Week 4 Waiver Wire for Fantasy Football
Every week, Nate Hamilton will cover fantasy football waiver wire pickups. Read his Week 4 Waiver Wire picks for fantasy football.
DomiNate the Waiver Wire for Week 4
Can you believe we are already heading into Week 4 of the NFL season? Week 3 revealed plenty of new fantasy football talent to consider rostering in Week 4 and beyond. The fantasy football waiver wire will make or break your chances at fantasy glory if you are not paying close attention to it every week.
Luckily, I am doing the homework to help make your waiver wire decisions easier to absorb as we look ahead to Week 4.
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I will include a dollar range of your free agent acquisition budget (FAAB) you should bid for each player.
(Note: Roster % is as listed for Yahoo! Fantasy leagues. FAAB bid range is based on a $100 budget.)
Week 4 Waiver Wire for Fantasy Football
Justin Jefferson, WR, Minnesota Vikings (30% rostered)
The rookie exploded in Week 3, catching 7 of his 9 targets for 175 yards and a touchdown. Justin Jefferson played in 78% of the Vikings’ offensive snaps (his highest snap percentage on the season).
Typically, it takes rookie wide receivers longer than three weeks to get comfortable in the NFL and become fantasy-relevant. Jefferson appears ready to take on a larger role, especially with the depth chart behind No. 1 wideout Adam Thielen quite bare.
The Vikings have some tough matchups ahead, beginning with the Houston Texans in Week 4. This is great for Jefferson’s fantasy value as we can expect Kirk Cousins to air it out to keep up with their opponents.
- Justin Jefferson FAAB bid range: $20- $25
Tee Higgins, WR, Cincinnati Bengals (5%)
News broke shortly before the Bengals’ Week 3 game versus the Eagles that John Ross would be a healthy scratch. This immediately generated some buzz for the 6-foot-4, 215-pound rookie. Joe Burrow connected with the 2020 33rd-overall pick 5 times on 9 targets. Two of those completions resulted in a score.
Expect growing pains along the way, but Tee Higgins will see increased volume moving forward in an offense that is bound to throw a ton. It’s also worth noting Higgins saw more snaps (79%) than any other Bengals WR in Week 3.
- Tee Higgins FAAB bid range: $15-$20
Jimmy Graham, TE, Chicago Bears (8%)
There is going to be some risk involved when playing around with the tight end position. Jimmy Graham is no exception, given his age (33) and often erratic performance and role in recent years.
However, his Week 3 performance could be closer to what we see moving forward. Graham has 3 TDs in the first 3 weeks. During Sunday’s win, he saw 9 targets and hauled in 2 touchdown passes against the Atlanta Falcons.
Though he caught a touchdown pass from both names, he and the rest of the Bears’ offense appeared more productive once Nick Foles took over for the struggling Mitchell Trubisky. Graham would be more valuable should Foles hold onto the job, but he is one of the best end-zone targets in Chicago regardless of who is throwing.
- Jimmy Graham FAAB bid range: $7-$10
Mo Alie-Cox, TE, Indianapolis Colts (9% rostered)
For the second week in a row, Mo Alie-Cox had a fantasy-relevant day. He and Philip Rivers have established a rapport with Jack Doyle sidelined, including a 111-yard Week 2.
But even after Doyle returned in Week 3, Alie-Cox caught all 3 of his targets for 50 yards and scored. Doyle wasn’t targeted.
You want to roster the tight end who will garner targets on a Rivers offense. Alie-Cox appears to be that guy. He’s hit in 2 of the first 3 weeks but is still a top-10 tight end in half-PPR formats through Week 3.
- Mo Alie-Cox FAAB bid range: $5-$8
Cedrick Wilson, WR, Dallas Cowboys (0% rostered)
For all the deeper leagues out there! Cedrick Wilson went from 0 targets in the first two weeks to catching 5 of 7 targets for 107 yards and 2 touchdowns in Week 3. Wilson is best saved for deeper leagues; I do not expect Wilson to draw the target volume on a consistent basis.
The Cowboys were playing catchup to the Seahawks for the majority of the game while they struggled to establish the run. This was a perfect formula for all Dallas wide receivers — including Wilson, the club’s No. 4 WR — to see an increased opportunity.
Wilson should be rostered in deeper leagues to play in projected shootouts or should one of Dallas’ starting three WRs go down with an injury.
- Cedrick Wilson FAAB bid range: $3 - $5
Other Waiver Wire Considerations ($1-$3 range)
Hunter Renfrow, WR, Las Vegas Raiders (10% rostered)
Hunter Renfrow earned increased volume after catching 100% of his targets through Week 2. He should be one of Derek Carr’s go-to options moving forward as teams double up Darren Waller, as was the case when Renfrow posted his 6-84-1 line in Week 3 while Las Vegas tried to erase a big deficit against the Patriots.
Rex Burkhead, RB, New England Patriots (11% rostered)
Rex Burkhead had a career-high 3 touchdowns in Week 3. This all came without James White in the lineup, so I’d practice some caution with your waiver-wire bids. Regardless, Burkhead looked the part and could be utilized around the goal line moving forward.
Greg Ward, WR, Philadelphia Eagles (0% rostered)
Any time a player sees double-digit targets, he’s worth a look. Greg Ward had 8 receptions on 11 targets for 72 yards and a TD during Philly’s Week 3 tie with the Bengals. Ward could continue seeing volume with all the injuries the Eagles’ pass-catchers are dealing with.
Nick Foles, QB, Chicago Bears (3% rostered)
Nick Foles should be added in two-QB or superflex leagues. He threw for 3 TDs in a limited game and brought the team back from a 16-point deficit in the fourth quarter against the Falcons.
Foles has already been named the starter for Week 4 and beyond. If he can hold onto the job, he’s got the surrounding talent to help him succeed going forward. He may be worth more to you depending on your need at the position.
Tyler Kroft, TE, Buffalo Bills (0% rostered)
I encourage this move for deeper leagues or leagues with a tight-end premium (increased reward for every catch by a tight end). Josh Allen is playing some impressive football through three weeks. With Dawson Knox in the concussion protocol, Kroft should see some scoring opportunities in this undefeated Bills’ offense.
