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Pondering some tough flex choices for your Week 4 fantasy football lineup? Adam Rank sorts through the running backs, receivers and tight ends to present his top 150 flex options, with some useful nuggets of analysis sprinkled in. The ranking is based on a 0.5 PPR scoring format.
NOTE: In a typical week, this ranking will be posted on Tuesday. Injury designations will be added, adjusted or removed as teams’ official injury reports are made available. The following three designations will be reflected:
(Q) — Player is listed as questionable on his team’s official injury report.
(D) — Player is listed as doubtful on his team’s official injury report.
(O) — Player has been ruled out on his team’s official injury report.
RANKING TIERS
FLEX RANKINGS: 1-50
1. Christian McCaffrey, 49ers (vs. Jaguars) | RB1
2. Bijan Robinson, Falcons (vs. Commanders) | RB2
3. De’Von Achane, Dolphins (vs. Jets | Mon.) | RB3
4. Saquon Barkley, Eagles (at Buccaneers) | RB4
5. Puka Nacua, Rams (vs. Colts) | WR1
6. Malik Nabers, Giants (vs. Chargers) | WR2
7. Jahmyr Gibbs, Lions (vs. Browns) | RB5
8. Jonathan Taylor, Colts (at Rams) | RB6
9. Derrick Henry, Ravens (at Chiefs) | RB7
10. Bucky Irving, Buccaneers (vs. Eagles) | RB8
11. James Cook, Bills (vs. Saints) | RB9
12. Amon-Ra St. Brown, Lions (vs. Browns) | WR3
13. Josh Jacobs, Packers (at Cowboys) | RB10
14. Kyren Williams, Rams (vs. Colts) | RB11
15. Justin Jefferson, Vikings (vs. Steelers in Dublin) | WR4
16. Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Seahawks (at Cardinals | TNF ) | WR5
17. Breece Hall, Jets (at Dolphins | Mon.) | RB12
18. Nico Collins, Texans (vs. Titans) | WR6
19. Kenneth Walker III, Seahawks (at Cardinals | TNF ) | RB13
20. Alvin Kamara, Saints (at Bills) | RB14
21. Jordan Mason, Vikings (vs. Steelers in Dublin) | RB15
22. Ja’Marr Chase, Bengals (at Broncos | Mon.) | WR7
23. Omarion Hampton, Chargers (at Giants) | RB16
24. Javonte Williams, Cowboys (vs. Packers) | RB17
25. A.J. Brown, Eagles (at Buccaneers) | WR8
26. Ashton Jeanty, Raiders (vs. Bears) | RB18
27. Zay Flowers, Ravens (at Chiefs) | WR9
28. Emeka Egbuka, Buccaneers (vs. Eagles) | WR10
29. Davante Adams, Rams (vs. Colts) | WR11
30. Travis Etienne, Jaguars (at 49ers) | RB19
31. Rome Odunze, Bears (at Raiders) | WR12
32. Chase Brown, Bengals (at Broncos | Mon.) | RB20
33. Drake London, Falcons (vs. Commanders) | WR13
34. Chuba Hubbard, Panthers (at Patriots) | RB21
35. Tony Pollard, Titans (at Texans) | RB22
36. Trey Benson, Cardinals (vs. Seahawks | TNF ) | RB23
37. Brian Thomas Jr., Jaguars (at 49ers) | WR14
38. Trey McBride, Cardinals (vs. Seahawks | TNF ) | TE1
39. Ladd McConkey, Chargers (at Giants) | WR15
40. Garrett Wilson, Jets (at Dolphins | Mon.) | WR16
41. Brock Bowers, Raiders (vs. Bears) | TE2
42. Tetairoa McMillan, Panthers (at Patriots) | WR17
43. D’Andre Swift, Bears (at Raiders) | RB24
44. DK Metcalf, Steelers (vs. Vikings in Dublin) | WR18
45. Cam Skattebo, Giants (vs. Chargers) | RB25
46. Jaylen Warren, Steelers (vs. Vikings in Dublin) | RB26
47. Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Commanders (at Falcons) | RB27
48. Ricky Pearsall, 49ers (vs. Jaguars) | WR19
49. Jakobi Meyers, Raiders (vs. Bears) | WR20
50. Deebo Samuel Sr., Commanders (at Falcons) | WR21
Takeaways:
I’m often asked — as a person who plays in 20-plus fantasy leagues — if it feels like every player is going both for you and against you. And, yes, that is usually the case. I went into Monday night needing a huge game from Lamar Jackson while also somehow avoiding the combination of Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery combining for 50-plus points. But for Lamar to have an opportunity for another touchdown (which he took advantage of late in the fourth quarter), I needed Detroit to score instead of running out the clock. And, well, you saw the game. The point is, I hate fantasy football. Just kidding. I love it.
With their statuses for Week 4 unclear as of this writing, I’m not including Terry McLaurin and Xavier Worthy here, but keep an eye out for injury updates this week.
I want to free Malik Nabers , who is in fantasy hell right now. He posted just 3.3 fantasy points in Week 3 after that huge showing against the Cowboys. He’s produced fewer than 12.5 fantasy points in two of his three games this season. Perhaps a QB change will do him some good.
Jonathan Taylor led all running backs with 32.8 fantasy points in Week 3. He was right there for the taking in our fantasy drafts. He’s going to win you a lot of leagues, which is great. JT averaged 5.6 rushing yards after contact on Sunday. He also forced 7 missed tackles.
Jordan Mason was huge for the Vikings in his first start of the season. In a week when Minnesota scored two defensive touchdowns against the Bengals, Mason still had a great performance, finishing with 23.6 fantasy points.
Ja’Marr Chase struggled in his first full game without Joe Burrow this season. The 5 receptions for 50 yards would have been decent, but the fumble cost him. He’s going to bounce back this week. I mean, it’s not like you’re going to bench him for Tre Tucker . Tee Higgins might be able to find a seat on your bench, although not in three-receiver leagues. You might have better options in two-receiver leagues.
Omarion Hampton should feast in a major way for the Chargers with Najee Harris out for the season. Hampton ran 19 times for 70 yards and a touchdown on Sunday. And hey, it was against Denver, so that is good. But his 6 receptions for 59 yards impressed me the most.
Javonte Williams has been great for the Cowboys so far. He ranks seventh in the league with 227 rushing yards. But I’m worried about what Bears CB Tyrique Stevenson said on Monday, telling reporters he sensed Williams didn’t want the ball when Stevenson snatched it away from him on Sunday. This is why I hang on to Jaydon Blue, even though he’s been a healthy scratch.
Good to see A.J. Brown get back into the action on Sunday against the Rams. He had 6 receptions for 109 yards and a touchdown on 10 targets.
Ashton Jeanty ran the ball 17 times for 63 yards against the Commanders. He had no targets and isn’t involved in the passing game. Push the panic button if he can’t get it going against the Bears this week.
I’m curious to see how Emeka Egbuka fares now that Mike Evans is out with a hamstring injury and defenses will be able to focus more on the rookie. I still like him moving forward.
I’m starting to worry about Ladd McConkey . Rome Odunze , Amon-Ra St. Brown and (checks notes) Tre Tucker lead the NFL with four touchdown receptions apiece. McConkey’s Chargers teammates Keenan Allen and Quentin Johnston are right behind them with three each. McConkey doesn’t have a TD and has only one red zone target this season.
Tyrod Taylor held up OK on Sunday in place of the injured Justin Fields. The change didn’t hurt Garrett Wilson , who made 10 catches for 84 yards and a touchdown. We love that production.
Trey Benson is now the lead dog for the Cardinals, with James Conner out for the season. But don’t sleep on Emari Demercado if you’re truly desperate.
We can’t just dump Brian Thomas Jr ., but it is tempting. He’s had fewer than 10 fantasy points in all three games this season. I don’t like this situation one bit.
Are we looking at Cam Skattebo taking over in New York? It seems that way. I can’t see No. 44 running in New York and not think of John Riggins (worth a Google). Skattebo ran for 60 yards and a TD against the Chiefs. Also, he was a huge part of the passing game with 6 receptions for 61 yards on 8 targets.
Jaylen Warren leads the NFL with 72 yards after the catch over expected, per Next Gen Stats. Also, he ranks second with 23 missed tackles forced.
Let me tell you about one of my favorite players moving forward, Ricky Pearsall . I grabbed so many shares of him this summer and it’s starting to pay off handsomely. Obviously, I am loving the rebound of Christian McCaffrey , but Ricky had 11 targets, 8 receptions and 117 yards against the Cardinals on Sunday. Now, it would be nice if he got into the end zone. Doesn’t need to pull the full Trey McBride . But Pearsall has been absolutely amazing. He and CMC combined for 68 percent of the 49ers’ targets in Week 3. CMC had a 39 percent target share, which is the highest by a running back in a single game this season, while Ricky is among the league leaders with 16.3 air yards per target.
Would it kill the Commanders to find one running back and stick with him? I fear this is going to be a headache moving forward. I know we don’t flex the quarterback (unless you have that kind of league). But I don’t like the uncertainty about whether Jayden Daniels will be ready to return this week.
Tiers: Nos. 1-50 | Nos. 51-100 | Nos. 101-150
FLEX RANKINGS: 51-100
51. Tyreek Hill, Dolphins (vs. Jets | Mon.) | WR22
52. David Montgomery, Lions (vs. Browns) | RB28
53. J.K. Dobbins, Broncos (vs. Bengals | Mon.) | RB29
54. Courtland Sutton, Broncos (vs. Bengals | Mon.) | WR23
55. George Pickens, Cowboys (vs. Packers) | WR24
56. Tee Higgins, Bengals (at Broncos | Mon.) | WR25
57. Marvin Harrison Jr., Cardinals (vs. Seahawks | TNF ) | WR26
58. Tyler Warren, Colts (at Rams) | TE3
59. Jameson Williams, Lions (vs. Browns) | WR27
60. DJ Moore, Bears (at Raiders) | WR28
61. Quinshon Judkins, Browns (at Lions) | RB30
62. Hollywood Brown, Chiefs (vs. Ravens) | WR29
63. Rhamondre Stevenson, Patriots (vs. Panthers) | RB31
64. Chris Olave, Saints (at Bills) | WR30
65. Calvin Ridley, Titans (at Texans) | WR31
66. Keenan Allen, Chargers (at Giants) | WR32
67. Jordan Addison, Vikings (vs. Steelers in Dublin) | WR33
68. Tucker Kraft, Packers (at Cowboys) | TE4
69. DeVonta Smith, Eagles (at Buccaneers) | WR34
70. Nick Chubb, Texans (vs. Titans) | RB32
71. Jauan Jennings, 49ers (vs. Jaguars) | WR35
72. Jaylen Waddle, Dolphins (vs. Jets | Mon.) | WR36
73. Sam LaPorta, Lions (vs. Browns) | TE5
74. Wan’Dale Robinson, Giants (vs. Chargers) | WR37
75. Isiah Pacheco, Chiefs (vs. Ravens) | RB33
76. Keon Coleman, Bills (vs. Saints) | WR38
77. Quentin Johnston, Chargers (at Giants) | WR39
78. Michael Pittman, Colts (at Rams) | WR40
79. Jerry Jeudy, Browns (at Lions) | WR41
80. Travis Hunter, Jaguars (at 49ers) | WR42
81. Travis Kelce, Chiefs (vs. Ravens) | TE6
82. TreVeyon Henderson, Patriots (vs. Panthers) | RB34
83. Rashid Shaheed, Saints (at Bills) | WR43
84. Troy Franklin, Broncos (vs. Bengals | Mon.) | WR44
85. Juwan Johnson, Saints (at Bills) | TE7
86. Cooper Kupp, Seahawks (at Cardinals | TNF ) | WR45
87. Romeo Doubs, Packers (at Cowboys) | WR46
88. Stefon Diggs, Patriots (vs. Panthers) | WR47
89. Khalil Shakir, Bills (vs. Saints) | WR48
90. Sterling Shepard, Buccaneers (vs. Eagles) | WR49
91. Cedric Tillman, Browns (at Lions) | WR50
92. Tory Horton, Seahawks (at Cardinals | TNF ) | WR51
93. Josh Downs, Colts (at Rams) | WR52
94. Darnell Mooney, Falcons (vs. Commanders) | WR53
95. Zach Ertz, Commanders (at Falcons) | TE8
96. Hunter Henry, Patriots (vs. Panthers) | TE9
97. Dalton Kincaid, Bills (vs. Saints) | TE10
98. Kyle Pitts, Falcons (vs. Commanders) | TE11
99. Tyler Allgeier, Falcons (vs. Commanders) | RB35
100. Jeremy McNichols, Commanders (at Falcons) | RB36
Takeaways:
David Montgomery will be one of my favorite players of all time. He leads the NFL with 114 rushing yards over expectation, per Next Gen Stats.
The most alarming thing about Marvin Harrison Jr. is that he’s ninth in the league with 95.8 percent route participation, which should mean huge fantasy production. But right now, he looks like a big whiff for the Cardinals.
Chris Olave leads the NFL with 37 targets this season. His Saints teammate Juwan Johnson is tied for ninth with 28.
Michael Pittman is off to a nice start. He already has two touchdowns after scoring three all of last season.
Hunter Henry had four red-zone targets on Sunday. And his two touchdown catches were impressive. He was still available in 78 percent of NFL.com leagues as of Tuesday. You’re probably too late if you’re reading this on Wednesday.
Seahawks rookie WR Tory Horton finished as the WR14 in Week 3 with 18.2 fantasy points. I do see Horton moving ahead of Cooper Kupp in the near future. That’s something to keep an eye on. Kupp has topped 2 receptions only once this season.