Welcome to the Week 4 Waiver Wire. The pickings are getting slim, which typically happens around this point in the year. The surprise players did their thing in the first couple of weeks and have already been scooped up. Now, we must decide whether players are one-week wonders or will continue to help us as we push for the playoffs. This issue must also be considered when determining how much FAAB to use from this point forward. If a guy is only going to help for a single week, he won’t be worth much of your budget. Let’s see how it all shakes out for Week 4.
Quick Note: All players listed are available in at least 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 Week 4 Waiver Wire. Pick ‘Em Up!
Week 4 Waiver Wire
Quarterbacks
Normally, I don’t advocate blowing FAAB on QBs. There is always plenty to choose from in free agency after waivers, and you should just stream the position. This list will usually be small, but if you’re desperate, this is who I would prioritize this week.
Jordan Love (52% Available)
This week, Love came down to earth, only scoring two TDs. However, he is still the QB4 on the season and should not be available in half of fantasy leagues. The Packers have DET and LV before their Week 6 bye. Love should go into that bye as a top-5 fantasy QB.
C.J. Stroud (88% Available)
The rookie has been on fire to open the season. It helps that the Texans are terrible and have to throw 40 times per game. Stroud has turned that volume into a top-12 fantasy season thus far. He should only get better, and his next two opponents are PIT and ATL, both winnable matchups.
Running Backs
De’Von Achane (83% Available)
I’m not sure how much analysis is needed here. If you’re reading this article, you know what he did last week. The best part is that you can’t even say what he did is unrepeatable when you look at this offense. If you lost the Jerome Ford sweepstakes last week, you should be happy you have enough FAAB left to bid it all on Achane.
Justice Hill (70% Available)
He missed last week, but if you’re desperate, he is likely the best back left outside of Achane. He led the backfield in touches for Week 2 and is averaging 10 fantasy points per game.
Jerick McKinnon (50% Available)
McKinnon was a top-5 back for large parts of last season and seems to be picking up steam with a two-TD performance in Week 3. His schedule leading to his Week 10 bye is to die for, so he is worth an add based on upside alone.
Roschon Johnson (64% Available)
It was a much quieter week for the rookie, but he still led the backfield in touches. Things are a mess in Chicago, but he is a bright spot.
Matt Breida (88% Available)
This is a temp add, not worth much FAAB. Saquon Barkley could be back this week, but it’s unlikely. Breida found the endzone in Week 3 but only had seven touched in a blowout loss to San Fran. The opponents will be easier, and Breida should handle decent volume as Barkley works his way back.
Unfortunately, there is no new Monday Hangxiety show this week. But Josh and Ryan, with special guest Mark Fritter, will be back next week to recap Sunday’s action and let you know whether you need to panic or Chill TF Out! We’ll be live every Monday at 11 AM EST.
Wide Receivers
Josh Palmer (99% Available)
With Mike Williams out for the season, the scramble will be for 1st-round rookie Quentin Johnston, but Palmer is far more available and much more experienced in this role. Last year, from Weeks 3-15, with Williams and Keenan Allen missing games, Palmer was a top-30 WR, and he finished the season as the WR36 on 106 targets. This offense should be better in 2022, and Palmer can be viewed as borderline WR2.
Tank Dell (76% Available)
As Stroud improves, Dell rises. He is already the WR13 on the year and has scored TDs in each of his last two games.
Romeo Doubs (72% Available)
Doubs has played well while Christian Watson has missed time, and his role should be safe even after his return. He is the WR28 on the year and has scored 18+ fantasy points twice already.
Adam Thielen (50% Available)
Thielen has six more targets and 30 more fantasy points than any other Panthers WR. He is currently the WR9 on the season and should be added in PPR leagues immediately.
Kendrick Bourne (63% Available)
It is hard to figure this New England offense out, but Bourne played well in Week 3 despite weather conditions that hampered the passing game. He has had two good games and one bad, but leads the WR crops by nine targets and has scored 23 more fantasy points than any other WR on the team. He is boom-or-bust but should be viewed as the team’s WR1.
Tight Ends
Much like QB, I don’t usually recommend blowing any waiver priority or FAAB on a tight end, either. You can generally wait until Wednesday and play the streaming game. However, early in the season, there are sometimes players that should be rostered, and leagues are missing out. These are those players.
Luke Musgrave (86% Available)
Musgrave is the TE10 on the season and has 15 targets through three games. That’s better than Dallas Goedert, Dalton Kincaid, Pat Freiermuth, and David Njoku. They are all rostered far higher than the rookie. Fix that.
Jake Ferguson (80% Available)
Ferguson is not far behind Musgrave and actually has 18 targets on the year. He hasn’t seen fewer than four targets in a single game. His role is safe, and he is currently 2nd on the team in targets.
Be sure you’re following Ryan on Twitter! Also, you can find our Week 4 rankings here and the rest of our Week 4 content here!