I hope your Week 4 was better than mine. My teams got wiped off the map, going 0-3. Unfortunately, I lost Malik Nabers (WR, NYG) for the season in two of them. And, like a newbie, I forgot to check player status before the Sunday morning games and so Jaylen Warren (RB, Pit) landed me a big goose egg. All three of my teams are now 1-3. That is definitely not how I wanted to start the season, but with one good week (3-0), everything can start turning around.
If you’re familiar with my Streamers for the Desperate series, feel free to skip down to this week’s rankings.
If you’re new, here’s the quick background. These articles are based on the principles I outlined in How To Own Your League's Waiver Wire, and they’re geared toward deep-roster leagues (18–24 spots), where free agents thin out quickly, with extra consideration for dynasty and keeper formats.
Players with an asterisk (*) are available in my toughest 24-man league, where streaming is truly challenging. Rookies and sophomores have an (R) and (S) after their names to indicate they might have longer-term upside potential.
I loosely rank the players, but your roster needs and league type should guide your prioritization. In parentheses after each name, you’ll see the opponent’s rank against that position for the next four weeks — '1st' being the toughest matchup, '32nd' the softest. Then in the blurb, I give each player's four-week stat line, such as (CMP-ATT/YDS-TD-INT) for a quarterback.
If you are playing in more standard formats, such as a Yahoo redraft league, check out ASL’s Fantasy Football Waiver Adds - Week 5 by Colton Peters and Injuries & Opportunities - Week 5 by Chris Hexter.
Finally, a word on philosophy: I put in waiver requests every week for every team, not just to cover immediate needs but to strengthen my roster top-to-bottom. Deep benches build injury resilience and force other managers into weaker options — which opens the door for trades and future draft capital.
Quarterbacks
Sam Darnold, SEA vs TB (24th, 23rd, 1st, Bye) – Darnold (70-100/905-5-2, 3/38-0) has been calm under pressure, having throw no interceptions or balls that should have been intercepted when blitzed. With the Seahawks protecting him and leaning into timing throws, he profiles as a steady QB2—stability more than fireworks—while the receivers win after the catch.
*Carson Wentz, MIN @ Cle (7th, Bye, 13th, 12th) – Wentz (44-66/523-4-2, 4/16-0) absorbed six sacks after the Vikings lost RT Brian O’Neill (knee) and C Ryan Kelly (concussion), yet still led a late push with two TDs. If J.J. McCarthy isn’t ready, Wentz should start in London. Protection is the variable; if the Vikings stabilize the line, his willingness to push downfield can carry a usable streamer week.
*Marcus Mariota, WSH @ LAC (12th, 28th, 32nd, 8th) – Mariota (31-48/363-3-1, 8/60-1) delivered two touchdowns and added useful rushing in his second straight start. Jayden Daniels could return soon, so this is a week-to-week play. The Chargers are a manageable draw, followed by two soft spots against the Bears and Cowboys that would be very attractive if he gets another start. Use as a 2QB/Superflex streamer as long as he remains the starter.
*Spencer Rattler (S), NO vs NYG (22nd, 18th, 28th, 24th) – Rattler (98-146/765-5-1, 16/102-0) hit his first low-volume game as the Saints leaned run-heavy in Week 4. The staff is still keeping the call sheet controlled, which limits spikes but has kept mistakes down. He’s a matchup-driven QB2 streamer in deeper formats with incremental growth tied to game script.
*Cooper Rush, BAL vs Hou (1st, 9th, Bye, 28th) – Rush (9-13/52-0-0, 3/-4-0) finished Week 4 after Lamar Jackson’s hamstring injury. If he starts, the next two weeks are rough and then a bye, so he is only for truly desperate managers or as very short-term injury cover. If Jackson is back, Rush can be ignored.
Running Backs
Woody Marks (R), HOU @ Bal (32nd, Bye, 20th, 7th) – Marks (29/113-1, 6-8/96-1) split early with Nick Chubb, then seized control down the stretch, finishing with 21 touches and two scores. Coaches publicly pushed the “more work” button after the game and praised his pass protection. He looks like the most explosive back in the room and is trending toward lead-back usage if this holds.
Kendre Miller, NO vs NYG (28th, 16th, 30th, 15th) – Miller (28/124-1, 3-3/11-0) finally logged double-digit carries and punched in an 18-yard TD on his first touch. He finished only four carries behind Alvin Kamara and put his best tape of the season on file. If the Saints reward that with a steadier 8–12 carry role, he’ll be a usable depth back with touchdown chances against softer fronts.
Justice Hill, BAL vs Hou (13th, 1st, Bye, 30th) – Hill (8/69-1, 12-15/107-1) opened the scoring through the air and later added a long rushing TD. It was an encouraging all-phase day, but the Ravens still centers the backfield on Derrick Henry when healthy. Hill remains a deeper-league PPR option and priority insurance for Henry managers.
*Zavier Scott, MIN @ Cle (2nd, Bye, 22nd, 3rd) – Scott (10/31-0, 7-9/63-1) logged a career-high receiving role and scored his first NFL touchdown during the late push. Jordan Mason is holding the lead job while Aaron Jones is on IR, but this usage earns Scott more designed targets in the Vikings’ two-minute and catch-up packages. He’s a PPR-leaning streamer if the Vikings expect a pass-heavy script.
*Raheem Mostert, LVR @ Ind (6th, 29th, 24th, Bye) – Mostert (4/62-0, 1-1/11-0) flashed fresh legs with Zamir White inactive and handled the change-of-pace work behind Ashton Jeanty. The Raiders’ notes frame him as depth and a Jeanty handcuff for now. If White stays sidelined or Mostert keeps this burst, the bench value grows; otherwise he’s a stash for managers who can wait.
*Miles Sanders, DAL @ NYJ (14th, 21st, 12th, 10th) – Sanders (20/117-1, 8-8/30-0) left with an ankle injury and is trending toward playing this week. The Cowboys still run through Javonte Williams, and coaches indicated Jaydon Blue is close to being active, which squeezes touches above and below. Treat Sanders as a handcuff to Williams and a deeper-league bye-week flex only.
Receivers
Marvin Mims, DEN @ Phi (14th, 15th, 31st, 32nd) – Mims (12-16/109-1, 1/16-1) erupted on Monday night with a team-high six catches and a 16-yard rushing score. His role can be volatile, but his big-play ability gives him weekly splash potential even on modest volume.
*JuJu Smith-Schuster, KCC @ Jac (22nd, 14th, 29th, 24th) – Smith-Schuster (14-18/151-1, 0/0-0) found the end zone in Week 4, but the Chiefs are spreading targets with Xavier Worthy back, Tyquan Thornton emerging, plus Hollywood Brown and Travis Kelce in the mix. He remains a deep-league streamer where you’re betting on red-zone design rather than volume.
Luke McCaffrey (S), Wsh @ LAC (4th, 20th, 32nd, 10th) – McCaffrey (6-7/96-2, 0/0-0) has scored in back-to-back games. With Terry McLaurin still sidelined and Noah Brown having missed two straight, the Commanders are finding touches for him. If Jayden Daniels returns, the passing game ceiling rises.
*Jalen Tolbert, DAL @ NYJ (17th, 2nd, 24th, 7th) – Tolbert (10-18/101-0, 0/0-0) answered the staff’s call to step up with CeeDee Lamb sidelined, posting 4-for-61 on six targets. If Lamb misses more time, Tolbert’s routes and targets should stay elevated. He’s a viable deep-league play as long as Lamb sits and his routes stay elevated.
*Darius Slayton, NYG vs NO (19th, 14th, 7th, 14th) – Slayton (9-13/135-0, 0/0-0) led the Giants in Week 4 and now projects as the top downfield option with Malik Nabers out for the season. He’s the best bet among the Giants’ perimeter receivers for targets and air yards while Jaxson Dart settles in.
*Jalen Nailor, MIN @ Cle (13th, Bye, 15th, 5th) – Nailor (8-17/98-1, 0/0-0) moved into the third-receiver role with Jordan Addison back, logging 48 of 76 snaps and catching a short TD. Addison and Justin Jefferson stay ahead of him, but the Vikings kept Nailor on the field enough to matter when game script turns pass-heavy.
*Isaiah Bond (R), Cle vs MIN (1st, 26th, 8th, 18th) – Bond (7-14/82-0, 0/0-0) set career highs in Week 4 and is positioned for more snaps with Cedric Tillman out weeks. The Browns’ passing game has been limited, but Bond’s role should expand, making him a sensible add for managers planning ahead to Week 6 and beyond.
Tight Ends
*Darren Waller, MIA @ Car (27th, 10th, 8th, 1st) – Waller (3/4-27-2) returned from the shelf and immediately handled red-zone work, catching scores from short range. With Tyreek Hill out for the remainder of the season, the Dolphins need chain-movers and finishers. Expect the Dolphins to feature Waller in red-zone and seams. Conditioning is the only question at age 33, but the role is fantasy-useful right away, but his role is immediately startable as a low-end TE1 streamer.
Theo Johnson (S), NYG vs Phi (17th, 3rd, 6th, 3rd) – Johnson (9/66-1) tied for the team lead in Week 4 targets and caught Jaxson Dart’s first TD. With Malik Nabers done for the year, the Giants need a reliable underneath option, Johnson’s snap share and red-zone usage both have room to climb with a steady TE2 floor.
Jake Tonges, SFO @ LAR (18th, 16th, 1st, 7th) – Tonges (12/16-125-2) has absorbed George Kittle’s snaps and routes while Kittle heals, delivering a career day (58 yards, TD) and steady 4 to 6 looks. That gives him a workable floor with a splash of red-zone equity while Kittle is out.
Dalton Schultz, HOU @ BAL (23rd, Bye, 32nd, 25th) – Schultz (16/126-0) is a short area safety valve, but the targets are bankable (5 in back-to-back weeks). He's more of a floor play than a ceiling swing - a solid PPR streamer when you need 4–6 looks and 30–45 yards.
*AJ Barner (S), SEA vs TB (16th, 14th, 7th, Bye) – Barner (7/81-2) keeps leading Seahawks’ heavy two-TE usage and has been a preferred red-zone option for Sam Darnold. Expect modest yardage, but the role should hold as long as the Seahawks lean on 12 personnel—making him a touchdown-dependent TE2.
*Tommy Tremble, CAR vs MIA (30th, 12th, 19th, 2nd) – Tremble (11/80-1) handled lead duties with Ja’Tavion Sanders out and drew eight targets, leading the Panthers in catches and seeing designed looks near the goal line. If Sanders sits, Tremble remains a volume-based TE2 with a favorable draw this week.
Mason Taylor (R), NYJ vs DAL (12th, 6th, 27th, 28th) – Taylor (11/16-108-0) just posted season highs in targets (7) and yards (65) and looks settled as the Jets’ No. 2 read behind Garrett Wilson on quick game, play-action and boot. The next two weeks are tougher by matchup, but his usage trend is upward. Taylor is trending toward usable TE2 volume with rookie upside.
Chigoziem Okonkwo, TEN @ LV (22nd, 5th, 24th, 13th) – Okonkwo (13/124-0) hit a lull in against a tough defense in Week 4, but remains a primary outlet with outes off play-action and yards-after-the-catch chances for the Titans. With normal game scripts, he’s a back-end TE2 who can pop on efficiency weeks.
*Mitchell Evans (R), CAR vs MIA (30th, 12th, 19th, 2nd) – Evans (5/41-1) set career highs in snaps and cashed a goal-line score with Sanders inactive. He is the rookie handcuff to Tremble and a deep-league dart throw, with short-term appeal only while Sanders is sidelined.
Kickers
Jason Myers, Sea v TB (17th, 2nd, 1st, Bye)
Eddy Pineiro, SF @ LAR (26th, 17th, 28th, 1st)
Matt Gay, Wsh @ LAC (22nd, 11th, 23rd, 14th)
Nick Folk, NYJ v Dal (23rd, 29th, 10th, 12th)
Chad Ryland, Ari v Ten (20th, 5th, 8th, Bye)
Defense / Special Teams
Arizona Cardinals v Ten (32nd, 2nd, 7th, 12th)
Indianapolis Colts, v LV (25th, 17th, 18th, 32nd)
Los Angeles Rams v SF (23rd, 16th, 4th, Bye)
Miami Dolphins @ Car (27th, 16th, 30th, 24th)
Jacksonville Jaguars v KC (5th, 11th, 15th, Bye)
Washington Commanders @ LAC (16th, 6th, 13th, 5th)