Here are 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 target, streaming option, or stash, the player must be available in over 60% of Yahoo leagues.
See If They're Available:
There are always a few players that don't technically make the cut here as a waiver wire option as they're available in under 60% of leagues, but these players should be on a roster. If they're not on a roster yet, they should be a higher priority than those listed as waiver wire targets below.
Bucky Irving (RB - Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
Make it back-to-back weeks where Irving led the Bucs' RB room in carries, but it still appears a dead split in work while Irving remains the more efficient back. The big change was White had handled all of the redzone work in the prior three games but it was Irving getting every redzone touch for the Bucs' RBs this past week. He shouldn't be available (52% owned) but make sure he isn't just in case.
Rico Dowdle (RB - Dallas Cowboys)
He looks like the definitive RB1 in Dallas, more than doubling Ezekiel Elliott's carries for a second consecutive week, tallying 11 for 46 on the ground while adding a 15-yard TD on his lone target against the Giants. He isn't anything spectacular, serving as a likely RB3/FLEX option for most fantasy owners, but he needs to be rostered.
Jerry Jeudy (WR - Cleveland Browns)
He's not hitting any 'home runs' but he's hitting a whole lot of singles a la Keenan Allen style. He has 6+ targets and 3+ catches in each game this year, having a season-low of 8.7 points and a high of 13.2 points (Week 4), so nothing boom or bust in either direction. The volume is there for him (30 targets in 4 games), so assuming that remains consistent, the efficiency should pick up as the Browns' offense returns to some level of effectiveness. He's like a WR version of Dowdle (see above): he's nothing spectacular but is a viable WR3/FLEX option and should be rostered if somehow available.
Top Waiver Wire Targets of the Week:
These are your players to target on waivers this week - these aren't typically supposed to be a one-week solution but rather a longer-term answer for your team.
Wan'Dale Robinson (WR - New York Giants)
Four straight weeks of 10+ fantasy points, plus 6+ catches and 8+ targets in three of his first four games to open the season; he should not still be sitting at approximately 26% owned as he currently is. He's proven to be one of the very few depth options that consistently gets targets and volume weekly, making him a borderline FLEX play going forward.
Dontayvion Wicks (WR - Green Bay Packers)
Wicks made it 11+ points and 1+ TD in two of his last three games this past week with a career game, bringing in 5 catches for 78 yards and 2 TDs. That came on THIRTEEN targets - yes, you read that right. With Christian Watson (ankle) to miss time, potentially even heading for IR, Wicks will likely see an expanded role, though we shouldn't expect the absurd 13-target game he saw this past week each and every game.
I am not as high on Wicks as most as I have hesitations around the consistency in target volume within the Packers' offense given the number of weapons, even without Watson in the picture for about a month. With that said Wicks should still be a very high-priority waiver wire target as a likely short-term WR3/FLEX option and a long-term WR4 option.
Josh Downs (WR - Indianapolis Colts)
Downs returned to the field last week, posting 3-22-0 (on 5 targets) in his season debut but exploded for 8-82-1 (on 9 targets) in Week 4 vs the Steelers, reflecting more upon his reported exceptional offseason. He likely won't be a viable lineup option (yet) due to the inconsistency of the Colts' passing game, but with Anthony Richardson potentially sidelined due to a hip injury, Downs could be a very solid WR3/FLEX option in the short-term with Joe Flacco at QB.
Kareem Hunt (RB - Kansas City Chiefs)
It was Kareem Hunt as the definitive lead back in Kansas City this week, getting the most snaps (43%), carries (14), targets (3), and yards (85) of the Chiefs' RBs, though Samaje Perine did get the goal-line TD. Steele was a non-factor after losing a fumble on the opening series, drawing just 1 target and 1 carry the remainder of the game, making Perine the only competition for work going forward with Hunt seemingly expected to see an increased role as he gets acclimated into the offense (and back to game fitness).
Xavier Legette (WR - Carolina Panthers)
He was under my "top stashes" section in last week's waiver wire article, so hopefully you got ahead of the curve! If not, now's the time to pick him up after a seemingly breakout game of 6 catches for 66 yards and a TD (19.6 points) on 10 targets, plus adding another 10 yards on the ground. The 2024 1st Round pick appears to be seeing a greatly expanded role within the offense, especially in the absence of Adam Thielen (IR). As long as Andy Dalton remains the starter, Legette is a viable bench option.
Justin Fields (QB - Pittsburgh Steelers)
Through the first three weeks, we saw a 'game manager' shell of Fields in a "just don't lose" type of role for the Steelers amidst historic defensive success, still posting top-24 numbers each of the first 3 games. Week 4 saw Pittsburgh's defense return to reality and force Fields out of the 'game manager' role, resulting in the QB throwing for 313 yards and a TD while adding another 55 yards and 2 TDs on the ground as the top-scoring fantasy QB in Week 4. He's playing at a level to keep himself as the starter and, so long as he is the starter, he is a top-15 (and likely top-12) fantasy QB given we will likely see a version of him closer to his previous self (QB13 in PPG in 2023, QB6 in 2022) rather than the shell we saw in Weeks 1 through 3.
Tre Tucker (WR - Las Vegas Raiders)
Tyler Allgeier (RB - Atlanta Falcons)
Tank Bigsby (RB - Jacksonville Jaguars)
Cade Otton (TE - Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
Top Streaming Options of the Week:
These aren't the same as waiver wire targets. Yes, you are still getting these players off waivers, but these are purely the best options for this week and this week only. Players can be a streaming option and a waiver wire target, which means they're a solid option to play this upcoming week and potentially beyond.
Quarterbacks:
Justin Fields (vs DAL)
Deshaun Watson (at WAS)
Joe Flacco (at JAX) - if Anthony Richardson is inactive
Runningbacks:
Kareem Hunt (vs NO)
Trey Sermon (at JAX) - if Jonathan Taylor is inactive
Tyler Allegeier (vs TB)
Wide Receivers:
Wan'Dale Robinson (at SEA)
Josh Downs (at JAX) - if Anthony Richardson is inactive
Dontayvion Wicks (at LAR)
Tight Ends:
Taysom Hill (at KC) - if active
Cade Otton (at ATL)
Tucker Kraft (at LAR)
Defense/Special Teams:
New England Patriots (vs MIA)
Seattle Seahawks (vs NYG)
Denver Broncos (vs CAR)
Top Stashes Ahead of Next Week:
These aren't players that you should be playing this week, but rather ones that have greater potential to be a solid option and likely end up being a waiver wire target sometime down the line. You won't see immediate value but these are the guys that possibly could go under the radar and see a notable role shortly.
Tucker Kraft (TE - Green Bay Packers)
Jordan Whittington (WR - Los Angeles Rams)
Trey Sermon (RB - Indianapolis Colts)
JuJu Smith-Schuster (WR - Kansas City Chiefs)
Olamide Zaccheaus (WR - Washington Commanders)
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