Fantasy Football Waiver Wire, Week 4: a New Jordan in Chicago

The Jeremy Langford era may be over, just a few games in to the first season A.M.F. (after Matt Forte). Langford struggled, and is on my list of the five players you can drop, even before he suffered what appears to be a high ankle sprain. Jordan Howard (34%) didn’t play at all in week 1, but has almost as many yards as Langford on the season after he performed really well on Sunday night.

It should be Howard’s job to lose in Chicago, so full steam ahead on making him your top pick this week. Last week, there was a lot of injury uncertainty and possible platoon situations replacing injured backs. I don’t expect that here if Howard plays well. KaDeem Carey should stay as the backup.

Here are the rest of the waiver wire recommendations for each position, in shallow leagues (owned in 67% or fewer), average leagues (owned in 50% or fewer), or deep leagues (owned in 33% or fewer).

QUARTERBACKS

Shallow: Joe Flacco (63%) has a very favorable matchup this week going against Oakland. Before the Raiders held down Mariota and a limited passing game in Tennessee, Oakland had been decimated by Drew Brees and Matt Ryan. With Flacco’s arm and downfield options, he is a QB1 to produce some big passing plays this week.

Average: Carson Wentz (39%) is on a bye week this week, but if your starter spot is set for Week 4, he definitely merits being on a roster as a platoon option going forward.

Deep: Trevor Siemian (13%) has weapons in Denver, and with a matchup against the porous Bucs’ defense, he is startable this week, especially with some big names facing some tough matchups (Roethlisberger vs KC, Eli Manning vs. MIN, Matt Ryan vs CAR).

If you are desperate, watch the injury reports on Jay Cutler (18%), because whoever starts against Detroit at home–either Cutler or Hoyer–is a sneaky matchup play.

RUNNING BACKS

Shallow: Cameron Artis-Payne (54%) RB27 got more carries last week, Whittaker had more catches and the two finished with a similar number of yards. The matchup opens up this week with Atlanta, after facing the Vikings D last week. Both backs are lower end starting options, particularly in flex leagues.

Average: Dwayne Washington (49%) had 10 carries, matching Theo Riddick (though Riddick continued to put up great receiving numbers as well). Washington should be a flex matchup starting option, and with a game against the Bears, he moves up the rankings this week.

It’s probably time to add Kenneth Dixon (35%) if he is still available. He should return to practice on a limited basis soon, work his way back into the lineup, and become the top back in Baltimore over the next month. He can easily supplant Justin Forsett (who the team cut and re-signed), who produced 10 yards on 5 catches last week. He has the upside to do even more than Forsett and become a weekly starting option if healthy.

DeAndre Washington (38%) and Jalen Richard (13%) have both carved out roles, been productive, and Latavius Murray is getting less than half the total carries in Oakland now. They aren’t there yet, but both could be good risks to break out and surpass Murray in touches.

Deep: Orleans Darkwa (2%) should be a flex option with the Shane Vereen injury news. It’s a tough matchup against the Vikings but Rashad Jennings is coming back from the hand injury and Darkwa should see plenty of work.

Wendell Smallwood (0%) looked really good with Ryan Mathews limited by an ankle injury. The Eagles have a bye and early word is “day-to-day” for Mathews, but this could become a committee situation anyway.

WIDE RECEIVERS

Shallow and Average: Terrelle Pryor (27%) has been targeted 31 times this year. He has run the ball. He has played some QB out of necessity. Ride the wave and pick him up, because even though Josh Gordon will be back in a week, Pryor has earned major playing time.

Quincy Enunwa (57%) is the third option on a team with no tight end, and last week was targeted 11 times with Brandon Marshall limited. He is clearly a big enough part of this passing game to merit a look.

Steve Smith (49%) showed that he still has something left last week, both on the field and in the yelling at young players department.

Chris Hogan (44%) isn’t startable this week with all the uncertainty, but New England is a week away from Tom Brady. I think he will be a value once Touchdown Tom returns.

Kevin White (50%) has a good matchup with Darius Slay likely covering Alshon Jeffery, and is startable in deep leagues.

Deep: Kenny Britt (17%) continues to be the top option for the offensively challenged Rams.

Jamison Crowder (12%) is tied for the team lead in targets in Washington and is a PPR add.

TIGHT ENDS

Average: Zach Miller (38%) against Detroit is the matchup play this week if you don’t get Hunter Henry.

Deep: Hunter Henry (27%) had a key fumble that ended the Chargers’ chances in the last game at Indianapolis, but finished with 5 catches and 76 yards. Antonio Gates has a muscle injury and is no spring chicken, so his absence or ineffectiveness may linger. Oh, and this week is a great matchup against the Saints.

Austin Sefarian-Jenkins was cut by the team after his DUI arrest on Friday. Cameron Brate (3%), who was splitting time with Sefarian-Jenkins, responded with two touchdowns on Sunday and becomes a Top 20 weekly option, though he’ll have better matchups in the future than this one against the Broncos.

Overall recommendations:

SHALLOW LEAGUES

RB Jordan Howard, CHI
WR Terrelle Pryor, CLE
TE Hunter Henry, SD
RB Dwayne Washington, DET
RB Kenneth Dixon, BAL
RB Cameron Artis-Payne, CAR
RB Orleans Darkwa, NYG
RB DeAndre Washington, OAK
QB Joe Flacco, BAL
QB Trevor Siemian, DEN

AVERAGE LEAGUES

RB Jordan Howard, CHI
WR Terrelle Pryor, CLE
TE Hunter Henry, SD
RB Dwayne Washington, DET
RB Kenneth Dixon, BAL
RB Orleans Darkwa, NYG
RB DeAndre Washington, OAK
QB Trevor Siemian, DEN
QB Carson Wentz, PHI
WR Steve Smith, BAL

DEEP LEAGUES

WR Terrelle Pryor, CLE
TE Hunter Henry, SD
RB Orleans Darkwa, NYG
QB Trevor Siemian, DEN
TE Cameron Brate, TB
WR Kenny Britt, LA
RB Jalen Richard, OAK
WR Jamison Crowder, WAS
QB Jay Cutler, CHI
RB Wendell Smallwood, PHI