Post-waiver wire fantasy football pickups for Week 4

Not ready to go into Tank (Dell) mode with your fantasy roster just yet? Roll over your Week 4 opponent with these post-waiver pick-ups.

QB: Andy Dalton (Carolina Panthers)

Keep an eye on the injury report. If starting quarterback Bryce Young misses a second straight game with an ankle injury, fantasy owners could do much worse than the “Red Rifle” this week. Dalton went 34-58 for 361 yards and two touchdowns in relief of Young on Sunday and his 23.54 fantasy points were seventh-most among quarterbacks in Yahoo! leagues.

The Panthers face winless Minnesota at home this week. The Vikings just gave up 454 yards and four passing touchdowns (one from wide receiver Keenan Allen) to the Chargers in Week 3. Overall, their passing defense hasn’t been terrible, but they’ve given up 29 points per game so far, fifth-most in the NFL.

If Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud is still available, by all means, pick him up. Otherwise, a veteran like Dalton is probably your best bet.

Dalton is available in 97% of Yahoo! leagues.

RB: Rico Dowdle (Dallas Cowboys)

Dowdle had only four carries to Tony Pollard’s 23, but he fared much better as a pass-catcher in the Cowboys’ 28-16 loss to Arizona. The three-year veteran caught all three of his targets for 25 yards and a touchdown on Sunday.

The score was the first of Dowdle’s career but could be a sign of things to come as head coach Mike McCarthy looks to spread the ball among his running backs. His 17 carries are second on the team behind Pollard. Backup running backs have 45 carries for the Cowboys this season. So far, Dowdle looks to be the best of the bunch.

Dowdle is available in 93% of Yahoo! leagues.

WR: D.J. Chark (Carolina Panthers)

Last week we recommended Carolina’s Adam Thielen who responded with the third-most fantasy points (31.50) among receivers. This week we double down on the Panthers and nominate Chark for your fantasy roster.

Chark's numbers weren't Thielen-esque last week, but he was targeted 11 times against the Seahawks, catching four for 86 yards and a touchdown. The veteran receiver missed the team’s first game with a hamstring injury and couldn’t get going in Week 2, but if Dalton gets the start, Chark should get lots of looks against the Vikings.

Chark is available in 85% of Yahoo! leagues.

TE: Donald Parham (L.A. Chargers)

Parham only has seven targets this year, but he’s already turned three into touchdowns. Last week against the Vikings, he saw two targets, caught them both and scored twice. At 6-foot-8, Parham is an ideal red zone target for quarterback Justin Herbert, with more than half of his opportunities coming in the red zone.

Parham is available in 92% of Yahoo! leagues.

DST: Detroit Lions

Detroit had seven sacks and a fumble recovery against the Falcons in Week 3. Only the Bills defense had more fantasy points. This week the Lions face a Packers team that was held scoreless through three quarters before a late-game rally to beat the Saints.

Packers quarterback Jordan Love has made strides in his first three starts, but he hasn’t arrived just yet. Look for coach Dan Campbell’s team to go after him and for Detroit’s defense to put up top-10 fantasy numbers.

Detroit’s defense is available in 92% of leagues.

K: Matt Gay (Indianapolis Colts)

Gay has scored the sixth-most fantasy points among kickers and led them all with 24 fantasy points against the Ravens in Week 3. This week he’ll face a Rams team tied with the Jets for most fantasy points allowed to kickers. Gay hit four field goals from 50 yards or more last week and will look to do the same against his old team. 

Gay is available in 88% of leagues.