If last week was mostly quiet on the waivers front, you could hear a pin drop this week. Oh, sure, Chuba Hubbard will command a high waiver claim, but after him? You have a bunch of third WRs (Hunter Renfrow, Emmanuel Sanders, Tim Patrick), several bubble QBs (Sam Darnold, Derek Carr, Teddy Bridgewater), a few sleeper TEs (Dalton Schultz, Zach Ertz, Tyler Conklin), and an RB or two who might have a little flex value (Peyton Barber, Zack Moss). All of these players will be among the top Week 4 fantasy waiver wire pickups and free agent adds — with an emphasis on “free agent adds.” These are mostly guys to target after waivers clear around 4-5 a.m. ET on Wednesday mornings in Yahoo and ESPN leagues.

Our full free agent list has even more of these types of players, including the recently reinstated Josh Gordon. Again, these are mostly free agent pickups, so don’t get too excited. We do have some Week 4-specific streamers, including a few QBs, several TEs, and a bunch of D/STs (which will be important this week). You can find the streamer suggestions at the end of the list. If you need a new kicker or simply want to see a picture of Matt Gay and that guy who kicks for the Buccaneers, whatever the hell his name is, you can check out our Week 4 kicker rankings.

MORE WEEK 4: Top waiver pickups

Hubbard is probably the only player this week worth a high waiver claim, as Christian McCaffrey (hamstring) figures to miss a couple games and is always a candidate to miss more throughout the rest of the season. Beyond that, you’re better served holding onto your high claim in response to injuries that are yet to come. 

WEEK 4 PPR RANKINGS:
Quarterback | Running back | Wide receiver | Tight end | D/ST | Kicker

Top fantasy football waiver wire pickups for Week 4

Unless otherwise noted, only players owned in fewer than 50 percent of Yahoo leagues considered.

Dalton Schultz, TE, Cowboys. Schultz was solid last year while filling in for Blake Jarwin (knee), and many assumed whoever won the starting job this season would have some sleeper value. After three weeks, we can safely say Schultz is the Cowboys top TE. He caught all six targets in Week 1, and after a quiet Week 2, he bounced back with a monster Week 3, catching six-of-seven targets for 80 yards and two TDs. The Cowboys have a lot of mouths to feed — and Michael Gallup (calf) will be back at some point in the near future — but they use their TEs effectively. Given the sorry state of the TE position this year, Schultz will continue to have value, at least in PPR leagues.

Zach Ertz, TE, Eagles. Most view Dallas Goedert as the unquestioned top TE for Philadelphia, but so far this year, he has 11 targets while Ertz has 10. After Ertz’s big Monday night — four catches, seven targets, 53 yards, TD — Ertz now has as many scores, too. Goedert is still playing more snaps and a bigger threat for yards, but, again, with tight being a barren wasteland this year, Ertz might very well be worth picking up as a free agent and playing in favorable matchups.

WEEK 4 STANDARD RANKINGS:
Quarterback | Running back | Wide receiver | Tight end | D/ST | Kicker

Josh Gordon, WR, Chiefs. Gordon was an All-Pro in 2013 — yes, 2013 — when he led the league in receiving yards (1,646 and scored nine touchdowns in 14 games with the Browns). He’s been on and off the field ever since, serving numerous drug-related suspensions and struggling with injuries and sobriety. The 30-year-old receiver has had his moments in between, including catching 40 passes for 720 yards and three scores for the Patriots in ’18, but he hasn’t seen the field since ’19. Can he finally turn his career around? Well, he picked the right team to try with, as few offenses can match the Chiefs’ firepower and lack of a consistent secondary wide receiver. Of course, we know TE Travis Kelce and Tyreek Hill will remain the top dogs in terms of targets, so Gordon will have to fight for the scraps with Mecole Hardman, Demarcus Robinson, and Byron Pringle. However, if he has anything left in the tank, he could put together some nice performances. He’s worth a free agent flier simply because of the situation, but don’t get your hopes up too high. Unfortunately, Gordon is far more likely to disappoint than surprise, so consider any production from him a bonus.

MORE WEEK 4: Top waiver pickups

Curtis Samuel, WR, Washington. Samuel was a popular preseason sleeper, but a hamstring injury knocked him out for the first three games of the year. He’s eligible to return in Week 4, and if he does, he’ll come back just in time for an optimal matchup against Atlanta. At the very least, he’s worth stashing on your bench, as Washington has failed to develop any secondary wide receivers after Terry McLaurin.

Derek Carr, QB, Raiders. Carr leads the NFL in passing yards and is the QB7 in fantasy this year. He’s put up those numbers against the Ravens, Steelers, and Dolphins, too, so it’s not as if he’s been picking on weak defenses. It’s likely Carr will slow down, but he still has the look of a potential starter going forward. With more favorable matchups on the horizon (@ Chargers, vs. Bears), Carr should at least be playable the next couple weeks. 

For additional waiver/free agent suggestions, including RB fill-ins Chuba Hubbard and Peyton Barber, WR3’s Hunter Renfrow and Emmanuel Sanders, and potential QB1’s Sam Darnold and Teddy Bridgewater, check out our full Week 4 list.