Fantasy Football Buy Low Wide Receivers: WR Breakout Candidates for Week 4

Week 4 Buy-Low WRs in Summary

• DK Metcalf, Steelers
• Nico Collins, Texans
• Zay Flowers, Ravens

A slow start to the fantasy football season doesn’t always mean it’s time to panic.

In some cases, disappointing production can create an opportunity to acquire a talented player at a discount before his numbers rebound. That’s especially true at wide receiver, where targets, snaps, and overall usage can sometimes tell a more encouraging story than the box score.

With Week 4 approaching, here are some wide receivers worth targeting as buy-low candidates in fantasy football.

All fantasy football projections via our numbers at FanDuel Research, and NFL odds references are to FanDuel Sportsbook.

Wide Receivers to Buy Low in Fantasy Football

D.K. Metcalf, Steelers

D.K. Metcalf is probably my favorite pure buy-low, and this is his second straight week getting into this article.

His production has been ugly — 11 catches for 98 yards through three games — but he has still seen 24 targets. Through two weeks, he owned a 23.5% target share and 36.7% first-read share, so the role has been significantly better than the box scores indicate.

He finally scored a TD in Week 3, and I’m willing to buy into his volume with him being the clear top target for the Pittsburgh Steelers. In truth, with Metcalf having a tough TNF matchup this week at the Cleveland Browns, the best time to acquire him might be after this week.

Nico Collins, Texans

Nico Collins is more of an injury-discount buy. He caught 7 passes for 75 yards and a touchdown in Week 1 before a hamstring injury cost him Weeks 2 and 3.

The Houston Texans are hopeful he can return for Week 4, according to coach DeMeco Ryans. If Collins’ manager needs immediate lineup help and is nervous about the hamstring, there may be an opportunity to acquire a player whose value could rebound quickly once he’s healthy.

Whenever Collins returns, he should immediately become C.J. Stroud‘s clear number-one target, and he can produce elite numbers the rest of the way.

Zay Flowers, Ravens

Zay Flowers is putting up elite numbers, and his injury issues may be masking it a little.

Flowers missed Week 2 due to injury and was eased back into action in Week 3, playing just 33% of the Baltimore Ravens‘ offensive snaps. Despite that limited workload, he still caught 5 of 6 targets for 84 yards and added 20 rushing yards against the Dallas Cowboys.

In Week 1, Flowers went for six catches, 150 yards and a touchdown before exiting early.

So, we still haven’t seen a fully unleashed Flowers, but he’s been outstanding in limited action. He should be valued as locked-in WR1 who isn’t far off from the absolute top tier of WRs such as Ja'Marr Chase and Jaxon Smith-Njigba.

Fantasy Football Buy-Low Wide Receivers FAQ

What does buy low mean in fantasy football?

Buying low means trading for a player whose current perceived value is lower than what you expect his value to be going forward. A slow start, tough matchup, injury, or lack of touchdowns can sometimes create a buying opportunity.

What should you look for in a buy-low wide receiver?

Target volume, route participation, air yards, red-zone usage, and snap rate are all important. A receiver can be underperforming in fantasy while still seeing the type of usage that suggests better production is coming.

When is the best time to trade for a buy-low wide receiver?

The best opportunities often come after one or two disappointing games, especially if the player's role has remained strong. Fantasy managers can sometimes overreact to short-term results even when the underlying usage is encouraging.

Should you buy low on an injured wide receiver?

It can make sense if the injury is considered short-term and the player's price has dropped significantly. Before making a trade, consider the expected return timeline and whether you have enough depth to wait for him to get healthy.

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The above author is a FanDuel employee and is not eligible to compete in public daily fantasy contests or place sports betting wagers on FanDuel. The advice provided by the author does not necessarily represent the views of FanDuel. Taking the author's advice will not guarantee a successful outcome. You should use your own judgment when participating in daily fantasy contests or placing sports wagers.