Fantasy Football Waiver Wire: Week 4 Pickups (2023)

Each week to start the 2023 season, the waiver wire has presented a pretty obvious player to pick up, whether because of opportunity or injury. Week 3 was no different, but now we’re starting to collect more actionable data about how teams are performing. With that, I’ll present players each week in different tiers of waiver wire adds starting with Week 4.

“Priority Adds” are players you should definitely be rostering. “Plug-Ins” are players you can start this week with some confidence. Lastly, “Stashes” are players who may not be producing now, but their value could significantly increase, whether by an injury ahead of them on the depth chart or playing their way into the starting lineup as the season progresses. 

As always, the players below are rostered in fewer than 50% of ESPN leagues. 

Fantasy Football Waiver Wire: Week 4 Pickups (2023)

(Rostership percentages courtesy of ESPN)

Priority Adds:

Josh Palmer (WR, Los Angeles Chargers) | 0.7% Rostered

Unfortunately, Chargers WR Mike Williams went down late in the game on Sunday. Based on analysis from David J. Chao, there’s significant concern that Williams’ season is in jeopardy. With that, Josh Palmer stepped up and saw seven targets (though he was already largely on the field in three WR sets) for four catches, 66 yards and a score. That score was a bit flukey and off the defender’s hands, but nevertheless, Palmer was in position. Many fantasy managers will flock to rookie teammate Quentin Johnston (rostered in 46% of leagues and more of a stash candidate), but Palmer has been running ahead of Johnston the entire season, including through training camp. Could Johnston emerge? Sure. But I’m betting on the player already showing rapport with QB Justin Herbert. 

Tank Dell (WR, Houston Texans) | 22.5% Rostered

After a stat line 7/72/1 last week, I thought WR Tank Dell would break the 50% rostered threshold. Somehow, Dell didn’t, and his line this week was even more impressive. Dell saw seven targets, hauling in five of them for 145 yards and a score. In his two starts, Dell has earned at least a 23% target share, and rookie QB C.J. Stroud currently has the fourth-most pass attempts among all QBs. Dell can contribute to your fantasy squad immediately and should be rostered everywhere after the Waiver Wire for Week 4 clears.

Jameis Winston (QB, New Orleans Saints) | 0.1% Rostered

Here is another player rostered in fewer than 1% of leagues! This may be the only time multiple players with such low rostership make it to the “priority add” section. But Jameis Winston is a player you should add after starting QB Derek Carr went down to injury in Week 3. While it’s unknown exactly how much time Carr will miss, it’s likely to be in the category of weeks rather than days. Winston has shown QB1 upside throughout his career when given the reigns as the starting signal caller. He should be your pivot if you were starting Carr or the likes of Kenny Pickett, Sam Howell, Ryan Tannehill or Zach Wilson. Particularly in 2QB or superflex leagues, Winston is very valuable, and I’d be starting him in my lineups next week with optimism. 

De’Von Achane (RB, Miami Dolphins) | 15.6% Rostered

The Miami Dolphins erupted on Sunday for 70 points. Collectively, the Dolphins rushed for 350 yards and five touchdowns. Rookie RB De’Von Achane contributed 203 yards and two touchdowns on the ground. He also added four catches for 30 yards and another two touchdowns through the air. Achane was dynamic, explosive and unstoppable. The Miami run game has proven valuable since Mike McDaniel took over. While I expect RB Raheem Mostert to lead the way in this backfield (he also had four TDs on Sunday), Miami has often used more than one RB, and they’ll surely want to here, given Mostert’s age and injury history. Jeff Wilson Jr. is looming on Injured Reserve (IR) and could make this RB room messy upon his return, but Achane should be rostered everywhere. He’s the top add at the RB position on the waiver wire in Week 4. 

Plug-Ins

Romeo Doubs (WR, Green Bay Packers) | 27.2% Rostered

Anytime a player has three touchdowns in three games, we should take notice. That’s precisely what Romeo Doubs has done to start his 2023 campaign. With WR Christian Watson sidelined through the first three weeks, Doubs has been a significant contributor for the Packers, including drawing 12 targets this past week. Over the next three weeks, the Packers will play the Detroit Lions on “Thursday Night Football,” followed by the Las Vegas Raiders and the Denver Broncos. The Packers are set up to smash, and Doubs should have every opportunity to continue being a difference-maker.

Jake Ferguson  (TE, Dallas Cowboys) | 19.4% Rostered

The TE position is probably a revolving door on your roster unless you have Taylor Swift’s boyfriend, Travis Kelce. Thus, Cowboys TE Jake Ferguson is a player you can pick up and start this week if needed. Ferguson had seven targets in two of his three starts this season, and he looks like he might be carving out the Dalton Schultz-role of years past. If you can’t chase ceiling at the TE spot, chase volume. Ferguson should be a mid-priority option on the waiver wire in Week 4 if you need help at the position.

Stashes

Marvin Mims (WR, Denver Broncos) | 8.6% Rostered

You’ve probably already asked yourself this, but what are the Denver Broncos doing? Marvin Mims ran 11 routes on Sunday in a game where QB Russell Wilson had a season-high 38 pass attempts. Mims drew five targets, catching three for 73 yards. In Week 2, Mims caught both of his targets from Wilson for over 100 yards and a score. Mims seems to be the field-stretcher the Broncos drafted him to be, and the Broncos simply aren’t putting him on the field for a full complement of snaps, or at least not yet. If Mims keeps producing, it will be hard for Sean Payton and company to ignore. He’s worth a spot at the end of your bench and could be considered a fill-in if you’re in a pinch. 

Zach Charbonnet (RB, Seattle Seahawks) | 40.7% Rostered

Rookie RB Zach Charbonnet played 44% of snaps against the Carolina Panthers in Week 3, the most he’s seen in a game thus far. For context, the Seahawks dominated the Panthers most of the day, and the game was well in hand late. Still, it’s encouraging to see Charbonnet on the field and getting opportunities. He carried the ball nine times for 46 yards and nearly had a touchdown after stiff-arming a defender into a different universe. Charbonnet and fellow RB Kenneth Walker rushed for over five Yards Per Carry (YPC) against the Carolina Panthers. Walker is still the lead back, but Charbonnet is showing progress. If Walker were to miss time, Charbonnet is a player who could have league-winning upside.  He’s rostered in a decent amount of leagues already, but worth a look on the waiver wire in Week 4 if not.

Tyjae Spears (RB, Tennessee Titans) | 15.7% Rostered

RB Tyjae Spears had more snaps than fellow RB Derrick Henry for the second time this season. The Titans clearly trust Spears to have him out on the field that much. Tennessee was down most of the day to the Cleveland Browns and their stingy defense. Spears’ time on the field could be a product of the game script, which doesn’t bode well for Henry managers. Collectively, Henry and Spears ran for 26 yards against the Browns. Let’s chalk this up to a bad day and a bad matchup for the Titans. Spears did draw four targets but only produced three yards on those touches. The rookie has flashed throughout the season and could be a significant fantasy contributor should Derrick Henry miss any time.

Thanks for reading my favorite fantasy football waiver wire Week 4 pickups. Looking for more fantasy football advice? Follow me on Twitter @ThatMattKelley.

*Photo Credit: Morgan Tencza – USA TODAY Sports*