Week 4 Waiver Wire: Examining Top Fantasy Football Targets

We are starting to enter that realm in fantasy football where the 2014 NFL season is no longer such a small sample size.

Yes, there is plenty of time to turn things around after a slow start, but 0-3 (or even 1-2) may resemble a pattern more than an anomaly at this point. If you find yourself near the bottom of your league’s standings in the early going, it may be time to make a change.

With that in mind, here is a look at some of the top guys to target on the waiver wire before Week 4 of the season.

*Percent-owned statistics courtesy of ESPN.com leagues.

QB Blake Bortles, Jacksonville Jaguars

Stephen B. Morton/Associated Press

Blake Bortles is only owned in 1.3 percent of ESPN.com leagues, so there is a decent chance you can pick up a starting quarterback moving forward.

The best part about Bortles as a fantasy option is the switch from Chad Henne to the Central Florida product is likely going to be a permanent move for the season. The Jacksonville Jaguars aren’t winning anything this season and are playing for the future, which is why turning the reins over to Bortles makes sense.

He was impressive enough in limited action against the Indianapolis Colts (223 passing yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions) to warrant an extended look in fantasy, especially if you have some injury concerns or bye weeks coming up for your quarterbacks.

What’s more, the Jaguars find themselves behind in plenty of games, which means more throwing. More throwing means more fantasy points for quarterbacks, which is what we ultimately care about here. 

Bortles will put up better numbers every week as he gradually becomes more familiar with his young wide receivers. Picking up Bortles is a long-term investment for your fantasy team that could pay off down the road.

WR Jordan Matthews, Philadelphia Eagles

Jordan Matthews is owned in 2.9 percent of ESPN.com leagues, which means it may be time to grab him after his breakout performance in Week 3.

Matthews posted 59 receiving yards and two touchdowns for the Philadelphia Eagles and was targeted nine times. He clearly caught the eyes of Nick Foles if he got nine targets, which is encouraging going forward.

There is a lot to like about any Philadelphia Eagle fantasy-wise. The defense has been a weak point, meaning every game has been a shootout. More points on the field lead to more fantasy points for your team, and Matthews was a big part of that in Week 3.

What’s more, Jeremy Maclin is a health risk after missing last season with injury. If he were to go down at any point, Matthews would see an increase in production. Still, even if Maclin stays healthy, it was clear in Week 3 that Matthews will likely be a bigger part of this high-flying offense as a No. 2 wide receiver option. 

We know Matthews can produce from his college days when he was setting SEC records at Vanderbilt. Now that he is in an uptempo attack with a budding quarterback, there is no real ceiling on his long-term fantasy value.

RB Lorenzo Taliaferro, Baltimore Ravens

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Running back Lorenzo Taliaferro is owned in 1.2 percent of ESPN.com leagues, but that is likely to change after his impressive showing against the Cleveland Browns.

Taliaferro ran for 91 yards and a touchdown against a stingy Cleveland defense. His physical style was difficult on the Browns’ front seven, and he saw some red-zone looks (which is obviously critical for fantasy owners looking for touchdowns from their running backs).

ESPN’s Matthew Berry also allayed some fears that Bernard Pierce will simply steal back those 18 carries that Taliaferro saw in Week 3 when Pierce is healthy once again:

Taliaferro also impressed head coach John Harbaugh along the way, via Ryan Mink of BaltimoreRavens.com: “I think the results speak for themselves with Lorenzo. It was downhill running, he was physical, he was hard to tackle. That’s an element that is a big plus for an offense.”

Taliaferro can be a big plus for your fantasy team as well, especially since the emergence of Steve Smith has made the Baltimore passing game formidable. It is difficult for opponents to stuff the box against the Ravens, which means there will be lanes for Taliaferro. 

Grab him now while you still can.

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