How Week 4 Waiver Wire Reshape Your Fantasy Football Roster | The Audible
Cecil and Sigmund run through the Week 4 waiver wire position by position, spotlighting Ollie Gordon and Braelon Allen as the top RB adds behind injured Jalen Wright and Breece Hall, while also flagging QB streaming options and buy-low WR/TE targets. They close with their recurring 'flush' segment on players to drop and a 'hold on' segment for players to be patient with.
# The Audible: Week 4 Waiver Wire Reshape
This episode is Cecil and Sigmund Blum's live Week 4 waiver wire show, running down Footballguys.com's position-by-position pickup list. The central argument is that the waiver wire is thin on difference-makers this week, so managers should churn the bottom of their rosters cheaply rather than overpay, while a handful of situational plays (Ollie Gordon, Keenan Allen, Chris Bell) deserve real priority.
The arguments
Backup quarterbacks are having a moment because of a play-caller "mind meld" effect. Blum's framework is that quarterbacks like Case Keenum, Sam Darnold, and Geno Smith are producing not from talent alone but because good play-callers (Klint Kingsbury with Darnold, Kevin Stefanski-adjacent logic with Michael Penix) unlock value through sequencing and week-to-week design. Both hosts flagged Darnold as a legitimate streaming option against the Chargers, and Penix drew praise for looking comfortable and not hesitant under Stefanski, though Cecil was skeptical his value will hold given a tough Saints Monday night matchup.
JJ McCarthy is a fresh-start dynasty story worth watching, but it's a Minnesota cautionary tale first. Blum predicted McCarthy starts in Minnesota within two to four weeks under new coaching, while Cecil pushed back that it will be a game-manager role given Greg Roman's run-first tendencies. Both hosts treated the Vikings' 3-0 start without McCarthy as evidence something went deeply wrong in that relationship, comparing it to other historic player-coach fallouts without specifics.
Running back is a "churn, don't overpay" position this week. Blum's blanket rule: upgrade a bench spot or two, but cap bids at 10-20% of budget. Ollie Gordon is the preferred Miami add over an injured Jalen Wright, Braylon Allen gets a two-to-three-week window as a flex with Breece Hall out, and Keaton Mitchell is flagged as a potential garbage-time riser given Miami's offensive line limitations. Zach Charbonnet (three-to-four weeks out) and Jordan Mason (stashable, per Kevin O'Connell's four-week IR timeline) were the two names worth a longer-term hold.
Wide receiver value is concentrated in buy-low veterans riding hot quarterback play. Kalief Raymond remains a must-roster despite Luther Burden's emergence, and Blum's headline "buy low" call is Keenan Allen, pointing to Indianapolis's brutal early schedule (Baltimore, Kansas City, Houston) easing into Washington as a reason for a Daniel Jones/Colts passing-game rebound. Chris Bell drew praise for his explosiveness off a 44-yard catch-and-run, with Blum citing outside sources (Simon Clancy, Chris Kaufman) projecting incremental growth from Malik Willis.
Tight end is shallow, so touchdown streaks and target share matter more than talent. Kenyon Sadiq was Blum's mea culpa pickup — he admitted being wrong on him — crediting the Jets' use of him as a hybrid weapon rather than a traditional in-line tight end. Below that tier, the hosts endorsed streaming based on recent production alone: Darren Waller against Detroit, and touchdown-dependent options like Mike Gesicki and Noah Fant.
Some skill players deserve patience despite ugly performances. Drake May, AJ Brown, Tyjae Spears/Travon Henderson-type Saints pieces, and Chargers depth (Josh Palmer, Keenan Coleman) were labeled holds — Blum's reasoning centered on schedule upgrades and offensive-context abundance rather than recent box scores.
Certain players should be actively cut. The hosts' recurring "flush it" segment targeted stranded Packers backs (Chris Brooks, Marshawn Lloyd), Xavier Worthy (unreliable target share), and gave managers explicit "permission" to drop Kyle Pitts despite his contract, since he still shows no offensive gravity in Atlanta.
What it means for your roster
- Priority add: Keenan Allen in Indianapolis — buy-low window before an easier Colts schedule stretch (Washington and beyond).
- Speculative RB stash: Zach Charbonnet (3-4 weeks out, but the clear goal-line answer when healthy) and Jordan Mason (Vikings backfield, per O'Connell's 4-week IR estimate) — worth a bench spot with patience.
- Streaming plays this week: Sam Darnold at the Chargers, Ollie Gordon over Jalen Wright in Miami, Darren Waller vs. Detroit at tight end.
- Bid discipline: Cap FAAB/waiver spend at 10-20% max this week — Blum's explicit warning against overpaying for the flavor-of-the-week names.
- Hold, don't panic-drop: Drake May, AJ Brown, and Chargers WR depth (Palmer/Coleman) despite underwhelming box scores — schedule and offensive context should turn.
- Cut list: Kyle Pitts (explicitly given "permission" to drop), Xavier Worthy, and any stranded Packers backfield pieces (Brooks, Lloyd) in shallower leagues.
“I'm giving you permission to drop Kyle Pitts.” — Sigmund Bloom
Players in this episode
↑ Hold onto him; schedule looks favorable and he's played well against Buffalo before, a potential get-right spot.
↓ Week-to-week after feeling 'something' twice; MRI reportedly came back with good news but Aaron Glenn was cagey on timeline.
→ Interesting since Jonah Coleman is hurt and JK Dobbins is banged up, facing a Niners defense depleted on the D-line.
↓ Hosts give 'permission to drop' him despite Stefanski's improving offense, since he still lacks gravity in the passing game behind Drake London and Bijan Robinson.
↓ Injury (thumb) is a concern; Chris Godwin might need to be shut down in deeper/bench-spot leagues.
↑ Had 7 catches and a TD as Jacksonville's passing offense clicks; worth holding as a WR3 flex.
↑ Kevin O'Connell said he won't be on IR longer than four weeks for a thumb injury; hosts recommend holding him on the bench while Aaron Jones is used up.
↑ Threw 4 TDs despite a pick-six; compared to plugging in a hidden gem given weapons like Jaxon Smith-Njigba, AJ Barner, and Tory Horton.
↑ Still 3-4 weeks out, but hosts say now is the time to acquire him since he'll be the automatic goal-line back when healthy.
↑ Referred to as 'Mike Washington' with 'smoke through a keyhole' burst; benefiting from Clint Kubiak's scheme, but has ball-security issues (high drop/fumble rate) that could cost him snaps.
↑ Hosts admit being wrong about him; he's translating well because the Jets use him as a hybrid weapon rather than a traditional inline tight end.
↓ Limited ceiling like Braelon Allen but without breakaway ability, as he's in the twilight of his career and Saints share carries with Henry Miller/CJ Donaldson.
→ Showing incremental improvement; hosts debate his long-term outlook given Miami could be picking top-3 and taking a QB.
↑ Getting goal-line carries in a resurgent Jaguars offense; not high ceiling but maybe high floor.
↑ Becomes a flex/RB2 option while Breece Hall is week-to-week with an injury, though Isaiah Davis is also involved and the Jets run game hasn't been prolific since Week 1.
↑ Interesting speculative add as Mike McDaniel looks for a spark in a tough O-line/run-game situation; could become a garbage-time producer.
→ Doubtful last week with foot and shoulder injuries; hosts would prefer him over Gordon if both were healthy, but he's not currently a pickup.
↑ Buy-low candidate benefiting from familiarity with Shane Steichen's offense as the Colts' schedule eases against Washington.
↑ Flashy 44-yard catch-and-run drew Anquan Boldin comparisons; a marquee waiver add as Malik Willis shows incremental improvement.
→ Traded and expected to start within a month per Cecil, reuniting with Harbaugh; seen as a game-manager fit for a run-heavy offense, unlike his failed fit under Kevin O'Connell.
↑ Looked comfortable and aggressive under Kevin Stefanski's scheme against Green Bay's defense; exciting but facing a tougher Saints matchup next.
↑ Has thrown 3 TDs in 3 straight games, with Brock Bowers' route tree mirrored by JSN-like usage.
↑ Being used more as a receiver between the 20s; a streamable option this week against Detroit.
↑ Named the top RB waiver target after Jalen Wright's injury; had a TD and a nice reception, and the team remains committed to the run, though hosts aren't overly excited about him.