Week 4 is here and the injury wave is only growing stronger. Fantasy football managers are already feeling the grind of replacing key starters while chasing upside on the waiver wire. One week you’re celebrating a breakout, the next you’re scrambling to patch holes in your lineup.
This week’s injury spotlight is centered on several big names across positions. CeeDee Lamb and Mike Evans both suffered setbacks that could shake up the WR1 and WR2 landscape. Tyrone Tracy Jr. is sidelined with a shoulder injury and veteran backs James Conner and Najee Harris also enter Week 4 on injured reserve, forcing managers to re-think depth charts and volume projections.
The waiver wire is once again the lifeline. Whether you’re searching for a plug-and-play wideout, a running back stepping into fresh opportunity, or a tight end who can take advantage of expanded routes, the right move this week could define your season.
Our Week 4 guide highlights the players to prioritize, realistic FAAB bids, and the strategies that will help you survive the chaos. These are the decisions that separate contenders from pretenders, and every pickup counts toward the playoff push.
Quarterbacks
Daniel Jones (QB – IND): 30.0% Rostered | Last Week: QB11
For the third straight week, Jones finds himself on this list and hopefully the last. With the current quarterback injury chaos, he should already be rostered everywhere. On Sleeper he is at 97 percent rostership, but Yahoo and ESPN lag behind at 30 percent and just 4 percent. If he is still available in your league, stop overthinking it and grab him.
Marcus Mariota (QB – WAS): 5.9% Rostered | Last Week: QB6
Mariota is only worth adding if Jayden Daniels ends up missing more time. Over the past year, he has somehow recorded three top ten fantasy finishes despite starting just once. When called upon in Washington, he has produced. If Daniels sits, Mariota makes sense as a short term plug in for needy managers.
Carson Wentz (QB – MIN): 2.1% Rostered | Last Week: QB13
Carson stays on the list again this week after a solid showing. Wentz looked sharp in his first start with the Vikings, and the offense should get a boost once Jordan Addison returns from suspension. Even without JJ McCarthy, Minnesota appears to have enough firepower to remain competitive.
Running Backs
Trey Benson (RB – ARI): 54.7% Rostered | Last Week: RB33
With James Conner lost for the season, Trey Benson steps in as the next man up in Arizona. He is expected to handle the majority of the workload, which is exactly why the Cardinals drafted him. Benson has the talent to succeed, and if you missed out on Conner, he should be your priority pickup.
Jeremy McNichols (RB – WAS): 1.4% Rostered | Last Week: RB17
No Washington running back has been impressive so far, and usage in this backfield has been messy. McNichols put up solid fantasy numbers last week, but 60 of his 78 yards came on a single run. Without that play and his touchdown, he would have barely scored two points. Rodriguez actually led the team in carries in Week 3, but he was a healthy scratch earlier in the year and did little with his touches. McNichols is only worth considering if you are truly desperate.
Wide Receivers
Elic Ayomanor (WR – TEN): 25.1% Rostered | Last Week: WR27
Ayomanor’s rostership has doubled since Week 1, and this might be your last chance to add him before his cost rises. While he has only 18 targets on the season, he has still outperformed Calvin Ridley. At this point, Ayomanor looks like the top receiving option in Tennessee moving forward.
Tyquan Thornton (WR – KC): 1.4% Rostered | Last Week: WR15
Thornton has quietly ranked as the WR15 over the past three weeks. With Xavier Worthy sidelined, Rashee Rice suspended, and Travis Kelce struggling, Thornton has emerged as the second most targeted player behind Hollywood Brown. His role will likely shrink once Worthy and Rice return, but for now he is a strong short-term play.
Tight Ends
Oronde Gadsden II (TE – LAC): 1.0% Rostered | Last Week: TE14
Unless you play dynasty, you may not know Oronde Gadsen II, but he is a tight end to target this week. If Will Dissly remains out, the Chargers could continue to give Gadsen a bigger role. He earned seven targets on just a 26 percent snap share in Week 3, which shows the coaching staff trusts him. That type of usage points to more opportunities coming soon.
