Every week, I provide you with the best fantasy football free agents to add and potentially start after the waiver wire run has been completed in all leagues for the week. This rundown includes the best pickups who weren’t claimed earlier in the week and are still available in many leagues. If you are continuing the search to fill a lineup hole, then I have the options to consider.
Players are listed in order of preferred adds, and analysis leans to PPR formats. CBSSports.com is used as the platform for roster percentages, as leagues on that site are generally more competitive than those where there are a lot of free public leagues
Roschon Johnson, RB, CHI (50% rostered)
D’Andre Swift has looked like a Miles Sanders type of free agent bust over the first three games of his Bears tenure. He has averaged an unreal and overly painful 1.8 yards per carry. Swift has not been a factor as a pass-catcher, either, with just six receptions for 46 yards.
The Chicago offensive line is ranked 20th in the league by Pro Football Focus, which doesn’t help matters, but a lot of Swift’s struggles are on him. The former Eagles and Lions back is looking tentative as a runner while not seeing some open holes, as Bears followers have pointed out. ESPN reported this week that Johnson could see an elevated role in a good matchup against the Rams.
Los Angeles ranks 24th in fantasy points per game (FPPG) allowed to RBs. This can be a “get right” week for Swift, or an opportunity for Johnson to emerge as a quality fantasy option. I will go with the latter scenario being more likely.
Johnson was an internal favorite in Chicago last year and now he might get a real chance to show what he can do in a potentially expanded role. At 225 pounds, he can bang for yardage, and last week we saw Johnson work on some third downs. You can add the 23-year-old and consider him as a possible flex option for Week 4.
Michael Wilson, WR, ARI (42%)
The Washington-Arizona matchup has the potential to be the highest scoring game of the week, and the Commanders have by far allowed the most FFPG to WRs. Trey McBride (concussion) may be out in Week 4, and Wilson is showing signs of becoming a more productive No. 2 WR for the Cardinals. Last week he caught eight of nine targets for 64 yards. Pick up Wilson and enjoy him taking part in the offensive fireworks show at State Farm Stadium.
Greg Dortch is also 16% rostered and is another Cardinals WR to consider adding and streaming for this week, although I prefer Wilson as a back-end fantasy WR3 type for the Washington matchup. Dortch is more of a nifty WR4/Flex plug-in. He can supply some quality PPR totals, though.
Jahan Dotson, WR, PHI (10%)
It appears that Dotson could have to function as a top WR for Jalen Hurts this week because of injury issues at the position for Philadelphia. Opportunity does not always lead to quality production, though, and the ex-Commander may not be well-suited to function as a productive No. 1 WR option. Dotson had only three receptions for 14 yards through the first three games of the season. This is a receiver who slipped so quickly from boasting first-round draft pick status in 2022 to being dealt away in a lower level trade to a top rival two years later.
Dotson has a shaky statistical floor as a one-week play. Tampa Bay ranks 10th in FFPG allowed to WRs. The low rostered percentage shows that most fantasy leaguers don’t believe he will take advantage of the opportunity. Because of the projected role, though, Dotson does have some WR3/Flex appeal. Keep in mind that the Eagles have a Week 5 bye, so the Washington throwaway likely won’t be useful fantasy-wise for more than one game.
Tutu Atwell, WR, LAR (37%)
I recommended Atwell last week, yet the rostered percentage only increased by 20%. He is apparently the only Rams WR worthy of fantasy lineup consideration right now. Atwell finished with 93 receiving yards on four receptions in Week 3, and let’s not forget he scored 15-plus fantasy points in the first three games of the 2023 season when Cooper Kupp was out. Matthew Stafford will continue to look his way on some key passing downs in any matchup.
Justice Hill, RB, BAL (43%)
The Ravens earned the needed desperate win last week. Against Buffalo on Sunday night they will either have to keep pace with a potent offense, or they could be playing from behind. As the preferred passing-down back for the Ravens, Hill might see a good amount of reps in such a game script. He played on 54 percent of the snaps in each of the first two games, per FootballGuys.
Taysom Hill, TE, NO (43%)
Make sure your league allows you to use Hill at TE. If you can, then go for the weekly upside, because he can rush for TDs, catch passes, and even pass for a TD. He has no statistical floor, but most TEs don’t seem to have one either right now. There is always an occasionally rewarding statistical ceiling to chase with Hill.
Allen Lazard, WR, NYJ (57%)
Garrett Wilson should see a lot of Denver cornerback Patrick Surtain II this week, which means Aaron Rodgers is going to have to get other WRs involved in the offensive mix. His longtime buddy from Green Bay has already caught three TD passes this season. Denver is No. 1 in FFPG allowed to WRs, so you are banking on another potential TD if you add and start Lazard. The defensive draw is obviously not ideal, but the defense doesn’t always win the matchup, either. You can start Lazard if you are chasing decent totals from a streamer.
Tyler Conklin , TE, NYJ (49%)
Conklin came through with his first productive performance while working with Rodgers last week, catching five of six targets for 93 yards. He is another possible alternative to Wilson for the Jets QB, and he’s worth taking a shot on if you are struggling with the TE position — so many of us are.
Andy Dalton, QB, CAR (24%)
If you are still looking to replace Tua Tagovailoa, or Jordan Love is out again, Dalton is a viable starting option. Those who waited until past the 11th round to draft QBs — and I know some of you are out there — can consider him too. After a 319-yard, three-TD outing, Dalton faces his former team, the Bengals. Cincinnati is going to score a lot of points in an effort to win its first game, and Dalton may be in the position of having to keep pace.
Xavier Legette, WR, CAR (28%)
The Carolina rookie now gets a chance to contribute more with Adam Thielen out. Legette can play a bigger role in a rejuvenated passing game. It may seem to be a gusty gamble to start him, yet it’s also one that could pay off as a nice surprise.
Noah Fant, TE, SEA (11%)
In Week 3, Fant caught all six of his targets for 60 yards. The Seahawks might roll up a lot of points and yardage at Detroit, so Fant may stay in the offensive flow. Consider starting him if you wind up without the services of Trey McBride or Sam LaPorta this week.
Noah Brown, WR, WAS (3%)
Back-to-back Noahs in this rundown. What a nifty feat that is. I am sure former New York Mets pitcher Noah Syndergaard, who won his fantasy football league a few years ago, will appreciate it.
Brown’s rostered percentage only increased by one percentage point this week. I am still sticking with the angle that he can nail down the No. 2 WR job for Washington while getting more fantasy upside in the matchup with the Cardinals. Brown has an 85.5 WR/CB matchup grade on Pro Football Focus against the Arizona cornerbacks in Week 4, which qualifies as an “Excellent” grade.
Cordarrelle Patterson, RB, PIT (2%)
Jaylen Warren may be out in Week 4, which would position Patterson to operate as a complement to Najee Harris. The former WR turned RB is an Arthur Smith favorite and can be utilized for his versatility, as goal-line area work and receptions are possible. At 33 years old, it remains to be seen how much spark Patterson has left in his game, yet he is a guy to consider for those in a desperate situation.
On The Watch List: Tyler Badie might start to take on more work at RB for Denver, but I want to see how the situation plays out first. A matchup with the Jets is obviously not one that is good for the Denver offense. … I can’t recommend starting Calvin Austin III yet after just one spike outing. He had two receptions in the first two games of the season.
(Top photo of Roschon Johnson: Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
