Did you grab Jauan Jennings last week? Do you need running back help? It’s already Week 4 of the fantasy football season, and waivers are still full of potential lineup solutions. Plus, worries, power ups and streamers.
HEADS UP
- Players must be under 60% rostered on Yahoo
- Listed in order of preference — I’ll regularly prioritize potential upside over immediate replacement production
- RB backups have a separate secondary list based on only if the lead option got hurt
- No FAB suggestions: It varies wildly by league tendencies and always relative (ex: if you lost your RB1 to injury and there is a clear backup, you’re going to be more aggressive)
- Streaming QB and TE are grouped together — weekly ranking can change once projections/ranks run — DST could shift a bit too
- Emojis for brevity
- 😏 = mentioned multiple times, multiple weeks — either you want him, or don’t
- 🫡 = Next Man Up but with deeper startability
WORRY REPORT
(Scale 1-5: more ducks = more worry)
- Jared Goff, DET — 🦆🦆🦆 — After watching this game again, I noticed the Cardinals sitting in zone, and Jared Goff was missing a decent chunk of his throws in the second half. Interestingly, the Cardinals ran zone 80.9% of the time in Week 3 after 68.2% in the first two weeks. More interestingly, Goff has historically been better against zone than man coverage. This year however, Goff has a 65.6 Comp% and 6.8 AirYD/ATT compared to 69.5% and 7.6 the three previous seasons, and he’s actually posting 73.3% and 8.0 versus man this year. Short version? The first three weeks have shown Goff to be different from the Goff we knew, particularly indoors, and defenses look to have adjusted to his tendencies with more shell/nickel/dime zone. It’s similar to when Goff was on the Rams and defenses delayed showing formations until the helmet communication clicked off. I’m not panicking, but I’m not certain we have “elite indoors Goff” this year.
- Rams WRs — 🦆 to 🦆🦆🦆🦆 — Demarcus Robinson’s role didn’t and wasn’t going to change, but the Cooper Kupp and/or Puka Nacua role was up for grabs. Turns out, it wasn’t Tyler Johnson or Jordan Whittington. In fact, both fell behind Tutu Atwell, and Whittington dropped to fourth after replacing Kupp last week. Robinson will remain boom/bust, and he has just one duck given we knew that. However, Johnson gets four, and Whittington gets five. Atwell? Well, check below.
- Dolphins WRs — 🦆🦆 to ♾🦆 — We can only hope Tyler Huntley steps under center until Tua Tagovailoa returns (if at all). The injury to Skylar Thompson opens the door, but it’s not a guarantee Huntley is ready after signing him last week. If Huntley starts, Tyreek Hill goes from four ducks with Thompson to two, and Jaylen Waddle drops the Infinity Duck for three. If it’s not Huntley, then we’re back to major worries and only Hill being playable.
POWER UP PLAYERS
(Scale 1-5: more mushrooms = more excitement)
- Diontae Johnson, WR, CAR — 🍄🍄🍄🍄 — Let’s not forget Andy Dalton’s struggles two years ago with the Saints. Yes, things are markedly better than they were with Bryce Young, but let’s just be happy Johnson is back to his fringe Top 20 WR rank, despite his Top 10 Week 3.
- Darnell Mooney, WR, ATL — 🍄🍄 — Mooney has sat on waivers since the preseason, so his Power Up is relative to if/when you bought into his value. Mooney is a nice boom/bust WR4, and since I had him as such, he’s a mere two Power Up Mushrooms for me now that Kirk Cousins is looking close to 100%.
- Cole Kmet, TE, CHI — 🍄🍄 to 🍄🍄🍄🍄 — This all hinges on Keenan Allen. While the good news is Kmet saw a season-high 73.2 Route%, Allen being out helped his TmTGT% get to 22.9. If Allen is out, Kmet will be in the Top 10 discussion. If Allen returns, Kmet is back to the tight end landscape filled with “well, sure, maybe he can put up double-digit points … maybe.”
STREAMING QUARTERBACKS
- Justin Fields, PIT (at IND)
- Sam Darnold, MIN (at GB)
- Andy Dalton, CAR (vs CIN)
- Geno Smith, SEA (at DET)
- Daniel Jones, NYG (vs DAL)
- Aaron Rodgers, NYJ (vs DEN)
- Kirk Cousins, ATL (vs NO)
- Deshaun Watson, CLE (at LV)
WAIVER WIRE RUNNING BACK RANKS
- Chuba Hubbard, CAR — Hubbard is both a pickup if dropped in your league and a potential sell-high with Jonathon Brooks debuting soon.
- Cam Akers, HOU — Like last week, he’s only here if Joe Mixon and Dameon Pierce are out. If Mixon returns, Akers is off the list. If only Pierce returns, Akers and Pierce would be dicey RB3s like the Browns were.
- Braelon Allen, NYJ — In the Tyler Allgeier conversation of weekly RB3 potential with tremendous upside if needed for injury.
- Bucky Irving, TB — Can you hear it? That’s me running around the house in celebration as Todd Bowles said Irving deserves more touches.
- Rico Dowdle, DAL — Same as last week — an RB3 with hope for more if the Cowboys give him workhorse volume.
- Tyler Allgeier, ATL — 🫡
- Samaje Perine, KC — While Carson Steele is the guy, if the Chiefs were passing more (or something happened to Steele), Perine would be startable — at least, until someone else enters the chat.
- Ty Chandler, MIN — 🫡
- Justice Hill, BAL — 😏
- Roschon Johnson, CHI — Looks like the most explosive Bears running back … not that it matters a ton with that offensive line, but stashes are stashes.
- Emanuel Wilson, GB — Looking as good as we hoped MarShawn Lloyd would be behind Josh Jacobs, so if anything happened to Jacobs, we have a possible RB2.
- Tyrone Tracy, NYG — 🫡 Cutting into the workload and flashing the upside people were excited for after the Giants took him in the NFL Draft.
- Antonio Gibson, NE — 🫡
- Isaac Guerendo, SF — First, it’s the 49ers, second, Guerendo is next up until Christian McCaffrey is back and third, Guerendo’s style is a perfect fit for the Kyle Shanahan offense.
- Kareem Hunt, KC — Would it shock anyone if Hunt gets activated and into the mix?
- D’Onta Foreman, CLE — I’m done with the Browns. Yes, Foreman over Jerome Ford was the wrong call … for Week 3. Thinking the Browns would be in control and riding Foreman was the real mistake, but there is zero predictability for when the Browns should be leading or trailing.
- Jaylen Wright, MIA — Deeper stash with Raheem Mostert nearing a return and the quarterback situation, but if Mostert misses time again, or even De’Von Achane gets hurt, saddle up.
- Kenneth Gainwell, PHI — Will Shipley isn’t even in the mix.
MEH, I’LL PASS
- Alexander Mattison, LV — Look below. I don’t want ANY Raiders running back.
- Miles Sanders, CAR — Brooks is eligible to return soon, and Sanders isn’t going to score each week.
- Tyler Badie, DEN — Look below x2. Broncos running backs? They’re all 🦆💩
DUMPSVILLE
(order I’d drop)
- Zamir White, LV — No, we never thought White was an RB1 like he was late last year. No, we also never thought Antonio Pierce would go committee and use Mattison as his goal-line option.
- Ezekiel Elliott, DAL — Washed. Dowdle is the only one worth the stash, and Dalvin Cook could get in this mix given Elliott’s washedness. Drop through Tracy and maybe more.
- D’Andre Swift, CHI — No more excuses. Let Swift be someone else’s kryptonite, as they can’t help but use him because of the “upside.” I’d swap all the way through Johnson.
- Javonte Williams, DEN — Broncos backfield is a mess, a full-blown committee, and impossible to use. I’d bench where I can, but I’d drop for at least Allgeier.
- Gus Edwards, LAC — The backfield is officially J.K. Dobbins’ and Edwards is merely next up and not a must-hold. Would drop through Irving, and if you need a fill-in, a few more spots.
- Chase Brown, CIN — As mentioned last week, mainly a high-end Next Man Up. Wouldn’t drop unless Irving or higher.
PURELY NEXT MAN UP RANKS
(if an injury ahead of them)
- Braelon Allen, NYJ
- Bucky Irving, TB
- Tyler Allgeier, ATL
- Isaac Guerendo, SF
- Jaylen Wright, MIA
- Tank Bigsby, JAX
- Ty Chandler, MIN
- Chase Brown, CIN
- Emanuel Wilson, GB
- Trey Benson, ARI
- Ray Davis, BUF
- Gus Edwards, LAC
- Jamaal Williams, NO
- Kenneth Gainwell, PHI
- Tyrone Tracy, NYG
- Trey Sermon, IND
WAIVER WIRE WIDE RECEIVER RANKS
- Jauan Jennings, SF — This is a ranking purely on no Deebo Samuel AND no George Kittle. If Kittle returns, Jennings slides back a few spots behind DeAndre Hopkins.
- Quentin Johnston, LAC — 😏
- Romeo Doubs, GB — 😏
- DeAndre Hopkins, TEN — Unbreak My Heart candidate. Yes, he was in Dumpsville, but again as a reminder, that’s in order as needed and with context of who I’d drop them for — Hopkins wasn’t droppable outside the top wideout pickups (some RBs), and I’d still drop him for Johnston or Doubs, as listed.
- Jalen Nailor, MIN — Like last week, Nailor is here if Jordan Addison remains sidelined. If Addison returns, slide Nailor down to Mike Williams because I’m concerned they “share” the No. 2 and 3 WR roles.
- Darnell Mooney, ATL — 😏 and see: Power Up Players
- Xavier Legette, CAR — With Adam Thielen out for a few weeks, Legette steps up. Legette was in my Tier 3 of NFL Draft wideouts, and I likened him to Rashid Shaheed with better hands and consistency.
- Tutu Atwell, LAR — Okay, fine, I missed this one. While I’m still not a fan of Atwell’s talent ceiling, I can’t deny the Rams’ utilization of him without Kupp and Nacua. Still, the weekly risk keeps Atwell in the WR4 range, and this is a ranking solely on Kupp and Nacua not being on the field.
- Tyler Lockett, SEA — How did Lockett fall under 60%?
- Michael Wilson, ARI — This is purely based on Trey McBride being out, and even then, it would be a temporary rank until McBride returned. However, with no McBride, Wilson has WR3/4 upside, as seen, but he falls down to Josh Reynolds if McBride plays.
- Mike Williams, NYJ — 😏 I’m still buying the Jets making him the clear No. 2, but there is a chance they use him with Allen Lazard in a mix similar to my Nailor/Addison concern.
- Demarcus Robinson, LAR — See: Worry Report.
- Josh Downs, IND — Downs ran 16 routes to 20 for Michael Pittman and Alec Pierce. Downs fits Anthony Richardson’s style more than either, so don’t be surprised to see Downs in a top-two role with potential as the best Colts wideout … as relative as that might be.
- Noah Brown, WSH — Running as the Commanders No. 2.
- Jerry Jeudy, CLE — Quiet week, but he’s been the consistent No. 2 wideout in Cleveland.
- Allen Lazard, NYJ — Boom/bust.
- Keon Coleman, BUF — Similar to Lazard in boom/bust, needing touchdowns for upside, but if you’re looking for a long-term ceiling play, Coleman would rank in the Top 10.
- Calvin Austin, PIT — With Van Jefferson sidelined, Austin has the burst to be the Steelers’ Wan’Dale Robinson.
- Wan’Dale Robinson, NYG — And here he is.
- Jakobi Meyers, LV — Ho hum WR4/5 for teams that need him.
- Josh Reynolds, DEN — Jeudy on the Broncos. Wait, so, 2023?
- Tim Patrick, DET — Way ahead of Kalif Raymond, and while he’d be the No. 3 option, if Sam LaPorta is out in Week 4, Patrick would be a deep-league Hail Mary.
DUMPSVILLE
(order I’d drop)
- Alec Pierce, IND — See: Josh Downs. Pierce’s value is likely shot with Downs back in the mix … unless Joe Flacco steps under center.
MEH, I’LL PASS
- Tre Tucker, LV — Still the No. 3 wideout, and it’s still nearly impossible to start any Raider outside of Davante Adams and Brock Bowers.
- Rashod Bateman, BAL — Tied for the team lead in receptions at … three. Yea, this is Zay Flowers, and possibly the end, even accounting for Mark Andrews.
- KaVontae Turpin, DAL — Same as Jalen Tolbert last week. Pass … just like Dak Prescott needed to do 51 times.
FUTURE POTENTIAL
- Jalen McMillan, TB — If anything happened to Mike Evans or Chris Godwin, Top 35 in play.
- Ja’Lynn Polk, NE — Could become the lead, and Polk would have even more upside once Drake Maye is starting.
- Jermaine Burton, CIN — The Bengals used him a bit with Tee Higgins out, and if he’s continuing to get his mind right, Burton has real upside if replacing Ja’Marr Chase or Higgins.
- Roman Wilson, PIT — Mike Tomlin loved him — and drafted him — but a lost preseason has him waiting in the wings and developing.
STREAMING TIGHT ENDS
- Hunter Henry, NE
- Cole Kmet, CHI (if no Keenan Allen)
- Brock Wright, DET (if no Sam LaPorta)
- Zach Ertz, WSH
- Brenton Strange, JAX (if no Evan Engram, JAX)
- Noah Fant, SEA
- Taysom Hill, NO
- Tyler Conklin, NYJ
- Pat Freiermuth, PIT
- Cade Otton, TB
STREAMING DST
Week 4
- MIA vs TEN
- CHI vs LAR
- HOU vs JAX
- MIN at GB
- CIN at CAR
- LV vs CLE
- ARI vs WSH
- TEN at MIA
Week 5
- MIA at NE
- SEA vs NYG
- CHI vs CAR
- NE vs MIA
- DEN vs LV
- LV at DEN
- JAX vs IND
(Top photo of Jauan Jennings: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images)
