Fantasy: Top waiver-wire pickups for Week 4

Finding studs on waivers is often the key to winning a fantasy championship. Check back every week to learn who is trending up.

Roster percentages are based on Sleeper leagues. Free-Agent Budget (FAB) amounts are based on a $100 salary cap. Only players rostered in less than 50% of leagues are considered.

Quarterbacks

QB Geno Smith, Raiders

Smith is a matchup-reliant quarterback poised to take advantage of a Bears defense that's allowed the fourth-most fantasy points to signal-callers through three weeks. Traditional stats also indicate this should be a positive matchup. Las Vegas' offense ranks seventh in passing yards per game (248) while Chicago's defense ranks 27th in passing yards allowed per game (247.7).

However, the Raiders' schedule after Week 4 is less quarterback-friendly, so keep your FAB offers reasonable and don't plan to continue starting Smith if you don't have to beyond this week. Matchups against the Colts, Titans, and Chiefs await after the Bears game, and all three teams are allowing fewer than 15 fantasy points per game to quarterbacks.

Other QBs to pick up:

• Marcus Mariota, Commanders (12%): Mariota was excellent against the Raiders, but Washington won't need him if Jayden Daniels can play. Don't hold onto the veteran if the reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year is back in action versus the Falcons.

• Carson Wentz, Vikings (8%): Wentz is worth a look if you really need a quarterback. He had a decent performance in the Vikings' blowout win over the Bengals, but he'll likely need to be in low-pressure game scripts to replicate that success while J.J. McCarthy works his way back from injury.

Running backs

RB Trey Benson, Cardinals

We have to break the 50% rostered rule for this one entry now that James Conner is done for the year with an ankle injury. Starting running backs are difficult to come by at this point of the season if you didn't draft them, but Benson should have a stranglehold on the starting job.

To this point in his career, Benson's been a solid backup who has been more valuable to the Cardinals than fantasy teams. However, he has all the physical attributes you could want in a lead back. He possesses good size at 6-feet and 220 pounds, great speed as evidenced by his 4.39-second 40-yard dash at the 2024 combine, and excellent lower-body explosiveness (a 33.5-inch vertical and 10-foot, 2-inch broad jump at the same event).

RB Miles Sanders, Cowboys

Sanders is unlikely to supplant Javonte Williams as Dallas' starter, but his offensive snap share has increased every week. Sanders will likely need blowouts (for or against the Cowboys) to get much usage moving forward. The majority of his work against the Bears came after Dallas was already down big. This recommendation is more of a handcuff play if Williams misses time since Sanders is the clear No. 2 back.

Other RBs to pick up:

• RB Blake Corum, Rams (28%): Corum has 97 rushing yards over the last two weeks. He'll be reliant on touchdowns so long as Kyren Williams is healthy.

• RB Chris Rodriguez Jr., Commanders (10%): Rodriguez broke off a big run for a touchdown in Week 3. He's unlikely to see a huge uptick in usage without another injury paving the way.

• Kenneth Gainwell, Steelers (34%): The Steelers appear committed to giving Jaylen Warren every chance to be the franchise's lead back, and Gainwell appears locked in as the team's clear RB2 right now. Gainwell could be worth a spot start as a flex if Warren misses any time.

• Emari Demercado and Bam Knight, Cardinals (0%): Neither running back has any rushing yards this season, though Demercado has logged two carries to Knight's one. Keep expectations low and stash them if you have the bench space.

Wide receivers

WR Tre Tucker, Raiders

Tucker exploded for 145 yards and three touchdowns on eight receptions in Week 3, but two of those scores came after the Raiders were already down big. The 24-year-old has now had one fine game, one poor game, and one elite game this season. He needs more consistency, but Las Vegas' schedule could help him.

The Raiders have a mix of below-average and excellent fantasy matchups for wide receivers coming up. Tucker faces a Bears team in Week 4 that's given up more points to the position than every team but the Cowboys. Tucker also gets the Cowboys in Week 11, the Giants (who rank third behind Chicago and Dallas) in Week 17, and several other positive matchups throughout the season.

WR Elic Ayomanor, Titans

First overall pick Cam Ward looks to be developing a rapport with Ayomanor. The 6-foot-2, 206-pound receiver has caught touchdowns in consecutive weeks and has seen at least five targets in every game. His yardage totals haven't been great, so don't rely on the Stanford product every week, but Titans receivers have a favorable upcoming schedule.

Tennessee's next four opponents have all given up more than 20 fantasy points per game to receivers, ranking in the bottom half of the league in points allowed to the position. Matchups with the Raiders and Patriots in Weeks 6 and 7, respectively, are especially enticing; both teams have allowed 27.1 fantasy points per game to receivers, ranking in the top five of points allowed to the position.

Other WRs to pick up:

• Tory Horton, Seahawks (8%): Horton has scored receiving touchdowns in back-to-back weeks and returned a punt for a score against the Saints. The rookie fifth-rounder should get more opportunities.

• Tyquan Thornton, Chiefs (7%): Thornton's fantasy point output has improved in each of the last three weeks. That's unlikely to keep happening once Xavier Worthy and Rashee Rice are back on the field, but Thornton deserves stash status in deeper leagues.

• KaVontae Turpin (5%)/Jalen Tolbert (2%): George Pickens should get a plethora of targets in Week 4 with CeeDee Lamb likely sidelined by an ankle injury, but it's worth adding a different Cowboys receiver in the event one of them earns a bigger role. Turpin is more likely to earn inconsistent but potentially explosive deep shots, while Tolbert should see more volume.

• WR Luther Burden III, Bears (25%): Like Rodriguez, Burden scored a long touchdown in Week 3. Head coach Ben Johnson may look to get the second-rounder more involved, but DJ Moore and Rome Odunze are locked in as the Bears' top receivers.

Tight ends

TE Hunter Henry, Patriots

Don't expect to be rewarded with an eight-catch, 90-yard, two-touchdown performance like the one he had against the Steelers every time, but Henry is playing enough snaps (81% or more in every game) and is involved enough (eight or more targets in two of three games) to be worth starting most weeks.

However, I wouldn't spend too much of your FAB on the veteran because his remaining schedule balances out as roughly average. He'll be reliant on touchdowns to post big numbers, but he should be more productive than most tight ends.

Other TEs to pick up:

• Cole Kmet, Bears (8%): Tight end remains a shallow position for fantasy purposes, so someone like Kmet who's played 90% or more of the offensive snaps in every game this season is worth considering. The 26-year-old is unlikely to be a consistent weekly starter, but he has a string of good matchups following the team's Week 5 bye.