Fantasy: Waiver Wire - Week 4

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

Sam Darnold, Vikings

Darnold is off to a strong start in Kevin O'Connell's system. The 27-year-old journeyman is averaging the fourth most fantasy points among quarterbacks through the first three games of the season (with two games left to be played Monday).

He's accomplished that while Jordan Addison and T.J. Hockenson have dealt with injuries. Once the Vikings have everyone healthy in the second half of the season, the results could be even better.

For now, Darnold should be viewed as a fringe QB1 for fantasy, but the best might be yet to come.

Streaming options: Geno Smith at DET (43% rostered), Aaron Rodgers vs. DEN (50% rostered), Justin Fields at IND (16% rostered)

Risky streaming options: Andy Dalton vs. CIN (4% rostered)

Desperation streaming options: Daniel Jones vs. DAL (6% rostered), Gardner Minshew vs. CLE (8% rostered), Bo Nix at NYJ (11% rostered), Deshaun Watson at LV (24% rostered), Will Levis at MIA (12% rostered), Jacoby Brissett at SF (2% rostered)

Desperation streaming options (if healthy): Skylar Thompson vs. TEN (2% rostered)

Desperation streaming options (if starter is out): Malik Willis vs. MIN (2% rostered), Taylor Heinicke vs. KC (0% rostered), Tim Boyle/Tyler Huntley vs. TEN (0% rostered)

High-upside stashes: Drake Maye (3% rostered), Jameis Winston (1% rostered)

Running backs

Bucky Irving, Buccaneers

Irving has quickly turned into a weekly flex option for fantasy managers and might be on a path toward taking over as the starter in Tampa Bay.

The rookie has topped 75 scrimmage yards in two of the first three games despite not seeing more than 12 touches in any of those contests.

Meanwhile, the Bucs' current starter, Rachaad White, has managed just 57 yards on 22 touches over the past two weeks combined. White's struggles as a runner have continued from last year, with the veteran averaging an embarrassing 2.1 yards per carry this season. By comparison, Irving is averaging 6.2 ypc.

Head coach Todd Bowles acknowledged that Irving has earned more snaps based on his performance so far, suggesting this could turn into more of a 50-50 split moving forward. Don't be surprised if that trend ultimately results in Irving overtaking White in the backfield.

Either way, he's a must-add if you're in one of the 65% of leagues where he's still available.

Chuba Hubbard is just over the 50% rostered mark but should be rostered in all leagues.

High-upside backups like Tyler Allgeier (24% rostered), Trey Benson (39% rostered), Blake Corum (34% rostered), and Ray Davis (12% rostered) should be rostered in most leagues.

RB3/flex options (if starter is out): Cam Akers vs. JAX (46% rostered), Cordarrelle Patterson at IND (1% rostered)

Flex options: Braelon Allen vs. DEN (36% rostered), Rico Dowdle at NYG (42% rostered), Roschon Johnson vs. LAR (2% rostered)

Risky flex options (if healthy and starter is out): Dameon Pierce vs. JA (4% rostered)

Risky flex options: Emanuel Wilson vs. MIN (3% rostered), Ty Chandler at GB (38% rostered), Tank Bigsby at HOU (16% rostered), Alexander Mattison vs. CLE (31% rostered), Tyrone Tracy Jr. vs. DAL (3% rostered), Antonio Gibson at SF (18% rostered), Samaje Perine at LAC (36% rostered), Justice Hill vs. BUF (13% rostered), Tyler Badie at NYJ (0% rostered), Miles Sanders vs. CIN (3% rostered)

Dart-throw flex options: Jaleel McLaughlin at NYJ (26% rostered), D'Onta Foreman at LV (9% rostered), Khalil Herbert vs. LAR (17% rostered), Ty Johnson at BAL (0% rostered)

Other backups to roster: Kimani Vidal (3% rostered), Isaac Guerendo (3% rostered), Jaylen Wright (14% rostered), Kareem Hunt (33% rostered), Trey Sermon (1% rostered), Kenneth Gainwell at TB (2% rostered)

Injured-reserve stashes: Clyde Edwards-Helaire (5% rostered), Kendre Miller (6% rostered), MarShawn Lloyd (7% rostered), Audric Estime (1% rostered), Keaton Mitchell (11% rostered)

Wide receivers

Jauan Jennings, 49ers

Jennings is coming off the game of a lifetime with 11 catches for 175 yards and three scores.

However, it came on a day when Deebo Samuel, George Kittle, and Christian McCaffrey were all sidelined and Brandon Aiyuk continued to look like a player who sat out summer practices due to a contract dispute.

That scenario may last one more week, but it's unlikely to continue deep into the season. If Samuel and Kittle remain out, Jennings will be an upside fantasy WR3 for Week 4. But if either player returns, Jennings will fall to the WR4/flex range.

DeAndre Hopkins and Demarcus Robinson are just over the 50% rostered mark but should be rostered in all leagues.

Flex options: Quentin Johnston vs. KC (45% rostered), Darnell Mooney vs. NO (26% rostered), Romeo Doubs vs. MIN (43% rostered), Allen Lazard vs. DEN (30% rostered), Mike Williams vs. DEN (24% rostered)

Flex options (if starter is out): Jalen Nailor at GB (11% rostered)

Risky flex options: Jakobi Meyers vs. CLE (36% rostered), Wan'Dale Robinson vs. DAL (20% rostered), Josh Downs vs. PIT (25% rostered), DeMario Douglas at SF (7% rostered), Tutu Atwell at CHI (2% rostered), Michael Wilson vs. WAS (9% rostered), Gabe Davis at HOU (33% rostered), Jalen Tolbert at NYG (4% rostered), Brandin Cooks at NYG (36% rostered)

Risky flex options (if starter is out): Jahan Dotson at TB (10% rostered)

Dart-throw flex options: Greg Dortch vs. WAS (10% rostered), Rashod Bateman vs. BUF (10% rostered), Xavier Legette vs. CIN (10% rostered), Alec Pierce vs. PIT (47% rostered), Jordan Whittington at CHI (7% rostered), Andrei Iosivas at CAR (9% rostered), Tyler Johnson at CHI (14% rostered), Noah Brown at ARI (0% rostered), Calvin Austin III at IND (0% rostered), Tre Tucker vs. CLE (0% rostered)

Dart-throw flex options (if starters are out): Parris Campbell at TB (0% rostered), Johnny Wilson at TB (0% rostered)

Other receivers to roster: Ja'Lynn Polk (11% rostered), Dontayvion Wicks (14% rostered), Jalen McMillan (5% rostered), Adonai Mitchell (17% rostered), Luke McCaffrey (3% rostered), Mason Tipton (0% rostered)

Tight ends

Tyler Conklin, Jets

After two quiet outings to start the season, Conklin finally delivered a strong fantasy performance in Week 3 with five catches for 93 yards.

It almost felt inevitable that he would eventually come through for fantasy since he was running a route on 91% of the Jets' dropbacks.

With defenses keying on Garrett Wilson, Aaron Rodgers has had to turn to other weapons in the pass game, and Conklin is up for the challenge.

Given the state of the tight end position at the moment, Conklin should be rostered as a high-end TE2 streamer with a chance to sneak into the low-end TE1 range.

Streaming options: Cole Kmet vs. LAR (40% rostered)

Risky streaming options: Colby Parkinson at CHI (30% rostered), Mike Gesicki at CAR (40% rostered), Zach Ertz at ARI (23% rostered)

Risky streaming options (if starter is out): Brenton Strange at HOU (22% rostered)

Risky streaming options (if healthy): Taysom Hill at ATL (41% rostered)

Dart-throw streaming options: Tucker Kraft vs. MIN (3% rostered), Cade Otton vs. PHI (16% rostered), Noah Fant at DET(29% rostered), Greg Dulcich at NYJ (2% rostered), Jonnu Smith vs. TEN (11% rostered), Juwan Johnson at ATL (4% rostered), Tommy Tremble vs. CIN (0% rostered), Foster Moreau at ATL (2% rostered)

Dart-throw streaming options (if starter is out): Brock Wright vs. SEA (0% rostered), Jordan Akins at LV (3% rostered), Eric Saubert vs. NE (1% rostered), Elijah Higgins vs. WAS (0% rostered)

High-upside stashes: Ben Sinnott (3% rostered), Erick All Jr. (0% rostered)

Defenses

Week 4 streamers

Favorable upcoming schedules: Seahawks DEF (44% rostered), Broncos DEF (14% rostered), Packers DEF (31% rostered)

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