NFL Waiver Wire: Week 4 Pickups

This column is geared toward "standard" 12-team leagues and based upon a $100 free-agent budget. Please, please adjust for your league based on both the number of teams (I'm in a 24-team league, for example) and budget. This column will run every Tuesday to, hopefully, accommodate the various waiver schedules. I'll update it in the comments section during the week; please keep in mind a lot can change from Tuesday to Sunday.

QUARTERBACK

Primary Targets

Carson Wentz, PHI – Wentz has looked anything but like a rookie and was even hailed as looking like "a Hall of Famer" by the Pittsburgh defense after Sunday's game. The Eagles have put up 34, 29 and 29 points in their first three games and Wentz is the reason why. Without a bad drop by Jordan Matthews against the Bears he would have two touchdown passes in each game, and he eclipsed 300 yards for the first time against what appeared to be a good Steelers pass defense. The crazy part is the Eagles have basically blown every team out and Wentz hasn't had to throw the ball as much in the fourth quarter. FAAB: $6-$12

RUNNING BACK

Primary Targets

Jordan Howard, CHI – Howard has been the most effective running back in Chicago (5.6 YPC, 12 carries) while Jeremy Langford has struggled (3.7 YPC) and is now dealing with an ankle injury that will keep him out 4-6 weeks. A rookie out of Indiana, Howard has the makeup to handle the full workload for the Bears should Ka'Deem Carey (hamstring) not play again this week. There is a fair chance he takes the starting job and holds onto it the rest of the season. At the very least, he should be in for the Lion's share of touches against Detroit this week. FAAB: $25-$40 (no, that's not a misprint)

Secondary Targets

Dwayne Washington, DET – Washington was discussed in the comments section last week after it was announced that Ameer Abdullah would be out for the season with his foot injury. Washington is only 23 percent owned in Yahoo leagues and should benefit from a slow day Sunday in which he only had 10 carries for 38 yards. The good thing is most owners won't run to grab him after Sunday's performance, but what they're not accounting for is that the Packers have one of the better run defenses in the league. That should keep the price low for Washington, who will continue to see double-digit touches on a weekly basis sharing the backfield with Theo Riddick. FAAB: $4-$8

Bilal Powell, NYJ – Someone must have informed the Jets coaching staff that Matt Forte was not going to hold up if he kept on track with the workload he had the first two weeks. In the offseason the Jets gave Powell $6 million guaranteed, so it makes sense for them to cash in on their investment. Powell had a team-high 41 receiving yards on six catches (nine targets) and added four carries for 30 yards Sunday. He's one of the better backups to own since if anything happens to Forte he would be in for a heavy workload over teammate Troymaine Pope. FAAB: $3-$6

Hail Mary

Kenjon Barner, Wendell Smallwood, Darren Sproles, PHI – First, it's pretty silly to have a bye week this early in the season, so there isn't a huge rush to get any of these guys this week unless you have deep benches. It's hard to predict what's going to happen in this backfield, and Smallwood going from three carries the first two weeks to 17 last week was fluky and probably a result of the game being a blowout. Ryan Mathews should come out of the bye week much healthier and could easily take back the head of what looks like a RBBC the rest of the season. Don't go too nuts with your bidding. FAAB: $1-$2 each

WIDE RECEIVER

Terrelle Pryor, CLE – Pryor did it all for the Browns on Sunday totaling more than 200 yards by catching, throwing and running the ball. He had a whopping 14 targets and the Browns also used him several times under center. It's apparent there's good chemistry between him and Cody Kessler, who fed Pryor as the first read on almost every pass play. The return of Josh Gordon will give Pyror's value a hit (in two weeks), but this week Pryor has a good matchup against a below-average pass defense in Washington. Cleveland should continue to work in Pryor at quarterback, though Kessler is expected to again start. FAAB: $15-$25 (don't hesitate to go higher if you really like him)

Secondary Targets

Steve Smith, BAL – Smith was on the field as much as any receiver Sunday and appears to be one of the top-2 targets for Joe Flacco once again. He finished with eight catches for 87 yards, averaging more than eight targets per game this season. Breshad Perriman hasn't emerged and is playing much less than Smith, while Mike Wallace is typically used to stretch the field, leaving Smith to work the intermediate routes with Dennis Pitta. Most important, Smith hasn't had any setbacks from last season's injury and showed good burst on his runs after the catch Sunday. FAAB: $2-$4

TIGHT END

Primary Targets

Cameron Brate, TB – Austin Seferian-Jenkins' off-field issues led to his release (he was claimed by the Jets Monday, a good fit) leaving Brate as the clear top tight end for Tampa Bay. He responded with two scores on 10 targets from Jameis Winston. Vincent Jackson has struggled to make any impact as the second receiving option, giving Brate the opportunity to emerge as Winston's No. 2 behind Mike Evans. Brate has the upside to be a top-10 player at the position the rest of the season. FAAB: $10-$15

Secondary Targets

Zach Miller, CHI – Miller has entered the circle of trust, and probably should thank Brian Hoyer for it. Miller scored twice Sunday, posting eight catches (on nine targets) for 78 yards. He struggled with 7-47 over his first two games as the third option in the passing game behind Alshon Jeffery and Kevin White, but he might have more value with Hoyer under center than Jay Cutler. He's at least worth consideration with the bye weeks here. FAAB: $4-$8

DEFENSE

Secondary Targets

Washington Redskins – This is probably the only time this season to consider the Redskins. This is all about the matchup, and while the Dolphins didn't completely work out as a home run against the Browns, the same strategy of fading rookie Cody Kessler should work again this week. Kessler lost a fumble Sunday, and overall the Browns just aren't very good in any aspect. FAAB: $2-$4