NFL Waiver Wire: Week 4 Pickups

Another week is in the books and we head into the first bye week with both Washington and Carolina off. The big news on the waiver wire is the turnover at quarterback because of injury and a lack of production while some under-the-radar wide receivers made a big splash. Still, we haven't had a player yet that the majority of a FAAB budget should be thrown at but that week is likely coming in the near future.

If there are questions about the players mentioned or in general, feel free to hit up the comments section.



This column is geared toward "standard" 12-team leagues and based upon a $100 free-agent budget. Please, please adjust for your league based on both the number of teams (I'm in a 24-team league, for example) and budget. 

QUARTERBACK

Primary Targets

Baker Mayfield, CLE - It was announced Monday that the Baker Mayfield era in Cleveland is here after Hue Jackson took four days to "review the tape." Mayfield came in cold off the bench and without working with the starters all week to go 17-for-23 passing for 201 yards and no interceptions in Thursday's game. His numbers should have been better as among those six incompletions there were at least a couple bad drops (ahem, Jarvis Landry). Mayfield has a solid matchup this week against the Raiders and the defenses in the division have not looked that good this season. The only hesitation is the uncertainty of how much leash Mayfield will have, especially with Tyrod Taylor waiting in the wings FAAB: $4-$8

Secondary Targets

Josh Rosen, ARI - Like Mayfield, a rookie, Josh Rosen, replaced Sam Bradford after Bradford continually turned the ball over Sunday against the Bears. This was only a matter of time after the Cardinals used the 10th overall pick in this year's draft on Rosen. He has two great weapons in Larry Fitzgerald and David Johnson, so he'll have help as he goes through the ups and downs of his first year. The offense likely will utilize a short passing game playing to Rosen's strengths and hopefully make a concerted effort to get Johnson the ball more. FAAB: $2-$4

Hail Mary

C.J. Beathard, SF - Beathard really only has value in super-flex/two-quarterback leagues or deeper leagues now that Jimmy Garoppolo has been ruled out for the season with a torn ACL. Beathard's 6.4 YPA and 4:6 TD:INT ratios from 2017 don't instill a lot of confidence, but all starting quarterbacks have value in the leagues mentioned. Bye weeks are upon us as well, and there is the chance with his setup he could surprise in regular leagues if he takes another step forward in his second professional season. One sneaky aspect to his fantasy value is his rushing ability; he had three rushing touchdowns in seven games a season ago. FAAB: $1-$2; $10-$20 in super-flex/two-QB formats

RUNNING BACK

Secondary Targets

Javorius Allen - Allen has found the end zone in each of his first three games this season (four total) and is averaging just less than six targets in the passing game. It's obvious at this point the coaching staff trusts him to not put the ball on the ground, something with which teammate Alex Collins has had issues. Obviously, the touchdown rate is going to regress, and Allen will only do so much with about 10 touches per game. This makes it difficult to get overly excited about him in addition to his career 3.7 yards per carry showing a limited upside. FAAB: $2-$4

Hail Mary

Malcolm Brown, LAR/Chase Edmonds, ARI/Ronald Jones II, TB - Probably after this week Rashaad Penny will be added to this list as guys who should have a higher ownership. While owners sit there with a second defense or kicker on their team, these players are available and should be owned. If an injury happens takes out the starter, they'd would go straight into RB2 territory with the upside for more (think James Conner). Every Sunday before kickoff look at who's sitting on your bench and consider each player's upside. Putting one of these players on your bench now could pay off by saving you FAAB the week they become relevant or keeping a higher waiver-wire priority. FAAB: FCFS

Raheem Mostert, SF - Mostert was pressed into action with both Matt Breida and Alfred Morris suffering injuries in a loss to the Chiefs on Sunday. He played 17 snaps, catching his only target for eight yards. Mostert has been around the league, the 49ers being his fifth team in little more than three seasons. He has had more than a full season in the offense and is only an injury to Breida or Morris from being the "next man up." FAAB: FCFS

WIDE RECEIVER

Primary Targets

Calvin Ridley, ATL - It appears the Falcons have found a nice complement to Julio Jones. Here's a look at how the rookie has fared in his first three games as a pro:

• Week 1: 2 targets, 0 receptions, 0 receiving yards, 0 touchdowns
• Week 2: 5 targets, 4 receptions, 64 receiving yards, 1 touchdown
• Week 3: 8 targets, 7 receptions, 146 receiving yards, 3 touchdowns

Given the weekly improvement here's the projection for this week:

Week 4: 12 targets, 10 receptions, 204 receiving yards, 5 touchdowns

Seriously, Ridley is easily a No. 2 wide receiver in most formats and could end up on a lot of championship rosters given his potential. The plethora of injuries to the defense suggests that Atlanta could keep playing in high-scoring games, benefiting everyone on the offensive side of the ball. He's 44 percent owned in Yahoo leagues. FAAB: $15-$25

Mike Williams, LAC - Williams is only owned in 56 percent of Yahoo leagues yet has surpassed double digits fantasy points in PPR leagues in each of his first three games this season. He clearly has a good rapport with Philip Rivers, and after Keenan Allen he'll be the second-most effective fantasy receiver for the Chargers. Keep an eye on Allen's status this week after he left the field but returned during Sunday's loss to the Rams. He would be a little higher but the eventual return of Travis Benjamin could hurt Williams' value a little. FAAB: $4-$8

Secondary Targets

Tyler Boyd, CIN - Boyd had his second big game of the season Sunday, finishing with six catches for 132 yards and a touchdown while also rushing once for five yards. This production was largely the result of A.J. Green leaving the game early due to a groin injury. As of this writing, the extent of that injury is unknown, so Green could miss time or be back as soon as this weekend (he claimed he was fine after the game, but so did Derrius Guice). If Green is out, it's a great matchup for Boyd this weekend against a decimated Falcons secondary FAAB: $2-$4

Hail Mary

DeVante Parker, MIA - Jakeem Grant and Albert Wilson will get the waiver-wire buzz this week, but it's Parker who has the best upside of the trio. He has the size (6-foot-3) and speed (4.45 40) of a prototypical No. 1 wide receiver and had 96 targets in only 13 games last season. He'll be a bigger part of the offense now that he's past his finger injury, and it's hard to trust Grant or Wilson on a weekly basis. In deeper formats, Grant has more upside than Wilson and if your league counts return yardage it greatly increases his value. But it's Parker who'll make the biggest impact of the three the rest of the season. FAAB: $1-$2

Jordy Nelson, OAK - Tight coverage on Amari Cooper likely led to an increase in usage for Nelson, who saw a season-high seven targets from Derek Carr. Nelson looked like he should have went for a long touchdown but was caught from behind, suggesting he's slowed a step. He'll have a significant fantasy game like Sunday every once in a while, but it likely won't be consistent (five catches, 53 yards, zero touchdowns total in the first two games). In Yahoo leagues, he's already 52 percent owned. FAAB: $1-$2

TIGHT END

Secondary Targets

Dallas Goedert, PHI - The rookie out of South Dakota State caught his first professional touchdown Sunday, finishing with seven catches for 73. It's tough in a one-game sample to know if the difference in his production (one catch for four yards in two weeks with Nick Foles) was a result of playing with Carson Wentz, the weather, the depleted wide receiver corps or the Colts' defensive scheme. However, Wentz has had the tendency to throw to the position a lot (specifically Zach Ertz) in his first two seasons, which should continue. Alshon Jeffery will return at some point and Jordan Matthews is back in the fold, so that makes a lot of mouths to feed in the passing attack. FAAB: $2-$4