Thomason: Top Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Pickups For Week 4
By Jack Thomason--
(CBS) We are just under one-quarter of the way through the fantasy season and a lot of action, injuries and surprises have taken place. The running back position continues to be a minefield, and unless you're lucky enough to have David Johnson or Ezekiel Elliott, you're doing your best to manufacture points in committee situations.
On the other hand, receivers seem much easier to find week-to-week points with guys like Sterling Shepard, Tajae Sharpe, Tyrell Williams, Marvin Jones and more putting up some nice weekly point totals at inexpensive draft cost or as waiver-wire additions. There are so many more receivers available to plug and play on any given week, it makes the injury or bye week fill-in situations easier to navigate.
One name to keep an eye on: Kenneth Dixon of the Ravens. He looked great in the third preseason game before going down with a knee injury but should be close to returning in the next couple of weeks. He's a three-down player who can stabilize the Ravens' ground attack. If you have the space, add him now.
Here are my top 10 waiver adds for 10- and 12-member league.
1. Terrelle Pryor (WR, Cleveland Browns) – Pryor was an elite high school recruit and a physical specimen entering college. We all know what he was in college too, but he has taken the time to transition to receiver in the NFL, and it's finally paying off. He exploded Sunday for eight catches and 144 yards while adding 21 yards rushing and a touchdown on the ground. He was the main beneficiary of Corey Coleman's broken hand and even with Josh Gordon set to return, Pryor will remain a huge part of an offense that should be playing from behind often. He's seeing a silly 10-[lus targets per game right now, and he's the type of freak athlete who can score any time he touches the ball.
2. Jordan Howard (RB, Chicago Bears) – It seemed like it was only a matter of time before Howard pushed Jeremy Langford for the starting job, and now with Langford being carted off the field Sunday night (ankle sprain) and Ka'Deem Carey battling a hamstring injury, the job will be Howard's moving forward. He's looked spry and quick on the field, injecting some excitement into a sloth-like Bears' offense, but we can't get too excited given the lack of scoring opportunities he'll have. He's still should see 15-20 touches and is part of the passing game, which means he's worth a top addition. Howard has a couple nice matchups on the horizon and is coming off a 92-yard, 13-touch performance.
3. Jamison Crowder (WR, Washington Redskins) – Crowder is at it again. He's been on fire the first few weeks of the season, especially in PPR leagues, and he isn't getting enough love. Heck, I even said last week that I was debating putting him in this column over Phillip Dorsett but didn't. Now he's here near the top of the list. Crowder is playing on 71 percent of the snaps, is tied for the team lead with 25 targets and has tallied 16 receptions, 175 yards and two scores on those opportunities. He also has a nice four-game stretch coming up against the Browns, Ravens, Eagles and Lions.
4. Kyle Rudolph (TE, Minnesota Vikings) – Don't sleep on Rudolph just because he's similar to Jared Cook and we've been awaiting a breakout for years. With Sam Bradford as the quarterback, Rudolph has been a prime target and option 1B to Stefon Diggs' 1A. Through three weeks, Rudolph is averaging 4.7 receptions, 55.3 yards, 0.7 touchdowns and 8.7 targets per game. Given the absence of Adrian Peterson, his work inside the scoring area will see an uptick as well.
5. Orleans Darkwa/Paul Perkins (RB, New York Giants) – After a solid outing on Sunday from Shane Vereen, news broke Monday morning that he will miss the rest of the season with a triceps injury. Given Rashad Jennings' current thumb injury, Orleans Darkwa is the immediate beneficiary. He rushed for more than five yards per carry this weekend, rumbling his way to 53 yards rushing and a touchdown. Another name to keep in mind here is Perkins, the shifty, elusive back out of UCLA who was drafted in the fifth round this year. He may be the guy to fill Shave Vereen's role regardless of who plays the "big back."
6. Wendell Smallwood (RB, Philadelphia Eagles) – The rookie Smallwood showed burst and shiftiness on his way to a 17-carry, 79-yard game. Smallwood scored while the game was still close but did most of his damage during garbage-time. Still, with Ryan Mathews already banged up and Darren Sproles on the wrong side of 30, Smallwood's role could continue to increase as the season wears on. Be wary as coach Doug Pederson has stated the Eagles will continue to use a committee approach, but there's upside here if you have the roster space.
7. Cameron Brate (TE, Tampa Bay Buccaneers) – Jameis Winston has a new addition to his favorite target list, and his name is Cameron Brate, who saw 10 targets Sunday and led the way in the red zone, scoring two touchdowns. With the release of tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins, Brate's snap count jumped to just under 78 percent, and he made the most of his opportunities. Winston has been a big fan of his tight ends as a receiving weapon going back to his Florida State days. I expect Brate to be heavily involved and a key target when the Bucs are inside the 20-yard line.
8. Victor Cruz (WR, New York Giants) – Show this man some love. After missing an incredible 700 days of football with a torn patella tendon and several subsequent injuries, Cruz isn't only surprising us but himself as well. On Sunday, he added another three grabs for 70 yards on just three targets. He's getting open and showing some signs of those explosive plays we came to know. The Giants are averaging 36 pass attempts per game, and Cruz's snaps continue to rise. He played 98.5 percent of snaps Sunday, leaving him as a solid WR3/flex play.
9. Dwayne Washington (RB, Detroit Lions) – The Packers' defense ranks first in DVOA against the run, so don't let this one rough performance get you down. There's opportunity here with Washington, and he should be added in all formats. This is a little repetitive from last week, but he has size, speed and agility to be a productive runner on a productive offense. With the Bears' defense on the horizon, now's likely your last shot.
10. Cameron Artis-Payne (RB, Carolina Panthers) – We all know Jonathan Stewart has had lingering injury issues throughout his career, and I'd think this latest hamstring problem would be no different. That leaves Artis–Payne as the primary ball-carrier until further notice. He didn't do much Sunday to inspire owners to grab him, but remember the Vikings defense is tenacious. Artis-Payne saw 13 touches and racked up 58 yards, playing just more than 40 percent of the plays, but this wasn't a typical Panthers' game where they're up big and pounding the rock. Moving forward, he should see the goal-line touches that don't go to Cam Newton and the bulk of the early down work.
Just missed: Carson Wentz, Kenneth Dixon, Bilal Powell, Kenyan Drake, Alfred Morris, Michael Thomas (NO), Steve Smith, Kenny Stills, Jack Doyle and Hunter Henry.
Jack Thomason is 670 The Score's fantasy football expert and co-host of "Chicago's Fantasy Football Today," which can be heard every Sunday during football season from 8-9 a.m. CT on WSCR-670 and 670thescore.com/listen. Follow him on Twitter @jthomason77 and feel free to ask fantasy questions.
