Week 3 brought another wave of injuries. If your roster took a hit, we’re here to help you find the best answers on the Week 4 waiver wire.
We’ve also got a streaming defense to target and several underperforming players you can consider dropping.
(These guys are generally available in at least 70% of ESPN leagues. Your bid should vary by format and situation. Need help at RB? Prioritize that position. All set there? Then you probably don’t need to chase the top guys.)
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Priority Targets of the Week
Braelon Allen, RB, Jets
Blind Bid Recommendation: 8-15%
What Changed?
Lead RB Breece Hall went down with a quad injury late in the Jets Week 3 loss. He accounted for a 62.9% carry share and 10.3% target share through the first three weeks.
We don’t know exactly how long Hall will remain out, but the early “week to week” prognosis points to the starter likely missing at least Week 4.
What’s the Outlook?
Allen has notably already been playing in passing situations, earning a 5.2% target share through the first three weeks. That doubles last year’s 2.6% target share.
After Hall left the game with 11:36 remaining in the fourth quarter, Allen handled the final three rushing attempts, while RB Isaiah Davis didn’t see the field. In fact, Davis has yet to play an offensive snap this year.
Allen projects to play a voluminous role for a positive matchup at Chicago if Hall sits this week. We’ll see about the outlook beyond that, but Hall will retain some re-injury risk after he returns. That’ll help Allen’s value going forward.
Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Jets
Blind Bid Recommendation: 10-15%
What Changed?
The rookie TE hauled in 7 receptions for 105 yards and a TD in Sunday’s loss to the Lions. How’s that for a breakout game?
Sadiq took full advantage of the absence of WR Adonai Mitchell and TE Mason Taylor, posting 23.5 PPR points for his second top-12 finish in three weeks.
What’s the Outlook?
We’ll see when Mitchell and Taylor are able to return, but the Jets should continue to look for ways to involve Sadiq. The highest-drafted TE in the class already ranks 13th at the position in PPR points per game.
Sadiq is earning solid volume: a 14.5% target share that ranks 17th among all TEs. Since 2006, just 17 rookie TEs have commanded at least a 14% target share. Doing so just three games into his career, at a position where rookie’s volume historically increases as the season progresses, makes it even more impressive.
The Jets other first round pick from this past draft, Omar Cooper could be returning as soon as Week 6. Cooper has a 30-yard reception on the one route he’s run this season.
But even with the first-round rookie WR coming back into the fold, Sadiq has TE1 upside the rest of the way.
Deep-League Options
Geno Smith, QB, Jets
Blind Bid Recommendation: 5-8%
What Changed?
Smith delivered 321 passing yards and 3 TDs against Detroit, completing 31 of 37 pass attempts in the Week 3 loss. The Jets QB added 12 yards on the ground to cap off his first QB1 performance of the season.
What’s the Outlook?
Smith never hit 300 passing yards and 3 TDs in the same game in his lone year with the Raiders, so it’s fair to say he’s in a better place.
The QB’s benefiting from good surrounding talent and has supported top-12 scoring for both Garrett Wilson and Kenyon Sadiq so far.
Smith took advantage of a favorable matchup against the Lions and has another in Week 4. Even after limiting the Vikings in a weather-impacted Week 2 and the Eagles in a shockingly one-sided Monday-night win, Chicago ranks a mere 17th in defensive DVOA.
Smith is a viable spot starter for deeper leagues.
Deshaun Watson, QB, Browns
Blind Bid Recommendation: 3-5%
What Changed?
Watson entered the week fifth among QBs in fantasy points and turned in another useful outing in the win over the Panthers. He completed 16 of 30 pass attempts for just 144 yards but tossed 2 TDs without an INT and added 45 rushing yards for a QB19 finish (depending on your format).
What’s the Outlook?
After not producing 2 TDs in a game since Week 3 of 2024, Watson has now done so in back-to-back weeks against the Buccaneers and Panthers.
The Browns QB is averaging 7.2 yards per pass attempt this season, which ranks 19th among all QBs and looks far better than the 6.0 YPA over his first three years with the Browns.
It’s still been three seasons since Watson has delivered a QB1 week, so we’ll need to see more before considering using him in 1-QB lineups. But he’s worth stashing for teams in need of QB help.
Ollie Gordon, RB, Dolphins
Blind Bid Recommendation: 10-15%
What Changed?
RB De’Von Achane exited Sunday’s game against the Chiefs early in the first quarter with a torn right ACL. That left Gordon as the team’s lone RB, and he finished with a career-high 17 carries for 41 yards and a TD plus 3 catches for 14 yards.
What’s the Outlook?
Gordon finished Week 3 with 14.5 PPR points, 13th at the position for the week.
It marked the first time Gordon has exceeded 10 carries in an NFL game, though he did so in 24 of his 39 games at Oklahoma State.
RB Jaylen Wright was inactive with a stinger and foot injury and remains uncertain for Week 4, but he did put in two limited practices before missing last week’s game. The Dolphins also have RBs Jarquez Hunter and Carlos Washington on the practice squad.
Gordon projects to at least lead Miami’s backfield for a difficult Week 4 matchup with the Vikings. That factor plus the uncertain longer-term touch outlook in a weak offense have us below market in pursuing Gordon on waivers this week.
He’s fine if you can get him for a reasonable price. Just don’t go too high in seeking to beat the rest of your league.
Alvin Kamara and Kendre Miller, RBs, Saints
Blind Bid Recommendation: 8-10%
What Changed?
RB Travis Etienne is going to miss time with a hamstring injury. It’s not yet clear how much, but the injury leaves Kamara and Miller atop the team’s depth chart.
What’s the Outlook?
After Etienne left midway through the third quarter against the Raiders, Kamara accounted for 6 carries to Miller’s 4. While Kamara didn’t account for a target after Etienne left, he produced six playing alongside him the week before.
Kamara led the team with 9 carries for the game, going for 36 yards and adding another 5 yards on 1 reception. Miller handled 4 carries for 14 yards and hauled in two of his three targets for 5 yards
Neither guy is truly exciting with RB C.J. Donaldson still playing a third-down role.
But there should be enough touch volume for Kamara, who handled nine rush attempts in each of the Saints last two games, to put him in RB3 consideration. Especially in an offense that ranks eighth in yards and 11th in scoring.
Miller isn’t as high of a priority, but his even split with Etienne in Week 1 still signals RB3 upside for the time being.
Keenan Allen, WR, Colts
Blind Bid Recommendation: 10-15%
What Changed?
Sunday marked the first game without WR Alec Pierce, and the Colts sent 83% of targets to Allen, Josh Downs, or Tyler Warren. Allen accounted for 25.7%, turning 9 targets into 6 receptions for 63 yards and a TD.
What’s the Outlook?
Allen ended Week 3 with 18.3 PPR points, good for a WR2 finish. It was also his highest PPR score since Week 7 of last year, when Allen actually faced the Colts as a Charger.
The 14th-year WR has accounted for at least a 20% target share in two of the first three games. His 21.3% target share for the season ranks 36th among all WRs.
Allen should continue to see useful volume at least until Pierce is healthy, and the next three weeks include positive matchups with the Commanders and Titans (plus a tougher spot at Pittsburgh).
Malik Washington, WR, Dolphins
Blind Bid Recommendation: 5-10%
What Changed?
Just two weeks after tying his career-high 8 targets, Washington drew 10 targets in the Week 3 loss. The third-year WR hauled in five for 56 yards against the Chiefs, adding 5 rushing yards on two attempts en route to a top-40 PPR finish
What’s the Outlook?
After commanding a 28.6% target share against the Chiefs, Washington is one of just 10 WRs to achieve at least a 20% target share in each week of the season. He’s now up to a 27.1% target share on the season, ranking 11th among all WRs.
Despite the high volume, Washington has yet to crack 12 PPR points in a game this season. That’s due in large part to his lack of TDs. No other WR with a target share of 26% or higher has failed to find the end zone.
That figures to remain an issue in a Dolphins offense that has thrown the fewest pass TDs this season. But Washington’s volume keeps him intriguing for PPR, and De’Von Achane’s injury could make him even more central to short-range passing while also adding a few more carries to Washington’s load. (He has 3 rushing attempts for the season and 25 in his three-year career.)
Tre Harris, WR, Chargers
Blind Bid Recommendation: 5-10%
What Changed?
Harris was about the only thing working for a Chargers offense that scored just 1 TD Sunday against a Bills D that had given up eight over the first two games.
He led the team with 7 targets, hauling in 6 for 76 yards on his way to a WR27 PPR finish.
What’s the Outlook?
Harris set personal highs in targets, catches, yards, and PPR points against Buffalo. That should help to keep him involved in an offense that has struggled through three weeks.
Harris has accounted for at least a 20% target share in two of the first three games while running just eight fewer routes than Quentin Johnston (82-74).
Johnston caught just three of his 6 targets for 40 yards against the Bills and is now averaging just 3.8 yards per target on the season, 72nd among all WRs.
It wouldn’t be surprising if Harris starts taking snaps from Johnston in a passing offense looking for answers. He’s a nice stash while the Chargers figure things out.
Darren Waller, TE, Panthers
Blind Bid Recommendation: 5-8%
What Changed?
Waller caught 2 TDs in an 18.3-point Week 2 that landed him fifth at the position in PPR. But Sunday’s 10.1 PPR points offer more promise when projecting ahead.
Waller led the team in both targets and receptions in the loss to the Browns, catching 5 of 8 targets for 51 yards.
What’s the Outlook?
The 12th-year TE accounted for a 19.0% target share in Week 3, a sizable leap from his previous 9.4% the week before. It also ranked 13th among all TEs on the week.
He’ll have a hard time sustaining that level if Jalen Coker rebounds quickly from his quad injury. But there’s room for Waller to stay plenty involved this week against the Lions if Coker sits.
Waller’s route participation increased from 47.7% over the first two weeks to 58.5% at Cleveland. He leads all Carolina TEs in routes for the season and has spent 78.9% of his pass snaps either in the slot (52.6%, according to PFF) or out wide (26.3%).
That means the Panthers are deploying him more like a WR than a TE.
Tyler Higbee, TE, Rams
Blind Bid Recommendation: 1-3%
What Changed?
Terrance Ferguson led Rams TEs in route participation in Week 2, but an ankle injury sapped nearly all of his playing time in the loss to Denver.
Higbee took advantage, jumping from 11.8% the week prior to 75.0%. The veteran turned that into 8 catches for 62 yards and a TD on 11 targets.
What’s the Outlook?
Week 3 marked the third straight week that the Rams had a different scoring leader at TE. Davis Allen led the room in Week 1, Ferguson did it in Week 2, and Higbee took over in Week 3 to drop his highest-scoring game since Week 16 of 2022.
Higbee hasn’t gone totally quiet since then, though, and did hit double digits for PPR three times last season and in each of his final three appearances in 2024.
If Ferguson remains out through Week 4 — and especially if WR Puka Nacua’s also not ready — then Higbee will carry upside into Sunday’s visit to Philadelphia.
Upside Stashes
Jaylen Wright, RB, Dolphins
Blind Bid Recommendation: 8-12%
What Changed?
De’Von Achane’s ACL tear leaves behind 38 touches from his two full games this season.
What’s the Outlook?
It’s complicated.
Wright missed Sunday’s game with a foot injury and a stinger. He logged two limited practices before sitting out last Friday and drawing a doubtful tag.
Now, we’ll see if he can return for Week 4. But his chance to carve out a meaningful share of the backfield, with upside for lead-back work, makes Wright worth a speculative add.
That’s especially true when you position his advanced metrics vs. his main backfield competition, Ollie Gordon.
Since the start of last season, Wright leads Gordon in several advanced metrics:
| Success Rate | 51.4% | 45.7% |
| YAC/Att | 3.44 | 2.10 |
| MTF/Att | 0.20 | 0.143 |
| PFF Rush Grade | 74.7 | 70.0 |
We’ll monitor the news on Wright’s health, but see if you can snag him now at a discount compared to Gordon.
Najee Harris, RB, Giants
Blind Bid Recommendation: 5-10%
What Changed?
The Giants shook up their backfield in Week 3 by making Devin Singletary a healthy scratch. Tyrone Tracy barely factored in, finishing with 1 carry for 3 yards.
Harris instead filled the backup role, taking 9 carries to Cam Skattebo’s 20. The former Steeler didn’t draw a target, but his 5.8 yards per carry easily topped Skattebo’s 3.0.
What’s the Outlook?
That usage puts Harris in position to gain the most if Skattebo misses time. And Skattebo’s physical style certainly helps the contingent upside in that role. That makes Harris a stash in deeper formats.
Tyler Goodson, RB, Cowboys
Blind Bid Recommendation: 3-5%
What Changed?
The Cowboys signed Goodson off the Falcons’ practice squad on Sept. 15.
Less than two weeks later, he handled 6 carries (for 22 yards) and 1 target (for -5 yards) in Sunday’s close loss to Baltimore. Prior No. 2 RB Emari Demercado was a healthy scratch.
What’s the Outlook?
Goodson doesn’t profile as a workhorse if Williams goes down. At 5’9 and 197 pounds, he has only two NFL games with more than 8 carries. Still, his 4.42 speed gives him some appeal, and he showed pass-catching chops at Iowa with 70 receptions over three seasons.
That makes Goodson more of a speculative stash than a priority add, even for managers rostering Williams.
Injuries to Note
- Jayden Daniels (elbow)
- Rico Dowdle (toe)
- Travis Etienne (hamstring)
- Justin Jefferson (ankle)
- Puka Nacua (groin)
- Mike Evans (ribs)
- Jalen Coker (quad)
- Adonai Mitchell (finger)
- Jalen McMillan (knee)
- Mark Andrews (hand)
- Terrance Ferguson (ankle)
Top 10 RB Handcuffs
- Blake Corum
- Emmett Johnson
- Kyle Monangai
- Kaelon Black
- Mike Washington Jr.
- Tank Bigsby
- Kenneth Gainwell
- Brian Robinson Jr.
- Sione Vaki
- Justice Hill
Top Streaming Defense
Packers (at Buccaneers)
Rostered: 32%
The Packers have not played well on defense so far this season. They rank 26th in defensive DVOA after giving up 35 points to the Falcons and 39 points to the Vikings (sandwiching a 17-point performance by the Jets).
This certainly isn’t a D you’d target in normal circumstances (at least until Micah Parsons returns from the PUP list). But Baker Mayfield’s dislocated right thumb changes this matchup.
The Bucs’ offense had already been struggling, ranking 27th in yards and 23rd in offensive points per game (plus an INT return for a TD on defense). Now it’ll start undrafted rookie QB Jalon Daniels, who threw 19 INTs over his last two years at Kansas. Daniels completed only 59.6% of his passes over that period, facing far weaker defenses than he’ll find in the NFL.
The Packers are 3.5-point favorites. If they jump to an early lead, that would only increase the pressure on Daniels and potentially drive up the passing volume. That could lead to sacks and turnovers, making them a worthwhile defense for this week alone.
Top Streaming Kickers
- Daniel Carlson
- Tyler Bass
- Will Reichard
Drop Candidates
Justin Herbert, Chargers
Herbert’s weekly fantasy finishes have gone QB23, QB24, and QB22. Next comes a tough stretch of games that includes the Seahawks, Broncos, Chiefs, Rams, Texans, and Ravens.
Tyjae Spears, Titans
Spears has just a 20.3% carry share through three weeks. And that’s on an awful Tennessee offense that’s managed 10, 20, and 7 points in matchups with the Jets, Eagles, and Giants.
Quentin Johnston, Chargers
Johnston hasn’t delivered a usable fantasy week yet, posting PPR totals of 3.7, 2.4, and 7.0. He sits just 40th in target share through three games, and the schedule ahead remains difficult. That makes him an easy drop for a player showing more reliable usage or production.
Jalen McMillan, Buccaneers
McMillan is expected to miss 6-8 weeks with a left PCL sprain. It’s an aggravation of an injury from training camp and makes him an easy drop outside of the deepest fantasy formats.