In this week's edition, we'll take a look at several young wideouts poised to make a splash and one RB making a comeback.
For those who missed out on Jordan Mason after Week 1, you’re in luck. This week’s waiver wire has several upside options at the running back position. There’s also four(!) 23-year-old receivers poised for fantasy success on the wire, ready for your FAAB bids and your waiver priority.
As always, you’ll find several top waiver options in this weekly feature — along with suggested FAAB bid amounts — followed by a few players to monitor in deeper formats. Generally, players listed here will be available in at least 50% of Sleeper leagues.
Top Waiver Wire Additions After Week 4
RB Kareem Hunt, Kansas City Chiefs
After a disappointing 2023 season in Cleveland, Hunt looked rejuvenated for his Chiefs reunion, leading the team in carries (14) and rushing yards (69), while also catching two of three targets for another 16 yards. There’s a chance the running back usage flips again in Week 5, but Hunt looked genuinely impressive, while Carson Steele has now fumbled twice on just 30 touches.
Fantasy managers could be looking at a rest of season fantasy RB2 type with Hunt (37% rostered on Sleeper), so he’s worth a 40-60% FAAB bid — or No. 1 waiver priority. That being said, frugal managers should look to Clyde Edwards-Helaire, who is eligible to return from IR as early as this week. If Andy Reid could quickly pivot to Hunt as the workhorse back, he could do the same for CEH in Week 5 or 6. A 5-10% FAAB bid on CEH will likely secure his services.
QB Justin Fields, Pittsburgh Steelers
Fields was a headliner in last week’s waiver column, and then he threw for 312 yards and a touchdown against the Colts in Week 4. He also chipped in 55 rushing yards and two scores on the ground en route to 32 fantasy points as the top-scoring QB on the week.
Fields is still rostered in just 42% of Sleeper leagues, and QB-needy teams can consider a hefty FAAB bid (30-45%) — or using No. 1 waiver priority, hoping Russell Wilson doesn’t return anytime soon. In Week 5, Fields faces an injury-ravaged Cowboys defense.
WR Dontayvion Wicks, Green Bay Packers
Christian Watson suffered a high-ankle sprain in Week 4, thrusting Wicks into a starting role. This was Wicks’ third career game with a snap share of at least 70%, and he’s averaged six receptions, 79 yards, 1.3 touchdowns and 21.5 PPR fantasy points in them. The touchdown rate will surely fall, but Wicks is a legit target earner in a high-octane Packers passing attack, and he should at least be a fantasy WR3-type for the next several weeks.
Don’t rule out the second-year receiver carving out a permanent starting role in this offense either during this multi-week audition. Wicks (18% rostered on Sleeper) is worth 30-40% of your FAAB or No. 1 waiver priority if you’re WR-needy.
WR Wan’Dale Robinson, New York Giants
Robinson has at least six receptions in three of four games, and Malik Nabers could miss Week 5 (concussion). The diminutive slot receiver is coming off an 11-catch performance, but he totaled just 71 scoreless yards. Think of Robinson (46% rostered) as a high-floor option in PPR formats, where you can throw him into your flex position each week. Bidding 20-30% of your FAAB is warranted in PPR leagues.
RB Trey Sermon, Indianapolis Colts
Jonathan Taylor is dealing with a high-ankle sprain, and while the team says it’s “minor,” he could still miss some time, even a few weeks. Sermon (4% rostered) should inherit most of Taylor’s weekly touch volume, and the Colts should face favorable game scripts in Week 5 (Jaguars), Week 6 (Titans) and Week 7 (Dolphins).
Expect 15-20 touches and fantasy RB2-type numbers from Sermon, who is worth 20-30% of your FAAB. Fantasy managers staring down a 1-3 or 0-4 start can even consider a 40% bid if they need immediate help at their RB2 spot.
WR Xavier Legette, Carolina Panthers
Like Fields, Legette was a headliner in last week’s waiver column. Andy Dalton peppered Legette with 10 targets now that Adam Thielen is on IR, and Legette caught six for 66 yards and a score. He has a tough matchup against Chicago in Week 5, but he’s starting to look like an every-week flex play. Consider a 15-20% FAAB bid on Legette, who is only rostered in 38% of Sleeper leagues.
DST Chicago Bears
The Bears defense is still rostered in just 35% of Sleeper leagues, and they are a top-three overall rest-of-season unit. Their next two matchups are enticing, as they face the Panthers and Jaguars. They can be started against any offensive opponent, and the Vikings may be the only preferred defensive option at this point in the season. Use 10-15% of your FAAB on the Bears if you’re tired of streaming defenses this season.
RB Justice Hill, Baltimore Ravens
Hill (28% rostered) needs to be mentioned in this section after leading the Ravens with six receptions, 78 receiving yards and a TD Sunday night vs. Buffalo. However, Hill won’t take any high-value carries away from Derrick Henry, and it’s hard to know when he’ll have a big receiving game moving forward. You can spend 10% of your FAAB on Hill, but we almost certainly witnessed his fantasy ceiling this past weekend.
Sneak Peek: Deeper and Potential Future Additions
RB Tyler Allgeier, Atlanta Falcons
Allgeier would be a fantasy RB1 if anything happens to Bijan Robinson, who is tending to a minor hamstring injury on a short week.
WR Josh Downs, Indianapolis Colts
Downs compiled eight receptions, 82 yards and a score in Week 4, but nearly all that production came with Joe Flacco at QB. It’s hard to see Downs as a true fantasy option when he’s probably behind Michael Pittman in a low volume (and bad) passing attack.
RB Tank Bigsby, Jacksonville Jaguars
Bigsby has led the team in rushing yards in two of four games, but it’s still hard to see him actually stealing significant volume from Travis Etienne. He’s a priority handcuff.
TE Tucker Kraft, Green Bay Packers
Kraft could also benefit from Watson’s high-ankle sprain, and with how thin the tight end position is, he shouldn’t remain on waivers in deeper leagues.
WR Justin Watson, Kansas City Chiefs
Rashee Rice’s ACL injury doesn’t just open the door for rookie Xavier Worthy. Watson has a chance to be flex-viable, though the Chiefs may just rotate their receivers going forward.
RB Isaac Guerendo, San Francisco 49ers
Christian McCaffrey is still likely another month – or more – away from returning, and the speedy rookie Guerendo is a priority stash in case Jordan Mason goes down.
TE Erick All, Cincinnati Bengals
The rookie ran fewer routes than veteran Mike Gesicki in Week 4, but All caught “all” four targets for 28 yards, while Gesicki caught his lone target for a 9-yard loss. All would be a weekly fantasy starter if he can fully usurp Gesicki on this depth chart.
WR Jerry Jeudy, Cleveland Browns
Amari Cooper has struggled with drops, and Jeudy quietly leads the team in receptions and receiving yards on the season.
WR Tre Tucker, Las Vegas Raiders
Davante Adams is a trade candidate, and Tucker could be the consolation prize for fantasy managers who miss out on the Wan’Dale Robinson sweepstakes.
TE Noah Gray, Kansas City Chiefs
Gray caught all four targets for 40 yards in Week 4, and, like Watson, he could see a role increase with the Rice injury.
TE Ben Sinnott, Washington Commanders
Zach Ertz has been gobbling up targets as usual, but he’s also played 10 or fewer games in each of the past three seasons. Sinnott is a deep-league stash for teams lacking at tight end.
Line Up Your Targets
Make sure to act quickly to secure your waiver wire targets, with most leagues running waivers on Tuesday nights. For more in-depth stats and to view all the trending players in real time, check out the Sleeper app.
Working the waiver wire to your favor is a critical part of fantasy football success, and we’ll be with you every week to help you chase down those playoff berths and fantasy championships.