Playing the Waiver Wire for Week 4

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Now is when Fantasy owners will really be tested. Now is when you'll find out if your roster is legit.

We've already been through a litany of injuries through three weeks, and hopefully most of you have survived the carnage. But now the depth of your roster will be challenged even more as we enter the first bye week of the season.

Many key Fantasy options are off as six teams – Arizona, Cincinnati, Denver, St. Louis, Seattle and Cleveland – get time to rest, and yes, you'll even miss the Browns. We hope you've prepared for this week in advance, but if not some players did emerge in Week 3 who could help off the Waiver Wire.

Two rookie quarterbacks in Blake Bortles and Teddy Bridgewater finally earned starting jobs. Lorenzo Taliaferro and Alfred Blue stepped up as injury replacements for Bernard Pierce (thigh) and Arian Foster (hamstring), and they could be called upon again this week (Taliaferro is definitely a hot commodity). And Jordan Matthews had a breakout game for the Eagles and could be used as a starter if needed in Week 4.

We have plenty of other suggestions as well, and you should start planning ahead for all the bye weeks coming up. Depth is more important than ever now, and we want to make sure you have the right players on your bench for potential starting options.

Quarterbacks

Injuries: Robert Griffin III (ankle), Carson Palmer (shoulder), Matt Cassel (foot), Josh McCown (thumb)
Key players on bye: Peyton Manning, Russell Wilson, Andy Dalton
Priority list (add them in this order): Kirk Cousins (72 percent ownership), Eli Manning (48 percent), Teddy Bridgewater (12 percent), Blake Bortles (14 percent), Joe Flacco (65 percent), Mike Glennon (4 percent)
Potential drop candidates: Palmer (75 percent), Griffin (50 percent), Jake Locker (42 percent), McCown (34 percent)
Why Cousins is the best: We had Cousins in this spot last week as well, and he shined in his first start for Griffin on 30-of-48 passing for 427 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. He faces a Giants defense that has done well against opposing quarterbacks the past two weeks, but that was Drew Stanton and Ryan Fitzpatrick, who still managed 20 Fantasy points in a standard league. Cousins should remain a Top 12 Fantasy quarterback this week and should be owned in all formats.
Of note: After Cousins, if I need a one-week replacement, I'd look at Eli Manning. He might have turned the corner with Ben McAdoo's offense the past two games with 19 Fantasy points against the Cardinals and 21 Fantasy points against the Texans. The Redskins just got lit up by Nick Foles for 32 Fantasy points and lost cornerback DeAngelo Hall (Achilles) for the season. ... Long-term, Bridgewater and Bortles are worth speculating on in all leagues now that they're in starting roles. If they hit then you could have some trade options as the bye weeks continue, and I like Bortles a little better for the rest of the season. But for Week 4, Bridgewater has the better matchup at home against the Falcons if you need a starting option. ... Flacco is a low-end starting option if you're stuck this week against Carolina. He has at least 17 Fantasy points in two of his first three games, and this is the Steve Smith bowl. You can look for Flacco to try and get Smith in the end zone at least once against his former team. ... Glennon has the chance to start for the Buccaneers for the foreseeable future with McCown hurt. It's not an easy matchup at Pittsburgh, but the Steelers have allowed at least two passing touchdowns in each of the past two games.

Running backs

Injuries: Jamaal Charles (ankle), Ryan Mathews (knee), Knowshon Moreno (elbow), Mark Ingram (hand), Ben Tate (knee), Doug Martin (knee), DeAngelo Williams (thigh), Maurice Jones-Drew (hand), Danny Woodhead (ankle), Jonathan Stewart (knee), Bernard Pierce (thigh), Mike Tolbert (leg), Arian Foster (hamstring)
Key players on bye: Andre Ellington, Giovani Bernard, Montee Ball, Zac Stacy, Marshawn Lynch, Terrance West
Priority list (add them in this order): Donald Brown (66 percent ownership), Lorenzo Taliaferro (4 percent), Alfred Blue (16 percent), Bishop Sankey (67 percent), Khiry Robinson (71 percent), Matt Asiata (73 percent), LeGarrette Blount (45 percent), Andre Williams (46 percent), Jerick McKinnon (25 percent), Isaiah Crowell (37 percent), Darrin Reaves (0 percent), Branden Oliver (0 percent), C.J. Anderson (10 percent), Joseph Randle (2 percent), Joe McKnight (0 percent), Roy Helu (20 percent)
Potential drop candidates: Trent Richardson (91 percent), Toby Gerhart (85 percent), Jones-Drew (76 percent), Stewart (55 percent), Devonta Freeman (49 percent)
Why Brown is the best: Based on talent, I'd rather have Taliaferro, but Pierce could return this week, which limits his upside. Brown is guaranteed a heavy workload with Mathews out a few more weeks and Woodhead lost for the season. He struggled at Buffalo in Week 3 with 31 carries for 62 yards and five catches for 27 yards, but he gets the Jaguars at home this week. Jacksonville has already allowed five running backs to reach double digits in Fantasy points in three games. In deeper leagues you can speculate on Oliver, who could see more playing time as the No. 2 running back in San Diego.
Of note: Taliaferro is worth adding in all leagues even if Pierce returns. He will continue to get work, and Pierce has battled injuries now the past two seasons after a shoulder problem in 2013. If Pierce is out this week then Taliaferro faces a Carolina defense that just gave up 265 rushing yards and a touchdown to Le'Veon Bell and Blount. ... Foster could return this week after missing Week 3 at the Giants, but if he's out then Blue would start against Buffalo. He did an OK job against the Giants with 13 carries for 78 yards and one catch for 10 yards, but the Bills would be a tougher matchup. ... After Brown, Taliaferro and Blue, if you need a running back for this week then the order should be Robinson, Asiata and Blount. Robinson had 18 carries for 69 yards against the Vikings, and he should see a heavy workload again this week at Dallas. Asiata continues to start for Adrian Peterson, and he has a favorable matchup at home against the Falcons. And Blount could again see garbage-time work or score a cheap touchdown against Tampa Bay at home. ... If you want to speculate on a running back, however, look at Sankey. He isn't going to supplant Shonn Greene yet, but Sankey had 10 carries for 61 yards at Cincinnati in Week 3 and is making a strong case for a featured role. ... I'd also stash Andre Williams if you have a roster spot. Rashad Jennings has been awesome so far this season, but the Giants are giving him a major workload with 20, 22 and 34 touches in each of the first three games. He's been injury prone in the past, so if he breaks down then Williams could see an increased role. ... You can apply the same thought to Randle with DeMarco Murray, who leads the NFL in carries with 75. Handcuff, handcuff, handcuff. ... McKinnon is also worth stashing in case the Vikings give him an extended look over Asiata. And I don't mind holding onto Crowell even though Tate is expected to return in Week 5 and West remains in the picture. ... The Panthers might have to turn to Reaves this week with DeAngelo Williams, Stewart and Tolbert all banged up. You would only use Reaves at Baltimore in a deep league in a desperate situation.

Wide receivers

Injuries: Roddy White (hamstring), Eric Decker (hamstring), T.Y. Hilton (ankle), Rod Streater (foot), Tavon Austin (knee), Marvin Jones (foot), Marqise Lee (hamstring), Harry Douglas (foot)
Key players on bye: Larry Fitzgerald, Michael Floyd, A.J. Green, Demaryius Thomas, Emmanuel Sanders, Wes Welker, Percy Harvin
Priority list (add them in this order): Jordan Matthews (36 percent ownership), Brian Quick (50 percent), Allen Robinson (8 percent), James Jones (70 percent), Hakeem Nicks (66 percent), Markus Wheaton (67 percent), John Brown (11 percent), Andrew Hawkins (54 percent), Cecil Shorts (49 percent), Malcom Floyd (23 percent), Jeremy Kerley (7 percent), Odell Beckham (13 percent), Marvin Jones (22 percent), Steve Johnson (13 percent), Eddie Royal (7 percent), Davante Adams (13 percent), Brian Hartline (39 percent), Denarius Moore (10 percent)
Potential drop candidates: Riley Cooper (70 percent), Greg Jennings (53 percent), Jarrett Boykin (39 percent), Kenny Stills (34 percent), Austin (30 percent)
Why Matthews is the best: Matthews had the breakout game Fantasy owners were waiting for against the Redskins with eight catches for 59 yards and two touchdowns on nine targets. He was second in targets behind Jeremy Maclin, and he's already better than Cooper. He's a rookie receiver, so expect some inconsistent production, but he's easily worth stashing in case this continues. He could be considered a No. 3 receiver in all leagues in Week 4 at San Francisco.
Of note: Quick is worth adding in all leagues even with the Rams on a bye. He has at least seven Fantasy points in a standard league in all three games and at least 14 points in PPR leagues. ... Robinson is finally healthy and getting extended playing time, and he has 11 catches for 154 yards on 16 targets the past two games. With Bortles now starting, we could see Robinson become a quality Fantasy option for the rest of the year. You should also look at Shorts, who played his first game this season in Week 3 against the Colts and had five catches for 35 yards and a touchdown on 10 targets. ... Jones, as expected, struggled in Week 3 at New England with just three catches for 43 yards, but now Streater will be out for an extended period with a broken foot. Jones should see a boost in targets, and Moore will also benefit. We like him more than Andre Holmes for now. ... Nicks has scored two touchdowns in three games, which is two more than he had in 2013. He only has 10 catches for 82 yards, but he could see a boost in production this week if Hilton is out. ... Wheaton has tailed off since Week 1 when he had six catches for 97 yards with only nine catches for 73 yards in the past two games. But he's still a high-upside stash candidate in all leagues. ... Brown has three more touchdowns than Fitzgerald and Michael Floyd combined, and he's stepping up as the No. 3 receiver for the Cardinals. He's worth stashing after his two-touchdown outing against the 49ers in Week 3. ... Hawkins is becoming a PPR star, but even owners in standard leagues should buy in. He has at least seven points in standard formats in all three games with 21 catches for 244 yards on 32 targets. ... Keenan Allen will eventually get going for the Chargers, but right now Malcom Floyd and Royal are playing well. In deeper leagues, add them in that order. Floyd has at least nine Fantasy points in two of three games this year, and Royal has 11 catches for 111 yards and two touchdowns in the past two outings on 16 targets. The problem for both receivers is their inconsistency. ... Kerley could be the No. 1 receiver for the Jets this week if Decker is out. He had seven catches for 81 yards and a touchdown on 11 targets against the Bears in Week 3. ... Beckham could be on the verge of returning from a recurring hamstring problem. He's worth speculating on in deeper leagues. ... Marvin Jones could return in Week 5 and is worth stashing in deeper leagues.

Tight ends

Injuries: Vernon Davis (ankle), Jordan Reed (hamstring), Dennis Pitta (hip), Kyle Rudolph (groin)
Key players on bye: Julius Thomas, Jordan Cameron
Priority list (add them in this order): Niles Paul (65 percent ownership), Travis Kelce (52 percent), Larry Donnell (61 percent), Owen Daniels (20 percent), Dwayne Allen (54 percent), Ladarius Green (45 percent), Jared Cook (30 percent), Coby Fleener (21 percent), Andrew Quarless (3 percent), Scott Chandler (8 percent)
Potential drop candidates: Rudolph (92 percent), Reed (70 percent), Eric Ebron (44 percent)
Why Paul is the best: We've been talking about Paul for the past couple of weeks, and he just continues to produce. He has 14 catches for 167 yards and a touchdown the past two games against Jacksonville and Philadelphia on 20 targets. The Giants haven't allowed more than four Fantasy points to any tight end this season, but Paul will be their toughest test to date.
Of note: The tight end position is a mess this week with Thomas and Cameron on a bye, Pitta out for the season and Rudolph and Reed not expected to play. If Davis remains out then those are six tight ends Fantasy owners expected to start in all leagues. ... Kelce scored his first NFL touchdown in Week 3 at Miami and now has seven catches for 117 yards and the score in his past two games on 10 targets. His snap count is rising, and he should be owned in all leagues. ... Donnell continues to play well for the Giants and has 18 catches for 182 yards and a touchdown on 23 targets for the season. He lost a fumble in Week 3 against Houston, but he is still worth starting in Week 4 at Washington. ... Daniels now steps up into the starting role with Pitta out, and he should be added in all leagues. Offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak has a great history with tight ends, and the breakout season we were expecting from Pitta could now belong to Daniels. ... The Colts had two touchdowns from their tight ends in Week 3 against the Jaguars as Allen had four catches for 43 yards and a touchdown and Fleener had four catches for 49 yards and the score. Even though Fleener (seven) had one more targets than Allen (six), we still like Allen better. He has a higher ceiling and should be added in all leagues. ... Green is still well behind Antonio Gates even though he had four catches for 64 yards at Buffalo in Week 3 on six targets. But in deeper leagues, he gets to face the Jaguars this week, and both Chargers could thrive against the Colts. ... Don't buy into Cooks or Lance Kendricks based on Week 3 against Dallas. They combined for 13 catches, 104 yards and a touchdown on 16 targets, but every tight end has beat up the Cowboys this year.