Quarterback Waiver Wire Pickups - Week 4

A very interesting week unfolded with some very unexpected names topping the leader board in week 3. Among commonplace names like Dak Prescott (472 passing yards and three touchdowns) and Russell Wilson (315 passing yards and five touchdowns) were names like Nick Mullens (343 yards and a touchdown), Justin Herbert (330 yards and a touchdown), and Ryan Tannehill (321 yards).

While there weren't too many significant injuries, especially at the quarterback position, we did have our first quarterback benching of the season. Nick Foles took over for Mitchell Trubisky in the second half and threw for three touchdowns in a huge come from behind victory against the Falcons. It is difficult to imagine that the Bears would put Foles in the game if they weren't prepared for him to be the full-time starter, but no formal announcement has been made yet.

With bye weeks on the horizon, snapping up solid waiver wire options at quarterback is important. Below are my week 4 picks of quarterbacks worth rostering or FAB dollars this upcoming week. As always, you'll only see names of players under 63% rostered on the Streamers list, and less than 20% rostered on the stashes list. Here we go.

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Top QB Streamers and Adds

Jared Goff, Los Angeles Rams

Yahoo: 63% rostered ESPN: 37.5% rostered

Jared Goff is just on the threshold of not being on this article with a 63% ownership, but regardless, that number is still far too low. Goff threw for 321 yards and two touchdowns with one interception in a close week 3 loss to the stout Buffalo Bills secondary. It marked the second consecutive game that Goff surpassed 20 fantasy points, giving him a very high floor. Goff has an easy matchup against a Giants secondary that allowed Nick Mullens to pass for 343 yards in week 3. Regardless of if you stream him next week, Goff is the perfect high volume QB2 and should be rostered in every league, especially with bye weeks on the horizon.

Baker Mayfield, Cleveland Browns

Yahoo: 44% rostered ESPN: 20.8% rostered

Baker Mayfield hasn’t had the flashiest season, but he has proven to at least be a safe fantasy asset. Mayfield threw for 156 yards and two touchdowns against the hapless Washington Football Team, but he didn’t need to do much else in a game the Browns controlled most of the second half. With the weapons in Cleveland, and a looming week 4 matchup against the sieve that is the Cowboys secondary, Mayfield is a very streamable option in your week 3 lineup.

Kirk Cousins, Minnesota Vikings

Yahoo: 26% rostered ESPN: 15.2% rostered

After a -1.48 performance in Week 2, nobody needed a bounce-back week more than Kirk Cousins and the Minnesota Vikings. Unfortunately, the Vikings’ defense couldn’t hold on to a late lead, but Cousins was able to shine regardless. He threw for 251 yards and three touchdowns (with two interceptions) against a solid Titans Defense. Ultimately, the big story in Minnesota is the budding connection between Cousins and his rookie weapon Justin Jefferson (seven receptions for 175 yards and a touchdown). Minnesota should be able to further exploit that connection against a Texans secondary that has allowed 652 passing yards and six touchdowns through three weeks this season.

2QB Options and Stashes

Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers

Yahoo: 21% rostered ESPN: 14.9% rostered

Justin Herbert was able to continue his impressive run as a rookie quarterback, throwing for 49 times for 330 yards and a touchdown and interception while also getting three carries for 15 yards. Herbert wasn’t able to lead the Chargers to a win, but he did avoid mistakes for the second straight week. The Chargers haven’t been afraid to let the young signal-caller cut loose, as he’s thrown the ball 82 time and completed 69% of his throws. Tyrod Taylor will likely continue to miss time thanks to his punctured lung, so Herbert has a multi-week upside, especially with the Buccaneers average secondary on deck week 4.

Nick Foles, Chicago Bears

Yahoo: 2% rostered ESPN: 0.9% rostered

Well, the Trubisky train couldn’t even make it three weeks before it was derailed. After a rough interception in Sunday’s game against the Falcons, Trubisky was benched in favor of Nick Foles, who provided a spark leading a come from behind victory. Foles completed 16 of 29 passes for 188 yards and three touchdowns with one interception, but a bad drop and questionable end zone interception could have boosted his stats even further. There is still some question over if Foles will be named the full-time starter, but all indications are Trubisky will be riding the pine for the foreseeable future. Week four is a difficult matchup against the Colts, but soft matchups against the Buccaneers and Panthers in the coming weeks make Foles an excellent stash in deeper leagues.

More Waiver Wire Pickups and Advice