Week 4 Waiver Wire: Last-Minute Fantasy Pickups Worth Starting This Weekend

It’s never too late to make a waiver-wire move that will win your fantasy football matchup. As Sunday’s kickoffs go down around the league, you don’t want to be the guy who continued to plug in top-name stars who are struggling while ignoring the wire.

There are still plenty of good players floating around waiting to be snatched up. It takes a lot of gumption to make a move that might be a little risky, but can ultimately put your team over the top.

Do you have it in you to take a risk like that?

If you answered yes, keep reading for three players you seriously need to consider picking up and putting in your lineup in Week 4.

QB Terrelle Pryor (OAK vs. WAS)

While his status is still uncertain, the Oakland Raiders quarterback is an intriguing fantasy option this week if he suits up against the Washington Redskins. Pryor passed all of the NFL’s mandatory concussion protocols and resumed practicing on Friday after missing all of the previous sessions.

“I feel 100 percent,” Pryor said, per CSN Bay Area’s Scott Bair. Despite Pryor’s confidence, head coach Dennis Allen has yet to endorse him for the start.

Against Washington, Pryor has the potential to be a fantasy superstar. The Redskins are giving up 27 points per games to quarterbacks—second-most in the NFL—including over 1,000 yards passing and over 100 yards on the ground. That’s a seemingly perfect matchup for the mobile-threat Pryor.

Plus, he’s owned in just 25 percent of Yahoo! Sports leagues. If your quarterback situation has been shaky, or you’re in a two-quarterback format, you can’t afford to not start him this week.

RB Ronnie Hillman (DEN vs. PHI)

While the Denver Broncos running backs are entangled in a three-way timeshare, Ronnie Hillman looks like he’s beginning to gain the trust of John Fox’s coaching staff. Rookie Montee Ball has fumbled once in each of the Denver Broncos’ past two games while Hillman shined last week with his opportunities.

Hillman received nine of the Broncos’ 32 carries in Week 3. Ball had 11 and starter Knowshon Moreno had 12. It was Hillman, though, who shined. He finished off a drive with a one-yard touchdown run after his 19-yard run put the Broncos in position to score.

Hillman joked that he got the goal-line carry after winning a rock-paper-scissors game with his teammates, per Lindsay H. Jones of USA Today.

While the committee is certainly discouraging for fantasy owners, this might be a great time to take a shot on Hillman in a flex role. Philadelphia has been miserable on defense, allowing 438.3 total yards per game. Teams have passed at will, recording 323 of those yards through the air.

Hillman and the other Broncos backs should get plenty of clock-chewing action if the Broncos go up big. Expect that to happen leading to the quick back having another good fantasy performance.

WR Ryan Broyles (DET vs. CHI)

With Nate Burleson out for the foreseeable future after breaking his arm in a car accident early last week, Ryan Broyles has been rushed along in his return to action. He was brought back slowly this season after undergoing major knee surgery last December.

With Burleson out, though, there is urgency within the Lions organization to get him on the field as much as possible this week. Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reported that there will be no leash for Broyles’ playing time this week.

“I am definitely ready. I feel good,” Broyles said, per McCosky.

He’ll be expected to start and see most of his action in the slot, which makes him a viable option in all leagues against a beatable Chicago Bears defense. The Bears have been uncharacteristically bad against wide receivers this year, giving up 30 points per game—fifth-most in the league.

Broyles has a strong-armed, big-play quarterback in Matthew Stafford, who has very few other options to throw to. Look for the pair to hook up plenty of times and connect on at least one touchdown against Chicago this week.