Waiver Wire Targets Week 4 – Week 3 Fantasy Football Fallout

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Waiver Wire Targets Week 4 – Fantasy Football Week 3 Fallout

I’ve had some requests to add deeper finds for more competitive leagues, so I’m switching this update up a bit.  I’m going to start including players in three levels: “Should Be Gone” (available in 15-30% of leagues), “Could Be Available” (available between 31% and 50% of leagues) and “Probably Available” (available between 50-70% of leagues) and “Sleeper Grabs” (available in less than 30% of leagues). 

Please note, my top waiver grabs this week match a lot of what other columns say.  De’Von Achane’s huge game won’t be ignored by Miami’s coaching staff.  I thought he’d be buried on the depth chart for most of the season, but injuries to Wilson Jr. and Ahmed gave him an early opportunity and there’s no looking back.

At WR, Tank Dell is going to be great.  The entire Houston passing game is getting better by the week.  Combining that with their inability to run, the future looks back for all Texan wide receivers.

At the TE position, the pickings are slim.  LaPorta will be gone for 2/3 of you, but if he’s available in your league, I’d snap him up.  He’s my #2 overall waiver addition this week (Achane being #1).  Tutu Atwell and Tank Dell are my favorite available WRs.  Atwell is my #3 add because when Kupp comes back, he’s still going to have a defined role in the offense.  Nacua is deservedly getting more attention, but I think he will take a step back when Kupp returns.  I expect Atwell’s production to remain consistent.

Should Be Gone (available between 15-30% of leagues):

Quarterbacks:

  1. Anthony Richardson – I don’t love that he hasn’t completed a game yet.  He is taking big hits and that’s going to be an issue, but when he’s on the field he’s completing passes and running for TDs.
  2. Geno Smith – the Seahawks don’t excite NFL fans, but they score a lot of TDs.  I give Richardson the nod because he runs for more yardage.

Running Backs:

  1. Jerome Ford – Hunt got a lot of touches.  Don’t be spooked by the lack of production.  The Titans play good defense.  Ford will play well.
  2. AJ Dillon – he’s available in nearly 1/5th of leagues out there.  Unacceptable.  Dillon scores a lot of TDs.  Pick him up.
  3. Zack Moss – He will score higher while Minshew is in the lineup, but when Richardson returns he’s more of a bottom-flex player.
  4. Tyler Allgeier – the Falcons are giving a bit more workshare to Robinson so I think Allgeier will fade.  It’d be a good time to trade him, but if he’s available, he should be rostered. 

Wide Receivers:

  1. Michael Thomas – Carr only sprained his shoulder, so he’ll be back in the next few weeks.  Thomas is the 2nd WR in this offense, but he has potential to score a lot in the red zone.  Kamara will return to action this week and things will open up once the unit is at full strength.
  2. Jakobi Meyers – The Raiders are nearly exclusively gaining yardage via Meyers and Adams.  Meyers should be starting in most league formats.
  3. Nico Collins – Stroud is for real.  Invest in the Houston passing game.
  4. Courtland Sutton – The Broncos are losing a lot, but at least they’re trailing late.  #garbagetimetouchdowns

Tight Ends:

  1. NA – grab Sam LaPorta (available in 37% of leagues) or Hunter Henry (40%)

Defense/Special Teams:

  1. Browns – they look fantastic and will get plenty of sack bonus for you
  2. Steelers – plenty of sacks and turnovers
  3. Jets – I still love the Jets D, but not as much as the two above them on the list

Could Be Available (available between 31-50% of leagues):

Quarterbacks:

  1. Russell Wilson – lots of bad press for him this week, but he’s playing much better than last year and he has weapons.  I doubt Denver benches him so keep rolling w/Russ.
  2. Brock Purdy – he keeps getting better.  I’d be comfortable starting him at this point, though hopefully you won’t have to.

Running Backs:

  1. Gus Edwards – he should have been added to rosters two weeks ago, but Edwarads continues to be available.  You can flex him out today.
  2. Jerick McKinnon – this is a deeper pull.  McKinnon scored twice this week, but I’m putting him on the list more due to KC’s lack of consistent WR production and McKinnon’s play last year.
  3. Jaylen Warren – he should be the starter, but the Pittsburgh offense is stuck on Harris.  I’d try to trade for Warren in dynasty leagues.  He looks like a younger Austin Ekeler to me.

Wide Receivers:

  1. Tutu Atwell – As I said above, Atwell will score consistently all season long.  You can flex him out most of the year.
  2. Adam Thielen – he’s getting a ton of targets and will play better with Dalton, but even Young gets him the ball.

Tight Ends:

  1. Sam LaPorta – he’s everything TJ Hockenson was in this offense.  He’s a plug and play TE.  Grab him if available.
  2. Zach Ertz – he didn’t score well vs the Dallas defense, but I’ll give him a pass.
  3. Hunter Henry – the TD went to the 3rd string TE last week, but Henry will play well most weeks.  The Jets D did a nice job on him.

Defense/Special Teams:

  1. Chiefs – they’re fast and they will get plenty of opportunities to rush the QB
  2. Ravens – they’re not going to wow you most weeks, but they’re not going to blow it for you either.

Probably Available (available between 51% and 70% of leagues):

Quarterbacks:

  1. Jordan Love – he’s scoring well.  I think he’s limited as a QB this year, but I love that he’s still producing fantasy numbers without Aaron Jones and Christian Watson.  This team hasn’t been at full strength the entire season.

Running Backs:

  1. Justice Hill – I don’t love the turf toe, but he should be back soon.  Edwards, Gordon III and Drake didn’t seize their opportunity.  I still think Justice Hill could have a massive breakout.
  2. Jeff Wilson Jr. – the job is probably Achane’s, but Wilson could still have a roll.  Achane and Mostert have similar skillsets, but Wilson is a better short yardage back.
  3. Ezekiel Elliott – the carry split was close last week in New England and Elliott was the more efficient rusher.  Keep an eye on the work share in the coming weeks.  If Stevenson isn’t getting it done, New England will have no issue giving Elliott more carries.
  4. Zach Charbonnet – Walker will be your starter when healthy, but Seattle used Charbonnet more in week 3 and I think they’ll continue that trend. 

Wide Receivers:

  1. Quentin Johnston – Johnston was going to take a while to flourish in the offense, but Mike Williams is injured and he has the best over-the-top speed for the Chargers.  I think he will break out in short order.
  2. Rondale Moore – he’s probably a bench/bottom-flex player, but he’s still probably an uplift across leagues out there.
  3. Josh Reynolds – he’s worth having, but Jameson Williams’ looming return could hurt Reynolds’ numbers moving forward.

Tight Ends:

  1. NA – slim pickings.

Defense/Special Teams:

  1. Buccaneers – they are quietly accumulating nice stats.   Don’t worry about the Philadelphia game.  The Bucs play in a division that struggles to score points.  They’ll mostly have solid defensive games.
  2. Packers – the Packers defense is playing well.  They’re worth an add.

Sleeper Grabs (available in more than 70% of leagues):

Quarterbacks:

  1. C.J. Stroud – the dude is balling out.  He’s clearly the best passer among rookie QBs and I think he’ll get better as the season goes on.  I think he’s a long term answer at the QB position. 

Running Backs:

  1. De’Von Achane – clearly, he’s the top waiver add this week.  I’m bitter that I missed on him last week.  My apologies. 
  2. Clyde Edwards-Helaire – if CEH weren’t active, McKinnon and Pacheco would both be scoring better.  As it stands, he’s an average RB that might have some upside if someone else gets hurt.
  3. Latavius Murray – it looks to me like Buffalo likes him more than Damien Harris.  He’s more of a goal line specialist, but will have more value if Cook or Harris gets hurt.
  4. Sean Tucker – I love Rachaad White, but Tampa is having trouble consistently running the ball.  That usually leads to other backs getting opportunities. 
  5. Trey Sermon – He’s playing better than he did in San Francisco.  It’s not inconceivable to think he could overtake Zack Moss by year’s end.  However, Jonathan Taylor is still a Colt, so keep that in mind.

Wide Receivers:

  1. Tank Dell – Houston will be passing consistently.  The team is getting it done.  If they can fix their run game, they’ll be a top-15 offense.  Dell is here to stay.
  2. Romeo Doubs – he’s holding down the fort while Watson is away, but his role will be there for him.  He’s an outside possession guy who can run deep routes.  He’ll be solid for Green Bay all year.
  3. Calvin Austin III – I think Austin III could be better than Diontae Johnson long term.  I could see him supplanting Allen Robinson entirely once DJ returns to the field.
  4. Joshua Palmer – Palmer played very well when Williams was out last year for the Chargers.  I think Palmer will step up, but eventually give way to Johnston.  
  5. Rasheed Shaheed – he scores a lot and will only get better.
  6. Jameson Williams – we’re about halfway through his suspension now.  He should be on your radar.
  7. Josh Downs – Downs is playing well and contributing.  I think he’s a better fantasy option than Pierce and should continue to improve.

Tight Ends

  1. Logan Thomas – he was out of action while the Bills were kicking Washington’s tales.  When he returns to the field, you can expect 10 targets and 7 receptions from the aging TE.
  2. Cade Otton – I’m not overreacting to the Eagles game.  I expected Tampa to struggle on MNF.  Otton still plays a ton of snaps and has a nice target share under normal circumstances.
  3. Taysom Hill – with Jamaal Williams out, Hill will get you consistent rushing yards and is on the field in the red zone quite a bit.
  4. Donald Parham Jr. – Parham has a lot of TDs so I don’t want to ignore him.  I think the more likely scenario here is that teams start shifting coverage to Parham and then Everett starts getting more TDs, but I’m not going to argue with early season success either.

Defense/Special Teams:

  1. Cardinals – this team plays hard and they are run by the ex-Eagles defensive coordinator.  This group will score well, but they aren’t a weekly plug and play by any means.
  2. Buccaneers – Todd Bowles defenses are always stout and the Bucs will score a lot of points thanks to pass rush and turnover generation. 
  3. Colts – I’ve been impressed with their overall play so far this year, but the matchups have been mostly favorable.  They held an injured Ravens team in check, battled Jacksonville well enough and put the hurt on the Texans rushing game (who hasn’t).  They’re a bit of an unknown entity, but they’re worth taking notice of.

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