The Bills’ shocking annihilation of the Vikings on Sunday just goes to show how unpredictable this game we play is. Who would’ve thought that Kirk Cousins would turn over the ball three times or that Josh Allen was going to completely overwhelm the Vikings’s defense? Is the Bills offense suddenly one to avoid when choosing which D/ST to stream each week?
We also witnessed the unexpected rise of Javorius Allen Sunday after he hit paydirt twice, but how much FAAB should you spend on him and just how reliable is he as a fantasy option? Our featured experts are in tow to tackle these questions and provide you with other top waiver wire options as we head into Week 4.
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Featured Experts:
Mike Tagliere – FantasyPros
Jared Smola – Draft Sharks
Donald Gibson – Fantasy Fusion
Bobby Sylvester – FantasyPros
James Hatfield – Hatty Waiver Wire Guru
*Ownership % derived from a consensus of Yahoo & ESPN leagues
Q1. How much are you willing to spend (FAAB %) on your favorite waiver wire target (or two) and why do you like him?
Mike Williams (WR – LAC)
“If Williams is on your waiver wire, you need to rectify the situation that you’ve put yourself in and make sure you bid enough to get him. We all knew the Chargers had big plans for him when he was drafted inside the top 10, but they’re following through on that by targeting him 15 times through three games, in which he’s delivered three touchdowns as Philip Rivers’s favorite red zone target. They’ve had a few tough matchups out of the gate, but knowing he’s overcome them should give you confidence going forward. I’d be willing to spend 20-plus percent of my FAAB to get him.”
– Mike Tagliere (FantasyPros)
“I’d be willing to spend up to 20% of FAAB for Mike Williams. He’s averaging 63 yards and a score through three games this season, which is more than double the production that Tyrell Williams has posted. Call me crazy, but I wouldn’t be surprised if the WR corps in LAC turned into a 1A-1B situation with Williams pushing Keenan Allen for the premier spot. He’s a guy that I’m considering starting as a strong flex/WR3 option, so he should absolutely be owned in all leagues.”
– Donald Gibson (Fantasy Fusion)
Calvin Ridley (WR – ATL)
“Ridley is my top pickup this week and I’d spend about 12% of my FAAB to acquire him, but he isn’t quite worth your top waiver priority if you’ve got it available. We knew coming into the season that Ridley was the most polished wideout in his draft class, but the question was whether or not the targets would be there in a Julio Jones-dominated offense. Now that the question is being answered with a resounding yes, we can feel comfortable moving Ridley into rest of season WR3 territory, making him start-worthy eight out of every 10 weeks.”
– Bobby Sylvester (FantasyPros)
“This is the week to spend 20% of your FAAB on my favorite pickup, Calvin Ridley, but at this stage, he can fill your flex spot weekly. This is the type of player who you can pick up midseason and ride to a championship. If you can’t get Ridley, then target Tyler Boyd, but spend no more than 5% of your FAAB.”
– James Hatfield (Hatty Waiver Wire Guru)
Javorius Allen (RB – BAL)
“‘Buck’ Allen isn’t seeing a ton of touches (9.7 per game so far), but the work he is getting is valuable. He’s hauled in 13 of 17 targets, and six of his 16 carries have come from inside the opponent’s five-yard line. Targets and TDs are the quickest ways to fantasy points. Allen is a good bet for both at this point. He’s worth 20-30% of your FAAB, depending on how big your need for RB help is.”
– Jared Smola (Draft Sharks)
Q2. For owners renting a D/ST in Week 4, what readily available option (under 40%) should they target and why?
“Despite what the Vikings did last week, you really do want to attack the Bills offense as much as possible, as they’ve allowed 14 sacks through three games. After the Packers suffered a loss on the road in Week 3, they should bounce back at home in Week 4. They had six sacks through two games before running into Washington’s brick wall of an offensive line. While Clay Matthews may be penalized for the sacks, it won’t affect your fantasy score.”
– Mike Tagliere (FantasyPros)
“I’m not buying the Bills offense, regardless of whatever it was that happened in Minnesota last week. Buffalo allowed 11 sacks and turned it over four times across the first two games. This is still an offense with an inaccurate rookie QB behind a shaky offensive line. That makes the Packers defense — hosting the Bills — a prime Week 4 fantasy play.”
– Jared Smola (Draft Sharks)
“If you aren’t able to scoop up the Packers, who are the obvious top streamer, Seattle is another quality option. They take on the Arizona Cardinals’ dreadful offense that has scored just 20 points through three weeks. Their offensive line is a disaster, and whichever QB ends up under center will be among the most turnover-prone passers in the NFL next week. Seattle also just sacked Dak Prescott five times while forcing three turnovers, so they may ride that momentum into Week 4.”
– Bobby Sylvester (FantasyPros)
“Seattle’s defense is not widely owned (24%), but takes on Arizona, who will be starting their rookie quarterback. This is an easy choice for a Week 4 streaming defense.”
– James Hatfield (Hatty Waiver Wire Guru)
“I’ll be all over the Lions D/ST (7% owned) in Week 4 when streaming a defense. The Lions just held the Patriots to 10 points, and the Cowboys have scored an average of 13.7 points per game in 2018. The Lions have given up big runs in two of their first three games (a 62-yarder to Isaiah Crowell in Week 1 and a 66-yarder to Matt Breida in Week 2), so if they can keep a lid on Ezekiel Elliott — and that should be the only thing to worry about — they’ll be in a great spot.”
– Donald Gibson (Fantasy Fusion)
Thank you to the experts for naming their top waiver targets. Be sure to give them a follow on Twitter if you’re not already doing so and check out our latest podcast below for more great advice.
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