Fantasy Football Week 4 Waiver Wire: Go Get Derek Carr for your QB Woes, Karlos Williams Could Be Huge

You aren’t alone if you are looking for options. As it turns out, Derek Carr is looking like a good one, someone who has a very favorable matchup and should be a top 8 start this week, and also can be a rotation starter candidate as the season continues. I went back and watched all of Carr’s plays from Sunday and his performance was legit. I was wrong in doubting whether he could push the ball downfield after making few plays last year. The additions of Amari Cooper and Michael Crabtree, and his own development, have him as a true starting option. He was making aggressive throws, making excellent decisions against pressure and in checking down to good options. If anything, his numbers could have been better. There were two clear drops, another play where he stepped up in the pocket and would have hit a big play if the defender hadn’t grabbed the receiver, and other aggressive throws that were just off the hands. He’s owned in only 39% of leagues at CBS. That should change this week.

As with all my waiver wire columns, I’ll denote players according to likely availability, using ownership percentages in CBS leagues:

Shallow Leagues: owned in 50-70% of all leagues

Moderate Leagues: owned in 25-49%

Deep Leagues: owned in 24% or fewer

QUARTERBACKS

Shallow Leagues: Tyrod Taylor (60%) is another fallback option, as he is getting more comfortable as the starter and can give you rushing production.

Average and Deep Leagues: Michael Vick (4%) is past his prime but does have plenty of weapons to be at least a matchup consideration while Roethlisberger is out, with LeVeon Bell, Antonio Brown, and in one more week, Martavis Bryant to throw to.

Blake Bortles (24%) is going to get plenty of opportunities to throw and Allen Robinson is a good target. Not my favorite option but palatable.

Brandon Weeden (11%) put up decent numbers in the Dallas offense and is a matchup consideration.

RUNNING BACKS

Shallow and Average Leagues: Karlos Williams (49%) could get a start this week with LeSean McCoy’s injury. Williams has three touchdowns in three weeks and if McCoy is out, becomes a top 10 starting option this week with all the questions at the RB position.

Deep Leagues: Antonio Andrews (0%) of Tennessee is on a bye week, so he might come cheap as people forget about him. He unexpectedly got the most touches at running back. It’s clear that the staff does not prefer Sankey, and McCluster’s not a guy you want to get 10+ rush attempts a game. Andrews had two other big runs called back by injury, but was way more productive than Sankey on 14 carries and a TD. He’s a flex option as the power back in Tennessee.

Lance Dunbar (26%) is a PPR machine for Dallas. Bilal Powell (22%) is a flex play if Ivory is still limited. Thomas Rawls (0%) got double digit carries for the Seahawks with Marshawn Lynch hurting. If they decide to sit Lynch this week, Rawls becomes a flex play, likely to be part of a platoon with Fred Jackson.

WIDE RECEIVERS

Shallow Leagues: Michael Crabtree (66%) while he didn’t have a big week, I like the situation for Crabtree to be a top 35 WR for the rest of the year in Oakland.

Average and Deep Leagues: Rishard Matthews (24%) is a clear starter in Miami, and caught two touchdowns. Ted Ginn (12%) is Cam’s primary option and comes available and cheap.

Targets through three weeks for Atlanta– Leonard Hankerson (29%) 20, Roddy White 9. Take a chance on Hankerson in this offense as Julio draws triple and “whole team” teams going forward.

Ty Montgomery (11%) is worth an add with Davante Adams trying to play hurt.

Kenny Britt (22%) leads the Rams with 17 targets this year and looks like the only WR to own in St. Louis.

Marvin Jones (26%) is #2 in Cincinnati and the passing game looks better with him back. Rueben Randle (30%) finally had a good game and there is no certainty with Victor Cruz so he’s another one worth adding.

TIGHT ENDS

Shallow Leagues: Eric Ebron (56%) is the best option followed by Jared Cook (63%).

Average Leagues: Ladarius Green (34%) should be back from concussion this week, and gets one more start before Antonio Gates’ suspension ends.

Deep Leagues: Gary Barnidge (1%) showed signs of life in Cleveland, and it’s not like there are a host of options ahead of him.

IMMEDIATE IMPACT

Derek Carr, QB OAK
Karlos Williams, RB BUF
Michael Crabtree, WR OAK
Ted Ginn, WR CAR
Eric Ebron, TE DET
Ladarius Green, TE SD
Antonio Andrews, RB TEN (bye this week, then starting option)
Tyrod Taylor, QB BUF
Rishard Matthews, WR MIA
Leonard Hankerson, WR ATL
Rueben Randle, WR NYG
Michael Vick, QB PIT

LONG TERM IMPACT

Derek Carr, QB OAK
Michael Crabtree, WR OAK
Karlos Williams, RB BUF
Antonio Andrews, RB TEN
Ted Ginn, WR CAR
Eric Ebron, TE DET
Leonard Hankerson, WR ATL
Rueben Randle, WR NYG
Richard Matthews, WR MIA
Tyrod Taylor QB BUF

[images via USA Today Sports Images]