Waiver wire pickups: 10/3/17

So week four of the NFL regular season is in the books.  If you’re not quite happy with the way your roster is shaking out, we have the top five players for you to target on your league’s waiver wire for week five.

Latavius Murray, RB Minnesota Vikings (owned in 19% of Yahoo and 17.1% of ESPN leagues):

With Dalvin Cook out for the year due to a torn ACL, Murray is next in line to receive touches in the Vikings’ backfield.  A free-agent addition who is still recovering from offseason ankle surgery, Murray should see 15 touches this week against the Chicago Bears, with a couple of goal-line opportunities.  However, Murray will cede snaps on third downs to Jerrick McKinnon.

Alvin Kamara, RB New Orleans Saints (owned in 47% of Yahoo and 42.5% of ESPN leagues)

The Saints have a bye this week, but Kamara should still be a waiver-wire target for those in PPR leagues.  While not having much standard-league value, Kamara is emerging as the Saints’ primary receiving threat out of the backfield, totaling 10 receptions for 71 yards and a touchdown in week 4.  New Orleans will pick up in week 6 against the Detroit Lions, which has the potential to be a shootout, meaning plenty of targets for Kamara.

Jaron Brown, WR Arizona Cardinals (owned in 8% of Yahoo and 9.8% of ESPN leagues)

Having played over 90% percent of the Cardinals’ offensive snaps over the last two weeks, Jaron is now set as Arizona’s #2 wide receiver. Brown finished week four with eight catches for 105 yards, and will continue to see plenty of targets for an offense looking to replace David Johnson’s touches.  While John Brown returned to the field last week, he essentially split snaps with J.J. Nelson as Arizona’s #3 wide out.  This week Jaron and the Cardinals will face the Philadelphia Eagles, whose defensive backfield have surrendered the 3rd-most fantasy points to wide receivers in 2017.

Buffalo Defense / Special Teams (owned in 15% of Yahoo and 9.7% of ESPN leagues)

For the fourth week in a row, the Bills Defense played great, this time stymieing Matt Ryan and the Atlanta Falcons, sacking him once and intercepting him twice.  The Bills have forced six interceptions this season from opposing QBs and will travel to Cincinnati to face Andy Dalton and the Bengals in week 5.  The Bengals have surrendered the 4th-most fantasy points to opposing defenses this season and Dalton has thrown four interceptions, lost two fumbles and has been sacked 14 times so far in 2017.

Wayne Gallman, RB New York Giants (owned in 4% of Yahoo and .8% of ESPN leagues):

When Paul Perkins left the Giants’ week four game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Gallman entered and immediately looked like the best back the Giants have had all year. In the second half Wayne carried 10 times for 40 yards and added two receptions for eight yards, including a four-yard score.  Even though Orleans Darkwa should return to action in week 5, expect Gallman to be the #1 back for the G-Men against the Los Angeles Chargers, picking up 10-12 touches and a couple of goal-line totes.

Here’s how our  waiver-wire advice for week 4 turned out:

Charles Clay: 5 receptions for 112 yards.

Jacksonville Defense / Special-Teams: 23 points allowed, 1 interception, 1 fumble recovery, and 1 defensive touchdown.

Andrew Luck: Did not play

Devin Funchess: 7 receptions for 70 yards and two touchdowns.

Wendell Smallwood: 10 carries for 34 yards and 1 touchdown with 4 receptions for 45 yards.