Start ’Em, Sit ’Em Wide Receivers Fantasy Football Week 4: Adam Thielen Revenge Game

The Panthers receiver, who has been getting lots of targets, takes on the team he played with for a decade.

Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em is the ultimate look at the best and worst matchups based on a PPR scoring system in fantasy football. This column will not cover the elite players in the NFL like Patrick Mahomes, Christian McCaffrey or Justin Jefferson. Instead, I'll look at the players you have questions about who could exceed or fail to meet expectations at each position. For all of your final fantasy lineup decisions, be sure to check out my weekly player rankings which will be updated daily throughout the 2023 NFL season.

Fabs’ Top 10 Wide Receivers

1. Justin Jefferson at Panthers
2. Tyreek Hill vs. Bills
3. Ja’Marr Chase at Titans
4. Keenan Allen vs. Raiders
5. Stefon Diggs vs. Dolphins
6. Davante Adams at Chargers
7. Amon-Ra St. Brown at Packers (Thur.)
8. A.J. Brown vs. Commanders
9. CeeDee Lamb vs. Patriots
10. Chris Olave vs. Buccaneers

Complete Week 4 wide receiver rankings

Week 4 Start ’Em, Sit ’Em: QUARTERBACKS | RUNNING BACKS | WIDE RECEIVERS | TIGHT ENDS | KICKERS & TEAM DEFENSES

Week 4 Start ’Em: Wide Receivers

Start of the Week

Jim Dedmon/USA Today Sports

Adam Thielen vs. Vikings (1 p.m. ET, Fox): Who doesn’t love a good old revenge game? Thielen, who has been on absolute fire in the last two weeks with 51.9 fantasy points, should be considered a nice flex option against his former team, the Vikings. Their defense has allowed the fourth-most points to slot receivers this season, which is where Thielen has been running 70.3% of his routes.

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Start ’Em

DJ Moore vs. Broncos (1 p.m. ET, CBS): I’m on the fence about Moore, as he’s in an offense that’s been mostly dreadful in the first three weeks. Still, he’s got a nice matchup against a Denver defense that’s surrendered five touchdowns and the third-most fantasy points to perimeter receivers. Moore, who is playing nearly 94% of the Bears offensive snaps, is a worthwhile flex option this week.

Terry McLaurin at Eagles (1 p.m. ET, Fox): This might seem like a bad matchup on paper, but the Eagles have struggled against receivers this season. In fact, their defense has allowed the ninth-most points to the position. McLaurin has done quite well against them in his career, too, scoring 16-plus points seven times in eight career meetings while also averaging almost 17 points in those contests.

Nico Collins vs. Steelers (1 p.m. ET, CBS): Collins had a stinker last week, scoring just 5.4 points in a win over the Jaguars. He had scored a combined 41.6 points in his previous two games, though, and a matchup against the Steelers is favorable for both Collins and Tank Dell. Their defense has allowed the fifth-most PPR points to perimeter receivers, including a combined 33 receptions.

Jakobi Meyers at Chargers (4:05 p.m. ET, CBS): Meyers has been quietly solid in the stat sheets this season, scoring a combined 44.6 points on 22 targets in his first two games. He should be in starting lineups as a flex starter this week in what could be a high-scoring affair against the Chargers. Their defense has allowed five touchdowns and the most fantasy points to enemy perimeter receivers.

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More Starts

Tee Higgins at Titans (1 p.m. ET, Fox)
Michael Pittman Jr. vs. Rams (1 p.m. ET, Fox)
Joshua Palmer vs. Raiders (4:05 p.m. ET CBS)

DFS Bargains (DraftKings)

Nico Collins vs. Steelers ($5,100)
Adam Thielen vs. Vikings ($4,500)
Joshua Palmer vs. Raiders ($4,000)

Week 4 Sit ’Em: Wide Receivers

Sit of the Week

enny Simmons/USA Today Sports Network

DeAndre Hopkins vs. Bengals (1 p.m. ET, Fox): Hopkins has struggled in the stat sheets during the last two weeks, scoring a combined 15.8 points on just 12 targets. Next up is a tough matchup against the Bengals, who have held perimeter receivers to just seven touchdowns and the fourth-fewest fantasy points over their last 18 games. Hopkins is now no more than a risk-reward flex option.

Sit ’Em

Garrett Wilson vs. Chiefs (8:20 p.m. ET, NBC): I hate putting Wilson in this spot because I love his talent, but Zach Wilson is sapping his value as a must-start wideout. The matchup is a tough one too, against a Chiefs defense that's allowed the seventh-fewest points to receivers. Wilson could get some garbage time points, but he's no more than a risk-reward flex option in what a possible blowout.

George Pickens at Texans (1 p.m. ET, CBS): Pickens is a tough player to sit with Diontae Johnson out of action, but I would beware a difficult matchup vs. Houston. Their defense has surrendered just three touchdowns and the fifth-fewest points to perimeter receivers since the start of last season. That includes holding Calvin Ridley to a mere seven points in last week’s win over the Jaguars.

Marquise Brown at 49ers (4:25 p.m. ET, Fox): Brown is coming off a nice stat line against the Cowboys, scoring a touchdown and 17.1 fantasy points. Still, I’d be wary of this week’s matchup in San Francisco. Their defense is arguably the best in the league, allowing just 14 points and 205.3 passing yards per game. Brown has also scored a combined 2.8 points in two career games against them.

Skyy Moore at Jets (8:20 p.m. ET, NBC): Moore played a season-high 50 snaps last week, but he caught just four passes and was held to fewer than nine points for the second time in three games. I’d keep him on the sidelines this week, as the Chiefs face a Jets defense that’s tough on receivers. In fact, no team has allowed fewer PPR points (25.7 PPG) to the position since the start of last season.

More Sits

Michael Thomas vs. Buccaneers (1 p.m. ET, Fox)
Brandin Cooks vs. Patriots (4:25 p.m. ET, Fox)
JuJu Smith-Schuster at Cowboys (4:25 p.m. ET, Fox)

DFS Fades (DraftKings)

Mike Evans at Saints ($7,000)
Jerry Jeudy at Bears ($6,600)
DeAndre Hopkins vs. Bengals ($5,800)