Fantasy football can be an extremely fun game to play. It can also be highly frustrating at times. Nothing is more annoying than needing to make a last-minute waiver wire move because someone in your starting lineup is out for the week.
Sadly, there isn’t much you can do about it. However, I’m going to try to help.
Every week, I will have six players you can grab off the waiver wire at the last minute and throw into your lineup. Some will succeed, while others will fail. Unfortunately, that’s how the game of fantasy football is played. Let’s dive into my six last-minute waiver wire targets for Week 4.
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Last-Minute Waiver Wire Pickups & Injury Replacements
All the players in this article are rostered in fewer than 35% of ESPN leagues.
Justin Fields (QB – PIT) vs. Indianapolis Colts (32.1% Rostered)
Fantasy players should assume Justin Fields will continue to start even once Russell Wilson is healthy after his impressive performance in Week 3. The former Ohio State star wasn’t a fantasy impact player over the first two weeks but was outstanding against the Los Angeles Chargers. He completed 78.1% of his pass attempts for 245 yards and a touchdown while adding a rushing score, totaling 18.4 fantasy points in the win. Fields should keep up his recent hot play against a struggling Indianapolis defense this week.
The Colts have had one of the worst defenses this season. They have surrendered 239.7 passing yards, 1.7 touchdowns and 16.3 fantasy points per game to quarterbacks despite facing Malik Willis and Caleb Williams in back-to-back contests. Furthermore, Indianapolis has also struggled on the ground, giving up 179 rushing yards per game, including 41 to Willis. Expect Fields to have a field day (pun absolutely intended) against the Colts. Fantasy players can pivot to Andy Dalton against the Cincinnati Bengals (7.8% rostered) if Fields isn’t on the waiver wire.
Cam Akers (RB – HOU) vs. Jacksonville Jaguars (34.4% Rostered)
Cam Akers could make his second consecutive start with Dameon Pierce (hamstring) ruled out on Friday. However, Joe Mixon (knee) practiced and could play Sunday, making Akers unstartable. Yet, he is an excellent fantasy option if Mixon can’t play. Last week, Akers struggled against an elite Minnesota Vikings defense, totaling nine rushing attempts for 21 yards. However, the veteran had an eight-yard receiving touchdown, giving him 9.4 half-PPR fantasy points and salvaging his fantasy performance. Thankfully, Akers couldn’t have asked for a better matchup this week if he is the starter.
Jacksonville has given up 25.6 fantasy points per game to running backs, the fourth-most in the NFL. Star Jaguars linebacker Foyesade Oluokun won’t play Sunday because of a foot injury, weakening the team’s awful run defense. The AFC South bottom dwellers have surrendered the fifth-most rushing touchdowns to running backs (three) this season, including two last week. Furthermore, the Jaguars have gotten crushed in the passing game, giving up the third-most receptions (20) and second-most receiving yards (182) to running backs over the first three contests.
Fantasy players can pivot to Cordarrelle Patterson against the Indianapolis Colts (5.9% rostered) if Akers isn’t on the waiver wire or Mixon gets the start. Patterson will see an uptick in touches with Jaylen Warren (knee) out for Sunday’s matchup. The veteran had a solid performance in Week 3, averaging 8.3 yards per rushing attempt. He also had a meaningful role in the passing game, finishing second on the team in targets (five). Meanwhile, Indianapolis has surrendered 175 rushing yards to running backs in two out of three games this year.
Roschon Johnson (RB – CHI) vs. Los Angeles Rams (11.3% Rostered)
The Bears had high hopes for D’Andre Swift after signing him to a significant contract in the offseason. Unfortunately, he has averaged only 1.84 rushing yards per attempt and 1.43 yards after contact per attempt this season, both ranking last among 41 running backs with at least 20 attempts this year, per Fantasy Points Data. Meanwhile, Roschon Johnson finally saw the field in Week 3, totaling 8.2 half-PPR fantasy points and 62 scrimmage yards on 12 attempts. Reportedly, Chicago plans to give him an increased workload starting this week.
While Swift will still have a role on offense, Johnson could be the lead back Sunday against the Rams. Los Angeles has surrendered 23.2 fantasy points per game to running backs, the eighth-most in the NFL. They have given up the second-most rushing yards per game to running backs (135), relinquishing 96+ in every contest. Furthermore, the Rams have the fourth-worst stuff rate (35.2%) over the first three weeks, per Fantasy Points Data. Johnson is a solid dart throw pick this week and a long-term stash candidate.
DeMario Douglas (WR – NE) vs. San Francisco 49ers (28.9% Rostered)
New England has had one of the worst passing attacks this season, averaging the fewest net passing yards per game (102). While they have struggled to throw the ball, DeMario Douglas shined in Week 3 despite the tough matchup against the New York Jets, totaling seven receptions on nine targets for 69 receiving yards and 11.3 half-PPR fantasy points, ending the week as the WR31. More importantly, he leads the Patriots in slot route participation this year (83.8%), with no other wide receiver totaling more than 30.4%.
Hopefully, Douglas runs most of his routes out of the slot this week. The 49ers have been awful against slot receivers over the first three weeks. They rank 23rd in routes run and 25th in targets by slot receivers. Yet, San Francisco has surrendered the most receiving yards per route run (3.36) to slot receivers while ranking seventh in receiving touchdowns (two) this season, per Fantasy Points Data. Douglas should have plenty of opportunities to rack up fantasy points, with New England being heavy underdogs in this game.
Michael Wilson (WR – ARI) vs. Washington Commanders (13.7% Rostered)
While Marvin Harrison Jr. is the Cardinals’ clear-cut No. 1 weapon in the passing game, Michael Wilson should have a meaningful role this week. The second-year receiver is coming off his best performance this season, totaling eight receptions on nine targets for 64 receiving yards and 10.4 half-PPR fantasy points. He finished second on the team in first-read target share (29.6%) and target per route run rate (26%) to Harrison in Week 3, per Fantasy Points Data. More importantly, Wilson should see a larger role on offense this week.
Unfortunately, Trey McBride won’t play this week because of a concussion, opening up more targets for the former Stanford star. Meanwhile, Washington’s awful pass defense has been a fantasy goldmine for opposing wide receivers. They have surrendered the most receiving touchdowns (nine) and fantasy points per game (44.7) to wide receivers this season, giving up at least two touchdowns and 37 fantasy points in every contest. Last week, the Commanders gave up 13.7 fantasy points to Andrei Iosivas despite Ja’Marr Chase totaling 26.8 fantasy points. Wilson has top-24 upside.
Tyler Conklin (TE – NYJ) vs. Denver Broncos (34.6% Rostered)
Tyler Conklin had a tough start this season, totaling two receptions on four targets for 16 receiving yards and 2.6 half-PPR fantasy points over the first two weeks. The veteran tight end had a 5.1% target share, seeing fewer targets than Braelon Allen in those two games. However, he finally got a respectable target share in Week 3. Conklin had a 17.1% target share, the second-highest on the team behind Garrett Wilson, per Fantasy Points Data. Given the matchup, the veteran tight end should be even better in Week 4.
The Broncos have surrendered 7.5 fantasy points per game to tight ends this year, the 11th-most in the NFL. They have given up 13 receptions for 99 yards, one touchdown and 10.2 fantasy points per game to tight ends over the past two weeks. More importantly, Conklin should see an uptick in targets with Patrick Surtain II matched up against Wilson. Aaron Rodgers will challenge the superstar cornerback. However, fantasy players should expect the Hall of Fame quarterback to lean on his other weapons, including Conklin.
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Mike Fanelli is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Mike, check out his archive and follow him @Mike_NFL2.