The waiver wire in fantasy football often holds hidden gems that can transform your season, but identifying the right targets requires looking beyond the obvious choices. Week 4 presents several intriguing pickup opportunities across multiple positions, from quarterbacks dealing with team changes to running backs waiting for their breakthrough moments.
Smart managers know that successful waiver claims aren’t just about adding players – they’re about finding undervalued assets before the rest of your league catches on. Whether you’re dealing with injuries, bye weeks, or simply looking to upgrade your roster depth, this week’s waiver wire offers plenty of potential difference-makers waiting to be discovered.
Bo Nix, QB, Denver Broncos
Bo Nix was a highly sought-after quarterback in fantasy football ahead of the season. Unfortunately, things have gotten off to a slow start for the Denver Broncos star, and the second-year player sits 20th among all fantasy quarterbacks after three weeks.
However, he got off to a similarly slow start in his rookie year and proved to be a stud down the stretch. Nix missed on three deep balls against the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday, which would have dramatically improved his fantasy score had they hit.
Completing those deep passes would also have likely won the Broncos their divisional matchup, but improvements can be expected in the coming weeks. You should be able to get last season’s QB9 overall (fantasy points per game – 19.4) at a considerable discount ahead of Week 4.
Jaxson Dart, QB, New York Giants
Jaxson Dart may be a priority waiver add in shallower leagues this week, especially if the Giants announce that he’ll be starting the team’s Week 4 game against the Chargers. In Super Flex leagues, he’ll likely be rostered somewhere, and the mobile gunslinger is worth reaching out for in fantasy.
READ MORE: What Happened to Jaxson Dart? Breaking Down the Latest on the Giants Rookie’s Development
Dart has shone when given the chance in New York, and his promotion to starter would likely give the team a much-needed lift. Russell Wilson’s abysmal showing against the Kansas City Chiefs will make Dart harder to acquire than he would have been before, but he is still worth a shot for QB-needy rosters.
Kirk Cousins, QB, Atlanta Falcons
Kirk Cousins might seem like an odd inclusion here, and admittedly, he’s merely a stash for the time being. However, it’s not a massive swing to suggest that Cousins might end up starting games in the NFL in the near future.
His own team, the Atlanta Falcons, just laid an egg against the Carolina Panthers, who allowed the most points in NFL history last season. While the Falcons won’t be in a rush to bench Michael Penix, the jury remains out, and Raheem Morris has his eyes firmly on the playoffs this year.
Elsewhere, a host of quarterback injuries have decimated offensive production for several teams, most of which also have playoff ambitions. He’ll likely be on waivers outside of deep Super Flex leagues and dynasty rosters, but he’d be a solid stash for Super Flex rosters and those dealing with injuries.
Jameis Winston, QB, New York Giants
Similarly, Jameis Winston is unlikely to stay with the New York Giants for the entire season. The veteran journeyman has been a fantasy hero in recent seasons when stepping into a starting role, and he could be doing it again soon.
When playing at least 75% of offensive snaps last season (Weeks 8-15), Winston was the QB10 in fantasy points per game. That was on a Cleveland Browns team that ended up with the second-overall pick in April’s draft, so imagine what he could do on an offense like the Cincinnati Bengals.
Again, you’ll need roster space to stash Winston, but he has huge fantasy upside if and when he ends up on a new team.
TreVeyon Henderson, RB, New England Patriots
TreVeyon Henderson’s limited usage so far this season has surprised, confused, and frustrated both NFL fans and fantasy football managers. Despite taking the explosive runner early in the second round of the NFL Draft and watching him flash in the preseason, the New England Patriots have looked elsewhere.
That should be about to change, though, after both Rhamondre Stevenson and Antonio Gibson fumbled in the team’s narrow defeat to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday. Stevenson was coming off a strong Week 2 performance, but fumbled twice against Pittsburgh, including one spill just inches from the goal line.
Gibson then fumbled soon after taking over, and Henderson appeared more and more later in the game. He didn’t have enough time to put up massive fantasy numbers, which could leave the buy-low window slightly open, but savvier managers may shut down any approaches.
Josh Jacobs, RB, Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers’ offense struggled to get going against the Browns in Week 3, but the team faces some easier matchups in the coming weeks. Josh Jacobs has yet to put up a single top-15 week at the running back position, a massive disappointment for those who drafted him as a top-10 back.
There were concerns about Matt LaFleur’s potential return to a pass-heavy approach after Jordan Love struggled with injuries last season. Jacobs’ carries have remained steady, though, but games against the Detroit Lions, Washington Commanders, and the Browns have limited his efficiency.
Matchups with the Dallas Cowboys and Cincinnati Bengals should get him back on track. His talent is too great for his fantasy struggles to continue.
Miles Sanders, RB, Dallas Cowboys
There was a lot of talk surrounding the Cowboys’ running back room heading into the season. Former Broncos running back Javonte Williams has emerged as the clear starter in the early weeks of the season, but Miles Sanders is hanging around.
Sanders’ carries and targets have increased each week so far, with the backup totaling 41 yards on nine carries in Week 3. Williams dominated touches again, but fumbled in the team’s embarrassing loss to the Chicago Bears.
Sanders won’t be any good for fantasy unless he usurps Williams and takes the starting job, but another Williams fumble could hand him an opportunity at any moment.
RJ Harvey, RB, Denver Broncos
RJ Harvey carries all of the frustration that Henderson and Jacobs so, while being in a very similar position to Sanders. The second-round rookie was widely expected to explode onto the scene in his rookie year, but so far, he has been limited to support duties behind J.K. Dobbins.
Despite an electric 70 yards on six carries on his NFL debut, Harvey’s rushing opportunities have declined each week, though his targets have slightly increased. While Sanders is waiting for a mistake, Harvey may simply be adjusting to his new team and offensive scheme.
However, Dobbins has played more than eight games just once since his 2022 return from injury, so Harvey could be thrust into a starting role at any moment. The rookie is a talented pass catcher and an explosive runner, so stashing him at a steep discount would be a wise investment if possible.
Kayshon Boutte, WR, New England Patriots
Third-year receiver Kayshon Boutte followed up a stellar Week 1 with one catch for 16 yards in Week 2, but was saved by the fact that his one catch came in the end zone. Having been picked up on waivers in many leagues after the season opener, he’ll potentially have been dropped again following Week 3.
Boutte caught two of his three targets for 28 yards, but the stats won’t show that he was again targeted in the end zone and missed out on another catch because of a penalty. The receiver has emerged as a key target for Drake Maye and is worth a shot at what should be a very reasonable price.
Marvin Mims, WR, Denver Broncos
Marvin Mims has had a quiet start to the season, but his four targets in Week 3 should have yielded far better results. Mims was overthrown by his quarterback on multiple occasions, denying him a massive yards total and at least one touchdown.
The electric receiver is never more than one play away from fantasy gold, and the team made a significant effort to utilize his speed against the Chargers. Broncos receivers can be volatile in fantasy, with Sean Payton regularly mixing things up, but Mims has remained a trusted weapon in Denver.
The third-year receiver isn’t a plug-and-play option, but he’ll be pretty cheap in deeper leagues and may even be on waivers in others. He carries immense upside and could easily become a weekly must-start this season if the Broncos’ offense improves.
Ja’Marr Chase, WR, Cincinnati Bengals
Things couldn’t have gotten much worse for the Bengals’ offense in Week 3. The team floundered against a top Minnesota Vikings defense and scored just 10 points, including a garbage-time touchdown for tight end Drew Sample.
Fantasy managers who had held Ja’Marr Chase after Joe Burrow’s injury may now be regretting that decision, after the star receiver scored just 8.9 points in Week 3. The 2024 triple-crown winner will still cost significant compensation in a trade, but no player at the position carries more upside if the Bengals can sort things out.
At the very least, Chase is worth an enquiry, with Cincinnati unlikely to accept that level of quarterback play moving forward. A trade for Cousins or Winston, or even middling quarterback play from Jake Browning, would make both of Cincinnati’s star receivers elite fantasy options again.
Tee Higgins, WR, Cincinnati Bengals
It’s the same situation with Tee Higgins, who had an awful fantasy week against the Vikings, catching one of his two targets for 15 yards. That will undoubtedly have Higgins owners open to moving on, and managers with depth at receiver should be looking to pounce.
Higgins was the WR6 overall in fantasy points per game in 2024 (18.5) last season and could be available for a low-end WR2 right now, if that. Betting on good players is rarely a bad move in fantasy, and there aren’t too many better than Higgins.
Jonnu Smith, TE, Pittsburgh Steelers
Jonnu Smith has been a victim of circumstance when it comes to his fantasy reputation. In Atlanta, he was the player getting in the way of Kyle Pitts’s targets. Then, on the Miami Dolphins, he was frustratingly used at the expense of Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle.
In reality, though, Smith is just a very talented receiving tight end who has dominated on his last two teams. The tight end isn’t hitting the heights that he did on the Dolphins yet, but his usage through three weeks in Pittsburgh has been promising enough.
New Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers is still figuring out his favorite targets and showed frustration with Pat Freiermuth on two different occasions in Week 3. Smith has overshadowed far better target competition than he has in Pittsburgh, and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him quickly emerge as one of Rodgers’s favorite targets.
Ja’Tavion Sanders, TE, Carolina Panthers
Ja’Tavion Sanders was a priority waiver add ahead of Week 3 after catching seven of nine targets for 54 yards in Week 2. Unfortunately, from a fantasy standpoint, the Carolina Panthers demolished the Falcons 30-0, leaving little need for Bryce Young to spread the ball around.
Young attempted just 24 passes against Atlanta, having attempted 90 passes over his first two games of the season. Sanders caught two targets but had a quiet week due to the overall lack of volume.
Those who picked up Sanders of waivers will already have had their doubts, meaning he’ll be available for next to nothing if he hasn’t already been dropped.
