Week 4 Waiver Wire

Welcome to week 4! Now we enter the part of the season where injuries are starting to take their toll, and shaping our rosters and decisions for the next several weeks. Week 3 was brutal for most, with significant injuries across the board, including those to Ceedee Lamb and James Connor. Additionally, we found out that the Bengals might not be okay with Jake Browning at QB, and decisions might need to be made, especially if you're sitting at the bottom of your fantasy league.

My approach to waivers and the waiver wire will be slightly different. I participate in some leagues with FAAB, and unfortunately, some leagues have a priority order. That said, every league is different, and I'll do my best to focus on a 12-team, full PPR, Flex-9 format. For those who don't know, a 1QB, 2RB, 2WR, 1TE, 1FLEX roster buildout would be the standard.

That said, given that this is the first article, it will be based on a highly competitive 12-team league that is in its 11th year. The majority of players get drafted, and the waivers tend to be an absolute graveyard. However, I will write up some players who may be available in smaller leagues or those with shorter benches, just to provide a take or content on the player. I'll never give an amount to bid for FAAB, as there is way too much variability, context, roster construction, injuries, etc., to take into account for me to provide that level of analysis.

Ultimately, I will always cover players that I feel we can all move on from and cut ties with. So, let's get ready for the week 4 waiver wire!

Quarterback (not in priority order)

The players listed below are in no particular order and represent the QB options available in my competitive league. I want to provide insight into what may be available in more competitive leagues. Obviously, if there are better options available, you should prioritize those pickups instead.

1. Matthew Stafford - Top 10 in several important categories, including YPA, red zone attempts, and explosive rating, according to Player Profiler. Great supporting cast. Sneaky good matchup.
2. Trevor Lawrence - Trevor looks broken, but ranks 5th in pass attempts and 4th in red zone attempts. I dislike the matchup, traveling to the West Coast to face San Francisco, but it's hard to discount the talent around him.
3. Michael Penix, Jr. - No thanks. He looks bad in 2 straight starts. Until we see something different, you cannot stream him.
4. Tua Tagovailoa - Tua faces the Jets, who are meh. You could do worse, but would prefer Stafford.
5. Cam Ward - Houston defense is no joke. Stay away.
6. Jake Browning - Denver defense doesn't look as good, but it's impossible to trust after BRUTAL week 3.
7. Geno Smith - Love targeting the Bears defense, who are starting dudes off the couch. Geno has a great deep ball and ranks top 10 in most offensive categories, including pass attempts, air yards, and YPA.
8. Bryce Young - Patriots don't present an awful matchup, but it's still hard to trust Bryce Young, especially if Geno and/or Stafford are available.
9. Sam Darnold - Darnold is settling into this offense, but it will always be a run-first approach. Does ranks 3rd in YPA and has elite chemistry with JSN. You could do worse.
10. Jaxson Dart - Cannot trust the rookie, against a great defense, in his first start.

Who I'm Targeting for Streaming

Matthew Stafford, Geno Smith, or Sam Darnold are my three options that I plan to stream, especially if I'm the Burrow owner and have no other options at quarterback.

Running Back (not in priority order)

The players below are in no particular order. RB is a wasteland in my competitive league, and it's truly disgusting. Obviously, if Tre Benson, Cam, JCM, or other better options who have benefited from available injuries - prioritize them in waivers immediately!

1. Devin Singletary - Likely won't have much of a role – Cam looks real good, but given how he runs, Singletary is an injury or concussion away from being a volume-only play.
2. Kyle Monangai - He shows flashes, but he's only played 27.8% of total snaps, of which 66.7% of them came in garbage time. He's a stash until we see more, or handcuffed only at this point.
3. Jerome Ford - This backfield, behind Judkins, is a disaster. I guess he catches passes, but so does Sampson. I would avoid this backfield, aside from Judkins, at all costs.
4. Rico Dowdle - His workload is increasing, he's 50% of goal-line touches, and they targeted him in the offseason. He's a high-end handcuff, as he is coming off a 1,000-yard rushing season last year. I would recommend stashing.
5. Emari Demarcado - Despite the injury, we know what Emari is at this point. I believe this is Tre's backfield, who does possess a 3-down skillset. Tre out snapped 21 to 7 post Connor injury. Emari is likely 3rd down back (at best).
6. Chris Rodriguez, Jr. - This backfield is a mess post-Ekeler injury. However, they are a good offense, so I would take a shot with Rodriguez to stash and see how this plays out. He played 37% of the snaps and got 40% of the goal-line work. It's gross, but if you're desperate ...
7. Jeremy McNichols - See above, except if you're just looking at points, McNichols' performance will be overinflated. He took a house call for a TD and only played 15 snaps. He's the two-minute guy, nothing more, nothing less.
8. Kendre Miller - Simply cannot be trusted. He's a handcuff at best. Currently getting 19% of snaps, all of which are coming in garbage team. Plus, this is a BAD team.
9. Antonio Gibson - Hard to trust him. He got play in week 3 because of fumbling, and then fumbled his way out of that play. This is Henderson's backfield long-term, so Gibson is a stay away.
10. Blake Corum - High-end handcuff. He looks great, is efficient, is moving the chains (57.1% of runs are gaining first downs), and gaining 10+ yards on 35% of his runs; but this is Kyren's backfield until there is an injury. But Corum has shown he has high upside if that happens.

Who I Would Target

Rico Dowdle, Blake Corum, Kyle Monangai, and Chris Rodriguez are the backs that I would look to stash on my bench. All 4 of them are nothing more than handcuffs at this point in the season.

Wide Receiver (not in priority order)

The players below are in no particular order. There are some intriguing options that are available on the waiver wire to provide some relief from some of the injuries that have impacted the wide receiver position (fill-ins for Mike Evans, Ceedee Lamb).

1. Tre Tucker - He's running every route. Geno has a great deep ball. He will be expensive, but he's also hard to trust. 20% target share, and 19% first read percentage. You can do worse, but I think he is the 4th option in this offense - so inconsistency is expected.
2. Romeo Doubs - Tough game. He's running the most routes and playing the most snaps. The Packers are looking to spread the ball around - only a 15% target share. It's tough to trust anybody other than Jacobs and Kraft in this offense.
3. Dontayvion Wicks - See above, but does carry a 20% first read percentage. Only playing 57% of the snaps. At best, he's the 4th or 5th option in an offense that loves to spread the ball around.
4. Calvin Austin - Solidified as WR2 in this offense. But this offense is bad. In plus matchups, he's a dart throw. Against Minnesota - he's impossible to trust.
5. Sterling Sheppard - A solid fill-in for Mike Evans, especially if Godwin does not play. Tough matchup against Philly, but Baker will sling it. 67% snap rate, 91% 3WR sets with 17% target share. He should play in PPR formats.
6. Jalen Tolbert - Tolbert is the better possession receiver, and will likely be the #2 behind Pickens - but he'll be the 4th option behind Ferguson, Pickens, and the RBs. Hard to trust until we see the product in the field.
7. Hunter Renfrow - In PPR, he has a decent floor. New England is hurting in the secondary, so he should have a decent week. I'd take a flyer if you're desperate or looking for a floor play, but I wouldn't unload a lot of FAAB. He does have an 18% target share and an 18% first-read percentage. JT Sanders will likely miss this game, too.
8. KaVontae Turpin - Deep ball threat. A lesser version of Tre Tucker, playing 40% of the snaps. He's behind Tolbert and is more of a gadget player. Wait and see how it plays out on the field before acting on this WR room.
9. Tory Horton - Player I am most excited about. I have so many shares in Best Ball. Horton was elite in college, fell due to injury, and solidified as the #3, and looks explosive. If you have the bench spots, he is a stash who I believe will provide value late in the season.
10. Luther Burden - Burden is a deep league stash. If you have the bench space, I'd take the chance. Snaps will increase with the season. I felt before the season that Rome was WR1, and I felt Burden could challenge DJ Moore as WR2. Moore looks like an afterthought in this offense - so long-term upside is there for Burden.
11. Parker Washington - Dyami Brown may miss this game. Washington has shown flashes. Hard to predict what Travis Hunter is right now - so I'd stay away, but he could have a potential PPR floor as Jacksonville may have to throw a lot against the Niners, but I wouldn't prioritize.
12. Kendrick Bourne - Bourne is still getting settled, and if Jennings misses another week, it could be a sneaky start if desperate. If Jennings plays, it's impossible to trust.
13. Jalen Coker - I would add and stash Coker, especially if you have an IR slot. Get a week ahead of his return, as Legette looks cooked. He should be a great compliment to Tet when he returns.

Who I Would Target

Jalen Coker, Romeo Doubs, Tory Horton, and Luther Burden are the players I am targeting the most. If you can get Tre Tucker on the cheap, I suppose he would be there too, but I think he'll go for a high FAAB, and I'm just not interested in that.

Tight End (not in priority order)

The players below are in no particular order. Tight End is skinny in my league, so based on that, waivers would be tough. However, I've seen Ferguson, Kinkaid, Ertz, and even Mark Andrews available at high percentages, so if ANY of those players are available, they are the TOP priorities of the week. Otherwise, let's dive into the dumpster

1. Chig Okonkwo - He's the best of the worst. You could do worse as a bye-week fill-in, and he does have potential upside. He flashed last year, playing 75% of the snaps and having an 18% target share. This offense is GROSS though, but they'll continue to have to throw ... A LOT.
2. Dalton Schultz - Schultz is the #2 in this offense (for now), as Kirk's return could eat into that. He's right around 4-6 targets per game, but this offense is stuck in the mud. If you're desperate for a fill-in, I guess, but there's no upside here.
3. Brenton Strange - The Jags look brutal. But Strange may be the best fantasy asset. Coming off his best game, he's playing 85% of the snaps and is the clear TE1. He would be a top streaming option for me moving through the season.
4. Evan Engram - Until Engram is healthy, if he's ever healthy, you cannot trust him. Even when he returns, we need to see it for a couple of games. Stay away until further notice.
5. Mason Taylor - Long-term upside is there, but this will be a roller coaster, trusting anything other than Wilson and Hall in this offense. Continue to monitor the situation until we see further developments.
6. Cade Otton - Sneaky high upside, especially if Mike Evans and Chris Godwin are out. Otton was elite in games last year when those two missed time. He's running every route; he just wasn't involved last week. I expect better results, and it could be a great fill-in with Evans missing time.
7. Orande Gadsden - I'd be cautious here, as he's in a 3-TE timeshare. He's only playing 27% of the snaps and is not a strong blocking tight end. Additionally, he's the fifth receiving option on this team, but is extremely athletic, so he's worth monitoring over the next couple of weeks.
8. JT Sanders - He's currently hurt, with a high-ankle sprain, so he will likely miss a couple of weeks. It's unfortunate, as he was looking sharp in this offense. Long-term, if he returns and still performs well, he could have the potential to produce in this offense.

Who I Would Target

Chig, Strange, and Otton are the three I am looking for if I need bye week help, injury fill-ins, or streaming options. Mason Taylor is somebody I'd look to monitor long-term as the season develops.

Wrap-Up

Best of luck as we move into Week 4. It's hard to believe that this season is flying by, but I feel like this happens every year. Looking forward to continuing to provide content for the remainder of the year!

Cheers!