Last Sunday brought plenty of the usual surprises, good and bad (welcome to the league, De'Von Achane). There also were a couple more key injuries (sad to see you go, Mike Williams). That makes it another busy week of needing to scour the waiver wire for fantasy football help across positions, and our Week 4 FAAB budget planner is here to help with all of your potential pickups, big and small.
There's no doubt that Achane was Week 3's massive breakout and will be the top priority for a pickup ahead of Week 4 in the many leagues in which he's available, but he's far from the only player who can help ailing fantasy squads, as Tank Dell, Joshua Palmer, and Kendre Miller stepped into bigger roles this weekend.
If you need help determining how much of your free-agent acquisition budget (FAAB) to allocate on Achane and other worthwhile pickups, we're here to help. Here's your FAAB spending guide for this week:
WEEK 4 FANTASY: Top pickups | Trade advice
Week 4 Fantasy FAAB Advice: Waiver wire QB pickups, streamers
1. C.J. Stroud, Texans (Yahoo! league availability: 80%). Stroud has been solid in what's been a more adept and necessary Houston passing game than expected. He's clicking with several wide receivers and is confident pocket passing while avoiding typical rookie turnovers. The Steelers matchup in Week 4 isn't great, but he's sharp enough to roster as a QB2. Projected FAAB bid: 2-3% of total budget
2. Kenny Pickett, Steelers (Yahoo! league availability: 73%). Pickett and the Steelers' offense is looking bad, but the physical talent in there and the schedule has been brutal early. The Raiders' game is encouraging with the tricky Texans next. After that, it's another tough one against the Ravens before a favorable schedule after Pittsburgh's bye. Projected FAAB bid: 0-1% of total budget
3. Jimmy Garoppolo, Raiders (Yahoo! league availability: 86%). Assuming he clears concussion protocol, Garoppolo has great streaming appeal, as he should need to chuck often against Justin Herbert vs. a weak overall Chargers pass defense in Week 4. Projected FAAB bid: 0-1% of total budget
4. Andy Dalton, Panthers (Yahoo! league availability: 98%). Dalton, likely to fill in for Bryce Young (ankle) for one more week, also has great streaming appeal, as he should need to chuck often against Kirk Cousins vs. a weak overall Vikings pass defense in Week 4. He did bring the passing game to life in garbage time in Seattle, and his veteran presence is helpful to facilitate their limited receiving options until Young heals. Projected FAAB bid: 0% of total budget
5. Jameis Winston, Saints (Yahoo! league availability: 100%). If you're in a superflex league and lost Derek Carr (shoulder), you might need to pivot for Winston as QB2 help, although the matchup is tough in a revenge game vs. the Buccaneers in Week 4. Projected FAAB bid: 0% of total budget
WEEK 4 PPR RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers
Week 4 Fantasy FAAB Advice: Waiver wire RB pickups, streamers
1. De'Von Achane, Dolphins (Yahoo! league availability: 61%). Wow, just wow. He didn't get elevated to his first rookie start vs. the Broncos, but the fast playmaker pretty much was used to fill the big-play void of Jaylen Waddle (concussion) in Week 3. The 203 rushing yards for two rushing TDs in a 70-20 blowout were also supported by four catches for 30 yards and two more scores.
Raheem Mostert turned his 20 touches into 140 yards and four TDs and didn't get hurt. Achane only out-touched him because it was the mother of all positive game scripts. But it's fun to see Mike McDaniel unleash Achane in a one-two backfield punch reminiscent of Waddle and Tyreek Hill in the passing game. Miami's offense is literally operating at another speed. Achane at least is now a high-upside flex in the right matchups and his usage might boost him to RB2. Of course, should Mostert get hurt again, ahem, league winner. Projected FAAB bid: 25-30% of total budget
2. Elijah Mitchell, 49ers (Yahoo! league availability: 61%). The 49ers went too nuts with Christian McCaffrey's workload the first two weeks, but they corrected that by getting Mitchell pretty good relief touches against the Giants. They need to preserve CMC for the long haul, and Mitchell, a former starter, is capable of being a very effective all-around complement. He's a high-level handcuff who should be rostered and has some potential flex appeal vs. the Cardinals in Week 5. Projected FAAB bid: 10-12% of total budget
3. Ezekiel Elliott, Patriots (Yahoo! league availability: 57%) Rhamondre Stevenson has looked meh rushing and receiving with no Damien Harris. The Patriots' offense has disappointed overall with the ground aspect to help Mac Jones, but they should want to work in Elliott more going forward. Again, at worst, he's a clear handcuff with some upcoming flex value with a revenge game at the Cowboys in Week 4. Projected FAAB bid: 10-12% of total budget
4. Kendre Miller, Saints (Yahoo! league availability: 66%). Miller led the Saints in rushing in Green Bay ahead of Tony Jones Jr. in their committee approach with Jamaal Williams (hamstring) on IR and Alvin Kamara serving the last game of his suspension. The rookie from TCU has a clear shot to be the complementary power back for a returning Kamara and would be the top backup now. The upcoming games are tough with the Buccaneers and Patriots, but then New Orleans gets Houston. Projected FAAB bid: 8-9% of total budget
5. Rico Dowdle, Cowboys (Yahoo! league availability: 97%). Dowdle was involved well with Tony Pollard in Arizona, helping him out with complementary carries.and scoring to help Dak Prescott lead a stinky passing game. The dynamic passing attack with Kellen Moore has been replaced with a boring, backfield-based scheme under Mike McCarthy and Brian Schottenheimer. At worst, Dowdle is the preferred high-upside handcuff to Pollard. At best, he can have some flex value in good matchups. Projected FAAB bid: 7-8% of total budget
6. Matt Breida, Giants (Yahoo! league availability: 70%). Breida scored a TD but was otherwise bad trying to run on the 49ers front in Week 4. However, it's a good bet Saquon Barkley (ankle) is very iffy to go next Monday night in a favorable home spot vs. the Seahawks. Don't go nuts for a low-upside starting rental, however. Projected FAAB bid: 5-6% of total budget
7. Melvin Gordon, Ravens (Yahoo! league availability: 99%). He's baaack. The Ravens had to throw him on the roster along with Kenyan Drake after Justice Hill (toe) joined JK Dobbins on the shelf. Then, Gus Edwards got concussed vs. the Colts in Week 3, leading to Gordon getting 10 carries. He also looked pretty good with his two catches for 23 yards. The Browns matchup isn't great, but Gordon might need to be a volume-based RB2 or flex play for desperate owners. Projected FAAB bid: 5-6% of total budget
WEEK 4 STANDARD RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers
Week 4 Fantasy FAAB Advice: Waiver wire WR pickups, streamers
1. Tank Dell, Texans (Yahoo! league availability: 71%). This is the last call for the rookie dynamo from Houston, playing for Houston. Dell exploded for 5-145-1 in Week 3 at the Jaguars, getting closer to being Stroud's most reliable receiver all over the field. Dell needs to be rostered in even 10-team leagues. He's living up to his preseason and college hype despite the diminutive frame. Projected FAAB bid: 20-25% of total budget
2. Josh Palmer, Chargers (Yahoo! league availability: 98%). Mike Williams had a massive game in Minnesota, but unfortunately, he went down with another key injury, this time to his knee. Palmer came in right away to support Keenan Allen with a 30-yard TD for Justin Herbert. The veteran performed well as a sub while Allen and Williams were hurt last season, and he gets another big chance in a dangerous high-volume passing game. L.A. has another option this year, too (see below), but Palmer is still a priority add. Projected FAAB bid: 12-15% of total budget
3. Adam Thielen, Panthers (Yahoo! league availability: 54%) The Panthers' passing game didn't have early zip with Bryce Young, but Andy Dalton opened it up a bit, getting DJ Chark into the end zone on a big play in Seattle. Thielen, developing as Young's top security blanket, went full go-to guy with Dalton with 11 catches for 145 yards and a TD after scoring in Week 2. He looks like he can be used again as a WR3 in most weeks, including a revenge home game vs. the Vikings in Week 4. Projected FAAB bid: 12-15% of total budget
4. Romeo Doubs, Packers (Yahoo! league availability: 59%). Doubs stood out again as the team's leading receiver for the second time in three weeks. Christian Watson keeps sitting out with his sore hamstring, and it's by committee for Jordan Love's other young targets. If someone was hasty in dropping Doubs in your league, jump on him as a valuable WR3. Projected FAAB bid: 10-12% of total budget
5. Marvin Mims, Broncos (Yahoo! league availability: 74%) It's clear Mims is getting limited snaps and targets as a rookie behind Courtland Sutton and Jerry Jeudy, but it's also clear he's maximizing them. He went 3-for-73 against the Dolphins and returned a kickoff for a touchdown. Now that Denver is 0-3, it might want to look more at him vs. the meh Jeudy, who's unsigned beyond the option year in 2024. Mims also seems better locked in with Russell Wilson to earn him more high-leverage chances. Projected FAAB bid: 10-12% of total budget
6. Quentin Johnston, Chargers (Yahoo! league availability: 68%). The rookie first-rounder has been brought along slowly early with Allen and Williams dominating. Now, Williams is down and Johnston will slide up to a key role behind Allen and Palmer, needing to work his way more into key Justin Herbert targets over the tight ends. Keep in mind that Allen is also older with a history of injuries. Projected FAAB bid: 8-10% of total budget
7. DJ Chark, Panthers (Yahoo! league availability: 90%). Don't get too attached to this improving passing game with either Dalton or Young, but Chark looked good with his 4-86-1. Both Thielen and Chark became the clear veteran 1-2 once rookie Jonathan Mingo went down with a concussion in Seattle. Chark can also take advantage of a sweet matchup with Minnesota at home where there's bound to be high passing volume. Projected FAAB bid: 5-7% of total budget
8. Jameson Williams, Lions (Yahoo! league availability: 71%). The Lions' passing game has been fine with Amon-Ra St. Brown, Josh Reynolds, and rookie tight end Sam LaPorta as the principals, but it can still hit a higher gear with big-play pop for Jared Goff. If you're good right now at most positions, it's a good time to stash the second-year potential big playmaker ahead of his Week 7 return. Projected FAAB bid: 5-6% of total budget
9. Josh Downs, Colts (Yahoo! league availability: 98%). Michael Pittman Jr. is looking good as the No. 1 and Alec Pierce is flashing some big plays, but Downs keeps getting more involved as a PPR-styled short-area target for Anthony Richardson and Gardner Minshew. He's a matchup-based play who's worth a pickup in deeper PPR leagues. Projected FAAB bid: 2-3% of total budget
10. Donovan Peoples-Jones, Browns. (Yahoo! league availability: 92%). The Browns have been enamored with shiny new toy Elijah Moore, but that's forgetting how effective of a field-stretcher DPJ can be playing off Amari Cooper. Should Deshaun Watson keep playing well and the Browns pivot to less traditional running, DPJ can be the key guy in the passing game over disappointing David Njoku. Projected FAAB bid: 1-2% of total budget
Week 4 Fantasy FAAB Advice: Waiver wire TE pickups, streamers
1. Taysom Hill, Saints (Yahoo! league availability: 70%). Hill was quiet during his mild revenge game in Green Bay with only four rushes for 12 yards and a catch for nine more yards, but he did rumble nine times for 75 yards vs. the Panthers in Week 2. He should get more involved with Alvin Kamara returning and Williams (hamstring) and Carr (shoulder) going on the shelf at the same time. Hill's versatile usage can give him appeal again at a position where there aren't many inspiring options. Projected FAAB bid: 4-5% of total budget
2. Cole Turner, Commanders (Yahoo! league availability: 100%) or Logan Thomas, Commanders (Yahoo! league availability: 96%). Thomas is iffy to return from his concussion in Week 4, and Turner was the first guy to replace him in the passing game for Sam Howell over John Bates. Howell is throwing more than expected to the position and less to the wideouts. Turner caught four-of-seven targets for 35 yards filling in for Thomas last week and gets the juicy Eagles matchup in Week 4. Projected FAAB bid: 4-5% of total budget
3. Luke Musgrave, Packers (Yahoo! league availability: 82%). Musgrave's role might change from week to week as his usage is fickle in relation to fellow NFC North athletic rookie Sam LaPorta. That said, he has high upside and growth potential with Jordan Love playing well. Musgrave received eight targets vs. the Saints in a tough matchup and came through with 6-49. Only Doubs got more looks. Projected FAAB bid: 4-5% of total budget
4. Jake Ferguson, Cowboys (Yahoo! league availability: 59%). Ferguson tied CeeDee Lamb, Michael Gallup, and Brandin Cooks with seven targets in the shocking loss to the Cardinals. He mirrored Musgrave with 6-48, again decent numbers at a position where it's becoming hard to find them. Projected FAAB bid: 4-5% of total budget
Week 4 Fantasy FAAB Advice: Waiver wire D/ST pickups, streamers
(Note: Do not spend any of FAAB budget on D/ST! Get them for $0 after waivers run!)
1. Denver Broncos (Yahoo! league availability: 62%). Forget the fact they gave up 70 points to the Dolphins and remember they are playing the dysfunctional Bears in Week 4 at Chicago.
2. Los Angeles Rams (Yahoo! league availability: 97%). The Rams' defense has overachieved around Aaron Donald and has a shot to wreak some road havoc at the Colts in Week 4.
3. Minnesota Vikings (Yahoo! league availability: 97%). The Vikings' defense is leaky vs. the pass, and the Panthers did look much better with Andy Dalton, but they still have enough playmakers to consider as a boom-or-bust streamer.
4. Seattle Seahawks (Yahoo! league availability: 55%). The Seahawks aren't playing all that well defensively, but they have a shot at sacks and turnovers vs. Daniel Jones next Monday night.
