Dominating the waiver wire could catapult you into championship territory regardless of how much you struggled during the draft or while making trades. Read on for eight season-long waiver wire targets, as well as a few players who you can comfortably cut loose.
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Let’s check out eight players that warrant consideration ahead of the upcoming waiver wire cycle. All players listed here are rostered in less than 35 percent of ESPN leagues and could have legitimate impacts down the stretch.
Kirk Cousins
Rostered in 32.5 percent of leagues
Last week’s waiver wire article suggested that Cousins would be a mainstay on this list until he passes the 35 percent threshold. He dropped 323 yards and three touchdowns on the Seahawks, so perhaps Week 4 is the week in which he finally reaches that mark. The bottom line? Cousins continues to be drastically underrated and should be rostered in the majority of fantasy leagues.
Kenneth Gainwell
Rostered in 28 percent of leagues
Gainwell was involved in the Eagles’ offense as early as Week 1, which suggests he could carve out a large role this season. Specifically, his usage in the passing game has looked promising. He’s one of the top handcuffs in fantasy and is worth stashing, especially if you already roster Miles Sanders.
Chuba Hubbard
Rostered in 11.3 percent of leagues
Hubbard looked solid while backing up Christian McCaffrey (hamstring) through the first three weeks of the season. Now, his workload will only rise with McCaffrey expected to miss significant time due to injury. Given how much McCaffrey’s status was in limbo last season, it would not be absurd to expect that his 2021 has a chance to follow a similar path. As such, Hubbard should be your top waiver wire target in Week 4.
Rhamondre Stevenson
Rostered in 8.4 percent of leagues
After James White went down with a hip subluxation, Brandon Bolden stepped into his role. However, with Stevenson (coach’s decision) likely to be active in Week 4, the rookie should be able to carve out a solid workload on offense. It’s far too early to start him, but you should roster him before it’s too late.
Hunter Renfrow
Rostered in 11.3 percent of leagues
Renfrow has managed to amass a steady share of the workload in this Las Vegas offense, balancing targets with players like Darren Waller, Henry Ruggs III, and Bryan Edwards. Through three games, the 25-year-old Renfrow has caught 16 passes for 204 yards and one touchdown. While fantasy managers would like to see him average more than seven targets per game, you can’t be super picky when it comes to waiver wire targets.
Tim Patrick
Rostered in 14 percent of leagues
For the second season in a row, injuries have catapulted Patrick into becoming one of fantasy football’s most prized waiver wire players. Through three games, he has caught 12 passes for 174 yards and two touchdowns. Last Sunday alone, he racked up season-highs in catches (five) and yards (98). Going forward, he should continue to see significant usage with KJ Hamler (ACL) done for the year and Jerry Jeudy (ankle) spending time on injured reserve.
Terrace Marshall Jr.
Rostered in 14.9 percent of leagues
Marshall has had a steady but inspiring start to the season, logging just 91 yards through three weeks. However, the rookie could be trending upwards with Christian McCaffrey (hamstring) out, Dan Arnold traded to the Jaguars, and Robby Anderson struggling to command significant volume. It would be wise to add him as an experimental stash for the next couple of weeks.
Tommy Tremble
Rostered in 0.1 percent of leagues
Three Panthers in one list? Yup. Tremble represents an intriguing option after fellow tight end Dan Arnold was traded to the Jaguars. The McCaffrey injury doesn’t hurt his value, either. While Ian Thomas might get the initial reps as Carolina’s TE1, he has struggled so far this season, catching just two passes through three contests. Tremble hasn’t fared much better (one catch, one rush, 37 yards), but he is younger and also found the end zone in Week 4. He should trend upwards throughout the season and is worth rostering ahead of any potential breakout.
Drops
Let’s check out three players that you can comfortably cut loose from your roster. All players listed here are rostered in more than 50 percent of ESPN leagues and aren’t expected to have legitimate impacts down the stretch.
Ronald Jones Jr.
Rostered in 59.3 percent of leagues
Jones logged just 50 scrimmage yards through the Bucs’ first two games. He was then demoted to a backup role ahead of a Week 3 contest against the Buccaneers in which he rushed just five times for 11 yards. While he’s a lock for a few random breakout games here and there, Jones is no longer worth rostering in most leagues. As long as Leonard Founette stays healthy, Jones belongs on the waiver wire.
Jonnu Smith
Rostered in 74.9 percent of leagues
Depending on the size of your league, Smith might be worth dumping to the waiver wire. In Week 3, he caught just one of five passes for four yards. He also dropped a pass that led to a pick-six for the Saints. The former Titan should remain in a backup role behind Hunter Henry, forcing him outside of the top-12 tight end range. He cannot be trusted in starting lineups. You can definitely justify dropping him.
David Johnson
Rostered in 51 percent of leagues
The Texans’ backfield is messy. The situation only gets murkier with Davis Mills replacing the injured Tyrod Taylor. Johnson now has just 86 yards and one touchdown through three games and will never be worth starting (unless Mark Ingram and Phillip Lindsay both get hurt) due to the weird nature of Houston’s offense. Feel free to drop him in favor of a different player with more upside.
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