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After three mostly-slow weeks to start the NFL season, Week 4 offered us a myriad of close games and/or offensive outbursts. When even the Pittsburgh Steelers and Chicago Bears can score a few touchdowns, you know the offenses were feeling it.
With so many high point totals, there is bound to be a few interesting options available on your waiver wire. Even if you’re looking at an 0-4 record, it’s too early to give up on the season. These are the moments where champions are made. Here are five players to target on the waiver wire this week.
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Week 4 waiver wire targets:
*All roster numbers are courtesy of Yahoo Sports
- WR Josh Downs, IND (Rostered in 20% of leagues)
Downs may be considered the No. 3 receiver on the Colts, but unlike Pittman and Pierce ahead of him, Downs seems to be quarterback proof. Pittman needs Flacco in order to play to his full potential. Pierce needs Richardson to maximize his deep threat potential. Downs is just solid no matter what.
Through two weeks healthy now, Downs has recorded 14 targets including nine in the Colts’ Week 4 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. Even better, Downs recorded those targets in a game where they were leading big for most of the contest. Even with negative game script, Downs got nine targets, more than four times as many as Alec Pierce.
A year ago, when Downs started only half of the Colts’ games, Downs still had over 65 receptions and over 750 yards. The Colts clearly like throwing to this man, and in PPR formats, he’s a great addition.
- WR Ray-Ray McCloud III, ATL (Rostered in 5% of leagues)
Atlanta’s offense remains an enigma through four weeks. We thought Bijan Robinson would be the lead back with almost zero competition. He got outcarried by Tyler Allgeier in Week 4. We thought Darnell Mooney was the team’s true WR2. McCloud earned more receptions and targets than Mooney.
McCloud isn’t a player that is going to blow your team away, but with bye weeks incoming, someone who has earned at least five targets in three of four contests is definitely someone you should keep your eye on in deeper leagues.
- WR Dontayvion Wicks, GB (Rostered in 13% of leagues)
Many experts believed Wicks was in for a breakout season this year. Wicks is one of the best receivers in the league with his ability to get open. In fact, last season, Wicks was getting open more often than anyone else in the NFL. However, Wicks’ ability to separate was not leading to targets. Analysts have been itching, waiting for Wicks to finally have his breakout game, and Week 4 may have provided just that.
Wicks scored two touchdowns in the Packers’ loss to Minnesota. When the Packers were down and Love needed to get completions, Wicks was one of his main men, even ahead of others like Romeo Doubs. Statistically speaking, Wicks should be getting more fantasy points than he has been. Perhaps this big performance is exactly what he needed to reach his full potential.
- RB Tank Bigsby, JAX (Rostered in 11% of leagues)
After a promising Week 1, Bigsby was sort of placed to the side in Weeks 2 and 3. People started to give up hope. However, Bigsby earned a hefty share of the Jaguars’ backfield work in Week 4. In fact, he outgained Etienne on the ground, and Etienne didn’t even see a carry until the end of the first quarter.
Given Bigsby’s efficiency, as well as Etienne’s strange usage early on, Bigsby could be in for a bigger workload moving forward. At the very least, Bigsby is one Etienne injury away from being one of the most utilized backs in the NFL.
- RB Bucky Irving, TB (Rostered in 52% of leagues)
Irving is owned in over 50% of leagues, meaning he probably isn’t available, but given Irving’s usage over the last two weeks, he should be owned in every league. For the second week in a row, Irving earned as much or more work than fellow Bucs’ running back Rachaad White. More importantly though, Irving was Tampa’s go-to guy near the goal line. Irving was on the field for nearly every snap inside the 10-yard line, and he was rewarded with his first touchdown of the season.
While Irving’s lack of usage in the passing attack was certainly concerning, the Eagles could not stop Mike Evans or Chris Godwin. There wasn’t really a reason for Baker Mayfield to check down often. Irving should be due for more receptions in future games.
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