Pivot Plays and Post-Waiver Pickups: Week 4

Craig Rondinone analyzes the best pivot plays and post-waiver pickups for fantasy football managers heading into Week 4 of NFL action.

The post-waiver pickups have probably not been as prevalent during the first three weeks of the NFL season in fantasy football leagues.

I feel like the 2021 season has been light on “questionable” injury tags and last-minute Sunday morning scratches. Just because things have been easier than usual on fantasy football general managers early on does not mean it will stay that way throughout the season. There are many 50-50 players who may or may not play this weekend, and if they are on your fantasy roster and normally in your lineup, then you better have a backup plan in place.

Without further ado, here are my pivot plays and post-waiver pickups for Week 4 – and the questionable superstars who you might need to replace at the last-minute in your fantasy lineups.

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Sneaky Pickups and Starts for Week 4

If Las Vegas’s Josh Jacobs (ankle/toe) cannot limp onto the field for Sunday’s game, you could pick up and play….

Peyton Barber, Las Vegas Raiders (RB) at LAC

I know what you’re thinking again. Now it’s, “Why is Barber in this column for a second week in a row?” Well, after I said he would be a great option in case Jacobs missed another game, all Barber did was rush for 111 yards and a TD. Vegas head honcho Jon Gruden has a game plan for his backfield when Jacobs is out, and it is that Barber is the early-down and goal-line guy and Kenyan Drake is the change-of-pace and third-down dude.

Barber is still available in over 70 percent of leagues and will be lowering his head into a Chargers defense that is dead last in the league at stopping the run (170 yards per game). The Chargers have allowed one tailback of each of their opponents to run for at least 90 yards. There is no reason to think the defense will suddenly become the 1985 Chicago Bears against the run in Week 4. If Jacobs sits and Barber starts, pick up the latter and you may be treated to 90 yards and a score.

If Pittsburgh’s JuJu Smith-Schuster (ribs) is ruled out before Sunday’s kickoff, you could pick up and play….

Hunter Renfrow, Las Vegas Raiders (WR) at LAC

This feels like a Raiders infomercial. While Las Vegas’ 3-0 start has been highlighted by the stellar play of quarterback Derek Carr, tight end Darren Waller, and an underrated big-play defense, Renfrow has quietly developed into the steady slot receiver many thought he would be. He has used his precise route running and Gold Glove hands to post three straight solid games to start the season, including the 77-yard, one-TD performance he gifted fantasy managers last week. Still, he is only rostered in 20 percent of fantasy leagues at the present time.

Renfrow has played four career games against the division rival Chargers and had at least 42 yards in three of those contests. The “Bolts” pass defense has been impressive through three weeks, but slot receivers are hard to tie up no matter how stout a secondary is. If Smith-Schuster does not play, you can go the Renfrow way and you should be rewarded, especially in PPR leagues where his receptions are more valuable. You know Carr will be aiming for him. Renfrow has 22 targets in his three outings this year.

If Tampa Bay’s Rob Gronkowski (rib) cannot gut it out Sunday night, you could pick up and play…

Cameron Brate, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (TE) at NE

Gronk has been uncoverable and more comfortable in Bruce Arians’ offense, but there is a chance he may not make it for his return to New England with Tom Brady. I find it hard to believe he would not give it the old college try, though fantasy managers know about his lengthy injury history and understand it would be no shock if he could not suit up Sunday evening.

It was Brate and not the invisible O.J. Howard who benefited when Gronkowski departed from last Sunday’s game. Brate caught four passes for 35 yards and had no trouble stepping in as the top tight end when he was third on the depth chart entering the game. While Brate’s expectations have to be tempered since New England has the second-ranked pass defense in the NFL, the veteran has never needed a compass to find the end zone (29 career TDs) and could be in line for three-to-five catches and a touchdown trip if he fills in for Gronk.

If Tennessee’s Julio Jones (hamstring) cannot get on the field Sunday, you could pick up and play….

Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, Tennessee Titans (WR) at NYJ

Westbrook-Ikhine could be Tennessee’s No. 1 WR and Ryan Tannehill’s top target the way things are trending. A.J. Brown is already likely to miss this week’s game with his hamstring injury, and now Jones is in danger of missing it as well with his own. Thanks to the Titans’ top two receivers not being on the field, Westbrook-Ikhine was the most active WR in the team’s win over Indianapolis this past weekend.

As terrible as the Jets have been this season, they have only allowed one passing touchdown against them. Don't be fooled into thinking it is because their cornerbacks are the second-coming of Lester Hayes and Mike Haynes. They faced a mediocre trio of quarterbacks (Sam Darnold, Mac Jones, Teddy Bridgewater) and trailed from start to finish in all three games -- so second-half game scripts called for more runs than passes, explaining the stat more than All-World secondary play. Above-average safety Marcus Maye will miss the game, so that’s a plus for Westbrook-Ikhine. If Jones is out, pick up Westbrook-Ikhine and put him in. Someone is going to have to catch Tannehill’s passes, and N.W.I. has a better chance of being a fantasy force than Anthony Firkser does.

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