PlayerProfiler’s Week 4 Waiver Wire Watchlist

Waiver Wire

What was supposed to be “Justin Fields Week” in fantasy went about as poorly as any debut game could have gone. Poor scheme, poor offensive line play, and poor just about everything doomed the Bears from the start and fantasy players who used Fields were left with what was most likely an insurmountable hole.

Fields was one of several waiver wire pickups added at the QB spot last week. If you started him, you probably lost. If you added Derek Carr and started him, then you had a good chance of winning.

The waiver wire is half the battle, roster management is the other. 

Being able to quickly pivot off of last week’s situations and adjust is a big part of fantasy. Take lock on a player is never a good thing. The gambler’s fallacy has hurt fantasy players every season and will continue to do so. Assess/analyze and move on to the following week. Do not be afraid to bench someone with questionable usage.

The injuries continued in Week 3. Hopefully, you read the waiver wire article last week and added Alexander Mattison; he was  in his fill in role for Dalvin Cook, who could miss another week, so fire. Tee Higgins and Diontae Johnson were already out, but now it looks as if A.J. Brown will miss this week (and possibly more weeks) with a hamstring issue.

There was another player who went down with an injury, maybe you have heard of him: Christian McCaffrey. Avoiding the IR can be considered a win for CMC teams, but the number one pick is out for at least a few weeks.

We now have three weeks of data, we have learned a lot and will continue to grind. This week has a few notable adds, but many of these players could be hotter names a week from now.

Get ahead of your league-mates and keep improving the bottom of your roster.

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Quarterbacks

Sam Darnold (Panthers)

Sam Darnold has now passed for almost 900 yards and also has added three rushing TDs. He is firmly on the SuperFlex starter/standard streamer radar. If you are struggling at QB, consider Darnold. He has a significant opportunity to potentially take more downfield shots with the loss of Christian McCaffrey.

Derek Carr (Raiders)

Derek Carr was recommended in this column last week, and at this point, he is a no brainer. If for whatever reason, he is still available, then add him.

Running Backs

Chuba Hubbard (Panthers)

Chuba Hubbard is easily the most exciting and valuable addition for this week if he is available in your leagues. Hubbard filled in for Christian McCaffrey when he went down, rushing 11 times for 52 yards. He also caught three passes for 27 yards. Hubbard was a fourth-round pick in this past year’s draft. He was a former Big 12 player of the year, and possesses sub 4.4 speed. He has a great shot at being an every-week RB2 for as many weeks as CMC misses. Last season, Mike Davis was one of the better waiver wire additions all season; history could repeat itself. Hubbard has an ample opportunity.

Cordarrelle Patterson (Falcons)

Last week, Cordarrelle Patterson was highly recommended as a waiver wire addition in this column. At age 30, he has put together the best three-game stretch of his entire career, and is now the RB8 for the season. It seems as though many fantasy players were apprehensive about Weeks 1 and 2 since Patterson is still available in about one-third of Yahoo leagues. If available, go get him.

Peyton Barber (Raiders)

Jon Gruden gushed about Peyton Barber when The Raiders signed him. Gruden then stressed that Barber would see work when Josh Jacobs went down with an injury. These comments were written off as coachspeak, but Gruden clearly does love him. This past Sunday, he had one of his best games as a pro with 23 carries for 111 yards and a TD. He also caught three passes for 31 yards. He is ahead of Kenyan Drake in terms of rushing opportunities. Jacobs could be back as early as this week, but turf toe is a challenging and nagging injury. Barber should be rostered.

Handcuff RBs

As a weekly reminder, your bench should have as many potential high-volume handcuffs as possible. Alexander Mattison and now Chuba Hubbard are prime examples of the NFL’s highest attrition position. In most leagues- unless the benches are incredibly deep- rostering a handcuff RB instead of a backup QB or even a backup TE is the optimal move.

Wide Receivers

Henry Ruggs (Raiders)

Henry Ruggs is somehow available in 50-percent of Yahoo leagues and this should not be the case. He has now had two strong weeks in a row and looks to be a part of the Raiders weekly offensive gameplan. If he continues to see this volume, Ruggs will be a steal where he was drafted. Go and get him if he is available.

Hunter Renfrow/Bryan Edwards (Raiders)

It is time to roster all three Las Vegas WRs. Hunter Renfrow has had at least five targets in every game this season and provides a weekly floor. He could be very useful in bye weeks or used as an injury replacement. Bryan Edwards has made huge plays and flashed some big play ability. It seems like a big day is coming for him. I am buying the Raiders offense and want pieces of their offense on many of my teams.

Emmanuel Sanders/Cole Beasley (Bills)

In more shallow leagues, both Emmanuel Sanders and Cole Beasley may be available. Both are capable of being flex plays/WR3 any time you need them. The Buffalo offense is humming and Josh Allen is able to support multiple receivers as fantasy weapons. He will be in the discussion for MVP once again this season, and we want to have exposure to his weapons.

James Washington (Steelers)

James Washington saw the second most snaps of any Pittsburgh WR in Week 3. This WR corp is banged up, with Diontae Johnson and JuJu Smith-Schuster both injured. Washington has a familiarity with Mike Tomlin and Ben Roethlisberger and should be an every down player in week four and possibly longer.

Rashod Bateman (Ravens)

Rashod Bateman is set to return to practice this week and with perfect timing. Marquise Brown had multiple big drops and the Ravens needed a 66 yard FG to win it in Detroit. This offense clearly needs another playmaker, and Bateman should have an immediate opportunity.

Tim Patrick (Broncos)

This is now three weeks in a row that I have written about Tim Patrick as a waiver wire addition. He will see even more opportunity now that K.J. Hamler was lost for the season.

Josh Gordon (Chiefs)

“Just when I thought I was out,  they pulled me back in,” ran through the thoughts of more than a few fantasy managers when Josh Gordon became tethered to Patrick Mahomes.

Tight Ends

Evan Engram (Giants)

Evan Engram saw a 17-percent Target Share in his first game played this season. It should continue to rise since the Giants are dealing with a plethora of injuries at WR. Sterling Shepard and Darius Slayton both suffered hamstring injuries. Get ahead of the market with Engram.

Tyler Conklin (Vikings)

Tyler Conklin could be this year’s Logan Thomas/Robert Tonyan sneaky top 12 TE. Conklin had the best game of his career this past Sunday with eight targets, seven catches, 70 yards receiving and a TD. He has had at least four targets every game, and Kirk Cousins is playing very well. If you are unsettled at TE or streaming, he is a great addition.

Pat Freiermuth (Steelers)

Pat Freiermuth scored a TD and saw a season-high five targets. His role seems to be increasing every week. He is a speculative addition who could become an every-week starter down the line.

Dalton Schultz (Cowboys)

Dalton Schultz had a career night on Monday Night Football with six catches for 80 yards and two TDs in Dallas’ 41-21 beatdown of Philadelphia. He led the Cowboys in targets, and Dak Prescott seems to have faith in him. Schultz, not Blake Jarwin, is the Cowboys TE to roster. We want exposure to the Cowboys offense, and Schultz is available in many leagues.

DYNASTY SPECIAL – Tommy Tremble (Panthers)

Dan Arnold was traded, and Tommy Tremble saw a significant increase in snaps. Matt Rhule called him “this year’s Jeremy Chinn.” A day two pick with athleticism, Tremble has the potential to be the long-term starter at TE in Carolina. He is only 21 year’s old, so we should temper our expectations in redraft.

EDITORS CUT – Dawson Knox (Bills)

(editors note: Dawson Knox been my wife’s truther player at the TE position since his rookie year. And he’s the TE8 in fantasy at the moment; a starting skill player on a high-powered, high-octane Buffalo offense? You know what to do ;>)