Each Sunday night during the season, I’ll be bringing you early waiver wire suggestions to help you get a jump on the competition! Thanks for joining me as we hit the waiver wire looking for players who can help you out for Week 4 and beyond. Here are 12 players whose performances earned them a waiver claim heading into Week 4, including a surprising trio of quarterbacks and a replacement running back for Big Blue.
Note: All players have less than 30% ownership in Yahoo leagues.
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Running Back
Note: Despite a big game out of Tony Pollard, he’s not a recommended add due to the blowout nature of the Cowboys’ win and the low-quality defense the team faced. He’s still just a handcuff.
Wayne Gallman (NYG): 1% owned
Week 3 Stats: 5 carries, 13 rushing yards
Saquon Barkley left Sunday’s matchup with Tampa Bay early with a high-ankle sprain. He came back to the sidelines on crutches and sporting a walking boot. With Barkley set to miss potentially multiple weeks, Gallman will be the presumed starter in his absence. Gallman has been a serviceable replacement when called upon, and he needs to be picked up everywhere with Barkley potentially looking at a multi-game absence. Gallman will likely be the hottest commodity on the waiver wire this week.
Next three weeks: WAS, MIN, @NE
Darrel Williams (KC): 5% owned
Week 3 Stats: 9 carries, 62 rushing yards, 5 receptions, 47 receiving yards
He unexpectedly got the start this week with Damien Williams (knee) ruled out, and LeSean McCoy (ankle) banged up. He worked in tandem with McCoy until McCoy exited the game with another injury. Darrel Williams — not Darwin Thompson — is the back to own in Kansas City right now. Any player who can be heavily involved in the league’s most potent offense is a valuable fantasy pickup.
Next three weeks: @DET, IND, HOU
Rex Burkhead (NE): 24% owned
Week 3 Stats: 11 carries, 47 rushing yards, 6 receptions, 22 receiving yards, rushing TD
James White missed the game due to the birth of his child (congratulations!) and was a late scratch from the game. Fantasy owners had to scramble, but luckily, Burkhead was available to save the day. Even after a 10% increase in the two hours leading up to 1 pm kickoff, Burkhead is still only 24% owned. He’s a solid flex play when White and Sony Michel are active and an even better prospect when one (or both) are forced to miss time.
Next three weeks: @BUF, @WAS, NYG
Wide Receiver
Cole Beasley (BUF): 8% owned
Week 3 Stats: 8 receptions, 48 receiving yards, 2-point conversion
Beasley has scored at least nine PPR fantasy points in three straight games to open the season and at least 12 over his last two. He doesn’t have a high ceiling, but he does have two games of at least nine targets on the season already and looks like a pretty steady option in leagues that reward points for receptions.
Next three weeks: NE, @TEN, BYE
Parris Campbell (IND): 4% owned
Week 3 Stats: 3 receptions, 24 receiving yards, 31 return yards
T.Y. Hilton played just one half of Sunday’s win over the Falcons after aggravating his quad. It’s unclear if he’ll miss any time, but if he does, Campbell has a reasonable path to more targets and increased production. The Colts have two favorable games over the next two weeks in Oakland and Kansas City, making the first-round burner out of Ohio State a good grab ahead of Week 4.
Next three weeks: OAK, @KC, BYE
Phillip Dorsett (NE): 32% owned & Jakobi Meyers (NE): 1% owned
Week 3 Stats: 6 receptions, 53 receiving yards, 2 carries, 12 rushing yards, receiving TD (Dorsett), 2 receptions, 38 receiving yards (Meyers)
Dorsett has been pretty involved in the offense regardless of the other receivers in the picture, but with Antonio Brown cut and Julian Edelman (ribs) banged up, Dorsett has a chance to be even more involved moving forward. He’s just a tad over 30% owned. Jakobi Meyers is more of a deep-league add, but he’s worth a speculative stash in 12-man leagues if you have the bench space.
Next three weeks: @BUF, @WAS, NYG
Quarterback
Gardner Minshew (JAC): 8% owned
Week 3 Stats: 204 passing yards, 4 carries, 18 rushing yards, 2 passing TDs
Minshew definitely didn’t look like a sixth-round rookie in the Jags’ handy win over the Titans on Thursday Night Football. Minshew delivered two beautiful touchdown passes with no picks and could have had an even bigger night. He lofted a beautiful pass over the head of Dede Westbrook, and Westbrook dropped it in the end zone. The first-year quarterback has actually lived up to the off-field mystique he’s building, and the mustachioed signal-called should find his way onto your roster this week.
Next three weeks: @DEN, @CAR, NO
Daniel Jones (NYG): 15% owned
Week 3 Stats: 336 passing yards, 4 carries, 28 rushing yards, 2 rushing TDs, 2 passing TDs, 2 fumbles lost
The No. 6 overall pick got off on good footing in his first start for the G-Men, going for four total touchdowns in a surprisingly entertaining shootout with the Bucs on Sunday afternoon. The Duke product got the Giants a much-needed win and brought the team to 1-2 on the year. Jones has a couple of favorable matchups coming up on the slate and should be snatched off the waiver wire this week.
Next three weeks: WAS, MIN, @NE
Kyle Allen (CAR): 2% owned
Week 3 Stats: 261 passing yards, 3 carries, -1 rushing yards, 4 passing TDs, fumble lost
Allen made just his second start in relief of Cam Newton (foot) and proceeded to light up the Cardinals to the tune of four touchdowns and no picks. It looks like he has a firm control on this offense, including its many skilled receivers, backs, and tight ends. Expect Allen to shine for as long as he’s in the starting lineup.
Next three weeks: @HOU, JAX, @TB
Tight End
Dawson Knox (BUF): 0% owned
Week 3 Stats: 3 receptions, 67 receiving yards, receiving TD, 1 carry, 9 rushing yards
Knox had a breakout performance in Sunday’s win, highlighted by a 49-yard catch-and-run and a short 1-yard score. With Tyler Kroft (ankle) on the shelf for now, expect Knox’s role to expand as the season progresses. He’s an up-and-coming tight end on a surprisingly explosive Bills offense. Add him wherever you can.
Next three weeks: NE, @TEN, BYE
D/ST
Pittsburgh Steelers D/ST: 14% owned
The Steelers’ defense has been serviceable against two NFC West opponents in the last two weeks in San Francisco and Seattle. Next up is an excellent matchup with a banged-up Bengals team. The makeshift Cincinnati offensive line should have its work cut out for it against the likes of Stephon Tuitt and T.J. Watt. Weeks 5 and 6 against the Ravens and Chargers aren’t great, so this is more of a one-week streaming play.
Next three weeks: CIN, BAL, @LAC
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Zachary Hanshew is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Zachary, check out his archive and follow him @zakthemonster.