Fantasy football: Achane, Stroud, Thielen lead add/drops for Week 4
MIAMI, Sept. 26 (UPI) -- De'Von Achane, C.J. Stroud and Adam Thielen lead my fantasy football waiver wire priority list for Week 4 of the 2023 season.
Achane, who also was among my targets last week, rewarded those who picked him up, erupting for a Miami Dolphins rookie record of 203 rushing yards and four touchdowns in Week 3. His fantasy football ownership percentage remains well below 50% on several platforms.
The rookie is easily my top priority this week and should continue to show off his spectacular speed in coach Mike McDaniel's explosive offense. He provided elite RB1 production in Week 3, but is an ideal RB2 or flex play -- in good matchups -- for the rest of the season.
Stroud is coming off two-consecutive fantastic fantasy football outings and should be a great streaming play moving forward. Thielen can be plugged in as a matchup-dependent WR3 in deeper leagues. Cole Kmet and Jake Ferguson are my top tight end targets.
Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Mike Williams, who sustained a season-ending knee injury in Week 3, can be dropped in redraft leagues.
My waiver wire priorities each carry an ownership percentage of 60% or less. Here are my top players to add and top players to drop for Week 4:
ALL-ADD TEAM
QB | C.J. Stroud; RB | De'Von Achane, Jerick McKinnon, Jaylen Warren; WR | Adam Thielen, Joshua Palmer; TE | Cole Kmet; D/ST | Los Angeles Chargers; K | Greg Joseph
HONORABLE MENTIONS
QB | Matthew Stafford; RB | Justice Hill, Zach Charbonnet, Roschon Johnsom; WR | Tank Dell, Romeo Doubs; TE | Jake Ferguson; D/ST | Denver Broncos; K | Wil Lutz
TOP DROPS
QB | Derek Carr; RB | Jeff Wilson Jr.; WR | Mike Williams; TE | Taysom Hill; D/ST | Buffalo Bills, New York Jets; K | Cairo Santos
QUARTERBACK
Stroud failed to throw a touchdown pass in his NFL debut, but looks improved after his last two appearances. The No. 2 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft totaled 280 passing yards and two touchdown passes in Week 3.
The Houston Texans quarterback, who also threw two touchdown passes in Week 2, is averaging 302 passing yards per game.
Next week, the Texans will host the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Steelers allowed the eighth-most passing yards, among teams who have played three games this season. Look for Stroud to surpass 250 passing yards and throw at least two touchdown passes in Week 4. He will be among my Top 12 options.
RUNNING BACK
Many components of the Miami Dolphins' 70-20 win over the Denver Broncos likely won't be repeated for some time, but Achane showed off how excellent he can be as an NFL weapon throughout the blowout.
The rookie running back, who was inactive based on a coach's decision in Week 1, was used sparingly in Week 2. He should continue to see touches going forward after proving himself in Week 3.
I expect Raheem Mostert to remain the Dolphins' starter, but Achane should take a larger share of carries away from the veteran. Look for more of a 50-50 split out of the Dolphins backfield, which could lean heavier toward Achane if he is outperforming Mostert.
Achane will be among my Top 30 plays in Week 4, when the Dolphins face the Buffalo Bills.
WIDE RECEIVER
Thielen and Palmer are my top wide receiver options this week. Thielen was quiet in his Carolina Panthers debut, catching just two passes for 12 yards in a Week 1 loss to the Atlanta Falcons.
His target total increased to nine in Week 2, when he caught seven passes for 54 yards and a score against the New Orleans Saints. The veteran pass catcher went off for 145 yards and a score on 11 catches in Week 3.
Look for his high usage to continue in Week 4, when the Panthers host the Minnesota Vikings. The Vikings allowed the third-most fantasy points per game to wide receivers through through weeks. Thielen should continue to be on your WR3 radar, especially since he plays for a team that should be forced to play from behind most weeks.
Palmer totaled just four catches for 17 yards through his first two games this season. He caught four of seven targets for 66 yards and a score in Week 3.
Palmer should see an increase in usage going forward due to Williams' season-ending knee injury, but his production could be inconsistent because of the presence of other great Chargers pass-catching options. He is a boom-or-bust WR3 -- in leagues with at least 14 teams -- for the rest of the season.
TIGHT END
The Chicago Bears offense continues to be among the league's least productive, but tight end Cole Kmet is tied for the team lead with 15 targets.
This offense will likely be playing from behind a lot this season and be forced to throw. Kmet is averaging five targets per game, but has yet to reach the end zone.
I still consider Kmet a low-end TE1, likely hovering around 50 receiving yards in most games. He could be a Top 10 play if he scores in Week 4.
