Well we are done with the first week of 2024 action, so time to finetune your roster with our Week 4 Waiver Wire pickups.
Whisper it quietly, but it looks like we made it through week 3 without any major long-term injuries. Trey McBride and DeVonta Smith have both entered the concussion protocol, with Smith missing the remainder of Sunday night’s game after a gruesome late hit against the Saints. Detroit Lions’ sophomore tight end Sam LaPorta is listed as day-to-day with an ankle injury – so be sure to monitor his progress throughout the week.
Week 4 isn’t quite the smorgasbord of delights that were on offer last time out, but there’s some excellent value to be had in a trio of rookie running backs, as well as two wide receivers who both have found the end zone three times on the year already. Let’s take a look at who you should be spending your FAAB on this week…
Rules for Selection & Order Priority
For a player to be considered to be added, they have to:
- Have an rostered % of 50% or under on ESPN
- Players below are listed by their roster %, not priority. Know your league settings. If there is a high-priority add, you’ll know.
Geno Smith (SEA) 27.8% rostered
After finishing as the QB7 and QB5 in his opening two contests, week 3’s victory over Miami – and the QB19 performance that came with it – could be seen by some as a step backwards for Seattle’s Geno Smith…but all isn’t quite as it seems. The truth behind Geno’s disappointing fantasy day was simple – he wasn’t that good because he didn’t have to be that good. The Seahawks routed the hapless Dolphins 24-3, and as soon as Zach Charbonnet scampered into the endzone to give the birds a 10-0 lead midway though the first quarter…there was never any doubt as to how this one was going to end. Geno put up his most efficient passing game of the year so far, completing 77% of his attempts, giving him a stat-line of 289/1 – his solitary score being a 71-yard bomb to D.K. Metcalf as the clock hit triple-zeroes in the first half. Smith looks like the quarterback he was two seasons ago when he ended the year as the QB5 for fantasy – better days are ahead against much more challenging opposition.
Sam Darnold (MIN) 16.2% rostered
Another born-again quarterback who has also led their team to a 3-0 start to the year is the Minnesota Vikings’ Sam Darnold. The former No.3 overall pick may have only completed 61% of his passes for a measly 181-yards…but when four of those completions find pay-dirt, it’s going to be a good day for fantasy. Darnold has finished as a top-6 QB in back-to-back weeks and now gets to travel to Lambeau to face a Green Bay pass defense who gave up 260-yards and 2 touchdowns to Will Levis last time out. The Vikings added him to their injury report late on Monday with a knee bruise, but he should be good to go for the trip to Wisconsin. Darnold leads the league in touchdowns with eight, and should welcome back Jordan Addison to his receiving corps after recovering from an ankle injury he sustained in week 1. With Aaron Jones also looking spritely on the ground, this Vikings offense looks legit, as does their man under-center.
Also Consider – Justin Fields (PIT) 24.1% rostered, Andy Dalton (CAR) 1.4% rostered
Rico Dowdle (DAL) 37.4% rostered
Welcome to your weekly go pick up Rico Dowdle announcement. Admittedly, Sunday’s showing wasn’t the best from Rico, but that could be said about the entire Cowboy’s offense. Despite a spirited comeback in the 4th quarter, the Ravens’ lead was just too much for Dak and co to recoup, as the ‘Boys fell to a 28-25 defeat at home in Arlington. Trailing by 22-points after the opening drive of the second-half wasn’t exactly conducive to a productive fantasy day for the Dallas running backs, but Rico did still manage 56 all purpose yards compared to Ezekiel Elliot’s 12. Dowdle saw a healthy 62% of rushing attempts as well as 42% of running back targets against Baltimore – an encouraging trend for fantasy managers moving forward. Dallas will look to get back on track in week 4 when they head to the Big Apple for a divisional matchup against a Giants team who have given up the most yards on the ground to opposing backs. This could be Dowdle’s breakout week and potentially the last time he appears on this column…please go grab him.
Bucky Irving (TB) 32.8% rostered
As a Rachaad White manager in my main League of Record, this one pains me. I really want to defend White and how his workload, and his usage in the passing game makes him the back to roster in Tampa…but it’s getting to a point where even the most optimistic of White truther’s can’t peddle a convincing narrative anymore. The current RB1 for the Bucs actually recorded his most efficient game on the ground in the 26-7 defeat at home to the Broncos on Sunday…unfortunately his 2.8 Y/A (yes that is his season best) on 6 carries only amounted to 17 depressing yards on the ground. White half-salvaged his fantasy day by adding on 5 catches for 18-yards, but this latest lacklustre outing – combined with the increasingly impressive showings from rookie Bucky Irving – are troubling for the third-year back. Irving recorded 70-yards on his 9 carries, as well as a further 14-yards on 3 receptions. The transition has begun, with Bucs HC Todd Bowles commenting on Monday that Bucky has “earned more snaps going forward”. Grab Bucky while you can, he’s got league winning upside down the stretch.
Also Consider – Cam Akers (HOU) 35.0% rostered, Braelon Allen (NYJ) 28.0% rostered, Emanuel Wilson (GB) 1.9% rostered & Cordarrelle Patterson (PIT) 0.7% rostered.
Quentin Johnston (LAC) 42.7% rostered
This definitely feels like a trap…but screw it, I’m in! Johnston’s roster percent jumped a huge 36.5% last week following his two-touchdown performance against the Panthers in week 2, and with another trip to the end-zone against the Steelers during Sunday’s victory on the road in Pittsburgh – expect to see another bump for the man with the most receiving touchdowns in the NFL. Ok, technically he is T-1st with eight other receivers, and yes it’s only been three games…but roll with me here. The former 1st round draft pick saw a season high 80% of snaps on Sunday, but only 11% of the wide receiver targets – well behind rookie Ladd McConkey who led the team with a whopping 35%. Despite fewer looks, Johnston and McConkey both totted up 44-yards receiving, with the third-year wideout laying claim to the only touchdown of the game from Justin Herbert. This season could be a bumpy ride for Johnston – with the Chargers openly stating they want to be a run first offense…adding in Herbert’s injury worries, all receiving options on this team are high risk – but from what we’ve seen from Johnston so far this year, he can certainly also be high reward.
Jauan Jennings (SF) 36.0% rostered
It finally happened! After a tortuous rookie season, and a WR59 finish in week one of 2024, former first round pick Quentin Johnston was relevant for fantasy football. Johnston hauled in 5-of-6 targets from Justin Herbert for 51-yards and two touchdowns in the Chargers’ 26-3 win over the Carolina Panthers…woooooh! Ok, time to calm down and take stock, yes it was only the Panthers, but are we finally seeing the first-rounder that the Chargers thought they were getting exiting last year’s Draft…probably not – but he is definitely worth picking up and stashing on your bench for fantasy purposes. Johnston was an elite wideout at TCU, with many analysts having him at the top of their boards at the wide receiver position last April. He undoubtedly has the talent, and now might just be the time we get to see it.
Also Consider – Allen Lazard (NYJ) 34.3% rostered, Jalen Nailor (MIN) 4.0% rostered.
Cole Kmet (CHI) 26.1% rostered
The year of unpredictable tight end play continues. After Isaiah Likely’s breakout performance in week 1, and Hunter Henry finishing as the TE3 in week 2 – it was Cole Kmet’s turn to appear from nowhere and put up huge numbers at the position whilst sitting on everyone’s waiver wire. The fifth-year tight end saw a career high 11 targets in the Bears’ 21-16 loss in Indy on Sunday, hauling in 10 of those for 97-yards and a touchdown. Kmet will be a very boom/bust option for your roster each week – but if has gained the trust of rookie quarterback Caleb Williams, there could be more good weeks than bad. If you drafted Andrews, Kelce or LaPorta – Kmet is worth a bench stash, or even a start in week 4.
Mike Gesicki (CIN) 3.5% rostered
It wasn’t a vintage performance from Ertz on Monday Night Football. Ertz had a respectable 5 receptions for 38 scoreless yards, as the Commanders edged the Bengals in a high-scoring back-and-forth contest – eventually emerging victorious with a score of 38-33. The veteran tight end played second fiddle only to Terry McLaurin in the Washington passing game, on a night where the ground attack – in the form of three rushing touchdowns – was enough to secure the win on the road in Ohio. Ertz will continue to see a handful or targets every week, and with rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels under center, provides a safety blanket should the speedster be unable to scramble out of the pocket. As with Kmet, if you drafted TE early and it’s not panning out – Ertz is a safe bet for a half a dozen targets every week.
Also Consider –
Tyler Conklin (NYJ) 27.7% & Brenton Strange (JAX) 12.9% rostered
There you have it! Any questions, or want some more specific help for your league on who to drop, just reach out. Reach out on social media, you can find us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Or jump into our Discord server. And checkout out rankings for each Week.
