Waiver Wire Rankings and FAAB Advice: Week 4 (2020 Fantasy Football)

While the list of infirm isn’t nearly as long as it was this time last week, we still have another rash of notable injuries to deal with heading into the fourth waiver wire period of the season.

Chris Carson, Chris Godwin, Dallas Goedert, Tarik Cohen and a host of other fantasy-relevant options are expected to miss time in Week 4, joining dozens of others who were ruled out for Week 3. And like last week, these absences make your waiver wire approach all the more important as the elite fantasy teams begin to separate from the pack.

Here are Dan Harris, Mike Tagliere and Kyle Yates with their waiver wire rankings and FAAB recommendations for Week 4:

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Q1. Who is your top waiver wire option of the week, and why?

I like both Carlos Hyde and Jeff Wilson as additions for those in need of a running back right now, though when looking at the schedule, it’s easier to like Hyde against a Miami defense in a game that should net 18-plus touches. Wilson is certainly worth an add, but the 49ers are holding out hope that Raheem Mostert will be able to play, which is enough to give Hyde the nod. It’s also possible the Seahawks hold Chris Carson out through their bye in Week 6, so you could get multiple opportunities to play him.
– Mike Tagliere (@MikeTagliereNFL)

It’s Jeff Wilson for me, narrowly over Carlos Hyde. Wilson wound up scoring two touchdowns on Sunday against the Giants, but he was clearly second fiddle to Jerick McKinnon until the latter hurt his ribs and was rested in the blowout. And he only gained 15 yards on his 12 carries. But he also may be the only real game in town next week against the Eagles and perhaps the following week against the Dolphins. Raheem Mostert’s knee sprain is considered minor but he’s no lock to return next week, Tevin Coleman is on IR, and McKinnon’s rib injury, even if not serious, aptly demonstrates why he’s not fit for a workhorse role. Wilson may have a big role the next week or two, which is gold on a 49ers team that loves to run the ball, even if next week’s matchup isn’t ideal. And, if he proves himself capable, he could carve out a larger role going forward.
– Dan Harris (@danharris80)

Chris Carson suffered a knee sprain that isn’t as serious as it could have been, but he’s likely to miss next week’s game against Miami. With that in mind, Carlos Hyde shoots up to my number one waiver wire add for the week. This is the same defense that just saw James Robinson run for two touchdowns on them with a less-than-adequate version of Gardner Minshew at QB. With Russell Wilson at QB, Hyde is going to have all the running lanes that he could ask for and he could easily find the end zone in this next matchup. For teams that desperately need a RB, Hyde’s my top option.
– Kyle Yates (@KyleYNFL)

Q2. Which high-end waiver wire option for Week 4 was the most difficult to rank?

I’d have to say it’s Brandon Aiyuk. While he is the No. 1 receiver on the 49ers right now, that’s not saying too much. On top of that, they’re without their starting quarterback for the next month, and might get Deebo Samuel back in Week 5 which would surely cut into his appeal. At the same time, Nick Mullens just threw for 300-plus yards and Samuel might take some time to get back into game shape. I’m torn on how to value him moving forward.
– Mike Tagliere (@MikeTagliereNFL)

Carlos Hyde. There’s good news on Chris Carson’s knee sprain, so much so that he may even play in Week 4 against Miami. And, accordingly, Hyde may be worth little for fantasy purposes. Or, Carson may miss 1-2 games, and Hyde may be ranked as a top-20 running back in that span. Or, Carson may play through the knee sprain, potentially exposing himself to further injury, and Hyde may be an RB2 the rest of the way. There’s a ton of uncertainty with Hyde, and a wide range of outcomes. I couldn’t argue with where fantasy managers prioritized him this week, regardless of the spot they put him in. For me, with a bye in Week 6 and two soft opponents, it seems like the most probable outcome is that Carson misses the next two weeks, and I am willing to risk my FAAB dollars on Hyde accordingly.
– Dan Harris (@danharris80)

Jeff Wilson was a tough rank for me for multiple reasons. He deserves to be added because of his propensity for finding the end zone, but he just saw 12 carries and only turned them into 15 yards. This was against the Giants run defense too, which concerns me immensely for next week’s matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles. The Eagles are a stout run defense and Wilson might not be able to get much going on the ground. He’s ranked a little bit lower for me because of the matchup next week and the fact that he’s only a short-term rental before Raheem Mostert comes back.
– Kyle Yates (@KyleYNFL)

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Q3. For managers renting a D/ST in Week 4, what readily available option (under 40%) should they target?

The Broncos defense is not what we expected them to be this year after losing top edge rusher Von Miller for the season, and then top cornerback A.J. Bouye for multiple weeks. Against the Jets, though, that shouldn’t matter much. The Jets have scored just 37 points through three weeks, their offense is more banged up than ever, they’ve now allowed 58 sacks through 19 games since the start of 2019, and they may be without their starting left tackle. The Broncos defense presents a high-floor streaming option.
– Mike Tagliere (@MikeTagliereNFL)

Last week, I began my answer with: “Scans to see who is playing the Jets and …” Last week it was the Colts, this week it is the Broncos. In fact, absolutely nothing has changed with last week’s write-up, so here you go: “There’s just such a small chance that the Jets are going to be able to put up many points, especially given their injuries. It’s really the perfect match for any D/ST, as the Jets struggle to run, pass, and execute anything offensively.” So, yeah, there you go. Don’t second guess it. Play your D/ST against the Jets.
– Dan Harris (@danharris80)

It sounds gross to say, but I think you can look at either of the defenses in Thursday Night’s game. The Broncos have lost a lot of key pieces on defense, but this Jets offense simply isn’t going to put up points on anyone. And there’s always the possibility of coming away with a turnover. Additionally, the Jets defense should be considered, but only if you’re desperate. The Broncos are most likely going to be rolling out Brett Rypien again after benching Jeff Driskel. Rypien’s not going to command an offense that puts up 30 points on the board and he may turn the ball over a couple of times. It’s not pretty, but they’re fine options that you can roll out if you’re in need.
– Kyle Yates (@KyleYNFL)

Notable Week 4 FAAB Recommendations (in %)

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Q4. Which Week 4 waiver wire option carries the biggest risk of being a waste of FAAB dollars?

There are going to be a lot of people who spend big FAB bucks on someone like Tee Higgins, and while I understand wanting to tie yourself to Joe Burrow and that offense, you must remember that he’s the third option, at best. The stars aligned for a big performance last week, but you shouldn’t be expecting that every week.
– Mike Tagliere (@MikeTagliereNFL)

It’s Alshon Jeffery for me. Jeffery finally got in some limited practice this week, and reportedly has a chance to play next week. But this is a Lisfranc injury, one of the most notoriously unpredictable ailments in the game. If Jeffery is able to come back next week or even in Week 5, and play close to his ability when he’s healthy, he’ll be an impact player in fantasy. But, if he has a setback, or is limited in any way, he’ll be a major waste of FAAB dollars. I’d take the risk, personally, but temper expectations.
– Dan Harris (@danharris80)

People are going to go crazy and spend up for Rex Burkhead after the performance that he had, but the Patriots backfield is so hard to predict week in and week out. Next week, we could see Burkhead get only a few carries and Sony Michel get the majority of the work. However, that’s also not taking into account the fact that James White could return to the team at any minute, which would limit Burkhead’s opportunity in the receiving game. He’s still worth an add if you need a RB for next week, but don’t go crazy.
– Kyle Yates (@KyleYNFL)

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