It’s still Week 3, but it can pay to be looking ahead to Week 4 and beyond to consider the players on waivers that you might stash. Go ahead and grab them now rather than having an all-out waiver-wire war with your fellow league mates in a few days’ time.

This column will take a look ahead each week at players rostered in less than 50% of Yahoo leagues.

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Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Stashes Ahead of Week 4

Matthew Stafford (QB – LAR) – 48% Rostered

Coming into the season Matthew Stafford wasn’t a sexy pick because people worried about his injury issues in 2022, and then of course, Cooper Kupp aggravated his hamstring and Stafford fell further in people’s estimations. Now, however, Stafford has put up back-to-back performances with 300+ passing yards and if it wasn’t for a lack of passing touchdowns, could have been one of the true fantasy sleepers of this short campaign. In Week 3 Stafford faces a Bengals defense that has looked awful, followed by a Colts defense that has allowed the fourth-most passing yards. With Puka Nacua and Tutu Atwell growing into this team, a lack of running backs and a terrible defense, the passing touchdowns will come sooner rather than later, and with it, a climb up the QB rankings for Matthew Stafford.

look at when Matthew Stafford releases this Dig route to Tutu Atwell.

that anticipation combined with Stafford's arm strength makes the throw essentially impossible to defend. Even with the Seahawks Safety breaking on the route.

so sooooooo good. pic.twitter.com/QtxvRIe0OK

— Nate Tice (@Nate_Tice) September 12, 2023

Jake Ferguson (TE – DAL) – 41% Rostered

Through two weeks it’s a little surprising to see that Jake Ferguson is leading all pass-catchers in red zone targets with eight, which is three more than any other player. Tight end is a difficult position to deal with, and when a player is seeing high-value looks like this, we need to take notice. Neither Brandin Cooks or Michael Gallup has seized the number two receiver role behind CeeDee Lamb, and the team seems enamored with Ferguson. You might not want to start him just yet, but he’s worth rostering and keeping an eye on.

TE Targets – Inside The Red Zone

Jake Ferguson – 8 ??
Travis Kelce – 4
TJ Hockenson – 3
Pat Freiermuth – 3
Dawson Knox – 3
Adam Trautman – 3 ?
Hunter Henry – 2
Hayden Hurst – 2
Kylen Granson – 2
Donald Parham – 2
Logan Thomas – 2
Darren Waller – 2

— The Dynasty Grill (@FFDynastyGrill) September 21, 2023

Cleveland Browns DST – 44% Rostered

When it comes to defenses in fantasy, we want teams who are able to cause incidents more than those who can cause shutouts. The Browns defense looks far and away better than the offensive unit, with a host of high picks finally starting to come good, along with perenially sack-hunter Myles Garrett looking in great form under new defensive coordinator, Jim Schwartz. In Week 3 the Browns play the Titans who barely have an offensive line, followed by the Ravens who are currently missing their pro-bowl left tackle, Ronnie Stanley and up-and-coming second-year center, Tyler Linderbaum.