Welcome back readers. We're through three weeks and you are starting to get a sense of your overall team's potential and what focal points to address on your roster. Luckily for you we've dedicated a whole section to finding the right pickups to help your team moving forward.

We had a few injuries in Week 3, including Jeremy Langford and Thomas Rawls reportedly out for at least a month.

Let’s look around the league at who is worth a bid going into Week 4. Each price recommendation will be based on a $100 FAAB budget. Be sure to also check out our weekly waiver wire analysis columns, with in-depth analysis for all Week 4 options.

Editor's Note: Once you're done here, be sure to read about more Week 4 waiver wire recommendations, for all other positions. Just click on any link: ALL - RB - WR - TE - QB - DEF - FAAB

 

FAAB Waiver Wire Bids - Running Backs

Jordan Howard (CHI, RB) - $20-25

21% owned in Fleaflicker

The biggest injury news of the weekend was Jeremy Langford going down with an Achilles injury that will sideline him for 4-6 weeks. While it's a devastating blow for Langford owners, Bears fans and RB-needy lineups are salivating at the opportunity ahead for Jordan Howard. Howard finished the game and ran nine times for 45 yards and tacked on four catches for 47 yards.

Howard, a 5th round rookie from Indiana, has shown his explosive speed in the preseason and in limited snaps before Week 3. The coaches had mentioned Langford's inability to grind out yards after contact even before the Achilles injury, implying that Howard was due for an increased workload regardless. In fact, both backs had split the carries until Langford left the game. Howard has a favorable schedule ahead of him with the Lions, Colts, and Jaguars all on deck. With Langford expected to be out at least a month, Howard is the must-add of the week and worth a significant portion of your FAAB budget. He's an RB2 moving forward.

Orleans Darkwa (NYG, RB) - $6-12

3% owned in Fleaflicker

The second Giants running back to make this section, Darkwa was inserted for the injured Shane Vereen and made use of his time. Darkwa saw 10 carries for 53 yards and a score. He also added a nine-yard catch. Overall it was a solid performance, but not enough to run away with the job.

With Vereen and Rashad Jennings (potentially) out for Week 4, the Giants have stated they will use a committee consisting of Darkwa and Bobby Rainey. Rainey is a special-teams pass-catching back, leaving all the early down carries for Darkwa. This is good for owners looking for volume, but the matchup is horrible this week. Darkwa has a Monday night showdown with the Vikings, arguably the best defensive unit so far. Darkwa may just end up being a one-week stop gap option, so don't go too crazy with your bids.

Wendell Smallwood (PHI, RB) – FAAB Bid: $1-3

11% owned in Fleaflicker

You can go ahead and throw away your preseason plans for the Eagles running back situation. Those are dead and buried under Doug Pederson. Ryan Matthews was expected to be the lead back but saw his usage drop in Week 2 and then become nonexistent after injuring his foot on Sunday. This left the running back duties to Darren Sproles, Kenjon Barner, and Wendell Smallwood. And while Sproles did his thing in the passing game, it was Smallwood carving it up on the ground.

Smallwood saw the rock 17 times for 79 yards and a touchdown, with 64 of them coming in the second half to ice the game. More importantly, Smallwood got the first crack at goal-line touches instead of Barner of the smaller Sproles. This leads us to believe if Matthews is to miss any time, Smallwood will become the early-down back and handle all the goal-line touches, with Sproles handling the pass-game and Barner sprinkling in for relief. If you own Matthews, Smallwood is a must-own.

Also Consider: Dwayne Washington (DET, RB) - $10, Jay Ajayi (MIA, RB) - $1

 

FAAB Waiver Wire Bids - Wide Receivers

Terrelle Pryor (CLE, WR) - FAAB Bid: $9-12

23% owned in Fleaflicker

For the record, this is why you need a Twitter account. Reports flooded in on Sunday that Pryor would be used in a variety of forms and we touted Pryor as a must-add before 1 PM. Pryor ended up doing more than even I expected, playing quarterback, wide receiver, and safety. Pryor ended up completing 3-of-5 passes for 35 yards, 21 rushing yards with a touchdown, and eight catches on 14 targets for 144 yards. That was enough to finish 5th among wide receivers, and he was available in over 85% of leagues before kickoff.

There are two main threats to Pryor keeping this up; Cody Kessler and Josh Gordon. Kessler was pedestrian on Sunday, accumulating 244 yards on 21 completions, but he cannot be trusted. Pryor himself was inefficient in the pocket and will not be the answer. Thankfully Josh McCown should return in 2-4 weeks, but by then Josh Gordon will be back. Gordon is a more athletic and polished version of Pryor who cannot seem to get out of trouble, but he will eat into Pryor's touches regardless.

Treat Pryor like a WR3/FLEX for Week 4 but he will need to continue to see QB-gadget plays to be relevant when Gordon returns, something I do not see occurring with McCown under center.

Steve Smith Sr. (BAL, WR) - FAAB Bid: $3-5

31% owned in Fleaflicker

If you need further proof Steve Smith has still got it physically and verbally, go ask Jalen Ramsey. Smith backed up his talk on the field with a productive game, turning 11 targets into eight catches for 87 yards. It was easily his best game of 2016 and is looking more comfortable with each game as he gets further away from the ACL injury that took away 2015.

While Smith was relatively quiet the first two weeks with Mike Wallace making his presence known, I expect Smith to be the focal point of the offense going forward. He is the vocal leader of the offense and is still ahead of Breshad Perriman and Kamar Aiken on the depth chart. The Ravens have a cupcake matchup with the Raiders next in which Smith will be in the WR3 consideration once more.

Also Consider: Jamison Crowder (WAS, WR) - $8, Kevin White (CHI, WR) - $3, Pierre Garcon (WAS, WR) - $2, Cole Beasley (DAL, WR) - $1, Anquan Boldin (DET, WR) - $1

 

FAAB Waiver Wire Bids - Tight Ends

Zach Miller (CHI, TE) - FAAB Bid: $2-4

49% owned in Fleaflicker

Humming right along the Bears garbage time train takes us to the next stop, the safety valve. Miller has always excelled at that and was superb on Sunday, turning nine targets into eight catches for 87 yards and two touchdowns. He had a slow start to 2016, seeing only nine targets in the first two games for 47 yards. Yes, this has everything to do with Hoyer. Hoyer is known for two things; deep balls and check downs. If it isn't going long to Jeffrey, it's going to Miller or Jordan Howard.

Miller gets the Lions followed by the Colts. The Lions are stingy versus tight ends but they did allow a touchdown to one in Week 3, while the Colts have been atrocious in 2016.

Hunter Henry (SD, TE) - FAAB Bid: $2

14% owned in Fleaflicker

The second-round pick from Arkansas saw his first NFL start on Sunday and turned in a respectable performance, catching all five targets for 67 yards. By the way, if you had Week 3 as your date Antonio Gates goes down, please collect your prize!

Henry was considered a first-round talent and he showed it on Sunday, exuding soft hands and good route running. As long as Gates is out, Henry enters the TE1 consideration. We know Philip Rivers loves his tight ends, and Henry looks like the future in San Diego. He gets the Saints, Raiders, Broncos, and Falcons coming up. Aside from Denver, that's a cakewalk.

Also Consider: Cameron Brate (TB, TE) - FAAB Bid: $1

 

FAAB Waiver Wire Bids - Quarterbacks

Carson Wentz ($10) remains our No. 1 add this week and has further solidified his status as a QB1. Dak Prescott ($5) would be the No. 2 option at QB.

 

Alex Smith (QB, KC) – FAAB Bid: $1-2

58% owned in Fleaflicker

There's nothing sexy about rostering a game manager such as Alex Smith. Now that we've gotten that out of the way, you need to consider giving him a chance in Week 4. While Smith had a modest day versus the Jets in Week 3 (237 yards, TD), he gets a much cozier matchup with the Steelers. Here are the passing yards allowed by the Steelers in the first three weeks: 329, 366, and 301. Smith should have no problem amassing a safe floor and should have superstar Jamaal Charles back. Stream away.

Brian Hoyer (QB, CHC) - FAAB Bid: $1-2

7% owned in Fleaflicker

There hasn't been much to cheer for if you're a Bears fan. Jay Cutler and Jeremy Langford are both down and the defense has lost its two best players (Lamarr Houston, Danny Trevathan). Well brighten up Bears fans, I have good news for you. While your team is going pummeled we can benefit from the garbage time fantasy production! Hooray!

Hoyer showed a sample of that Sunday night, chucking it 49 times for 317 yards and two touchdowns as he attempted to lead the Bears back from a 24-3 hole. The loss of Langford hurt the running game, but as you'll see below (and most experts have noted) Jordan Howard is the better back and was healthy in the second half. With the Bears season in limbo, I expect them to be down and be forced to throw it often. Alshon Jeffrey remains a WR1 and Kevin White is starting to show flashes of promise, while someone has to chuck it to them. Hoyer gets the Lions this week, a defense that just allowed four touchdowns to Aaron Rodgers. Look for a shootout in this NFC North battle.

Also Consider: Trevor Siemian - $1-2

 

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