Fantasy: Waiver Wire - Week 4

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

Roster percentages are based on Yahoo leagues. Free Agent Budget (FAB) amounts are based on a $100 salary cap. Only players rostered in less than 50% of leagues are considered.

Quarterbacks

Jared Goff, Lions

Goff makes a second straight appearance as the top quarterback streamer following a strong start in a frisky Lions offense.

While he owes a lot of his production to the talent around him, Goff is the QB11 in average fantasy points per contest so far.

Detroit's weak defense continues to put the team in high-scoring affairs, and Week 4's matchup with the Seahawks should be no different. The game has one of the largest projected point totals of the week at 50, with the Lions favored at home.

It's still early in the season, but Seattle is near the bottom of the league in Football Outsiders' pass defense DVOA. Expect Goff to take advantage and post another streamer-worthy fantasy outing.

Zach Wilson, Jets

Wilson is nearing a return from the knee injury that kept him on the sidelines for the first few weeks of the season. When he steps back under center, an increasingly dangerous set of skill position players will surround the 23-year-old.

Garrett Wilson, Elijah Moore, and Corey Davis make up a strong and ascending receiving corps. Tyler Conklin has the third-most fantasy points among tight ends through two weeks. And backfield duo Michael Carter and Breece Hall are both competent pass-catchers.

Though we still don't know whether Wilson deserved to be the second overall pick in last year's NFL draft, it might not matter for fantasy. Joe Flacco has delivered big numbers with this group at times, despite a propensity to dink and dunk in the short game. Wilson will push the ball downfield more and give his playmakers a chance to excel.

Stash him on your bench and wait to see how he performs when he finally suits up.

Trevor Lawrence is just above the 50% rostered mark but would be the top pickup at quarterback if available.

Risky streaming options: Jameis Winston vs. MIN (42% rostered), Marcus Mariota vs. CLE (22% rostered)

Dart-throw streaming options: Geno Smith at DET (9% rostered), Jacoby Brissett at ATL (4% rostered), Matt Ryan vs. TEN (33% rostered), Jimmy Garoppolo vs. LAR (36% rostered), Daniel Jones vs. CHI (23% rostered), Ryan Tannehill at IND (16% rostered)

2QB/Superflex considerations only: Mitch Trubisky vs. NYJ (6% rostered), Baker Mayfield vs. ARI (15% rostered), Davis Mills vs. LAC (5% rostered), Cooper Rush vs. WAS (3% rostered), Brian Hoyer at GB (0% rostered)

Long-term stash: Kenny Pickett (4% rostered)

Running backs

Khalil Herbert, Bears

Herbert being available in over half of fantasy leagues is surprising given what we've seen from him in his brief pro career and how the Bears' new coaching staff talked him up throughout the summer.

The former sixth-round pick is one of the top backup running backs in the NFL - something that was proven in the four games he played more than 50% of the snaps in 2021. In those appearances, Herbert averaged 97 yards from scrimmage per contest.

We've also heard rumblings that people in the organization felt Herbert was a better fit for the team's new offense.

When knee and ankle injuries forced David Montgomery to exit this week's game, no one should have been surprised by Herbert's dominance against a soft Texans run defense. He finished the contest with 169 total yards and two touchdowns.

Herbert's next three opponents are all middle of the pack or plus matchups for the Bears' rushing attack. And while Chicago head coach Matt Eberlus is calling Montgomery day-to-day, it seems far more likely he could miss at least a game or two.

This could be an audition for Herbert to carve out a bigger role and perhaps emerge as the Bears' long-term option at the position. Consider Herbert a top-15 fantasy back for however long Montgomery is out.

Samaje Perine, Bengals

Joe Mixon left Sunday's game with an ankle injury, and Perine performed well as his replacement in the fourth quarter. Head coach Zac Taylor said Mixon could have returned to the contest and will be ready for action when the Bengals face the Dolphins on Thursday night.

Teams often lighten the load on starting running backs when on a short week. It's hard to imagine Cincinnati not taking that approach after Mixon suffered a mild injury just four days prior.

Perine is one of the few No. 2 running backs who remains available on the vast majority of fantasy waiver wires. He's one injury away from getting into the Bengals' starting lineup but should also provide flex value while seeing a slightly increased workload this week.

Alexander Mattison, Kenneth Walker, and Brian Robinson are just above the 50% rostered mark but should be rostered in most leagues.

High-upside backups like Rachaad White (30% rostered) and Isiah Pacheco (23% rostered) should be rostered in most leagues.

Risky flex options: Mark Ingram vs. MIN (26% rostered), Jerick McKinnon at TB (7% rostered), J.D. McKissic at DAL (26% rostered)

Dart-throw flex options: Sony Michel at HOU (4% rostered), Rex Burkhead vs. LAC (26% rostered), Dontrell Hilliard at IND (19% rostered), Tyler Allgeier vs. CLE (15% rostered), Brandon Bolden vs. DEN (1% rostered), Craig Reynolds vs. SEA (0% rostered), Kenneth Gainwell vs. JAX (40% rostered)

Other backups to consider: Jaylen Warren vs. NYJ (9% rostered), Jordan Mason vs. LAR (6% rostered), James Cook at BAL (40% rostered), Darrel Williams at CAR (24% rostered), Zack Moss at BAL (12% rostered), Zamir White vs. DEN (10% rostered), D'Onta Foreman vs. ARI (6% rostered), Marlon Mack vs. LAR (5% rostered)

Long-shot stashes: Boston Scott vs. JAX (3% rostered), Justice Hill vs. BUF (0% rostered), Chris Evans vs. MIA (1% rostered), Matt Breida vs. CHI (1% rostered), Hassan Haskins at IND (1% rostered), Trestan Ebner at NYG (0% rostered), DeeJay Dallas at DET (0% rostered)

Injured-reserve stashes: Gus Edwards (12% rostered), Damien Williams (1% rostered)

Wide receivers

Treylon Burks, Titans

Rookie receivers have routinely been featured in this section over the first few weeks of the season, and that trend continues.

Burks is on the verge of a massive breakout, and you're running out of time to get him on your roster before he captures the spotlight.

While his stat line dipped from 55 yards in Week 1 to 47 yards in Week 2 to just one catch for 13 yards this week, the underlying metrics are far more promising.

The first-rounder's snap percentage has risen each game, going from 37% in the opener to 45% in Week 2 to 69% Sunday. Burks also ran the most routes of any Titans receiver in Week 3, according to Pro Football Focus.

His time is coming. Whether he's still available on your waiver wire or you have to swing a trade to get him, you should be actively trying to do that over the next few days.

Romeo Doubs/Christian Watson, Packers

With Sammy Watkins and Watson sidelined in Week 3, Doubs moved to a leading role and played 89% of the Packers' snaps. He caught all eight of his targets in the game for 73 yards and a score.

A performance like that can go a long way toward earning the trust of your future Hall of Fame quarterback.

With Watkins on injured reserve and Watson dealing with a hamstring issue, Doubs will continue to start and establish himself as a playmaking threat Aaron Rodgers desperately needs.

That makes Doubs a priority target this week. But savvy fantasy managers will also try to stash Watson as a longer-term investment for the second half of the season.

Jakobi Meyers and Tyler Boyd are just above the 50% rostered mark but should be rostered in most leagues.

Flex options: Zay Jones at PHI (10% rostered), Isaiah McKenzie at BAL (41% rostered), Russell Gage vs. KC (42% rostered), Marquez Valdes-Scantling at TB (34% rostered), DeVante Parker at GB (25% rostered), Greg Dortch at CAR (17% rostered)

Risky flex options: Marquez Callaway vs. MIN (0% rostered), KJ Osborn at NO (6% rostered), Josh Palmer at HOU (27% rostered, Nico Collins vs. LAC (24% rostered), Robbie Anderson vs. ARI (28% rostered), Nelson Agholor at GB (13% rostered), Donovan Peoples-Jones at ATL (11% rostered)

Risky flex options (if healthy): Michael Gallup vs. WAS (36% rostered), Rondale Moore at CAR (17% rostered)

Dart-throw flex options: Josh Reynolds vs. SEA (0% rostered), DJ Chark vs. SEA (44% rostered), Corey Davis at PIT (30% rostered), Marvin Jones at PHI (5% rostered), Breshad Perriman vs. KC (3% rostered), Noah Brown vs. WAS (19% rostered), Mack Hollins vs. DEN (2% rostered), Ben Skowronek at SF (0% rostered), Richie James Jr. vs. CHI (3% rostered), DeAndre Carter at HOU (5% rostered)

Dart-throw flex options (if healthy): Tre'Quan Smith vs. MIN (0% rostered)

Long-term rookie stashes: George Pickens vs. NYJ (40% rostered), Alec Pierce vs. TEN (4% rostered), Wan'Dale Robinson vs. CHI (4% rostered)

Long-shot stashes: Ashton Dulin vs. TEN (1% rostered), KJ Hamler at LV (2% rostered), Laviska Shenault Jr. vs. ARI (1% rostered)

Injured-reserve stashes: Jameson Williams (25% rostered), Tyquan Thornton (1% rostered), Odell Beckham Jr. (8% rostered)

Tight ends

Robert Tonyan, Packers

As his return from a torn ACL continues, Tonyan's playing time began to rise this week. After seeing the field on just over 35% of the snaps in the first two games, the Packers tight end got in 58% of the time in Week 3.

It was also his busiest day through the air, with seven targets thrown his way en route to six receptions and 37 yards.

Tonyan hasn't found the end zone yet, but we know he can be a major red-zone threat after his 11-touchdown campaign in 2020.

If things continue on this path and he remains healthy, Tonyan will be in the low-end TE1 conversation the rest of the season.

David Njoku and Irv Smith Jr. are just above the 50% rostered mark but should be rostered in most leagues.

Risky streamer options: Logan Thomas at DAL (37% rostered), Tyler Conklin at PIT (21% rostered)

Dart-throw streamer options: Hayden Hurst vs. MIA (22% rostered), Evan Engram at PHI (26% rostered), Cameron Brate vs. KC (4% rostered), Juwan Johnson vs. MIN (2% rostered)

Long-term rookie stashes: Isaiah Likely at NE (5% rostered)

Defenses

Week 4 streamers

Favorable upcoming schedules: Vikings (19% rostered), Dolphins (15% rostered)