Week 4 Flex Rankings for Fantasy Football

Last week I wrote up Rashid Shaheed as a player that fantasy managers should start. He proceeded to go without a catch for the second time in his last 26 games. But here’s the thing. He could have easily caught one, maybe two touchdowns. The Saints also gave him a carry inside the red zone and targeted Shaheed on 20 percent of throws. I do not tell you any of this to justify a pick that fell short. I get stuff wrong constantly, oftentimes comically so. But fantasy football is a game of probabilities. The same can be said for weekly Flex rankings.  

For example, I have Travis Kelce as my top tight end this week. Kelce enters Week 4 as the overall TE24 so far this year. He has scored a total of 11 fantasy points (Half-PPR) through three weeks. Based on his year-to-date production, there is no way I should have him ranked as the overall TE1. But would it shock anyone if he broke out in a game against the Chargers, who have already allowed 18 catches (tied for third-most in the NFL) to opposing tight ends? Especially when they will be missing standout safety Derwin James for this game?

Besides, the tight end position is where consistent fantasy production has gone to die so far this year. Here is a list of the top 15 tight ends in YTD fantasy points. In one column, you will see that tight end’s most productive fantasy game. The other column will show a total of that tight end’s fantasy points in the other two weeks combined. Please note that George Kittle and Jake Ferguson have only played two games so far this season.

I am not sure what is more gross – the lack of tight end scoring or the lack of consistency. Pat Freiermuth is the overall TE13, and he has not scored six fantasy games in any of his three games played. In his defense, at least he has been consistently mediocre. Zach Ertz is the only other top-15 tight end whose best game accounts for less than 49 percent of his total fantasy points. Nine of the 15 have scored at least 62 percent of their total fantasy points in one game. Remember Opening Night when we thought it was Isaiah Likely SZN? In the last two games, Likely has scored a total of 4.5 points and been targeted four times. He is the TE38 in that span. And yet he is still the overall TE4. 

So how does this impact Week 4 Flex rankings? As I mentioned, our game is one of likelihoods (no pun intended) and probabilities. If you want to flex (also no pun intended) about benching Kelce, CeeDee Lamb, or Breece Hall when they have a bad week, do not be surprised when the worm turns. That is why I will, for the most part, always have players of that caliber towards the top of my weekly Flex rankings. I hope that makes sense. 

Below are my current Flex rankings for Week 4. As always, these are based on Half-PPR scoring. If you wish to view a more customizable set of rankings, you can do so here. That is also where I will update these rankings on Sunday morning.

Check out all of our Week 4 Rankings: QB | RB | WR | TE | Flex

Week 4 Flex Rankings

Make sure to check out all of our Week 4 Fantasy Football Rankings and Analysis!