Achane Tears His ACL, J.J. McCarthy Is a Giant, and Week 4 Waiver Wire Must-Add Players
The DDC recap the Giants trading a fifth-round pick for J.J. McCarthy and use it to riff on the wild variance of the 2024 QB/skill-position draft class, then dig into Week 4 waiver adds position by position after Devon Achane's ACL tear shook up the running back landscape. They close with mailbag emails about Browns fandom, personal injury lawyer billboards, and other off-topic fun.
This episode of the Ringer Fantasy Football Show tackles the Giants trading a fifth-round pick for J.J. McCarthy, then works through a full waiver wire pass at running back, receiver, and tight end following Devon Achane's season-ending ACL tear. The hosts' central argument is that low-cost speculative bets — whether on a busted quarterback or a shaky backup running back — are almost always worth making when the acquisition cost is this cheap.
The arguments
The McCarthy trade is a fine, low-risk swing regardless of whether he ever starts. Danny Kelly frames it as the Baker Mayfield/Sam Darnold model — change of scenery and lowered expectations can resurrect draft busts — while Danny Heifetz argues a fifth-round pick is nothing to give up given how often teams have been wrong about quarterbacks. Craig is more skeptical, saying he'd rather the Giants keep picks and stay focused on Jaxson Dart, though he concedes it's not a significant cost either way.
The 2024 QB/WR draft class has been a bizarre bust across the board, which contextualizes why McCarthy is expendable. The hosts run down Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels, Drake Maye, Marvin Harrison Jr., and a long list of receivers (Xavier Worthy, Xavier Legette, Keon Coleman, Ricky Pearsall, Adonai Mitchell) as disappointments, noting undrafted Jalen Coker has outproduced several first-rounders combined. The takeaway: quarterback and receiver evaluation is broken enough that throwing a dart on McCarthy costs nothing.
Braylon Allen is the clear top waiver running back add, ahead of Ollie Gordon. Both Danny Kelly and Craig agree Allen is the better player on the better offense and is the presumptive lead back behind an injured Breece Hall, while Gordon splits a bad Dolphins backfield. Craig frames Gordon as season-long insurance only if you desperately need a body, comparing him to "a bigger share of the worst pie in the NFL."
Jalen Wright could be a sneaky value add while the field chases Ollie Gordon. Danny Kelly notes Wright out-snapped Gordon nearly 2-to-1 over the final five weeks of last season and profiles as a more talented back, even with lingering questions about his vision. Both hosts think he could be had cheap (single digits in FAAB) while Gordon commands a bigger bid.
Receiver is thin, but Chris Bell is the speculative add with real season-long upside. Craig switches his pick to Bell mid-discussion, arguing his pre-draft AJ Brown comps and quick return from a December ACL tear signal real talent worth stashing over the safer, lower-ceiling Keenan Allen (DK's pick). Heifetz agrees the group is largely bench-only, single-digit-value adds otherwise.
Kenyon Sadiq is the top tight end add off increased Jets usage. Danny Kelly points to Sadiq's touchdown, rising snap share (55% and climbing), and red zone role as signs of an imminent breakout if usage keeps trending up; Craig and Heifetz agree, while also flagging Darren Waller (Panthers) and Terrance Ferguson (Rams, contingent on a Puka Nacua absence) as deeper league fliers.
Geno Smith, Marcus Mariota, and Sam Darnold are this week's streamer tier at quarterback. Danny Kelly ranks Mariota (vs. a bad Colts defense in London) even above Geno Smith (vs. Chicago) and Darnold (vs. a reeling Chargers defense), citing Mariota's rushing upside as a tiebreaker.
What it means for your roster
- Add Braylon Allen first among available backs — he's the clear next-man-up on a good offense with Breece Hall banged up, and priority over Ollie Gordon for most rosters.
- Bid modestly (single-digit FAAB) on Jalen Wright if you're stashing for the full season and want Dolphins backfield exposure without overpaying for Gordon.
- Speculatively add Chris Bell over Keenan Allen if you have bench space and want season-long upside rather than a two-week floor play; Allen is fine as a desperation start only.
- Grab Kenyon Sadiq now before his snap share climbs further — tight end streamers are thin, and he's the highest-refresh-rate add at the position.
- Stream Marcus Mariota or Geno Smith at quarterback this week if you're between starters; Mariota gets a slight edge given the matchup and rushing floor.
- Cut Jonah Coleman if you haven't already — he's on IR and no longer roster-worthy.
“Welcome to the jungle, baby, you're going to die.” — Danny Kelly
Players in this episode
↓ Tore his ACL and is out for the season, opening up the Dolphins backfield.
→ Ankle sprain reported to have avoided anything long-term; expected to play Sunday.
→ Considered day-to-day with a rib strain but expected to keep producing despite frequent in-game ailments.
↑ Threw for 379 yards and 4 TDs (with 2 INTs) and is a strong streaming option against a reeling Chargers defense.
↑ Top TE waiver add, now leading Jets tight ends in snaps (55%) with 25 routes run and a red-zone touchdown; hosts see upside if usage climbs further.
↓ Turned out to be more injured than initially reported and is now on injured reserve; hosts recommend cutting him.
↑ Considered a top short-term add if Travis Etienne-type Saints injury (referred to as HN) sidelines the lead back for multiple weeks; Saints have run the most plays in the league.
↑ Named the top waiver RB add after Breece Hall's quad injury; seen as the clear next-man-up in a good offense with a favorable upcoming matchup vs. the Bears.
→ Season-long intriguing TE add but currently dealing with an ankle injury; would benefit if Puka Nacua remains out.
↑ Only 32% rostered but looked as good or better than Omarion Hampton with a near-even three-way split; worth a speculative add.
↓ Talented separator but dealing with a taped-up finger injury that could worsen his existing drop issues.
↑ DK notes Wright out-snapped Gordon nearly 2-to-1 late last season and could be a sneaky cheaper waiver add once healthy from a foot injury.
→ Seen as having more juice than an aging Kamara but likely to see fewer touches.
→ Top WR waiver add with 9 targets, 6 catches, 63 yards and a TD; running 70%+ routes and concentrated targets with Colts, though facing a possible DUI suspension.
↑ Rookie compared to an A.J. Brown clone coming out of Louisville; impressive given he tore his ACL in December and already looks explosive, seen as a stronger season-long upside add than Allen.
↑ Coming off a 321-yard, 3-TD performance, considered a strong Week 4 streaming option against the Bears.
→ Traded from Minnesota to New York for a 5th-round pick; hosts see it as a low-risk dart throw as a backup, with the Vikings moving on after Kyler Murray struggled.
↑ Emerging as Bryce Young's preferred scramble target and red-zone scorer with Panthers WRs banged up (Jalen Coker quad strain).
→ Viewed as a season-long stopgap for Devon Achane owners but hosts are lukewarm since he splits work with Jaylen Wright on a bad Dolphins offense.
↑ Recommended as a top streamer versus a still-bad Colts defense in London, adding rushing upside as a Jayden Daniels fill-in.
↑ Benefited from Ferguson's injury with 11 targets, 8 catches, 62 yards and a TD.