Week 4 Waiver Wire: Fantasy Projections for Top Pickups and Sleeper Targets

Three weeks of NFL football are in the books, and there are plenty of fantasy football rosters in need of mending.

Whether the injury bug is wiping out your starters or your surefire picks just aren't working out quite the way you thought, the waiver wire is the place to get back on the winning track.

It's early in the season, so sleepers are still emerging, and the hot starters might not yet be all they were cracked up to be. The top pickups this week may not be the best guys to start Week 4, but they could be worth a stash.

Here's a look at the top pickups in ESPN and Yahoo Sports leagues, some projections for the most popular pickups and a couple of sleepers to consider. Only players owned in less than 50 percent of leagues are included in the table or considered for the article. 

Yahoo Sports
ESPN
Player	% Owned	No. of Monday Adds
Jordan Howard, RB, Chicago Bears	26	29,637
Orleans Darkwa, RB, New York Giants	3	21,902
Michael Thomas, WR, New Orleans Saints	48	19,699
Terrelle Pryor Sr., WR, Cleveland Browns	23	16,995
Kyle Rudolph, TE, Minnesota Vikings	42	13,345
Jamison Crowder, WR, Washington Redskins	16	10,548
Brandon Coleman, WR, New Orleans Saints	1	10,354
Trevor Siemian, QB, Denver Broncos	7	7,769
Carson Wentz, QB, Philadelphia Eagles	20	7,582
Matt Asiata, RB, Minnesota Vikings	26	955
Player	% Owned	% Change Last 7 Days
Fozzy Whittaker, RB, Carolina Panthers	41.8	+41
Quincy Enunwa, WR, New York Jets	41.8	+36.3
Matt Asiata, RB, Minnesota Vikings	31.5	+31.4
Kenyan Drake, RB, Miami Dolphins	30.5	+29
Cameron Artis-Payne, RB, Carolina Panthers	21.9	+20.1
Dwayne Washington, RB, Detroit Lions	20.4	+20
Ryan Tannehill, QB, Miami Dolphins	36.9	+16.6
Cairo Santos, K, Kansas City	38.7	+10.7
Hunter Henry, TE, San Diego Chargers	12.0	+10.7

Fantasy Projections for Popular Targets and Sleepers                                                         

Jordan Howard, RB, Chicago Bears

LM Otero/Associated Press

This is a huge week for rookie Jordan Howard, to say nothing of the thousands upon thousands of fantasy owners hoping he puts in a big day. With starting running back Jeremy Langford suffering an ankle injury on Sunday against the Dallas Cowboys and out for at least a month, Howard should get the starting nod in Week 4 against the Detroit Lions.

Howard has proved to be an effective runner in limited action this season, with 67 yards on 12 carries. CBS Sports' Dave Richard has been high on him: 

And even Pro Football Focus was bullish on the fifth-round pick heading into the NFL draft:

He also did well catching the ball out of the backfield against the Cowboys, totaling four receptions for 47 yards. He wasn't much of a receiver in college, but the Bears aren't exactly lighting up teams, and Howard could see plenty of checkdown throws if he's out getting most of the snaps. 

With injuries piling up, it makes sense for the Bears to turn the rookie loose and see what he can do as a featured back.

The Lions aren't giving up a ton of points to fantasy backs this season—23rd in the league, per Yahoo Sports—but the Green Bay Packers' Eddie Lacy racked up 103 yards against them in Week 3, and the Tennessee Titans' DeMarco Murray ripped off a 67-yard run the week before in a solid effort.

The opportunity is here; look for Howard to get plenty of touches.

Projection: 80 rushing yards; four receptions, 25 receiving yards

Orleans Darkwa, RB, New York Giants

Kathy Willens/Associated Press

Rashad Jennings and Shane Vereen have been leading the way in the New York Giants backfield this season, but that is all set to change. Vereen could be out for the year with a triceps injury that may need surgery, per NFL.com's Conor Orr. Jennings missed the Giants' Week 3 loss to the Washington Redskins but could be back for Week 4, per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport:

In any case, he hasn't been an effective rusher this year, averaging 3.3 yards per carry. Although it's based on just one game, Orleans Darkwa has looked the better runner, racking up 53 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries against Washington.

Fantasy owners are clearly hoping Darkwa will perform well if Jennings is out another week or limited. Darkwa didn't see much action in 2015, but he averaged a solid 4.3 yards per carry. He had one big game against the Cowboys last season, racking up 48 rushing yards and a touchdown. 

Michael Reaves/Getty Images

Unfortunately for Darkwa, the Giants are on the road in Week 4 against the Minnesota Vikings. The Vikings are holding opponents to 13.3 points per game and a measly 3.5 yards per carry.

There will be a ton of pressure on Darkwa to keep the Vikings defense honest and give quarterback Eli Manning a chance to flourish in the passing game, but it's a tall task. And with Bobby Rainey behind him, there is no guarantee he'll get the 20-25 touches he needs to provide any value. Don't look for Darkwa to put in a monster performance in Week 4.

Projection: 60 rushing yards, 10 receiving yards

Terrelle Pryor, WR, Cleveland Browns

Lynne Sladky/Associated Press

Terrelle Pryor did it all for the Cleveland Browns in their overtime loss to the Miami Dolphins in Week 3. The quarterback-turned-wideout spent time at his former position in the game, crushed it in his new one and even found time to moonlight as a safety.

After his breakout game as a wide receiver, Pryor is getting plenty of love from fantasy football owners, many of whom undoubtedly see the potential in slotting him in as a wideout while hoping he continues to see time at quarterback for the kind of value that only a rare few players can provide (like the old Joe Webb quarterback/wide receiver gambit).

Pryor is still developing as a receiver, but he has all the physical tools to succeed. Check out this long catch-and-run from Sunday, via the NFL: 

Fantasy football owners are sure to give pause before putting their faith in any Browns player, but hey, someone has to produce on this team. Rookie wideout Corey Coleman is out injured, making Pryor perhaps the team's best receiving option despite having only spent a year at the position.

Cleveland gets Washington in Week 4, a team that has given up the eighth-most fantasy points to wide receivers this year.

Pryor should get plenty of looks again this week, especially since pass-happy Washington is liable to turn this game into a shootout or get the Browns playing catch-up early. Rookie quarterback Cody Kessler did well to get Pryor the ball in Week 3, and if he starts again in Week 4, it could mean more QB packages for Pryor as the Browns ease the rookie along. 

There appears to be a chance Josh McCown could play in Week 4 based on reports of him trying to play against the Dolphins, per Rapoport. If McCown did somehow play with a broken collarbone, Pryor might still see time at quarterback to keep the veteran out of the line of fire, adding to his fantasy value.

Projection: 70 receiving yards, 30 rushing yards, 20 passing yards

Sleeper: Cameron Brate, TE, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Jason Behnken/Associated Press

After splitting time with Austin Seferian-Jenkins through the first two games of the season, Cameron Brate finally got his chance to shine as a clear starter in Week 3 when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers decided to cut Seferian-Jenkins.

The Harvard man took advantage by securing five receptions for 46 yards and two touchdowns on 10 targets in Tampa Bay's loss to the Los Angeles Rams.

PFF Fantasy Football noted the Bucs sent him out to pass often in the game, which bodes well for his fantasy value: 

Brate is available in just about all Yahoo fantasy leagues, making him a great sleeper pick, so long as you're willing to be patient for a week. 

The Bucs have the stingy Denver Broncos in Week 4—perhaps that's why many fantasy owners aren't scooping up Brate. But if you can make room to stash him on your roster, he could pay big dividends down the road as a red-zone target.

Second-year quarterback Jameis Winston is still learning the ropes of the game, and a big tight end is often a young signal-caller's best friend. Winston has had two strong games this season, so there's reason to believe he can hold up his end of the bargain and get Brate his targets. 

Projection: four catches, 50 yards