Week 4 Waivers + Tough Drop Decisions - Fantasy Football Podcast for 9/29
The Footballers recap a wild Monday Night Football win for Case Keenum and the Bears (with Khalif Raymond emerging late), lament the Eagles' disappointing offense despite Saquon Barkley's usage, and run through a heavy Week 4 waiver wire dominated by injury-driven running back and tight end opportunities (Ollie Gordon, Braylon Allen, Alvin Kamara/Kendre Miller, Jonnu Smith) plus streaming QB and DST options.
This Week 4 waivers episode centers on a roster-building philosophy for a season already full of injuries and bad breaks: don't panic, don't give up early, and be strategic about where you spend limited FAAB on a running back market that's suddenly thin. The hosts (Andy Holloway, Jason Moore, Mike Wright) spend most of the show triaging a flood of backfield injuries and debating how much value late-blooming role players actually carry.
The arguments
Bad luck evens out over a season, so don't fold in Week 4. Andy and the crew argue that with three weeks in the books, teams sitting at 0-3 or 1-2 due to injury luck shouldn't panic — they've seen this pattern for 12 years, where 0-4 or 0-5 teams still make the playoffs. The counter-argument they embrace: other managers in your league will start quitting around this point, and that complacency is an opportunity for patient teams to make a run.
Ollie Gordon is a legitimate weekly pickup, but the price tag should stay measured. Andy is highest on Gordon, calling him a talented, every-down-capable back the coaching staff wants to feature, but the group agrees the Dolphins' offense is broken (lowest implied team total of the season at 13.5, against Minnesota) and Jalen Wright's return will muddy the touch distribution within a month. Jason and Mike push back on bidding Gordon up past the 30s in FAAB, arguing the short-term outlook is bad and the long-term outlook is complicated, while Andy compares him favorably to Ja'Corey Brooks-type "guaranteed starter" fab valuations.
Braylon Allen is the preferred short-term fix over Gordon if you need immediate production. With Breece Hall considered week-to-week (likely multiple weeks) with a quad injury, the hosts like Allen as a flex-with-upside play given the Jets' improved offensive line and Geno Smith's play, plus a plus matchup context. They flag this as more of an immediate-need pickup than a season-long asset, since Hall's eventual return caps Allen's ceiling.
The Saints backfield splits opinion, with Kamara clearly leading snaps but Kendre Miller offering better cost-efficiency. Jason argues volume flows mostly to Kamara in Alvin Kamara's absence of A-Chan (Tre'Quan Henderson), pointing to his fourth-quarter carry and route edge, while Andy expects a genuine committee given the team's investment in Miller and his usage even when Kamara was healthy. Both agree Miller is a value target if Kamara's FAAB price gets bid too high, especially projecting Henderson's absence to last several weeks.
Rookie/depth wide receivers on bad-script teams (Chris Bell, Kanawai Mumfield) are better bets than name-brand WRs stuck in negative game scripts. Jason's top receiver pickup is Miami's Chris Bell (snaps jumped from 41% to 71%, seven targets, red-zone usage) as the direct beneficiary of Malik Washington/injury shuffles, and the crew jokes that the "top four" fantasy receivers this week (Wicks, Lemon, Bell, Washington) are all bad plays given negative game scripts for Philly and Miami. Mumfield is flagged as a low-competition spot-start given Puka Nacua's continued absence and a plus Eagles matchup.
Sadiq Khalif (Jets TE) is treated as the single best pickup at any position this week. Jason, who had cycled Sadiq on and off his roster, argues the breakout (58% snaps, 57% route share) is sustainable now that he's earned the role, not a one-week Mason Taylor/Adonai Mitchell injury fluke, and ranks him above every running back available. Andy and Mike both slot him second or third on their pickup boards behind only immediate need starters like Braylon Allen.
Streaming quarterbacks this week should target bad Cardinals/Panthers-caliber defenses and avoid landmine backfields. The hosts favor Bryce Young (post-Coker shakeup, Browns defense improving but Young still expected to bounce back vs. a beatable Lions secondary conceptually), Geno Smith against a leaky Chicago pass defense, and Marcus Mariota in London against a very bad Colts defense, while explicitly labeling Drake May a "landmine" not worth playing even against Bo Nix as an alternative streamer.
What it means for your roster
- Add Ollie Gordon in all leagues, but cap FAAB bids in the 20-30% range rather than treating him as a season-saving league-winner; expect two rough matchup weeks (Minnesota, Cincinnati) before a bye.
- Prioritize Braylon Allen over Gordon if you need an immediate Week 4-5 starter with Breece Hall out multiple weeks; treat him as a flex-with-upside rental, not a long-term stash.
- Target Kendre Miller for cheap FAAB if Kamara's price gets bid too high in your league — the hosts expect Miller to be a value play even in a Kamara-led committee.
- Pick up Chris Bell as this week's top waiver WR in Miami, and lean toward Mumfield or Jacoby Myers over Wicks/Lemon/Washington for anyone needing a Week 4 flex start given the group's negative script.
- Grab Sadiq (Jets TE) as this week's top overall claim if he's still available (33% rostered) — the hosts consider his role change real, not matchup-driven.
- Stream Bryce Young, Geno Smith, or Marcus Mariota at QB this week, and consider cutting Drake May now rather than continuing to roster him through New England's difficult stretch.
“Feed the Burden.” — Jason Moore
Players in this episode
→ Ran effectively (15 for 82) but hosts were shocked Eagles didn't lean on him more against the Bears, calling it a hugely disappointing fantasy night for the offense.
↓ Called a 'landmine' quarterback situation hosts want to avoid streaming until the offense improves with A.J. Brown's eventual return.
↑ Ankle injury is not long-term and he could play in Week 4 against Miami, improving Kyler Murray's streaming outlook.
↑ Traveling with team to London and practicing in some capacity, suggesting a return is coming soon.
↓ Considered week-to-week with a quad injury, likely out at least two weeks, making Braylon Allen a strong streaming add.
→ Appears to be on a strict, unexplained snap/pitch count, getting pulled after ~15 plays despite being the team's best talent, creating uncertainty in usage.
↑ Scored on what was essentially a QB sneak/run play and drew 11 targets, prompting hosts to 'feed the Burden.'
→ Day-to-day with a rib injury after a scary-looking hit; team will manage him through the week before deciding Week 4 availability.
↑ Expected to get most of the touches with Alvin H(unknown TE/RB) out, but hosts debate how much work Kendre Miller will siphon; Kamara still the priority start.
↑ Good streaming option against Detroit Sunday night after a disheveled Panthers offense post-Coker injury; hosts expect a bounce-back game.
↑ Set to get bulk of work with Hall out; only 21% rostered, hosts call him a good immediate start given Jets' improved O-line and Geno Smith's play, though not a long-term hold.
→ Unlikely to play Week 4; hosts debate dropping him for Higbee replacement Tyler Higbee-less situation, but still view him as a worthwhile long-term stash given Rams' second-target value.
↑ Explosive change-of-pace back who saw 8 carries, 3 targets and 38% of snaps; hosts say he should be rostered as a cheap speculative add.
↓ Valued for speed/big-play ability and listed ahead of Gordon on depth chart, but hosts are skeptical he'll find running lanes behind a weak offensive line.
→ Backup seeing real usage behind Kamara; hosts see him as a cheap value add given lower likely FAB cost despite solid per-touch scoring potential.
↑ 8 targets, 5 catches for 51 yards; expected to see increasing involvement beyond red zone if Cole Kmet/Coker stays out, good matchup vs Detroit this week.
↑ Top wide receiver pickup of the week; snaps jumped from 41% to 71% with 7 targets and multiple red-zone looks after Malik Washington injury opened opportunity.
→ Coach wants him as an every-down back; hosts view him as the top waiver pickup at RB but worry about spending too much FAB given Miami's bad offense and tough upcoming matchups before a bye.
↓ Remains starter for now but is playing the worst statistically of any QB; hosts give him at most one more week before J.J. McCarthy potentially takes over.
↑ Available in 94% of leagues; threw three touchdowns last week and is a viable streamer against a bad Colts defense while playing in London.
↑ Efficient, precise veteran QB led Bears to a 27-7 MNF win including a rushing touchdown, impressing hosts despite being out of the league recently.
↑ 32-year-old journeyman logged 75% snap share and has been over 60% in all three weeks; hosts joke he's a 'superstar' but warn his value craters if roster percentage rises since Bears rookies will eventually take over.
↓ Expected to miss time with hamstring re-aggravation, opening opportunity for other Rams pass catchers.
↑ Breakout game (58% snaps, 57% routes) coinciding with Mason Taylor/other injuries; hosts call him the top overall waiver pickup this week, comparing his play style to a big physical WR/TE hybrid.