Fantasy Football Waiver Wire, Week 4: Blake Bortles and Teddy Bridgewater Make First Starts on a Big Bye Week

The bye weeks are here, and they start with a bang. This week, 6 teams will be on bye: Arizona, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Denver, St. Louis, and Seattle. This takes out Peyton Manning, Russell Wilson, and Andy Dalton, as well as starting running backs and several prominent receivers and tight ends. Many teams will be scrambling to fill those spots, as injuries are also mounting around the league.

Because of the bye weeks, you may not have the luxury of seeing what Blake Bortles and Teddy Bridgewater can do. In a vacuum, I would take them over the bottom quarter of starters anyway, when options include the Tampa Bay situation, the Tennessee mess, or anyone involved in the Oakland/Miami game. Neither is a top 15 start this week, but both are worth a pickup in an emergency, and to monitor over the rest of the season. Both also have decent matchups if you are desperate.

As always, I list pickups by shallow (owned in between 50% and 67% of leagues), averaged (25-50%) and deep (less than 25% owned) leagues.

QUARTERBACK

Shallow and Average: Eli Manning (49%) going against Washington on Thursday is probably the best of the veteran options that could be sitting out there. Washington wasn’t really challenged until last week against Foles, and has lots of injuries, including losing DeAngelo Hall.

Deep: The aforementioned Blake Bortles (14%) and Teddy Bridgewater (12%) will be popular pickups to provide depth, and more wanted than the starters they are replacing. They also have San Diego and Atlanta respectively this week, so matchups that are not disqualifying if you are desperate.

RUNNING BACKS

Lorenzo Taliaferro (10%) has an opportunity in Baltimore, as the ineffectual Bernard Pierce left the door open as he sat with an injury. Taliaferro got the majority of carries (18 vs. 11 for Forsett) and should be a flex option, at minimum, going forward. Taliaferro should be the number one option, as the news of his likely involvement emerged late last week, so that many leagues had closed transactions.

Shallow: Donald Brown (68%) doesn’t technically qualify, just barely, because he already saw a rise due to the Matthews injury. He could still be available in a shallow league and is the primary guy in San Diego with Danny Woodhead’s season ending injury. Bishop Sankey (66%) got 10 carries last week, matching Shonn Greene, after being far more limited in earlier games. Greene did get the only touchdown, but Sankey had almost double the yards. If you have been patient with Sankey, I suspect he will start getting the majority of carries soon.

Average: Alfred Blue (42%) is not worth a huge bid, but there is still the possibility that Arian Foster misses another game.

Deep: Roy Helu (20%) is a versatile enough option to begin with to consider in a PPR league, but on a short week, Alfred Morris will likely be on the injury report with a knee injury. Even if Morris plays, Helu could get enough touches to justify a flex start in more limited week of options.

Branden Oliver (1%) got only 3 carries last week, but let’s put it this way: Donald Brown shouldn’t be getting 31 carries in a game. I look for a more balanced split as they work Oliver into the mix, and he happens to draw a very good matchup against Jacksonville this week. Could be a sneaky flex start.

WIDE RECEIVERS

Jordan Matthews (39%) was the breakout star of week 3. Pick him up if he is available.

Shallow: Greg Jennings (52%) vs. Atlanta is your matchup play in shallow leagues. Hakeem Nicks (66%) is only worth a start if T.Y. Hilton is out, so that is a situation to monitor.

Meanwhile, I know it is a bye week, but if you have a roster spot that you don’t need to start this week, Brian Quick (51%) has clearly emerged as the best option in St. Louis and is a starting consideration going forward.

Average: Don’t forget about Cecil Shorts (49%) now that Bortles is starting and he is getting healthy. Someone’s got to catch the ball for Jacksonville, and they will be trailing.

Deep: Eddie Royal (8%) vs. Jacksonville is a start this week anyway, but he also leads the team in targets and could fill part of the role now missing with Danny Woodhead out.

Andre Roberts (4%) could be valuable if DeSean Jackson, who re-aggravated his shoulder injury, cannot go on a short week. Similarly, Jeremy Kerley (7%) becomes an option if Eric Decker is again limited.

TIGHT ENDS

The tight end position took a hit this week, with big injuries including Dennis Pitta being out for the year.

Shallow: Consider this my weekly promotion of Larry Donnell (62%), Travis Kelce (54%), and Dwayne Allen (54%) as options. I went with Allen in two leagues last week because of injuries.

Average: Owen Daniels (26%) becomes a starting option with the Pitta injury. Daniels may not be what he once was, but in this offense he should still get opportunities.

Ladarius Green (45%) had been non-existent until last week, adding 4 catches. This is a matchup move as Jacksonville has struggled against tight ends.

Deep: Keep an eye on Brandon Myers (4%) if Austin Sefarian-Jenkins is ruled out.

DEFENSES

Pittsburgh gets to face the woeful Bucs, San Diego hosts Jacksonville and rookie Blake Bortles in his first start , and the Indianapolis Colts get a Titans team that has been struggling.

OVERALL

Top 10 selections

Lorenzo Taliaferro
Jordan Matthews
Brian Quick (on a bye)
Eddie Royal
Cecil Shorts
Teddy Bridgewater
Blake Bortles
Travis Kelce
Dwayne Allen
Branden Oliver