Here's my top recommended waiver wire and streaming targets ahead of the coming week. Waiver Wire targets are designed to be multi-week roster-worthy options while streaming options are designed to be one-week lineup options based on matchup, injuries, and/or situation. To be eligible as a waiver wire or streaming option, the player must be available in over 50% of Yahoo leagues.
Top Waiver Wire Targets of the Week:
C.J. Stroud (QB - Houston Texans) - Stroud continued his terrific start to his career in Week 4, going for 320 total yards and 2 TDs to 0 INTs, bringing his season total to over 1,250 total yards, 6 TDs, 0 INTs, and a surprise top-10 rank among QBs in fantasy through the first four weeks. It may be a weak waiver wire week, but Stroud still looks like a potential league-changing fantasy option at QB, especially since he draws a fantastic schedule toward the end of the season with FIVE top-10 matchups in his final seven games - something that could elevate him to a potential league-winner.
Jameson Williams (WR - Detroit Lions) - This is purely a 'swinging for the fences' play. Jameson Williams was a hyper-talented WR coming out of Alabama in the 2022 NFL Draft and was expected to miss a vast majority of the season due to a pre-existing injury, but that didn't keep Detroit from drafting him 12th overall. Once he did return last year, he clearly wasn't 100%, seeing very limited action, and only drawing 1 catch in 6 games (albeit it went for a 41-yard TD). Williams was suspended for the first 6 games of 2023 due to sports gambling issues but had his suspension reduced and is now set to return in Week 5. He's still wildly talented and has game-changing speed as a deep-ball threat, which Detroit is missing, but there is ZERO clarity on what his role will look like or how involved he will be. He could easily be a WR2 option if involved properly; he could easily be virtually worthless. If you're in need of a short-term lineup play, pass on Williams, but if you have the flexibility to stash a player, Williams could be a league-changer.
Michael Wilson (WR - Arizona Cardinals) - Wilson was a definite sleeper by many (including me) this offseason in what was anticipated to be a really poor Cardinals' team playing from behind every game. While the latter part of that hasn't come to fruition, Wilson appears to be taking a step forward in terms of commanding a notable workload within the Cardinals' offense that should still be playing with a pass-friendly game script more often than not. He drew 7 catches (on 7 targets) for 76 yards and 2 TDs (26.1 points) against San Francisco after an 8.6-point performance in Week 2 and a 10.6-point performance in Week 3.
Quentin Johnston (WR - Los Angeles Chargers) - It was a surprise to see Johnston draw just 3 targets (and 1 catch for 18 yards) in the first game without Mike Williams (out for the season). He may not have the upside we were hoping for or anticipating in the preseason, but it's difficult to envision Johnston not being heavily involved by the season's end. Chalk the poor Week 4 due to the Chargers' essentially not needing to throw the ball for the majority of the game as they led for over 50 minutes and were up multiple scores just minutes into the second quarter. He's a long-term investment that could pay massive dividends later in the season and into the fantasy playoffs.
Terrace Marshall Jr. (WR - Carolina Panthers) - Here's a bit of a surprise: Terrace Marshall has led the Panthers' WR room in targets in 3 of 4 games, totaling 24 through the first four weeks of the season. That includes back-to-back weeks of massive involvement - drawing 8 targets (5 catches) in Week 3 and 10 targets (9 catches) in Week 4. The upside isn't there with the lackluster QB play with rookie Bryce Young, but the volume is fantastic. A stable WR3/4 floor on volume alone could make him a worthwhile waiver wire add but as Young becomes more comfortable and develops, that volume will transition into efficiency and production fast.
Jayden Reed (WR - Green Bay Packers)
Curtis Samuel (WR - Washington Commanders)
Zach Ertz (TE - Arizona Cardinals)
Jonnu Smith (TE - Atlanta Falcons)
Jaleel McLaughlin (RB - Denver Broncos)
Top Streaming Options of the Week:
Quarterbacks:
C.J. Stroud (at Atlanta Falcons)
Sam Howell (vs Chicago Bears)
Matthew Stafford (vs Philadelphia Eagles)
Runningbacks:
Jaleel McLaughlin (at New York Jets)
Tyjae Spears (at Indianapolis Colts)
Justice Hill (at Pittsburgh Steelers)
Wide Receivers:
Tyler Boyd (at Arizona Cardinals)
Michael Wilson (vs Cincinnati Bengals)
Terrace Marshall Jr. (at Detroit Lions)
Tight Ends:
Zach Ertz (vs Cincinnati Bengals)
Jonnu Smith (vs Houston Texans)
Dalton Schultz (at Atlanta Falcons)
Defense/Special Teams:
Detroit Lions (vs Carolina Panthers)
Miami Dolphins (vs New York Giants)
Denver Broncos (at New York Jets)
Kickers:
Brett Maher (vs Philadelphia Eagles)
Riley Patterson (vs Carolina Panthers)
Brandon Aubrey (at San Francisco 49ers)