Week 3 brought some significant upsets, passing milestones, and a potential franchise-altering injury along with some very entertaining football. Now that we’re a full three games in, we should be well into our weekly routine which should include scouring the waiver wire to improve our rosters.

Four weeks in and the bye weeks will arrive to complicate matters. Only two teams are off this week, but one of the lessons that has been emphasized repeatedly here is to be proactive, not reactive. Focus not only on the next game but helping your championship pursuits weeks in advance. Let’s take a look at the players who are widely available on the waiver wire that might help our cause for Week 4 and beyond.

Week 4 Byes: Carolina, Washington

Ownership data courtesy of Yahoo.

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Quarterback

Baker Mayfield (CLE) 12% owned (12% FAAB)
Cleveland, the GOAT has arrived. After an ineffective Tyrod Taylor exited the game with a head injury, Mayfield trotted onto the field near the end of the first half and made an immediate impact, displaying a powerful throwing arm and pinpoint accuracy. Mayfield looked like a poised veteran and rallied the Browns to their first victory in nearly two years. He’ll take over as Cleveland’s starter moving forward and could put up weekly QB2 numbers. Mayfield’s first start takes place in Oakland and will be followed by a pair of tough games in Cleveland against the Ravens and Chargers.

C.J. Beathard (SF) 0% owned (8% FAAB)
It remains to be seen if Beathard can excel in a complex Kyle Shanahan offense, but for now, he looks like San Francisco’s starter moving forward as Jimmy Garoppolo suffered a severe knee injury during the 49ers’ Week 3 loss at Kansas City. Beathard came in on the goal line and threw a touchdown to George Kittle, but the play was called off due to a holding call. Shanahan offenses are generally conducive to positive fantasy production, but Beathard only accounted for eight touchdowns in five starts last season. He’ll have some positive games in this offense, but there will be some struggles, making Beathard a desperation add for members of two-QB leagues.

Andy Dalton (CIN) 33% owned (4% FAAB)
Through three games, Dalton is averaging 287 passing yards per game and has eight touchdown passes. He’s been a top-10 fantasy quarterback out of the gate, and the Bengals offense is usually much better at Paul Brown Stadium, where Dalton lit up Baltimore in the Bengals’ only home contest of the young season. Cincinnati is hosting a talented Atlanta defense that has struggled a tad and is coming off a game where they let Drew Brees shred their secondary. Week 4 looks like another solid week to stream Dalton if you’re a Cam Newton or Alex Smith owner.

Jameis Winston (TB) 10% owned (2% FAAB)
There’s a good chance that Winston won’t reclaim his starting job anytime soon with how well Ryan Fitzpatrick has been playing. That makes adding him a bit of a risk and one that can only be attempted by fantasy owners who can absorb a roster spot for a week or two until we see if Winston will reclaim his role. If he becomes the starter again, Winston is a potential top-10 fantasy quarterback down the stretch, which certainly makes him worth a speculative waiver add.

Running Backs

Javorius Allen (BAL) 26% owned (11% FAAB)
Buck Allen entered last week as the No. 18 running back in PPR leagues, then scored another pair of touchdowns on nine touches against Denver. Allen is behind Alex Collins in the pecking order but appears to be the Ravens’ top choice near the goal line. With four touchdowns in three games, Allen is getting the most out of his limited touches and it isn’t a fluke. Last season, Allen had 199 touches and finished as the RB24 in PPR formats. He’s well on his way to putting up similar numbers in 2018 and is still sitting unowned on three-quarters of fantasy leagues.

Ty Montgomery (GB) 16% owned (4% FAAB)
Now that Aaron Jones is back, Mike McCarthy may be reverting to a frustrating committee backfield in Green Bay. In the Packers’ Week 3 loss in Washington, Jones generated 47 yards on seven touches, while Jamaal Williams accumulated 45 yards on his seven touches. Montgomery led the way with 10 touches, including six receptions as the Packers were in comeback mode. Montgomery is likely to remain a weekly factor in the passing game, so he may be the best target for owners in PPR formats to target.

Chris Ivory (BUF) 6% owned (2% FAAB)
Ivory would be worth a more aggressive add if we had any idea of the future status of LeSean McCoy. Shady sat out last week, but his rib injury isn’t expected to keep him out much longer. Of course, off-the-field issues have popped up again, which could play a factor later. Ivory got 20 carries as the lead back in Minnesota, but was far more effective as a receiver. When McCoy is back in the lineup, Ivory is little more than handcuff with some short yardage value.

Wide Receivers 

Calvin Ridley (ATL) 44% owned (17% FAAB)
In the past two games, Ridley has accounted for more touchdowns than Julio Jones managed to catch during the entire 2017 season. Ridley busted out against New Orleans, hauling in seven grabs for 146 yards and three touchdowns. Lauded for his elite route running at Alabama, Ridley has consistently been getting open in the past two games and has taken advantage of the extra coverage that Jones commands. His breakout will now cause opponents to shift more coverage in his direction, but Ridley needs to be owned in all formats.

Tyler Boyd (CIN) 16% owned (9% FAAB)
After catching six balls for 91 yards and a touchdown in Week 2, Boyd busted out for 132 yards and another score against the Panthers. Boyd spends most of his time in the slot but has become Cincinnati’s No. 2 option. A.J. Green left the team’s Week 3 loss with a groin injury, and if Green is unable to suit up against Atlanta, Boyd would be Andy Dalton‘s top target against an Atlanta secondary that just permitted 396 passing yards.

Brandon Marshall (SEA) 35% owned (4% FAAB)
Tyler Lockett‘s big game will deservedly get all the headlines, but Marshall was tied with Lockett for a team-high six targets against Dallas and is still the favorite to lead the Seahawks in red zone looks. Even when Doug Baldwin (knee) returns, Marshall should have enough of a weekly role to warrant weekly WR4 considerations in deeper leagues.

Cole Beasley (DAL) 16% owned (2% FAAB)
The Dallas passing game is a disaster, so no shame in wanting to avoid it altogether. Beasley led the Cowboys’ wideouts with five targets in Week 3 and should see a decent number of attempts in Week 4 against a Detroit secondary that has been exploited so far in 2018.

Cameron Meredith (NO) 11% owned (2% FAAB)
Meredith made his 2018 season debut and immediately played 43% of the Saints’ snaps. He’s likely to be the main slot receiver moving forward, which will give Meredith week-to-week value. While he did score a touchdown in his debut, that was the only target Meredith got the whole game, so he’s just worth a cautious bid for now.

Tight Ends

Austin Seferian-Jenkins (JAC) 32% owned (3% FAAB)
ASJ hasn’t made much of an impact, but he was third on the Jaguars with five targets in Week 3. Seferian-Jenkins has accounted for five targets and three receptions in each of Jacksonville’s three games. While he’s a touchdown-dependent fantasy option, he’s a decent streamer this week playing his former club, the New York Jets.

Austin Hooper (ATL) 29% owned (1% FAAB)
There’s not a lot of upside with Hooper, but he has caught at least three balls in each of Atlanta’s three games, including a touchdown and two-point conversion. This week, the Falcons travel to Cincinnati to take on a Bengals defense that has struggled against tight ends. Cincinnati allowed 11 catches for 111 yards and a touchdown to tight ends in Week 1 and permitted another touchdown to Mark Andrews in Week 2.

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Jody Smith is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Jody, check out his archive and follow him @JodySmithNFL.