Aaron's Week 4 Waiver Wire Pickups
Every Tuesday, I will be bringing to light the best potential waiver wire additions across fantasy football. Let’s begin with some basic principles for each article and some of the qualifiers that will be used each week. First off, the minimum rostered percentage threshold that I will be using is 50%, so any player that is rostered in ESPN leagues above that percentage will not be written about (until near the end of the season when it gets harder to wade through the constantly thinning waiver wire.) Second, not all waiver wire additions are created equal and all are dependent on the roster you have. Each week I will be writing about players and the potential they bring to your fantasy roster, but I obviously don’t know who is on your team or what you may need in terms of roster construction. If I say a quarterback is the top waiver wire addition for the week, and you have Patrick Mahomes, that doesn’t mean you need to add that player to your team while dropping a potentially valuable player in order to do so. Third, I will frequently be using the abbreviation FAAB, which refers to Free Agent Acquisition Budget. This refers to the potential amount you might spend to acquire someone off the waiver wire if your league has that as a part of their system.
Jamaal Williams- Running Back, DET
ESPN Roster Percentage- 44.3%
Another week of NFL play means more injuries and none more important than the news coming out of Detroit. D’Andre Swift entered the week with an ankle injury and picked up a shoulder sprain as he left the game. Head coach Dan Campbell has already told the media that he believes Swift could benefit from sitting until after their Week 6 bye, which would catapult Jamaal Williams into fantasy lineups everywhere. Williams has been fantastic on the year regardless of Swift’s status, heading into Monday night’s game as the RB #6 on the year. The absence of Swift will only secure the volume Williams will receive and is the reason why he’s my top add of the week. I would be willing to use a top waiver priority on Williams and is worth a 60% FAAB offer.
Khallil Herbert- Running Back, CHI
ESPN Roster Percentage- 25.2%
Khalil Herbert looked like the best running back in the NFL on Sunday and the fantasy points reflected that. David Montgomery left in the 1st quarter with a knee/ankle injury and is considered day-to-day as of now, but Herbert will still be involved. Herbert was the RB #1 on the week in a game in which he didn’t start and is someone I would consider a top waiver wire add. Herbert has shown the flashes that could make him a starting running back and with the possible absence of Montgomery, he has top 10 running back potential. Herbert is worth a top waiver priority add and a 30% FAAB offer.
Alexander Mattison- Running Back, MIN
ESPN Roster Percentage- 37.1%
This is the yearly Alexander Mattison waiver wire article explaining that Dalvin Cook has been injured and that Mattison is the clear backup to step in and produce. Another shoulder injury for Cook may see him sidelined for the week and is considered day-to-day, which makes Mattison another top waiver wire add. Mattison looked good in Cook’s absence despite the low volume and was able to produce. While Mattison doesn’t have enough of a role if Cook were to play in Week 4, he still needs to be added as a precaution if Cook were not to suit up. He is worth a top waiver wire priority bid, and I am willing to use a 25% FAAB offer to add him to my roster.