Waiver Wire Watch: Week 4

Sep 28, 2015

Editor’s Note: We’re happy to announce that 4for4 Contributor Pat Fitzmaurice (formerly of Pro Football Weekly) is back on the Waiver Wire Watch this year. He will continue to work in conjunction with Senior Editor John Paulsen to compile this list of the top pickups each week.

Here is a look at the top waiver wire pickups for Week 4. To be eligible for discussion, the player must be owned in 50% or fewer Yahoo leagues, though we’ll stretch the rules a bit for the RB position, which is usually very thin. We’ll also include suggested bid prices (with a $100 budget) for those leagues that use Free Agent Acquisition Budgets. Of course, player value depends on league characteristics and team needs. Players are listed by position in order of importance. For extremely shallow or extremely deep leagues, be sure to review our Rest-of-Season Rankings (updated every Tuesday) to get an idea of how to value players not on this list.

Bills QB Tyrod Taylor ($16)

Still only 36% owned in Yahoo leagues, Taylor showed the poise of a veteran in the Bills’ 41-14 evisceration of the Dolphins on Sunday, completing 21-of-29 passes with three TDs and no INTs. Taylor has now thrown three TD passes in each of his last two games. He’s also run for 96 yards and a TD so far this season. Let’s face it: The kid can play. And with games against the Giants and Titans coming up, you can start him with confidence the next two weeks. Don’t be shy with those FAAB bids, Ben Roethlisberger owners. You’re much better off spending your dough on Taylor than on Michael Vick.

Next up: Giants, @ Titans, Bengals

Raiders QB Derek Carr ($6)

Are you willing to buy what Carr has been selling the last two weeks? The Raiders have scored 64 points in their last two games, with Carr throwing for 665 yards and five TDs. He’s clicked with rookie WR Amari Cooper, who’s proving himself to be a special player, and Carr has thrown only one interception this season. So is Carr simply running hot, or is he a star in the making? Cynics might be reluctant to view Carr as something special, but there are finally some good vibes coming out of Oakland, and Carr has a lot to do with it. I don’t know if he can keep this up all season, but I like his odds of keeping the ball rolling against the Bears this week.

Next up: @ Bears, Broncos, BYE

Bengals QB Andy Dalton ($5)

Dalton is off to a blazing start, averaging 288.7 passing yards over his first three games, with eight TD passes (including consecutive three-TD performances in his two outings) and a TD run. Unfortunately, Dalton is about to enter a brutal stretch of schedule with three consecutive red-flag matchups. He’s a solid QB2, but unless you’re either extremely desperate or playing in a 2QB league, you shouldn’t start Dalton until after Cincinnati’s Week 7 bye.

Next up: Chiefs, Seahawks, @ Bills

Steelers QB Michael Vick ($5)

Ben Roethlisberger sustained a sprained MCL on Sunday, and the early estimates are that he’ll be out 4-6 weeks, casting Vick back into the spotlight. Vick still has a live arm and can run around a little bit, though it would be unrealistic to expect the sort of sensational running ability that he was known for in his heyday. In recent years, the more Vick has played, the more his apparent his flaws become. His accuracy has long been a shortcoming, and he produces more turnovers than your neighborhood bakery. Still, Vick is surrounded by talent in Pittsburgh, most notably WR Antonio Brown and RB LeVeon Bell. The Steelers also get WR Martavis Bryant back from suspension in Week 5, which will give Vick yet another weapon. For all his flaws, Vick could be poised to put up some pretty good numbers in Roethlisberger’s absence. He might not produce consistently, but he’s bound to have some good games.

Next up: Ravens, @ Chargers, Cardinals