FantasyPros Fantasy Football Podcast

Episode: Fantasy Football Week 4 Waiver Wire: Must-Have Players to Add to Your Roster (Ep. 1725)
Date: September 22, 2025
Hosts: Joey P. (Joe P. Zappia), Derrick Brown (DBro), Pat Fitzmaurice

Overview

In this Week 4 Waiver Wire special, Joey P., Derrick Brown, and Pat Fitzmaurice break down the top fantasy football adds, drops, and strategies for the upcoming week. The panel unpacks major injuries, roles for rookie breakouts, handcuff considerations, and deep league streamers. True to FantasyPros form, advice is practical, witty, and rooted in both data and game-watching insights.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Setting the Scene – Recap of Week 3 (01:05–03:42)

• The hosts open with a quick, humorous recounting of wild Week 3 happenings, including injuries, blocked kicks, and Derrick’s trolling of Pat (Packers vs. Vikings, 01:05).
• Cam Scadaboo Hype
  • Joey P. and the crew celebrate Giants running back Cam Scadaboo’s underdog story and entertaining antics.
  • Quote:
    “Everybody wrote the kid off in high school. Everybody wrote him off in college. Everybody’s writing him off in the pros—scores his touchdown, does a backflip. I mean, it’s the only good thing really to happen for the New York Giants last night, but it was fun.” — Joey P. (02:24)
  • Pat and Derrick praise Scadaboo’s energy and meme-worthiness.

2. Top Waiver Wire Add of the Week: Elic Ayomanor (Tennessee Titans WR) (06:21–10:15)

• Public Service Announcement: Ayomanor is still shockingly available in most leagues (50% rostered on Sleeper, only 21% Yahoo).
• Why the Hesitance?
  • Joey P.: “People don’t want to buy in because it’s the Tennessee Titans, and I just think that’s flat out wrong... Ayomanor is proving he can be a fantasy asset.”
• Production & Usage:
  • Back-to-back weeks with touchdowns
  • High air yard share (~41%, 16th in NFL as of Week 2)
  • Overtaking Calvin Ridley
• Risks & Upside:
  • Deep aDOT (average depth of target), so week-to-week may be volatile
  • Connection with rookie QB Cam Ward should improve as schedule softens

Quote:
“It’s possible Ayomanor is already the Titans’ best receiver... Two more catches than Calvin Ridley after two weeks... Such a physical receiver, it’s not hard to imagine him being a prolific touchdown scorer throughout his career.” — Pat Fitzmaurice (09:18)

3. Running Backs: Opportunity Amid Injuries (10:15–22:33)

Ollie Gordon (Miami Dolphins RB, 31% rostered)

• Fitzy:
  • Compliments Achan as a bigger back; “fringy standalone value, but massive contingent value if Achan misses time.” (11:28)
• FAB Bids:
  • DBro: 3–7%, more aggressive if you roster Achan.
• Strategic Note:
  • Week 5 schedule: Dolphins face Panthers’ soft run defense, a prime spot for Gordon.

Commanders’ Backfield — Chris Rodriguez vs. Jeremy McNichols

• Committee Alert: Messy 3-way split.
• Preference:
  • DBro: Rodriguez > McNichols (likely goal-line role & higher upside, 14:51)
  • Fitzy: “McNichols can be decent PPR duct tape… but Rodriguez is probably the better weekly volume play.” (15:55)
  • Both: Low FAB bids only; not must-start players.

Handcuffs & Deep Stashes

• Blake Corum (Rams, 28%) vs. Braylon Allen (Jets, 37%)
  • Fitzy: Prefers Corum for potential workhorse upside if Kyren Williams goes down (17:43).
  • DBro: Slight lean to Allen due to favorable Jets schedule if Breece Hall misses time (18:28).
• Kyle Monangai (Bears, 23%) & Woody Marks (Texans, 19%)
  • Both should be rostered as speculative adds, especially given injury rate and potential for expanded roles (20:47).

4. Rookie Running Back Patience (22:33–25:43)

• Joey P.: Urges patience with rookie RBs—September is often a “redshirt month” as teams ease them in:
  “If you’ve got rookie running backs you need to be patient... September is like a red shirt month for these kids where they just kind of sit there and take it in.” (22:33)
• Cites history (Damien Pierce, 2022) and encourages buying rookies before breakouts.

5. Wide Receiver Waiver Targets & “Fool’s Gold” Candidates (27:20–34:50)

Luther Burden (Bears, 25% rostered)

• Caution:
  • Flashed with a big Week 3 stat line (3-101-1) but just 29% of snaps.
  • Both Pat & DBro: Only a stash for upside; not a FLEX option for teams needing immediate production (28:32).

Under-10% Rostered Flyers

• Tori Horton (Seahawks, 8%)
  • Production: 4+ catches and TDs in back-to-back weeks; heavy playing time when game is competitive.
  • Joey P: “If the only thing standing between him and a big explosive rookie season is Cooper Kupp, I’m willing to roll the dice.” (31:07)
  • DBro: “Horton’s the guy that sticks out here... not chasing Trey Tucker on the waiver wire. Fool’s gold.” (33:02)
• Others:
  • Trey Tucker (Raiders): Outlier Week 3 (“not worth chasing,” per Pat), minimal long-term value.
  • Alec Pierce (Colts), Sterling Shepard (Bucs), Taekwon Thornton (Patriots), Jalen Tolbert (Cowboys) — all considered deep-league or desperation plays.

Strategy for Deeper Leagues

• Tolbert and McCaffrey: Minor interest; Tolbert only in good matchups.

6. Players to Drop & Hold (37:15–39:20)

Running Backs

• Dylan Sampson, Tyler Allgeier:
  • DBro: Drop both unless you’re directly handcuffing (i.e., have B. Robinson for Allgeier).
  • Replace with higher upside/utility stashes like Ollie Gordon, Woody Marks.

Wide Receivers

• Marvin Mims, Jaden Higgins:
  • Pat: “Yeah, he’s an explosive playmaker, but if you have to make room…” OK to move on.
  • Joey P.: Would swap Mims for Horton as a priority add.

7. Streaming Suggestions for Week 4 (39:38–46:39)

Quarterbacks

• Geno Smith (Seahawks) vs. Bears:
  • “Gettable Bears defense with both top CBs hurt.” — Pat (40:27)
• Matthew Stafford (Rams) vs. Colts:
  • “I’m not worried about the Colts’ secondary... Stafford’s been extremely efficient.” — DBro (42:04)

Tight Ends

• Mason Taylor (Jets): Deep-league streamer, high snap share, injury may have limited early production.
• Cole Kmet (Bears): Only appealing if Loveland (starter) is ruled out.

Defenses

• 49ers (vs. Jaguars):
  • “Held all opponents under 200 net passing yards, face mistake-prone Trevor Lawrence.” — Pat (44:09)
• Rams (@ Giants):
  • “DST6 in fantasy points per game, four sacks last week… should pressure Daniel Jones.” — DBro (45:43)

Kickers

• Matt Prater (Cardinals): “Coach Prater’s getting it done.” — DBro (46:12)
• Spencer Shrader (Colts): “Leading all kickers in fantasy scoring—good matchup at SOFI.” — Pat (46:28)

8. Top Waiver Adds — Consensus Picks (47:10–48:35)

If Trey Benson is somehow available, he’s the #1 overall pickup.
Otherwise, top priorities:

• Elic Ayomanor (Titans, WR)
• Troy Franklin (Broncos, WR)
• Kyle Monangai (Bears, RB)
• Ollie Gordon (Dolphins, RB)
• Tori Horton (Seahawks, WR)
• Christian Kirk (Texans, WR)
• Matthew Stafford (Rams, QB)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “People don’t want to buy in because it’s the Tennessee Titans… but Ayomanor is proving he can be a fantasy asset right now and there’s room to grow.” — Joey P. (07:18)
• “This just feels like chasing the stat line of 100 receiving yards… If you’re an 0–3 team and thinking, ‘Luther Burden, weekly FLEX, let’s go!’—No, you need other players actually playing.” — Derrick Brown (29:09)
• “If you’ve got rookie running backs, you need to be patient. September is like a red shirt month for these kids…” — Joey P. (22:33)
• “I’m not chasing Trey Tucker… I think this is an absolute and ridiculous outlier game.” — Derrick Brown (33:02)
• “We say, ‘Don’t chase last week’s points’; this is a classic example.” — Pat Fitzmaurice on Trey Tucker (34:51)
• “At this point can we just say we know who Marvin Mims is and who he isn’t?” — Derrick Brown (39:05)
• “I don’t need to bury him; Sean Payton’s doing a good job of that.” — Derrick Brown on Mims (39:17)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 01:05 – Introduction & Week 3 Recap
• 02:24 – Cam Scadaboo Hype
• 06:21 – Waiver Wire PSA: Elic Ayomanor
• 10:15 – RB Focus: Ollie Gordon, Commanders Backfield
• 17:29 – Handcuff Debate: Corum vs. Allen
• 22:33 – Rookie RB Patience
• 27:20 – WR Deep Dives: Burden, Horton, Tucker, etc.
• 37:15 – Drop/Hold Candidates (RBs/WRs)
• 39:38 – QB, TE, DEF Streamers for Week 4
• 46:12 – Kicker Segment
• 47:10 – Top Waiver Add Summaries & Rankings

Summary Table: Top Priority Waiver Wire Targets (Week 4)

| Priority | Player | Position | Team | Reason | |----------|-------------------------|----------|-----------|-------------------------------| | 1 | Elic Ayomanor | WR | Titans | Leading target, red zone, big play upside | | 2 | Troy Franklin | WR | Broncos | Emerging role, PPR/flex appeal| | 3 | Kyle Monangai | RB | Bears | Possible usurper, good OL | | 4 | Ollie Gordon | RB | Dolphins | Flex now + huge handcuff upside| | 5 | Tori Horton | WR | Seahawks | Scoring, increased usage |

Final Takeaways & Advice

• Don’t be reactive, be proactive. Target emerging roles and stash high-upside rookies or handcuffs before you’re forced to overspend after a breakout or injury.
• Monitor depth charts and snap shares—not just box scores—to avoid “fool’s gold” like certain Week 3 stat poppers.
• Injuries are mounting: Now’s the time to pivot off low-upside stashes for players with clearer paths to volume.
• Patience is a virtue with rookies—September is often quiet, but increasing workloads are coming.
• As always, adjust FAB bids based on need and league format; don't overspend chasing last week's points.

For deeper discussion and live Q&A, tune in Tuesdays at 3pm Eastern for the Weekly Waiver Wire show. And, as Joey P. reminds: “Don’t be a tool—use the tools,” like Waiver Central and My Playbook.