Fantasy Football – Waiver Wire Week 4 Adds

It’s the week of the backup running back

Injuries hit the position hard in Week 3, allowing fantasy football managers the opportunity to pounce and grab a potential starting running back in the short and long term. While other positions present decent options, running back should be the position you target early and often. Do not be afraid to up your bid and grab these guys. There is nothing worse than missing out on a player by a few dollars of FAAB. We see just how shallow the position can become; and when it hits, just how vital it is towards teams’ success. Overall, the options available feel better than they have to start the year, as we see players’ roles start to crystalize on teams. Once again, here are the players rostered in less than 50% of ESPN Fantasy Football Leagues available on waivers.

Running Backs

Jamaal Williams 44.3% rostered on ESPN Fantasy Football Leagues (25% of FAAB)

Are you interested in Jamaal Williams now? I don’t know what this man has to do to earn some respect. I feel he will finally be receiving that respect this week as the top waiver wire addition for many fantasy football managers. Do not be afraid to throw a hefty bid at Williams, as we saw Cordarrelle Patterson carve up a Seattle defense for 141 yards on just 17 carries in Week 3. Now the Seattle defense gets the best offensive line in the NFL, and it will not be a pretty matchup. On top of that, The Lions expect Swift to miss multiple weeks, which makes Williams a locked-in RB2 while Swift is out. Projections have Swift coming back in Week 7; so you get two weeks of locked-in production and a capable flex starter rest of the way. Williams is the ideal RB pickup to make.

Khalil Herbert – Rostered in 25.2% of ESPN Fantasy Football Leagues (15% FAAB)

Khalil Herbert is likely available in your fantasy football league, given his low roster percentage. I have herbert lower on the list because we do not know if Montgomery will miss any time; as he is day to day and may play in Week 4. I’m much more bullish on Jamaal Williams, than I am Herbert, for that reason.

What’s excellent for Herbert is his role without Montgomery on the field. In the second half of the Bears-Texans game, Herbert out-snapped Tristan Ebner 22 to 2. That’s genuinely elite usage. If any running back is on the field for that time, they will be a viable fantasy football option – at a minimum. My issue for Chicago is that they will not be a favorite in any games the rest of the way. In turn, making it more challenging to rely on Herbert the way they did in Week 3 against Houston; where Chicago relied on him to wear down the Texans defense. If you cannot acquire Williams, I like Herbert as the secondary option to grab.

Alexander Mattison – Rostered in 37.1% of ESPN Fantasy Football Leagues (10% FAAB)

Alexander Mattison is the one who likely will go under the radar because Cook is expected to play with a shoulder harness for the Week 4 matchup in London. However, with the injury concern for Cook, you should grab Mattison because of how valuable he becomes as the Vikings starting RB.

If Cook were to miss time, Mattison has shown to step in and produce high-end RB1 numbers in the past. Additionally, Mattison saw every snap once Cook left the game versus Detroit, and would see the majority of work in this scenario. The downside with Mattison – unlike Tony Pollard and Kenneth Gainwell – is that he does not hold stand-alone value, which can make him frustrating to roster. However, if you have a backup WR, TE, or QB taking up space on your bench, go ahead and drop them for Mattison. His upside far outweighs that backup roster clogger, as he can win you a week.

Wide Receivers

Romeo Doubs Rostered in 16.1% of ESPN Fantasy Football Leagues (10% FAAB)

Romeo Doubs is the WR you must pick up this week. Doubs saw a career-high 88% of snaps, and led the team in routes and targets. Rodgers talked glowingly about Doubs this offseason and was able to connect with him for 8 receptions, 73 yards, and a touchdown in Week 3 against Tampa Bay. The elephant in the room is that Green Bay is desperate for WR help. A player such as Doubs could become the number one target for Rodgers as the season progresses. The upside is worth taking a flier on if you need a WR this week. Be the early bird that gets the worm and pick up next week’s big waiver wire add.

Zay Jones Rostered in 8.6% of ESPN Fantasy Football Leagues (5% FAAB)

As impressive as Christian Kirk has been, Zay Jones led the Jaguars in targets, receptions, and yards in Week 3. While I expect Christian Kirk to still be the WR1 in Jacksonville, Jones is a former 1st round pick who can easily be the 1B in the Jaguars passing attack and give your lineup value. The massive improvement from this offense, and Lawerence in particular, means it can support multiple WRs in fantasy. Kirk will continue to feast, and Jones can provide WR3 production moving forward. Jones is the perfect example of talent and situation coming together in favor of a player. A cheap ad that you will be happy to have rostered.

Greg Dortch Rostered in 7.3% of ESPN Fantasy Football Leagues (1% FAAB)

Greg Dortch has put up 35 fantasy points through three weeks, and the starting slot WR Rondale Moore is still not practicing. The Cardinals also lost A.J. Green in Week 3 to a knee injury, so this wide receiver room is on thin ice. In the meantime, the passing attack will continue to run through Hollywood Brown and Greg Dortch; who has already seen 23 targets through three weeks. Dortch won’t cost much to add and will provide short-term value until Rondale Moore and DeAndre Hopkins return. Dortch can be a solid stop-gap if you need a WR.

Tight Ends

David Njoku Rostered in 32.7% of ESPN Fantasy Football Leagues (5% FAAB)

David Njoku went off Thursday night against a Steelers defense prone to give up monster performances this year. He finished the game with 9 receptions, 89 yards, and a touchdown. Njoku showed off the ability that made him a first-round pick back in 2017. He was heavily featured, as the Steelers, try as they might, could not stop him on Thursday.

Next for Njoku are the Atlanta Falcons, who have given up the second most fantasy points to tight ends. They are bottom five in receptions and yards allowed. Njoku is set up to have another good game in Week 4. The bonus for Njoku is the Browns, minus Amari Cooper, do not offer much to prevent Njoku from becoming the second option in this passing attack. If Njoku continues to see 80%+ route participation as he saw in Week 3, he will be a viable top 12 tight end rest of the season.

Tyler Conklin Rostered in 11.5% of ESPN Fantasy Football Leagues (1% FAAB)

Tyler Conklin is not a sexy name, but the New York Jets are passing an absurd 74% of the time this season. The leader last year was the Tampa Bay Bucs at 66%, and that team threw the ball 719 times! At a certain point, volume matters, and Conklin has run 25 more routes than any other tight end. Being on the field and running routes is essential to tight end success. The usage is helping Conklin be a viable weekly starter. Through three weeks, he has averaged eight targets, six receptions, and 46 yards; which, if you are looking for a tight end, are numbers you would be happy to stream each week. This week Conklin goes up against the Steelers defense, which David Njoku shredded on primetime television. It may not sound appealing to start Tyler Conklin, but he has a better chance of producing than most waiver wire tight ends.

Quarterbacks

Marcus Mariota – Rostered in 25.1% of ESPN Fantasy Football Leagues (3% FAAB)

We are once again running it back with Mariota. While Seattle kept Mariota in check on the ground, he still put up 15 fantasy points; showing off the high floor he presents each week. There is a lot to like, as Mariota has some very nice weapons at his disposal in London, Patterson, and Pitts. However, do not fret about the matchup against Cleveland. This defense gave up 307 passing yards and four touchdowns to Joe Flacco and the Jets. Start Mariota for the high floor he presents each week. This game has one of the higher over/under’s of the week and could become a shootout.

 

Jared Goff – Rostered in 30.7% ESPN Fantasy Football Leagues (2% FAAB)

Goff is in a smash spot as the Lions are a heavy favorite against the Seahawks. It comes down to the fact that Seattle has one of the worst defenses in the NFL that Goff and company can pick apart at will. It may sound odd to bet on the Lions, but these are not your father’s Detroit Lions. They possess one of the best lines in the NFL that give Goff the time he needs to find his wide receivers. He and Amon-Ra should torch this Seattle defense. Trust in Goff this week.