Week 3 was a bloodbath. If you walked away without losing a starter to the blue tent, honestly, you should go buy a lottery ticket right now. Between James Conner’s season-ending ankle injury and Joe Burrow’s surgery-bound turf toe, the landscape of the 2025 season just shifted beneath our feet.
It’s chaos. But chaos is where you win the league.
When we talk about the fantasy football waiver wire week 4, we aren't just looking for bye-week fillers. We’re looking for league-winners. Usually, people get this wrong by chasing last week's touchdowns. Don't be that person. Don’t go blowing your entire FAAB budget on a random wide receiver who caught two fluky scores on three targets. You need volume. You need guaranteed touches.
The Trey Benson Era Begins in Arizona
James Conner is out for the year. It's brutal for him, but for your fantasy team, it's the "break glass in case of emergency" moment we’ve been waiting for. Trey Benson is the undisputed priority. He’s already rostered in about 50% of leagues, but if he’s sitting there in yours, you empty the clip. 100% FAAB. No hesitation.
Benson out-touched Emari Demercado 13-2 after Conner went down last week. While he only managed 51 yards from scrimmage, the underlying usage is what dreams are made of. He took over the third-down duties and the goal-line looks. In an offense led by Kyler Murray that actually moves the ball, Benson is a plug-and-play RB2 with RB1 upside.
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What to do with the Washington Backfield?
Honestly, the Commanders' backfield is a mess. With Austin Ekeler out for the season with a torn Achilles, everyone expected a clear heir. Instead, we got a three-headed monster that makes most managers want to scream. Chris Rodriguez led the team with 11 carries, but Jeremy McNichols ripped off a 60-yard touchdown on one of his four touches. Then you have Jacory "Bill" Croskey-Merritt getting nine touches of his own.
It’s a committee. It’s gross. If you’re desperate, Rodriguez is the "safe" bet for volume, but McNichols is the one who actually looks explosive. Only add them if you’re absolutely starving for RB depth.
Chasing the Tre Tucker "Triple"
We have to talk about Tre Tucker. Eight catches. 145 yards. Three touchdowns.
That is a "stat line of the year" contender, and he did it while most of us had him firmly planted on the bench. Geno Smith seems to have found his new favorite deep threat in Las Vegas. Tucker ran a route on nearly every single dropback. While Davante Adams and Brock Bowers are going to get theirs, Tucker has clearly surpassed Jakobi Meyers as the big-play engine of this offense.
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Is he a trap? Maybe. Deep threats are notoriously "boom-or-bust." But when the "boom" is 40 fantasy points, you have to take the swing. He’s a high-end Flex play against a Chicago defense that has looked surprisingly vulnerable to the deep ball over the first three weeks.
Wide Receiver Sleepers You’re Ignoring
- Elic Ayomanor (TEN): The rookie is quietly becoming the most reliable thing in Tennessee. He’s found the end zone in back-to-back games and is consistently seeing 5+ targets. He’s not going to win you a week single-handedly yet, but he’s a fantastic stash for when the Titans' offense eventually stabilizes.
- Darnell Mooney (ATL): People have given up on Mooney because Michael Penix Jr. struggled last week. Big mistake. Mooney saw 11 targets. ELEVEN. The production hasn't matched the opportunity yet, but that kind of volume for a guy available in over half of leagues is rare.
- Luther Burden III (CHI): The talent is undeniable. Chicago is trying to find ways to get him the ball, even giving him backfield reps. He’s a "buy low" candidate that costs you nothing but a roster spot.
The Quarterback Crisis: Life Without Burrow
If you lost Joe Burrow, I’m sorry. Truly. Replacing a top-tier signal-caller this early is a nightmare. But you have options.
Sam Darnold is currently playing the best football of his life in Seattle. He’s thrown two touchdowns in consecutive games and has a floor that won't kill your week. He’s the "boring" add that keeps you in the hunt.
If you want more upside, look at Marcus Mariota. With Jayden Daniels nursing a knee injury, Mariota stepped in and reminded everyone why rushing QBs are fantasy gold. He put up 20.3 points last week, largely thanks to a rushing touchdown and 40 yards on the ground. If Daniels is ruled out for Week 4 against Atlanta, Mariota is a top-12 streaming option.
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Tight End: Still a Wasteland
Nothing has changed. Tight end is still a place where joy goes to die. However, Brenton Strange in Jacksonville is actually doing things. He caught six passes for 61 yards last week and is playing a massive snap share while Evan Engram deals with a back injury.
Strange isn't just a backup; he’s a focal point. Until Engram returns, Strange is a top-10 play at the position. If you’re still waiting for Mark Andrews to do something, I’d suggest grabbing Isaiah Likely (if he’s back from his foot injury) or even Chig Okonkwo as a safety net.
Actionable Steps for Your Tuesday Night
Check your league's waiver settings. If you’re in a FAAB league, you have to be aggressive. The fantasy football waiver wire week 4 is the last time we might see a true workhorse RB like Trey Benson become available.
- Drop your "dead weight" veterans. If a guy like Brandin Cooks or Ezekiel Elliott is still on your bench, cut them. Their upside is gone.
- Prioritize Benson over everyone. Even if you're strong at RB, you keep him away from your opponents.
- Check the injury reports Wednesday morning. Don't commit your FAAB until you hear the latest on Jayden Daniels and the New York Jets' QB situation with Justin Fields.
- Look for the "Handcuff Plus" players. Guys like Braelon Allen and Blake Corum are seeing their workloads increase even without an injury to the starter. They are the next Benson-level pickups if something happens to Breece Hall or Kyren Williams.
The season is a marathon, not a sprint, but you can't win the race if you're standing still. Go get your guys.