Last week was a good reminder of how cruel the waiver wire can be.
Jonah Coleman looked like the obvious No. 1 pickup. Fantasy managers spent their FAAB. Then he missed practice all week and landed on injured reserve before ever helping anyone.
Welcome to fantasy football.
That does not mean we stop taking swings.
Week 3 created several real opportunities. De’Von Achane is out for the season. Breece Hall is week-to-week. Travis Etienne aggravated his hamstring. Justin Jefferson is injured. And several young players are earning larger roles without needing an injury ahead of them.
This week’s rule is simple: Chase opportunity, not last week’s points.
Week 4 Waiver Wire Top 10
| Rank | Player | Pos. | FAAB |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Braelon Allen | RB | 15–20% |
| 2 | Ollie Gordon II | RB | 15–20% |
| 3 | Kenyon Sadiq | TE | 10–15% |
| 4 | Sam Darnold | QB | 8–10% |
| 5 | Alvin Kamara | RB | 5–8% |
| 6 | Keaton Mitchell | RB | 4–7% |
| 7 | Terrance Ferguson | TE | 2–4% |
| 8 | T.J. Hockenson | TE | 2–4% |
| 9 | Malik Washington | WR | 1–3% |
| 10 | Chris Bell | WR | 1–3% |
1. Braelon Allen, RB, New York Jets
Rostered: 21% | FAAB: 15–20%
Allen is my No. 1 waiver claim this week.
Breece Hall left Week 3 with a thigh/quad injury and is considered week-to-week. That immediately creates a starting opportunity for Allen, who has clearly operated ahead of Isaiah Davis.
We are not chasing the four carries for 14 yards he had after Hall left.
We are chasing what could come next.
Allen has the size to handle early-down volume and enough receiving ability to avoid becoming completely game-script dependent. The Jets also get Chicago, Cleveland, and New England over the next three games.
Even if Hall only misses two or three weeks, those starts matter.
Verdict: The No. 1 Week 4 pickup. Spend aggressively if you need RB help.
2. Ollie Gordon II, RB, Miami Dolphins
Rostered: 1% | FAAB: 15–20%
Miami’s backfield changed completely when De’Von Achane tore his ACL.
Gordon handled 17 carries for 41 yards and a touchdown while adding three catches after Achane went down.
The efficiency was not great.
The volume was.
Jaylen Wright should also be involved once healthy, which keeps Gordon from being a true bell cow. But a back with a realistic path to 12–18 touches every week for the rest of the season does not belong on waivers.
Verdict: Allen has the cleaner short-term role. Gordon has the better rest-of-season runway.
3. Kenyon Sadiq, TE, New York Jets
Rostered: 36% | FAAB: 8–10%
The breakout finally happened.
Sadiq caught seven of eight targets for 105 yards and a touchdown in Week 3.
More importantly, this was not some random three-target touchdown game. The Jets spent the 16th overall pick on him, and his early-season role was limited partly because he missed significant training-camp time.
Week 3 looked like the moment the training wheels came off.
Mason Taylor and Adonai Mitchell were both out, so target competition will increase. But tight ends with this type of athleticism and draft capital are worth betting on before the breakout becomes obvious.
Verdict: If you are struggling at tight end, spend for Sadiq now.
4. Sam Darnold, QB, Seattle Seahawks
Rostered: 47% | FAAB: 4–6%
Darnold returned and immediately threw for 379 yards and four touchdowns.
He also threw two interceptions.
That is part of the experience.
The more important takeaway is Seattle’s passing volume. The running game has struggled to establish itself, which could continue putting more of the offense on Darnold and Jaxon Smith-Njigba.
We should not expect four touchdowns every week, but quarterback has gotten ugly quickly this season.
Verdict: My favorite widely available QB pickup.
5. Alvin Kamara, RB, New Orleans Saints
Rostered: 55% | FAAB: 6–8%
If Kamara is somehow available, he should be rostered.
Travis Etienne aggravated his hamstring in Week 3, leaving Kamara and Kendre Miller as the primary healthy backs.
Kamara is not the player he was five years ago. That is fine.
If the workload rises, his receiving ability still gives him a path to useful PPR production.
Verdict: Think RB3/FLEX, not vintage Kamara. Still worth adding.
6. Keaton Mitchell, RB, Los Angeles Chargers
Rostered: 26% | FAAB: 2–4%
Mitchell may be the most interesting back on this list whose opportunity did not come from an injury.
His share of the Chargers’ rushing work keeps climbing while Omarion Hampton’s has moved in the opposite direction.
Mitchell has also been the more explosive runner through three weeks, including eight missed tackles forced on 11 Week 3 touches.
This does not mean Hampton is about to lose his job.
It does mean this backfield could become much more of a split than fantasy managers expected.
Verdict: One of my favorite upside bench stashes before the role gets more expensive.
7. Terrance Ferguson, TE, Los Angeles Rams
Rostered: 39% | FAAB: 2–4%
Ferguson broke out in Week 2 with six catches, 54 yards, and a touchdown on nine targets.
Then he injured his ankle in Week 3.
That makes this a stash rather than an immediate starter.
But young athletic tight ends running meaningful routes in a Matthew Stafford offense are worth holding, especially if Puka Nacua remains limited.
Verdict: Add if you have bench space. Have another TE option ready for Week 4.
8. T.J. Hockenson, TE, Minnesota Vikings
Rostered: 43% | FAAB: 2–4%
Hockenson has been quiet through three weeks.
Justin Jefferson’s ankle injury could change that quickly.
If Jefferson misses time, Minnesota suddenly has a lot of targets to redistribute. Hockenson has historically benefited in those situations.
This is the type of pickup you make before the seven-catch game, not after it.
Verdict: Strong speculative TE add. His value jumps if Jefferson sits.
9. Malik Washington, WR, Miami Dolphins
Rostered: 42% | FAAB: 1–3%
Washington saw 10 targets in Week 3 and now has 23 through three games.
That is enough volume to matter.
Miami may also need to manufacture more touches through the passing game after losing Achane.
The ceiling is not enormous, but in PPR leagues, consistent targets have value.
Verdict: Useful depth add with a decent weekly floor.
10. Chris Bell, WR, Miami Dolphins
Rostered: 9% | FAAB: 1–3%
Bell is the upside swing.
He caught four passes for 67 yards on seven targets in Week 3, while his route participation climbed to its highest level of the season.
He also brings something Miami lacks elsewhere: size and downfield ability.
Washington is probably the safer player.
Bell has the better chance of turning a few targets into a big fantasy week.
Verdict: Preferred Miami stash if you are chasing ceiling.
Week 4 Waiver Priority
Spend aggressively: Braelon Allen, Ollie Gordon II, Kenyon Sadiq
Strong adds: Sam Darnold, Alvin Kamara, Keaton Mitchell
Stash/stream: Terrance Ferguson, T.J. Hockenson, Malik Washington, Chris Bell
Players You Can Consider Dropping
Drake Maye: Outside the top 20 QBs every week so far. In 1QB leagues, you can move on.
C.J. Stroud: Hold in Superflex. In 1QB, limited rushing makes him much easier to replace.
MarShawn Lloyd: The preseason hype has not turned into a usable role.
Jonathon Brooks: Still worth stashing on IR, but shallow leagues without IR may need the roster spot.
Quentin Johnston: Three weeks have given us little reason to expect dependable production.
Romeo Doubs: Fine NFL player. “Fine” is not always worth holding in fantasy.
Kyle Pitts: Michael Penix returned and Pitts caught one pass for five yards. In shallow leagues, Sadiq, Hockenson, or Ferguson are legitimate alternatives.
Final Verdict
This is the most actionable waiver wire we have had so far.
Braelon Allen could immediately become a starting running back. Ollie Gordon has a season-long opportunity after Achane’s injury. Kenyon Sadiq looks like a legitimate rookie breakout. Keaton Mitchell is earning more work without needing an injury ahead of him.
And that is the important part.
Jonah Coleman burning fantasy managers last week does not mean we stop spending FAAB.
Some swings miss.
The answer is not to stop swinging.
It is to make sure you are swinging at opportunity instead of points.
