Fantasy Football Week 4 Waiver Wire: The Best Adds at Each Position

Rick Osentoski-US PRESSWIRE

Week 4 of the NFL season starts to bring headaches to fantasy players. Fantasy football players need to start scouring the waiver wire as NFL bye weeks begin.

Though only Indianapolis and Pittsburgh have Week 4 byes, it's a safe bet that owners will have a lineup hole somewhere in the coming weeks.

Besides bye weeks starting, injuries to C.J. Spiller, Reggie Bush and Matthew Stafford will make waiver wire adds extra important this week.

This list highlights one player at each position who is worth the Week 4 add.

Note: All scoring stats follow ESPN standard scoring.

QB: Christian Ponder

Bruce Kluckhohn-US PRESSWIRE

Fantasy owners looking to fill a hole at quarterback in Week 4 need look no further than Minnesota quarterback Christian Ponder. Ponder had a big day in the upset win against San Francisco, throwing for two touchdowns and also adding one on the ground.

Ponder faces a Detroit defense this week that just gave up 378 yards and 24 fantasy points to fellow second-year quarterback Jake Locker.

Currently, Ponder is owned in just 5.6 percent of ESPN leagues.

RB: Tashard Choice

Rick Osentoski-US PRESSWIRE

Buffalo Bills running back Tashard Choice had little fantasy value until both Fred Jackson and C.J. Spiller went down with injuries. Choice is now the starter in Buffalo, and needs to be added immediately, especially by Spiller owners.

Choice ended the Week 3 game against the Browns with 91 yards rushing on 20 attempts, earning him nine fantasy points. Choice goes up against the New England Patriots in Week 4. Buffalo will look to run the ball to control the game tempo and keep Brady and company off the field.  

Choice could be a good start if you are left with holes at running back due to injuries or bye weeks. He is currently owned in just 0.3 percent of ESPN leagues, but that number will skyrocket this week.

WR: Andrew Hawkins

Andrew Weber-US PRESSWIRE

Cincinnati Bengals receiver Andrew Hawkins has scored eight, 11 and 13 fantasy points in his first three games this year. He has also gone over 50 yards in each game and has touchdowns in back-to-back weeks.

Hawkins is a nice complement to star receiver A.J. Green. The downside to Hawkins is the fact that he has only 12 targets on the season and just four receptions in the last two games. Hawkins made himself noticeable to fantasy owners with his eight-catch, 86 yard Week 1 performance against the Ravens.

Hawkins could be risky with so few targets, but there's a good chance he hits pay dirt for the third straight week as the Bengals play at Jacksonville in Week 4.

Hawkins is currently owned in 6.1 percent of ESPN leagues.

TE: Dennis Pitta

Evan Habeeb-US PRESSWIRE

Baltimore tight end Dennis Pitta has become quarterback Joe Flacco's favorite target. Pitta leads all tight ends in targets with 24 in just three games, and ranks No. 9 among tight ends with 19 points. Those statistics bode well for Pitta's fantasy owners. The tight end has good hands and isn't afraid to go over the middle to make a catch.

Pitta already has two double-digit fantasy performances and has scored in two out of three games in 2012. Look for Pitta to have a big game in Week 4 against the Cleveland Browns.

Time may be running out to grab him, as he is now owned in 43.2 percent of ESPN leagues.

D: Arizona Cardinals

Matt Kartozian-US PRESSWIRE

The Arizona Cardinals are no longer a surprise on defense. The Cardinals have made both Tom Brady and Michael Vick look bad in back-to-back weeks.

As far as fantasy football goes, the Cardinals had a monster game in Week 3 against the Eagles, scoring 21 points, aided by a fumble return for a touchdown.

The Cardinals go up against rookie quarterback Ryan Tannehill and the Miami Dolphins in Week 4. That's a matchup that should make them a must-start fantasy defense.

Throw in the fact that Miami playmaker Reggie Bush could miss the game with a knee injury, and things are looking good for the owners of the Arizona defense in Week 4.

The Cardinals are currently owned in 18.1 percent of ESPN leagues. Jump on them now.

K: Justin Tucker

Evan Habeeb-US PRESSWIRE

Baltimore kicker Justin Tucker saw his streak of consecutive 16-point games end in Week 3. Tucker still produced seven points on four extra points and a field goal. The rookie from Texas has a strong leg and has hit on all seven of his field-goal attempts in 2012.

The Ravens host the Cleveland Browns on Thursday night. The Baltimore offense should be able to move easily on the Browns, setting up several scoring opportunities for Tucker.

Tucker is owned in 51.6 of ESPN leagues, so it may already be too late.