It’s hard to believe 3 weeks are already in the books this season. This is usually the point in the season when you get your first real idea of how a player’s season might turn out, making it a crucial week in the fantasy football world.
For this week’s waiver wire targets, I’m going to mention a few players who are over 50% owned in leagues but might be worth double-checking to make sure they aren’t taken. I’m going to analyze some players who are under 50% owned and should be under serious consideration for waiver selections, as well as a look at this week’s quarterback situation.
*% owned in terms of the Yahoo platform
Week 4 Waiver Wire Targets: Likely Available (Under 50% owned)
Hunter Renfrow, WR- LV (11%)
Hunter Renfrow has notched at least 6 targets in each of his games this season, turning into a solid 16 catches. Renfrow logged 77 yards and a TD in the Raiders’ overtime thriller win against a tough Miami air defense. Expect Renfrow’s ownership percentage to skyrocket as he has put up consistent WR3 numbers every week so far.
Tim Patrick, WR- DEN (23%)
Teddy Bridgewater and the Broncos have surprised many with a strong 3-0 start to the season. On Sunday, WR KJ Hamler went down with a torn ACL, adding to the unfortunate injury in Jerry Jeudy. With 2 of Denver’s starting receivers out for long amounts of time, QB Bridgewater will be depending on WRs Courtland Sutton and Tim Patrick to keep their offense alive. Patrick was just short of reaching the 100-yard mark this week but has a good chance of doing it multiple times throughout the remainder of the season now that he will be an every-snap guy.
Chuba Hubbard, RB- CAR (26%)
For the second consecutive season, superstar back Christian McCaffrey is down with an injury, and fantasy owners should be turning to his backup, Chuba Hubbard. Last season, we saw now Falcons RB Mike Davis emerge when McCaffrey went down, and now it’s Hubbards turn to show what he’s got. In just a small sample size, Hubbard racked up 79 total yards on 11 rushes and 3 catches. McCaffrey is expected to return in around 3 weeks, and Hubbard should be able to serve as a low-end RB2 this week as he gets a mouth-watering matchup against a struggling Dallas defense.
Kendrick Bourne, WR- NE (1%)
If you missed out on Jakobi Meyers, don’t worry, Kendrick Bourne could still satisfy your needs. James White was mainly used as a receiving back, and his absence opened up targets for both Meyers and Bourne. Bourne won’t be an immediate start, but there is certainly time to see how he will do, considering James White may not even return this season. Bourne picked up a TD on 6 catches for 96 yards in Week 3. When you figure some of James White’s 6.5 targets per game will be added into those numbers, Bourne becomes a valuable waiver pickup.
Evan Engram, TE- NYG (39%)
Evan Engram did not impress owners whatsoever in his season debut this week, however, he did have 6 targets and lost points on a fumble which will not happen often with Engram. The Giants lost Sterling Shepard, Darius Slayton, and almost Kenny Golladay due to injury which should open up targets for Engram. This week the Giants will face off against the Saints, who have been tough on TEs this season, but Engram gets a chance at a bounceback Week 5 against the Cowboys. With so many struggles at the Tight End position for yet another season, Engram is worth taking a look at to give you a shot at fixing your TE woes.
Peyton Barber, RB- LV (7%)
Despite the common belief that Kenyan Drake would be the featured back in the absence of Josh Jacobs, Peyton Barber out-touched Drake by 15 and rushed for 111 yards and a score in addition to 3 catches for 31 yards. Barber impressed us and will serve as a good plug-and-play in Week 4 for RB desperate fantasy managers. He will likely only be valuable for a week or two depending on when Josh Jacobs returns from his injury.
Josh Gordon, WR- KC (3%)
The former All-Pro Wide Receiver Josh Gordon was, once again, reinstated from his suspension and is signing with the Kansas City Chiefs. Josh Gordon will begin his time in Kansas City on the practice squad while he warms back up for the season and could eventually assume their WR2 position. Gordon may not be starting caliber for fantasy for a few weeks however but is worth calling dibs on before he heats up.
Week 4 Waiver Wire Targets: Worth a Look (over 50% owned)
Jakobi Meyers, WR- NE (58%)
Jakobi Meyers was serving as an okay depth position heading into Week 3, although he was being fed several targets in each of the first 2 weeks by rookie QB Mac Jones. Patriots RB James White suffered a hip subluxation, forcing Jones to throw the ball downfield more often. As expected, he found his top target of the season in Meyers a whopping 14 times, for 9 catches and almost 100 yards. Meyers has yet to find the end zone this season, but would most certainly be a top pickup if still available.
Cole Beasley, WR- BUF (53%)
In the first 2 weeks of the season, Beasley’s QB Josh Allen struggled to rack up touchdowns and especially yards, but things seem to have turned around for the 4th year QB, as he threw 4 TDs in the air while adding one on the ground. With Allen’s big step forward, his weapons will step forward as well, including Cole Beasley. Even though Stefon Diggs is still the premier receiver in Buffalo, Beasley hauled in 11 catches for 98 yards, while being targeted 13 times for the second time in just three weeks. Beasley can be a viable flex option most weeks but faces a tough Washington defense who gave up only 8 TDs to receivers last season.
Cordarrelle Patterson, WR/RB- ATL (66%)
Cordarrelle Patterson may be owned in almost 70% of leagues, but 52% of those leagues added him just within the last day, so there is still a great possibility you could snag the dual-threat player off waivers before other teams do. Patterson has been lining up as both an RB and a WR several times per game and has been succeeding at it, being a part of 33% of snaps in his increasing role. Patterson has logged 238 total yards and 2 TDs on 13 catches and 21 rushes this season. It is definitely worth double-checking his availability as he can be slotted into your lineup at both the WR, and RB positions.
Christian Kirk, WR- ARI (51%)
Christian Kirk just barely etched over the 50% line, so there is still a good chance he is available in your league. Kirk has played opposite Deandre Hopkins in the past, although he was limited and used as a decoy in Week 3 due to a rib injury, allowing Kirk to rack up 7 catches for over 100 yards. Even before Hopkins got hurt Kirk was still a valuable player, putting up 70 yards and 2 touchdowns in Week 1. Kirk has the potential to be a weekly flex starter going forward.
Week 4 Waiver Wire Targets: The Quarterbacks
This week the QB options on the waivers aren’t too plentiful, so I’m going to name 3 guys who I would put at the top of your lists. But this week, I would only pick up a quarterback if you absolutely need one.
Derek Carr- LV (53%)
There is a good chance Carr could already be owned in your league, but for teams looking for a new long-term QB he may just be your solution. The Raiders have had the 2nd most pass attempts in the NFL this season (only Tom Brady has more) and Carr is leading the league in passing yards to go with it (1203). Carr has been consistent with his PPG and looks like he may be in the process of returning to the Derek Carr we all used to know. If you need a QB AT ALL, Carr is definitely the way to go.
Daniel Jones- NYG (45%)
Daniel Jones has been an interesting player to watch in fantasy this season and could remain that way for the remainder of it. Jones had a solid Week 1, a great Week 2, and an underwhelming Week 3. Jones has struggled to throw a lot of TDs but is making up for it with 2 rushing TDs on the ground. Jones won’t make an immediate impact as the Giants take on the Saints and he has an injured receiving core, but next week Jones has a good matchup against the Dallas defense and could be useful in the long term.
Sam Darnold- CAR (22%)
Sam Darnold is looking much better than he ever has with the Jets and tossed 304 yards this past Sunday. The TDs haven’t exactly been there, but Darnold has been consistent with decent QB numbers. If your QB is hurt for just a couple of weeks, Darnold should be suitable as he has an easy schedule coming up. Darnold’s numbers haven’t been anything crazy, but you do know what you’re gonna get.
