There are a few quarterbacks who haven't lived up to the hype. While there's no reason for anyone to worry about Colin Kaepernick, patience could be wearing thin on a guy like Eli Manning after his dud in Carolina. Ben Roethlisberger also looks like a lost cause, so fantasy owners could be on the prowl for a pickup. Plus, Aaron Rodgers and Cam Newton being on a bye is going to drive up the demand for some production out of fantasy's highest-scoring position. Here are some guys to consider:
Fantasy football waiver wire: 5 quarterbacks to target for Week 4
Cam Newton and Aaron Rodgers are must-starts, but their owners aren’t going to have their services this week. We look at some options to help fill the void.
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Ryan Tannehill, Miami Dolphins (owned in 17 percent of leagues)
There's a good chance that the leader of the 3-0 Dolphins is not on your wire, but the buzz around the team, along with the favorable matchup in Week 4, could change that. The Phins travel to New Orleans to take on the Saints on Monday Night Football to give them their best chance to post big stats. While the Saints did hold the Cardinals to just seven points on Sunday, Carson Palmer doesn't really put points on the board like he used to. The Saints were dead last in yards allowed last season and haven't improved much on paper.
The Texas A&M product is putting up some nice numbers, ranking in the top 11 for yards, yards per attempt, passer rating and completion percentage. The problem is that the touchdowns are not there yet. He’s thrown just four and he also leads the NFL in the number of sacks he’s taken.
The matchup is just too good, so Newton and Rodgers owners would be hard-pressed to do better.
Terrelle Pryor, Oakland Raiders (owned in 20 percent of leagues)
Editor’s Note: Pryor sustained a concussion, and his current status is unknown. That being said, he retains upside once healthy.
The Redskins aren't exactly the same team they were last year. They're 0-3 and their secondary is one of the worst in the league. The Raiders will host them in Week 4 and this is their friendliest matchup so far. Pryor has done most of his damage with his legs and the Raiders don't have much as far as assets in their wide receivers, but coach Dennis Allen would be foolish not to feature a passing attack in their game plan.
Of course, the second-year signal caller is one of the riskiest players out there. If you have the guts, go ahead and plug the Buckeye into your starting lineup.
Alex Smith, Kansas City Chiefs (owned in 42 percent of leagues)
He's a game manager. He doesn't stretch the field. He plays not to lose. We've heard it all about Smith and all of those things are true. He still lives off the yards after catch from his receivers and Donnie Avery's speed gives him another weapon. That's on top of Dwayne Bowe, Jamaal Charles and Dexter McCluster. Yards and yards, so as long as the Chiefs can put up points, it'll lead to production from their QB.
Brian Hoyer, Cleveland Browns (owned in 2 percent of leagues)
What the heck happened on Sunday? The Browns were expected to come in with their tails between their legs after dumping Trent Richardson, but Hoyer carved up the Vikings in a huge fourth-quarter comeback. He put the ball up 54 times in the win, completing 30 balls for 321 yards with three picks and three scores.
The Browns have no rushing attack. Their three backs ran for just 49 yards combined. It’s going to be tough to count on Hoyer in Week 4, but things could look up for owners in deep two-QB leagues.
Mike Glennon, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (owned in 0 percent of leagues)
Josh Freeman’s chances are wearing thin. Head coach Greg Schiano gave Freeman a vote of confidence on Monday, which can basically be the beginning of the end.
It’s been a long time coming and there has been talk of the new regime wanting to put in their guy for their system. Glennon would be that guy and he has talent. The rookie can throw the ball down the field and has poise in the pocket. Plus, he had a nice preseason.
The Bucs have a full complement of weapons and a nice schedule, so the opportunity is there. Obviously, we’re talking about a deep-league pickup here.
