Should I Be Concerned About Russell Wilson for Week 4? Fantasy Football Outlook

Fantasy football general managers who drafted Russell Wilson to be their QB1 must be wondering if they made a Nathaniel Hackett-like error in judgment.

The Denver Broncos arguably made the biggest trade this offseason when they sent multiple players and draft picks to the Seattle Seahawks for Wilson. He was supposed to jumpstart a mediocre Broncos passing game and elevate the fantasy values of underachieving receivers Courtland Sutton and Jerry Jeudy. But the offense looks no better with Wilson at the helm than it did with Drew Lock or Teddy Bridgewater under center.

Wilson has two touchdown tosses in three games and threw for less than 220 yards in his last two contests. It is not like he is passing for fewer yards because he has been scrambling more often. Wilson only has 22 rushing yards in three games. He used to be good for 20-30 rushing yards PER game. So should fantasy managers be concerned about Wilson heading into the fourth week of the NFL season? Here is my take:

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Should I Be Concerned About Russell Wilson for Week 4 Fantasy Football?

Wilson’s first two games were against his old Seattle teammates and the Houston Texans. Neither have defenses that would remind you of the 1985 Chicago Bears. Wilson did not post the above-average fantasy numbers you would have assumed he would in either game, so it is hard to be confident he will suddenly return to being the 40-TD passer he was in 2020, especially after the Sunday night debacle against San Francisco where Denver almost had more three-and-outs than the city has ski slopes.

If there was ever a time for Wilson and the Broncos' passing attack to right the ship, it is this week. The 0-3 Las Vegas Raiders are in a must-win situation and at home, but their defense ranks 26^th against the pass and 21^st overall. Las Vegas has not held any quarterback under 265 yards passing yet and has not generated any pass rush whatsoever (two sacks). If Tennessee’s Ryan Tannehill can throw for 265 yards against the Raiders, Wilson should be able to as well.

I believe Wilson will throw for 250-275 passing yards and two touchdowns for fantasy managers in Week 4. The Raiders' defense is going to have problems pressuring him, and that should allow Wilson to make enough plays downfield to be a viable fantasy option. There should be a slight concern here considering what we have seen up to this point, but unless you have a quarterback on your fantasy roster you think could have a three-TD and/or 300-yard game, Wilson should be a solid choice to use in Week 4.

Fantasy Football Outlook

Wilson has gotten no help from any of his young pass catchers other than Sutton, who has flourished in the early going with 19 receptions for 291 yards. Jeudy has been banged-up and has not been getting open regularly when out there. Tight end Albert Okwuegbunam, who was a breakout candidate, has 45 yards in three weeks. There has been no sign that anybody on the roster is capable yet of being a viable No. 3 WR. This muddled mess of a receiving corps has done Wilson no fantasy favors.

Hackett is supposedly an offensive genius. Wilson is one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL. You would think that Hackett needs time to adjust to being a head coach and Wilson needs time to adjust to a new system, coaching staff, and teammates. You would also hope that Jeudy and Okwuegbunam start living up to their potential and contributing as top targets on the team.

Will Wilson quickly rebound and toss 35-40 touchdown passes this year? Probably not. The slow start and lack of explosive receivers will prevent it. Will Wilson be able to finish with 30 touchdown passes and 4,000 yards? That is likely and still makes him a fantasy force by year’s end.

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