Fantasy Football: Need help for the flex spot in Week 4? Joel Smyth has you covered

We're on to Week 4 of the fantasy season! As we look for every advantage this season, the X-factor position is the FLEX. To break it all down, analyst Joel Smyth goes through eight players in the consensus rankings flex zone for your flexes, double flexes or even third WR slots.

Set & ForgetJosh Downs vs. WAS

So far this season, when Alec Pierce is off the field, Downs has been targeted on 32% of 66 routes. Washington has been poor against wideouts, to say the least. To put things in perspective, the Cardinals have allowed 34 fantasy PPG to WRs, which ranks 31st among defenses.

The Commanders have allowed 39 per game.

Surprisingly, Washington's run defense has improved this season, forcing offenses into heavy passing volume in the first few weeks. The Colts are going to stay run-focused, but when they do throw, it's going to Downs.

Bhayshul Tuten vs. CIN

The trust in Tuten is growing and the numbers are looking great. This offense is built around the outside run game, where Tuten ranks first among RBs in outside (D Gap) runs, although he's 16th in total carries. That should benefit him against a Cincinnati defense that is overwhelmingly improved after trading the 10th overall pick for DT Dexter Lawrence. The goal-line trends all benefit the Jaguars running back, while a potential receiving uptick could bring him to another level.

After what we've seen in the last three games, Tuten has a shot to be a great fantasy RB2 the rest of the way.

all summer, Liam Coen talked about success rate and creating yards after contact at the RB spot

despite seeing the worst yards before contact per att (0.5) in the league

Bhayshul Tuten through three games:
2nd in success rate
3rd in missed tackles forced per attempt
3rd in the... pic.twitter.com/9cqwSNcgEb

- Josh Norris (@JoshNorris) September 30, 2026

Flex StartsMichael Wilson vs. NYG

Last season, after averaging 25 receiving yards per game, Wilson suddenly had 18 targets, 15 receptions and 185 receiving yards versus the San Francisco 49ers. Crazy fluke game!

Until it wasn't.

The very next week, with way too many people adding him but not starting him, Wilson had 15 targets, 10 receptions and 118 yards. I don't want that mistake to happen again after a 17-target day versus, coincidentally, the 49ers. He is now fourth in targets behind Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Amon-Ra St. Brown and Chris Olave - AKA, the top-three players in receiving fantasy points. Wilson is the WR5 since that Week 11 breakout last year, and not enough has changed since that point to make me sit him here.

Braelon Allen vs. CHI

The first backup RB to command heavy waiver attention this season is Braelon Allen, coming to save your roster. I believe Isaiah Davis will get his fair share of work here, but he's had 0% of the RB touches this season, with Allen handling 27%. Allen has two things going for him: one, the Jets offense in 2026 doesn't look like it did in 2025 or before, ranking 16th in scoring offense and 16th in RB fantasy points in the first month. Two, Chicago's run defense has been sub-par, allowing the fourth-most yards per carry. Allen can sub into the starting lineup immediately.

Double-Flex StartsJameson Williams vs. CAR

It's been a slow start, to say the least. After looking into Williams in depth this week, I was surprised how little has changed since last season. Sam LaPorta's presence is felt, but William is still top-10 in routes, a near-identical role, and it's still the same offensive core in Detroit.

A lot of the little things have added up to make the very boom-bust receiver just a bust receiver: a reception that ended less than a yard away from the end zone, a big drop on a potential 50+ yard catch and more. The Panthers give Williams a great shot of bouncing back with their top-two corners, Jaycee Horn and Mike Jackson, placed on IR ahead of Sunday Night Football.

Jacory Croskey-Merritt vs. IND

Indianapolis has struggled against the ground game early and looks to be Croskey-Merritt's easiest matchup yet. The volume has been solid, definitely enough for a second flex position, and his scoring would've looked much better if his 50-yard TD in Week 3 wasn't called back due to an illegal shift. It's a risk with the lack of receiving he provides, yet just good enough to slide into starting lineups in deeper leagues.

Booby TrapsEmeka Egbuka vs. GB

Sadly, Egbuka looks to be continuing his production from the second half of the 2025 season rather than the first half. With Baker Mayfield out Sunday, Tampa Bay will turn to undrafted rookie quarterback Jalon Daniels to step up to the plate. In college, Daniels only averaged 6.8 yards per dropback, which would only be middle of the road if he replicated the same numbers versus NFL defenses. Plus, I wouldn't expect many dropbacks in the first place. It's going to take a lot for Egbuka to be what he was at the beginning of the season, which was already a middle-of-the-road flex play.

Emeka Egbuka has scored 12+ PPR points in one of his last 15 games. pic.twitter.com/2QolZ1txYY

- Ian Hartitz (@Ihartitz) September 30, 2026

Ollie Gordon II vs. MIN

The Vikings defense has been dominant to start the season under Brian Flores, ranking second in first downs allowed per game with 15. Meanwhile, the Dolphins offense averages 15 first downs per game themselves, ranking 30th. So, the Vikings have made their opponents (GB, CHI, TB) look like the Dolphins offense. What will they make the Dolphins offense look like?

It's scary, to say the least, and Gordon may be splitting work with Jaylen Wright if he returns to play on Sunday.