As we get deeper into the fantasy football season, player values begin to crystallize. It’s time to move on from players we don’t need and replace them with guys that could help us going forward. Let’s take a look at the top Week 4 waiver wire targets and pickups that fantasy managers should consider adding to their rosters.
As always, all players are rostered in less than 50% of Yahoo leagues.
I eliminated FAAB recommendations last year, as there are too many variables to account for. Instead, I replaced them with my opinion on how aggressive fantasy managers should pursue the player on a scale of 1-10.
Marcus Mariota, QB, Washington Commanders
Rostered: 6%
This may be a sneaky waiver wire addition or a complete waste of time. Jayden Daniels wanted to play this week and may have done so if it were later in the season or the playoffs. Instead, the Commanders wisely opted to hold out their starting quarterback, which enabled Marcus Mariota to remind everyone that he’s not too bad.
Mariota threw for 207 yards and one touchdown while adding 40 rushing yards and another score. His 20.3 fantasy points are good for mid QB1 numbers.
If Mariota makes another start, he will get an Atlanta Falcons team that just allowed the Carolina Panthers to drop 30 on them. He will be on the QB1 radar. Of course, if Daniels returns, Mariota can be returned to the waiver wire.
Aggressiveness Rating: N/A, depends on Daniels
Geno Smith, QB, Las Vegas Raiders
Rostered: 26%
Geno Smith completed 19 of 29 passes for 289 yards and three touchdowns in the Las Vegas Raiders’ 41-24 loss to Washington, bouncing back from his three-interception disaster against the Chargers in Week 2.
The Raiders continue to look like one of the worst teams in football, but with negative game script throughout the contest, Smith was forced to air it out consistently. All three of his touchdown passes went to Tre Tucker, including a spectacular 61-yard strike in the fourth quarter as Las Vegas attempted a late comeback.
Much of Smith’s production came during garbage time, with two touchdowns occurring in the fourth quarter when the game was already decided. However, the volume remains encouraging for fantasy purposes, as Smith attempted 29 passes while playing from behind for most of the afternoon.
Next week presents an intriguing matchup against a Chicago Bears defense that gave up 52 points to the Detroit Lions in Week 2. The Bears performed better in Week 3 against the Dallas Cowboys, but that was more a result of the Cowboys’ inept offense, which lost CeeDee Lamb early, than Chicago suddenly figuring things out defensively.
Smith’s connection with Tucker appears legitimate, and the Raiders’ likely negative game scripts should continue to force high passing volumes. He will be on the Week 4 streaming radar for fantasy managers seeking quarterback help, but nothing more than a one-week rental.
Aggressiveness Rating: 1-10
Trey Benson, RB, Arizona Cardinals
Rostered: 51%
Ever so slightly above the roster percentage threshold, it would be a disservice not to include Trey Benson. He is undoubtedly the top waiver wire add if he is somehow available in your league.
James Conner suffered what appears to be a season-ending injury in the Arizona Cardinals’ loss to the San Francisco 49ers. That puts Benson in the RB1 role. It doesn’t get any more complicated than that.
Benson handled 10 carries and earned four targets. That should represent his volume floor going forward. He is an every-week RB2 and is worth everything you have to do to get him.
Aggressiveness Rating: 10.0
Rico Dowdle, RB, Carolina Panthers
Rostered: 13%
Rico Dowdle carved out a more meaningful role in the Carolina Panthers’ Week 3 contest, carrying the ball 10 times for 30 yards and a touchdown while serving as the clear backup to Chuba Hubbard.
RICOOOOOOO
📺: FOX pic.twitter.com/vdKCCeAbqG
— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) September 21, 2025
The former Dallas Cowboys runner punched in his short touchdown from close range, showcasing his value in goal-line situations where his 5’11”, 215-pound frame provides a different dimension than Hubbard’s skill set. His 10 carries represented solid involvement for a backup, demonstrating that Carolina trusts him with meaningful snaps.
Hubbard remains the clear RB1 after rushing for over 1,000 yards last season, but Dowdle’s consistent usage suggests he’s firmly entrenched as the primary backup. The 27-year-old brings proven NFL experience after his breakout 2024 campaign with the Dallas Cowboys, where he became the first undrafted player in franchise history to rush for over 1,000 yards. His familiarity with handling significant workloads makes him a valuable insurance policy.
Dowdle currently holds desperation RB4 value in deeper leagues, but his upside becomes much more intriguing if Hubbard were to miss time. Given his track record of production when given opportunities, Dowdle would immediately vault into RB2 territory with an expanded role. Panthers managers should monitor his usage closely, as he represents one of the better handcuff situations in the league.
Aggressiveness Rating: 2.5
Ollie Gordon II, RB, Miami Dolphins
Rostered: 19%
Ollie Gordon II impressed on Thursday night against Buffalo, rushing nine times for 38 yards and scoring his first NFL touchdown on a two-yard plunge.
De’Von Achane continues to dominate snaps and touches, but Gordon has clearly established himself as the RB2 after Jaylen Wright played zero snaps despite being active for the first time this season. At this point, we can safely assume Gordon is ahead of Wright regardless of Wright’s health status.
The rookie sixth-round pick doesn’t offer anything in the passing game, but Miami seemed interested in using him at the goal line and in short yardage situations where his 6’1″, 226-pound frame provides a different element than Achane. Given that he succeeded in punching in his short touchdown and Mike McDaniel noted Gordon was “giving something special to the offense,” his role appears secure moving forward.
Gordon currently offers touchdown-or-bust RB4 value, but his upside becomes much more compelling if something were to happen to Achane. His nine carries represented nearly as many touches as Achane’s 12 rushing attempts, suggesting Miami trusts him with meaningful work when needed.
Aggressiveness Rating: 4.0
Blake Corum, RB, Los Angeles Rams
Rostered: 17%
Blake Corum rushed eight times for 53 yards in the Los Angeles Rams’ Week 3 contest, building on his breakout performance from the previous week, where he scored his first NFL touchdown. He has been significantly more involved this season than during his rookie campaign, when he totaled just 58 carries for 207 yards without finding the end zone.
The second-year back from Michigan is benefiting from head coach Sean McVay’s desire to have more of a 65-35 split between Kyren Williams and Corum, which represents a notable shift from last year’s usage patterns.
The most encouraging development has been Corum’s increased goal line role, where his 6’0″, 205-pound frame provides a power element that complements Williams’ shiftier style. His snap share jumped from 17% in Week 1 to 30% in Week 2, and this elevated involvement appears sustainable based on McVay’s recent comments. Fantasy managers should note that Corum’s role as Williams’ primary backup makes him one of the more valuable handcuffs in the league.
Aggressiveness Rating: 4.0
Chris Rodriguez Jr., RB, Washington Commanders
Rostered: 5%
Chris Rodriguez Jr. stepped into the starting lineup for Week 3 and handled 11 carries. The former Kentucky back didn’t see a single target in the contest and has shown no receiving role throughout his career, making him a pure touchdown-or-bust option for fantasy purposes. His value stems entirely from his potential for goal-line work and the volume that comes with being part of Washington’s backfield rotation.
With Ekeler done for the season after tearing his Achilles against Green Bay, Rodriguez appears to have secured the RB2 role ahead of Jeremy McNichols in the Commanders’ depth chart. While Jacory Croskey-Merritt remains the primary ball-carrier, Rodriguez provides a different skill set as a bigger back who can handle short-yardage situations. His 6’2″, 224-pound frame offers Washington a power element they previously relied on Ekeler to provide in certain packages.
At worst, Rodriguez serves as the handcuff to Croskey-Merritt, which gives him appeal in deeper leagues where managers are seeking potential upside plays. His path to consistent fantasy relevance requires either an injury to the starter or Washington dramatically increasing their rushing attempts. Still, his current role provides enough weekly opportunity to warrant consideration as a desperation flex play.
Aggressiveness Rating: 2.5
Woody Marks, RB, Houston Texans
Rostered: 9%
We saw a much closer split between Nick Chubb and Woody Marks in the Houston Texans’ Week 3 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Chubb played just three more snaps than the rookie, suggesting perhaps a move toward utilizing Marks more.
With Joe Mixon nowhere close to returning and Dameon Pierce a healthy inactive, this backfield is going to remain a split between Chubb and Marks. However, with each passing week, as Chubb continues to demonstrate his diminished ability, Marks may see his role increase.
For now, Marks is nothing more than a speculative add. But it’s worth getting out ahead of a potential change, should it occur.
Aggressiveness Rating: 3.5
Kendre Miller, RB, New Orleans Saints
Rostered: 4%
Kendre Miller should be relatively easy to acquire if you’re interested in him. He carried the ball seven times for 27 yards and caught two passes for nine yards. That is not the type of production that will stand out to fantasy managers.
The New Orleans Saints are obviously and unsurprisingly the worst team in football. That caps the upside of anyone in this offense. But it also creates a potential opportunity.
Alvin Kamara is 30 years old. He doesn’t need to be playing deep into the second half of blowouts. That’s exactly how someone like Miller ends up with nine touches.
More importantly, Miller is the clear handcuff. Finally healthy, he projects to be the RB1 if Kamara were to get hurt. That’s worth stashing if you have the space.
Aggressiveness Rating: 2.5
Tre Tucker, WR, Las Vegas Raiders
Rostered: 3%
Tre Tucker exploded for eight receptions, 145 yards, and three touchdowns in the Las Vegas Raiders’ Week 3 contest against Washington. First and foremost, there is nothing fantasy managers can do to get the points he scored retroactively. It is safe to say he will never do better than this career-defining performance that included two 10-yard scores and a spectacular 61-yard touchdown strike.
That’s Tre for Tre! 🔥#LVvsWAS | 📺 FOX pic.twitter.com/71B7lW8ecv
— Las Vegas Raiders (@Raiders) September 21, 2025
Tucker is pretty clearly the WR2 on the Raiders behind Meyers and, at the very least, warrants adding across all league formats. His 91% snap rate in Week 2 and continued involvement through the first three games suggest this breakout wasn’t entirely fluky. The mere fact that he’s capable of something like this performance justifies him being on rosters, especially in an offense where Geno Smith is averaging nearly 40 pass attempts per game.
Aggressiveness Rating: 3.0
Elic Ayomanor, WR, Tennessee Titans
Rostered: 21%
Elic Ayomanor caught four passes on six targets for 56 yards and a touchdown in the Tennessee Titans’ Week 2 loss to Los Angeles, scoring for the second straight game. The rookie fourth-round pick appears firmly locked in as the WR2 ahead of Tyler Lockett, who has struggled to maintain relevance in his age-32 season. His nine-yard touchdown came after making a spectacular one-handed catch down the left sideline for 23 yards just three plays earlier.
With Calvin Ridley struggling, the rookie’s role may continue to expand as Tennessee seeks consistent production in the passing game. The 6’2″ Stanford product has demonstrated impressive chemistry with Cam Ward dating back to preseason action.
He needs to be on more rosters, particularly given Tennessee’s lack of proven depth at the position behind their struggling veteran options.
Aggressiveness Rating: 5.0
Calvin Austin III, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers
Rostered: 17%
Calvin Austin III tied for the Pittsburgh Steelers team lead in receiving yards with just 34 yards in Week 3, catching his late 17-yard touchdown pass from Aaron Rodgers with 2:16 remaining to give Pittsburgh the victory over New England. The diminutive receiver appears to have secured the WR2 role behind DK Metcalf after George Pickens was traded earlier this year.
Austin’s touchdown was crucial in the moment, but his overall production reflects the limitations of Pittsburgh’s passing attack under offensive coordinator Arthur Smith. The Steelers threw for just 139 yards against the Patriots, demonstrating their commitment to a run-first approach that severely caps the ceiling for pass catchers. His 18.4 yards per reception show big-play ability when targeted, but the volume simply isn’t consistent.
The 5’9″, 162-pound speedster is on this list mostly because he caught that late touchdown, not due to any fundamental change in his role or opportunity. Pittsburgh does not throw enough to sustain more than one fantasy-relevant wide receiver, making Austin nothing more than a touchdown-dependent dart throw. He is not a priority add for most fantasy managers.
Aggressiveness Rating: 0
Sterling Shepard, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Rostered: 0%
Sterling Shepard caught four of five targets for 80 yards in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ Week 3 victory over the New York Jets, posting his most productive performance of the season. That production alone is usable for fantasy purposes, representing solid WR3/flex numbers in PPR formats. More importantly, Mike Evans left the contest with a hamstring strain that is almost certainly going to cost him time, creating opportunity for increased targets.
Evans has a well-documented history of hamstring issues, missing time during both the 2024 and 2019 seasons with similar injuries. Head coach Todd Bowles confirmed the diagnosis but indicated further testing would determine the severity.
Emeka Egbuka is already looking like a star after his six-catch, 85-yard performance, but there’s room for someone else to emerge in Tampa Bay’s passing attack.
Chris Godwin is likely to return in Week 4 after missing the start of the season as he recovers from offseason ankle surgery, but there will be a ramping-up process as he works back to full health. There’s no way he’s full go immediately after such an extended absence. That would thrust Shepard into a prominent role as the veteran slot option alongside Egbuka on the outside.
To be clear, this is a short-term move, but one fantasy managers in need of a desperation spot starter can consider making while Evans recovers.
Aggressiveness Rating: 0.5
Darnell Mooney, WR, Atlanta Falcons
Rostered: 45%
Obviously, the functionality of the Falcons’ offense remains a serious concern after failing to score any points against the Panthers’ bottom-five defense. There are no words to describe how indefensible such a performance looks, especially against a team that entered 0-2.
Despite the offensive disaster, Darnell Mooney’s target volume tells an encouraging story for fantasy purposes. The 11 targets represented a significant workload in just his second game back from a training camp shoulder injury that limited his early-season involvement. Michael Penix Jr. clearly looked his way frequently throughout the contest, even as nothing went right for Atlanta’s passing attack.
There have to be better days ahead for both Mooney and the Falcons’ offense, which managed just 172 passing yards while turning the ball over three times. His 64-catch, 992-yard campaign in 2024 demonstrates his capability when healthy and involved in the offense. The veteran receiver should be universally rostered based on target volume alone, as 11 looks in a shutout suggests he’ll see substantial opportunities when the offense inevitably improves.
Aggressiveness Rating: 6.0
Parker Washington, WR, Jacksonville Jaguars
Rostered: 0%
Parker Washington caught four passes on 11 targets for 34 yards in the Jacksonville Jaguars’ Week 3 contest. Although the numbers are modest, the target volume is quite encouraging. His 11 targets ranked second on the team behind only the struggling Brian Thomas Jr. The third-year receiver ran six more routes than Travis Hunter and has clearly emerged as a significant part of Jacksonville’s offensive game plan.
Both Thomas and Hunter have been playing awful through three weeks, with the highly touted duo combining for underwhelming performances that have left Trevor Lawrence searching for reliable options. Washington’s increased route participation and target share suggest the coaching staff is looking his way as a potential solution to their receiving woes.
Lawrence is one of the worst starting quarterbacks in the league right now, but volume is king in fantasy football regardless of quarterback play. It’s worth chasing with a speculative add, especially considering Jacksonville’s commitment to a pass-heavy approach under offensive coordinator Liam Coen.
Aggressiveness Rating: 1.5
Luther Burden III, WR, Chicago Bears
Rostered: 11%
After starting 0-2, head coach Ben Johnson clearly made it a point to get his rookies a little more involved. Colston Loveland caught a 31-yard pass in the first quarter. Then, Luther Burden III snagged a 65-yard bomb for a touchdown on a flea flicker.
Caleb Williams’ 65-yard touchdown pass to rookie Luther Burden III traveled 62.1 yards in the air, the longest completion in the NFL this season, and Caleb’s longest completion of his career.#DALvsCHI | #DaBearspic.twitter.com/D5GQjABob3
— Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) September 21, 2025
Burden only caught three passes, but his 101 yards surely earned him more playing time going forward.
The simple fact is that Burden is vastly more talented than Olamide Zaccheaus. If the Chicago Bears are serious about winning games, Burden’s role will likely increase as the season progresses. The time to add him is before that happens.
Aggressiveness Rating: 4.0
Tory Horton, WR, Seattle Seahawks
Rostered: 2%
Basically, anytime a wide receiver scores a touchdown, fantasy managers will be wondering if they should add him. Tory Horton caught one and had a second on a punt return.
TORY HORTON GOES 95 YARDS TO THE CRIB!
NOvsSEA on CBS/Paramount+https://t.co/HkKw7uXVnt pic.twitter.com/nwjvDYnnD2
— NFL (@NFL) September 21, 2025
Unfortunately, he still only earned four targets and remains the clear third option behind Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Cooper Kupp.
Horton is probably not worth adding, as he will need an injury in front of him to matter. Sam Darnold is playing reasonably well, but he cannot support three fantasy-relevant receivers.
Aggressiveness Rating: 1.0
Brenton Strange, TE, Jacksonville Jaguars
Rostered: 25%
Brenton Strange caught six of seven targets for 61 yards in the Jacksonville Jaguars’ Week 3 victory over Houston, serving as Trevor Lawrence’s most reliable option amidst the team’s offensive struggles.
The third-year tight end led the team in both receptions and receiving yards while posting an efficient 86% catch rate on his opportunities. His performance stood out in stark contrast to the disappointing showings from Brian Thomas Jr. and Travis Hunter.
With Lawrence unable to complete passes downfield consistently, he has increasingly relied on Strange as his safety valve underneath. Strange’s 82% snap rate indicates he’s firmly entrenched as Jacksonville’s primary tight end.
The tight end position remains a weekly struggle for fantasy managers, making Strange’s consistent target volume particularly valuable. His ability to break tackles and create yards after the catch was evident on his 13-yard reception, where he powered through multiple defenders. At the very least, Strange represents a viable streaming option with legitimate upside if Jacksonville’s passing game eventually finds its rhythm.
Aggressiveness Rating: 3.5
Chig Okonkwo, TE, Tennessee Titans
Rostered: 25%
Chig Okonkwo caught five of six targets for 66 yards in the Tennessee Titans’ Week 3 loss to Indianapolis, leading the team in both receptions and receiving yards. That marks consecutive games with six targets for the fourth-year tight end, demonstrating his growing role as Cam Ward’s reliable underneath option. His 83% catch rate on Sunday showcased the steady hands that have made him the quarterback’s security blanket through Tennessee’s early-season struggles.
The Titans, being one of the worst teams in the league, will keep Ward throwing frequently, as they’ve averaged 36 pass attempts through three games while playing from behind consistently.
With Calvin Ridley struggling to find consistency and the receiving corps still developing chemistry with their rookie quarterback, Okonkwo has emerged as Ward’s most trustworthy target in crucial situations.
That means enough volume to go around for a tight end position that remains starved for reliable options. At the very least, he represents a passable streaming option for those in need of tight end help, with legitimate upside if Tennessee’s passing offense continues to lean on his reliable route-running.
Aggressiveness Rating: 2.0
