Waiver Favors: 2016 Week 4 Fantasy Football Pickups

By Ha Kung Wong  Fantasy Football Pickups

Twitter: @FBGarbageTime

As usual, I’m back to help with some waiver wire adds via my weekly Waiver Favors article!  All pickups are available in at least 50% of Yahoo standard fantasy football leagues (with some minor exceptions) as of Sunday evening.

Sure, Brian Hoyer is nothing special.  He was an undrafted free agent that’s jumped around the league into his eighth year as a backup QB for the Chicago Bears.  He was marginally effective last year with the Houston Texans until his 4 INT implosion in the playoffs, and he did have some highlights the year before with the Cleveland Browns, but as clearly proven this past offseason in a weak QB market where Brock Osweiler was the grand prize, Hoyer isn’t special as he only found a backup job behind the uninspiring Jay Cutler.

But when Cutler went down with a hand injury, Hoyer stepped in admirably, and has performed well as a starter in Weeks 3 and 4, passing for 317 yards and 2 TDs with an INT in Week 3 and for 302 yards and 2 TDs in Week 4.  In fact, in Week 4, top target Alshon Jeffery was limited with knee and hamstring injuries, but Hoyer still made it work with Eddie Royal, Kevin White and Zach Miller.  And with the newfound ground game led by rookie Jordan Howard, opposing defenses are left to respect both the run and pass.  Right now, Hoyer looks like a solid starting QB, and at least until Cutler returns from injury, he’s a worthy QB2 in 14-team and deeper leagues, or any two QB leagues.

Terrance West

RB – Baltimore Ravens – 27% Owned

It’s no surprise that Justin Forsett was a healthy scratch in Week 4.  He was brutally ineffective as the “lead back” in Baltimore.  And not that Terrance West was much better over that three week stretch, averaging just 3.6 yards per carry over that period, but at least showed some burst at the line.  Baltimore apparently realized this and committed to West as the “lead back” in Week 4.  Although West didn’t get involved catching passes, he did manage a very effective 113 rush yards and a TD on 21 carries.  Fourth round rookie Kenneth Dixon is potentially returning form a knee injury in Week 5, so West’s reign in the backfield may be short lived, but I’d be surprised if doesn’t get the majority of carries at least for another week to prove he can be consistent.  And that should be worth a pick up in all 12-team leagues and deeper.

Eddie Royal

WR – Chicago Bears – 12% Owned

With Jay Cutler behind center in the first two weeks, Eddie Royal caught a total of 8 of 12 targets for 109 yards and a TD.  But in Week 3, Hoyer only targeted Royal 3 times, which he managed to grab for 21 yards.  But with Alshon Jeffery ailing with injuries, Royal stepped up significantly, catching all 7 of his targets for 111 yards and a TD.

The big questions is what becomes of Royal once Jeffery gets healthy?  Or when Cutler comes back?  All I can say is that he’s showed great playmaking ability on the field in the Bears’ first win of the season, and that won’t be lost on Hoyer or the coaching staff.  Grab Royal as a WR4/5 in all 12-team leagues or deeper.

Hunter Henry

TE – San Diego Chargers – 30% Owned

I actually thought of recommending second round rookie Hunter Henry last week when he subbed for an injured Antonio Gates and caught all 5 targets for 72 yards.  He had a brutal fumble at the end that likely lost the game for the Chargers, but he was otherwise solid in the passing game and looked to be trusted by Philip Rivers.  In fact, truth be told, I did pick him up in a few leagues where I was desperate at TE.  But now that he’s replicated that effort catching 4 of 7 targets for 61 yards and a TD in Week 4, it’s pretty clear that as long as Gates remains out with his hamstring injury, Henry will have TE1 upside.  And so far, Gates hasn’t even begun to practice yet.  Grab Henry in all 12-team leagues or deeper or if you’re a Gates owner as insurance.

C.J. Fiedorowicz

TE – Houston Texans – 0% Owned

So if you’re in a realty deep league and all the other TEs I’ve mentioned are gone, here’s a flyer for you.  C.J. Fiedorowicz is the starting TE in Houston, which up until this week meant essentially nothing.  In fact, over the first three weeks, he had only 2 receptions from 4 targets for 7 total yards.  But Week 4 was a different story, as he snagged 4 of 5 targets for 48 yards a TD.  Fiedorowicz left the game with a knee injury but he was able to return.  It’s unclear whether this knee injury will be an issue going forward, and DeAndre Hopkins and Will Fuller are the primary targets, but if you’re in a 16-team or deeper league, Fiedorowicz is a worthy stash in case he builds on this promising game.

And here are previous pickups I’ve mentioned that are still worthy of your consideration:

10-Team Leagues or Deeper

Carson Wentz, Charles Sims, Terrelle Pryor, Jordan Howard 

12-Team Leagues or Deeper

Mike Wallace, Victor Cruz, Dennis Pitta, Jacob Tamme, Tyrell Williams, Darren Sproles (PPR), Jamison Crowder, Kyle Rudolph, Quincy Enunwa

14-Team Leagues or Deeper

Theo Riddick, Fozzy Whittaker (PPR), Cameron Artis-Payne, Sam Bradford, Blaine Gabbert, Jerick McKinnon, Matt Asiata, Kenny Stills, Cameron Brate

Check back every week for more Waiver Favors!