Dear Fantasy Doctor X.

Fantasy Football: Week 4 waiver wire.

By Garth Gregor.     

The wire picks are players who are or were still available in most leagues this week. Depending on how your waiver wire/free agents’ pool works, players may not clear waivers until later this week. 

Most players should not be trusted to start in week three unless your draft really went poorly.  Instead, these players should be monitored or stashed away on your bench for bye weeks’ use or a future starting spot consideration.

QUARTERBACKS

Brian Griese - Honestly, who gets to throw 67 times in a game?  Tampa Bay let loose on Sunday against the Bears and it could be more of the same this week against Green Bay.  Only owned in 18% of Yahoo leagues, he is worth a bench spot in deeper leagues, particularly during the bye weeks.

J.T. O'Sullivan - 189 passing yards and two touchdowns in week 3 to follow up on his 321 passing yards and a touchdown in week 2.  He did not turn the ball over agains the Lions and is now averaging 250+ and 1.5 TDs in his last two.  Only owned in 40 percent of Yahoo leagues, his improvement can't be ignored.

RUNNING BACKS.

Rashard Mendenhall - stardom is being handed to the rookie on a silver platter. He plays on Monday Night Football in front of the whole country against a respected Ravens Defense.  If he shreds them the home crowd will love him.  If he fumbles every other touch it could be a long night.  I like these kind of opportunties and with Parker already ruled out, he can focus and should get the rare feature back number of touches.

Correll Buckhalter - where are the handcuffs, owned in only 26 percent of Yahoo leagues. Buckhalter filled in nicely for Brian Westbrook catching six passes for 44 yards and a touchdown to go along with 10 rushes for 43 yards.  Pick him up if you are a Westy owner and keep an eye on those injury updates. 

Pierre Thomas - How long can Reggie Bush be productive and stay healthy?  Thomas had six rushes for 15 yards and two touchdowns and three receptions for eight yards.  Imagine him as the feature back?  Bush is injury prone and Deuce McCallister may have been abducted by aliens with only 10 rushing yards on the season.  If you are one of the many owners enjoying Bush's success, don't forget to handcuff.

WIDE RECEIVERS

Chansi Stuckey - plays at home against the Cardinals this weekend. He has now caught a touchdown in his last three games and is only owned in 41 percent of Yahoo leagues. Grab him if you can, but a fourth touchdown is a little unrealistic so stash him on your bench unless you need a warm body with upside.

Muhsin Muhammad – With Steve Smith back, all eyes were on him including Jake Delhomme.  Muhammad had six targets and caught three for just 25 yards but was targeted early. The battle for second fiddle will continue with D.J. Hackett catching two passes for 37 yards. 

Amani Toomer – Five more catches for 64 yards.  Wide receivers like Braylon Edwards, Randy Moss, and Chad Johnson are all stinking it up and this guy is productive as the number 2 for the Giants. Available in 62 percent of yahoo leagues it might be time to get with the program.

TIGHT ENDS

Billy Miller – Jeremy Shockey is out, Miller is in and winds up with two receptions for 41 yards.  There seems to be plenty of balls to go around so Miller at home against San Francisco could make a nice play in week 4.

Dustin Keller - Favre spreads the ball around a little to much for my taste but the chemistry with this rookie tight end is worth monitoring. Forty-one yards and a touchdown have been good numbers for wide receivers much less tight ends.

DEFENSES

Denver DEF – Just about any defense against the Chiefs is looking good these days.  Even with Larry Johnson's big day, Kansas City is still starting Tyler Thigpen or Damon Huard this week. 

Buffalo DEF - Only owned in 58 percent of Yahoo leagues, this looks like a great start against St. Louis who has decided to go with Trent Green this week.

KICKERS

John Kasay – With Steve Smith back and Jonathan Stewart coming into his own, I like Kasay to get plenty of chances at home against the Falcons. He is old but can still kick well from 40-49 yards and has been known to kick 50+.

Matt Prater – Second most points of all kickers that are active in week 4 and he is still available in 72 percent of Yahoo leagues.  Denver has looked strong and will should be able to push Kansas City around all day.  Best of all, Prater has already hit from 52 yards this season. 

Please look for regular updates to this column shortly after each weekend’s games for our waiver wire pickups for the upcoming weeks. Good luck!

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