Four weeks into the NFL season, fantasy managers are starting to separate into contenders and pretenders. If you’re trying to climb the standings or patch holes on your roster, the waiver wire is still your best friend. This week features a mix of rookie stashes, overlooked vets, and upside receivers making noise.
Here are StatChasers’ Top 10 Waiver Wire Targets heading into Week 5.
1. Woody Marks – RB, Texans
Currently Rostered: 18% of Sleeper Leagues
Suggested FAAB: 20–25%
Recommendation: Add in all leagues
The Texans may have found their new feature back. Rookie Woody Marks exploded in Week 4, playing 58.5% of the offensive snaps and out-touching Nick Chubb on the way to a 119-yard, two-touchdown performance. He logged 17 carries for 69 yards and added 4 receptions for 50 yards, finding the end zone once on the ground and once through the air.
It wasn’t just volume — Marks passed the eye test. He ran decisively, flashed burst in the passing game, and gave Houston’s offense the spark it’s been missing. Even more impressive: this workload came in a 26-0 shutout win where you’d typically expect the veteran (Chubb) to salt away carries. Instead, the Texans leaned on their rookie, and he rewarded them with one of the top fantasy RB scores of the week (25+ PPR points).
Joe Mixon’s return timeline is still unclear, and given Marks’ performance, it may not matter. Houston has every reason to keep giving him opportunities, especially if he continues to contribute in all phases.
Bottom line: Marks has the look of a player who isn’t just a short-term waiver flier — he could be Houston’s RB1 going forward. He should be added everywhere, with aggressive FAAB bids warranted.
2. Chris Rodriguez Jr. – RB, Commanders
Currently Rostered: 9% of Sleeper Leagues
Suggested FAAB: 3–5%
Recommendation: Add in 10- and 12-team leagues
Rodriguez was a waiver mention last week, and his role remained steady in Week 4 — but with a bit more juice. Washington once again rolled out a three-man rotation with Rodriguez, Jacory Croskey-Merritt, and Jeremy McNichols. The snap split was nearly identical (Rodriguez 20, JCM 17, McNichols 17), and the carry share was dead even at 7 apiece between Rodriguez and JCM.
The difference? Rodriguez produced the highlight of the day — a 48-yard breakaway run that showcased the power and burst that got him drafted in the first place. Unfortunately, this backfield remains frustratingly unpredictable. Washington seems content to ride the committee approach, keeping all three fresh and making it hard to trust any one player as a weekly starter.
That said, the rostership gap between Croskey-Merritt (over 80% rostered) and Rodriguez (14%) is far too wide. Both need to be rostered as stash-and-see options, with Rodriguez the more explosive back who could tilt this backfield if opportunity shifts.
Bottom line: the ceiling is capped in a committee for now, but Rodriguez’s efficiency and playmaking give him the highest upside. He’s a cheap add who belongs on benches in all 12-team formats.
3. Elic Ayomanor – WR, Titans
Currently Rostered: 49% of Sleeper Leagues
Suggested FAAB: 4–6%
Recommendation: Add in 12-team leagues
Ayomanor keeps living in that waiver-wire “sweet spot” — not the flashiest add of the week, but a player whose usage metrics scream stash-and-hold. In Week 4, he led the Titans in both targets (7) and receiving yards (44), despite connecting on just two receptions. The inefficiency isn’t about Ayomanor — it’s about Cam Ward’s shaky accuracy.
Still, the advanced stats keep painting a clear picture:
- 26.9% target share in Week 4 (team-high).
- 15.5% target share, 24.6% air-yard share across the season.
- 1.74 yards per route run and two touchdowns through the first three weeks.
- Posted back-to-back WR2-level finishes in Weeks 2 and 3 (WR24, WR27 in PPR).
With Calvin Ridley fading, Ayomanor looks like the de facto WR1 in Tennessee’s passing game. He isn’t trustworthy as a weekly starter just yet, but upcoming matchups against the Raiders, Patriots, and Colts all set up favorably for volume and efficiency to finally meet.
Bottom line: Ayomanor’s poor catch rate masks a strong underlying role. He should be stashed everywhere as a potential WR3/FLEX breakout candidate, especially with a friendly stretch of games ahead.
4. Darius Slayton – WR, Giants
Currently Rostered: 5% of Sleeper Leagues
Suggested FAAB: 5–7%
Recommendation: Add in 12-team leagues
The worst news of Week 4 was Malik Nabers’ season-ending knee injury. With their superstar rookie sidelined, the Giants are forced to cobble together a “composite WR1,” and Slayton is part of that solution alongside Wan’Dale Robinson. In Week 4, Slayton ran 21 routes (second on the team), and while the box score didn’t pop in Jaxson Dart’s first start, the opportunity is clear.
The advanced profile has been underwhelming so far — just a 6.4% target share and 0.81 yards per route run entering Week 4 — but Nabers’ absence means those numbers are almost guaranteed to climb. We’ve seen this before: when Nabers was sidelined in 2024, Slayton posted an 11-target average (29.3% target share), a 56.9% air-yard share, and nearly 90 receiving yards per game across a two-week stretch.
The short-term schedule is tough (Saints, then the Eagles twice in three weeks), but things lighten up after Week 9 with a fantasy-friendly stretch against the Bears, Lions, Patriots, and Commanders. That’s where Slayton could be a volume-fueled WR3/FLEX play.
Bottom line: Slayton won’t replicate Nabers’ production, but the door is open for him to be a steady fantasy option. Think of him as a matchup-based WR3 with upside in softer weeks down the line.
5. Romeo Doubs – WR, Packers
Currently Rostered: 45% of Sleeper Leagues
Suggested FAAB: 4–6%
Recommendation: Add in 12-team leagues
Doubs erupted in Week 4 against Dallas, posting 6 receptions for 58 yards and 3 touchdowns — easily his best outing of the season, and maybe of his career. He saw 8 targets (18.6% share) and continues to run as Green Bay’s most trusted red-zone option, leading the team in end-zone looks.
That said, temper expectations. The Packers’ passing attack has been wildly inconsistent, with production rotating weekly between Doubs, Dontayvion Wicks, and rookie Matthew Golden. Outside of Jordan Love, Josh Jacobs, and Tucker Kraft, it’s been a frustrating offense to trust for fantasy. Doubs has the chemistry to remain Love’s preferred scoring option, but his week-to-week yardage and target volume aren’t stable.
Still, with bye weeks hitting, Doubs has real appeal as a plug-and-play WR3/FLEX who can swing matchups when his touchdowns hit.
Bottom line: this was likely Doubs’ ceiling game, but his consistent red-zone usage keeps him fantasy-relevant. Add him if you need short-term WR depth, but don’t overspend chasing the three-TD splash.
6. Jalen Coker – WR, Panthers
Currently Rostered: 12% of Sleeper Leagues
Suggested FAAB: 3–5%
Recommendation: Add in 12-team PPR leagues
Now is the time to stash Jalen Coker. After opening the year on IR, he’s nearing a return to a Panthers passing attack that badly needs help. With Xavier Legette banged up and ineffective, and TE Ja’Tavion Sanders also sidelined, Coker has a clear path to the No. 2 WR role behind Tetairoa McMillan.
The usage profile from last season shows why he matters. In the six games where Coker played at least 68% of snaps with Bryce Young at QB, he averaged:
- 18.3% target share
- 55.7 receiving yards per game
- 1.89 yards per route run
- 23.8% first-read share
- 11.4 PPR points per game, including three top-36 weekly finishes (WR17, WR12, WR28)
The Panthers rank third in neutral passing rate, so volume will be there if Coker slides into a starting role. With bye weeks arriving, he’s a sneaky stash who could provide immediate FLEX help once activated.
Bottom line: Coker isn’t on many radars yet, but his role, past efficiency, and Carolina’s need for playmakers make him a priority deep-league pickup with PPR upside.
7. Kenneth Gainwell – RB, Eagles
Currently Rostered: 33% of Sleeper Leagues
Suggested FAAB: 3–4%
Recommendation: Add in 12-team leagues
Gainwell stole the show in Pittsburgh’s international game, exploding for 99 rushing yards, 35 receiving yards, and two touchdowns — good for 28.4 fantasy points. He handled a featured workload with 23 touches, showing burst and versatility in both phases of the offense.
Before Week 4, Gainwell was already mixing in with 23 touches through the first three games, so he wasn’t coming out of nowhere. The difference this week was efficiency — he looked like a player who earned more opportunities going forward. If Jaylen Warren’s hamstring issue lingers, Gainwell becomes an immediate plug-and-play starter.
That said, we need to temper expectations. Warren is expected back soon, and Najee Harris is still part of the rotation, meaning Gainwell could slide back into a complementary role. But even if the usage normalizes, he’s shown enough to lock himself in as a premium handcuff with bye-week FLEX potential.
Bottom line: this isn’t a guaranteed breakout, but Gainwell’s performance demands attention. Add him as a stash now — his value spikes if Warren misses more time.
8. Isaiah Likely – TE, Ravens
Currently Rostered: 26% of Sleeper Leagues
Suggested FAAB: 2–3%
Recommendation: Stash in 12-team leagues
Likely hasn’t been on the field yet, but he’s worth stashing now before the breakout game hits. Mark Andrews has bounced back the last two weeks (13 catches on 14 targets), but he looked invisible early in the year, and Baltimore still needs more consistent pass-catching behind Zay Flowers.
Likely has the athletic profile and versatility to fill that gap. If he returns healthy and earns snaps, his combination of red-zone usage and big-play ability could quickly push him into TE1 conversations. In deeper leagues, you don’t want to be late on him.
Bottom line: Likely is a forward-thinking pickup. He may not pay off immediately, but the upside is worth a bench spot while the position remains a wasteland.
9. Kendre Miller – RB, Saints
Currently Rostered: 6% of Sleeper Leagues
Suggested FAAB: 1–2%
Recommendation: Stash in 14-team leagues
It’s been a rocky start to Miller’s career, but Week 4 was a reminder of why the Saints drafted him in the third round back in 2023. Against Buffalo, he logged 11 carries for 65 yards and an 18-yard touchdown, his highest rushing output of the season. He played 32.3% of the snaps compared to Alvin Kamara’s 72.3%, but he clearly looked like the next man up.
Kamara still dominates the workload (15 carries, 4 catches in Week 4), yet at 30 years old, he’s one of the most obvious candidates for missed time. Miller’s profile makes him one of the more appealing handcuffs in fantasy — a young, efficient back who can step into a major role if given the chance. The Saints’ 0–4 start also increases the odds they experiment with personnel down the stretch.
Bottom line: Miller isn’t startable yet, but he’s a classic stash-and-wait RB. With Kamara’s injury history and an upcoming soft schedule, Miller has sneaky league-winning upside if his role expands.
10. Tyjae Spears – RB, Titans
Suggested FAAB: 3–5%
Recommendation: Stash in 12-team leagues
Spears is finally eligible to return in Week 5 after opening the season on IR with an ankle injury, and the timing couldn’t be better for Tennessee. The Titans just got blanked by Houston, and their offense desperately needs a spark.
Through four games, Tony Pollard has handled 94% of Tennessee’s RB touches, but the results haven’t matched the volume. Head coach Brian Callahan hinted this offseason at wanting a committee backfield, but that was impossible with Julius Chestnut as the RB2. Spears changes that equation.
There’s risk here — a committee on a bottom-tier offense isn’t always a fantasy goldmine. But Spears brings explosiveness Pollard hasn’t shown this year, and there’s a real chance he carves out a meaningful role as the season progresses. If Pollard’s inefficiency continues, Spears could even push for the lead job outright.
Bottom line: Spears is one of the few widely available RBs with a path to consistent fantasy relevance. Add him now as a forward-looking stash before his role materializes.