Fantasy Football Week 4 Waiver Wire Adds

Don’t come here for a solution to your running back problem. Trust me, I don’t have your solution and neither does the waiver wire. At this point in 2021 Fantasy football, the running back waiver wire field is empty. This is likely due to a combination of injuries at that position league wide and it simply becoming a passing league. Waiver wire claims are always about how your team is stacked up and even sometimes the rest of your league is stacked up. You may not want to grab a player but knowing another team needs can lead to leverage in future trading scenarios. We will provide some waiver wire priority adds for week 4 and some long game picks for stash purposes. All roster percentages are simply projections based on multiple platforms. We try to keep it under 50%

Quarterback:

Taylor Heincke – Washington Football Team (8% rostered)

While not a particularly exciting pickup, however the Football Team is up against one of the worst secondaries in the league (still) in the Atlanta Falcons. The Football team offensive line has been serviceable this year and should provide enough work for Heincke to have contending numbers for fantasy.

Running Back:

Chuba Hubbard – Carolina Panthers (76% rostered)

Okay, so this is the obvious choice and is now rostered in over 50% of leagues, but those of you in 10 or especially 8-man leagues need to check in on the waiver wire before forgetting about it. While its likely only a few weeks he will be serviceable, there is still value in a handcuff for CMC, regardless of who holds that title. Hubbard is electric and can catch the ball out of the backfield so expect the volume to be plentiful. Even if you don’t need a running back, this can be a tool to create leverage for yourself in a future trade scenario. You could trade Hubbard now, where his value is likely highest, or even wait and trade him as a handcuff to the manager who has CMC. There are very few reasons to avoid a Hubbard add this week even if you’re set on running backs. As you can see below, there aren’t a lot of other options at running back.

Kyle Juszczyk – San Francisco 49ers (2% rostered)

This is the definition of a longshot and should not be an option considered unless you have a free spot on the bench which is interchangeable weekly from the waiver wire. This add is dependent on the health of Elijah Mitchell as once he is back, this becomes a moot point. However, the 49ers have one of if not the most potent running attacks in the league and they are BEAT UP there right now. Mostert is done for the year, Mitchell missed last week due to a shoulder injury and Sermon was the only dependable back on the roster last week. Juszczyk wont be a 1,000 yard rusher or anything close to that, but they like him in the redzone and Shanahan trusts the fullback for quick running back work on a short notice scenario. As mentioned above, the waiver wire for running backs in any competent league is the definition of slim. Any RB waiver wire adds at this point in the season are due to injury or a guess on a potential breakout.

Wide Receiver/Pass catcher:

Christian Kirk – Arizona Cardinals (35% rostered)

There are plenty of pass catchers with viable arguments for being on fantasy rosters everywhere, so each choice must be made based on each managers team outlook and weaknesses on the team or other teams if relevant. Christian Kirk is far from a sit it and forget it wideout. He is likely a flex play currently, however he has big play ability and inconsistency has been his biggest issue. Through the first 3 weeks Kirk has had no less than 65 yards and has had at least 4 targets. With an injured Hopkins last week, he accumulated 8 targets in a prolific offense that is running behind the machine known as Kyler Murray. I like Kirk more than Moore as both have big play ability, however Kirk is currently running more routes and has a much better floor. Far from a guarantee but worthy of a roster spot in every league.

Hunter Renfrow – Las Vegas Raiders (28% rostered)

Renfrow is the definition of consistency, with at least 5 catches and 55 yards in every game this year. Renfrow is especially valuable in PPR formats with 6+ targets in every game and his ability to get open on short routes for Derek Carr. Carr is throwing over 40 times a game and while that may have something to do with the running back situation for the Raiders, Renfrow is a great player to slot in from the end of your bench during bye or an unexpected injury Saturday or Sunday morning. As they say, Renfrow won’t lose you any matchups.

Emmanuel Sanders – Buffalo Bills (37% rostered)

This is an interesting situation as Stefon Diggs has had a down year so far through 3 games, however Sanders has been trending up since week 1. The Bills and Josh Allen specifically had a get right week in Week 3 and this manifested in the form of 2 touchdowns and 90+ yards on 6 targets for Sanders. While I expect Diggs to resume his usual insane volume over the course of the year and don’t expect Sanders to be this prolific each week, there is chemistry between Sanders and Allen building by the week. Even from week 1 to 3, they seemed close on connections that seemed to finally connect in week 3. I expect Sanders to force himself onto fantasy rosters given his play this year.

Dalton Schultz – Dallas Cowboys (12% rostered)

Another Cowboys pass catcher? I know, even with Gallup returning in a matter of weeks, Schultz has value that no other pass catcher in Dallas can claim. Schultz has consistently been a redzone target for Dak Prescott even in 2019 prior to the gruesome ankle injury and is looked to often for dump offs. While I am not expecting top 5 TE production here, those of you who do not have one of those top 5 or 8 TEs can have someone with legit touchdown production opportunities. It will be an up and down experience but that’s what you get without a top tier TE in fantasy.

Long shots/Long plays:

Kendrick Bourne – New England Patriots (2% rostered)

Bourne was nearly non-existent on the fantasy radar before week 3, but a big showing with 96 yards and a touchdown on 8 targers and 6 receptions put him right back on the map. The Patriots still have the training wheels on this offense led by rookie QB Mac Jones, so I expect lots of short throws to the players who can be dynamic, which is Kendrick Bourne. We saw what he was capable of in SF but they are loaded with talented wide receivers. I expect Bourne to make himself well known to the fantasy community at some point in the year, its just hard to trust any consistent volume until we can see it. Great talent and opportunity, it just remains to be seen if the volume follows.

DeSean Jackson – Los Angeles Rams (1% rostered)

This is the definition of a long shot in every way imaginable as he is in a loaded offense that is hardly to garner any type of guaranteed volume. The intriguing situation with Jackson is his ability so stretch the field, even at his age, to the point of being the only one on the roster with those set of skills. Kupp has the skills to create big plays down the field with his YAC ability, but Jackson has the speed to still burn most secondaries. Some weeks he may just be a decoy but as we saw in Week 3, the game with 5 targets, 100+ yards and a TD are always within reach. This is a player to watch as a streamer in particularly good matchups against poor secondaries.

Jeff Wilson Jr – San Francisco 49ers (7% rostered)

Jeff Wilson is a stash player that everybody should be considering in the back of our minds. While it may be too early to drop a player that gives decent production at this time, it would be wise to grab Jeff Wilson if your league allows for an IR spot, so you aren’t giving up a bench spot to keep him. Jeff Wilson was largely a special team’s player in 2020 with the stable of running backs the 49ers had, but with injuries hitting the position hard again in 2021 I expect Wilson to be in the mix immediately upon his return. Last we heard he is set to return sometime midseason, which is not an ideal timeline, but he is worth the stash if you have room on your roster. If you have an IR spot, there is no reason he shouldn’t be an add for your team if available.