Week 4 Waiver Wire Top Targets For This Week's Injured Fantasy Football Stars

Week 4 opened with Thursday night's battle between the Seattle Seahawks and Arizona Cardinals. With James Conner out for the year, the Cardinals—and many fantasy managers—turned to backup running back Trey Benson for the week.

Benson (5 catches, 54 scrimmage yards) had a respectable outing, while Emari Demercado (2 catches, 21 yards, 1 TD) provided some deep-sleeper value.

Unfortunately, injuries will push many more waiver-wire additions into starting lineups this week. With 15 games remaining, let's examine the latest off the Week 4 injury report and the top players likely to still be available on the wire.

All picks and analysis based on point-per-reception (PPR) scoring.

Quarterback

AP Photo/ Jeffrey T. Barnes

Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa

Top 10

1. Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills
2. Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens
3. Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers
4. Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles
5. Caleb Williams, Chicago Bears
6. Drake Maye, New England Patriots
7. Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs
8. Jordan Love, Green Bay Packers
9. Bo Nix, Denver Broncos
10. Daniel Jones, Indianapolis Colts

Injury Report and Waiver Wire Targets

Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels will miss his second consecutive game with a knee injury.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield is questionable with a biceps injury, while Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy will miss the second straight week with an ankle sprain.

Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Geno Smith looms as a top sleeper off the waiver wire this week. He's coming off of a three-touchdown performance and is set to face a Chicago Bears defense that has allowed the third-most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks.

Rostered in less than 50 percent of Yahoo and ESPN leagues, Smith should be available. If he isn't, Tua Tagovailoa is a solid Plan B. He's rostered in less than 25 percent of ESPN and Yahoo leagues and will face a New York Jets defense that has been average at best.

The Jets have surrendered the 13th-most fantasy points to opposing QBs in 2025. Other wire options to consider this week include Carson Wentz and Matthew Stafford.

Running Back

AP Photo/Matt Rourke

Dolphins Ollie Gordon II

Top 10

1. Christian McCaffrey, San Francisco 49ers
2. Jonathan Taylor, Indianapolis Colts
3. James Cook, Buffalo Bills
4. Bijan Robinson, Atlanta Falcons
5. De'Von Achane, Miami Dolphins
6. Saquon Barkley, Philadelphia Eagles
7. Bucky Irving, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
8. Jahmyr Gibbs, Detroit Lions
9. Josh Jacobs, Green Bay Packers
10. Omarion Hampton, Los Angeles Chargers

Injury Report and Waiver Wire Targets

As a reminder, Austin Ekeler, James Conner and Najee Harris have all suffered season-ending injuries. If one of them is still on your roster, go ahead and drop them.

This week, New York Giants running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. will be out with a shoulder injury. Jaylen Warren, Jacory Croskey-Merritt and Chuba Hubbard are all listed as questionable.

High-volume running backs remain elusive on the waiver wire, though Miami Dolphins rookie Ollie Gordon II could be gaining traction. After logging just two carries over the first two weeks combined, he recorded nine carries for 38 yards and a touchdown in Week 3.

Gordon has a limited PPR floor since De'Von Achane handles the receiving work. However, he's likely to get early-down and red-zone opportunities against a Jets defense that has surrendered the 13th-most fantasy points to opposing RBs. Gordon is still available in roughly 70 percent of Yahoo and ESPN leagues.

Other running backs to consider on the waiver wire this week include Chris Rodriguez Jr., Blake Corum, Tyjae Spears and Woody Marks.

Wide Receiver

AP Photo/Zach Bolinger

Packers WR Romeo Doubs

Top 10

1. Puka Nacua, Los Angeles Rams
2. Malik Nabers, New York Giants
3. Justin Jefferson, Minnesota Vikings
4. Nico Collins, Houston Texans
5. Amon-Ra St. Brown, Detroit Lions
6. Garrett Wilson, New York Jets
7. Drake London, Atlanta Falcons
8. Rome Odunze, Chicago Bears
9. Ja'Marr Chase, Cincinnati Bengals
10. A.J. Brown, Philadelphia Eagles

Injury Report and Waiver Wire Targets

Managers will have both good and bad news at wide receiver this week. Dallas Cowboys wideout CeeDee Lamb (ankle) and Buccaneers receiver Mike Evans (hamstring). So are Commanders receivers Terry McLaurin (quad) and Noah Brown (groin/knee).

Xavier Legette, Alec Pierce and Zay Jones are also out, while Tetairoa McMillan and Davante Adams are questionable.

On a positive note, Chris Godwin has a chance to make his 2025 debut, while Xavier Worthy is off the injury report for the Kansas City Chiefs.

Some intriguing sleeper receivers remain available on the waiver wire ahead of Sunday's game. Tennessee Titans rookie Elic Ayomanor is chief among them.

While Ayomanor's numbers through three weeks aren't eye-popping, his target share is. The fourth-round pick out of Stanford has been targeted 18 times and has caught 10 of those passes, two for touchdowns. There's a non-zero chance that the rookie has become Cam Ward's preferred target over established receiver Calvin Ridley.

Ayomanor is still available in roughly 70 percent of Yahoo and ESPN leagues.

Romeo Doubs is another high-end sleeper to consider off waivers. He only had two receptions in Week 3 but had five catches for 96 yards and a touchdown over the previous two weeks. He'll also face a Cowboys defense that has surrendered the most fantasy points to opposing WRs.

Other wire targets to consider include Kayshon Boutte, Troy Franklin, Luther Burden III and Darnell Mooney.

Tight End

AP Photo/Kareem Elgazzar

Jaguars TE Brenton Strange

Top 10

1. Brock Bowers, Las Vegas Raiders
2. Tyler Warren, Indianapolis Colts
3. Tucker Kraft, Green Bay Packers
4. Jake Ferguson, Dallas Cowboys
5. Hunter Henry, New England Patriots
6. Dalton Kincaid, Buffalo Bills
7. T.J. Hockenson, Minnesota Vikings
8. Sam LaPorta, Detroit Lions
9. Juwan Johnson, New Orleans Saints
10. Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs

Injury Report and Waiver Wire Targets

George Kittle remains on injured reserve, but it looks like Dolphins tight end Darren Waller could make his 2025 debut against the Jets.

Isaiah Likely, Colby Parkinson, Colston Loveland and Jonnu Smith are among the notable tight ends who are questionable.

Harold Fannin Jr. remains a top TE to target on the waiver wire. The Cleveland Browns rookie has caught 15 passes for 136 yards through his first three weeks and should see a heavy workload against the Detroit Lions. The Lions defense has been mostly solid this season, but it has surrendered the fifth-most fantasy points to opposing TEs.

Jacksonville Jaguars tight end Brenton Strange is another strong add. He's caught 13 passes for 137 yards through three weeks and will face a 49ers defense that has allowed the 12th-most fantasy points to opposing tight ends.

Fannin is still available in more than 60 percent of Yahoo and ESPN leagues, while Strange is available in more than 70 percent of leagues. Other tight ends to consider adding include Mason Taylor and Dalton Schultz.

*Fantasy roster and scoring information from FantasyPros.