Fantasy Football Week 4: Waiver-Wire Pickups, Rankings and Box Score Stat Projections
Week 3 of the NFL season brought with it several promising performances from fantasy football studs, including Lamar Jackson, Kyren Williams, Brock Purdy, and Jonathan Taylor, all of whom figure to play key roles in their teams' offensive gameplans in Week 4.
Where do they rank among other fantasy superstars and we which two players are worth jumping into the waiver wire to pick up in hopes of earning another league victory?
Find out with this preview.
Top 15 Rankings and Stat Projections
Week 4 Rankings
- Josh Allen, QB, Buffalo Bills at Baltimore Ravens (250 yards, 2TDs, 45 rushing yards, TD)
- Lamar Jackson, QB, Baltimore Ravens vs. Buffalo Bills (175 yards, 2 TDs, 60 rushing yards, TD)
- CeeDee Lamb, WR, Dallas Cowboys at New York Giants (10 rec., 150 yards, 2 TDs)
- Joe Burrow, QB, Cincinnati Bengals at Carolina Panthers (300 yards, 3 TDs)
- Tyreek Hill, WR, Miami Dolphins vs. Teneesee Titans (7 rec., 170 yards, 2 TDs)
- Saquon Barkley, RB, Philadelphia Eagles at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (80 rush yards, TD, 4 rec., 35 yards, TD)
- Aaron Jones, RB, Minnesota Vikings at Green Bay Packers (130 yards, 2 TDs, 3 rec., 50 yards)
- Patrick Mahomes, QB, Kansas City Chiefs at Los Angeles Chargers (250 yds, 2 TD)
- Bijan Robinson, RB, Atlanta Falcons vs. New Orleans Saints (100 rush yards, TD, 4 rec., 60 yds)
- Breece Hall, RB, New York Jets vs. Denver Broncos (100 rush yards, 4 rec., 40 yds, TD)
- Justin Jefferson, WR, Minnesota Vikings at Green Bay Packers (10 rec., 110 yds, TD)
- Kyler Murray, QB, Arizona Cardinals vs. Washington Commanders (250 yds, 2 TDs, 30 rush yards)
- Davante Adams, WR, Las Vegas Raiders vs. Cleveland Browns (8 rec., 110 yds, TD)
- Derrick Henry, RB, Baltimore Ravens vs. Buffalo Bills (150 yds, TD)
- Kyren Williams, RB, Los Angeles Rams at Chicago Bears {90 yds, 2 TDs, 3 rec., 25 yds)
Waiver Wire Pickups: Sam Darnold, QB, Minnesota Vikings
Fantasy managers questioning whether Sam Darnold was for real as the primary signal-caller for the Minnesota Vikings got their answer in Week 3 as he tossed four touchdowns in a 34-7 decimation of the Super Bowl-contender Houston Texans.
It was the latest performance by the former No. 3 overall pick that suggests all he needed was a coach to believe in him and a system that best fit his talents.
Darnold has not scored less than 15 points in a game this season and in his last two starts, against the San Francisco 49ers and Houston has finished in the top 10 at his position.
He also leads the league in passing touchdowns.
Up next for Darnold is division foe Green Bay, a team that has given up the seventh-most passing yards to opposing quarterbacks this season.
A young, talented quarterback who finally has the weapons and opportunity to prove his worth, he is developing into a must-start QB for managers without a premier performer at the position.
Or those still reeling from the loss of Tua Tagovailoa and Jordan Love.
Waiver Wire Pickups: Jauan Jennings, WR, San Francisco 49ers
Without Deebo Samuel, Christian McCaffrey, and George Kittle available to him, quarterback Brock Purdy looked Juaun Jennings' way to repeated success.
Jennings finished as the top wide receiver in fantasy in Week 4, catching 11 of 12 balls for 175 yards and three touchdowns. It was a breakout performance for a receiver who has often had to share targets with a roster of bigger stars.
With Samuel expected to miss several more weeks, Jennings figures to remain a focal point of the Niners offense and fantasy managers should take note.
Those who had Samuel but now find themselves down a wideout, or who picked either Puka Nacua or Cooper Kupp of the Rams earlier on but now have significant holes in their lineups, should consider the fourth-year man, especially if the offense trends more toward passing as Purdy continues to develop into one of the league's best quarterbacks.
Week 4 brings with it a showdown with New England, who is allowing the fourth-most fantasy points to opposing wide receivers amid a leaky secondary.
Take Jennings and reap the rewards as the Niners discover another big-play weapon.
All stats via FantasyPros unless otherwise stated.