Scott Engel is in his eighth season of providing Fantasy Football coverage for Seahawks.com. An inaugural member of the Fantasy Sports Writers Association's Hall of Fame, he is in his 23rd year as a Fantasy analyst and professional. You can now find more of his work and weekly rankings on RotoBaller.com and hear him every Saturday night on SiriusXM Fantasy Sports Radio.
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While we have not seen the slew of injuries we did last week, other factors will make us move aggressively on the Fantasy Football waiver wire over the next few days. One of the player losses we will cover is a major one, plus there have been some notable depth chart changes, and this is the first of the bye weeks to navigate. Only two teams are off in Week 4, but compensating for the absences of players such as Le'Veon Bell and George Kittle are challenges Fantasy players must deal with and overcome to succeed. The New York Jets and San Francisco 49ers won't be playing, and we will also have to replace key guys such as Matt Breida and find another QB if you took on Jimmy Garoppolo when you lost Drew Brees.
Recommended pickups are listed in order of preference and are based on NFL.com ownership percentages while being applicable to other platforms. Suggested waiver claims may change in appeal at any time based on breaking player news. Again this week, we add bonus trade targets in light of a major player loss.
Week 4 Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Pickups
Running Backs
Wayne Gallman, New York Giants (0.5 percent owned on NFL.com): A high ankle sprain is going to keep Saquon Barkley out for four to eight weeks, pushing Gallman into the Giants' starting RB slot. He has played sparingly in the first two seasons of his pro career and is an RB3 type in Fantasy. The fact that he is so low-owned demonstrates you should always try to roster the prime handcuff to your top starting RB instead of having to run to the waiver wire to acquire him when an injury strikes.
Darrel Williams, Kansas City (0.8 percent owned): Just before kickoff Sunday, it was reported that Williams would play a prime role in the Chiefs backfield. He split the workload with LeSean McCoy and totaled 109 yards from scrimmage. He could be useful this week in place of Bell or Breida if he is needed to maintain a key role at RB for Kansas City.
C.J. Prosise, Seahawks (0.1 percent owned): With Rashaad Penny sidelined by a hamstring injury, Prosise caught five passes for 38 yards on Sunday and had nine overall touches against New Orleans. Prosise should certainly be worth a Fantasy flier in larger PPR leagues. Prosise is back in the mix in the Seahawks backfield and he has to be considered as a possible add for bye week usage or Fantasy depth purposes.
RB TRADE TARGETS: If you need to replace Barkley, here are some trade options to consider: It is a good time to buy on Pittsburgh's James Conner, as he should be a key part of Pittsburgh's effort to get back to winning some games. … Josh Jacobs has already displayed some promise early in the year and may bounce back in Week 4. … We likely have not seen the best of Kerryon Johnson yet this year. … Phillip Lindsay totaled 130 yards from scrimmage and two TDs on Sunday, but there still may be perceptions that his statistical ceiling is capped because of a time share. Lindsay, though, has made it a habit to prove the doubters wrong since he entered the league last season.
Wide Receivers
DJ Chark Jr., Jacksonville (27.7 percent owned): It appears some Fantasy owners needed to be convinced over more than a game or two, but Chark has definitely emerged as the top playmaker for Gardner Minshew. He has scored in every game so far and has a 100-yard outing and a seven-catch performance to his credit this season. He is definitely the favored Jacksonville target for downfield strikes and scoring chances in the passing game.
Nelson Agholor (22.1 percent owned): Injuries at wide receiver forced Agholor to reclaim a featured role in the Eagles passing game in Week 4, and he may have to continue in that role. He caught eight passes and scored twice against Detroit. Agholor has been up and down Fantasy wise in his career, yet he will deserve starting consideration while he is a more frequently utilized wideout.
Diontae Johnson, Pittsburgh (0.5 percent owned): Asked to step forward for the Steelers, the rookie responded with a 39-yard TD reception against the 49ers in Week 3. The first-year WR class has been impressive this season, and Pittsburgh needs another playmaker across from JuJu Smith-Schuster. Johnson has the potential to make some dazzling contributions, so he should be added now before he possibly becomes much more desirable for Fantasy purposes.
Quarterbacks
Daniel Jones, New York Giants (9.0 percent owned): He made an impressive debut against Tampa Bay, throwing for 336 yards and two TDs and rushing for two scores. At QB, his 34.24 points in Week 3 were only bettered by Russell Wilson's 41.34. Jones is a definite sparkplug who is confident and added an instant jolt to the New York offense. The loss of Barkley does not help him, and he still has more to prove, but he should be added at least as a possible streamer for now.
Kyle Allen, Carolina (0.4 percent owned): He showed excellent command of Norv Turner's schemes in his first NFL start, throwing four TD passes against Arizona. He is already ticketed to start in Week 4 in another good matchup against Houston and should be considered for usage if you need a QB filler.
Tight Ends
Jordan Akins, Houston (0.1 percent owned): He may have delivered a breakout performance in Week 3 with 73 yards and two TDs. It's worth a pickup to find out if he can build on the momentum.
Dawson Knox, Buffalo (0.1 percent owned): The rookie did stir some preseason interest, and totaled 67 yards and a TD in Week 3 against Cincinnati. Like Akins, he should be rostered if you have the room, because the TE position is so thin in Fantasy Football. You don't want to miss on a possible quality statistical producer who may be on the verge of becoming more useful.
Seahawks Fantasy Mailbag
For answers to your Fantasy questions early every week, fill out the bottom of this form on Sunday nights or early Mondays for priority consideration. You can also tag me or @Seahawks on Twitter.
Alfonso Ferreira asks: I am loaded at WR and TE (Julio Jones, Alshon Jeffery, Curtis Samuel, Tyrell Williams, Marquise Brown and Travis Kelce/Delanie Walker). But I am concerned at RB with Chris Carson, Phillip Lindsay, Miles Sanders, Devin Singletary and Raheem Mostert. On waivers are C.J. Prosise, Rex Burkhead, Jeffrey Wilson Jr. and Jamaal Williams. How can I improve?
Engel: You lack a pure RB1 right now, but Carson can still be your RB2 and Lindsay has ability to fill that type of role as well and start along with Carson. Your other three guys are RB3 types. You are not going to find any upgrades on the waiver wire, as you just don't have the room for Wilson or Prosise. It's obvious you need to make a trade if anything, but that will weaken another position. You will have to give up Jones or Kelce to get a true RB1. When you upgrade at one position in a trade you often have to downgrade at another. I would not want to break up that Jones/Brown duo. I think you should stick with what you have as a Carson/Lindsay combo will be sufficient, plus a healthy Singletary will offer upside. Sanders may continue to improve and Mostert is a quality depth piece. You have an adequate situation at RB and should stick with who you have. Many Fantasy rosters don't always look perfectly ideal as we would want them to be.
AV812 asks: I have Alvin Kamara, James White, Tevin Coleman and Miles Sanders. I have George Kittle and Darren Waller, plus Vernon Davis at TE. Would you trade Kittle or Waller for Derrick Henry or Todd Gurley?
Engel: These are indeed RB-needy times for many Fantasy owners as we are seeing here. You should pick up a RB for Davis, and you should definitely trade for Henry if you can, as he is the better answer to stabilize your situation. If it takes Kittle to do it, ask for another player in return as Kittle is perceived to still be an elite player at his position. But you have to give up something to get something in these trades when you are dealing with a smart owner/trade partner. If you lose Kittle you should be fine with Waller and will get the RB upgrade you want. Unlike the previous question, here is a situation where the RB upgrade is worth the TE sacrifice and you do not weaken another position in a significant way. Plus, you have a much bigger need at your second RB spot than the author of the previous question did.
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