Fantasy: Waiver Wire - Week 4

Every Tuesday during the season, theScore's NFL editors run down the recommended waiver wire pickups.

Ownership percentages are based on Yahoo! leagues. FAAB bids are set at a $100 budget.

Quarterback

Alex Smith, Chiefs

Through three weeks of play, Smith ranks in the top ten in the NFL in passing yards and only Tom Brady has thrown for more touchdowns. If you're an owner still seeking a fill-in until Andrew Luck returns, or perhaps a replacement for disappointing draft pick like Cam Newton, Smith should be your first choice.

Tyrod Taylor, Bills

Despite losing his top receivers from a year ago, Taylor looks like exactly the same player he's been since arriving in Western New York: an efficient, if unsexy, passer who is capable of fringe QB1 production in any given week but whose upside simply doesn't warrant carrying him on your roster as anything more more than a streaming option.

Deshaun Watson, Texans

Watson should only be added in deep leagues or keeper/dynasty formats, but it can't be overlooked how cool and collected he was in a tough spot on the road in New England, nearly leading his Texans to a massive upset while throwing for 301 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions, and adding eight rushes for 41 yards. Watson appears to be the real deal and could put up borderline QB1 fantasy stats with a string of three straight home games coming up.

Running Back

Wendell Smallwood, Eagles

With news that Darren Sproles suffered a torn ACL in addition to a broken arm in Week 3, Smallwood is in line for a much bigger role in the Eagles' offense. But don't pencil him in as starter, as LeGarrette Blount rehabilitated his reputation in Philly in a hurry Sunday, running strong between the tackles for 67 yards and a touchdown. Smallwood could potentially carve out a bigger role in this timeshare than Blount, but he's unlikely to get valuable goal-line work. Don't blow your FAAB bankroll to add Smallwood.

Alvin Kamara, Saints

Still owned in less than 50 percent of fantasy leagues, Kamara is a player who might be teetering on the verge of a bigger role not only due to his own relatively impressive showing through three weeks, but also Adrian Peterson's complete lack of sizzle. The Saints would be wise to cut bait on Peterson and move ahead with a one-two punch of Mark Ingram and Kamara. Fantasy owners would be wise to add the talented rookie wherever he's available.

Jamaal Charles, Broncos

C.J. Anderson out-carried Charles 25 to 9 in Week 2 and seemed to seize a bellcow role in the process, but Charles' nine carries in Week 3 was surprisingly one more than Anderson logged. Left for dead by fantasy drafters this summer, Charles has shown signs of life and it's not out of the question he will continue to split 50-50 with Anderson and perhaps even grab a bigger piece of the pie.

D'Onta Foreman, Texans

It almost feels inevitable that the rookie Foreman will soon play an even larger role for the Texans than he has through three games. Head coach Bill O'Brien spoke openly about lessening the load on Lamar Miller this season and has backed that talk up by giving Foreman double-digit touches in two straight games. One of these tailbacks is built to be a workhorse and the other a complement. Before the end of the year, this depth chart could be flipped upside down.

Duke Johnson, Browns

Looking like a more dynamic weapon than starter Isaiah Crowell this season, Johnson could be in for increased work out of the backfield. Even if he remains below Crowell is the pecking order for carries, the Browns have such a lack of receiving talent that Johnson could approach FLEX value merely from his work out of the slot.

Orleans Darkwa, Giants

As rumored, Darkwa saw increased usage in the Giants' backfield in Week 3 at the expense of Paul Perkins. The problem is that Darkwa's seven carries amount to a mere 22 yards. This is a backfield to avoid unless you're desperate.

Alex Collins, Ravens

Terrance West produced a mere 26 yards on six carries after entering Week 3 with a questionable tag due to a calf injury. More importantly, he fumbled. That opened the door for Collins, who rushed nine times for 82 yards. Javorius Allen remains the Ravens tailback to own, and with All-Pro guard Marshal Yanda out for the season it's debatable whether fantasy owners should want any part of this backfield, but Collins is worth a look in deep leagues.

Elijah McGuire, Jets

If you're so desperate for running back help you're considering adding a Jet, McGuire is probably the guy you want. Matt Forte and Bilal Powell have shown nothing this season and McGuire at least has youth on his side.

Wide Receiver

Paul Richardson, Seahawks

Richardson's inclusion at the top of this list has as much to do with extraneous factors as it does his own performance. Yes, Richardson has now scored a touchdown in consecutive games. But just as important to his fantasy value are the signs of life the Seahawks' passing attack showed in Week 3 and the groin injury suffered by Doug Baldwin. It's not a good week for wideouts on the waiver wire, but Richardson is worth a modest bid.

Sterling Shepard, Giants

Like Seattle's passing attack, the Giants finally got things moving through the air in Week 3. Odell Beckham Jr. exploded back onto the scene with two touchdowns and Brandon Marshall even made some plays. Shepard also reminded fantasy owners what he's capable of with a seven-catch, 133-yard performance, including a 77-yard touchdown late in the game. Shepard remains at best the second fiddle to Beckham in a passing attack that still needs work, but he's worth adding.

Allen Hurns, Jaguars

Hurns must wish the Jaguars could play their entire schedule in London, as he's now scored a touchdown in three straight games across the pond. His numbers will come back down to earth Stateside, but it appears Hurns, and not Marqise Lee, is the best Jaguars receiver to own in the wake of Allen Robinson's season-ending injury.

Devin Funchess, Panthers

Cam Newton looks like he forgot how to throw, so no Panthers receiver is a particularly valuable fantasy asset at the moment. But if you're fishing for help at wideout, Funchess may be worth adding on the cheap. He was targeted a career-high 10 times in Week 3, an expected outcome after Greg Olsen was lost to injury. The bad news is Funchess caught only four of those targets. Without better efficiency, he's a WR4 at best.

Taylor Gabriel, Falcons

Remember him? Gabriel made some noise with big-play touchdowns last year and got loose for a 40-yard touchdown in Week 3. He's a boom-or-bust play for owners in deep leagues, nothing more.

Geronimo Allison, Packers

Don't be seduced by Allison's 122-yard Week 3, including the highlight-reel play in overtime. Allison remains behind Jordy Nelson, Davante Adams, and Randall Cobb on the depth chart and will see his role reduced once all three receivers are healthy again. It could be a week or two before that happens, however, so perhaps Allison could approach FLEX value in the immediate future.

Jermaine Kearse, Jets

Kearse fell back to earth in Week 3 after scoring two touchdowns in Week 2. He's only worth a look in very deep leagues.

Tight End

Charles Clay, Bills

Clay has scored a touchdown in two of three games this season and is clearly a favorite target of Tyrod Taylor, who simply doesn't have anyone better to throw to. Clay is a decent bet to score again in Week 4.

Jared Cook, Raiders

Cook, not Amari Cooper or Michael Crabtree, was the only Raiders pass-catcher who did anything in Week 3. That won't be the case most weeks, but it's possible Cook will develop enough chemistry with Derek Carr to emerge as a viable options for owners who prefer to stream tight ends.

Evan Engram, Giants

Engram has been more productive than most fantasy analysts expected, but there are too many mouths to feed in the Giants' meager passing attack for owners to trust the rookie as a starter just yet. He's worth stashing in deep leagues and could emerge as a spot starter or trade bait at some point this season.

Benjamin Watson, Ravens

Watson scored six touchdowns and was a useful fantasy asset two seasons ago, but that was with Drew Brees as his quarterback. With Joe Flacco throwing him passes now, Watson is nothing more than a streamer.

(Photos courtesy: Action Images)