Waiver Wire Pickups: Week 4 (Fantasy Football)
After this week, I am starting to think there are more electrical substations out there that we don’t know about. The one in San Francisco is certainly the ringleader, but what about the Carolina Panthers, Miami Dolphins, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and New York Jets? Any weird-looking facilities next to the practice fields there? Major injuries continued to smash our rosters in Week 3, again underscoring the importance of stacking backup options on your bench and staying vigilant with the waiver wire. I think this is our best waiver wire week this season, so keep reading to find out who is worth the pickup.
So many doors ⚡️⚡️ pic.twitter.com/azeww5hJXR
— Electrical Substation (@SCSubstation) September 28, 2026
Quarterback Waiver Rankings
Sam Darnold, QB, Seattle Seahawks
Sam Darnold came back to the field in Week 3 against the Washington Commanders after his glute injury early in the first game of the season. The Commanders walked away with a startling upset, primarily due to a weak defensive performance, but Darnold delivered from a fantasy perspective. He went 31-of-45 in pass attempts with four TDs. If someone in your league dropped him, thinking he would miss significant time, go ahead and grab him. Darnold is rostered in just 47% of leagues.
Geno Smith, QB, New York Jets
The New York Jets and their new QB, Geno Smith, are actually looking like a competent football team this year. Geno is showing improvement week after week, and it certainly helps that his receivers are coming through for him. Despite his late-game fumble, he went 31-of-37 passes for 321 yards and three TDs. He is available in 15% of leagues, so if you were relying on Drake Maye, Baker Mayfield, Caleb Williams, etc., he should be out there for you to grab.
Running Back Waiver Rankings
Braelon Allen, RB, New York Jets
Speaking of the New York Jets, they unfortunately lost their lead RB, Breece Hall, to a quad injury in their game against the Detroit Lions. Luckily, Hall’s MRI came back positive, and he is considered week-to-week. However, we expect him to miss Week 4, leaving Braelon Allen as the lead RB. The Jets will face the Chicago Bears, who are ranked 26th against the RB position, making this an ideal matchup for Allen.
Ollie Gordon II and Jaylen Wright, RB, Miami Dolphins
One of the biggest blows of Week 3 was the injury to star RB De’Von Achane. He went down with an ACL injury to start the game and has landed himself on IR for the remainder of the season. That leaves this already struggling offense with Ollie Gordon II and Jaylen Wright as RB options for the rest of the year. That being said, Jaylen Wright has been working through a foot injury and is considered day-to-day according to HC Jeff Hafley. Ollie Gordon II is looking like the stronger option after rushing 17 times for 41 yards and catching three passes against the Chiefs. He also found the end zone, finishing as the WR12 for the week.
Keaton Mitchell, RB, Los Angeles Chargers
The Los Angeles Chargers are a conundrum. On paper, they have the makings of a great football team–and then you watch them play. Part of this conundrum is the RB usage, and as an Omarion Hampton owner, I am acutely aware of the situation. Keaton Mitchell had 11 opportunities, including three targets through the air, compared to Hampton’s 16. He found the end zone, padding his stats, but if the Chargers continue to split touches, Mitchell will be a viable flex moving forward.
Brian Robinson, RB, Atlanta Falcons
Brian Robinson, aka B. Robinson on draft boards, has tripped up fantasy players everywhere. No, this is not Bijan. This is Bijan’s backup, and he can hold his own. He has been known to snipe TDs from Bijan and has seen an increased role so far this year. Pick him up to safeguard your team in case Bijan goes down with an injury. He could even be a flex play in deeper leagues.
If you are having a bad day today, think about my league mate who bid $101 in our chopped league on Brian Robinson. @SleeperHQ pic.twitter.com/PwZyjEIDi6
— Julia_Papworth (@juliapapworth) September 23, 2026
Wide Receiver Waiver Rankings
Roman Wilson, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers
Roman Wilson is starting to look like Aaron Rodgers’ favorite receiver on this Pittsburgh Steelers team. He has been targeted six times in each of the three games played so far and led the team in targets in the most recent game against the Cincinnati Bengals. With DK Metcalf’s play this year, plus Michael Pittman Jr.’s injury and seemingly terrible relationship with Rodgers, Wilson is a promising pickup. Right now, he is a decent flex play, but if he continues to solidify himself as a leader on this team, he could find his way into your lineup as a regular starter.
Konata Mumpfield, WR, Los Angeles Rams
It is hard to tell how serious Puka Nacua’s injury is when, every time Sean McVay speaks, his nose grows an inch. Most recently, he said that he is hopeful that Nacua will play in Week 4. Sure, he may play, but will he be 100%? Regardless, Konata Mumpfield is someone you can target on the waiver wire this week. He delivered 93 yards on eight targets and a TD, proving that he can be a relevant fantasy asset.
Pat Bryant, WR, Denver Broncos
Pat Bryant, WR2 on the Denver Broncos, has not seen many opportunities throughout the first three games of the season. However, in Week 3, he made good on both of his targets in a big way. He brought in both a TD and a two-point conversion, putting a stamp on the Broncos’ win against the mighty Los Angeles Rams. Although the volume is lacking, his successful big-time plays, in conjunction with Jaylen Waddle’s lack of chemistry with Bo Nix so far, are important to note. Waddle caught just two of seven targets in the same game. Bryant is more of a deep-league grab for now, but keep an eye on the targets over the next couple of weeks to see if he can move up the ranks.
Kalif Raymond, WR, Chicago Bears
I want to mention Kalif Raymond, who has been an absolute surprise through the first three weeks of the season. All offseason, we spoke about Luther Burden III, Rome Odunze, and Colston Loveland–but Raymond was an afterthought. Not that it was not justified; we are talking young studs versus a veteran WR who remained irrelevant in fantasy for years. But alas, Ben Johnson clearly saw something in him. Johnson snagged him from his old team, the Detroit Lions, and brought Raymond back from the dead. Raymond caught six of his seven targets in the game against the Philadelphia Eagles and scored his first TD of the season. He has solidified himself as a fantasy asset and is only rostered in 14% of leagues. It is time to give this guy the credit he deserves.
Tight End Waiver Rankings
Kenyon Sadiq, TE, New York Jets
Our third Jets option has entered the chat! Rookie TE Kenyon Sadiq broke out in Week 3 against the Detroit Lions, catching seven of eight passes for 105 yards and an outrageous TD. Sadiq was given the opportunity with Adonai Mitchell and Meowson Taylor both out with injuries, and he made the most of it. Given the injuries and options at the TE position, Sadiq will be a hot pickup for Week 4.
first career receiving TD for @KenyonSadiq was 👌
📺: #NYJvsDET on FOX pic.twitter.com/RUWEPlgm7W
— New York Jets (@nyjets) September 27, 2026
Team DST Waiver Rankings
Las Vegas Raiders, DST
I’m not sure why fantasy managers are sleeping on the Las Vegas Raiders. You do know that Maxx Crosby ended up staying, right? They are only rostered in 11% of leagues, and they have ranked in the top seven each of the first three weeks of the season. Go ahead and lock them in for Week 4 against the Kansas City Chiefs.
Pittsburgh Steelers, DST
The Pittsburgh Steelers defense–or should I say, T.J. Watt–has performed incredibly well this year. They regressed a bit in Week 3, but I do not want that to scare you. They ranked fifth so far this year in fantasy points scored, and their next three matchups are against the Cleveland Browns, Indianapolis Colts, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. You can pick them up for Week 4 and hold steady.