Week 3 was as ugly a fantasy week as we have seen all season, and coincidentally, this week’s waiver wire is also the worst we have seen. If they are available, there are some substantial additions like Romeo Doubs and Tyler Conklin, but for the most part, this is a week to clean up the bottom of your roster and make some smaller bids. Here is the Week 4 Waiver Wire Additions!
Quarterbacks
Marcus Mariota- Atlanta
This is three straight weeks for me writing about Mariota. The Atlanta offense has put up 26, 27, and 27 points in their first three games. Mariota has three exciting weapons: Drake London, Kyle Pitts, and Cordarrelle Patterson. We saw Mariota’s rushing upside in Week 1, and that aspect of his game has been missing for the past two weeks. Mariota needs to get the rush attempts up to be fantasy viable. The QB position is a dumpster fire of disappointment especially among the drafted QB2s. Mariota is a better option than many players we were more bullish on in the preseason, and he is a Superflex/2QB league weekly starter.
Running Backs
(Note: Khalil Herbert, Alexander Mattison, and Jamaal Williams are all obvious additions if available. Herbert and Williams would be 50-65 percent make it rain FAAB adds.)
Samaje Perine- Cincinnati
This past weekend, Joe Mixon went down with an ankle injury, and Perine stepped in. Perine had nine carries for 38 yards rushing and added two catches including a 14-yard TD grab. All offseason, drafters debated between Chris Evans and Samaje Perine.
Samaje Perine Advanced Stats & Metrics Profile
It became apparent throughout training camp that Perine was the clear handcuff. Still, unlike other handcuff running backs, Perine is largely ignored right now and is available in 94 percent of Yahoo leagues. If Joe Mixon were to miss, treat Perine as an RB2 this week. But this is more of a PSA that he is the type of player we should want on our bench: a clear handcuff in a good offense.
Craig Reynolds- Detroit
D’Andre Swift injured his shoulder and will miss some time. Williams is rostered in most leagues and had 20 carries this past weekend. Reynolds showed last season he was capable of returning fantasy value. Look for him to step into the Williams role as he could have double-digit touches every week. If Williams were to go down, Reynolds would suddenly be the RB1 on a good Detroit offense behind an elite offensive line.
Justice Hill- Baltimore
Lost in the return of J.K. Dobbins was the solid play from Justice Hill. He saw six carries and finished with 60 yards including a 34-yard run. Dobbins looked good in his return, and Gus Edwards should be back soon. In deeper formats, adding Hill to see where his role is going could be a cheap way to get exposure to an exciting Baltimore offense. He is at least a consideration for those in 20 roster spot leagues.
Trestan Ebner- Chicago
Khalil Herbert went nuclear this past weekend. Herbert posted 30+ PPR points. He looked incredible and should be a “make it rain” type priority addition if he is available. However, fantasy gamers should not ignore Ebner. Chicago is the most run-heavy team in the league, and Ebner saw seven carries along with one target this past weekend. He will now be the backup RB to Herbert for as long as Montgomery is out. Ebner, a 6th-round pick out of Baylor, was a dynamic two-way back during his college career. He had over 3,000 combined yards rushing and receiving and had 127 catches during his college career. Ebner should be rostered in 20 man leagues at least until we have clarity with David Montgomery.
Jaylen Warren- Pittsburgh
Jaylen Warren is a must-handcuff player behind Najee Harris who is dealing with lisfranc type foot issues. Warren is passing the eye test. He actually looks more explosive and elusive than Najee Harris. He averaged 7.5 yards per carry and had a 35-yard gain on a shovel pass called back on a penalty. Warren could see increased touches with Pittsburgh coming off extra days of rest after playing on Thursday. On a week where there is not a lot of available impact players, prioritize Warren.
Wide Receivers
Romeo Doubs- Green Bay
Doubs is only rostered in 75-percent of Yahoo Leagues, so he just sneaks into our threshold. This past weekend was a big step for the rookie as Doubs saw a full-time role and led the Packers in routes run, targets (8), catches (8) and receiving yards (73). If he is available, be very aggressive in adding him. The Packers wide receiver group is banged up, and Doubs should have another chance to post a usable fantasy line these next two games against The New York Jets and Giants. There is no reason he cannot overtake Allen Lazard as the defacto No. 1 WR in Green Bay.
Mack Hollins- Las Vegas
Return of the Mack….well not really, but that is a great song. Mack Hollins has never been on any Waiver Wire article I have written and may never be here again, but we cannot ignore his usage.
Mack Hollins Advanced Stats & Metrics Profile
He followed up a five catch game last week with career highs of eight catches, 158 yards and a TD. Hunter Renfrow was out with a concussion, but Hollins should maintain his role as the No. 3 WR in Vegas for the rest of the season. If Davante Adams, Darren Waller or Renfrow were to miss time, Hollins could be a desperation play.
Devante Parker- New England
Jakobi Meyers was out with a knee injury, and his status for next week and beyond is up in the air. Parker, a free agent signing this past offseason, made the most with his opportunity and had a fantasy outburst with five catches for 165 yards on ten targets. The Patriots are desperate for pass catching weapons, and it will be hard not to use Parker in the short term. We cannot ignore that he only had four targets in the first two games of the season, but this feels like a breakout. Mac Jones went down with an injury, but the offensive scheme should not change too much with Brian Hoyer.
Zay Jones- Jacksonville
The Jaguars have been one of the league’s most pleasant surprises. They now have a 2-1 record including this weekend’s big win against The Chargers. Most of the talk has been about the improvement of Trevor Lawrence, Christian Kirk being a locked-in WR2, and the comeback season of James Robinson. Those three certainly should be praised and stand out, but Zay Jones is a player we should be rostering. He has been targeted 24 times including this weekend’s 11. Jones also added 85 yards and a TD. This offense seems to be improving, and Jones has an every-week role.
Wan’Dale Robinson- New York Giants
Robinson is still out with injury but is available in almost all leagues. He is a speculative addition but could provide upside in the second half of the season. The second round pick could provide a spark for a team that is devoid of offensive weapons, and the coaching staff seems out on Kadarius Toney.
K.J. Osborn- Minnesota
Osborn was a sleeper this offseason, and a many drafters were betting on an increased role in a pass-happy Minnesota attack. The season’s first two weeks were disappointing as Osborn saw only six total targets and had four catches in two games. But this past weekend, as Detroit locked in on Justin Jefferson, Osborn made the most of his opportunities with five catches for 73 yards and a TD. Osborn had seven touchdown catches last season and is worth a bench spot.
Tight Ends
Tyler Conklin- New York Jets
I have hyped Conklin in this article for three straight weeks now, but he is still only rostered in 21 percent of Yahoo Leagues. Conklin is what we wanted Cole Kmet to be this past offseason- a highly targeted player with a steady weekly floor. Undrafted in even 20-man roster formats, Conklin has taken his opportunity and ran with it.
Tyler Conklin Advanced Stats & Metrics Profile
His 24 targets tie him with Travis Kelce and Tyler Higbee for third-most in the league behind only Mark Andrews and Zach Ertz. This past weekend he put up season highs in catches (8) and receiving yards (84). It feels like the last week I will be writing about Conklin. Thank you, Tyler because the journey was sure fun. Gary Barnidge, Dalton Schultz…..Tyler Conklin ?
Foster Moreau- Las Vegas
Moreau ran 35 snaps and saw four targets, and this coincided with a reduced role for Darren Waller. He finished with three catches for 44 yards (to Waller’s 22). If Waller were to miss time, Moreau would be a borderline TE1. He is worth a roster spot in deeper formats to see where this situation ends up.
Greg Dulcich- Denver
Dulcich was hyped up by both the Denver media and coaching staff all offseason as a potential impact player. A hamstring injury placed him on the IR, but he is due to come off of it after Week 5. The TE position is a barren wasteland. I would rather roster Dulcich than players like Will Dissly. Be patient here because it could pay off.
