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Pick ‘Em Up: Week 4 Waiver Wire

Week 4 Waiver Wire

We knew it was coming, but it still feels too soon. After Week 3, there is a good chance you are dealing with some injury issues. As you scroll through the Week 4 Waiver Wire, most of the appealing choices, especially at running back, are backups to some high-profile players. We run into the debate every year: How much FAAB or Priority do you blow on a guy that could be a one-week rental? It really depends on the player, and I’ll do my best to tell you how important they are in the article. So let’s dive into those murky waiver wire waters.

Quick Note: All players listed are available in around 50% of ESPN leagues. While not everyone plays on ESPN, studies show most do, so if they’re available there, they’re likely available on your platform. Pick ‘Em Up!

Week 4 Waiver Wire

Quarterbacks

Trevor Lawrence (50% Available)

There will rarely be more than a couple of QBs I’d advise claiming on waivers. I advocate streaming the position, and that is less fun if you’re blowing FAAB on a new QB weekly. That said, Lawrence is on a come-up, and if you don’t get him now, you won’t get him at all. He’s the QB10 in fantasy and has improved every week this season. That improvement culminated in a Week 3 upset against the Chargers, where Lawrence went for 262 yards and three TDs. He is just learning this offense and will get better as the season progresses.

Jared Goff (69% Available)

Goff is far more of a streaming option, but I prefer to give you two choices in case Lawrence is unavailable. Goff is the QB9 on the season but looked decidedly average against Minnesota in Week 3. That will forever be the risk you run with Goff, but his upside cannot be denied. With games against Seattle and New England before his Week 6 bye, he is a decent option for the next two weeks.

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Running Backs

Khalil Herbert (74% Available)

Yes, Herbert is worth your highest priority. Plain and simple. I would easily throw 30-50% FAAB and blow the #1 priority to get him. Even when David Montgomery returns, Herbert will have a role. He scored 11 fantasy points in Week 1 and another five in Week 2 while backing Montgomery up. Then, in Week 3, after Monty got hurt, Herbert went for 157 yards and two TDs. This offense sucks, so don’t expect that every week, but he is a running back that will likely see high volume over the next month, and those four wins are worth every penny.

Jamaal Williams (55% Available)

If you listen to our Monday show below, you’ll hear Josh Hudson and I argue over the longevity of Williams’ role. Josh doesn’t believe he’ll keep the vulture role once D’Andre Swift is healthy; I think he’s safe. That debate went out the window when the Lions speculated that Swift might sit for two weeks heading into their bye week. Williams will be the feature back in a surprisingly good offense, and you want him. While I would blow 1st priority to get him, I wouldn’t go more than 25% FAAB.

Alexander Mattison (62% Available)

Mattison is more injury insurance than anything else, but Dalvin Cook is dealing with another shoulder injury and could miss some time. As a starter, Mattison is a 50/50 prospect. Sometimes he pops, and sometimes he disappoints. If you already have Cook, he’s worth more, maybe 20% FAAB and any waiver priority. If you’re just playing keep away from the Cook manager, you can decide how much pettiness is worth to you.

J.D. McKissic (56% Available)

Do not ignore volume, especially not targets. After Week 1, McKissic took over the passing-down role and has seen 16 targets head his way over the last two weeks. He’s more of an RB3 or Flex, not worth more than 5% FAAB, but he should be on a roster.

If you missed our new Monday Hangxiety show, you missed a great time! Kyra, Josh, and Ryan gave their reactions to Sunday’s action to let you know whether you need to worry or Chill TF Out! We’ll be live every Monday at 11 AM EST. Check out last week’s episode now!

Wide Receivers

Zay Jones (91% Available)

As Trevor Lawrence improves, so will his weapons. Christian Kirk is the WR1 and playing great. That has overshadowed the fact that Zay Jones is the WR24 in fantasy right now. He has 24 targets over three weeks and needs to be rostered, especially for WR-needy teams, as he is a weekly WR2 option. If you don’t want to blow the 15-20% it will take to get him, consider Marvin Jones as well, who is averaging nine fantasy points per game thus far.

Romeo Doubs (83% Available)

Death, Taxes, Sammy Watkins to the IR. Yes, it’s cliche, but also true. Doubs stepped up in the first game without the Lizard King, going for 73 yards and a TD. This team needs a WR1, and Doubs had a great preseason. He is worth a 10-15% FAAB gamble.

Mack Hollins (99% Available)

Let me start by saying that nobody moving forward is worth more than 10% FAAB, and I wouldn’t blow a high waiver priority on any of them. Hollins had his best week with Hunter Renfrow sidelined, going for 158 yards and a TD, but do not ignore the fact that he was targeted eight times in Week 2, with Renfrow playing. He is the WR3 on an offense that will be passing plenty.

Richie James (97% Available)

James was quiet in Week 3 but still hit four catches on five targets. Now, Sterling Shepard is going to miss extended time. So James might be the WR1 in New York.

Isaiah McKenzie (85% Available)

It will be up-and-down for McKenzie every week, but you want a piece of Josh Allen. McKenzie was the WR10 in Week 3, and you usually don’t find that kind of upside on waivers.

K.J. Osborn (96% Available)

Osborn serves two purposes. He is a weekly Flex option with top-20 upside, shown by the fact that he was the WR15 last week. But, he is also injury insurance for Justin Jefferson and Adam Thielen. If either of them goes down, he moves safely to the WR2 range.

Noah Brown (87% Available)

Backup QBs love backup WRs. Brown is at 21 targets through three weeks and might win the permanent WR2 job if Michael Gallup doesn’t get healthy soon.

Greg Dortch (92% Available)

His value lies in others not playing, but Dortch’s role is safe for the foreseeable future. Through three weeks, with Rondale Moore sidelined, Dortch is the WR19 in fantasy. Now, AJ Green will miss some time, and DeAndre Hopkins isn’t back for three more games. So Dortch is a safe-ish WR3 for the next month.

Tight Ends

David Njoku (67% Available)

I treat TE waivers like QB waivers. I think you should stream and only blow FAAB if they are essential to their team. Njoku is the Browns WR2, so he fits the bill. In Week 3, Njoku lined up in the slot a lot and turned in a 9/89/1 effort on ten targets. That volume makes his worth an every-week gamble, as the Browns have no one outside of Amari Cooper in the passing game.

Robert Tonyan (84% Available)

Another team with struggles at WR, Green Bay needs to get Tonyan more involved. After a slow recovery from last year’s knee injury, Tonyan got going in Week 3. He was targeted seven times and caught six balls for 37 yards. If he starts showing the TD-upside we saw two years ago, that volume will make him a top-10 fantasy option.

Tyler Conklin (88% Available)

I debated putting Conklin on this list. He’s not a high-priority option for his team, and he’s playing more because C.J. Uzomah is hurt, and he’s about to get a new QB. He’s also the TE3 in fantasy right now. Is he going to keep that up? Absolutely not. But, if you’re struggling at the position, he might be worth 2% of your FAAB to keep him off someone else’s roster.

If you’re looking for Week 4 Rankings, Ryan and Austin have you covered! We do our first upload early on Tuesday and update them throughout the week!