Welcome to Waiver Wire (Week 4). This is where we highlight a few players at each position that we want to add this week. As for ownership percentages we will be using Sleeper. For our full weekly rankings list, head to The FFU Weekly Rankings Page or try our Sit/Start Tool Powered by Fantasy Pros. As far as the quarterbacks are concerned, we will be referring to 1QB leagues. That’s the only format where quarterbacks are readily available, if you’re in a superflex league, it’s doubtful any usable quarterbacks are available.
Quarterbacks
Deep League Options (0-25% Rostered)
Embed from Getty ImagesAndy Dalton, Panthers (7% rostered)
Dalton started in Week 3 for the struggling Bryce Young and promptly threw for 319 yards and three touchdowns. It’s unclear how long Dalton will remain the starter or how long it will take NFL defenses to gameplan for him. Still, as long as he is in the lineup and being productive he remains in the starting conversation every week during a down period for quarterback fantasy production. Dalton managed to make this Carolina offense look half-decent after being the worst in the league for two weeks and it’s apparent he still has something left in the tank. He isn’t going to be a weekly QB1 like he was this week, but he should be a useful asset in Superflex leagues for desperate managers.
Jacoby Brissett, NE (7% rostered), Malik Willis, TEN (4% rostered), Skylar Thompson, MIA (6% rostered), Drake Maye, NE (11% rostered), Daniel Jones, NYG (12% rostered), Will Levis, GB (18% rostered), Taylor Heinicke, LAC (0% rostered).
Medium League Options (26-50% Rostered)
Justin Fields, Steelers (27% rostered)
Embed from Getty ImagesFields was solid for fantasy this week and surprisingly it came in a fashion unlike he’s ever produced. Not only was he able to nearly double his average passing yard total in Week 3 against the Indianapolis Colts but he managed to make with little rushing production. This all-passing and no-rushing approach for Justin Fields is not likely to be consistent or successful long-term, but if he can learn to blend the two aspects of his game it could turn into a solid fantasy starter for the remainder of the season. For now, he is a risky starter but there is season-long potential to develop into a fantasy stud.
Deshaun Watson, CLE (28% rostered), Sam Darnold, MIN (40% rostered), Geno Smith, SEA (40% rostered)
Shallow League Options (51-75% Rostered)
Baker Mayfield, Buccaneers (73% rostered)
Mayfield likely hit the waiver wire in a handful of leagues as his hot start to the season cooled off in a big way in Week 3 against the Denver Broncos. He had been solid through two starts but against a tough Denver secondary he threw for a season-low in yards while only throwing for one touchdown with one interception. Next week should be a great bounceback spot for Mayfield against an Eagles defense that allows yards in bunches. Scoop up Baker as a high-end QB2 with weekly QB1 potential.
Justin Herbert, LAC(64% rostered), Jared Goff, DET (75% rostered), Trevor Lawrence, JAC (74% rostered).
Running Backs
Deep League Options (0-25% Rostered)
Tyler Badie, Broncos (0% rostered)
Embed from Getty ImagesBadie came out of nowhere to be relevant in the Broncos backfield. He rushed nine times for 70 yards and was easily the best of this crowded backfield. It remains unclear exactly how Sean Payton will use all the pieces in this backfield but if anyone can find a useful balance of players it could be Payton. Jaleel McLaughlin and Javonte Williams have been the targeted running backs in Denver, but Badie could be the free option with tons of upside. Add him in hopes he can carve out a larger role, if he doesn’t, at least you didn’t spend much to get him.
Tyrone Tracy Jr, NYG (10% rostered), Roschon Johnson, CHI (6% rostered), Trey Sermon, IND (3% rostered), Emmanuel Wilson, GB (6% rostered), Miles Sanders, CAR (6% rostered), Isaac Guerendo, SF (6% rostered), Hunter Luepke, DAL (0% rostered).
Medium Leagues (26-50% Rostered)
Bucky Irving, Buccaneers (44% rostered)
Irving is the thorn in the side of Rachaad White that won’t go away. Much like Badie, he rushed for 70 yards on nine carries this past week, but Irving was able to add in three receptions for 14 yards. It is becoming a concerning trend for White as Irving is cutting into his workload every week. Sooner or later, if Irving continues to cut into the workload, the Buccaneers will realize that Irving is likely the more explosive back or the two-and-a-backfield split could be in store.
Braelen Allen, NYJ (46% rostered), Antonio Gibson, NE (27% rostered), Jaleel McLaughlin, DEN (35% rostered), Alexander Mattison, LV (44% rostered), Trey Benson, ARI (49% rostered), Rico Dowdle, DAL (47% rostered), Justice Hill, BAL (29% rostered)
Shallow Leagues (51-75% Rostered)
Cam Akers, Texans (58% rostered)
Akers has very little in the way of high-end fantasy upside, but as long as Joe Mixon is out of the lineup, he can be considered a solid streamer. He likely won’t put up enough rushing or receiving yards to be a consistent producer, but the Houston offense scores so much that he has weekly touchdown-scoring potential as we saw in Week 3 where a receiving touchdown made him startable. He isn’t going to be a league-winner, but he is a decent desperation start for as long as Mixon is out. However, he is the definition of touchdown-dependent.
Samaje Perine, KC (51% rostered), Carson Steele, KC (70% rostered), Jaylen Warren, PIT (74% rostered).
Wide Receivers
Deep Leagues (0-25% Rostered)
Embed from Getty ImagesJalen Tolbert, Cowboys (11% rostered)
Tolbert may not be the most exciting name but he has slowly carved out a role in the Dallas passing game. He received nine targets in Week 2 and five targets in Week 3, and while that volume may not be earth-shattering, some of the catches that he has made have forced the team to see his immense talent. Tolbert is a talent just waiting to break out, and while he will never challenge CeeDee Lamb as the top target in the Cowboys offense, he could find himself as the WR2 that they have been greatly lacking.
Demario Douglas, NE (14% rostered), Jalen Nailor, MIN (22% rostered), Calvin Austin, PIT (1% rostered), Lil Jordan Humphrey, DEN (0% rostered), Jalen McMillan, TB (12% rostered), Tre Tucker, LV (3% rostered), Michael Wilson, ARI (13% rostered), Rashod Bateman, BAL (14% rostered), Nelson Agholor, BAL (1% rostered), Tutu Atwell, LAR (7% rostered), Andrei Iosivas, CIN (16% rostered).
Medium Leagues (26-50% Rostered)
Allen Lazard, Packers (39% rostered)
Lazard has no reason to be relevant in 2024, but Aaron Rodgers doesn’t seem to have gotten the memo. He has failed to reach the nine target mark he set in Week 1 over the past two weeks, but continued to find the endzone again in Week 3. With Rodgers having full trust in him, he is a solid streamer option every week who has loads of upside if he can find his way into the endzone. you won’t be able to stream Lazard every week but fire him up when the Jets get a tasty matchup.
Wan’Dale Robinson, NYG (34% rostered), Adam Thielen, CAR (36% rostered), Xavier Legette, CAR (36% rostered), Jakobi Meyers, LV (49% rostered), Jauan Jennings, SF (43% rostered), Darnell Mooney, ATL (43% rostered).
Shallow Leagues (51-75% Rostered)
Quentin Johnston, Chargers (63% rostered)
Johnston is rapidly moving up my dynasty rankings, but that’s no surprise as I have been a fan of his since he was drafted. The Chargers offense is struggling and Justin Herbert is likely to be out until after the bye week, but with his size and speed, he presents an excellent target for whoever the quarterback is. Johnston has yet to hit his ceiling but is starting to become a reliable target with a nose for the endzone. If Johnston is on your waiver wire, pick him up now before he has his full Year Two break out.
Diontae Johnson, CAR (73% rostered), Demarcus Robinson, LAR (63% rostered), Tyler Johnson, LAR (52% rostered), Alec Pierce, IND (53% rostered), DeAndre Hopkins, TEN (65% rostered), Jahan Dotson, PHI (18% rostered).
Tight Ends
Deep Leagues (0-25% Rostered)
Embed from Getty ImagesTyler Conklin, Jets (14% rostered)
Conklin had five catches for 93 yards in the Jets Week 3 win over the Patriots which doesn’t sound like much, but as far as tight ends are concerned, it’s a ton. the bar for streaming tight ends is anybody with a pulse. He is yet another player who should not be fantasy-relevant but is somehow staying in the conversation due to Aaron Rodgers and his ability to spread the ball around. If you need a desperation tight end, there are far worse options than Conklin.
Jordan Akins, CLE (3% rostered), Kylen Granson, IND (0% rostered), Johnny Mundt, MIN (1% rostered), Will Dissly, LAC (0% rostered), Tucker Kraft, GB (7% rostered), Josh Whyle, TEN (0% rostered), Chig Okonkwo, TEN (12% rostered), Tommy Tremble, CAR (0% rostered), Jonnu Smith, MIA (14% rostered).
Medium Leagues (26-50% Rostered)
Cole Kmet, Bears (46% rostered)
Kmet was the victim of “too many mouths to feed” for the first two weeks of the season but the injury to Keenan Allen opened up a narrow window of opportunity. The Bears offense got back on track in Week 3 and with the three-headed running back monster looking irrelevant for fantasy, it left Kmet as the next pass-catcher up in place of Allen. I don’t expect Kmet to be consistent and he will go back to being a desperation option when Allen returns, but until he does, Kmet is streamable.
Cade Otton, TB (28% rostered), Brenton Strange, JAC (34% rostered), Zach Ertz, (29% rostered), Mike Gesicki, CIN (46% rostered).
Shallow Leagues (51-75% Rostered)
Hunter Henry, Patriots(58% rostered)
Henry is going to do what he does. In one game it will be two catches for 20 yards, and in the next game, it will be eight catches for 80 yards and a touchdown. He is just that inconsistent and unpredictable. This is by no means a safe-floor play, but if you have no other options you can add Henry and fire him up in hopes of him running into a big game.
Isaiah Likely, Ravens (74% rostered), Taysom Hill, Saints (60% rostered), Brock Bowers, Raiders (74% rostered).
Thank you for checking out this week’s Waiver Wire column. For our latest content, head over to our YouTube Channel for daily videos.
