Waiver Wire Watch: Week 4 Targets

Sep 28, 2020

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After a week filled with injuries, the football gods blessed us with a week full of scoring, as 14 teams hit the 30-point mark (not counting Monday Night Football). That elevated scoring created more opportunities for some young players, many of whom appear below. Some positions are more loaded than others this week, so be sure to take this analysis to heart, survey your league, and make the appropriate free agent budget and priority spends.

Recommendations are based on a PPR-scoring, four-point passing touchdown, 12-team league, with ownership percentages coming from Yahoo. I try to mention when a player is a better streaming play (short-term/one-week starter) versus a long-term addition. Free-agent acquisition budget (FAAB) suggestions are based on a $100 season-long budget. Lastly, the great John Paulsen will edit this article every week and adjust rankings and prices if necessary. Essentially, you’re getting two minds collaborating on this piece instead of one, so lucky you.

Chat w/ Alex Gelhar! We have an exciting new opportunity for 4for4 subscribers. Every Tuesday at either 12 p.m. or 5 p.m. ET I'll be hosting an hour-long AMA (ask me anything) in our Discord server, answering your waiver-wire and general fantasy football questions. Hit this link to join the server and get direct access to me and other actual perks. Learn more about Discord here.

Now, with that out of the way, here are some players to target heading into Week 4.

Quarterbacks

Baker Mayfield, Browns
Kirk Cousins, Vikings
Ryan Fitzpatrick, Dolphins
Derek Carr, Raiders
Teddy Bridgewater, Panthers

Baker Mayfield, Browns, 44% rostered ($3)

The Browns want to run the football to win in 2020, as they’ve notched 35-plus carries in each of their two wins this season. However, that formula probably won’t work against the Cowboys high-flying offense in Week 4. Mayfield has been dropped in plenty of leagues, but could be forced to take to the air in Week 4. He has talent all around him so he could put up big numbers in what might quickly turn into a shootout.

Kirk Cousins, Vikings, 34% rostered ($2)

Cousins bounced back in a big way after a disastrous Week 2 performance, as he threw for 251 yards and three touchdowns. Part of Cousins’ rebirth came thanks to the emergence of rookie Justin Jefferson (more on him below). Cousins and co. have a nice matchup next week against a Texans secondary that has struggled to stop anyone this year.

Ryan Fitzpatrick, Dolphins, 7% rostered ($2)

Fitzpatrick put on a show on Thursday night, tossing two touchdowns and rushing for a third. The Dolphins will face a much tougher opponent next week when they face the Seahawks and that high-flying offense. Fitzpatrick will likely be forced into a pass-heavy game script against a vulnerable Seahawks defense that is allowing 440 passing yards per game. If you’re worried about your starting passer this week, Fitzpatrick is streamable.

Derek Carr, Raiders, 19% rostered ($2)

Carr hasn’t exactly lit up the scoreboard in fantasy aside from Week 2 (three touchdowns against the Saints), but he might have an opportunity against the Bills in Week 4. The BIlls offense can put up points with the best of them, but their defense has been gashed in back-to-back weeks by Ryan Fitzpatrick (328 yards, two touchdowns) and Jared Goff (321 yards, 3 total touchdowns). This is a deeper play, but Carr could be a nice streamer or DFS value in what might turn into a shootout, as the last two Bills’ games have.

Teddy Bridgewater, Panthers, 17% rostered ($1)

Bridgewater has competently led the Panthers offense, but could potentially hit it big in Week 4 against the Cardinals. Arizona’s defense isn’t exactly an elite unit, and Matt Rhule has been scheming up open receivers for Bridgewater to hit. He’s a deeper play, but those looking for a streamer or a cheaper option in DFS could dial up Bridgewater. The Cardinals should put up points against Carolina, likely forcing the Panthers into a pass-heavy script as well.