NFL Waiver Wire Workout: Week 4

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Because league formats vary, one size doesn't fit all when it comes to your waiver wire. That's why I break possible free agent adds into three categories. Follow me on Twitter at @HarrisFootball for the latest on possible additions to your fantasy roster.

Jordan Howard, RB, CHI (owned in 25% of Yahoo! leagues). Jeremy Langford suffered a high-ankle sprain in the Bears' big Sunday-night loss and should miss at least a month. I'm not going to proclaim Chicago's rush offense a fountain of fantasy value; despite a pair of big-name, high-ticket guards (Kyle Long and Josh Sitton), Chicago backs haven't had room to run so far in 2016. But in a down week for waivers, Howard is the new name who should interest you most. This rookie is big and has good long speed, and showed in Week 3 that he can catch a little bit, too.

Orleans Darkwa, RB, NYG (3% owned). Shane Vereen is done for the season with a torn triceps and Rashad Jennings missed Week 3 with a thumb injury, so at the very least Darkwa is now part of the front-line equation for the Giants backfield, and if Jennings misses more time—never a surprise in Jennings' career—Darkwa would be the starter and big back. I'm not sure he does any one thing particularly well, but he's a powerful kid. Because I trust New York's offense way more than I trust Chicago's, Darkwa has a higher upside if Jennings misses extended time at any point this year.

Terrelle Pryor, WR, CLE (23% owned). Pryor probably already posted the best game of his '16 season Sunday in Miami: eight grabs for 144 yards and a rushing TD as a Wildcat quarterback. But it's a slim week for new names and a slim week for high-upside receivers; with Josh Gordon still suspended one more game and Corey Coleman out with a broken hand, Pryor at least gives you a sliver of hope in Week 4 against Washington.

Washington Defense (7% owned). Speaking of Washington: here's the fourth straight week I'd be happy to stream the defense facing the Browns. Yes, Cody Kessler shook out of an extremely bad first series in Week 3, allowing zero additional turnovers and two additional sacks thereafter. But I still don't trust him, and I'll still stream the defense facing him, even with Washington safety DeAngelo Hall out for the year and No. 2 corner Beshaud Breeland missing this game.

Players listed in previous weeks who are still adds: Dwayne Washington, RB, DET (23%); Cameron Artis-Payne, RB, CAR (19%); Kenyan Drake, RB, MIA (16%); Terrance West, RB, BAL (21%); Cole Beasley, WR, DAL (21% owned)

Carson Wentz, QB, PHI (20% owned). The Eagles are off for Week 4, so adding Wentz would require you to carry him on your bench, and even then I can assure you he's not going to be inside my top 15 fantasy QBs for Week 5. But I also can assure you that I've been impressed by his tape, especially Sunday against the Steelers. Pittsburgh brought some pressure and Wentz did a great job against it, sidestepping, showing some mobility, checking down, and basically dominating. I don't hate the idea of using him as your bye-week QB.

Wendell Smallwood, RB, PHI (2% owned). It seems clear that the ankle that bothered Ryan Mathews through training camp still isn't right. He has played 26 snaps the past two weeks combined. In his absence, Darren Sproles, Kenjon Barner, and Smallwood have shared the role. Smallwood has probably been third among these, but he's the guy I'm most excited by. He's got good size and excellent quickness. We'll have to see if the bye week gets Mathews's ankle right.

Adam Humphries, WR, TB (1% owned). Vincent Jackson is going gentle into that good night, and through two weeks has nine receptions on 22 targets. By contrast, Humphries has 18 grabs on 25 targets, including nine catches Sunday against the Rams. Now, Humphries is no Jackson analog: he's six inches shorter and 35 pounds lighter. But PPR owners looking for a kid with a high floor could do worse. He's got a little Cole Beasley in him.

Cameron Brate, TE, TB (2% owned). Is it tacky to assert that we should Make America Brate Again? (Credit: Collin H.) Austin Seferian-Jenkins is gone from Tampa after getting arrested for a DUI last week, and now the Bucs will go forth with a combo of Brate and Brandon Myers. I've seen the Myers movie; yes, he got an end-zone target Sunday and could be a drain on Brate, but if I'm choosing one of these guys to use a speculative add on, it's Brate.

Bobby Rainey, RB, NYG (0% owned). Three years ago, Rainey had a cup of coffee on fantasy rosters when he was with Tampa and was forced into the starting job because of (another) Doug Martin injury. But he's no starter. Instead, Rainey could be a candidate to fill the Shane Vereen role in the Giants offense, and as such has a bit of deep-league PPR appeal.

Chris Hogan, WR, NE (28% owned). The Patriots are one week removed from getting Tom Brady back, and Hogan could benefit from Tom Terrific's return. Yes, true, we've been saying that about one newcomer New England outside receiver every year since the Hoover Administration, but maybe this time it's true! Of course, I have no clue what this offense will look like, really, if and when everyone gets healthy.

Dexter McCluster, RB, SD (6% owned). McCluster-Bleep is a thoroughly one-dimensional player who can't duplicate the backfield carries Danny Woodhead produced in San Diego over the past year-plus, but he sure can catch it. On Sunday, McCluster had an end-zone target, but he only played nine snaps. That role could grow as the Chargers get more comfortable with him, though he isn't a candidate to be Melvin Gordon's handcuff. (I'm not sure who is!)

Players listed in previous weeks who are still speculative adds: Brock Osweiler, QB, HOU (24%); Kenneth Dixon, RB, BAL (12%); Alfred Morris, RB, DAL (23%); Devontae Booker, RB, DEN (10%); Bilal Powell, RB, NYJ (24%); Davante Adams, WR, GB (10%); Josh Doctson, WR, WAS (5%); Anquan Boldin, WR, DET (18%); Jamison Crowder, WR, WAS (16%); Jesse James, TE, PIT (30%); Clive Walford, TE, OAK (19%).

Kenjon Barner, RB, PHI (1% owned). I already mentioned Ryan Mathews's ankle injury that caused him to play only eight snaps in Week 3, and Philly's coaching staff maintains they'll keep using a multi-back rotation even if Mathews can get healthy. I prefer Wendell Smallwood—perhaps because he's the devil I don't yet know—but Barner is an interesting Darren Sproles facsimile.

Paul Perkins, RB, NYG (2% owned). And now that Shane Vereen is out, I've mentioned just about every Giants running back, too. Rashad Jennings is the nominal starter, Orleans Darkwa and Bobby Rainey are in the mix, but what about Perkins, a '16 fifth-rounder and a favorite of the draftnik community? He's been limited to special teams so far as a rookie, but given any more depth-chart carnage, maybe we'd see some of Perkins in the backfield.

Austin Seferian-Jenkins, TE, NYJ (5% owned). The Jets were willing to file a waiver claim for ASJ, whose physical tools are undeniable but whose mental and emotional tools are obviously lacking. New York has been looking for a decent pass-catching tight end since Dustin Keller.

Players listed in previous weeks who are still addable in deep leagues: Chris Thompson, RB, WAS (7%); Jalen Richard, RB, OAK (6%); DeAndre Washington, RB, OAK (11%); Alex Collins, RB, SEA (0%); Shaun Draughn, RB, SF (3%); Travaris Cadet, RB, NO (1%); Kenneth Farrow, RB, SD (0%); Kenny Stills, WR, MIA (9%); Brandon LaFell, WR, CIN (6%); Eli Rogers, WR, PIT (13%); Dontrelle Inman, WR, SD (1%).

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