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Hey hey! Step right up to the Week 4 Weekend Waiver Wire Series, where we dive deep for those high-ceiling stashes before Sunday hits. Even if the waivers have done their dash in your league this week, fret not! There's always a hidden gem waiting to shine. With the NFL’s notorious injury plague, grabbing that unnoticed, potential-packed player off the waiver wire ahead of the curve can indeed spin your fantasy game into gold, keeping you a leap ahead of your league pals. It's also important to remember that you don't always need immediate production from the players below in this article, and hopefully, they are the kinds of players to help you come playoff time. You have to get there first, I know.
Last week was awesome and terrible at the same time. Miami Dolphins RB De'Von Achane was one of the suggested players to add to last week's article and hopefully, you scooped him up. The bad? Outside of best ball formats, Achane was on the bench for just about every fantasy roster out there. There is a chance that he can still take over the Miami backfield though. As mentioned in previous week's articles, we aren't looking to shell out a good chunk of our FAAB for any of the players listed below, but rather adding them in deeper formats ahead of time before they pop in order to save our FAAB.
Sure, some of these names might seem like a shot in the dark, but that's the whole game plan here. The majority of the players rolled out each week in this column are going to be chilling on the waivers, unknown and unclaimed. We’re not handing you the household names, no sir! We’re lifting the veil on the unnoticed champs who could skyrocket in fantasy value as the season rolls on. Even if you give them a miss, for now, etch their names in your memory. Ready to take the plunge? Let’s dive headfirst!
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Weekend Waiver Wire Stashes Before Week 4
Tyjae Spears, (RB) Tennessee Titans
24% rostered on Yahoo, 20% on ESPN
The Titans offense has been bad through the first 3 weeks. They have offensive line issues, their wide receivers can't get open downfield, and their quarterback may be on the downside of his career. Despite the lackluster offense, Spears has been playing more snaps than incumbent RB Derrick Henry. He is also a great receiver out of the backfield and could have some standalone upside should the Tennessee offense start to improve. It's undeniable, Derrick Henry reigns as the Titans’ RB1. Unless unforeseen circumstances emerge, this isn’t likely to change. But don't let that overshadow Spears' ongoing contribution.
Demonstrating adept receiving skills from the backfield, Spears unfolds as a potentially independent valuable asset beyond Henry. His touch count stands at 22 through the first three games, reinforcing the Titans' estimation of his value and their pursuit to lighten Henry’s hefty seasonal workload. For Spears to be considered a starting option in current formats, a significant elevation in the Titans’ offense is essential. Nonetheless, for those navigating the depths of larger leagues, Spears emerges as a prudent roster addition, provided his on-field involvement continues its upward trajectory.
Mac Jones, (QB) New England Patriots
17% rostered on Yahoo, 10% on ESPN
I know, it's not the flashiest pick in the world, but you can still do worse than Jones. If C.J. Stroud is available in your league, add him immediately! Stroud is rostered in over 44% of Yahoo, but in just 29% of ESPN leagues, so if he's there scoop him up. Now back to Jones. The Patriots offense has been less than stellar, but it's been much improved through the first 3 games under offensive coordinator Bill O'Brien. The Pats offense lacks any kind of major needle mover outside of Rhamondre Stevenson, but with some of the opponents they have coming up: Raiders, Bills, Dolphins in a few weeks, they will be forced to air it out. Mac threw for 314 yards and 3 TDs against a stout Eagles defense in Week 1. Some of it was due to being in a negative game-script, but don't give up on Jones yet. He might end up being better in real life than for fantasy, but there's still some upside there.
Zach Evans, (RB) Los Angeles Rams
1% rostered on Yahoo, 0% on ESPN
Here’s a curveball for you, but bear with me – Evans is packing some serious skills. Yeah, he sat out Week 3, but don’t sleep on this 6th-round rookie from Ole Miss. His story? Started at TCU, lost his spot to Kendre Miller, and then made the switch to Ole Miss. Even as the No. 2 RB recruit of the 2020 class, trailing only Bijan Robinson, he racked up 4.21 yards after contact and a 49.1% breakaway run rate according to PFF, tallying 2,200 scrimmage yards and 19 TDs, and that’s without hogging the full workload. Fellow RB Cam Akers was sent away to Minnesota and there isn't much competition on the depth chart right now unless the Rams were to make a trade for Jonathan Taylor.
Fast-forward to now. The Rams are killing it on offense after three games this season. With Matthew Stafford back in prime form and an O-line that’s shaping up well, plus a promising WR squad with the likes of rookies Puka Nacua and Tutu Atwell, and the much-anticipated return of Cooper Kupp from IR, things are looking up. Kyren Williams is doing his bit, but he’s missing that breakaway zip. Now with Akers gone, Evans could be inching his way up in the depth chart, tailing Williams and Ronnie Rivers. It's a stretch to roster Evans in all but the deepest leagues at the moment, but keep that name in your mental Rolodex. If he steps onto the field, you’ll want to be ready. The Rams are on the up and up, and Evans just might join that ride.
Rico Dowdle, (RB), Dallas Cowboys
9% rostered on Yahoo, 5% on ESPN
A relatively unknown name before the season, Dowdle has earned himself the Cowboys RB2 spot on the depth chart. While we don't wish for anything to happen to RB Tony Pollard, in fantasy we always want to know who the RBs are that would be next up on the team's roster should an injury happen to the starter. Dowdle hasn't seen a ton of work this season, just 17 rushes for 71 yards but he does have 4 receptions for 42 yards as well. The Cowboys defense has been one of the better units in the league and we know that HC Mike McCarthy wants to keep running the ball. If you're in a deeper format, Dowdle is worth stashing.
Jayden Reed, (WR), Green Bay Packers
24% rostered on Yahoo, 19% on ESPN
The Packers have already played on TNF this week, and we can't say with absolute certainty what Reed's role will be in the offense now that their WR1 Christian Watson has returned from his hamstring woes. But what's clear is Reed's noticeable impact, even as a greenhorn on the field. Bagging 23 targets over four games, he also has 12 receptions for 203 yards and 2 TDs. The performance of Packers’ QB, Jordan Love, is nothing short of promising, fueling optimism for the Packers' offensive play as we move forward. Predicting the exact dynamics of the Packers' receiving crew, with Watson, Romeo Doubs, Reed, and the rookie TE Luke Musgrave, remains a conundrum. However, as long as Love continues his stellar play (8 passing TDs so far on the season), betting on the Packers' receiving arsenal is bound to yield fruitful outcomes in the fantasy realm this season.
Kendre Miller, (RB) New Orleans Saints
23% rostered on Yahoo, 15% on ESPN
A talented rookie from TCU who the Saints took in the 3rd Round of the 2023 NFL Draft, Miller had his knee scoped in the offseason and missed just about all of rookie camp and training camp. Alvin Kamara is set to return in Week 4 from his 3-game suspension and will likely be the clear RB1 in the Saints offense. Jamaal Williams is on IR for the time being, so there is an opportunity for Miller to see some opportunity. He is still going to need a little more time to get acclimated to the NFL and the Saints offense, so he is likely a better play for the second half of the season. Nonetheless, Miller is worth rostering just in case Alvin Kamara doesn't look like his old self.
Luke Musgrave, (TE) Green Bay Packers
37% rostered on Yahoo, 35% on ESPN
As mentioned previously with another Packers skill player, we don't know how the pass-catching corps is going to shake out. The offensive line has some issues, but QB Jordan Love has looked more than competent in his first four games of 2023. Musgrave might be a rookie, but as we are seeing with Sam LaPorta on the Lions already, this rookie class is very special at the tight end position. Musgrave has 16 targets through 4 games and has 12 receptions for 125 TDs and 0 TDs yet. However, he has looked really good so far. It's unknown if the Packers offense will be able to support multiple pass catchers for fantasy this season, but Musgrave certainly looks the part.
Rashee Rice, (WR) Kansas City Chiefs
34% rostered on Yahoo, 11% on ESPN
Rice has been in this article for all three weeks and his rostership has grown. It is the opinion of this author that if a wide receiver were to be relevant in the Chiefs offense this year, Rashee would be that guy. He had a more encouraging Week 3 performance where he saw 7 targets and finished with 5 receptions for 59 yards and 0 TDs. However, Rice was tackled twice and the 1 yard-line and almost had 2 TDs. As mentioned previously, the Chiefs’ defense is stealing the spotlight, standing as the fourth stingiest in points allowed through three games. Right now it feels almost surreal to see Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce as the sole dependable starts in Andy Reid's offense for fantasy.
Now, let’s not bail on the Chiefs’ talent pool entirely. With Mahomes in prime form, he reigns unmatched in the QB realm. There’s potential for another WR to emerge and start pulling in consistent targets and become a solid fantasy asset. As it stands, that hasn’t materialized. Skyy Moore and Kadarius Toney are lurking, yet Rice, with his impressive preseason showing and his substantial frame suitable for outside play, shouldn’t be cast aside. Keep faith in this offense for your fantasy needs – there’s still ample time for a resurgence.
I hope you enjoyed these picks. Remember that it's a long season and it's best to be patient and wait for some of these situations to unfold. By being proactive and prepared ahead of your league mates you can save that valuable FAAB for later in the season when you might really need it! Feel free to follow me on Twitter for more waiver and player analysis throughout the season!
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