As we move further into the season, it becomes harder and harder to find talent on the waiver wire. Week 3 was able to turn out a few encouraging running back options, highlighted by Carson Steele and Braelon Allen. Heading into Week 4, we're presented with a whole new set of potential pickups, with candidates coming from a variety of positional groups.
Be sure to check out our full waivers list to see where we stand on some of the potentially "trendy" names like Demario Douglas, Sam Darnold, and Cole Kmet. There are plenty of players who you may want to consider filing a low waiver claim for, but many are better suited to be picked up as free agents.
This week's group of "top pickups" is not nearly as strong as the Week 1 crop. There isn't anyone worth spending 40 percent of your FAAB budget on, and there may not even be anyone who is worth the No. 1 waiver claim. Nonetheless, there is still a group of players who should be rostered as we head into Week 4.
WEEK 4 WAIVER WIRE ADVICE
Top Players to Target | FAAB Recommendations
Top fantasy football waiver wire pickups for Week 4
Braelon Allen, RB, New York Jets
We listed Braelon Allen as a high-end pickup in Week 3, and he's right back here again in Week 4. Simply put, Allen has proven to be a starting-caliber running back over the first few weeks of the season. He would legitimately be the starter on several NFL teams. Allen is now averaging a shade under 5.0 yards per carry in the last two games while tacking on 36 yards through the air.
Allen has some standalone value with his handful of touches in positive game scripts. But he should more likely be stashed on benches as he is one of the strongest "one injury away" candidates. If Breece Hall goes down, we're looking at a top-20 back at a minimum.
Jauan Jennings, WR, San Francisco 49ers
Jauan Jennings was given the opportunity to work as the No. 2 weapon in San Francisco's passing attack this week. To say he succeeded in relief of Deebo Samuel and George Kittle would be an understatement. Jennings scored three touchdowns and scored the most fantasy points of any WR in a single game this season.
Samuel is likely to miss Week 4, and it wouldn't be a shock if Kittle remains sidelined as well. If this is the case, Jennings could see a spot start in the Flex on rosters that lack depth.
WEEK 4 FANTASY RANKINGS
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers
Quentin Johnston, WR, Los Angeles Chargers
Quentin Johnston spent his rookie season as a punching bag in the fantasy community. To the pleasure of Chargers fans everywhere, Johnston is on a redemption tour in his sophomore season. He finished as the WR11 in Week 2 on the back of two trips to the endzone and scored again in Week 3 on his way to a slightly more modest 12.4 PPR points. It will be hard to start Johnston given his reliance on touchdowns, but he is definitely worthy of a roster spot at this point.
Andrei Iosivas, WR, Cincinnati Bengals
Andrei Iosivas has been asked to step up after long-time slot receiver Tyler Boyd left the team in free agency. Iosivas hasn't been the steady, underneath receiver that Boyd was, but he has been a magnet in the red zone. He now has three touchdowns on the center, including one in Week 3. He added 52 yards in Week 3, bringing his fantasy production to 16.2 PPR points on seven targets. Given the state of the Bengals' defense, Iosivas could maintain steady volume in future weeks.
Bucky Irving, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Bucky Irving will be steadily chipping away at Rachaad White's workload in the coming weeks. White has averaged fewer than three yards per carry this season and appears that he will be among the league's most inefficient backs for a second year in a row. Irving has gone for more rushing yards than White in each game this season and is the team's leading rusher by nearly 100 yards despite having six fewer carries than White. Head coach Todd Bowles has indicated that Irving will get more work in the future, meaning we could get a changing of the guard sooner rather than later.
For more of this week's top waiver wire pickups and streamers, click here.
