Every time I write this weekly column, I find it hard not to note that players in past weeks' columns won't be included but are still worth picking up more often than not. And because there are so many examples of that this week, I'm going to be much more up front about it... like I'm doing right now.
Last time around, I suggested that you pick up Kadarius Toney, and that advice remains. After doing practically nothing to start the season — and having practically no ownership, as he was just about 2% owned when I added him to my waiver target list — Toney had six catches for 78 yards in a breakout Week 4. It doesn't look like too many people listened to me, as he's just 3% owned now, so maybe this time around will be different.
Ditto for previous waiver wire entries Mike Gesicki, Darnell Mooney and Kenneth Gainwell, all of whom are still available in a fair share of leagues. Again, just because I don't feature them on the below list doesn't mean you shouldn't still pick them up — I just want to include a new crop of players each time out.
And that's what I've done this time around. Seven players, one of whom is a highly-acclaimed rookie who finally got his spotlight, four of whom are relatively "old farts" in this year's NFL and two of whom might be heading toward third-year breakouts.
All stats retrieved from Fantasy Pros. Only players owned in fewer than 50 percent of leagues are eligible.
Trey Lance, San Francisco 49ers | QB
Trey Lance has a great opportunity to show off his first-round talent for the 49ers.
(Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
Yahoo: 31% owned | ESPN: 19% owned
We already know how dangerous dual-threat quarterbacks can be for fantasy purposes — it's one of the reasons why Jalen Hurts and Daniel Jones find themselves in the top-six fantasy QBs so far this year, and why passers with some rushing ability typically find themselves atop the fantasy league leaders whether or not they're as good as some of the other QBs around them — and that's why Trey Lance is worth picking up. If you're someone who streams quarterbacks, he could be a long-term solution, so long as Jimmy G's injury keeps him sidelined for a while and Lance takes advantage of the opportunity.
He did so in Week 4, scoring over 20 fantasy points in just one half of action. As another reminder, dual-threat then-rookie Jalen Hurts took advantage of his opportunity in 2020 and was the No. 3 fantasy QB from Weeks 14 to 16, when he started and played the full game each week. That's a good example of how quickly guys like these can put up points through a combo of the air and the ground, and there should be more to come from Lance in the Bay Area.
Damien Williams, Chicago Bears | RB
Damien Williams could have a big role in Chicago if David Montgomery misses time.
(Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
Yahoo: 8% owned | ESPN: 10% owned
David Montgomery had a tremendous outing in Week 4, picking up 106 yards and two scores on 23 carries. Unfortunately, a scary-looking injury ended his week prematurely and may have taken him out of action for a handful of weeks going forward.
If that's the case, Williams has a nice little situation for himself in Chicago, as Tarik Cohen is still out for at least two more weeks. And for as bad as the Bears offense has looked at times, they are still in the top ten in rushing yards, rushing touchdowns and sit just barely outside the top ten in yards per attempt. Neither the Raiders nor the Packers, the Bears' next two matchups, have great run defenses, and the offense may have found some of its stride in Week 4 with Justin Fields getting more comfortable every game.
Latavius Murray, Baltimore Ravens | RB
Though no lead back has been identified, Murray looks to have the best shot in Baltimore.
(Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)
Yahoo: 47% owned | ESPN: 34% owned
Just when we thought Ty'Son Williams may have established himself as the running back to own in the Ravens backfield, the coaching staff goes and lists him as a healthy scratch, paving the way for Murray to have a big game. With 18 carries and a score, he clearly had the lead role ahead of Le'Veon Bell and Devonta Freeman. As of now, it seems that's how it will be going forward, meaning he's valuable in fantasy so long as Baltimore's offense continues to run and run and run like we're used to.
A.J. Green, Arizona Cardinals | WR
A.J. Green has shown he still has some fuel left in the tank.
(Harry How/Getty Images)
Yahoo: 24% owned | ESPN: 27% owned
With what looks to be a nice little resurgence underway at age 33, Green has been a fairly steady member of an otherwise inconsistent WR corps in Arizona. Though he isn't the clear-cut WR2 behind DeAndre Hopkins, it's hard to ignore that Green saw six targets in Week 1, six targets in Week 2, six targets in Week 3 and — you guessed it — six targets in week 4. He has double-digit fantasy points the past three weeks and though that won't be his floor, you do have to think that he's a more reliable contributor than either Christian Kirk or Rondale Moore at this point in time.
If you're in desperate need of a wide receiver or want a relatively safe guy on your bench when the bye weeks roll around, you can definitely do much worse than Green.
Randall Cobb, Green Bay Packers | WR
Seeing Randall Cobb do the Lambeau Leap once again is a cool sight.
(Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)
Yahoo: 6% owned | ESPN: 14% owned
As long as Marquez Valdes-Scantling is sidelined, which will be the case for at least two more weeks, Cobb seems to have some good value as Aaron Rodgers' WR2, and potentially third receiver in the pecking order behind Davante Adams and Aaron Jones. When your quarterback is last year's MVP and a proven future Hall of Famer, it's not a bad thing to be the third target in that offense.
Granted, this is Cobb's first good week of the year, so there's a possibility it was just a fluke. I tend to think that this won't be the case, though, as Rodgers and Cobb have a pre-existing chemistry from earlier in their respective careers, and a date with the Bengals in Week 5 could be a perfect time to strike for an even bigger flashback to their glory days together.
Hunter Renfrow, Las Vegas Raiders | WR
Hunter Renfrow seems to have become Derek Carr's favorite target on the outside.
(Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)
Yahoo: 26% owned | ESPN: 40% owned
Though the names that were receiving a lot of attention prior to the season were Henry Ruggs and Bryan Edwards, it's Renfrow who has been the most consistent producer on the outside for Derek Carr's offensive attack. Heck, he's toe-to-toe with Darren Waller after four weeks, though this likely isn't all that sustainable.
Renfrow has weeks of 10.0, 8.2, 16.2 and 13.5 points in half-PPR formats, which is rock-solid for a FLEX option and worth your consideration on the waiver wire if you're in a jam at the WR position.
Unfortunately, this didn't count for fantasy points, but I also wanted to mention this.
Dawson Knox, Buffalo Bills | TE
Dawson Knox might finally be a consistent fantasy football producer in his third season.
(Bryan M. Bennett/Getty Images)
Yahoo: 47% owned | ESPN: 19% owned
We wanted to believe something was happening after Knox caught four balls for 41 yards in Week 1. We wanted to believe even more after he hauled in a touchdown in Week 2. Week 3 almost convinced us, after Knox had four catches, 49 yards and a touchdown, but we still weren't quite sold that all these performances would be the norm going forward.
After Week 4's performance, in which he was targeted eight times and turned those looks into five catches, 37 yards and two scores, it has all become a little too hard to ignore. In the shallow tight end landscape, Knox might legitimately be a low-end TE1 given his role in the offense and the lack of a definite, consistent WR2 behind Stefon Diggs or any real pass-catching threats out of the backfield. After all, in this high-powered offense, many pass-catchers should theoretically be supported by Allen's volume and skill, and that seems to finally be happening for Knox.
Man, Josh Allen had barely turned his eyes before whipping this touchdown pass to Dawson Knox. Big-time throw. #BillsMafia pic.twitter.com/RA9wgbxa8v
— Billy Heyen (@BillyHeyen) October 3, 2021
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