Fantasy Football Target Trends for Week 4 (Fantasy Football)
Welcome to the Target Trends article for Week 4! We now have three weeks of target data to sort through, and while I feel more comfortable once we finish Week 4, the key thing to remember is that we have more information than last week. Let’s start, as usual, by looking at the season-long target leaders so far.
- Chris Olave and Jaxon Smith-Njigba are tied for the league lead with 36 targets apiece. Amon-Ra St. Brown, the previous leader, fell to third place after seeing just five targets in Week 3.
- Trey McBride continues to lead all TEs with 34 targets, and he is pulling away from the field. Dalton Schultz is second at the position with 25 targets, followed by Isaiah Likely with 23.
- Jahmyr Gibbs leads RBs with 21 targets, overtaking Kenneth Walker with his 18 targets. Christian McCaffrey isn’t far behind with 17.
I’ll continue to lead off this article with season-long target leaders, and now let’s check out this week’s target trends heading into Week 4.
Michael Wilson – 17 targets, 11 rec
Wilson’s 17 targets are the highest game total so far this season, but surprisingly not a new career-high for the fourth-year WR. He saw 18 targets back in Week 11 last season, and has now seen double-digit targets in six of his last 11 games dating back to last season.
Carolina Panthers TEs – 15 targets, 11 rec
It was a record-setting week for TEs.
There were 20 TD catches by tight ends today for the most in any day in NFL history.
— Josh Dubow (@JoshDubowAP) September 28, 2026
The Carolina TEs didn’t find the end zone, but the combination of Darren Waller (8), Tommy Tremble (4), and Mitchell Evans (3) accounted for a 31% target share. Meanwhile, Tetairoa McMillan saw just five targets, despite fellow WR Jalen Coker’s early exit due to a quad injury.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba – 14 targets, 10 rec
JSN was under a 40% target share for the first time this season in Week 3. His 31% share dropped his season-long rate to 37.9%. He is obviously started in every fantasy league, but his absurd target domination deserves a callout.
Davante Adams – 13 targets, 7 rec
Tyler Higbee – 11 targets, 8 rec
It is not surprising to see Adams posting double-digit targets for a second consecutive week in the absence of Puka Nacua. It was supposed to be Terrance Ferguson earning extra targets at TE, but after suffering an ankle injury, it was Higbee that stepped up instead. It’s also worth noting that Konata Mumpfield surprised with eight targets on Sunday night, though he will likely lose any fantasy appeal once Puka returns.
IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Brock Bowers – 13 targets, 10 rec
It did not take long for Bowers to remind the fantasy football world how dominant he can be when healthy. The 13 targets to him in his season debut accounted for a 43.3% target share. It was the tenth time in 30 career games that he has earned double-digit targets.
Garrett Wilson – 13 targets, 10 rec
Wilson’s 13 targets in Week 3 nearly matched the 14 total he had seen over the first two games. He has been a target hog since entering the league, and it was amplified by Adonai Mitchell, Omar Cooper Jr., and Mason Taylor all being sidelined. Rookie TE Kenyon Sadiq also benefitted with eight targets, topping the six that he combined for over the first two games.
Matthew Golden – 12 targets, 5 rec
Golden is up to 30 targets through three games, one ahead of Christian Watson for the team lead in Green Bay. As a rookie last season, he didn’t reach the 30-target mark until Week 11. There is no reason to believe he and Watson won’t battle for the team target lead all season.
IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Luther Burden III – 11 targets, 7 rec
Burden finally had the kind of game fantasy managers drafted him for; it just took Case Keenum at QB. The second-year WR accounted for a 32% target share on Monday night and is up to 25% on the season. It will be a few weeks before Caleb Williams is back at QB, but it appears Burden can be just fine for fantasy without him.
George Pickens – 11 targets, 7 rec
Pickens started relatively slow with just six targets in Week 1, but has now seen his target total increase in three consecutive weeks. He still hasn’t found the end zone, but his 24.8% target share in the Dallas offense is encouraging. He makes for an interesting buy-low target heading into Week 4.
Josh Downs – 11 targets, 5 rec
Downs is another player who has seen his total targets increase in each of the first three weeks. His 11 targets in Week 3 are more than he saw in any game last season, though he had five double-digit target games over his first two seasons. It’s also worth noting that Tyler Warren (10) and Keenan Allen (9) were not far behind Downs, while Alec Pierce will be on IR for at least three more games.
Wan’Dale Robinson – 11 targets, 7 rec
Carnell Tate – 9 targets, 6 rec
Robinson and Tate each had their best target totals and fantasy performances of the young season in Week 3. Robinson scored more points, primarily thanks to his first TD catch of the season. Tate is yet to find the end zone, but it’s encouraging to see the rookie WR getting involved in the offense.
IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Malik Washington – 10 targets, 5 rec
Rookie Caleb Douglas missed Week 3, leading to the first double-digit target game of Washington’s career. Miami may not have much going on offense, especially with the loss of De’Von Achane, but Washington’s volume seems secure. It may actually increase without Achane, not just in the passing game, but possibly in manufactured touches out of the backfield.
Jordan Addison – 9 targets, 5 rec
Addison’s nine targets may not jump off the screen, but they become more important in the absence of Justin Jefferson, who exited early in the Week 3 game due to an ankle injury. Jefferson’s status for Week 4 is up in the air as of this writing, but if he misses, Addison will be in the must-start discussion.
KC Concepcion Jr. – 9 targets, 2 rec
Concepcion is another rookie whose target count has increased in each game of the season so far. He leads the Browns with 20 targets through three games. Unfortunately, it hasn’t yielded any usable fantasy performances yet. However, that kind of involvement should eventually turn into improved fantasy production.
Mack Hollins – 9 targets, 6 rec
Romeo Doubs – 4 targets, 3 rec
This offseason, New England signed Doubs to a four-year, $68 million contract before making the blockbuster trade for A.J. Brown. Meanwhile, Hollins, who is in the final season of a two-year, $8.4 million contract, leads the team with 16 targets after three weeks. With injuries piling up and bye weeks looming, Hollins may find his way into fantasy lineups soon for desperate managers.
![Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Jakobi Meyers (3) hauls in a reception against New England Patriots cornerback Charles Woods (22) during the fourth quarter of an NFL football matchup at EverBank Stadium on Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026, in Jacksonville, Fla. The Jaguars defeated the Patriots 35-6. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]](https://s26212.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/26jackobimyerswk3-1024x532.jpg)
IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Brian Thomas Jr. – 1 target, 1 rec
Parker Washington is clearly the WR1 in Jacksonville, but you probably know that by now. Thomas is second on the team in total targets so far with 13, but is trending in the wrong direction after seeing the ball just once in Week 3. Meanwhile, Meyers logged a new season high with eight and found the end zone for the second time in three games.
RJ Harvey – 7 targets, 6 rec
Denver’s backfield consists of an injury-riddled three-headed monster, which is not exactly ideal for fantasy football. After missing Week 2, Harvey saw a healthy 23% target share on a career-high seven targets. That kind of work in the passing game gives him a leg up in fantasy lineups, especially in any kind of PPR scoring format.
Dalton Kincaid – 3 targets, 2 rec
After a red-hot start to the season, Kincaid fell flat in Week 3. His three targets accounted for just a 12% target share, compared to the 25% he averaged over the first two games. He remains a must-start TE, but his Week 3 performance serves as a reminder of how volatile the position is for fantasy football.
Kyle Pitts – 2 targets, 1 rec
Pitts, on the other hand, has been disappointingly consistent through three weeks. He has yet to top three targets in a game and has a meager 8% target share. Even with Michael Penix Jr. giving Atlanta’s offense life, Pitts has been unplayable for fantasy football.