Unlock Hidden Gems: Week 4 Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Picks That Could Skyrocket Your Team
Ever get that sinking feeling when one of your fantasy football stars goes down with an injury just as the season heats up? Yeah, me too — and Week 3 of the 2025 NFL season was a brutal reminder that no one’s safe from the dreaded injury bug. After a relatively kind start to the year, suddenly top-tier players like CeeDee Lamb and James Conner found themselves on the sidelines, turning waiver wires into battlegrounds. So, who should you be scrambling for now to fill those gaping holes on your roster? Let’s dive into the sneaky waiver wire gems and savvy pickups that could turn your fantasy misfortune around before Week 4 kicks off. Because if you think the injury bug is done biting, well… think again. LEARN MORE
The injury bug hit some key players in Week 3. Here’s who fantasy football managers should target on the waiver wire to replace their stars.
Injuries are a part of fantasy football.
The least fun part, certainly, but they will always be a factor. And fantasy managers had been pretty lucky on the injury front to open the 2025 NFL season.
Joe Burrow and Jayden Daniels were two of several quarterbacks who were sidelined in Week 2, but there wasn’t a single running back or wide receiver drafted in the top 50 (according to Fantasy Pros ADP) who had missed a full game in the first three weeks. The other top-50 player to miss time was tight end George Kittle.
That will change heading into Week 4. CeeDee Lamb was the most high-profile player to suffer an injury, as he suffered a high ankle sprain against the Chicago Bears before recording a catch. He came back in for one play after the injury, but clearly couldn’t move how he wanted to and will likely miss at least a game (and most likely three or four games) while he recovers.
Lamb wasn’t the only top 50 draft pick to suffer an injury. In fact, three others did.
James Conner had the most serious injury, suffering a foot injury that will require surgery. It seems likely he will miss the rest of the season. Mike Evans and Terry McLaurin both suffered injuries that are worth monitoring as well.
So, the waiver wire will be highly competitive this week. Here’s who you should prioritize if you have a hole to fill.
Week 4 Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Pickups
RB Trey Benson, Arizona Cardinals
We try to limit our recommendations to players who are owned in less than half of leagues on most fantasy platforms. Benson doesn’t quite meet that threshold, but he needed to be discussed because he’s available in at least 40% of leagues on most platforms and will be one of the most important waiver-wire adds of the season in leagues where he is available.
A couple of weeks ago, we mentioned Benson as a key long-term add in most leagues because he flashed explosiveness and James Conner is an aging back who had missed time in the past.
If you took our advice, Benson should be worth a start in the majority of formats moving forward. If you didn’t and he’s still available, do what you can to obtain him.
Benson is averaging 6.0 yards per carry, has seven catches on 10 targets over the last two weeks and plays on an offense that was excellent at running the ball last year.
Last season, the Cardinals were seventh in rushing yards per game, had the second-highest percentage of their runs go for first downs and had the second-highest percentage of their runs go for 10 or more yards.
They’ve been a middle-of-the-pack running team so far this season, but clearly need to run the ball to have success on offense. Benson is going to get a ton of opportunities and is likely to be a bell cow running back in his new role. Use your priority waiver on him in a standard league or spend up to 80% of your FAAB on him in a free agent auction format.
RB Ollie Gordon, Miami Dolphins
The bad news is, if Benson is gone, the waiver wire doesn’t have a lot of short-term options at running back. But Gordon is another player we’ve recommended as a long-term addition in the past.
Gordon rose to second on the depth chart for the Dolphins to start the season and finally saw significant action in Week 3. He had nine carries compared to just 12 for starter De’Von Achane (although Achane also saw nine targets). Crucially, Gordon got both of the carries inside the 5-yard line, which were on the first drive of the game.
As long as Achane is healthy, there’s a hard cap on Gordon’s production. But he’s made the case for some touches and is getting looks at the goal line. If you need to start a running back off the waiver wire and Benson is gone, Gordon is your guy.
WR Tre Tucker, Las Vegas Raiders
Tucker was the story of Week 3 with 145 receiving yards and three touchdowns. While there are reasons to think he’s not just a flash in the pan, it’s probably also best to temper expectations.
First, the positives. While Tucker wasn’t efficient in Week 2 (just three catches for 12 yards), he did have eight targets, giving him 17 over the last two weeks. So, his target share wasn’t a one-off.
He also seems to be developing good chemistry with Geno Smith, who, even with some struggles, is an upgrade over the quarterbacks Tucker had last year. It’s his third year in the league, and he was a third-round pick in 2023 who started 14 games last year. That’s not a bad pedigree.
But Tucker is likely to be a boom-or-bust player moving forward. Brock Bowers only has one more target than Tucker so far in 2025, and that is likely to be a bigger difference moving forward. Ashton Jeanty has struggled, and it wouldn’t be a surprise if the Raiders draw up some catch-and-run plays for him to try to get him going. Factor in the team’s leading target-getter in Jakobi Meyers and it seems unlikely Tucker will be able to maintain a massive target share.
And the number of overall targets may be shrinking as well. The Raiders fell behind by double digits by halftime of each of the last two games, necessitating a lot of passes in the second half. The Raiders are in the top 10 in pass attempts and the bottom 12 in rushing attempts. If the past is any indication, the Raiders will do their best to bring those numbers back closer to the middle of the pack.
Tucker is worth a waiver addition because of his talent and chemistry with his quarterback, but don’t expect him to go off every week.
WR Elic Ayomanor, Tennessee Titans
While Tucker might be getting all the love, Ayomanor could be just as good a long-term play. He’s a worthwhile pickup this week.
The Titans offense has been awful, but the rookie from Stanford has been the bright spot. He’s looked to have overtaken Calvin Ridley as the most valuable receiver on the team early on. Cam Ward has thrown just two touchdown passes – both to Ayomanor, who also has the most catches (10) among Tennessee wide receivers.
The possibility that the Titans never turn things around keeps Ayomanor from being a guaranteed starting-caliber player this year, but he’s certainly worth a bench stash.
TE Dalton Kincaid, Buffalo Bills
Kincaid has had a solid season so far as a post-hype sleeper and has a solid matchup this week against the New Orleans Saints.
The big difference for Kincaid so far is that the Bills are using him as more of a red-zone weapon. He has two touchdowns already this year, matching a career high.
If Kincaid keeps getting looks in the red zone, he’s startable in the right matchups. And the Saints, who have given up 50+ yards to tight ends twice already this year and are 26th in points allowed per game, are the right matchup.
He’s your tight end to stream this week.
For more coverage, follow along on social media on Instagram, Bluesky, Facebook and X.
The post Top Fantasy Football Week 4 Waiver Wire Pickups appeared first on Opta Analyst.
CHECK OUT THE HOTTEST DEALS ON AMAZON!
NEW 2025 ToppsCHROME Baseball Trading Card MEGA Box with 42 Cards, 10 Exclusive X-fractors Per Box, Bonus Custom Judge Card Sized Print
$129.95 (as of September 20, 2025 23:00 GMT +00:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
2024-25 Topps Chrome Basketball - Factory Sealed - Value Box
$26.95 (as of September 20, 2025 23:30 GMT +00:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
2025 Panini Donruss Elite Football Trading Cards Blaster Box
$38.30 (as of September 20, 2025 23:30 GMT +00:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
2025 Topps Series 1 Baseball - Factory Sealed - Value Box
$39.51 (as of September 20, 2025 23:30 GMT +00:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
NEW 2025 PaniniPRIZM Baseball HOBBY Direct BLASTER Box, 30 Cards, 4 Ice Prizms, Red Ice Prizms!
$69.95 (as of September 20, 2025 23:00 GMT +00:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
Cal Raleigh Cards (5) Assorted Baseball Card Gift Pack - Seattle Mariners
$19.99 (as of September 20, 2025 23:00 GMT +00:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
2023 Bowman Chrome Baseball Mega Box
$59.00 (as of September 20, 2025 23:30 GMT +00:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
2025 Topps Series 1 Baseball Trading Card MLB Retail 20 Pack Box
$115.85 (as of September 20, 2025 23:30 GMT +00:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
NEW 2024 SELECT Football Card Blaster Box, 3 EXCLUSIVE Die-Cut Prizms - Chance for Jayden Daniels, Caleb Williams
$89.99 (as of September 20, 2025 23:00 GMT +00:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
Post Comment