Five fantasy football waiver wire targets for Week 4
USA TODAY Sports’ Jacob Camenker breaks down five fantasy football players to add, including Alvin Kamara, Ollie Gordon II, Braelon Allen, and more.
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Fantasy football managers likely entered Week 3 with a universal thought about the state of the running back position.
It’s quiet. Too quiet.
Whatever you know that age-old quote from, it always highlights imminent danger. Fantasy managers could sense that coming from a mile away at a running back position that had remained shockingly healthy through the first two weeks of the 2026 NFL season.
Sure enough, Week 3 of the 2026 NFL season saw numerous prominent running backs go down. Miami Dolphins star De’Von Achane went down with a season-ending ACL tear; New Orleans Saints starter Travis Etienne Jr. is dealing with a hamstring injury that will cause him to miss time; and the New York Jets’ No. 1 running back Breece Hall suffered a thigh injury that may sideline him.
Those results will prove devastating to fantasy football managers given the already thin nature of the running back market. Sure, many will delude themselves into thinking the injury replacements for those top backs can be effective, long-term fantasy assets.
But in reality, that carries the same energy as when those being crucified break into a rousing rendition of “Always Look on the Bright Side of Life” at the end of Monty Python’s “Life of Brian.”
That’s not to say those injury replacements should be ignored. They should still be rostered, especially if they are positioned to handle a high-volume workload.
Still, it’s important to temper expectations about such players. They may be RB1s on their depth charts, but that doesn’t mean they will be in fantasy. So don’t go crazy and waste all your resources to land them.
Here’s more to know about the fantasy football running back position entering Week 4 as the NFL season continues.
What we learned in fantasy football Week 4
Before we do a deep dive on running backs, let’s quickly recap the key takeaways from Week 4.
Michael Penix Jr. makes a difference for most of the Falcons. Fantasy managers who watched Drake London struggle with Cooper Rush were rewarded on “Thursday Night Football” in Week 3 when Penix returned. London racked up nine catches for a whopping 194 yards while looking every bit like the star most drafted him to be.
Elsewhere, Bijan Robinson enjoyed a 213-yard, two-touchdown outing. He and Brian Robinson Jr. (10 carries, 50 yards, one touchdown) benefited from the extra attention the Packers had to pay to the passing game with Penix in, which could signal future success for the Falcons.
The lone non-beneficiary? Kyle Pitts managed just one catch for five yards in Penix’s debut. Any similar output in Week 4 will have fantasy managers cutting ties with the player who was a league-winner for many in 2025; but even so, the Falcons’ offense clearly gets a massive boost from having a competent quarterback like Penix leading it.
Veteran backups can be trusted. Few expected Marcus Mariota and Case Keenum to enjoy quality fantasy weeks, but each put up good performances in relief of Jayden Daniels and Caleb Williams. Both Mariota and Keenum accounted for three touchdowns and established they are capable streamers, even against top defenses.
More importantly, both quarterbacks consistently connected with their weapons. Terry McLaurin had his best game of the season with Mariota at the helm while Luther Burden, Rome Odunze and Kalif Raymond all got a solid amount of opportunities with Keenum in.
With that in mind, fantasy managers can feel confident playing their top pass-catching weapons even if their starting quarterback is hurt – provided the team has a savvy, veteran backup.
The 49ers defense can be faded. Stop me if you’ve heard this before, but the 49ers are dealing with a lot of injuries this season. Most of the attention has gone to the offense, but San Francisco’s defensive line is particularly beleaguered and is currently without Nick Bosa.
As a result of those injuries, the 49ers defense struggled to contain the Cardinals’ offense in Week 3. Jacoby Brissett, Jeremiyah Love and Co. combined for 365 yards and 30 points against them while San Francisco managed just two sacks and no takeaways. That unit may continue to endure issues with Bosa and his fellow linemen out, so expect teams to enjoy success against the 49ers. That will bode well for the Denver Broncos in Week 4.
Ashton Jeanty’s ceiling may be lower than anticipated. Some thought the addition of center Tyler Linderbaum and the arrival of coach Klint Kubiak would provide Jeanty with an opportunity to break out. Instead, he has struggled to consistently produce through three weeks and is averaging just 2.6 yards per carry against teams not named the Dolphins.
Could Jeanty eventually figure things out? Sure, but he’s running out of time. Kubiak seems to be finding a rhythm with the Raiders’ passing game, as Kirk Cousins has turned back the clock and thrown three touchdowns in each of his first three games. Kubiak may be content to lean on that passing game – or at least give the more explosive-looking Mike Washington Jr. more carries if Jeanty remains inefficient.
Which injury replacement running back is the best to target?
OK, so let’s pivot to the main question on the minds of fantasy football managers with issues at running back. Who is the best option to target among the injury replacements?
A case can be made for Ollie Gordon II, who is set to be the next man up at running back for the Dolphins with Achane out. However, he will likely see competition for touches from Jaylen Wright (when healthy) and plays for a Miami offense that is averaging a league-low 12 points per game.
Alvin Kamara will also be a familiar name fantasy managers may gravitate toward. The Saints veteran was once a top-tier fantasy producer and figures to have solid PPR value as Etienne remains sidelined. That said, Kendre Miller will also get plenty of touches, so the carry split may end up being more frustrating than many hope.
All that’s to say that Jets running back Braelon Allen looks like the best option to roster. He should have a relatively clear path to the bell cow role in New York’s offense as long as Hall remains out. The 6-1, 235-pound running back has the size needed to be a goal-line threat and, while he is only averaging 3.2 yards per carry, Allen has a decent Week 4 matchup upcoming against a Bears defense that is allowing 117 rushing yards per game this season.
Perhaps the most important part of Allen’s candidacy as the top injury replacement is his lack of competition for touches. Could Isaiah Davis take snaps away from him? Sure, and he is especially threatening to do so in obvious passing situations.
But even so, Davis has yet to place an offensive snap through the first three weeks of the season. That will seemingly set him up to have a bit role, at most, behind Allen.
The one variable with Allen’s outlook is that the extent of Hall’s injury remains unclear. If he returns quickly, Allen may only end up being a multi-week rental who retains RB2 upside for a very short period.
Even so, desperate fantasy managers should be willing to push a lot of chips in to try and get Allen. He has the biggest upside among injury-replacement running backs and could even remain a touchdown-dependent flex option once Hall returns.
Another sneaky running back to target via trade
Much has been made of the Seattle Seahawks’ backfield to start the 2026 NFL season. Many thought Jadarian Price, a first-round rookie from Notre Dame, would quickly establish himself as the leader within that rotation. Instead, he has been in a frustrating time-share with Emanuel Wilson and George Holani through three weeks.
Price’s struggles are creating a buy-low opportunity for fantasy managers. That said, his two fumbles on 32 touches may leave him in Mike Macdonald’s doghouse, so even at a bargain-barrel price (no pun intended), the Notre Dame product would be a risky acquisition.
The better move would be to target Zach Charbonnet in a trade. The fourth-year veteran is flying under the radar while recovering from a torn ACL, but Price’s struggles could give the 25-year-old a rosy fantasy football outlook for when he returns.
Charbonnet has never been overly efficient during his career, but last season, he racked up 730 yards and 12 touchdowns on 184 carries. And most importantly, he has never fumbled across 522 touches, so Macdonald will likely be willing to trust him with critical work upon his return.
At the very least, Charbonnet should have flex appeal upon his return. Even if he’s limited as he gets his legs back under him, he remains likely to be the team’s top goal-line back. Over time, he could become a volume-based RB2 if Price can’t win enough of Macdonald’s trust.
Charbonnet remains without a clear timeline for return, so that’s driving down his price tag. Those willing and able to be patient could eventually reap the rewards of getting him on the cheap and adding extra depth to their lineups.
Best buy-low trade candidates
As mentioned, Price can probably be gotten cheap after his woeful start to the campaign. It wouldn’t be advisable to spend much for him, but hey, the Seahawks thought enough of him to make him a first-round selection. That has to count for something, right?
Those looking for a bigger, buy-low target can turn their attention toward Jeanty. The second-year back has struggled badly outside of his Week 1 game against the Miami Dolphins, and that may be leading his fantasy managers to panic about his efficiency, or lack thereof.
That said, Jeanty is still getting a high volume of touches and remains a quality touchdown threat. He also has been targeted 16 times through three games, so he has a relatively high floor. He’s worth targeting as a volume-based RB2 who could likely be had for a lower-end RB and a mid-tier WR in a two-for-one deal.
Finally, if you are desperate for help at quarterback, chasing Drake Maye isn’t a bad idea. The third-year quarterback has been dreadful through three weeks, recording just one touchdown compared to seven interceptions, but he has bounce-back potential – if you’re willing to be patient.
Odds are the manager holding Maye spent an early-round selection on the Patriots quarterback. They may be frustrated with his poor production and may be willing to move on from him for pennies on the dollar.
Any manager considering acquiring Maye will need a solid alternative to start until the 24-year-old quarterback figures things out. But as he showed during his MVP runner-up campaign last season, Maye can be a dual-threat asset. Stashing him on the bench and seeing if he can regain his form would be a fine move for a team that’s thin at quarterback.
The FAAB Five
These players don’t necessarily need to be picked up before NFL Week 4, but keep an eye on them as potential FAAB spend-ups and waiver targets after the games.
All roster percentages via Yahoo Fantasy.
- QB Kirk Cousins, Raiders (14% rostered). Cousins has posted at least three passing touchdowns in each of his first three games with the Raiders. He has a tough Week 4 matchup against the Chiefs, but he may be required to throw a lot over a four-game stretch that also includes matchups against the Bills, Patriots and Rams.
- RB Mike Washington Jr., Raiders (31% rostered). While Jeanty has struggled to open the season, Washington – a fourth-round rookie – has been explosive, averaging 6.8 yards per carry on 15 totes and notching a touchdown. Don’t be surprised if he starts to earn more work moving forward.
- RB Jarquez Hunter, Dolphins (0% rostered). OK, let’s get a little crazy. Ollie Gordon II and Jaylen Wright will get a lot of attention as the Dolphins’ top running backs with Achane out, but Hunter could land a role. The practice squad player seems likely to be elevated into the third-string role and could back up Gordon if Wright (stinger, foot) isn’t ready to return in Week 4. Hunter has never handled an NFL carry but the Auburn product was a fourth-round pick by the Rams in 2025. He has potential and could get some run for a sputtering Dolphins team.
- WR Tre’ Harris, Chargers (4% rostered). Harris is coming off a productive game with six catches and 76 yards and saw 16 targets across the first three weeks of the season. The Chargers’ offense isn’t fun right now, but they need someone to step up and develop chemistry with Justin Herbert. Perhaps Harris is that guy.
- TE Darren Waller, Panthers (14% rostered). Among all these players, Waller is the best one to pick up this week. He gets a favorable Week 4 matchup with a Lions defense that has allowed the most fantasy points per game (FPPG) to tight ends this year. Don’t be surprised if he has a big game and catches a touchdown.
Full fantasy football Week 4 rankings
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