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Jackson Sparks' deeper-league waiver wire pickups and fantasy football sleepers for Week 4. His top free agent options for 14-team fantasy leagues or deeper.
The first three weeks of the NFL's regular season are behind us, but it's never time to stop searching for deep league stashes for short or long-term upside. These fantasy football waiver wire pickup suggestions are geared toward leagues with deep benches or 14-plus teams, so obvious handcuffs and early-season breakouts such as Jahan Dotson, Jakobi Meyers, and Alexander Mattison won't be featured. Instead, we're diving deeper for players who saw a surprising number of targets, newfound opportunities, or even running back stashes who moved up the depth chart or could see a massive jump in value if the player in front of them misses time.
In deep leagues, stashing lotto-ticket plays is paramount for future upside. Even players who are currently buried on the depth chart or have seen minimal work thus far could prove to be valuable pieces at some point in the long NFL season. If we can identify deep league sleepers early, it can help you win your league down the road.
Of course, we only have three weeks of games to look at, but these deep league waiver targets are usually cheap to obtain and can be dropped without consequence down the road if they prove to have little value to your roster. Ultimately, all "backup" running backs could become valuable, but we'll at least highlight the guys with the most upside if they became a starter and aren't already on shallow fantasy radars.
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Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Targets for Week 4
Jerick McKinnon and Isiah Pacheco each saw at least three running back opportunities (carries plus targets) against the Indianapolis Colts. Neither delivered a noteworthy fantasy performance, but since both are seeing playing time behind Clyde Edwards-Helaire, they should be on deep league fantasy radars. If Edwards-Helaire misses time for any reason, McKinnon and Pacheco will likely share the backfield in one of the league's best offenses.
Boston Scott is just one Miles Sanders or Kenneth Gainwell injury away from a major role in the dominant Eagles' rushing attack, so he's a solid deep league lotto ticket for late-season upside.
Joshua Kelley and Sony Michel are both getting touches behind Austin Ekeler, and both would be instant RB1 candidates in the context of the Chargers' offense if Ekeler gets banged up. Ekeler has rushed for just 80 yards in three games, so we could see either guy get more groundwork either way.
Jordan Mason slides into the RB2 chair with Elijah Mitchell (knee) and Tyrion Davis-Price out, so he's worth stashing in deep leagues. He saw just one carry in the loss to the Denver Broncos, but he looks like the clear backup to Jeff Wilson Jr.
Zamir White would likely dominate the rushing attempts if something were to happen to Josh Jacobs. His PPR upside would be capped thanks to Ameer Abdullah or Brandon Bolden, but in deep leagues, he'd be worth something as a fill-in RB.
Jaylen Warren handled just five touches against the Cleveland Browns, but he looks explosive and would likely handle a workhorse role in the event of a Najee Harris injury.
Pierre Strong Jr. is more of an ultra-deep league stash since he hasn't logged any touches, but with Ty Montgomery (knee) on IR, there's a chance he could get involved at some point soon. He's an easy drop candidate if nothing is pointing to his role increasing, but he's another player who is one injury away from fantasy relevance.
Craig Reynolds was a late-season value last year, and with D'Andre Swift already dealing with shoulder and ankle injuries, he could become the clear backup to Jamaal Williams any time soon. He'll likely get some work if Swift is out, and be the featured back if something happens to Williams.
Samaje Perine handled 11 touches for 61 yards and a touchdown in the win against the New York Jets, as Joe Mixon (ankle) is slightly banged up. Mixon's injury isn't expected to be serious, but since Perine is getting involved in this offense, he has some standalone value in deep leagues. He's also a high-end RB handcuff.
Donovan Peoples-Jones isn't necessarily worth picking up right now, but keep him on the fantasy radar for later in the season when Deshaun Watson comes back.
D.J. Chark will be cut by a ton of fantasy managers after another dud performance in Week 3, but the Lions' offense looks explosive, and Chark's ceiling is high as a big-play deep threat.
DeVante Parker exploded for 156 yards against the Baltimore Ravens, but fantasy managers will likely be hesitant to pick him up thanks to the Mac Jones ankle injury. That said, he just put his ceiling on display, so he's at least worth some consideration.
Richie James caught 10-of-12 targets for 110 yards through the first two weeks of the season, which is plenty of volume and usage for WR-needy fantasy managers in deep leagues. His ceiling is likely low, but his floor is solid, at least until Wan'Dale Robinson (knee) comes back. Pick up Robinson if he's on deep league waivers, too.
Laviska Shenault Jr. only saw two targets in his Panthers debut, but he caught both of them and racked up 90 yards and a touchdown. Perhaps Shenault will be featured more moving forward in an offense desperate for explosive plays.
George Pickens isn't ready to enter lineups yet, but after a seven-target game against the Cleveland Browns, he should enter the fantasy radar. His value could skyrocket if the Steelers make the quarterback change to Kenny Pickett. The offense could also get worse under Pickett, but Pickens is worth picking up as a potential flyer.
Treylon Burks is going to fall off some fantasy managers' watchlist after he recorded just one catch against the Las Vegas Raiders, but he ran the most routes of any Titans' pass-catcher, so the breakout game could happen any time. Pick him up before it happens.
Hayden Hurst totaled 15 targets in his first two games with the Cincinnati Bengals, so he should be rostered in deep leagues at the shallow position that is tight end. After a two-target game in Week 3, he'll likely be cheap to acquire, so take advantage. Expect boom weeks to come for the veteran TE when Joe Burrow and the offense finally get past their early-season struggles.
Juwan Johnson is the primary receiving tight end in New Orleans, so he's worth a flyer after charting 12 targets through the first two weeks, even after a quiet Week 3 performance.
Tyler Conklin has seen at least seven targets in all three games this season, so if your leaguemates still haven't picked him up, this will likely be the last time he's available.
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