Week 3 of the NFL season wasn’t quite the bloodbath for fantasy owners that Week 2 was. But that doesn’t mean that the waiver wire isn’t any less stocked with widely-available players who could make big impacts now that they are thrust into unlikely starting roles. Let’s look at the new landscape on the waiver wire for Week 4:
Quarterbacks
Daniel Jones, New York Giants
Well, there you go. For all the ridicule and second-guessing Jones endured as the sixth pick overall, he answered his critics in the best way possible on Sunday, putting a blowtorch to the Buccaneers (and Twitter) with four total touchdowns and 336 yards passing. Is he the real deal? That remains to be seen. But he’s really going to shoulder the load now that Saquon Barkley is out, so the stats are going to be there.
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T&C APPLY | NJ, PA, IN, CO, NJ, MI, IA, LA, MS, OH ONLY Join NowKyle Allen, Carolina Panthers
Remember that NFL Play 60 ad with Cam Newton and the kid who predicted he’d take Newton’s place, make Panthers fans forget Cam, become Newton’s mom’s favorite player? That kid was named Kyle Allen. The story continues on Sunday, as Newton has already been ruled out for Week 4.
Gardner Minshew, Jacksonville Jaguars
Minshew is not catching on with fantasy owners, so he’s very likely still available in your league. Not sure what the hesitancy is about. The guy is getting it done. He has a 5-to-1 TD/INT ratio and hasn’t been below 17 fantasy points in three games. With all the injured QBs out there, he’s getting it done.
Jacoby Brissett, Indianapolis Colts
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T&C APPLY | NJ, PA, IN, CO, NJ, MI, IA, LA, MS, OH ONLY Join NowRemember when everyone freaked out because Andrew Luck retired and obits for the Colts were being written from coast-to-coast? Not so fast, friends. Brissett is getting better each week and threw the ball 37 times on Sunday, so there not trying to hide him anymore.
Running backs
Wayne Gallman, New York Giants
If you have Barkley and you didn’t handcuff him with Gallman, my condolences. Gallman is expected to carry much of the load over the next 6-7 weeks, and with Jones now running an offense that looks pretty spry, Gallman should be able to benefit from his expected volume. He’s the pickup of the week.
Rex Burkhead, New England Patriots
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T&C APPLY | NJ, PA, IN, CO, NJ, MI, IA, LA, MS, OH ONLY Join NowBurkhead keeps producing in a reserve role in the Patriots’ multi-faceted offense. With James White on baby duty Sunday, Burkhead had 11 carries and seven targets against the Jets, which was probably his ceiling. But his floor is very stable and with James Develin out, Burkhead should pick up goal line duties.
Jeff Wilson, San Francisco 49ers
Wilson appears to be very touchdown dependent, but when you score four touchdowns in two games, you take notice. As long as Tevin Coleman is out, Wilson has value here. Just not this week: The 49ers are on a bye.
Ronald Jones, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Jones and Peyton Barber are essentially splitting carries 50-50, but Jones is outproducing Barber, and if he’s going to catch passes for 41 yards on the regular, he’s going to produce nice fantasy totals in this timeshare.
Wide receivers
D.J. Chark, Jacksonville Jaguars
Chark remains Minshew’s binky, and he’s scored each week. Jacksonville’s upcoming schedule is loaded with teams that struggle to contain the passing game. Chark isn’t going away anytime soon.
Philip Dorsett, New England Patriots
Remember Week 1, before Antonio Brown suited up? Dorsett was the receiving star for the Pats with a pair of touchdowns. Now, in the post-AB era, Dorsett was right back in the end zone Sunday. The Pats are another team with a cupcake schedule against the pass in the coming weeks. Dorsett is going to be very busy.
Paul Richardson, Washington Redskins
Things are pretty scary in D.C. right now, and impeachment might not be limited to the head of the government. But the wide receiver tandem of Richardson and Terry McLaurin look pretty good. Richardson has a touchdown in each of the past two games and was targeted nine times on Monday. Safe to say, the Redskins will be trailing in many games, which means more targets for the wideouts. Hold you nose and give Richardson a sniff.
Jamison Crowder, New York Jets
Forget what’s happening right now and remember that Sam Darnold is targeting Week 5 for his return. Once the kissing bandit is back under center, Crowder’s value is going to skyrocket. Get him while you still can.
Tight end
Will Dissly, Seattle Seahawks
Garbage time counts, and Dissly came through for his owners with a literal last-play touchdown reception last week in Seattle’s loss to New Orleans. And now he get an Arizona team ranked dead last in points fantasy points allowed to opposing tight ends.
Jordan Akins, Houston Texans
Akins is a guy who’s been slow to get going this season, but should be a regular contributor to the Texans’ lineup. We finally saw it on Sunday with a 3-73-2 line against the Chargers. Don’t be caught off-guard when this becomes the norm for Akins.
