Well Rush Nation, we are nearly 20% of the way through the season. It’s scary when you view it like that. However, we are almost a quarter of the way through the fantasy regular season. This is the time to really get sharp on the Waiver Wire. The Waiver Wire NFL Week 4 is here and it needs to be taken advantage of. Because, the weeks are ticking away.

So let’s get straight into those must add players for Waiver Wire NFL Week 4.

QUARTERBACKS

SAM DARNOLD- 9% OWNED @DAL WEEK 4

The Sam Darnold Redemption Tour is really in top gear. And it’s time to buy a ticket. Whilst you can knock the competition they have played against to an extent, you cannot deny that Sam Darnold is looking a lot more like a player taken Number 2 overall in the NFL Draft. Last season, he threw for over 250 yards just once. He has just gone over 300 yards in back to back games. And, against Dallas this week, there is an opportunity to do it again.

TAYLOR HEINICKE- 3.5% OWNED @ATL WEEK 4

Taylor Heinicke is playing his way into this job on a permanent basis. Yes, he is not everyone’s cup of tea. However, you cannot deny how well he has adapted to life as a starter. He is also being highly productive from a fantasy perspective. Yes, you might want to own Darnold or Cousins over Heinicke. However, this week he gets the Falcons. This is a good chance for him to continue to be highly productive. QB1 week this week anyone (Top 12 not 1 overall)?

RUNNING BACKS

CHUBA HUBBARD- 11.3% OWNED @DAL WEEK 4

I put Chuba Hubbard in last week and I feel most people ignored it. Well, on Thursday Night Football, CMC went down and will be out for a minimum of two weeks, and maybe even more than that. Hubbard will be the number 1 target off of Waiver Wire NFL Week 4 and who could blame anyone. I just hope some of you listened to me last week and saved yourself some significant FAAB in the process.

PEYTON BARBER- 7.3% OWNED VS. @LAC WEEK 4

So we now understand that Kenyan Drake is not a thing. I am glad we got there. Certainly, it seems to have taken some longer than others. It’s time to drop Drake and pick up Barber. Barber is a handcuff only for Josh Jacobs. However, we saw this with Jacobs last year. He appears on the injury report, he doesn’t practice and then he doesn’t play. This could be a redundant pickup, or this could be the main feature back for the next month. Fortune favours the brave. So, be bold, and pick up Barber.

WIDE RECEIVERS

EMMANUEL SANDERS- 23.2% OWNED VS. HOU WEEK 4

Massive game from Sanders. Six targets, 5 catches for 94 yards and 2 Touchdowns. What is clear is that although Beasley will continue to get more targets, Sanders will get some of that high value work in the Red Zone if Diggs is getting covered. This is something Beasley won’t really get. Sanders won’t really ever be more than a WR2 upside play some weeks. However, he needs to be owned. He is on course to be a top 40 Wide Receiver this season. I am sure he will produce better than others you have on your bench.

A.J. GREEN- 24.8% OWNED VS. LAR WEEK 4

A.J Green is alive! He’s a thing! I know, I know! I have said a lot of not very positive things about A.J Green over the years. However, on the Arizona offense, he has a defined role. 6 targets in each of his 3 games so far. He is a red zone threat, and a deep threat. Similar to Sanders above, he is WR2 upside some weeks, but more of a WR3/Flex option most weeks. However, these are the guys that, when they go off, win you games. Don’t be afraid to stream and pickup guys like Green and Sanders off the Waiver Wire NFL Week 4 this week.

TIGHT ENDS

DAWSON KNOX- 4.4% OWNED VS. HOU WEEK 14

Safe, predictable streaming TD option. Some weeks he will bust, some weeks he will thrive like he did in Week 3. He is a Touchdown threat most week and a decent bye week cover to your Tight End position. No doubt this won’t be the last time Dawson Knox appears in this column.

TYLER CONKLIN- 2.6% OWNED VS. CLE WEEK 4

Finally we got the Conklin breakout game. He was a real threat in a high scoring game. I expect people to get over excited about his Week 3 performance against the Seahawks. And, whilst I recommend adding him, I wouldn’t be wasting Waiver priority or too much FAAB on him. He will either boom or bust most weeks. But it was nice to finally see what the ceiling is for Conklin.

KICKER

CHASE MCLAUGHLIN- 15.4% OWNED VS. MIN WEEK 4

McLaughlin had himself a game on Sunday, scoring 16 Fantasy Points. He is someone who doesn’t miss too often, is on a high scoring offense, and will get plenty of attempts when the game script is setup for him. This week, against the Vikings, there is not going to be many better options for you to stream a kicker.

D/ST

CINCINATTI BENGALS- 5.3% OWNED VS. JAX WEEK 4

I think the NFL and their defenses are really targeting the Jags and especially Trevor Lawrence. Lawrence has thrown 7 INTs and had 2 fumbles in 3 games. So he is averaging 3 turnover opportunities a week. On that pace, the Bengals could be a top 12 defense again this week. I say again, because they absolutely dismantled Big Ben and the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday. I expect Lawrence to come good soon. However, it is open season on the Number 1 Overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. As well as also Zach Wilson, the Number 2 Overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.

Don’t forget, all of my picks come from those owned under 30% on ESPN.com Fantasy Football. If you want to hear other suggestions, subscribe to the 5 Yard Rush Podcast and listen to the Waiver Wire Podcast for other suggestions.

Don’t forget to listen to all our podcasts this week as we work with you to deliver a ship for you this season. However, until next week Rush Nation, where I will be back for Week Five picks, Keep Rushing!

– Murf (@Murf_NFL)