Week three of the 2023 NFL season is over and you are starting to realize that maybe Joe Burrow isn’t going to make an MVP push and maybe you shouldn’t have spent a first-rounder on him. Before you give up on your fantasy season, remember that the waiver wire exists to save you from the cruel and unforgiving fantasy football gods. I’m going to provide you with the best options available. If I don’t mention someone whom you think I should be talking about, just know there are many reasons why I overlooked them. Maybe they are owned in most leagues. Maybe they are so bad I don’t even consider them. Maybe it’s because your opinions cannot be trusted. After all, you are here. So let us examine our best week four waiver wire pickups…
Week Five Waiver Wire Quarterbacks
C.J. Stroud, Houston Texans (38% rostered)
Every year, there is a quarterback sitting on the waiver wire for a few weeks who should be on a roster who is trotting out a guy everyone hopes will turn it around. This year’s guy is C.J. Stroud. In week four, Stroud had 306 yards and 2 touchdowns, finishing as the QB10. Currently the QB11 on the season, Stroud has the fourth-most dropbacks, third-most passing attempts, and the fourth-most passing yards. Texans have one of the easiest schedules in football and C.J. Stroud has the potential to be a league winner. If you need quarterback help, C.J. Stroud has to be a priority add for you because this is your last chance to get him.
Week Five Waiver Wire Running Backs
Ronnie Rivers, Los Angeles Rams (0% rostered)
The only player on the waiver wire at running back who has my attention is Ronnie Rivers. In week four, Rivers had 11 touches for 57 yards. The first thing worth noting is that River saw 28% of the snaps a week after Kyren Williams saw a 100% snap count. The second thing is that Kyren Williams got hurt in week four and is currently dealing with a hip contusion. There is a clear path to relevance on a strong offense, especially if Williams sees limited snaps. While risky, Rivers is the only running back I’d consider burning a waiver on in week four.
Samaje Perine/Jaleel McLaughlin, Denver Broncos (50%/3% rostered)
With Javonte Williams leaving the Bears game early with a hip injury, fantasy football managers are trying to manifest reasons why they need to grab one of these backups. In week four, Jaleel McLaughlin had 104 all-purpose yards and 1 touchdown on 10 touches. Samaje Perine only had 35 yards on 8 touches. The problem I have with investing in either of these guys is that through four weeks, Javonte Williams had 189 all-purpose yards on the season and 0 touchdowns. McLaughlin, an undrafted rookie, had a great week against the Chicago Bears. This is the only time the Broncos run offense showed any value. Unfortunately, this is also the last time they play the Bears so I’m not sure I want either of these guys.
Chubba Hubbard, Carolina Panthers (17% rostered)
In week four, Chubba Hubbard received a majority of the snaps in Carolina, due in part to a lingering injury to Miles Sanders. With the opportunity, he had 16 touches for 53 yards. If you want shares of the Carolina Panthers offense, more power to you. I do not have that courage.
Matt Breida, New York Giants (30% rostered)
In week four against the Seahawks, Matt Breida had 78 all-purpose yards on 19 touches. As with the Carolina Panthers, I am not sure I want any shares of the New York Giants offense. Everything looks broken. And with Saquon Barkley looking to return soon, I’d rather just see who clears waivers and stream rather than burn a waiver priority on Matt Breida.
Week Five Waiver Wire Wide Receivers
Romeo Doubs, Green Bay Packers (37% rostered)
In week four, Romeo Doubs had 9 catches for 95 yards on 13 targets. On the season, Romeo Doubs has 33 targets, 20 catches, 224 yards, and 3 touchdowns, making him the WR17 on the season. The only question I really have is how the hell is he not 100% rostered?
Jameson Williams, Detroit Lions (32% rostered)
Jameson Williams is free. Coming back early from his suspension, Jameson Williams is going to make a potent Lions offense even more intriguing. The Detroit Lions are the eighth-best scoring offense in football. It is worth noting the Lions traded up to take Williams in the 2022 draft. If you are looking for a potential high-upside play at wide receiver, Jameson Williams is a high-risk/high-reward play of a very talented player in an explosive offense.
Michael Wilson, Arizona Cardinals (2% rostered)
Michael Wilson is a very interesting wide receiver to be looking at on the waiver wire. Like Puka Nacau, Wilson was a very talented college receiver who missed a lot of his college career due to injuries. In week four, Wilson had 7 catches for 76 yards and 2 touchdowns. Over the last two weeks, Michael Wilson has had a snap count of 70% and 67%. Wilson is also running a route on 70% of his team dropbacks. The Cardinals are going to be playing from behind a lot, so Wilson is a guy with some breakout potential for the rest of the season.
Tyler Boyd, Cincinnati Bengals (33% rostered)
With the news that Tee Higgins fractured a rib, there is a very good chance that Tee Higgins will miss multiple weeks. In week four, Boyd had 4 catches for 26 yards on 7 targets. While those numbers are not the greatest, Joe Burrow was getting destroyed by the Titans’ defensive front. If you believe Joe Burrow will continue to be Joe Burrow and these last four weeks have been an anomaly, you will want shares of Tyler Boyd in the next couple of weeks.
Week Five Waiver Wire Tight Ends
Jake Ferguson, Dallas Cowboys (29% rostered)
I know I am usually very negative towards tight ends, so it might surprise you to see me be so glowing about Jake Ferguson. I can assure you that Ryan Edgecombe of the THfantaC podcast and the current sovereign of Gambletown (streaming every Saturday on the Football Absurdity YouTube channel) is not holding my family hostage. I am only talking about Ferguson because why wouldn’t I be talking about him? Ferg is currently the TE8 on the season. In week four, he had 7 catches for 77 yards. Perhaps most intriguing of all is that in the red zone Jake Ferguson is seeing 93.3% of team snaps within the 10-yard line, 100% of team snaps within the 5-yard line, and is averaging 8 targets a game. You should definitely be grabbing Jake Ferguson in leagues where you need tight-end help. Now please let my family go, Ryan.
