Top Players to Add in Week 4
A good draft makes a good team, but leagues are won and lost on the waiver wire. Injuries happen, and stars emerge from the ashes. Successfully navigating the waters of the waiver wire will lead to a winning season. Here are my top five targets this week to help you navigate through the wire.
1. De’Von Achane, MIA – This segment practically writes itself. De’Von Achane just scored 51 points. You should add him. Now, I don’t think he’s scoring 50 every week going forward. Achane will probably continue to split carries with Raheem Mostert, who out-snapped him 51% to 41%. Achane did have the edge in rushing attempts 18 to 13. What excites me most about Achane is his speed, we may have found someone fast enough to keep up with Tyreek Hill. According to NFL Next Gen Stats, Achane logged the number 1 and number 5 top speed on plays this week. I expect the Bills defense to be a much greater adversary than the Broncos defense, but I still expect Achane to get his going forward.
2. Tank Dell, HOU – Bring out the big guns, the Tanks on the loose. Tank Dell led the Texans in targets for the second straight week. He also has a touchdown catch in those same two weeks. C.J. Stroud has the green light to sling it and it seems like Tank is his weapon of choice. If I missed out on the Puka sweepstakes I’m looking at Tank as a solid alternative.
3. Adam Thielen, CAR – This is for my Yahoo readers where Adam Thielen is currently rostered 47% of leagues, allowing him to hit the under 50% threshold I traditionally try to adhere to. Call it the Red Rocket bump, but Thielen looked like his old self in Week 3, he brought in 11 of his 14 targets for 145 yards and a touchdown. Thielen has a revenge game against his former team the Vikings this upcoming week. Even when Bryce Young returns from injury I expect Thielen to remain the number 1, giving him long-term value.
4. Quentin Johnston, LAC – With Mike Williams out for the year those targets have to go somewhere. I expect it will really be a bump for the already productive Keenan Allen as well as Austin Ekeler (whenever he returns), but I like the upside of rookie Quentin Johnston. Johnston was selected 21st overall in the 2023 draft. He’s got the size and speed of a prototypical WR 6’4″ and a 4.3 40-yard dash. At the start of the year, I expected Johnston to be eased into the offense. His snap count is still low (27%, 15%, and 24% in weeks 1, 2, and 3 respectively) but I have high hopes for the young man. If I have a 2-1 or a 3-0 record and don’t need the help now I would drop an underperformed for him.
5. Marvin Mims Jr., DEN – Here’s another player I would target if I were 2-1 or better. I’m not excited to roster an offensive Bronco, but Marvin Mims Jr. has shown promise. Another rookie with low snap counts (27%, 24%, and 24% in weeks 1, 2, and 3 respectively), but one making the best of his time. His 5 targets and 73 yards in Week 3 were third only trailing Courtland Sutton and Jerry Jeudy. The number three option in Denver does not sound enticing, I get it, but I see potential in the rookie worth a stash over someone like Khalil Herbert.
Others Receiving Votes
Joshua Palmer, LAC (1% ESPN, 2% Yahoo) – I mentioned above that I like Quentin Johnston to pick up the slack in the absence of Williams. That’s still true, but if Johnston is rostered or you want some variety I would take a peek at Joshua Palmer. Palmer had plenty of opportunities last year in weeks Kenan Allen was banged up and never really took advantage. I have no reason to believe Palmer will take advantage this time around, but if you do, take a chance.
Roschon Johnson, CHI (33% ESPN, 48% Yahoo) – The Bears are a mess right now, but they’ll also have had a tough schedule. Week 1 against a Green Bay team that always owns them, Week 2 against Tampa Bay (second straight week playing a Bay team) featuring a tough front four and solid defense overall, and then the reigning Super Bowl champions with Travis Kelce playing extra hard to show off in front of Taylor Swift. Roschon Johnson has seen his snap count increase for three straight weeks (39%, 42%, 45%). Week 3 was his first time with more rushing attempts than backfield mate Khalil Herbert (8 to 7). The Bears play the Broncos this week who just gave up 70 points. If I’m in a deeper league or I’m really impacted by RB injuries, I entertain the idea of starting Johnson this week.
Ezekiel Elliott, NE (47% ESPN, 43% Yahoo) – A quick note is that I’m a certified Rhamondre Stevenson hater. I think he’s a phony and will never be a consistent RB1. All that being said, I have my eyes on Ezekiel Elliott. Stevenson out-snapped and out-carried Zeke, but Zeke finished with more yards (80 to 59). This week proved to me that Zeke still has some left in the tank. And the cherry on top, Zeke and the Patriots return to Dallas for a revenge game this week.
Streaming Positions
Tight End
Gerald Everett, LAC (33% ESPN, 31% Yahoo) gets a little bump with the injury to Mike Williams. Luke Musgrave, GB (13% ESPN, 18% Yahoo) is coming off of 8 targets in Week 3. He has at least 49 yards in two of three games this year. Jake Ferguson, DAL (19% ESPN, 41% Yahoo) has a top-12 finish in each of the last two weeks.
Quarterback
C.J. Stroud, HOU (11% ESPN, 20% Yahoo) has thrown for 904 passing yards, that’s the most for a rookie’s first three games ever. He’s done that while adding 4 touchdowns and 0 interceptions. I think Stroud is getting slept on and could finish as a top-12, dare I say top-10, QB.
Jameis Winston, NO (0% ESPN, 0% Yahoo) has the rare double-goose-egg rostered percentage. With Derek Carr’s injury leaving his status up in the air, why not take a flyer on the only QB to have a 30 TD/30 INT season in NFL history.
Defense
Browns (20%) just flat-out look good. Their defense has scored at least 7 points in each of the first three weeks and they face a Ravens team riddled with injuries.
Bengals (47%) face a Tennessee team that looks allergic to offense. They’ve also scored at least 6 in each of the first three weeks, coming off 11 points facing the Rams.
(Photo by Peter Joneleit/Icon Sportswire)