted target before Dez Bryant suffered a knee injury that will keep him out multiple weeks. Now Prescott figures to lock onto his slot man even more. Beasley doesn’t break big plays, but he offers a safe PPR floor against the 49ers this week.
Sit
Robert Woods, Buffalo Bills (@ New England Patriots)
With Sammy Watkins on injured reserve, Woods is the default No. 1 receiver in Buffalo now. However, that doesn’t mean he’s suddenly a desirable fantasy starter -- Woods remains a mediocre possession-type receiver who doesn’t really fit Tyrod Taylor’s skill set. All Bills offensive players should be hands-off this week, outside of maybe LeSean McCoy.
Michael Floyd, Arizona Cardinals (vs. Los Angeles Rams)
We keep waiting for Floyd to make that big leap forward, but he’s taking several steps backward this year. Floyd’s had a miserable start to 2016, catching just nine of his 24 targets, and there’s the possibility he’ll lose playing time to John Brown in two-WR sets. Floyd has lost the benefit of the doubt for now.
Sterling Shepard, New York Giants (@ Minnesota Vikings)
Shepard’s had a good start to his rookie year and will be a quality fantasy asset more often than not. That said, he could have a hard time producing against Minnesota’s elite secondary on Monday night. This projects to be a low-scoring game, so it’s hard to recommend a lot of receivers here outside of Odell Beckham Jr. Wait for Shepard to get a more friendly matchup before putting him back in your lineup.
