Indianapolis Colts quarterback Daniel Jones (17) prepares to snap the ball Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, during a game against the
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Daniel Jones (17) prepares to snap the ball Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, during a game against the Baltimore Ravens at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. Credit: USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect (Reuters)
Fantasy football managers face a thin Week 4 waiver wire after Justin Jefferson, Jayden Daniels, Breece Hall, Jadarian Price and many more were ruled out, so last-minute free agent adds could swing a lot of Sunday matchups.
Final injury reports also ruled out Caleb Williams, Baker Mayfield, DeVonta Smith, Keenan Allen and Dallas Goedert, while De’Von Achane and Travis Etienne are on injured reserve. Below are the best available replacements at quarterback, running back, wide receiver and tight end, ranked for immediate Week 4 help.
MORE: Week 4 waiver wire FAAB: Kenyon Sadiq, Marcus Mariota, Jaylen Wright top targets
Week 4 fantasy football injury report
Fantasy football Week 4 injuries: Late waiver adds after Justin Jefferson, Jayden Daniels out
Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams (18) passes the ball during the second half against the Minnesota Vikings | Matt Marton-Imagn Images
Injury report up to date as of Saturday, Oct. 3 at 2 p.m. ET
Quarterbacks
Jayden Daniels, Commanders (elbow): Out
Caleb Williams, Bears (hamstring): Out
Baker Mayfield, Buccaneers (thumb): Out
Jaxson Dart, Giants (knee): Out for season
Running backs
Breece Hall, Jets (quad): Out
Jadarian Price, Seahawks (chest): Injured reserve
Zach Charbonnet, Seahawks (knee): Out
Rachaad White, Commanders (shoulder): Out
Travis Etienne, Saints (hamstring): Injured reserve
De’Von Achane, Dolphins (torn knee ligament): Injured reserve, out for season
MORE: Fantasy football Week 4 buy-low trade targets: Drake Maye, Chase Brown, Bhayshul Tuten
Wide receivers
Justin Jefferson, Vikings (ankle): Out
DeVonta Smith, Eagles (hamstring): Out
Marquise Brown, Eagles (ankle): Out
Keenan Allen, Colts (groin): Out
Adonai Mitchell, Jets (finger): Out
Caleb Douglas, Dolphins (ankle): Out
Xavier Legette, Panthers (knee): Out
Alec Pierce, Colts (heel): Injured reserve
Questionable: Terry McLaurin, Commanders (hamstring); Mike Evans, 49ers (rib); Ladd McConkey, Chargers (foot); Jalen Coker, Panthers (quad); Zay Flowers, Ravens (hamstring)
Tight ends
Dallas Goedert, Eagles (knee): Out
Mason Taylor, Jets (thumb): Out
Charlie Kolar, Chargers (forearm): Out
Terrance Ferguson, Rams (ankle): Injured reserve
Questionable: Kenyon Sadiq, Jets (back); Colby Parkinson, Rams (knee, shoulder)
MORE: Washington Commanders Week 4 fantasy football start/sit: Stefon Diggs, Terry McLaurin, Jacory Croskey-Merritt
Last-minute quarterback adds for Week 4
Fantasy football Week 4 injuries: Late waiver adds after Justin Jefferson, Jayden Daniels out
Washington Commanders quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) looks to pass | Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
Daniel Jones, Colts
Jones draws the best passing matchup of the week when the Colts face the Commanders in London. Washington has allowed 861 passing yards and 11 touchdown passes, the second-most fantasy points to quarterbacks. Jones has 611 yards, three touchdowns and three interceptions. With Keenan Allen and Alec Pierce out, Tyler Warren and Josh Downs should see more targets.
Marcus Mariota, Commanders
Mariota makes his second straight start for Jayden Daniels. He completed 19 of 31 passes for 183 yards and a touchdown in a 33-31 upset of Seattle, and he has four touchdown passes with no interceptions this season. The Colts allow 22.5 fantasy points per game to quarterbacks, the fifth-most in the NFL. McLaurin’s hamstring is the main risk.
Jacoby Brissett, Cardinals
Arizona’s veteran passer went 38 of 52 for 280 yards and two touchdowns at San Francisco, and he added a rushing score. He has 652 yards, five touchdowns and one interception this season. The Giants rank 15th in fantasy points allowed to quarterbacks, but Arizona’s pass-heavy approach gives Brissett enough volume to start in deeper leagues.
Geno Smith, Jets
Smith leads the NFL with a 75.5% completion rate and has four touchdowns with no interceptions. He threw for 321 yards and three scores at Detroit last week. Hall, Mitchell and Taylor are all out, so New York may lean on the 35-year-old passer against a Chicago defense allowing 18.9 fantasy points per game to quarterbacks.
Kirk Cousins, Raiders
Cousins has thrown three touchdown passes in all three games, and Las Vegas is 3-0. Brock Bowers returned last week, which gives the veteran a top target. Still, the Chiefs allow only 12.3 fantasy points per game to quarterbacks, second-fewest in the league. Cousins fits as a steady option for managers who lost Daniels, Williams or Mayfield.
More: Michael Penix Jr., Falcons; Jameis Winston, QB, Giants
MORE: Week 4 fantasy football QB start ’em, sit ’em: Bryce Young up, Jordan Love down
Last-minute running back adds for Week 4
NFL: Seattle Seahawks at Arizona Cardinals
Seattle Seahawks running back Emanuel Wilson (23) runs with the ball in the fourth quarter | Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images
Emanuel Wilson, Seahawks
Jadarian Price and Zach Charbonnet are out, so Wilson should lead Seattle’s backfield against the Chargers. He already leads the team with 32 carries for 109 yards. His 3.4 yards per carry is low, and he has no catches on one target. Still, early-down volume makes him a flex play for managers missing Hall or Price.
Jaylen Wright, Dolphins
Wright practiced in full Thursday and Friday and is off the injury report. He’s listed ahead of Ollie Gordon on Miami’s depth chart after Gordon ran 17 times for 41 yards and a score last week. NFL insider Jeremy Fowler said, “My sense is that Gordon and Wright will share the load in the short term.” Minnesota’s strong run defense makes him a deep-league flex.
Kendre Miller, Saints
Etienne’s move to injured reserve sends his work to Alvin Kamara and Miller, while rookie CJ Donaldson handles short-yardage snaps. Miller has 13 carries for 44 yards this season. New Orleans hosts Atlanta on Monday night, so managers can check Sunday’s results first. The Falcons rank among the five toughest defenses against running backs.
George Holani, Seahawks
Holani is Seattle’s receiving back and should split the work with Wilson. He has 15 carries this season and handles passing downs, which makes him a better fit in point-per-reception leagues. He has been dealing with a rib injury, so check inactives before kickoff. Holani is a deeper-league option for managers who need a pass-catching back.
Austin Ekeler, Commanders
Washington re-signed Ekeler this week, and Rachaad White is out with a shoulder injury. Jacory Croskey-Merritt should get most of the carries, while Ekeler is expected to handle third-down work in his first game since tearing his Achilles in Week 2 of 2025. Commanders coach Dan Quinn said, “We will get him into the mix.”
More: Isaiah Davis, Jets; Keaton Mitchell, Chargers
MORE: Week 4 RB start ’em, sit ’em: Bucky Irving, TreVeyon Henderson land elite matchups
Last-minute wide receiver adds for Week 4
Fantasy football Week 4 injuries: Late waiver adds after Justin Jefferson, Jayden Daniels out
Miami Dolphins wide receiver Malik Washington (6) moves with the ball | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Malik Washington, Dolphins
Caleb Douglas is out again, and Washington has the steadiest target share in Miami. He has 12 catches for 152 yards on 23 targets, including a team-high 10 targets last week. He also ran twice after Achane went down. Minnesota allows 29.1 fantasy points per game to receivers, 11th-most, so he’s a solid point-per-reception fill-in.
Jauan Jennings, Vikings
Justin Jefferson is out, which takes 13 catches, 179 yards and two touchdowns off the field. Jennings starts across from Jordan Addison but has only one catch for one yard as a Viking. Miami allows just 19.1 fantasy points per game to receivers. He’s a volume bet with a low floor in an offense averaging 238.3 yards per game.
Chris Bell, Dolphins
Bell caught four passes for 67 yards on seven targets against Kansas City. With Douglas out again, the 6-foot-2, 228-pound rookie should keep his outside role. He was limited in practice this week with a knee injury, so check his status Sunday. Minnesota’s defense ranks 11th in fantasy points allowed to receivers.
Kalif Raymond, Bears
Raymond has 19 catches for 214 yards and a touchdown on 21 targets. He caught six passes for 90 yards and a score against Philadelphia with Case Keenum at quarterback. Tyson Bagent is expected to start against the Jets, who allow 23.2 fantasy points per game to receivers. He fits as a WR3 for managers missing Jefferson or Smith.
Tre Tucker, Raiders
Tucker caught five passes for 119 yards and a touchdown in Week 2, then four for 43 last week. Cousins has nine touchdown passes, and Tucker is the No. 2 target behind Bowers at best. Kansas City allows the fewest fantasy points to receivers, so the Raiders speedster is a boom-or-bust start in Week 4.
More: Brycen Tremayne, Panthers; Rashid Shaheed, Seahawks
MORE: Week 4 fantasy football PPR rankings: Patrick Mahomes II, Derrick Henry lead
Last-minute tight ends adds for Week 4
Fantasy football Week 4 injuries: Late waiver adds after Justin Jefferson, DeVonta Smith, Breece Hall out
Carolina Panthers tight end Darren Waller (88) reacts after scoring | Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images
Darren Waller, Panthers
Detroit has allowed 29 catches, 351 yards and six touchdowns to tight ends, the most fantasy points in the league at 28.5 per game. Waller drew eight targets last week and has 10 catches for 112 yards and two scores. With Legette out and Coker questionable, he could be Carolina’s No. 2 target behind Tetairoa McMillan.
T.J. Hockenson, Vikings
Jefferson’s absence opens targets for Hockenson against a Miami defense that let George Kittle catch four passes for 80 yards and a score on four targets. Travis Kelce added two catches for 59 yards and a touchdown last week. The Dolphins allow 13.5 fantasy points per game to tight ends, 11th-most in the NFL.
Tyler Higbee, Rams
Terrance Ferguson is on injured reserve, and Colby Parkinson is questionable. Higbee played about 71% of the snaps last week and caught eight passes for 62 yards and a touchdown on 11 targets. Puka Nacua’s return and a Philadelphia defense allowing the fewest fantasy points to tight ends lower his ceiling, but his role makes him a direct replacement.
Brenton Strange, Jaguars
Strange has seven catches for 72 yards and a touchdown on 10 targets. Cincinnati has allowed 299 receiving yards to tight ends, second-most in the league behind Detroit. Dalton Schultz caught 12 passes for 140 yards against the Bengals in Week 2. That gives the Jacksonville tight end a strong one-week streaming case.
Kenyon Sadiq, Jets
Mason Taylor is out, and Sadiq caught seven passes for 105 yards and a touchdown at Detroit. The first-round rookie has 12 catches for 143 yards and two scores. He’s questionable with a back injury after limited practices all week, and Chicago allows just 6.3 fantasy points per game to tight ends. Confirm he’s active before starting him.
More: AJ Barner, Seahawks; Greg Dulcich, Dolphins
MORE: Week 4 fantasy football TE start ’em, sit ’em: Darren Waller on the come-up
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Matt De Lima
Matt De Lima brings 15+ years of elite sports media experience to the table. From covering the gridiron to the hardwood, this Virginia Tech graduate has established himself as a versatile editor and writer for heavy hitters like Sports Illustrated and DraftKings. A twice-nominated FSWA finalist, Matt combines a digital-first philosophy with an eagle eye for breaking news, consistently delivering the engaging coverage today’s audience demands across the NFL, NBA, MLB, and beyond.
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