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Week 4 fantasy football waiver wire pickups for Sterling Shepard, KaVontae Turpin, Jalen Tolbert in 2025. Read their waiver wire outlooks for fantasy football.
As we approach Week 4 of the NFL season, fantasy managers are looking for players who can make an immediate impact, especially in deeper leagues. Injuries and evolving roles continue to create opportunities for under-the-radar wide receivers to emerge as valuable additions. This week, several pass-catchers are worth targeting on the waiver wire, either as potential starters in specific matchups or as stashes for future upside.
Sterling Shepard, KaVontae Turpin, and Jalen Tolbert are three receivers who fit that profile. Shepard has carved out a consistent third option role in Tampa Bay’s offense, while Turpin and Tolbert could see expanded roles in Dallas depending on the status of CeeDee Lamb. Each player offers upside in different ways: Shepard through volume and experience, Turpin with explosive speed and big-play ability, and Tolbert as a volume-dependent option in a pass-heavy offense.
For fantasy managers navigating the waiver wire, understanding the context behind these players’ roles is key. Injuries, snap share trends, and passing volume all dictate how much opportunity each receiver might see in the coming weeks. Targeting the right player now could provide valuable depth or even a short-term starter in PPR leagues, particularly in 12-team formats or larger. These three wideouts are worth monitoring closely as you set your Week 4 rosters.
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Sterling Shepard Week 4 Waiver Wire Pickups
Rostered: 1% of Leagues
Baller Move: Stash in 12+ team leagues
Sterling Shepard has quietly carved out a role as Baker Mayfield’s steady third option in the Buccaneers’ passing attack. With Mike Evans (hamstring) potentially sidelined for several weeks, Shepard has stepped into a more consistent role alongside rookie wideout Emeka Egbuka. However, Chris Godwin is trending toward returning this week, which means Shepard’s role isn’t likely to expand much further despite Evans’ absence.
The matchup this week doesn’t do him any favors either. Tampa Bay takes on the Philadelphia Eagles, who boast one of the league’s most talented and disciplined secondaries. That immediately lowers the ceiling for a player like Shepard, who is more volume-dependent than big-play reliant at this stage of his career. Fantasy managers should temper expectations and view him strictly as a depth piece or emergency fill-in rather than someone to trust in starting lineups.
Through three games, Shepard has totaled 11 receptions for 153 yards while averaging between four and six targets per contest. He was quiet in the first two weeks of the season but finally showed signs of life in Week 3, posting an encouraging 80-yard performance. While that breakout was a step in the right direction, Shepard remains best viewed as a stash for deeper PPR leagues until his role and consistency stabilize.
KaVontae Turpin Week 4 Waiver Wire Pickups
Rostered: 5% of Leagues
Baller Move: Add in 10-12+ Team Leagues
KaVontae Turpin has begun to emerge as a name to monitor in fantasy football after flashing playmaking ability in back-to-back weeks. He found the end zone in Week 2 and followed it up with a 64-yard performance against the Bears in Week 3. While those box scores are encouraging, it’s worth noting that Turpin has averaged just three targets per game, which limits his weekly reliability for now.
The bigger storyline, however, is the uncertainty surrounding CeeDee Lamb (ankle). Dallas’ star wideout is dealing with a high-ankle sprain that could sideline him for multiple weeks, even if Lamb insists he can “absolutely” return in time for the Week 4 matchup against the Packers. If Lamb is ruled out, the Cowboys will be forced to reshuffle their wide receiver depth chart, and Turpin stands to benefit.
Turpin’s snap share climbed to a season-high 66% in Week 3, and he would be expected to step into three-wide sets alongside George Pickens and Jalen Tolbert if Lamb misses time. That opportunity, paired with his speed and ability to create chunk plays, makes him a speculative but intriguing stash. Fantasy managers in need of wide receiver depth, particularly those who roster Lamb, should consider Turpin a strong waiver-wire candidate heading into Week 4.
Jalen Tolbert Week 4 Waiver Wire Pickups
Rostered: 1% of Leagues
Baller Move: Add in 12+ Team Leagues
Jalen Tolbert is still largely off the radar in fantasy football, rostered in less than 1% of Yahoo leagues. That could quickly change as the season progresses, especially with his snap count steadily climbing each week. Tolbert has gone from 44% of snaps in Week 1 to 65% in Week 2, and reached a season-high 88% in Week 3, signaling increased trust from the Cowboys’ coaching staff.
The potential absence of CeeDee Lamb makes Tolbert an intriguing option. With Lamb expected to miss multiple weeks due to a high-ankle sprain, Tolbert is positioned to start alongside George Pickens in Dallas’ three-wide sets. Someone will need to draw defensive attention away from Pickens and tight end Jake Ferguson, and Tolbert appears to have the first crack at that role, even though he has just six catches for 40 yards over the first three games.
Dallas’ passing volume bodes well for all involved. The Cowboys have attempted a league-high 131 passes through three games and rank third in total passing yards with 806. That abundance of targets should give Tolbert the opportunity to carve out a meaningful role in the offense. Fantasy managers should view him as a stash for now, monitoring how much of the available target share he captures once Lamb sits.
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Popular Player Comparison Searches - Who To Pickup
Below are some popular searches and comparisons from our Who To Pickup tool for 2025 for Sterling Shepard, KaVontae Turpin, Jalen Tolbert:
[wr_player_list names="Sterling Shepard, KaVontae Turpin, Jalen Tolbert" sport="nfl_pickup" limit="50" type="" pos=""]
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