The fantasy football season is a marathon, not a sprint, and the waiver wire is your key to staying competitive.
With Week 3 in the books, new opportunities have emerged to improve your roster. From high-upside rookies to veteran fill-ins, this week’s waiver wire is loaded with players who can provide a much-needed boost to your team.
Whether you’re looking for an injury replacement, a high-upside stash, or a one-week streamer, I’ve got you covered.
Here is an overview of the intriguing waiver wire pickups for Week 4.
Waiver Wire Quarterback Targets
Matthew Stafford (Los Angeles Rams): A steady, veteran presence, Stafford provides a safe floor for fantasy owners in need of a reliable quarterback who is consistently getting high passing volume. His strong connection with his top receivers, like Puka Nacua, makes him a consistent fantasy contributor.
Geno Smith (Las Vegas Raiders): Smith is a solid streaming option with a favorable matchup against a struggling Bears defense, and the Raiders’ pass-heavy offense gives him a high volume of opportunities. He has shown the ability to post top-15 numbers and could be a plug-and-play starter for Week 4.
Jaxson Dart (New York Giants): Recently named the starter, Dart is an intriguing pickup due to his dual-threat ability and strong preseason performance, which could unlock the full potential of receivers like Malik Nabers and Wan’Dale Robinson. He has a chance to become a fantasy-relevant starter in all league formats.
Carson Wentz (Minnesota Vikings): Wentz is a good streaming option for Week 4 as he gets a favorable matchup against a Steelers defense that has been allowing a high number of fantasy points to quarterbacks. After a strong performance in his first start, he has a chance to be a solid plug-and-play.
Sam Darnold (Seattle Seahawks): Darnold has a favorable matchup in Week 4 against a Cardinals team with an injured secondary and is a firm QB2 for the rest of the season. The Seahawks’ offense is starting to find its rhythm, and Darnold is a solid option for fantasy owners in desperate need of a quarterback.
Waiver Wire Running Back Targets
Trey Benson (Arizona Cardinals): With James Conner’s season-ending injury, Benson is a top priority, as he’s expected to take over as the lead back and could see a massive workload. He has already shown flashes of his talent and has a clear path to high-end fantasy production.
Ollie Gordon (Miami Dolphins): Gordon provides a different, more powerful element to the Dolphins’ backfield and is seeing an increase in red-zone opportunities. His value is tied to his ability to convert goal-line touches and he offers significant upside if De’Von Achane were to miss any time.
Jeremy McNichols (Washington Commanders): McNichols had a breakout Week 3 and is a valuable addition in a Washington backfield that is currently a committee. He has the potential to continue to be a productive flex option, especially in PPR leagues.
Kareem Hunt (Kansas City Chiefs): Despite a lower snap count than Isiah Pacheco, Hunt is a valuable handcuff who has been getting the crucial goal-line carries and scoring touchdowns. He is a high-upside player who could be a league winner if Pacheco were to ever miss a game.
Braelon Allen (New York Jets): Allen is a power runner who is a perfect complement to Breece Hall and is a strong red-zone threat. After a slow first couple of weeks, he arguably outplayed Breece Hall — or at least was more efficient with his carries.
Waiver Wire Wide Receiver Targets
Tre Tucker (Las Vegas Raiders): Tucker is a high-upside, boom-or-bust deep threat who is capable of winning you a week with a single big play. He’s coming off a massive performance and has earned a larger role in the Raiders’ offense.
Elic Ayomanor (Tennessee Titans): The rookie receiver has already established a strong connection with quarterback Cam Ward and leads all rookie receivers in target share. His usage and talent suggest he could be a significant part of the Titans’ passing attack going forward.
Darnell Mooney (Atlanta Falcons): Mooney has a healthy target share in the Falcons’ offense and is a solid WR3/WR4 option, especially in PPR leagues. He has a strong opportunity to produce as one of the top receiving options in Atlanta.
Matthew Golden (Green Bay Packers): A first-round pick with elite speed, Golden is a high-upside rookie who has seen his role expand with an injury to Jayden Reed. He has the potential to become a key playmaker in the Packers’ offense.
Wan’Dale Robinson (New York Giants): Robinson can sometimes be a boom-or-bust option if he does not get the targets. The hope is that he will be an ascending PPR player as Jaxson Dart moves into the starting quarterback role.
Waiver Wire Tight End Targets
Hunter Henry (New England Patriots): Henry is a reliable tight end who has shown the ability to have a strong fantasy performance and is a good option for those in need of a consistent player at the position. He’s coming off a two-touchdown game and is a safe floor play.
Brenton Strange (Jacksonville Jaguars): Strange has been a sneaky sleeper who has shown he can be a productive part of the Jaguars’ offense. He’s a good low-end TE option or a deeper league streaming option.
Harold Fannin Jr. (Cleveland Browns): Fannin has shown he can be very involved in the Browns’ offense and has a high target share, suggesting he could be the tight end of the future for the team. He’s a speculative add with a lot of long-term upside.
Cole Kmet (Chicago Bears): Kmet’s fantasy value could see an uptick with the injury to Colston Loveland and with Caleb Williams’ steady increase in production over the first three weeks of the season.
Oronde Gadsden (Los Angeles Chargers): Gadsden was a healthy scratch the first couple weeks of the season but had a great debut in Week 3. He’s a good stash if he continues to replicate that production moving forward.
