Waiver Wire Watch: Week 4 Fantasy Football Targets

Sep 25, 2017

Editor's Note: We're happy to have Brandon Niles on the Waiver Wire Watch this year. He'll work in conjunction with Senior Editor John Paulsen to compile the weekly list of pickups and generate recommended prices for FAAB leagues.

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 (FAAB). 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.

This week, I don’t see a hot pickup, so if you’re first on your waiver wire or you aren’t desperate to make a move, I’d hold off. Most of the best options from last week are owned in the majority of leagues now, including Chris Carson, Chris Thompson, and Javorius Allen.

Quarterbacks

Andy Dalton, Cincinnati Bengals ($3)

Nobody is going to be anxious to grab Dalton after taking three weeks to score a touchdown, but under a new offensive coordinator, he quietly had 212 yards and a pair of scores against the Packers on Sunday. He faces a Browns defense that was just shredded by Jacoby Brissett and the Colts. Dalton has the potential to be a long-term starter as well as a nice streaming option, so he’s worth grabbing while his value is low.

Next up: @ Browns, Bills, Bye

Deshaun Watson, Houston Texans ($2)

Watson had a pair of picks against the Patriots on Sunday, but he also threw for 301 yards and two touchdowns, and added 41 rushing yards on eight attempts. Watson looked more in control of the offense in his second NFL start, and if his progression continues, his ability to produce on the ground makes him an interesting streaming option. He has the Titans this week and the Browns in Week 6. Tennessee was just shredded by Russell Wilson, so there’s some potential there.

Next up: Titans, Chiefs, Browns

Blake Bortles, Jacksonville Jaguars ($2)

Bortles threw four touchdown passes against the Ravens on Sunday in London as the Jaguars finished with a lopsided 44-7 victory. Bortles had 244 yards to go with his four scores, and he completed 64% of his passes. He’ll face a Jets defense that shut down the Dolphins on Sunday, but gave up five touchdown passes through the first two games of the season. Bortles is a nice streaming option this week.

Next up: @ Jets, @ Steelers, Rams

Jared Goff, Los Angeles Rams ($2)

Goff has looked pretty good through three games, including 292 yards and three touchdowns on Thursday night against the 49ers. Goff is completing 70.4% of his passes on his way to a 2-1 record, and he looks light years ahead of where he was as a rookie. After Week 4, his schedule is about to get much harder, so fantasy owners should be wary of spending big to get him. He’s shown he’s at least a QB2/streaming option in all league formats.

Next up: @ Cowboys, Seahawks, @ Jaguars

Tyrod Taylor, Buffalo Bills ($2)

Taylor had an efficient 213 yards and two touchdowns against a tough Denver defense on Sunday, completing 76.9% of his passes. Taylor faces the Falcons this week and has excellent streaming potential as the Bills are likely to trail early and often against the high-flying Atlanta offense.

Next up: @ Falcons, @ Bengals, Bye

Jay Cutler, Miami Dolphins ($1)

Cutler was wildly disappointing this week against the Jets in what should’ve been a dream matchup. He had a garbage time touchdown to end the game, but his overall performance was dismal. He still has streaming value against the Saints this week, who gave up six touchdown passes and 777 yards through the air the first two games of the season before shutting down the Panthers offense on Sunday.

Next up: Saints, Titans, @ Falcons

I’m not buying: I know Brian Hoyer had 332 yards and three touchdowns, including one on the ground, against the Rams on Thursday night, but it’s unlikely that he repeats that kind of performance against Arizona this week. I might look at him next week against the Colts though. I understand that Case Keenum looked like a monster on Sunday against the Bucs, but he faces a Lions defense in Week 4 that has picked off seven passes through the first three games. Josh McCown looked better against the Dolphins on Sunday, but still managed only one touchdown pass and faces a tough Jaguars defense this week.

Deep Stash Options: DeShone Kizer had three touchdowns on Sunday, but also had three picks. I’ll look at him next week against the Jets, but this week’s matchup with the Bengals means I’ll pass on him as a streamer. I’m not interested in Jacoby Brissett against the Seahawks this week, but I’ll be looking at streaming him in Week 5 against the 49ers after he threw one touchdown and rushed for two more against the Browns on Sunday. Colin Kaepernick quietly accounted for 18 total touchdowns in 12 games last season for a horrible team. If someone gets hurt and he lands on a team with some talent around him, he could quickly become a steady QB option.