Wide Receiver Start 'Em, Sit 'Em Picks for Fantasy Football Week 4 (2026)

October 3, 2026

Nathan's wide receiver start 'em, sit 'em picks for fantasy football Week 4 lineups (2026). Read his expert WR start/sit advice for Josh Downs, Jameson Williams, Emeka Egbuka, and others.

As we enter Week 4, injuries are becoming a major factor, affecting fantasy lineups worldwide. All 32 teams are dealing with injuries at quarterback, wide receiver, or even on defense, making this list even more important to read heading into this week.

We stayed hot in Week 3, starting Josh Downs and Deebo Samuel Sr. while sitting Malik Nabers, Rome Odunze, and Denzel Boston. However, this week is even tougher, with this Sit’ Em list including some receivers that fantasy managers spent high draft capital on.

As we look to continue our hot streak, here are three receivers to start and three to sit in Week 4:

Week 4 Starts - Potential Fantasy Football Booms

Josh Downs, Indianapolis Colts

Update - Keenan Allen has been ruled out, which should open up even further targets for Downs on Sunday morning.

No start/sit list is complete without Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Downs. In his last two games, Downs has caught 12 of 20 targets for 149 yards, averaging 10.5 half-PPR fantasy points per game, despite not finding the end zone.

This season, Downs has a 26% target share, 85.2% route participation rate, and a 34.5% first-read target share, all ranking in the top 20 among receivers. With Alec Pierce (heel) on injured reserve, Downs, Tyler Warren, and veteran Keenan Allen, who's questionable with a groin injury, are the only legitimate passing-game options for Daniel Jones.

In Week 4, they face the Washington Commanders in London, who have allowed the most fantasy points to wide receivers this season. They’ve allowed back-to-back 30+ point games to wide receivers CeeDee Lamb and Jaxon Smith-Njigba, and Downs will hope to keep that streak going this week.

Given his role, the vacated targets with Pierce out, and the easy matchup, this bodes well for Downs’ Week 4 outlook, and he should be in starting lineups.

Jordan Addison, Minnesota Vikings

Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jordan Addison is in a great spot as star wideout Justin Jefferson (ankle) is already ruled out for Week 4. After Jefferson left last week’s game against the Buccaneers with an ankle injury, Addison stepped up, hauling in five of nine targets for 90 yards and a touchdown.

Jefferson missed eight games during Addison’s rookie season due to a hamstring injury. Despite losing starting quarterback Kirk Cousins to an Achilles injury during that stretch, Addison dominated. He averaged 5.1 receptions on nearly eight targets for 63 yards and scored five touchdowns in eight games, averaging 12.6 half-PPR fantasy points per game.

Now he faces a Miami Dolphins secondary that has performed fairly well against wide receivers over the past two seasons. However, with Jefferson out, this is a prime opportunity for Addison to make plays and produce.

Jameson Williams, Detroit Lions

Despite an absolutely terrible start to Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams’ season, he enters Week 4 as a solid starting option against the Carolina Panthers. Williams has caught 10 of 17 targets for 127 yards in the first three games, averaging 5.9 half-PPR fantasy points per game.

It’s been ugly, but he struggled to start last season as well, finishing with under 45 receiving yards in four of his first five games. His usage is there: he’s played 88% of snaps and 87% of routes, both ranking in the top 10 among all wide receivers.

Most importantly, Detroit’s offense looks great, ranking third in points (31.0) and ninth in total yards (358.8). Everything is lined up for Williams to bounce back, including a smash spot matchup against the Carolina Panthers.

Ahead of Sunday night’s matchup vs. the Lions, the Panthers placed both their starting cornerbacks, Jaycee Horn and Mike Jackson, on injured reserve. pic.twitter.com/GbDR7La1l7

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 30, 2026

Both of their top cornerbacks, Jaycee Horn (quad) and Mike Jackson (groin), are on injured reserve; the Lions' passing game should erupt against third-string defensive backs. While “Jamo’s” fantasy managers have likely run out of patience with the speedster, the stars are aligning for a solid outing from Williams in Week 4.

Week 4 Concerns - Potential Fantasy Football Busts

Ladd McConkey, Los Angeles Chargers

After a strong Week 1 performance, Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Ladd McConkey has struggled to produce. In three games, McConkey has caught 12 of 15 targets for 183 yards and a touchdown, averaging 10.1 half-PPR fantasy points per game. However, finishing outside the Top 40 among wide receivers in back-to-back weeks is concerning.

The Chargers' offense is flat-out horrible, ranking 29th in points scored (14.6), 31st in EPA per play (-0.188), and 28th in third-down conversion rate (32%). The new scheme under offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel has not worked, despite ideal matchups against the Raiders, Cardinals, and Bills.

Now, they face a pissed-off Seattle Seahawks defense that just gave up 33 points to backup quarterback Marcus Mariota and the Commanders. They’ve allowed the fewest fantasy points to wide receivers and the second-fewest passing yards to quarterbacks (162.2) this season.

Ladd McConkey Seen Walking Out of Locker Room with a Limp https://t.co/tGzyllTnvP

— RotoBaller (@RotoBaller) October 2, 2026

This has the makings of a blowout in favor of the Seahawks, and with McConkey (foot) questionable after being limited in practice this week, fantasy managers should steer clear of the third-year receiver in Week 4.

Emeka Egbuka, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Despite being hyped as a breakout receiver entering 2026, Buccaneers wideout Emeka Egbuka has struggled mightily. In three games, he has hauled in 13 of 20 passes for 141 yards and a touchdown, averaging under nine half-PPR fantasy points per game.

The Buccaneers offense has not gelled under new offensive coordinator Zac Robinson, ranking 18th in points scored (20.6), 31st in total yards (256), and 30th in passing yards (171). Now, starting quarterback Baker Mayfield (thumb) is set to miss time with a dislocated thumb.

With Mayfield out, undrafted rookie Jalon Daniels is set to start in Week 4. While he had a solid preseason, Daniels never surpassed 2,500 passing yards in college and is more of a runner than Mayfield. Look for the Buccaneers to lean heavily on their three running backs, Bucky Irving, Kenny Gainwell, and Sean Tucker, against a Packers defense that has allowed the second-most fantasy points to running backs this season.

Fantasy managers spent high draft capital on Egbuka this season, but with a backup quarterback in place and his early-season struggles, they should avoid starting the second-year receiver in Week 4.

Mike Evans, San Francisco 49ers

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Mike Evans (ribs) is listed as questionable for Week 4's game against the Denver Broncos. Evans did not practice all week while recovering from a rib injury sustained in Week 3.

In three games, Evans has caught 12 of 16 targets for 137 yards and two touchdowns, averaging 10.6 half-PPR fantasy points per game. His 45.7 yards per game rank 57th among all players, and his 5.3 targets per game ranks 66th. He’s saved two lackluster performances with touchdowns, which is great, but it also makes him a volatile option.

Now, there’s a possibility that Evans is used in sporadic situations, such as obvious passing downs and red zone looks, which would make him very risky, especially given his Week 4 assignment.

For what it’s worth, Ladd McConkey had three catches for 35 yards on three targets playing just 42% of the snaps in Week 2 with a similar injury https://t.co/3eyC6Uy14C

— Adam Koffler (@AdamKoffler) October 2, 2026

He faces Pat Surtain II and the Broncos, who have ranked among the top five units against wide receivers since 2024. In his only career game against Surtain, Evans was held to two catches for 17 yards. He will be two years older and injured heading into this matchup.

Given how well San Francisco has played on offense, Evans has a solid chance to find the end zone. However, his injury and a tough matchup against Pat Surtain and the Broncos don’t bode well for his Week 4 fantasy outlook.

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