Week 4 Waiver Wire (and Wednesday Wake Up Early)
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Week 4 Waiver Wire
Below are the players I'm considering adding to my rosters before week 4 kicks off. All of these players are near or below 50% rostered in Yahoo leagues and therefore likely to be available in most leagues.
Important note: I'm typically pretty frugal with my waiver priority and FAAB, usually only spending on a player that can win me the week. In other words, if they're just "depth" adds and nice-to-haves that might not even see my lineup, then I'd rather wake up early on Wednesday morning and add them for "free" instead of using a waiver claim for them.
Pro Tip: It's a little extra effort, but I have a recurring Wednesday morning "appointment" (reminder) on my calendar with a link to a Google Doc. Inside that google doc are the links to alllllll 20+ of my leagues followed by a bulleted list of who I plan to add/drop in each one. This helps me keep track without spending waiver priority for convenience, a short-sighted move.
Quarterback
There aren't any QBs I would use waiver priority on, but here is who I am looking to add in leagues where I'm streaming QBs:
Jared Goff (45% rostered) - Jared Goff is averaging 18.47 fantasy points per game and in week 4, his Lions are expected to score a healthy 27.75 points in a 5.5 point home win over the Seahawks.
Marcus Mariota (22% rostered) - Marcus Mariota is averaging 17.6 fantasy points per game and in week 4, his Falcons are expected to score a solid 24 points in a possible shootout with the Browns (the 49.5 point over/under is surprisingly high).
Jacoby Brissett (4% rostered) - Jacoby Brissett is averaging 14.75 fantasy points per game and in week 4, his Browns are expected to score a healthy 25.5 points in a possible shootout with the Falcons (the 49.5 point over/under is surprisingly high).
Running Back
There are two running backs I'd use my waiver priority on if available this week:
Jamaal Williams (61% rostered) - Stepping in for an injured D'Andre Swift, Jamaal Williams rattled off 22 touches—including 2 targets/catches—for 107 yards and TWO TDs (24.7 PPR points). On Monday, Lions coach Dan Campbell implied that Swift may be held out until week 7, leaving those at the top of the waiver wire mountain with a 20+ touch rental for a few weeks.
Khalil Herbert (49% rostered) - Stepping in for an injured David Montgomery, Khalil Herbert exploded for a slate-busting 22 touches—including 2 targets/catches—for 169 yards and TWO TDs (30.9 PPR points). I'm on the fence about using waiver priority on Khalil Herbert (told you I'm frugal) because there's very little information regarding David Montgomery's week 4 availability (on Monday, Bears coach called Montgomery "day-to-day"). If he plays, Herbert would likely return to his place in line behind Montgomery (albeit possibly with more work after Sunday's explosion), which isn't something I'd like to use priority on. Then again, if Montgomery sits, Herbert clearly has week-winning upside.
There's several other RBs that I wouldn't use priority on but they're on my "wake early Wednesday" list:
Alexander Mattison (55% rostered) - Sounds like Dalvin Cook will play in week 4, but week 3 was a reminder of the oft-injured Cook's long history of nagging injuries that could instantly put Alexander Mattison into week-winning territory. If you have bench space, Mattison is among the best stashes in fantasy football.
Samaje Perine (6% rostered) - Sounds like Joe Mixon will be good to go for Thursday Night Football. Just in case he's not, Samaje Perine is next man up in Cincinnati.
Brian Robinson (52% rostered) - Brian Robinson can return to the field as soon as week 5. Prior to getting shot—what a weird way to start a fantasy football sentence—Robinson was rapidly taking Antonio Gibson's job and looked like the RB1 headed towards week 1. It's possible Gibson did enough in the last few weeks to reclaim his job, but Robinson should be rostered as an intriguing upside stash.
Wide Receiver
There is 1 wide receiver I'd use my waiver priority on this week if available:
Chris Olave (65% rostered): Over the last two games, Chris Olave has a whopping 26(!) targets for14 catches and 227 scoreless yards (36.7 PPR points). Officially the Saints' target leader (by a lot), Olave is a prime positive TD regression candidate with no scores despite 268 receiving yards.
There are several other receivers I wouldn't use priority on, but they're on my "wake early Wednesday" list:
Zay Jones (11% rostered) - Zay Jones broke out for 11 targets, 10 catches, 85 yards and 1 TD (24.5 PPR points) in week 4. It was his second performance in three games where he had 9 or more targets. As 6.5 point underdogs, the Jaguars will likely have to chase points when trying to catch up to the Eagles on Sunday, likely elevating the passing volume and opportunities for WRs.
Romeo Doubs (26% rostered) - the preseason hype train, Romeo Doubs, gained some steam in week 3, earning 8 targets and catching them all for 73 yards and 1 TD (21.3 PPR points). There's certainly room for someone to emerge as Aaron Rodgers' WR 1, and Doubs has a good chance to grow in that offense.
Russell Gage (42% rostered) - it would be easy to think Russell Gage is a priority add after Sunday's 13 target, 12 catch, 87 yard and 1 TD (26.7 PPR points) performance. That said, add the context of Tom Brady not having Mike Evans or Julio Jones—both of which will be back in week 4—or Chris Godwin and Gage's performance feels by default. Still, he capitalized on the opportunity and could have earned Brady's trust in the slot between Evans and Julio in a possible week 4 shootout with the Chiefs.
Greg Dortch (17% rostered) - Every week I put "Greg Dortch" in quotes and every week he shows me I should take him seriously. After 3 games, he's averaging 7.67 targets, 6.67 catches, 66 yards and has 1 TD (15.27 PPR points per game).
Isaiah McKenzie (42% rostered) - Mikey Henninger's personal hype train, Isaiah McKenzie, came alive in week 3 with 9 targets, 7 catches, 76 yards and 1 TD (20.6 PPR points). He played 51% of the snaps—a season high—and now gets the Ravens in a shootout, a defense that two weeks ago allowed two forty point games (Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle) before letting DeVante Parker post 156 yards in week 3.
DeVante Parker (25% rostered) - DeVante Parker finally came alive in week 3 with 10 targets, 5 catches and 156 scoreless yards (20.6 PPR points). That said, he did so without Jakobi Meyers (9.5 targets per game) in the lineup, AND now lost his starting QB in Mac Jones. I'm not optimistic week 3 is a sign of things to come.
Mack Hollins (2% rostered) - it's pretty disgusting, but Mack Hollins has now strung together back-to-back strong performances, racking up 18 targets, 13 catches, 224 yards and 1 TD (41.4 PPR points) over the last 2 weeks. Keep in mind, Hunter Renfrow has been out with a concussion and his pending return would likely pop the Mack Hollins' balloon, but he's someone to at least have on your radar, especially in deeper leagues.
Tight End
There are not any tight ends I'd use a waiver claim on. But there are several potential streamers on the "wake early Wednesday" radar
- David Njoku (51% rostered) - David Njoku balled out on Thursday night, catching 9 of 10 targets for 89 yards and 1 TD (23.9 PPR points). In week 4 he gets a possible shootout—seriously; Browns at Falcons has a shockingly high 49.5 point over/under—with a Falcons defense allowing 6.3 catches and 73.7 yards per game to TEs.
- Tyler Conklin (21% rostered) - It'll feel gross, but Tyler Conklin is averaging a more-than-useful 8 targets, 6 catches and 46 yards per game with 1 TD in three contests (12.6 PPR points per game). At fantasy football's weakest position, that's worth something.
Team Defenses
Here are the defenses I'd be looking to stream in week 2:
Green Bay Packers (68% rostered): With Brian Hoyer expected to start week 4 in place of the injured Mac Jones, the New England Patriots are expected to score just 14.75 points—easily the lowest on the 32 team slate—in a 10.5 point road loss to the Green Bay Packers. The Pack is my top streaming defense in week 4 and a recommend "wake up Wednesday" addition.
New York Giants (11% rostered): The New York Giants are expected to hold the Chicago Bears to just 18.25 points—the 2nd fewest on the 32 team slate—in a 3 point home win.
Pittsburgh Steelers (57% rostered): The Pittsburgh Steelers are expected to hold the New York Jets to just 19 points in a 3.5 point home win. They'll look to tee off on a rusty Zach Wilson in his first start of the season.
Indianapolis Colts (35% rostered): The Indianapolis Colts are expected to hold the Tennessee Titans to just 19.5 points in a 3.5 point home win.