Week 4 has arrived, and our fantasy football lineups are changing by the week! Surprise rookies, underperforming veterans, and multiple running backs on the same team scoring four touchdowns in a week have the rankings and totals from this season all over the place.
With so many players producing and a few that aren’t giving you the points you need yet, we take a look at a few options for your Flex position this weekend. Who should you be considering to give your lineup an extra boost this weekend? Let’s dig in and find out!
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Who Should I Put in My Fantasy Flex Spot?
Below are a few great options for your Flex position in any of your fantasy leagues. If you have any of these players on your roster, they are a great start for Week 4.
Tank Dell, WR, Houston Texans
It is possible that just three games into his young career, Houston Texans rookie wide receiver Tank Dell is someone you have in a starting WR slot already. But if your squad has a few reliable veterans you already have slotted in at WR, Dell is one of the best options for your Flex in Week 4.
Dell is currently a top-10 fantasy scorer among wide receivers heading into the fourth week of the season. And the Texans take on the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday who have surrendered the fourth-most fantasy points to wide receivers through three weeks this year.
The rate that Dell and rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud are connecting this season makes this a safe start. Dell has had 21 targets already on the season, more than DeVonta Smith or Jordan Addison, who are both being ranked above Dell in most weekly wide receiver rankings.
Until Dell shows signs of slowing down, he needs to be in your starting lineup. Hopefully, your team already has two reliable wide receivers rostered, and Dell can be a nice addition to the Flex in Week 4.
DJ Chark Jr., WR, Carolina Panthers
Last week, the Carolina Panthers were without the first overall pick from the 2023 NFL Draft: quarterback Bryce Young. In his stead, veteran Andy Dalton started for the Panthers in Seattle.
Young is, once again, questionable to play this weekend, and there is a strong likelihood that Dalton will get the start again. If this is the case, wide receiver D.J. Chark Jr. has to be in consideration for your Flex spot.
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Chark and Dalton connected on only four passes in Week 3, but Chark was targeted 11 times. Chark was able to turn the four catches into 86 yards and a touchdown against the Seattle Seahawks.
Now, Carolina welcomes the Minnesota Vikings to town, who have surrendered the most fantasy points to opposing wide receivers this season. If Chark is going to be targeted in Week 4 as much as he was on Sunday, he is a fantastic option for your Flex spot.
Whether Chark can build this chemistry with Young this year is still to be seen. But if Dalton is starting on Sunday, you can be sure he will be looking Chark’s way. The wide receiver is a strong option for your lineups this weekend.
Khalil Herbert/Roschon Johnson, RBs, Chicago Bears
Unsurprisingly after the performances Miami Dolphins’ running backs Raheem Mostert and De’Von Achane had last week, the Denver Broncos have now surrendered the most fantasy points to opposing running backs in 2023.
And this weekend’s battle between the Broncos and Chicago Bears is set to be a slugfest — as in both teams will be slowly crawling down the field running the ball.
The Chicago Bears have been unable to effectively pass all year. Justin Fields looks lost, and the team has to start establishing something offensively. I expect a heavy dose of carries on Sunday for the team, ironically still referred to as the Monsters of the Midway. The best way for these benign “monsters” to get right is to run the ball.
What is hard is selecting between Khalil Herbert and rookie Roschon Johnson as the right back to put in our Flex. Last week, Johnson out-attempted Herbert (eight carries to seven) in a game where the Bears were down so early that the team didn’t run much. However, Herbert was in on 55% of the Bears snaps to Johnson’s 45%.
Seeing two different Dolphins running backs score four touchdowns a week ago against the Broncos, I think Herbert or Johnson could be a solid Flex option this week. I don’t expect 50 points from either of them like the Dolphins backs provided, but they have a good chance to get some solid numbers for your fantasy teams.
Jerome Ford, RB, Cleveland Browns
Since the Cleveland Browns lost Nick Chubb for the rest of the season due to injury, Jerome Ford has been a bright spot in their offense. Now the Baltimore Ravens are coming to town, and they have surrendered the thirteenth most fantasy points to running backs this season. I think that sets up Ford for another solid week.
Ford has scored over 18 fantasy points (0.5 PPR) in the last two weeks since Chubb’s injury. While the team did bring in Kareem Hunt to bulk up the running back room, Ford is the hot hand, and the team will want to keep him involved in the offense.
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Cleveland has worked to establish the run game all year, and I expect that to continue on Sunday. Expect Ford to be involved early and often in the Browns’ game plan. This also includes the passing game, where Ford has already tallied five catches for 58 yards and two touchdowns this year.
I believe Ford should be in your Flex slots this weekend in any league you are rostering him. You won’t find many better options for a Flex in the fantasy landscape.