Fortunately, we managed to avoid a slew of new wide receiver injuries last week (though Mike Williams will be sorely missed by his owners), but several key pass-catchers (Brandon Aiyuk, Jaylen Waddle, Odell Beckham Jr., Zay Jones) didn't even suit up due to lingering injuries. What's the current status of these fantasy-relevant WRs in terms of their Week 4 prospects?
Below, we'll give you the latest news on these wideouts and break down how their injuries could potentially affect the Week 4 fantasy landscape. For the latest on Mike Williams, Gus Williams, and Derek Carr, click here; for more on banged-up RBs Justice Hill, Austin Ekeler, and Saquon Barkley, go here; for news on injured QBs Anthony Richardson and Bryce Young, go here.
WEEK 4 FANTASY: Top pickups | FAAB budget planner | Trade advice
Brandon Aiyuk injury update, Week 4 fantasy outlook
Aiyuk (shoulder) got banged up in the first quarter of San Francisco's Week 2 matchup against the Rams. Although he managed to return to game action and play 30 snaps that day, he wasn't healthy enough to play on a short week in Week 3.
While the 49ers have yet to release their official Week 4 injury report, Aiyuk was seen practicing on Monday, according to 49ers' reporter Cam Inman. Aiyuk logged two limited sessions last week but could get elevated to a full participant ahead of Sunday's home tilt against the Cardinals, all but confirming his playing status. Aiyuk returns to a must-start WR2/3 as a trusted option of Brock Purdy's.
WEEK 4 STANDARD RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers
Jaylen Waddle injury update, Week 4 fantasy outlook
Waddle (head) couldn't clear the league's concussion protocol in time to suit up for the Dolphins Week 3 contest. Luckily, the Dolphins didn't miss a beat without their No. 2 wide receiver, putting up 70 points in a shellacking of the Broncos.
According to ESPN's Marcel Louis-Jacques, Waddle is still in the concussion protocol as of Sept. 25. While the timetable to return from a concussion isn't linear, Waddle looks on track to return for Miami's Week 4 road contest in Buffalo after being a limited participant last Friday. While a matchup against a sound Bills secondary is challenging, Waddle remains a must-start if active.
WEEK 4 PPR RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers
Odell Beckham Jr. injury update, Week 4 fantasy outlook
Beckham Jr. (ankle) tweaked his right ankle in Baltimore's Week 2 win over Cincinnati, leading to a week's worth of inactivity. It's still too early to gauge Beckham Jr.'s status for Week 4, but we'll get a better feel for his playing status as the Ravens' Week 4 injury report starts to take shape.
If Beckham Jr. can't go in Week 4, fellow WR Zay Flowers is in for another high-usage day. Baltimore's Week 3 home loss to Indianapolis also saw WR Rashod Bateman dealing with hamstring tightness, so his Week 4 status is also unclear as of Tuesday morning. If Beckman Jr. is active this week, he's nothing more than a fringe flex in a tough matchup against a stingy Browns' defense.
Zay Jones injury update, Week 4 fantasy outlook
UPDATE 9/27: According to NFL Network's Cameron Wolfe, Jones (knee) is considered a "long shot" to play in Week 4, per head coach Doug Pederson. If Zones misses his second consecutive game, look for fellow pass-catchers Calvin Ridley, Christian Kirk, and Evan Engram to see increased target shares.
After logging three consecutive DNPs leading into Week 3 Jones (knee) was ruled "out" ahead of Jacksonville's home contest against Houston. As of last week, Jones was considered day-to-day, so there's reason to believe he's healthy enough to play against the Falcons in London this week.
As the week progresses, we'll have a better sense of Jones' playing status for what's now a "must-win" game for the 1-2 Jaguars. If Jones is active, he'll garner some flex appeal against a formidable Falcons secondary.
