We are now 48 games into the 2024 NFL season, and fantasy football managers have a lot of decisions to make on the waiver wire this week. Whether you are 3-0 or 0-3, it is crucial to make the right waiver moves as you look to evolve your team and compete throughout the season.
To help you make those decisions, let’s take a look at who our team of analysts sees as intriguing waiver wire pickups in Week 4.
Which RBs Should You Target on the Week 4 Waiver Wire?
Braelon Allen, RB, New York Jets
Through three games, Allen is averaging 5.1 yards per rush while also adding six receptions for 45 yards and a TD. That average isn’t the result of a single big game either, as Allen has averaged at least 4.7 yards per rush in every game so far. For the season, his yards per rush attempt ranks 13th among RBs, right behind Jonathan Taylor and Derrick Henry.
Let’s give Braelon Allen 300 touches on another team and see what happens pic.twitter.com/EmKhiX4DsL
— Austin Abbott (@AustinAbbottFF) September 20, 2024
Most promising is the fact that Allen has seen his touches increase each week. After receiving only two touches in Week 1, he’s seen that total rise to nine in Week 2 and 14 on Thursday against the New England Patriots. He’s also gotten relatively consistent passing-down work, catching a pass in all three games (albeit mostly for low-yardage checkdowns).
Allen has outperformed Hall this season on an efficiency basis, as the starter is averaging only 3.7 yards per rush. While that doesn’t mean he’s destined to cut into Hall’s workload at all, it does demonstrate that Allen is capable of taking advantage of the same offensive environment. Allen has produced five touches of 10+ yards this season, just two fewer than Hall despite receiving 37 fewer touches.
MORE: Fantasy Football Buy-Low, Sell-High Trade Targets For Week 4
At this point, Allen should not be on waivers at all, as Hall’s shareholders should be stashing him on the bench as a handcuff. Given the distribution of touches, it’s likely that Allen would enjoy a Jordan Mason-type workload should Hall be unavailable for any reason.
While fantasy managers in need of a starter should not prioritize Allen, any Hall manager — or one with space on the bench — should add the Jets rookie to their roster this week.
– Sterling Xie
Bucky Irving, RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Friends. People. This can’t be. Bucky Irving needs to be rostered in every league.
Rachaad White continues to show no ability to do anything on the ground. Meanwhile, Irving had another impressive showing with nine carries for 70 yards.
.@BuckyIrving had the 🕹️ workin' pic.twitter.com/LcbIw04XpH
— NFL (@NFL) September 22, 2024
It is only a matter of time before Irving overtakes White as the lead rusher. If he can get so much as half the goal-line work, Irving could be a weekly RB3/Flex play with upside. He’s also one of the best handcuffs in the league.
– Jason Katz
Cordarrelle Patterson, RB, Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers came into this season with one of the most exciting running back duos in the league, leaving little room for Patterson to wedge himself into game plans. However, during the team’s Week 3 win, both Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren picked up injuries.
The extent of their injuries is similarly unclear, so Patterson could be the Steelers’ top running back option in Week 4. He could play second fiddle to either Warren or Harris, or he could be relegated to the third-string role he occupied to start the season.
Yeah, Cordarrelle Patterson needs more than 4 carries per game. pic.twitter.com/tV53wDuMyr
— Tommy Jaggi (@TommyJaggi) September 23, 2024
If Warren and Harris are both unavailable, Arthur Smith and Mike Tomlin could always compensate, at least in part, by giving Fields more rushing opportunities. Of course, they won’t entirely go away from a back-based run game, so if Patterson is the only back, he’ll get ample carries.
This situation becomes a tough one to figure out if only one of Harris and Warren is ready to go. It would not be clear what the carry split between the starter and Patterson, not to mention Fields, would look like.
If Patterson is given an expanded role, don’t expect him to fully let go of it. He’s a good enough player to impress when given a chance, and while he won’t receive top-back touches when either Warren or Harris is healthy, he could be a good Flex piece in a pinch.
If he does perform admirably as the Steelers’ lone back for any period, he could be a trade candidate, with plenty of teams looking to find substitutes for injured players. If you’re in need at the running back position and can spare the roster spot, consider bringing in Patterson as a short-term band-aid and a potential investment for later on as well.
– William Schwartz
Cam Akers, RB, Houston Texans
It wasn’t pretty for the Texans in a blowout loss to the Vikings. But Cam Akers was the RB1.
Akers is not Joe Mixon. And there’s certainly a chance Mixon is back next week. Given how the game went, I imagine Houston might be willing to push him a little extra. If Mixon doesn’t return, though, Akers should operate as the lead back once again.
Akers didn’t do much with his 13 opportunities, carrying the ball nine times for a mere 21 yards and catching one pass for eight yards. But a home game against the Jacksonville Jaguars next week should provide a better game environment. Unless we get word Mixon is definitely on track to return, Akers is worth grabbing.
– Jason Katz
Roschon Johnson, RB, Chicago Bears
I am not at all excited about Roschon Johnson. However, with Travis Homer injured, Johnson was active on Sunday. Playing in a three-man timeshare with D’Andre Swift and Khalil Herbert, Johnson was able to earn 12 touches, which he turned into 62 yards. Most notably, he saw five targets.
At the very least, if Swift were to go down, Johnson might be startable in deeper leagues. At best, he plays his way into more volume and has standalone RB3 value.
– Jason Katz
Tyler Badie, RB, Denver Broncos
Running backs have turned in stellar performances throughout the first three weeks. But there’s more to consider when looking to add Badie on the waiver wire. Right now, there’s a strong case not to add him as a waiver wire pickup in Week 4. That’s especially true considering the Broncos visit the New York Jets on Sunday. The Jets just held the New England Patriots to 78 rushing yards in Week 3.
Denver has rushed for under 100 yards per game through the first three weeks. Despite hitting 100+ yards rushing as a team for the first time this season with 136 against the Buccaneers, there are still major concerns with the Broncos offense.
This is nothing against Badie as a running back. He played well in Week 3, and he could become a really good running back. But rushing yards only generate so many points. Eventually, fantasy managers need running backs that score touchdowns. Denver’s offense only has three touchdowns through as many games. That doesn’t suggest Badie is going to score many this season.
Badie got more carries on Sunday because fellow Broncos running back Javonte Williams had a fumble that limited his carries. Williams was the Broncos’ starting running back coming into the season, but his workload has dropped each week.
While that could open the door for more opportunities for Badie, it’s too early to count on him to be a good waiver wire pickup.
Remember, the Denver offense is struggling to put the ball in the end zone and score points. That’s not an indictment on Badie, but it does hurt his ability to be an impact waiver wire pickup, especially in Week 4.
– Alex Frank
Who are the Top WRs to Target on the Waiver Wire in Week 4?
Jauan Jennings, WR, San Francisco 49ers
In a loaded (when healthy) 49ers offense, it’s not clear that fantasy managers should blow through their entire FAAB budget for a player who could just as easily return to being the fifth option in the passing game within a month.
Still, Jennings’ combination of efficiency and downfield volume has been preposterous:
- His 85.7% catch rate is the highest of any wide receiver with 20+ targets.
- Getting looks downfield, Jennings’ 12.3 average depth of target ranks seventh among all players with 20+ targets this season; it is far above his career aDOT average (9.2).
Combine those, and you have an uber-efficient player catching nearly all his passes and a receiver who is getting used downfield more than ever.
That combination is extremely rare. Jennings is in a league of his own so far.
Has Jauan Jennings switched bodies with Brandon Aiyuk? Among players with 20+ targets Jennings ranks:
*T-1st in catch pct (85.7%)
*7th in aDOT (12.3 air yards)In his own area code through 3 games pic.twitter.com/gIJbkrHCQo
— Sterling Xie (@SterlingXie) September 23, 2024
When San Francisco had a healthy group of pass catchers in Week 1 and Week 2, Jennings was targeted on a much more reasonable 18.8% of his routes, compared to 35.3% in Sunday’s massive game. That type of volume is far more in line with his career average (17.3% target rate) and closer to what fantasy managers should expect the rest of the season from a volume perspective.
Thus, the key to Jennings’ long-term fantasy value lies in whether he sustains his deeper targets while also maintaining a relatively high catch rate on those deep passes. That’s a tough ask for even the most elite receivers, meaning that Jennings will likely revert to a bench option down the road if the team can get healthy.
– Sterling Xie
Jakobi Meyers, WR, Las Vegas Raiders
The Raiders passing offense has gotten stronger this year as they drafted Brock Bowers. Last season, Meyers was the second option in the passing game. Now, with Bowers, the offense runs the passing game through Davante Adams and Bowers before turning to Meyers. TruMedia ranks his 17 total targets as the 39th-most in the NFL.
Meyers produces 10.9 receiving yards per reception, which is the 50th-best in the league. These stats, combined with the fact that the Cleveland Browns’ offense is slower and less efficient, make us believe this game will not become a shootout.
Pierce has stated in the past that he would like to get Zamir White more touches, and with a possible change in quarterback, we could see a more prominent return to the run game. Vegas also believes this game will be low-scoring, as the implied total is only 38 points, with the Raiders as a one-point favorite. This implied total leans into the narrative that Las Vegas will have the lead, utilize the run more, and limit target opportunities for Meyers.
Without a command of the target share, trusting Meyers amid a quarterback controversy would be foolish and hamper our fantasy football teams in Week 4 and beyond. Do not let any rise in the rankings make you miss the truth behind the Raiders wide receiver.
– Joe Pepe
Jalen Nailor, WR, Minnesota Vikings
In two games without Jordan Addison, Jalen Nailor has operated as the Vikings WR2. While he’s scored on two straight Sundays, the volume hasn’t been there — Nailor has earned exactly four targets in each contest.
It is worth noting that Nailor had a second touchdown called back due to an offensive pass interference call. The excitement surrounding him would be much greater.
There’s a chance Addison returns next week, which would relegate Nailor to WR3 duties. However, given how well Sam Darnold has been playing, Nailor is worth considering for WR-needy fantasy managers.
– Jason Katz
Which QBs and TEs Could Fantasy Managers Target on the Waiver Wire?
Justin Fields, QB, Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers continue to play ugly, low-scoring games. That makes it all the more impressive that Justin Fields was able to post 19.4 fantasy points in a game where he ran the ball six times for all of six yards.
Fields threw for 245 yards and a touchdown. He threw his first interception of the year, but Pittsburgh won again. There’s no way Russell Wilson gets this job back unless Fields implodes or gets hurt.
With games against the Indianapolis Colts and Dallas Cowboys coming up, Fields may have to drop back even more. He’s at least a worthy Week 4 streamer.
– Jason Katz
Sam Darnold, QB, Minnesota Vikings
Your current favorite to win Comeback Player of the Year, Darnold looks like a changed man. Although he only threw for 181 yards against the Texans, he tossed four touchdowns. Darnold now has 2+ pass touchdowns in every game this season.
Quarterback scoring is down across the league. Still, the young journeyman has been one of the best in the league so far, posting games of 15.6, 20.9, and 23.2 fantasy points. He’s thrived against good and tough pass defenses, too. It may be time to trust Darnold as a QB1.
– Jason Katz
Tyler Conklin, TE, New York Jets
The tight end position is an exercise in chasing your tail. This week, Tyler Conklin was the random TE2 who popped. Will he have five catches for 93 yards every week? Of course not. Could this end up being his best game of the season? Absolutely.
But Aaron Rodgers looks like 90% of his prime self. If he’s going to play like he did this week, Conklin will have some weeks.
Conklin played 90% of the snaps on Thursday night and led the Jets in routes run. That’s enough for fantasy managers to be willing to add and see if it’s real.
– Jason Katz
Cole Kmet, TE, Chicago Bears
Once again, we are chasing points at tight end. After seeing a total of six targets over the first two weeks, Cole Kmet had 11 of them against the Colts. He caught 10 passes for 97 yards and a touchdown.
I have no idea if this is real. As a reminder, Keenan Allen was not active, which pushed Kmet up the target hierarchy.
The most likely outcome is Kmet goes back to his usual 2-30 next week. But anyone who posts 25 fantasy points is worth picking up.
– Jason Katz