Four weeks of the 2023 NFL season are now in the books, and we’re about a quarter of the way through the regular season in most fantasy football leagues.
Whether you’re 4-0 or 0-4 in your fantasy football league, every manager loves to find talent on the waiver wire each week.
Buy Broncos TicketsThe biggest waiver wire target this week is Denver Broncos running back Jaleel McLaughlin, who totaled 104 yards from scrimmage and scored a touchdown on just 10 touches in Week 4.
Broncos coach Sean Payton said Denver plans to get McLaughlin more involved going forward, so he could end up being a huge find on the waiver wire four games into the season.
To help fantasy football managers attempt to improve their rosters going into Week 5, we’ve put together a quick list of the ten best waiver wire targets with options at running back, wide receiver, quarterback and tight end.
Each player’s rostered percentage in ESPN fantasy football leagues is listed in parentheses. Ready? Let’s get to the list!
1
RB Jaleel McLaughlin (1%)
Even before Javonte Williams left Sunday’s game with a rib injury, McLaughlin was leading the backfield in snaps. McLaughlin will never be a workhorse back, but he’s emerging as a top-two RB in Denver’s offense.
2
RB Keaton Mitchell (3%)
After spending the last four weeks on injured reserve, Mitchell is eligible to return this week. Gus Edwards has emerged as Baltimore’s lead running back, but his production has been mostly modest. Mitchell, an undrafted rookie, might be worth a stash if you’re thin at running back.
3
WR Jameson Williams (17%)
Williams was reinstated on Monday after the NFL updated its gambling rules. He had a quiet rookie season last year (due in part to injuries), but Williams is a big-time talent and he’s worth a speculative add at WR.
4
WR Michael Wilson (2%)
Wilson had a breakout game on Sunday, hauling in seven receptions for 76 yards and two touchdowns. He won’t post big numbers every week, but Wilson’s last three receiving totals have been 56, 86 and 76, putting him in the flex conversation.
5
WR Tyler Boyd (44%)
Tee Higgins is expected to be sidelined for multiple weeks with a fractured rib, leaving Boyd as Joe Burrow’s No. 2 receiver for at least a few games. The Bengals’ offense is off to a slow start, but Burrow has the talent to turn things around. If Cincinnati’s offense starts clicking again, Boyd will have flex value.
6
WR Marvin Mims (18%)
Over the last three weeks, Mims has totaled 168, 197 and 72 all-purpose yards to go along with two touchdowns. He’s a bit of a boom-or-bust player and if return yards don’t count in your league, that will hurt his value, but Mims is off to a promising start in Denver.
7
TE Jake Ferguson (25%)
Ferguson currently ranks eighth in scoring among tight ends in PPR leagues with 10.1, 9.8 and 14.7 points in his last three games. Any team looking for an upgrade at tight end should consider Ferguson.
8
TE Logan Thomas (8%)
Thomas is averaging 8.6 points per game, which ranks 10th among tight ends who have played more than two games this season. He’s not a flashy player, but Thomas could prove to be a consistent performer in fantasy.
9
QB C.J. Stroud (32%)
Stroud now has three-straight games with at least 20 points and he ranks 10th in scoring among quarterbacks. He’s a must-add in two-QB leagues and a great streaming option if you’re not satisfied with your QB1.
10
QB Sam Howell (9%)
Howell had one hiccup in Week 3 (4.6 points), but his other scores this season are 16.2, 21.3 and 19.6. He has a great matchup against a bad Bears defense this week, so Howell is worth a look if you need a QB.
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