Week 4 QB/TE Waiver Wire Targets: Sam Darnold, Dallas Goedert, Daniel Jones, Cole Kmet, Aaron Rodgers and More
Identifying some quarterback and tight end waiver wire targets as week 3 of the NFL season winds down.
Week 3 of the NFL season is just about in the books, and that means fantasy football owner’s minds will shift to week 4.
Let’s kick things off by talking about some waiver wire options between the quarterback and tight end positions.
Check out the top waiver wire options at each position every week. Explore the best in-season fantasy football tool to manage your team and get league rankings with the Fantasy Assistant. Use our trade analyzer and trade value charts to break down trade scenarios with Fair Trade ratings.
Quarterback Waiver Wire Options
Andy Dalton, Sam Darnold, Daniel Jones, Bo Nix, Justin Fields, Deshaun Watson, Caleb Williams, Geno Smith and Aaron Rodgers make the list for me this week for teams that have played before Monday.
Dalton was incredible in his first start for Carolina, completing 26 of his 37 passes. He threw for 319 yards and three touchdowns, while avoiding an interception.
He will take on the Bengals’ defense in week 4. It’s one of the tougher matchups on paper (before Cincy plays Monday). It will be a much tougher test for Dalton, but after what he did last week, he needs to be in the conversation.
Darnold threw for just 181 yards, but four touchdowns and no picks in the team’s dominant win over the Texans. The Minnesota QB was 17-of-28 passing.
Darnold has been about as good as anyone could have expected this season and is one of the top fantasy QBs so far. He takes on the Packers in week 4, which sets up as a pretty average matchup. One thing the Packers’ D has done well so far is take away the ball, so that could be an area that Darnold’s fantasy score gets docked in.
Jones is probably not a name you expected here again, but he was really good against a strong Browns’ defense. He was 24-of-34 for 236 passing yards, two scores and no interceptions.
Jones and the Giants will take on the Cowboys in week 4, which is a very favorable matchup on paper. Running quarterbacks have had some success, and Jones should be able to use his legs to score a good amount of points. As long as he takes care of the ball, Jones could be in line for another good fantasy outing.
Nix is another name you probably didn’t expect to see. The Denver rookie was 25-of-36 for 216 yards, no scores and no picks in week 3 in an upset win over the Buccaneers.
He’ll have a tough test in week 4 against the Jets. If Nix can deliver a solid outing, the Broncos and their fans are going to be thrilled about Nix’s long-term potential.
Fields continues to win games, but he’s not exactly tearing it up. Fields was 25-of-32 passing this week for 245 yards, a touchdown and a pick. He added six rushing yards and a score.
Fields and the Steelers have the Colts in week 4. That’s a fairly average matchup for Fields, as Indy has allowed five passing scores but also picked off two passes.
Watson was 21-of-37 passing this week for 196 yards, two scores and no interceptions. He added 26 rushing yards on four carries.
Watson and the Browns face the Raiders in week 4. Vegas just got done being upset by the Panthers, who scored 36 points. It’s a slightly above-average matchup for Watson.
Williams threw for 363 yards, but it took 33 completions and 52 attempts to get there. He had two touchdowns and two picks this week.
The 2024 No. 1 overall pick will take on the Rams in week 4. LA just got done beating San Francisco. It’s a very favorable matchup on paper for Williams, who has thrown four picks already - the good news is that the LA defense has just one interception.
Smith completed 26 of his 34 passes for 289 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions. The picks really ruined an otherwise really solid outing for Smith.
Smith has 787 passing yards, three TDs and three picks this season. The passing yards are great, but the TD to INT ratio is not ideal. He’s got a favorable clash against the Lions in week 4.
Rodgers turned back the clocks a bit on Thursday. He was 27-of-35 for 281 yards, two scores and no picks.
His week 4 matchup against the Broncos is a bit tougher, but after the solid showing in week 3, Rodgers is a lot easier to trust as a fantasy player. After a little extra rest, expect Rodgers and the offense to be ready to roll.
As I’ve done in all my QB/TE waiver wire stories this season, I’m now going to rank the quarterbacks (and later tight ends). We’ll do a ranking for week 4 streaming options, then a ranking for how I view these players for the rest of the season.
For week 4 streaming options, I like Smith the best of this group of QBs. He’s been throwing a lot the past couple weeks and has a favorable matchup to produce more big numbers in week 4.
I’d roll with Fields next. His dual-threat ability gives him a leg up on the guys I’m going to rank after him.
I’d take Watson third. This is pretty much all about the matchup against the Raiders, and not as much based on how Watson has looked this season.
Give me Rodgers next. His matchup isn’t great, but I simply trust him over any of the other remaining quarterbacks to avoid a bunch of turnovers.
I’d take Darnold next. I keep ranking Darnold low on my waiver wire streaming options, but he keeps proving me wrong. I just can’t envision him keeping this up all season, and think he’s going to come crashing down in one of these games.
I’d take Williams next. He looked a little better in week 3, and will be facing a weaker and beat up defense in week 4.
I’d take Jones after that. I’m just not confident in Jones yet, and I really don’t know when I’ll be. Like Darnold, Jones might just keep surprising.
I’d roll with Dalton next, and that leaves Nix for last. Dalton was great in week 3, but I think the Bengals’ defense will shut him down in week 4. Nix falls to the last spot because of the tough matchup.
As for season-long waiver options, I like Smith the most. I’d take Rodgers next, Darnold after him and then Williams.
After that, I have the QBs who are either young and inexperienced or not locked-in starters for the season: Fields, Watson, Jones, Nix, Dalton.
Tight End Waiver Wire Options
Cole Kmet, Dallas Goedert and Tyler Conklin are the three tight ends I want to discuss.
Kmet broke out for 97 yards and a touchdown on 10 catches and 11 targets in week 3. He’s got a very favorable matchup against the Rams in week 4.
Goedert erupted for 170 yards on 10 receptions and 11 targets in week 3. He’s got a tougher matchup against the Bucs in week 4.
Conklin went for 93 yards on five grabs and six targets on Thursday night. The Broncos are a pretty average TE matchup for Conklin.
These were three borderline draftable TEs this preseason, and with the position struggling overall, it’s nice that they are now fantasy options.
For week 4, I like the idea of adding Kmet and seeing if he can replicate his week 3 showing against a defense that struggles against TEs.
After Kmet, I like Goedert, and then Conklin. The matchup for Goedert is tougher, but I trust him more than Conklin right now.
As for the season-long additions, I’d definitely want Goedert among these three. A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith are dealing with injuries, so Goedert should be heavily involved for the time being. Once he gets in a good groove, he might not ever lose that big role, as Philly needs more pass catchers to step up anyways.
After Goedert, I like Kmet or Conklin. Kmet has way more offensive skill players around him, but there’s also been injury issues in Chicago that he can take advantage of. I still think Conklin is a good waiver wire pickup for those of you searching for TE help.
#2024-fantasy-football #waivers
