Wide Receiver Starts and Sits: Week 4 – Using the Slot vs Wide Analysis Tool

This season, I’ll be taking you through my favorite wide receiver start/sits using the brilliant Slot vs Wide tool on the Razzball website. This tool is revolutionary in analyzing not just the difficulty of a wide receiver’s matchup but also the success of their opponent against a specific style of player. Through two weeks (Week 3 isn’t out at time of writing), FantasyPros ranked my WR rankings as their second most accurate from among over 200 rankers. So yeah, the Razzball tools work. I recommend using them to help you with those tough start-sit decisions though you’re welcome to add your questions in the comments too. Please also check out my rankings at ffdfantasyfootball.com and you can find my long-form videos on the Fantasy First Down Youtube channel and my Slot/Wide analysis on the Razzball Fantasy Youtube channel.

Top WR Starts:

DJ Moore and Rome Odunze (CHI v LAR): Caleb Williams finally got going in Week 3, with his two outside wide receivers combining for almost 200 yards and a touchdown on 21 targets. The Rams are badly banged-up across the board and have conceded the most points to outside receivers this season. DJ Moore is a strong start and Rome Odunze is a WR3 option, assuming Keenan Allen is out. Even if Allen is back, Odunze is still a flex play in deeper leagues.

George Pickens (PIT @ IND): The Colts remain a great out-wide matchup and now face the Steelers. George Pickens couldn’t take full advantage of a good matchup last week but he has looked very good this season. Against Indy he’s another strong WR2 start.

Tee Higgins (CIN @ CAR): Injured players are usually eased back into the offense upon their return but Tee Higgins received his usual snap count in Week 3. This week, he faces a Panthers defense that is brutal against slot receivers but weak out wide. Luckily, Higgins plays only one eighth of his plays from the slot making him a solid Week 4 start. His poor production last weeks implies some risk, certainly, but the upside is real.

Jaxon Smith-Njigba (SEA @ DET): Always target slot receivers playing against the Lions. This week it’s JSN, who had a quiet performance in an easy win over the Dolphins. But the news was still good for Smith-Njigba owners. He played full, starter-level snaps with Tyler Lockett off the field in heavy personnel groupings. With Detroit on tap, I’m locking the young Seahawk into my lineups.

Desperation WR Starts:

Jauan Jennings (SF v NE): Jauan Jennings gets another great slot matchup against the Patriots. After his 175 yard, 3 touchdown outing against the Rams, Jennings should be in for another strong workload. If George Kittle and Deebo Samuel both remain out, which is still an unknown at the time of writing, Jennings likely jumps into the Top WR Starts category.

Michael Wilson and Greg Dortch (ARI v WAS): This isn’t a new story. The Commanders have been a receiver opponent to target for fantasy owners for years. This season, they’ve conceded the second most points to outside wide receivers AND slot receivers. Michael Wilson is coming off his most career receptions (admittedly only 7) in Week 3 while Greg Dortch has been solid despite only playing in 11 personnel groupings. Both are low-end options this weekend.

Top WR Sits:

Jaylen Waddle (MIA v TEN): How did we get here so quickly into the season? The Titans have suddenly become the toughest out-wide matchup after conceding the most points last season! Meanwhile, Jaylen Waddle is totally unusable until he gets more consistent quarterback play. He’s not droppable but he needs to ride the pine until we see a functional QB under center.

Courtland Sutton (DEN @ NYJ): The Broncos looked shockingly impressive in Week 3, with Courtland Sutton recording his second double-digit target haul of the young season. But you simply can’t risk any Broncos receiver against a Jets secondary led by Sauce Gardner and DJ Reed. No thank you!

Michael Pittman Jr (IND v PIT): Hang with me for a second. Is it possible, just possible, that a running quarterback entering the season with 16 total starts across college and the pros isn’t a very good passer of the ball? I know that’s a wild take. Now Michael Pittman Jr, who has 88 total yards through three weeks, faces a strong Pittsburgh secondary. This is not a risk I’m interested in taking.

As we’re early in the new season, I also wanted to list a few guys who the tool suggests should have particularly good (or bad) matchups, who probably actually don’t.

Elijah Moore and Jerry Jeudy (CLE @ LV): The Raiders have conceded a lot of points to slot receivers this season, but I’m wary of starting Elijah Moore or his often-slot counterpart Jerry Jeudy against them. The Browns have really struggled this season and Moore and Jeudy have seen a lot of fluctuations in their usage. They’ve also been rather inefficient when targeted and I’m not convinced the Raiders are as great a matchup as the numbers might suggest. These guys are sits for me.

Xavier Worthy (KC @ LAC): The Chargers were an excellent out-wide matchup last season but that has eased back a little this year. Tougher matchups may challenge them but that’s irrelevant because that’s not my concern here. Xavier Worthy has just six receptions for 81 yards so far this season. His Week 1 touchdowns got everyone excited, and he does get a carry or two each week, but that’s not starting usage in fantasy football. Additionally, he was only on the field for 50% of the snaps last week! I feel like there will be more dud weeks than booms for the talented rookie in the near future.

Jameson Williams (DET v SEA): Just to be clear off the bat, I’m saying you SHOULD start Jameson Williams in Week 4. The Seahawks have conceded the third fewest wide receiver points so far this season, but they’ve only faced the Broncos, the Patriots and the Tua-less Dolphins. Their ranking will regress and the Lions should get that party started.

Good luck in Week 3 and remember, every player will be a sit in some leagues and a start in others so if you have any start-sit questions, drop them in the comments below or hit me up on Instagram @TheFantasyFirstDown