Fantasy: Waiver Wire - Week 4

Every Monday during the season, theScore's Justin Boone will run down the recommended waiver wire pickups.

Ownership percentages are based on Yahoo leagues. FAAB bids are set off a $100 budget.

Fantasy Podcast: Week 3 takeaways, early look at waiver wire

Quarterback

Baker Mayfield, Browns

At this point, we already know what the rest of the quarterbacks on this list bring to the field. However, Mayfield is still an unknown and while he comes with some risk, he also offers significant upside. Mayfield was ready for the spotlight when he stepped in for Tyrod Taylor and led the Browns to a comeback victory. He also has a great matchup in Week 4 against a Raiders' defense that just allowed three touchdowns to Ryan Tannehill.

Andy Dalton, Bengals

Although Dalton has eight passing touchdowns through three games, he did come back to earth with four interceptions in the Bengals' loss to the Panthers. He'll face much less resistance from the Falcons this week, who have given up six passing scores over their last two outings. If you're targeting Dalton, you'll need to monitor A.J. Green's status. The star wideout exited early with a groin injury on Sunday. If he's sidelined, Dalton could still be used as a streamer, but his ceiling would be lowered.

Other options: Case Keenum vs. KC (27 percent owned), Joe Flacco at PIT (14 percent owned), Ryan Tannehill at NE (8 percent owned)

Running Back

Alfred Morris, 49ers

Matt Breida left Sunday's game with what appeared to be a non-contact knee injury, but later returned. On Monday, head coach Kyle Shanahan said Breida is questionable for Week 4. If Breida is unable to go, Morris would see a big workload. But, unfortunately, with Jimmy Garoppolo out for the year, Morris' opportunity makes him just an RB3. Kyle Juszczyk would become a long shot fantasy play, serving as the primary pass-down back.

Chris Ivory, Bills

Let's begin this section by making it clear: there is not a lot of help on the waiver wire for fantasy owners in need of immediate starters at running back. Since our threshold is players who are owned in less than 60 percent of leagues, that removes guys like Aaron Jones (64 percent owned) and Austin Ekeler (60 percent owned). With LeSean McCoy sitting out due to a rib injury, Ivory led the Bills' backfield with 20 carries for 56 yards and three receptions for 70 yards, including a 55 yarder. With McCoy's injury still a factor, and his off-field issues looming, Ivory is worth an add.

Javorius Allen, Ravens

Allen has received a lot of praise from the Ravens' coaching staff, but his role in the Baltimore backfield is still a complementary one. Not counting the opening week blowout of the Bills, which involved an unusual game script, Alex Collins has outproduced Allen in almost every category. Collins has 27 carries for 103 yards with six catches for 61 yards over that two-game span. Allen has managed just 15 yards on 12 carries and 55 yards on eight receptions but has three touchdowns to Collins' one. Allen remains a TD-dependent flex play for fantasy.

Duke Johnson, Browns

With Mayfield taking over in Cleveland, the outlook of the entire offense changes. Johnson caught two passes from the rookie in Week 3, turning them into 24 yards - his best receiving output of the year. Last week, Hue Jackson admitted the team needs to find ways to get Johnson the ball more, which seems obvious after the team signed him to a sizable three-year extension in the offseason. If he's available in PPR leagues, you could double that FAAB bid.

Marlon Mack/Jordan Wilkins, Colts

We mentioned the Colts' running backs last week and not much has changed. This is a fantasy wasteland at the moment with Mack, Wilkins, and Nyheim Hines struggling to produce behind a weak offensive line. Mack, who sat out Week 3 with foot and hamstring injuries, offers the best chance at being a fantasy starter at some point this season, but this is a situation to avoid unless you are extremely desperate.

Ty Montgomery, Packers

Montgomery offers upside as a pass-catcher, evidenced by his six-catch, 48-yard performance against the Redskins. He also added 16 yards on the ground in that game. But with Aaron Jones and Jamaal Williams around, it's unlikely Montgomery sees a significant amount of carries. One can wonder if the Packers would ever elect to move Montgomery back to receiver if Randall Cobb keeps fading. Either way, he's worth a speculative add, especially in PPR leagues.

Other options: Wendell Smallwood at TEN (2 percent owned), Ito Smith vs. CIN (6 percent owned), D'Onta Foreman returns Week 7 (5 percent)

Wide Receivers

Mike Williams, Chargers

The buy-low window for Mike Williams is over after he caught four passes for 81 yards and two touchdowns against the Rams. The sophomore has 189 yards and three scores on the season, and is just 30 yards behind Keenan Allen despite seeing 11 fewer targets. As expected, Williams is thriving as a red-zone weapon and has a legitimate shot to be a fantasy difference-maker as an upside WR3 the rest of the way.

Calvin Ridley, Falcons

Ridley was highlighted in this space last week, so hopefully you rostered him before he put up 146 yards and a trio of touchdowns in Week 3. That gives him 200 yards and four scores over the last two games, and like Williams, he deserves to be started as a WR3 moving forward. With Matt Ryan playing at a high level and Julio Jones drawing the attention of defensive coordinators, Ridley should have plenty of room to operate.

Chris Godwin, Buccaneers

Godwin has posted lines of 41-1, 56-1, and 74-1 through three games. This is what a breakout season looks like. While he's still behind Mike Evans in a loaded pass-catching corps, Godwin has proven himself as a borderline WR3 in fantasy.

Tyler Boyd, Bengals

With all eyes on John Ross heading into the season, Boyd has stolen the No. 2 job in Cincy, and depending on Green's health this week, he might be Dalton's top target against the Falcons. He proved his six-catch, 91-yard, one-touchdown game in Week 2 wasn't a fluke, following it up with six grabs, 132 yards, and another trip to the end zone. Opportunity is key in fantasy, and Boyd has seen 16 targets over his last two games. He's not as flashy as some of the other players in this section, which means you can get him a little cheaper on the wire.

Sterling Shepard, Giants

Giants tight end Evan Engram is week to week with a sprained MCL, which opens up targets for Shepard and the rest of the passing attack. With Engram being forced from the game, Shepard posted his best outing of the season with six catches for 80 yards and a touchdown. The uptick in volume puts him back in the conversation as a borderline fantasy starter.

Geronimo Allison, Packers

This is the third straight week Allison cracks the waiver wire receivers' list. He's topped 60 yards in every game this season and has two touchdowns on the year. Outside of Davante Adams, Allison is the best fantasy receiver in Green Bay. If his ownership percentage doesn't rise this week, we might need to start going door to door to raise awareness.

Other options: Antonio Callaway at OAK (33 percent owned), Christian Kirk vs. SEA (3 percent owned), Jordy Nelson vs. CLE (52 percent owned), James Washington vs. BAL (4 percent owned)

Tight Ends

Jack Doyle, Colts

Doyle should be owned in most competitive leagues, but some owners must have cut bait after a pair of quiet outings to start the season. That's a mistake. Doyle has the 11th most targets among tight ends through three games, an impressive stat considering he didn't play in Week 3. His Week 1 performance - seven catches for 60 yards - was marred by a fumble that lowered his fantasy point total. With the Colts emphasizing a short passing attack, Doyle will be heavily involved. Don't let him stay on your waiver wire for long.

Ben Watson, Saints

Normally we wouldn't advise picking up a 37-year-old tight end, but Watson has been a solid streaming option playing with Drew Brees. Watson had 44 yards in Week 1, was overthrown on a wide open end-zone target in Week 2, and came away with 71 yards in Week 3. With Engram joining Delanie Walker and Greg Olsen on the sidelines, Watson is a serviceable replacement.

Other options: Tyler Eifert at ATL (51 percent owned), Vance McDonald vs. BAL (11 percent owned), Dallas Goedert at TEN (2 percent owned), Austin Hooper vs. CIN (29 percent owned), Ricky Seals-Jones vs. SEA (22 percent owned)