Fantasy Football 2022 Week 4 Waiver Wire Pickup Advice

Is your fantasy team in need of new blood? Each week I’ll bring to you the best pickups to make ahead of the waiver deadline. All the players I list will be owned in fewer than 50 percent of leagues, with the roster percentages coming from Yahoo.com.

Quarterbacks

Marcus Mariota, Falcons (22% Rostered): Some fantasy managers are really hurting at QB, with guys like Aaron Rodgers and Tom Brady feeling the effects of their depleted receiving corps, Dak Prescott on the shelf with a bum thumb, and Russell Wilson just….playing horribly. If you’re looking for help, Mariota might be able to cure your ills. He hasn’t been a prolific thrower for Atlanta, but he has rushed for two touchdowns in three games, and he’s tied for the fourth-most rushing attempts in the NFL among QBs. He has some tough matchups on the slate, but his rushing ability and frequency establish a floor similar to guys like Rodgers and Brady right now, while his ceiling is actually higher.

Running Backs

Khalil Herbert, Bears (50% Rostered): Herbert is easily the top add of the week after absolutely gashing the Texans for 157 yards and two touchdowns after David Montgomery left the game early with an injury. Herbert has often looked like the superior, more electric option in this backfield and likely guaranteed himself a larger role even when Montgomery is back. For the time being, he’s got RB1 upside with Montgomery out and upcoming games vs. the Giants, Vikings and Commanders.

Justice Hill, Ravens (0% Rostered): Aside from Herbert, it’s a light week on waivers for RBs. Hill is by no means a must-add, but he does seem to be the next man up in this backfield behind J.K. Dobbins. Hill flashed for 60 yards on six carries vs. New England, and he has real receiving chops. His role is too small to be trusted in lineups right now, but if Dobbins were to get hurt again, Hill is probably the back to have.

Jaylen Warren, Steelers (9% Rostered): Like Hill, Warren is no must-add. He is, however, a clear-cut handcuff to Najee Harris in a league where the handcuffs are rarely this obvious. Harris managers should consider snapping him up, because even in a low-output offense with a bad offensive line, those touches are valuable.

Wide Receivers

Greg Dortch, Cardinals (18% Rostered): Dortch has drawn nine or more targets twice in three games, and has produced 55 or more yards in each game. The impending return of Rondale Moore could relegate Dortch to a lesser role in this offense, or render him non-existent, but at this juncture he has already produced more than Moore has in his career. If Moore returns this week, it’s probably best to avoid starting Dortch just to see how the offense shapes up, but Dortch is absolutely worth an add as depth for when the bye weeks start ravaging rosters.

Romeo Doubs, Packers (27% Rostered): Green Bay is aching for a receiver to step up and be a dynamic option for Aaron Rodgers beyond Allen Lazard, who is pretty limited to big-body, possession receiver stuff. Doubs saw his snap rate jump to 89% in Week 3 vs, a tough Buccaneers defense, and he responded by catching all eight of his targets for 73 yards and a touchdown. Doubs showed what all the hype this preseason was about, and he has some appealing matchups on the slate for the next three weeks, all at home vs. the Patriots, Giants and Jets.

Treylon Burks, Titans (45% Rostered): After a preseason full of negativity, Burks is seeing his snap rate slowly rise. He hasn’t produced meaningfully yet, but the eye test results say Burks is Tennessee’s best pass-catcher. He’s very clearly not on A.J. Brown’s level as a rookie, so Burks’ ceiling is limited based on his own ability, as well as the low-scoring nature of this offense. But as the season progresses and Burks improves, he looks like he’ll be a capable fill-in in the near future.

Joshua Palmer, Chargers (27% Rostered): Palmer has been heavily targeted in the absence of Keenan Allen, and he finally popped in Week 3 with a six-catch, 99-yard performance. Palmer could see those targets – and his 90%+ snap rate – go back down upon Allen’s return, but even in Week 1 Palmer was on the field for 75% of the Chargers’ snaps. He won’t be reliable for production, but he’s very capable of big plays, and he has a QB in Justin Herbert who will give him deep chances. Fantasy managers can do worse for an emergency FLEX option.

Isaiah McKenzie, Bills (42% Rostered): McKenzie is always going to be risky, because he’s one of many Bills skill players who can go HAM in any given week. He’s also capable of doing close to nothing. He’s hovering around being on the field for just half Buffalo’s plays, which kind of sucks, but he’s also scored twice in three weeks. Consider McKenzie in the Palmer tier of receivers whom you can play in a pinch, but you’d rather avoid.

Mack Hollins, Raiders (3% Rostered): Hollins had some moments in Miami last season, and now with the Raiders he has seen 18 targets in the last two games. Yes, Hunter Renfrow missed this one with a concussion, but he’s still getting Derek Carr’s attention despite Pro Bowlers in Darren Waller and Davante Adams sharing the field with him. He’s also produced, putting up 158 yards and a score against Tennessee in Week 3. I’m skeptical this high target share continues with such elite talents vying for looks in the same offense, but he’s warranted some consideration and perhaps a bench stash in deeper leagues.

Tight Ends

Tyler Conklin, Jets (22% Rostered): Conklin has seen seven or more targets in three consecutive games, which means he’s on the fantasy radar. Beware the QB switch, however, as it seems like Zach Wilson is ready to take the reins from Joe Flacco, the provider of Conklin’s targets. I’d try to look elsewhere if Wilson is back under center, just to see if his role is solidified no matter the QB, or if this is just a product of Flacco being a safer field general than Wilson.

Hayden Hurst, Bengals (21% Rostered): Hurst was a total dud vs. the Jets, but it was his first game in a Bengals uniform in which he saw fewer than seven targets. Joe Burrow wasn’t quite as under siege vs. Gang Green as he had been the two weeks prior, and so the quick safety valve passes weren’t flowing. They’ll be back against the Dolphins in Week 4, and likely moving forward, making Hurst a viable floor play.