NFL Waiver Wire: Week 4 Deep Dive

The primary edition of the NFL Waiver Wire runs Tuesdays, and already provided a number of options that can be used to plug the holes that injuries have created on fantasy rosters. This Thursday edition provides a more extensive dive into the free-agent pool. As a general rule, as the season goes along the waiver-wire pickings get slimmer, but we're still early enough that there are a number of legitimately intriguing players available. Plus, last weekend featured a fair number of rookie WRs breaking out. 

The list below includes players rostered in no more than 50-55 percent of Yahoo leagues and is listed in order of preference based on half-point per reception scoring and a 12-team league. Depending on your league's scoring and roster settings, certain players might warrant higher consideration than what is listed. Each player's listed roster percentage is based on Tuesday's Yahoo statistics, to give a general sense of availability for a given week.

QUARTERBACK

Ryan Fitzpatrick, Dolphins (7 percent) - Fitzpatrick was a sneaky play last week, and he rewarded managers fantasy with a highly efficient performance against the Jaguars by throwing for two TDs and running in another score. The Seahawks' secondary has been friendly to  passing games this season, and Jamal Adams (groin) may not be available this week, so Fitzpatrick could feast if Seattle runs up the score — which looks likely. 

Kirk Cousins, Vikings (26 percent) - Cousins had a fairly abysmal start to the season, but the emergence of Justin Jefferson in Week 3 paved the way for him to bounce back with three TDs. Cousins also threw two INTs, bringing him to six on the year (which already ties his 2019 total), but an upcoming matchup against Houston once again positions him for fantasy success. 

Teddy Bridgewater, Panthers (17 percent) - Bridgewater is coming off back-to-back matchups against high-end defenses (Buccaneers and Chargers), but he now has favorable games against the Cardinals and Falcons on deck. Arizona and Carolina both rank among the top-10 fastest pace of play teams in neutral game script, so Sunday's contest has plenty of fantasy potential.

Justin Herbert, Chargers (20 percent) - Herbert disappointingly only had one TD versus the Panthers, and logging an interception and a fumble served to further diminish his fantasy return. On the bright side, the rookie has thrown for more than 300 yards in each of his first two games, and he could eventually tap into his athleticism to provide coveted value as a runner. That said, he'll be tough to trust against Tampa Bay on Sunday, so this is more of a season-long suggestion. 

Nick Foles, Bears (3 percent) - Foles has officially taken over the starting job in Chicago, and he impressed in second-half relief last week with three TDs and a single pick (plus a comeback win). Sunday's game against an Indianapolis defense that just outright dominated the Jets isn't ideal, but Foles is a fair option as a QB2 and can be started in Superflex and two-QB formats.

Nick Mullens, 49ers (2 percent) - Mullens was outstanding in relief of Jimmy Garoppolo (ankle) versus the Giants, totaling 343 passing yards and a touchdown. Coach Kyle Shanahan and Mullens have shown a solid offensive rapport whenever the third-year pro has been called upon to start under center, so he'll make for a fine emergency fantasy play with a Sunday night matchup against the Eagles. 

Alex Smith, Washington (0 percent) - Coach Ron Rivera said that he might consider a QB change if Dwayne Haskins' turnover problems (and general mistakes) don't clean up. A tough game vs. Baltimore could put him in the hot seat. Kyle Allen (0 percent) would also enter the conversation if Haskins were benched, but Smith would provide more stability (and be a better story). He's only worth a flier in multi-QB formats.

RUNNING BACK

Myles Gaskin, Washington (47 percent) - Although he wasn't quite as dominant as James Robinson, Gaskin had a breakout in his own right last Thursday. He commanded 79 percent of Miami's carries in addition to a 25 percent target share, cementing the fact that both Jordan Howard and Matt Breida are only role players at this point. If it weren't for Howard vulturing goal-line work, Gaskin's volume would probably be enough to make him a low-end RB1, but as is he's a fine RB2 or flex play. 

Alexander Mattison, Vikings (40 percent) - Mattison hasn't produced for fantasy purposes yet this season, but he remains a good handcuff option in one of the NFL's most potent backfields. Dalvin Cook has been dominant in the red zone (and at all other points on the field), but Mattison did get the Vikings' sole carry inside the 5-yard line against Tennessee. 

Tony Pollard, Cowboys (27 percent) - It doesn't really make sense that Pollard is on more waiver wires than Alexander Mattison, Chase Edmonds or Benny Snell. None of that group has real flex value unless the guy in front of him gets hurt, and Pollard would arguably have the highest upside if something were to happen to Ezekiel Elliott. 

Carlos Hyde, Seahawks (19 percent) - Chris Carson looks set to miss at least a week due to a knee sprain, so Hyde could get the chance to handle lead-back duties with a favorable matchup against Miami. Travis Homer (1 percent) might be more explosive at this point, and a better pass catcher, so Hyde could end up not seeing the highest-value touches. 

Chase Edmonds, Cardinals (37 percent) - Edmonds wasn't involved much Week 3, but he and Kenyan Drake have been fairly evenly splitting targets to the running back position. Like a number of the top RBs here, he's a handcuff without much upside unless the starter goes down.

Benny Snell, Steelers (30 percent) - Snell got work Sunday despite James Conner being healthy, but he only  translated his seven carries into 11 yards, while Conner had 18-109-1 on the ground. He's still a worthwhile handcuff, but the Steelers did also get Anthony McFarland (1 percent) involved for the first time. 

Boston Scott, Eagles (27 percent) - Miles Sanders has owned Philadelphia's backfield since returning from a hamstring injury, but Scott could be in line for more targets, perhaps seeing similar utilization to his valuable PPR stretch last season. The Eagles have little healthy options in the receiving corps, aside from Zach Ertz, Greg Ward and maybe DeSean Jackson (hamstring). 

Damien Harris, Patriots (25 percent) - Harris is eligible to resume practicing and come off IR, so in deep leagues it's worth taking a flier to see whether he emerges with a lead role. It seems like he'll just further muddle up the committee in New England, but the second-year pro did build  impressive training camp hype just last month. 

Jeff Wilson Jr., 49ers (23 percent) - Kyle Shanahan loves utilizing Wilson in the red zone, and the 24-year-old hit paydirt against the Giants while also compiling 54 yards through the air. As long as Raheem Mostert (knee) and Tevin Coleman (knee) are out, Wilson will be in play as a sneaky flex option. 

Brian Hill, Falcons (3 percent) - Hill saw a notable increase in carries and targets last week, compiling a 9-58-1 line on the ground and catching one of three targets for 22 yards. Ito Smith only had a nine percent snap share and was held without a carry, making it clear that Hill is the handcuff to Todd Gurley. 

Jamaal Williams (10 percent) - Williams is playing the best football of his career, though he's nowhere near dynamic enough to threaten Aaron Jones' ironclad grip on GB's high value touches. If something were to happen to Jones, though, Williams would be the favorite to start. AJ Dillon was relegated to special teams Week 3. 

Tevin Coleman, 49ers (35 percent) - Coleman looks like he'll be out roughly a month due to his knee sprain, but he'll retake a notable role once he gets healthy. In leagues with deep benches, that makes him worth a stash. 

Frank Gore, Jets (17 percent) - The Jets appear committed to giving Gore 15 carries a game, no matter how behind they are or how inefficient he is. Normally I'd be worried that a team in dire need of a spark would turn to a younger unknown like La'Mical Perine (6 percent) or even Kalen Ballage (0 percent), but that sort of logic only applies to teams that are actively trying to win  games. If your fantasy team has suffered injuries at RB, it's justifiable to roll the dice on Gore falling into the end zone vs. Denver on Thursday. 

Rex Burkhead, Patriots (12 percent) - Burkhead almost certainly won't record another three-score game this season, and James White (personal) has returned to New England. Cam Newton only had nine carries against Las Vegas, so Burkhead basically saw a perfect storm for opportunity, but if White is back on the field that well should largely dry up. 

Wayne Gallman, Giants (5 percent) - Dion Lewis and Devonta Freeman are already rostered in most leagues, but Gallman could end up with a fairly equal role to those two. That said, this looks like a three-headed nightmare committee behind an O-line that couldn't make the best running back in the league relevant, so don't spend more than a minimum FAAB bid.

J.J. Taylor, Patriots (1 percent) - Taylor only had five carries and one target during the first four games of the season, but he doubled that volume with 11 carries and another targets versus the Raiders. New England's backfield is crowded, and both James White (personal) and Damien Harris (finger) could return soon, but the undrafted, undersized rookie is worth a flier in deep formats. 

WIDE RECEIVER

Justin Jefferson, Vikings (32 percent) - After going wild with a 7-175-1 line versus the Titans, Jefferson is no doubt the top waiver priority of the week at WR. The rookie first-round pick worked both outside and from the slot, and he and Adam Thielen saw three targets downfield each. Jefferson won't draw four more targets than Thielen every week, but if as long as he continues to see a weekly target share of more than 20 percent, Jefferson could be consistent for fantasy. 

Golden Tate (37 percent) - Tate's 5-36-0 line against the 49ers wasn't impressive, but he did see a 23.3 percent target share with both Saquon Barkley (ACL) and Sterling Shepard (toe) sidelined. In PPR formats, that amount of guaranteed looks per game is enough to make Tate a worthwhile depth piece. 

Mecole Hardman, Chiefs (32 percent) - Demarcus Robinson played eight more offensive snaps than Hardman during Monday's win against the Chiefs but didn't catch his only target, while Hardman drew six targets in limited playing time and converted those into four catches for 81 yards and a score. The second-year pro may push for the No. 3 WR role down the stretch, but for the time being he's a boom-or-bust flex option. 

Preston Williams, Dolphins (30 percent) - Williams made the most of his two targets in Thursday's easy win over Jacksonville, catching both for seven yards and a TD. The Dolphins had a double-digit lead most of the game, but Sunday's game against Seattle should force Ryan Fitzpatrick to lean on the passing game more. After beginning the season with two ineffective showings (against tough coverage), Williams needed to show well in Week 3. 

Brandon Aiyuk, 49ers (29 percent) - Aiyuk broke out Week 3 with five catches for 70 yards through the air, and three carries for 31 yards and a score on the ground. Not only did the rookie first-round pick lead the 49ers in targets, but he showed enough versatility to work on the outside, from the slot and in the backfield. Although Aiyuk is similar to Deebo Samuel, it's easy to envision both players complementing each other when Samuel returns from a foot injury, rather than cannibalizing each other.

Scotty Miller, Buccaneers (16 percent) - With Chris Godwin (hamstring) in danger of missing the next two weeks, Miller is once again primed to slot in as the No. 2 receiver alongside Mike Evans. He didn't practice Wednesday, though, so Justin Watson (0 percent) will also be worth keeping an eye on.

Zach Pascal, Colts (4 percent) - Now that both Michael Pittman (lower leg) and Parris Campbell (knee) are facing multi-week absences, Pascal should slot into an every-down role alongside T.Y. Hilton. He had six big fantasy games in 2019, including two 100-plus yard performances, so in deep formats Pascal is fairly alluring. 

Tee Higgins, Bengals (6 percent) - Higgins broke out with 40 yards and two TDs during Sunday's tie against the Eagles, and his 21.4 percent target share was second only to Tyler Boyd. A.J. Green simply hasn't been efficient with his opportunities through three weeks, so it's conceivable that Higgins could eventually usurp him in terms of target priority. 

KJ Hamler, Broncos (11 percent) - Hamler led the Broncos with a 92 percent snap share Week 3, so by all indications he's an every-down player now that Courtland Sutton (ACL) is out for the year. The rookie second-round pick only drew five targets, but his big-play skills give him the potential to maximize every touch — even when Jeff Driskel or Brett Rypien are throwing him the ball. Hamler is in play as a desperation start vs. the Jets on TNF.

Tre'Quan Smith, Saints (29 percent) - Smith played 100 percent of snaps during Monday's loss to the Packers and had a modest four catches for 42 yards, but he's had a strong 18.1 percent target share through two games without Michael Thomas (ankle). However, Alvin Kamara (14 targets) is the clear focal point of this offense, and Emmanuel Sanders (five targets) finally emerged.

Chase Claypool, Steelers (14 percent) - Claypool led the Steelers with 76 snaps due to Diontae Johnson (concussion) being forced out Week 3, solidifying the fact that he's clearly ahead of James Washington (11 percent) on the depth chart at this point. The rookie second-round pick has already flashed big-play potential, so he's still worth a roster spot despite having been quiet (1-24-0 on four targets) versus Houston.

Andy Isabella, Cardinals (2 percent) - Isabella made the most of his opportunities with Christian Kirk (groin) sidelined, catching in all four of his targets for 47 yards and two scores. However, his 40 percent snap share paints the picture of a boom-or-bust player, even if Kirk misses more time. Kirk is now only rostered in 41 percent of Yahoo leagues, so it's also worth checking whether he's been dropped.

Cole Beasley, Bills (14 percent) - Beasley had six catches for 100 yards in Week 3, and if John Brown (calf) ends up forced to miss time he'll be a startable weekly option. The veteran slot man is particularly useful in PPR formats, and he's a better a rest-of-season candidate than most waiver claims. 

Greg Ward, Eagles (1 percent) - In a serious case of deja vu, Ward looks primed for an every-down starting role following widespread injuries to Philadelphia's pass catchers. He, Zach Ertz and John Hightower appear set to dominate looks from Carson Wentz with DeSean Jackson (hamstring), Jalen Reagor (thumb), J.J. Arcega-Whiteside (lower body), Dallas Goedert (ankle) and Alshon Jeffery (foot) banged up. 

Laviska Shenault, Jaguars (28 percent) - Shenault drew six targets with DJ Chark (chest/back) out Week 3, but he only managed 33 yards with five catches. The rookie only had one backfield snap against the Dolphins on Thursday, and James Robinson has convincingly looked like Jacksonville's best option as a ballcarrier, so hopes of a Deebo- Samuel-esque rookie year may be fading. 

Cordarrelle Patterson, Bears (7 percent) - Patterson only played 11 snaps against Atlanta, but despite his official designation as a WR, 10 of those came out of the backfield, according to Jerry Donabedian's Hidden Stat Line. With Tarik Cohen done for the year with an ACL tear, Patterson could see a mild uptick in both targets and carries.

Gabriel Davis, Bills (1 percent) - Davis took advantage of an injury to John Brown (calf) in Week 3, grabbing all four of his targets for 81 yards. The rookie fourth-round pick looked legit on the field, but he's a better stash in deep leagues of dynasty formats than in the usual redraft league with less than 10 bench slots. 

Braxton Berrios, Jets (1 percent) - Berrios has scored in back-to-back weeks while manning the slot, but it looks like Jamison Crowder (hamstring) has a good shot to return Thursday versus Denver. There could still be fair target opportunities for Berrios, since Le'Veon Bell (hamstring) and Breshad Perriman (ankle) will both be out, but it'll be hard to trust Berrios if his snaps aren't coming from the slot anymore. 

TIGHT END

Logan Thomas, Washington (33 percent) - As noted in Week 3's Hidden Stat Line, Thomas is third among tight ends with a 24 percent target share. He's finished first or second in terms of targets for Washington every game this season, which is the exact type of usage to chase for fantasy success — even if Thomas hasn't yet broken out. 

Mo Alie-Cox, Colts (10 percent) - Alie-Cox only ran seven routes during Sunday's win over the Jets, but he turned those limited opportunities into three catches for 50 yards and a score. The big-bodied tight end is now coming off back-to-back successful fantasy days, but he'll be hard to keep trusting without more consistent usage. A multi-week injury to Michael Pittman (lower leg), with Parris Campbell (knee) already out, could be exactly the type of opportunity Alie-Cox needs. 

Dalton Schultz, Cowboys (32 percent) - Schultz has seen low-end TE1 volume since Blake Jarwin went down to an ACL tear in the season opener, and his 4-48-0 line on six targets Week 3 was in line with what could be the rest-of-season norm. 

Eric Ebron, Steelers (27 percent) - Ebron went 5-52-1 on seven targets Week 3, and his 75 percent snap share was roughly equivalent to the workload he saw Week 2 — so Diontae Johnson (concussion) being forced out didn't hugely inflate Ebron's looks. The Steelers have too many mouths to feed for Ebron to be relevant every week, but he's as good a streaming option at tight end as anyone. 

Jimmy Graham, Bears (10 percent) - Through three weeks, it looks like Graham (who scored twice against the Falcons in Week 3) is back to being a fantasy relevant tight end. The veteran leads the NFL with five targets inside the 10-yard line, and he's eighth among all tight ends in routes run. Plus, Nick Foles targeted him more than any other Chicago skill-position player upon entering the lineup. 

Jordan Akins, Texans (6 percent) - Akins is behind Will Fuller, Brandin Cooks and Randall Cobb in terms of target priority, but he's the clear top tight end in Houston and already has two 20-plus yard catches on the season. That Darren Fells fairly regularly sees looks in the red zone could be a continued thorn in the side of Akins' fantasy emergence, though.