Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Week 4 Targets & FAAB Advice: Defenses (2023)

We will have you covered throughout the 2023 fantasy football season with our bevy of tools, including our Waiver Wire Assistant. Find the top available players and get detailed analysis on how potential waiver wire adds will impact your team. Of course, our team of analysts will also have written advice each week. Check out our top waiver wire targets for the week below. And also be sure to check out our full waiver wire article for the week.

Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Targets

DEFENSES

Written by Pat Fitzmaurice

Denver Broncos: 38% rostered

Next Opponents: @CHI, NYJ, @KC
True value: $2
Desperate need: $3
Budget-minded: $0

Analysis: “Those fools at FantasyPros are telling me to pick up a defense that just gave up 70 points to the Dolphins?” Well, yes. Hear us out. The Denver defense has issues, no question, but it also has fabulous matchups the next two weeks with the Bears and Jets. The Bears’ offense is a disheveled mess, with QB Justin Fields already having taken 13 sacks and thrown four interceptions. The Jets have scored 10 points in each of QB Zach Wilson‘s first two starts following the season-ending injury to Aaron Rodgers, with Wilson throwing three interceptions and absorbing six sacks the last two weeks. Spending FAAB money on the Broncos will feel icky, but highly favorable matchups make the Denver defense a sensible play the next two weeks.

Seattle Seahawks: 45% rostered

Next Opponents: @NYG, BYE, @CIN
True value: $1
Desperate need: $2
Budget-minded: $0

Analysis: Seattle’s pass defense has been alarmingly flammable so far this season, but the Seahawks get an appealing Week 4 matchup against the Giants and their wayward offense. After having the lowest interception rate among all qualifying QBs a year ago, Daniel Jones has reverted to his turnover-prone ways, throwing four interceptions in his first three games. He’s also been sacked 14 times, with the Giants’ shaky offensive line failing to afford him adequate protection. You’ll only be able to keep the Seattle defense for a week since the Seahawks go on bye in Week 5, but this is a good streaming option for Week 4.

Cincinnati Bengals: 37% rostered

Next Opponents: @TEN, @ARI, SEA
True value: $1
Desperate need: $1
Budget-minded: $0

Analysis: The Bengals’ offense has serious problems, and Cincinnati’s defense hasn’t been great either. But the Bengals have nice matchups the next two weeks. In Week 4 they’ll visit the Titans, who have one of the worst offensive lines in the league. QB Ryan Tannehill has looked bad, throwing three interceptions and taking 13 sacks, and Titans RB Derrick Henry hasn’t been his typically dominant self, averaging just 3.2 yards per carry. Then, the Bengals face the plucky but talent-thin Cardinals in Week 5 — another attractive matchup.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 4% rostered

Next Opponents: @NO, BYE, DET
True value: $1
Desperate need: $1
Budget-minded: $0

Analysis: With a bye ahead in Week 5, the Buccaneers are a one-week-only play, but they’re not a bad one. The Bucs have a solid, veteran-laden defense, and in Week 4 they’re likely to be facing Saints backup QB Jameis Winston, as starter Derek Carr is dealing with a shoulder injury. Since 2019, Winston has been intercepted on 4.2% of his throws — an outlandishly high rate — and he takes his fair share of sacks.

Atlanta Falcons: 4% rostered

Next Opponents: @JAX, HOU, WSH
True value: $1
Desperate need: $1
Budget-minded: $0

Analysis: The Falcons’ defense has been adequate, and Atlanta has a decent Week 4 matchup against a Jacksonville offense that has struggled the last two weeks. If that sounds like a tepid endorsement, it is. This isn’t a great week for streaming defenses, and the Falcons are merely an any-port-in-a-storm type of option.

Stash Candidates:

Cleveland Browns

It’s rare that we recommend a defense as a stash this early in the season, but the Browns are the walking definition of a defensive stash candidate. The Cleveland defense has been terrific, allowing just one offensive touchdown over its first three games. The Browns’ run defense is much improved, they have some talented cover men in their secondary, and their pass rush is fierce, led by the unblockable Myles Garrett. But Cleveland’s matchup with Baltimore this week isn’t very appealing. Then the Browns have a Week 5 bye before a bad Week 6 matchup against the 49ers. If the Browns are available and you can afford to carry a second defense for several weeks, grab them now and reap the benefits later.

Check out our full Week 4 fantasy football waiver wire article